814: Galaxies ‘Dance’ In Stunning New JWST Image | Why Some Cats Scratch Furniture
As the James Webb Space Telescope marks two years of operations, NASA unveils a new image of two galaxies interacting. And, new research shows that cats’ tendency to scratch is affected by stress, certain kinds of play, and how active they are at night. Galaxies ‘Dance’ In Stunning New JWST Image The James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful telescope created by humans, has been successfu...
21m Jul 12, 2024
21m
813: Your Pain Tolerance May Have Been Passed Down From Neanderthals
Gene variants inherited from Neanderthals can impact pain tolerance and nose shape in modern humans. What else could they influence?
14m Jul 11, 2024
14m
812: How Can Iowa’s Agriculture Adapt To Climate Threats?
From drought-resistant crops to making sure farmers of color thrive, here’s how experts in Iowa are looking at the future of agriculture.
19m Jul 10, 2024
19m
811: How Do They Actually Store The Declaration Of Independence?
At a live event in Washington, Ira talks to restoration experts about the science of preserving America’s founding documents.
18m Jul 09, 2024
18m
810: How Politics And Diplomacy Shape Panda Conservation
In this story from 2023, we look back at 80 years of panda conservation, and how “panda diplomacy” paved the way for groundbreaking science.
32m Jul 08, 2024
32m
809: The Best Science Books For Summer 2024
Two science writers and voracious readers have compiled their summer reading recommendations, just for Science Friday fans.
32m Jul 05, 2024
32m
808: Avoiding Grilling and Barbecue Pitfalls
In a conversation from 2014, Ira talks marinade myths, charcoal chemistry, and the elusive “smoke ring”—the science behind barbecue and grilling. Are marinades a myth? How does the elusive “smoke ring” form? And can the debate over gas versus charcoal be settled at last? In this episode of our “Food Failures” series, barbecue and grilling expert Meathead Goldwyn looks at the science behind the...
15m Jul 04, 2024
15m
807: From Microbes To Mammoths: How Life Transformed The Planet
In “Becoming Earth,” author Ferris Jabr reexamines our relationship to Earth, and makes the case that Earth itself is alive.
29m Jul 03, 2024
29m
806: Study Shows Which Kids Are Getting Periods Younger Than Others
The age of first menstruation trended downward from 1950 to 2005, but more so among low-income kids and kids of color.
17m Jul 02, 2024
17m
805: What To Do When Your Hypothesis Is Wrong? Publish!
In an effort to learn from scientific failure, The Journal of Trial Error only publishes “negative” results.
19m Jul 01, 2024
19m
804: The Sample From The Far Side Of The Moon | Will The Seine Be Clean Enough For The Olympics?
China’s Chang’e 6 return capsule landed in Mongolia, carrying samples from the far side of the moon. Also, Paris has invested $1.5B in cleaning up the Seine for open-water swimming events, but recent tests indicate it’s not yet safe. A Sample From The Far Side Of The Moon Lands On Earth This week, the return capsule from China’s Chang’e 6 lunar mission (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/...
26m Jun 28, 2024
26m
803: The Octopus Overlooked By Science | Squid With ‘Giant’ Eggs Could Be New Species
The larger Pacific striped octopus is unusually social. But it wasn’t recognized by scientists until 2015, despite one man’s efforts. And, a deep-sea squid in the family Gonatidae was filmed cradling large eggs for its body size, which suggests it’s an entirely new species. Why It Took Decades For This Octopus To Be Recognized Octopus mating behaviors can be quite deadly. Many species are can...
19m Jun 27, 2024
19m
802: House Stalls On Bill To Compensate Victims Of Nuclear Testing
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expired on June 10, but supporters are still fighting to expand it.
19m Jun 26, 2024
19m
801: Crowdsourced Data Identifies 126 ‘Lost’ Bird Species
Researchers analyzed photos, videos, and audio from crowdsource platforms to identify bird species that have not been spotted in over a decade.
18m Jun 25, 2024
18m
800: 20 Years Later, How Are City Climate Plans Actually Going?
When the federal government wavered in its commitment to climate action, cities stepped up. But goals, and success, are hard to define.
19m Jun 24, 2024
19m
799: It’s Hot. But How Hot? | Canine Cancer Vaccine Shows Promising Results
Researchers say the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is a better indicator of heat stress. Also, cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs. A new vaccine has increased survival rates in clinical trials, offering hope for dogs and humans. Yes, It’s Hot. But How Hot? Much of the country has been enduring a heat wave this week, with millions sweating from Maine to the Midwest. But describing exactl...
27m Jun 21, 2024
27m
798: Mannequins Help Teach People How To Spot Ticks | Protecting A Flickering Symbol Of Summer Nights
Two mannequins walk into a science lab, and one’s got a big tick problem. She can teach humans how to check for ticks. Also, researchers used citizen science observations and machine learning to understand where fireflies are and what they need to thrive. In Wisconsin, Mannequins Help Teach People How To Spot Ticks Nationwide, Wisconsin is a hot spot for Lyme disease. And cases are rising, as...
