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.
Since January, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has made sweeping cuts to science. It's hard to keep track of how many research grants were canceled, but they add up to hundreds of millions—possibly billions—of dollars of research funding lost. Some scientists, like Dr. Katie Edwards, are taking the fight to the courts. Edwards studies interpersonal violence at the University of Michigan, and she speaks with Host Flora Lichtman about why she’s suing the NIH. Guest: Dr. Katie Edwards is th...
Explore the groundbreaking first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, equipped with the world's largest digital camera. Astrophysicist Dr. Federica Bianco discusses how the telescope captures a "cosmic movie" of the changing night sky, revealing transient events like supernovae and offering insights into dark matter and dark energy. Learn about the massive camera, the Sky Viewer app for experiencing the data (including sonification), and the observatory's open data policy and legacy.
Last month, scientists reported a historic first: they gave the first personalized gene-editing treatment to a baby who was born with a rare life-threatening genetic disorder. Before the treatment, his prognosis was grim. But after three doses, the baby’s health improved. So how does it work? What are the risks? And what could this breakthrough mean for the 30 million people in the US who have a rare genetic disease with no available treatments? To help get some answers, Host Flora Lichtman is j...
Australia is known for its unusual animal life, from koalas to kangaroos. But once upon a time, the Australian landscape had even weirder fauna, like Palorchestes azael, a marsupial with immense claws and a small trunk. There was Protemnodon mamkurra, a massive, slow-moving, kangaroo-like creature. And Zygomaturus trilobus, a wombat the size of a hippo. They’re all extinct now, and researchers are trying to figure out why. Host Flora Lichtman talks with researcher Carli Peters about ZooMS , a te...
This episode profiles physicist Suchitra Sebastian, whose experimental finding of a material acting as both an insulator and a metal simultaneously was deemed "impossible" by colleagues, challenging decades of established physics. The discussion explores Suchitra's winding path to physics, the hostile and male-dominated culture she encountered, how she found freedom and purpose beyond career expectations, and the courage required to stand by data that defies conventional wisdom and embrace the uncertainty of groundbreaking discovery.
Astrophysicist Macarena Garcia Marin joins to discuss the latest groundbreaking findings from the James Webb Space Telescope. Discoveries include the earliest confirmed galaxy seen, challenging theories of galaxy formation, and surprising insights into exoplanets and potential biosignatures. The episode also touches on dark matter, black holes, how Webb chooses its targets, and hints at future telescopes.
This episode explores two fascinating studies. The first details the discovery of a rare fossilized sauropod gut, a 'cololite,' which provides unprecedented insight into the diet of giant plant-eating dinosaurs, revealing they ate both high and low vegetation and used hindgut fermentation. The second study investigates how long-billed curlews eavesdrop on black-tailed prairie dog alarm calls. Using a unique experiment with a taxidermied badger on wheels, researchers show curlews use these warnings to detect predators much earlier, highlighting complex interspecies communication in the wild.
Screening for prostate cancer is complex. Experts discuss the PSA test, its limitations, and how evolving understanding of different prostate cancer types has changed screening guidelines over time. They cover current recommended practices regarding age and follow-up, delve into the debate about diagnosing low-grade disease, and touch upon racial disparities in incidence and care.
This episode of The Leap profiles biochemist Virginia Man-Yee Lee, who has made significant discoveries in understanding neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. It covers her challenging upbringing, her unique scientific and life partnership with her late husband John Trojanowski, and her fearless approach to tackling difficult research problems and standing up for her scientific views, including her pivotal work on the tau protein and the discovery of TDP-43.
Science Friday covers Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s controversial appointment of vaccine skeptics to the CDC's advisory panel and medical expert reactions. The episode also touches on other science stories, including Starlink satellite interference with radio astronomy, a potential dark matter detection, a device extracting water from dry air, and brain-controlled speech technology. The second half dives into the Trump administration's focus on accelerating Superfund toxic waste site cleanups, examining the Westlake Landfill case study, political motivations, and the impact on affected communities.
This episode delves into China's ambitious and rapidly advancing space program, discussing its recent Tianwen-2 asteroid mission, strategic step-by-step lunar exploration leading to planned crewed missions, and the development of space stations and international lunar bases. It explores the program's structure, unique scientific achievements like far-side lunar sample return, challenges in transparency, and exciting future plans such as lunar construction. The episode also features a segment on a new tactile astronomy book designed for visually impaired readers.
The prairie might just be the most underappreciated landscape in the United States. Beginning in the early 1800s, the majority of these grasslands were converted into big industrial farms. Now, some unaffectionately refer to it as “flyover country.” Host Ira Flatow talks with Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty, authors of Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie , about the loss of biodiversity on the American prairie and those working to restore what remai...
