Science Friday
by Science Friday and WNYC Studios
Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff.
Episodes
Where does federal science funding stand now?
Sudip Parikh of AAAS joins us for an update on how federal funding for research has changed, and the impact of those changes.
How rapid genome sequencing can help stop outbreaks
Researchers are working to track, and stop, outbreaks like Ebola more quickly by sequencing the genomes of pathogens as new cases appear.
Help! This new dwarf planet needs a name
Scientists using the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory have located a possible new dwarf planet beyond Neptune. What would you name it?
‘Big Math’ shines a light on the hidden math that runs our world
Mathematician Steven Strogatz discusses the unexpected math in daily life, and how his field is picking up the pieces after AI disruptions.
The SciFri Book Club reads ‘The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year’
The author of SciFri’s November book club pick on how she found meaning in the stories that unfolded in her yard.
Meet the tiny, see-through fish that can regenerate its brain
It swims, it buzzes, it regenerates its brain: A tiny glassfish is becoming a model species for scientists. What could it teach us?
Why is everyone so obsessed with protein?
A food historian and nutrition researcher dig into the protein-maxxing trend—and explain why you might want to up your fiber intake instead.
What a trapped antimatter particle could tell us about reality
Researchers have trapped a positron and held it at extremely cold temperatures for months, allowing them to measure its quantum properties.
Why are armadillos moving up north?
Armadillos are turning up in states like Kentucky and Illinois, far from their warm southern habitats. Why are they moving north?
When, and where, did bats first take to the sky?
An analysis of bat genomes and fossil records has shown that the flying mammals first took wing in Europe some 60-65 million years ago.
People are microdosing GLP-1s for weight loss. Is it safe?
Some online clinics are prescribing GLP-1 microdoses formulated by compounding pharmacies. Are these drugs safe and effective?
Terence Tao on how AI math solutions miss the point
Terence Tao says mathematics is about understanding, not just right answers, and quick AI solutions are forcing soul-searching in the field.
What was life like for Tyranossaurus rex?
T. rex may be the most famous prehistoric predator, but life wasn’t always bone-snapping chomps and food chain scaremongering.
Isabella Rossellini on how acting connects to animal cognition
Should we anthropomorphize animals or not? An actor and an ecologist share what they’ve learned about animal cognition.
Why are we changing the way we keep time?
Timekeeping scientists around the world voted to stop using leap seconds, but what does this mean for us?
Kazuo Ishiguro on emotional truth in sci-fi and in our AI reality
Five years after “Klara and the Sun” was published, the film adaptation exists in an entirely different AI landscape.
Is that garbage can bear resistant? These bears will find out
In the name of safety, test engineers turn pill bottles over to kids, launch dead chickens through jet engines, and let bears loose on coolers.
Jennifer Doudna on what it takes to be a good scientist
CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna on the evolution of gene-editing technology, her own path, and what it takes to be a good scientist.
Getting the billion-dollar PRIMA space telescope off the ground
The proposed PRIMA space telescope just entered Phase B of its development. What does that mean?
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson on making climate action cool
Climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson reflects on this moment of the climate movement and why climate action should be fun.