Science Friday

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...

How Metaphor Shapes Science | Intertwining The Lives Of Moths And Humans Through Music

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Metaphors can help us understand complicated scientific concepts. But they can also have a downside. And, a pair of musicians wrote a concept album in...

NASA’s Europa Clipper Heads To Jupiter’s Icy Moon Europa

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On October 14, NASA launched Europa Clipper, its largest planetary mission spacecraft yet. It’s headed to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, which could h...

Pandas Return To Washington, D.C. | A Lesser-Known Grain Called Kernza

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How Health Misinformation Spreads | A Play About Ben Franklin And His Son

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Basics Of How Health Misinformation SpreadsHealth misinformation can circulate quickly on social media: false claims about vaccines, ads pushing s...

Searching The Universe For Clues To The Ultra-Small

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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....

What Makes ‘SuperAgers’ Stay Healthy For So Long?

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 birth...

Asheville Was Never A ‘Climate Haven.’ Nowhere Is.

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For years, Asheville, North Carolina, has been billed as a “climate haven,” a place safe from the touch of climate change-exacerbated disasters. B...

The Science Behind Hurricane Milton | ‘Unsettling’ Warm Water In Lake Michigan

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How Campaigns Use Psychology To Get Out The Vote

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 messa...

How Gut Microbes Are Linked To Stress Resilience

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How Magnetic Brain Stimulation Helps Relieve Depression

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How The Origin Of Life On Earth Can Help Find Life In Space

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The origin of life on Earth has been mulled over by scientists for centuries. We now know that life’s building blocks are RNA, amino acids, and cell...

Hurricane Helene's Effect On The Global Tech Industry | A Stretchy Band-Aid For The Heart

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The storm flooded mines in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, which supply the tech industry with some of the purest quartz in the world. Also, researchers ...

Herbicides Approved For Public Land | Hidden Physics In Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This summer, the Bureau of Land Management approved seven herbicides to fight invasive plants in the West. Also, when scientists analyzed the swirls i...

Improving Hospitals’ Support For Teens In Mental Health Crises

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This conversation discusses suicide and suicidal ideation in young people. Please take care while listening. If you or a loved one is thinking about s...

Greenhouse Gases From Anesthesia | Fighting Militarization In The Mariana Islands

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Emissions from anesthesia are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases from hospitals. This anesthesiologist wants to change that. And, a cultur...

Empowering Older Adults To Step Up For The Climate

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re a baby boomer, you may remember the first Earth Day, the Civil Rights Movement, anti-war protests, and the first Pride parade. The list go...

Microsoft Makes Deal To Restart Three Mile Island | Fish That Use Their Legs To Taste

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The company is betting big on nuclear energy to meet increasing power needs of data centers and new technologies like AI. Also, new research into a st...

Former NIH Director Reflects On Public Mistrust In Science

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2021, Dr. Francis Collins stepped down after a dozen years leading the National Institutes of Health. He had just overseen the government’s respo...

How Are AI Chatbots Changing Scientific Publishing?

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Since ChatGPT was released to the public almost three years ago, generative AI chatbots have had many impacts on our society: They played a large role...

These Artists Serve Up Environmental Crises Through Food

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Would you be interested in a cookie infused with smog from your favorite city? Maybe a loaf of sourdough made from wheat tainted by wildfires?Those ar...

Surgeon General Takes On Parental Stress And Mental Health

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Parenting is a tough job. Some days are absolutely overwhelming, balancing a job, a home, and a child’s needs. One thing goes wrong and it’s like ...

Earth May Once Have Had A Ring Like Saturn | An AI For Sand

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The ring would have gradually fallen to Earth as meteorites, correlating to a spike of impacts seen in the geological record. Also, a new AI tool can ...

Physicists Create Heaviest Antimatter Nucleus | Bird Species May Team Up For Migration

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The heaviest antimatter nucleus to date was spotted in a particle accelerator. It could provide new insights into the nature of matter. And, research ...

Your Questions About The Updated COVID Vaccines, Answered

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

SciFri producer Kathleen Davis talks with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire, assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard’s T.H....

To Confront Climate Change, Imagine Getting It Right

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Part of the reason it’s difficult to talk about climate change is that it can be hard to see a long-term positive outcome for people and the planet....

What Research Shows About Smartphone Bans In Schools

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kids and teens are back in school, and the battle over the smartphones in their pockets is becoming more prominent. For years, teachers and parents ha...

First Citizen Spacewalk | First Successful Whole-Eye Transplant, Over A Year Later

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

SpaceX Crew Completes First Citizen SpacewalkBig news in the world of commercial space flight: On Thursday morning, Jared Iasaacman and Sarah Gillis, ...

‘Time Capsule’ Rocks And Earth’s Mantle | Genetically Engineering Stronger Wood

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Samples of 2.5 billion-year-old mantle rocks found at spreading ocean ridges could put bounds on models of how the planet formed. And, researchers dec...

To This Neuroscientist, Cows Are Like Puppies

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever seen a cute cow video on social media, you might notice they seem to have a lot in common with dogs. They can wag their tails, they l...

Fishing For—And Saving—Sharks | Scientists Identify ‘ManhattAnt’ Spreading Across NYC

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shark fishing is alive and well, but the fishermen who do it are increasingly prioritizing conservation. And, an unknown ant was spotted in Manhattan ...