19m Jun 20, 2024
19m
797: ‘The Singularity Is Nearer,’ Says Futurist Ray Kurzweil
Two decades after his book “The Singularity is Near,” Kurzweil is back with more predictions about the future of AI.
19m Jun 19, 2024
19m
796: Why Do Cephalopods Make Ink?
Squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish use ink to confuse predators and to communicate. But there’s still a lot we don’t understand about inking.
19m Jun 18, 2024
19m
795: Meet The Emotions Behind Teenage Angst In ‘Inside Out 2’
Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour helped make the film more scientifically accurate to how a teenager’s mind works.
19m Jun 17, 2024
19m
794: Elephants Seem To Use Names For Each Other | Kids Discover Rare T. Rex Fossil
A new study used machine learning to analyze elephant vocalizations and identified “contact rumbles” that appear to function as names. Also, on a hike in the Badlands, a family found a dinosaur bone sticking out of a rock. It joined the few teenage T. rex fossils ever discovered. Elephants Seem To Use Names For Each Other Scientists have long known that elephants exhibit some advanced social ...
26m Jun 14, 2024
26m
793: How Sound Rules Life Underwater
In her new book, science journalist Amorina Kingdon explores the astonishing variety of sound in the ocean, and how it affects ecosystems.
19m Jun 13, 2024
19m
792: Metal-Absorbing Plants Could Make Mining Greener | A Tiny Fern's Gigantic Genome
Plants called “hyperaccumulators” have evolved to absorb high levels of metals. Scientists want to harness them for greener metal mining. And, a little fern from New Caledonia is just a few inches tall, but its genome has 160.45 billion base pairs—50 times more DNA than a human. How Metal-Absorbing Plants Could Make Mining Greener Scientists are exploring a somewhat unusual green energy solut...
23m Jun 12, 2024
23m
791: How Psychological Warfare Moved From Battlefields To Politics
A new book looks at the history of psychological warfare, its connections to science fiction, and how it’s been adapted to modern politics.
20m Jun 11, 2024
20m
790: Step Aside, DNA. It’s RNA’s Time To Shine.
The COVID vaccines proved that RNA could be extremely powerful. A new book explores even more medical applications for the tiny molecule.
18m Jun 10, 2024
18m
789: A Week Of Milestones For Spaceflight | Mexico Has Elected A Scientist President
Boeing’s Starliner successfully launched and docked at the ISS, SpaceX’s Starship rocket launched and returned. Also, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo brings scientific expertise to the presidency. How will her leadership shape science policy?
23m Jun 07, 2024
23m
785: The Organ That Gives Birds Their Voices | Common Loons Are Pop Music Icons
Scientists are studying birds’ unique vocal organ, the syrinx, to better understand its evolutionary history. Also, the eerie calls of the common loon have been heard in songs by Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, and more. The Organ That Gives Birds Their Voices Have you ever wondered how a bird sings? Or made some of their less melodic vocalizations, like squawks, trills, or chirps? ...
19m Jun 06, 2024
19m
784: Indigenous Nations Are Fighting To Take Back Their Data
Indigenous data sovereignty is the idea that Indigenous Peoples should decide how to collect, own, and use their own data.
20m Jun 05, 2024
20m
788: The Unseen World Of Plant Intelligence
Science journalist Zoë Schlanger discusses plants’ ability to communicate, store memories, and more in her new book, “The Light Eaters.”
28m Jun 04, 2024
28m
787: Right-To-Repair Laws Gain Steam In State Legislatures
A growing number of states are adopting laws that force companies to give consumers better options to repair their devices.
13m Jun 03, 2024
13m
786: Starliner Crewed Test Flight Rescheduled | Slugs And Snails Like Cities
The much-delayed crewed test flight is back on the calendar, despite a helium leak. Also, researchers used data from the crowd-sourcing nature observation app iNaturalist to rank animals’ tolerance of urban environments. Starliner Crewed Test Flight Rescheduled For This Weekend A long-delayed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/boeing-starliner...
23m May 31, 2024
23m
783: Your ‘Biological Age’ Could Be Different Than How Old You Are
Metabolic markers could eventually result in a test for “biological age,” which considers how things other than time age the body.
18m May 30, 2024
18m
782: High-Speed Rail Gets A Boost In The U.S.
After decades of under-development, spending on high-speed rail projects is ramping up in California, Florida, and the Northeast Corridor.
17m May 29, 2024
17m
781: Using A Lab On Wheels To Study Weed From Dispensaries
A van outfitted as a mobile laboratory helps scientists study how legal cannabis products affect users—without breaking the law.
