Science Friday

How Plants Powered Prehistoric Giants Millions Of Years Ago

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you imagine prehistoric life, it’s likely that the first thing that comes to mind are dinosaurs: long-necked Apatosauruses, flying Pterosaurs, ...

How Narwhals Use Their Tusks To Hunt And Play | This Week's ‘Blood Moon’ Lunar Eclipse

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An international team of researchers used drones to study narwhals and learn more about their behavior. And, a total lunar eclipse will be visible acr...

Where Have All The Butterflies Gone?

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A sweeping new study on one of the most beloved insects, maybe the only truly beloved insect—the butterfly—details its rapid population decline in...

What Does Dismantling USAID Mean For Global Health?

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On the very first day of Donald Trump’s second term, he signed an executive order targeting foreign aid programs, especially the U.S. Agency for Int...

Protesters ‘Stand Up For Science’ At Rallies Nationwide | Blue Ghost Lunar Lander

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists aren’t always encouraged to be politically active. But recent political interference by the Trump administration has many fired up. And, ...

The Effort To Save Thousands Of Donor Kidneys | Ocean Liner Will Become An Artificial Reef

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, 9,000 deceased donor kidneys were discarded due to storage and time limitations. A kidney “life support” machine could change that. Als...

Where Does Plastic And Other Trash Go After We Throw It Away?

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A journalist traveled to five continents to learn about the afterlife of our trash, and why most “recyclable” plastic actually isn’t.Have you ev...

An Animal’s Size And Its Cancer Risk | Bastetodon, A 30 Million-Year-Old Apex Predator

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A study finds that Peto’s Paradox, which states that larger animals are no more likely to get cancer than smaller ones, may not hold up. Also, a nea...

How Trump’s DEI Ban Will Affect Medical Research

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Changes limiting programs, grants, and even the nature of studies are already underway at the NIH, NSF, FDA, CDC, and more.On President Trump’s firs...

Conflicting Directives Sow Confusion For NIH Workers | The Mycobiome

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The acting head of the NIH reportedly pushed back against legal guidance to resume grant funding, leaving federal workers in the lurch. Also, though f...

The Best Tail For Balance | Bindi Irwin Wants Kids To Become ‘Wildlife Warriors’

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The bone and joint structures in mammal tails help them keep their balance. Could those benefits be adapted for robots? And, in her first children’s...

A Vaccine For Pancreatic Cancer Continues To Show Promise

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat, and about 90% of diagnosed patients die from the disease. A team at Memorial Sloan Kettering has ...

Why Are Flu And Other Viral Infection Rates So High This Year?

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been an unusually tough winter virus season. Rates of flu-like infections are higher than they’ve been in nearly 30 years. And for the first ...

Making Sense Of Federal Cuts To Science—And What Comes Next

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, some 3,500 people from across scientific fields gathered in Boston for the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement o...

Tomb Of Egyptian King Unearthed | Why The Internet Was Captivated By A Hideous Fish

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Finding the original tomb of the royal is one of the most significant developments in Egyptian archeology in recent history. Also, a video of a glorio...

What Happens To Your Body When You’re Grieving

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We have lots of expressions to describe the pain of loss—heartache, a broken heart, a punch in the gut. These aren’t just figures of speech: While...

Can Men and Women (Baboons) Really Just Be Friends? | The Best Bear Deterrent May Be Drones

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can Men and Women (Baboons) Really Just Be Friends?In the romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally,” the central premise, as Billy Crystal and Meg Ry...

Adventures In Science At The Icy ‘Ends Of The Earth’

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The North and South Poles, also known as Earth’s iceboxes, help cool the planet, store fresh water, influence weather patterns, and more. They’re ...

FDA Approves A New, Non-Opioid Painkiller | Deep, Multi-Layer Oceans On Uranus And Neptune?

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the first FDA approval for a pain medication in 25 years. How does the drug work, and who is it for? Also, non-mixing layers of water and hydro...

Most Powerful Neutrino Ever Is Detected In the Mediterranean | Nerdy Valentines

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most Powerful Neutrino Ever Is Detected In the MediterraneanNeutrinos are sometimes called “ghost particles,” because they are nearly weightless, ...

‘Common Side Effects’ And An All-Healing Mushroom | The Unique Smell Of Snow

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In "Common Side Effects," the starring scientist finds a mushroom that can heal any ailment. But powerful people will do anything to stop him from cul...

