Shows / Science Friday
Science Friday
Science Friday, as heard on PRI, is a weekly discussion of the latest news in science, technology, health, and the environment hosted by Ira Flatow. Ira interviews scientists, authors, and policymakers, and listeners can call in and ask questions as well.
Episodes
Science Friday935: The Science That Captivated SciFri’s Reporters In 2024
Today, we’re taking time to reflect on all that 2024 brought us in the world of science, from the total solar eclipse in April to the demise of the Ingenuity…
Science Friday934: Health, Astronomy, And Climate Experts On 2024’s Coolest Science
It’s been an exciting and hectic year in science discovery and innovation. We’ve reported on stories from across many fields of science—from city climate plans…
- Science Friday
933: Meet Leaders Of 3 Local Conservation Projects | Preserving ‘Space Junk’ Left On Mars
What makes three very different conservation projects so successful? These experts say it’s getting the community involved. And, archaeologists make a case for…
Science Friday932: The Top Dino Discoveries Of 2024 | Can Spiking Eggnog Kill Bacteria From Raw Eggs?
To wrap up 2024, science writer Riley Black shares her favorite paleontology discoveries of the year. And, if treated properly, even old-fashioned eggnog made…
Science Friday931: Parker Solar Probe Will Make Closest-Ever Approach To Sun
On December 24, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will make the closest-ever approach to the sun by a spacecraft. Parker has made more than 20 close approaches to the…
Science Friday930: If ‘Interstellar’ Were Made Today, What Would Be Different?
For its 10th anniversary, the science advisor for “Interstellar” discusses the film’s impact and how new information about gravitational waves could have…
Science Friday929: Farewell, Murder Hornet | What FAA Regulations Tell Us About Mysterious Drone Sightings
Officials say the invasive Asian giant hornet, with its menacing nickname, has been eradicated from the United States. Also, with drone sightings in the news…
Science Friday928: How Blind Women In India Detect Early Breast Cancer | Web-Slinging Silk Becomes Real
A program trains women as tactile medical examiners to identify tumors before they show up on imaging scans. And, in a materials science discovery, scientists…
Science Friday927: 8.5 Hours Of Daily Sitting Linked To Higher BMI And Cholesterol
Sitting is a big part of modern life. Many people work at a desk all day, have long commutes, or at least enjoy some time relaxing on the couch at the end of…
Science Friday926: The Accidental Discovery That Gave Us ‘Forever Chemicals’ | A Pregnancy Play Inspired By Mushroom Research
The Accidental Discovery That Gave Us ‘Forever Chemicals’When it comes to PFAS chemicals—known as “forever chemicals”—we often hear that they’re used in…
Science Friday925: How Empire and Environmental Destruction Go Hand-In-Hand
“The Burning Earth” examines over 800 years of history to demonstrate how violence against people and the planet are one and the same. Also, the host of the…
Science Friday924: The Universe Is Expanding Faster Than Expected | Are Food Recalls Actually On The Rise?
The effect, known as the Hubble Tension, has been confirmed by James Webb Space Telescope observations. Also, despite near daily warnings of food recalls, 2024…
Science Friday923: You Share Your Gut Microbiome With Your Friends
The microbiome, the network of tens of trillions of microbes that live in and on our bodies, helps us digest food and protects us from diseases. And depending…
Science Friday922: Marie Curie And The Women Scientists Who Became Her Legacy
When you consider someone’s legacy in science, you might think about their biggest discovery, their list of publications, or their titles, awards, and prizes…
Science Friday921: Protecting Against Poison Exposure This Holiday Season
There are a lot of holiday gatherings at this time of year, and families getting together can mean that kids are in places that don’t normally have a lot of…
Science Friday920: 2024’s Best Science Books For Kids
It’s that time of the year when you’re making your list, checking it twice, for gifts that spark a love of science for the kids in your life. Ira talks with…
Science Friday919: Supreme Court Case On Regulation Of Vapes | Predicting Lithium-Ion Battery Explosions
The Supreme Court hears a case centering on the FDA’s denial of applications for nicotine-based vapes containing flavored liquid seen as addictive for young…
Science Friday918: A Theatrical Tribute To Unexpected Science
The Ig Nobel awards are a salute to achievements that, in the words of the organizers, “make people laugh, then think.” Each year, the editors of the science…
Science Friday917: 'They Might Be Giants' Sings About Science
As part of Science Friday’s 33rd anniversary show, we’re revisiting our listeners’ favorite stories, including this one from 2009. In the album “Here Comes…
Science Friday916: What Was It Like To Witness The End Of The Dinosaurs?