19m May 28, 2024
19m
780: Jelly Creatures That Swim In Corkscrews | Keeping Wind Turbines Safe For Birds
For the first time, scientists have recorded how salps form chains and swim in corkscrews to reach the ocean’s surface each night. Also, a wind utility company in Wyoming is trying to make wind turbines more visible to birds by painting just one blade black. The Small Jelly Creatures That Link Up And Swim in Corkscrews Salps are small, transparent barrel-shaped jelly creatures (https://www.sc...
22m May 27, 2024
22m
779: Zapping Nerves Into Regrowth | Celebrating the Maya Calendar In Guatemala’s Highlands
An early study found that electrical stimulation could improve hand and arm function in people with spinal cord injuries. Also, for thousands of years, Indigenous communities in Guatemala have used observations and mathematics to track astronomical events. Zapping Nerves Into Regrowth Results of an early trial published this week in the journal Nature Medicine found that people with cervical ...
23m May 24, 2024
23m
778: Fine-Tuning Grapes For Iowa’s Wine Industry
Scientists are breeding wine grapes that will grow in Iowa’s climate in hopes of expanding the state’s wine industry.
18m May 23, 2024
18m
777: How To Recycle Rare Earth Elements
Scientists have developed a way to recycle rare earth elements found in discarded electronics without using acid or harsh chemicals.
19m May 22, 2024
19m
776: New Evidence Questions Dark Energy’s ‘Constant’ Nature
Early data from the DESI collaboration suggests that dark energy, which powers the universe’s accelerating expansion, may evolve over time.
20m May 21, 2024
20m
775: New Guidelines Recommend Earlier Breast Cancer Screening
The latest update moves the recommended age to start mammograms from 50 down to 40. How are these decisions made?
18m May 20, 2024
18m
773: New Rule Sets Stage For Electric Grid Update | Harnessing Nanoparticles For Vaccines
Upgrades to the power grid under a new rule could help accommodate an increasing renewable energy supply and meet data center demands. Also, extremely small particles might help scientists develop vaccines that are stable at room temperature and easier to administer. New Rule Sets Stage For Electric Grid Update The US electric grid is straining (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/us-elect...
28m May 17, 2024
28m
772: How Climate Change Is Changing Sports
Sports ecologist and author Dr. Madeline Orr discusses how climate change is affecting sports, from ski conditions to athletes’ health.
19m May 16, 2024
19m
771: Why Is Tinnitus So Hard To Understand And Treat?
Medical researchers are working to better understand—and hopefully mute—tinnitus, a persistent “ringing in the ears.”
19m May 15, 2024
19m
770: Finding Purpose In A ‘Wild Life’
In her new book, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant shares how her lifelong love for the natural world led her to become a nature TV show host.
19m May 14, 2024
19m
769: Archeopteryx Specimen Unveiled | Trees And Shrubs Burying Great Plains' Prairies
The Field Museum has unveiled a new specimen of Archaeopteryx, a species that may hold the key to how ancient dinosaurs became modern birds. Also, a “green glacier” of trees and shrubs is sliding across the Great Plains, burying some of the most threatened habitat on the planet. Remarkably Well-Preserved Archeopteryx Specimen Unveiled The Field Museum in Chicago just unveiled a new specimen o...
26m May 13, 2024
26m
768: JWST Detects An Atmosphere Around A Rocky Exoplanet | Boeing Plans To Fly Humans To The ISS Next Week
Astronomers have confirmed they found an atmosphere around an Earth-like rocky exoplanet for the first time. Also, Boeing’s Starliner craft was scheduled to carry humans to the International Space Station in 2017. Its launch is now set for no earlier than May 17, 2024.
19m May 10, 2024
19m
767: Challenging The Gender Gap In Sports Science
In a conversation from 2023, SciFri producer Kathleen Davis talks to journalist Christine Yu about how most participants in sports research are still men, even as girls, women, and those outside the gender binary take to the field.
17m May 09, 2024
17m
766: What Martian Geology Can Teach Us About Earth
The geology of Mars could provide a snapshot of what our planet was like as the crust was forming and plate tectonics began.
19m May 08, 2024
19m
765: How Louisiana Is Coping With Flooding In Cemeteries
As climate change intensifies storms, Louisiana is dealing with catastrophic flooding of cemeteries. Now other states face similar problems.
12m May 07, 2024
12m
764: Inside Iowa State’s Herbarium | Science-Inspired Art From ‘Universe of Art’ Listeners
The Ada Hayden Herbarium preserves hundreds of thousands of specimens, including some collected by George Washington Carver. And, as the “Universe of Art” podcast turns one, listeners discuss solar music boxes and what it’s like making art with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Inside Iowa State’s Herbarium With 700,000 Plant Specimens Herbariums are plant libraries (https://www.sciencefriday.com/seg...
24m May 06, 2024
24m