Investigating Fraud At The Heart Of Alzheimer’s Research

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, billions of dollars are funneled into Alzheimer’s research. And yet, so far, there’s no treatment that’s been able to reverse the di...

Managing Wildfires Using A Centuries-Old Indigenous Practice

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In late September, firefighters in flame-resistant Nomex were strung out along a fireline. It ran midslope through a pine and hardwood forest above th...

Can Vaping Help You Quit Cigarettes? What Are The Risks?

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The harms of smoking cigarettes are pretty clear. Smoking causes cancer as well as heart and lung diseases, and it’s the leading cause of preventabl...

How Lucy Runs On A Virtual Treadmill | Comparing DeepSeek’s AI To Other Models

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists determined that Lucy, a human ancestor from 3.2 million years ago, couldn’t have beaten modern humans in a foot race. Also, the Chinese A...

Scientists Create Glowing ‘RNA Lanterns’ With Bioluminescence

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The inner workings of our bodies, particularly what’s happening inside our cells, can be kind of a black box—with countless tiny molecules constan...

What’s Next For Quantum Computing In 2025?

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It seems that every few months, there’s an exciting breakthrough in quantum computing, a kind of computing that takes advantage of quantum physics t...

Building Blocks Of Life Found On Asteroid Bennu

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

About four and a half years ago, a spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx touched down on the surface of an asteroid called Bennu. It drilled down and scooped u...

The Toxic Aftermath Of An Urban Fire

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After nearly four weeks of burning, the fires in Los Angeles are almost fully contained, and cleanup is underway. But as the dust literally settles, p...

Strain Of Bird Flu Discovered In California | Understanding Bipolar Disorder Through The Genome

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The outbreak of H5N9 avian influenza occurred at a California duck farm in November 2024. Also, new research pinpoints 298 parts of the genome associa...

The Science Of Thriving In Winter—By Embracing It

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Health psychologist Dr. Kari Leibowitz traveled to some of the coldest, darkest places on earth to learn how people there don’t just survive, but th...

The Factors That Make Bird Sounds So Diverse Across The World

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Birds are the master vocalists of the animal kingdom. They can make a remarkable variety of sounds.But why is a barred owl more of a baritone, while a...

Can Paxlovid Relieve Long COVID Symptoms? For Some, Yes

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been five years since the first laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S., a bleak milestone in the early days of a pandemic that touch...

AI Is Coming Up With Brand New Molecules, Fueling Drug Discovery

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study in the journal Nature unveiled new proteins that can neutralize the deadliest of snake venoms. They’re “new” in that they aren’...

Trump Administration Cancels Meetings, Freezes Hiring At NIH | What Is A Meme Coin?

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health say the move has sent fear and confusion throughout the agency. Plus, what's the technology behind me...

Why Editors At Scientific Journals Are Resigning En Masse

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Editors at scientific journals are quitting in droves. According to Retraction Watch, a watchdog publication, there have been at least 20 mass resigna...

This January, See A ‘Planet Parade’ In The Night Sky

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rejoice, amateur and professional astronomers: This January is a fantastic time for looking up at the sky.The flashiest event of the season is also on...

‘Orbital’ Imagines The Inner Lives Of Astronauts On The ISS

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From down here on Earth, life on the International Space Station seems magnificent: floating through the day, enjoying stunning views out your window,...

Fire Risk To Homes Where Cities And Wildlands Meet

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since January 7, wildfires have been devastating the Los Angeles area. In the span of 10 days, several different fires, including the Palisades and Ea...

2 Private Lunar Landers | Cervical Cancer Deaths Plummet, Experts Credit HPV Vaccine

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The SpaceX rocket carries lunar landers from companies based in Texas and Japan. They could arrive at the moon in the coming months. HPV can cause a v...

‘Artificial General Intelligence’ Is Apparently Coming. What Is It?

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For years, artificial intelligence companies have heralded the coming of artificial general intelligence, or AGI. OpenAI, which makes the chatbot Chat...

NASA Considers Cheaper Ways To Retrieve Mars Samples | How Does A Hula Hoop Stay Up?

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists investigated how the shape of the human body makes hula hooping possible—and what hips and a waist have to do with it. And, the decision ...

Surgeon General Highlights Link Between Alcohol And Cancer

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alcohol poses many risks to our health, including liver damage and driving under the influence.Now, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has highligh...