As part of Science Friday’s 33rd anniversary show, we’re revisiting our listeners’ favorite stories, including this one from 2022.66 million years ago, a…
Science Friday915: A Nobel Prize For Chemistry Work ‘Totally Separate From Biology’
In 2022, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi of Stanford University, Dr. Morten Meldal of the University of Copenhagen, and Dr. K. Barry…
Science Friday914: Alan Alda Reflects On Life With Parkinson’s
In 2018, actor, author and science communicator Alan Alda spoke publicly about his diagnosis for Parkinson’s Disease. Alda, who is best known for his role in…
Science Friday913: A Horn Of Potato Plenty | Adding Marbling To Fake Meat For An Extra-Realistic Bite
Just in time for Thanksgiving, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts. And, irregular, fatty marbling…
Science Friday912: A Nutritionist Clarifies Some Common Health Claims
We recently asked our listeners which dubious health claims they’ve been seeing in their social media feeds or being circulated by friends and family…
Science Friday911: Restoring Drinking Water After Hurricane Helene | Oyster Shell Reefs And Sea Level Rise
Fifty-three days after Hurricane Helene, residents of Asheville can safely drink their tap water without boiling it. Why did it take so long? And, tribes’…
Science Friday910: 50 Years Of Science With Lucy, Our Famous Early Ancestor
On November 24, 1974—50 years ago this November—a pair of paleoanthropologists made the discovery of a lifetime: a set of 47 bones, hidden in the dusty, rocky…
Science Friday909: SpaceX’s Starship Completes In-Orbit Engine Test | Resuscitating Shipwrecked Rye Seeds
This was the sixth test launch of the Starship vehicle, which could eventually carry humans and cargo to the moon. It was extremely loud. Also, divers have…
Science Friday908: Chef Jack Bishop Breaks Down ‘The Science of Good Cooking’
What’s the secret to making a fluffy omelet or the perfect pie dough? In this interview from 2012, Jack Bishop, now senior content advisor at America’s Test…
Science Friday907: Bacteriophages Lurk In Your Bathroom, But Don’t Worry
It sounds like something from an advertisement for bathroom cleaner: Researchers found over 600 different viruses, most of which are new to science, in samples…
Science Friday906: Managing Invasive Plants And Ticks Together | Clue Into The Evolution Of The Bird Brain
Researchers are connecting two ecological problems in the Northeast in hopes of reducing the risk of tick-borne illnesses. Also, a “one-of-a-kind” fossil of…
Science Friday905: The Gurgling, Growling History Of The Gut
Despite advances in scientific research, the stomach remains a subject of mystery and intrigue. After all, it’s nearly impossible to ignore its gurgles and…
Science Friday904: At COP29, The World’s Top Polluters Are No-Shows | Walking Pneumonia Is Spiking
Leaders from the top-polluting countries, like the US and China, aren’t showing up to the UN’s big climate conference in Azerbaijan. And, walking pneumonia…
Science Friday903: Oliver Sacks Searched The Brain For The Origins Of Music
Today, November 8, 2024, marks Science Friday’s 33rd broadcast anniversary. One of the most beloved interviewees on Science Friday over the years was the late…
Science Friday902: CAR-T Cell Therapy For Autoimmune Diseases | Measuring Early Life Adversity—In Marmots
In a Chinese study, donor CAR-T cells sent autoimmune diseases into remission. There’s hope that the therapy is scalable. And, scientists used decades of…
Science Friday901: Your Arm Position Can Make Blood Pressure Readings Inaccurate
Think back to the last time you went to the doctor’s office. Chances are, at the start of the visit, they took your temperature, pulse, and blood pressure—your…
Science Friday900: Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic?
Have you ever been stuck in traffic and thought, if only this highway was a little wider so it could fit more cars? You aren’t alone.Many states have been…
Science Friday899: Ballot Measures Passed To Protect Abortion Rights | New Largest Prime Number
Abortion was on the ballot in 10 states, and seven of them passed constitutional amendments defending abortion rights. Also, this ginormous number has a…
Science Friday898: Chickens Have Friendships And Reputations | Tourist Photos May Help Map Penguin Colonies
Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery discusses chicken intelligence and her experience raising a flock in New Hampshire. And, snapshots from over the years…
Science Friday897: The Clean Air Act Has Saved Millions Of Lives—But Gaps Remain
In the 1960s, the urban air pollution crisis in America had reached a fever pitch: Cities were shrouded in smog, union steelworkers were demanding protections…
Science Friday895: How Does Long-Distance Running Affect Your Body?