First U.S. Bird Flu Death Raises Concerns About Preparedness

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On January 6, the U.S. reported its first human death from the bird flu. According to the CDC, more than 60 people were diagnosed with bird flu in the...

Meet Flora Lichtman | Los Angeles Wildfires Stoked By Santa Ana Winds

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After her SciFri internship 20 years ago, Flora went on to become a beloved science journalist, video producer, and podcaster. Now she’s back! Also,...

What Lichen Tell Us About Ecology, Air Quality, And More

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last October, Ira Flatow took a trip to the World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon, for a daylong exploration of lichen—the fuzzy growths often f...

Biologists Call For A Halt To ‘Mirror Life’ Research

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’re probably familiar with the concept of handedness—a glove made for your left hand looks basically like the one for your right hand, but won’...

The Breakthrough Technologies To Watch In 2025

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each year, the journalists at the MIT Technology Review publish a list of 10 breakthrough technologies: these are things poised to hit a tipping point...

What Scientists Have Learned From 125 Years Of Bird Counts

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This winter marks the 125th year of Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, in which bird nerds across the Western Hemisphere venture outside to record all ...

Scientists Predict Loss Of Deep Snow In Most Of U.S.

03 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers have projected that by the end of the century, days where snow covers the ground will virtually disappear in the United States, except for...

Jane Goodall On Life Among Chimpanzees

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Few living scientists are as iconic as Dr. Jane Goodall. The legendary primatologist spent decades working with chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Nati...

The Science That Captivated SciFri’s Reporters In 2024

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Health, Astronomy, And Climate Experts On 2024’s Coolest Science

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 cit...

Meet Leaders Of 3 Local Conservation Projects | Preserving ‘Space Junk’ Left On Mars

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What makes three very different conservation projects so successful? These experts say it’s getting the community involved. And, archaeologists make...

The Top Dino Discoveries Of 2024 | Can Spiking Eggnog Kill Bacteria From Raw Eggs?

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To wrap up 2024, science writer Riley Black shares her favorite paleontology discoveries of the year. And, if treated properly, even old-fashioned egg...

Parker Solar Probe Will Make Closest-Ever Approach To Sun

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 approac...

If ‘Interstellar’ Were Made Today, What Would Be Different?

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For its 10th anniversary, the science advisor for “Interstellar” discusses the film’s impact and how new information about gravitational waves c...

Farewell, Murder Hornet | What FAA Regulations Tell Us About Mysterious Drone Sightings

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Officials say the invasive Asian giant hornet, with its menacing nickname, has been eradicated from the United States. Also, with drone sightings in t...

How Blind Women In India Detect Early Breast Cancer | Web-Slinging Silk Becomes Real

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A program trains women as tactile medical examiners to identify tumors before they show up on imaging scans. And, in a materials science discovery, sc...

8.5 Hours Of Daily Sitting Linked To Higher BMI And Cholesterol

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Accidental Discovery That Gave Us ‘Forever Chemicals’ | A Pregnancy Play Inspired By Mushroom Research

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Accidental Discovery That Gave Us ‘Forever Chemicals’When it comes to PFAS chemicals—known as “forever chemicals”—we often hear that t...

How Empire and Environmental Destruction Go Hand-In-Hand

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“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 h...

The Universe Is Expanding Faster Than Expected | Are Food Recalls Actually On The Rise?

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The effect, known as the Hubble Tension, has been confirmed by James Webb Space Telescope observations. Also, despite near daily warnings of food reca...

You Share Your Gut Microbiome With Your Friends

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 d...

Marie Curie And The Women Scientists Who Became Her Legacy

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you consider someone’s legacy in science, you might think about their biggest discovery, their list of publications, or their titles, awards, a...

Protecting Against Poison Exposure This Holiday Season

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

2024’s Best Science Books For Kids

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. I...

Supreme Court Case On Regulation Of Vapes | Predicting Lithium-Ion Battery Explosions

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court hears a case centering on the FDA’s denial of applications for nicotine-based vapes containing flavored liquid seen as addictive f...

A Theatrical Tribute To Unexpected Science

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

'They Might Be Giants' Sings About Science

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As part of Science Friday’s 33rd anniversary show, we’re revisiting our listeners’ favorite stories, including this one from 2009.In the album “...

What Was It Like To Witness The End Of The Dinosaurs?

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As part of Science Friday’s 33rd anniversary show, we’re revisiting our listeners’ favorite stories, including this one from 2022.66 million yea...

A Nobel Prize For Chemistry Work ‘Totally Separate From Biology’

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

Alan Alda Reflects On Life With Parkinson’s

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2018, actor, author and science communicator Alan Alda spoke publicly about his diagnosis for Parkinson’s Disease. Alda, who is best known for hi...

A Horn Of Potato Plenty | Adding Marbling To Fake Meat For An Extra-Realistic Bite

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just in time for Thanksgiving, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts. And, irregular, fatty ma...

A Nutritionist Clarifies Some Common Health Claims

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We recently asked our listeners which dubious health claims they’ve been seeing in their social media feeds or being circulated by friends and famil...

Restoring Drinking Water After Hurricane Helene | Oyster Shell Reefs And Sea Level Rise

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, tri...

50 Years Of Science With Lucy, Our Famous Early Ancestor

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

SpaceX’s Starship Completes In-Orbit Engine Test | Resuscitating Shipwrecked Rye Seeds

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Chef Jack Bishop Breaks Down ‘The Science of Good Cooking’

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Americ...

Bacteriophages Lurk In Your Bathroom, But Don’t Worry

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It sounds like something from an advertisement for bathroom cleaner: Researchers found over 600 different viruses, most of which are new to science, i...

Managing Invasive Plants And Ticks Together | Clue Into The Evolution Of The Bird Brain

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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”...

The Gurgling, Growling History Of The Gut

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Despite advances in scientific research, the stomach remains a subject of mystery and intrigue. After all, it’s nearly impossible to ignore its gurg...

At COP29, The World’s Top Polluters Are No-Shows | Walking Pneumonia Is Spiking

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Oliver Sacks Searched The Brain For The Origins Of Music

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today, November 8, 2024, marks Science Friday’s 33rd broadcast anniversary. One of the most beloved interviewees on Science Friday over the years wa...

CAR-T Cell Therapy For Autoimmune Diseases | Measuring Early Life Adversity—In Marmots

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a Chinese study, donor CAR-T cells sent autoimmune diseases into remission. There’s hope that the therapy is scalable. And, scientists used decad...

Your Arm Position Can Make Blood Pressure Readings Inaccurate

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 pr...

Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic?

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 hav...

Ballot Measures Passed To Protect Abortion Rights | New Largest Prime Number

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Abortion was on the ballot in 10 states, and seven of them passed constitutional amendments defending abortion rights. Also, this ginormous number has...

Chickens Have Friendships And Reputations | Tourist Photos May Help Map Penguin Colonies

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery discusses chicken intelligence and her experience raising a flock in New Hampshire. And, snapshots from over the y...

The Clean Air Act Has Saved Millions Of Lives—But Gaps Remain

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1960s, the urban air pollution crisis in America had reached a fever pitch: Cities were shrouded in smog, union steelworkers were demanding pro...

How Does Long-Distance Running Affect Your Body?

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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....

Gender-Affirming Care Is On The Line In This Election

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gender-affirming care is on the ballot in this presidential election. These treatments, which can include hormone therapy and surgeries, can be lifesa...

Maine Offshore Wind Auction Draws Few Bids | An Artist Combines Indigenous Textiles With Modern Tech

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two years ago, energy companies scrambled for offshore wind contracts. At a recent auction, the demand was significantly lower. Plus, artist Sarah Ros...

After A Park Fire, Milkweed Bloomed | The ‘Creepy’ Procedure That Taps Into Young Blood

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 af...

How Insects Changed The World—And Human Cultures

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Science Behind Third-Trimester Abortions

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leading up to the November election, Science Friday is covering top science issues on the ballot. For voters, those top issues include abortion.Since ...

How Aging Water Systems Are Pushing Sewage Into U.S. Homes

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 say...

Did Dinosaur Flight Evolve More Than Once? | Biodiversity’s Biggest Event Is Underway

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some paleontologists argue the ancient footprints found in South Korea show flight may have evolved in multiple dinosaur lineages. And, COP16 will tac...

How Do Animals Understand Death?

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout history, humans have given a lot of thought to death. We’ve grappled with our mortality, created elaborate burial rituals, and contemplat...

MRIs Show How The Brain Changes During Pregnancy

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...