On Sunday, more than 50,000 athletes are expected to compete in the New York City Marathon, one of the largest, and most elite marathons in the world. Running…
Science Friday896: Gender-Affirming Care Is On The Line In This Election
Gender-affirming care is on the ballot in this presidential election. These treatments, which can include hormone therapy and surgeries, can be lifesaving for…
Science Friday894: Maine Offshore Wind Auction Draws Few Bids | An Artist Combines Indigenous Textiles With Modern Tech
Two years ago, energy companies scrambled for offshore wind contracts. At a recent auction, the demand was significantly lower. Plus, artist Sarah Rosalena…
Science Friday893: After A Park Fire, Milkweed Bloomed | The ‘Creepy’ Procedure That Taps Into Young Blood
Great news for the nearly-extinct monarch butterflies, which will pass through the area as they migrate back to Mexico. Also, to find out how blood affects…
Science Friday892: How Insects Changed The World—And Human Cultures
Did you know that there are ten quintillion—or 10,000,000,000,000,000,000—individual insects on the planet? That means that for each and every one of us…
Science Friday891: The Science Behind Third-Trimester Abortions
Leading up to the November election, Science Friday is covering top science issues on the ballot. For voters, those top issues include abortion.Since the Dobbs…
Science Friday890: How Aging Water Systems Are Pushing Sewage Into U.S. Homes
Walter Byrd remembers the first time sewage came bubbling out of his toilet like it was yesterday.“It was just pumping up through there,” Byrd says. “One of…
Science Friday889: Did Dinosaur Flight Evolve More Than Once? | Biodiversity’s Biggest Event Is Underway
Some paleontologists argue the ancient footprints found in South Korea show flight may have evolved in multiple dinosaur lineages. And, COP16 will tackle…
Science Friday888: How Do Animals Understand Death?
Throughout history, humans have given a lot of thought to death. We’ve grappled with our mortality, created elaborate burial rituals, and contemplated how best…
Science Friday887: MRIs Show How The Brain Changes During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a hugely transformative experience, both in how it can change someone’s day-to-day life, and how it affects the body. There’s a key part of the…
Science Friday886: How Metaphor Shapes Science | Intertwining The Lives Of Moths And Humans Through Music
Metaphors can help us understand complicated scientific concepts. But they can also have a downside. And, a pair of musicians wrote a concept album inspired by…
Science Friday885: NASA’s Europa Clipper Heads To Jupiter’s Icy Moon Europa
On October 14, NASA launched Europa Clipper, its largest planetary mission spacecraft yet. It’s headed to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, which could have a giant…
Science Friday884: Pandas Return To Washington, D.C. | A Lesser-Known Grain Called Kernza
Two giant pandas on loan from China have arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Also, originally from Central Asia, Kernza doesn’t need to be replanted…
Science Friday883: How Health Misinformation Spreads | A Play About Ben Franklin And His Son
The Basics Of How Health Misinformation SpreadsHealth misinformation can circulate quickly on social media: false claims about vaccines, ads pushing…
Science Friday882: Searching The Universe For Clues To The Ultra-Small
What exactly is … everything? What is space-time?At one extreme, you’ve got the weird rules of quantum physics that deal with subatomic particles. At the other…
Science Friday881: What Makes ‘SuperAgers’ Stay Healthy For So Long?
A common worry among older adults is how their brains and bodies might decline as they age.A small but fortunate group will live past their 95th birthdays…
Science Friday880: Asheville Was Never A ‘Climate Haven.’ Nowhere Is.
For years, Asheville, North Carolina, has been billed as a “climate haven,” a place safe from the touch of climate change-exacerbated disasters. But last…
Science Friday879: The Science Behind Hurricane Milton | ‘Unsettling’ Warm Water In Lake Michigan
Hurricane Milton caused a major storm surge, but also a reverse one. And, Lake Michigan's surface temperature has been above average nearly every day this year…
Science Friday878: How Campaigns Use Psychology To Get Out The Vote
We’re one month away from the presidential election. The campaigns are in high gear, trying to get their messages out, and hoping that those messages will be…
Science Friday877: How Gut Microbes Are Linked To Stress Resilience
The phrase “go with your gut” is often used to say one should follow their intuition in the face of a big decision. Recent research in the journal Nature…
Science Friday876: How Magnetic Brain Stimulation Helps Relieve Depression
As the surgeon general has stated, we are in a mental health crisis. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. And a major challenge is that…