Explore the deep, shared history between humans and bedbugs, dating back 245,000 years to our early ancestors, and how these pests evolved alongside us through city-building and pesticide use, becoming resistant 'superbugs'. Also, delve into the fascinating discovery of a 100-million-year-old fossil wasp with an incredibly unique method of capturing prey using abdominal flaps, highlighting the weirdness of ancient insect life.
Manu Prakash is many things—biologist, engineer, inventor, philosopher—but what he isn’t is conventional. Following his instincts has led Manu to his most ambitious project yet: mapping the whole tree of life, with the help of everyone on this planet. Step one: make a cheap microscope anyone can use. Foldscope co-inventor Jim Cybulski describes their invention, and their dream to supply millions of microscopes to the masses. Manu has been recognized by the Hypothesis Fund as a Scout for his bold...
A mysterious disease called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) has been appearing in emergency rooms for about a decade. The disease has caused otherwise healthy children to lose the ability to move their arms and legs, and some become completely paralyzed. AFM is caused by a virus that's a cousin of the polio virus, earning it the nickname "the new polio.” Journalist and physician Eli Cahan joins Host Flora Lichtman to explain what doctors have been observing, the research efforts toward developing a...
It’s a precarious time for science in the United States. Federal funding is being slashed, career scientists are being laid off, and researchers are considering leaving to work abroad. On top of that, public trust in science and experts has declined. Besides acknowledging the federal attacks on science, a lot of scientists are also asking themselves: What are we doing wrong? How do we engage the public? And what could we do better? Joining Host Flora Lichtman to dig through these questions is Fe...
South American cane toads were brought to Australia in 1935 to help eradicate native beetles that were destroying sugar cane crops. The toads didn’t care much for the beetles, but they did spread across the coast of Queensland and beyond, with no natural predators to stop them. Their own deadly toxin devastated local reptiles along the way, and they now number over 200 million. Invasive biologists have long tried to curb Australia’s cane toad population. The newest approach uses CRISPR gene-edit...
Birding is a hobby that attracts a very particular group of people: the kind who get up at sunrise, go into the woods, and wait for hours for a little tiny feathered friend to fly past. Author and illustrator Rosemary Mosco guides us into the world of birding with her new book, The Birding Dictionary . Plus, biologist Sara Lipshutz fills us in on the surprisingly high-drama world of some female birds. Guests: Rosemary Mosco is an author, illustrator, and speaker whose work connects people with t...
This episode profiles the late plant scientist Joanne Chory, a fearless researcher who revolutionized the field. Despite facing skepticism and a Parkinson's diagnosis, she embarked on her most ambitious project: harnessing plants to fight climate change by engineering them to store carbon more effectively. The episode explores her unconventional methods, the pushback she faced, her family background, and how her diagnosis gave her project urgency, leaving a lasting legacy that continues today.
Grant funding by the National Science Foundation has been cut by more than half this year, bringing the foundation’s science funding to its lowest level in decades. Katrina Miller, who covers science for the New York Times , joins Host Flora Lichtman to unpack the cutbacks and discuss where the funding changes might lead. And, the FDA has cleared a blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. The first-of-its-kind test measures the levels of amyloid and tau proteins in a patient’s blood, two...
Following recent outages at Newark Airport, this episode delves into the complexities of air traffic control. A former FAA VP and air traffic controller explains how the system works, the technology used (including the shift from radar to space-based), and the crucial role of human controllers. The discussion covers system reliability, backup procedures, staffing challenges, AI's potential, and the impact of funding issues, plus a compelling personal account of managing airspace on 9/11.
At the beginning of May, the National Institutes of Health, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced a plan to develop a universal vaccine platform. Think: a single shot for flu or COVID-19 that would last years, maybe a lifetime. The plan—called Generation Gold Standard—has a reported budget of $500 million, and a tight deadline. But will it work? And where does the science on this actually stand? In this live broadcast, Hosts Flora Lichtman and Ira Flatow talk with epidem...
This episode profiles scientist Betül Kaçar, who risked her career by shifting her focus from traditional biochemistry to the ambitious study of life's origins and early evolution. Despite significant pushback and warnings from colleagues about the difficulty and career implications of her interdisciplinary work, Kaçar persisted, driven by a deep passion and resilience rooted in her personal history. She developed a unique methodology to resurrect and study ancient proteins, successfully making progress in understanding life's ability to survive drastic environmental changes, ultimately forging a new branch of research.
The “Mission: Impossible” franchise is known for its big stunts, and the newest film is no exception. Producer Kathleen Davis talks to the film’s stunt coordinator, Wade Eastwood, about the science behind one big underwater scene . Plus, psychologist Kenneth Carter joins Host Flora Lichtman to talk about what makes high-adrenaline adventurers tick. Take this questionnaire to see where you fall on the "sensation scale" Carter mentioned in this episode. Guests: Wade Eastwood is a stunt coordinator...
Pioneer climate scientist Jagadish Shukla shares his journey from a monsoon-dependent village in India to revolutionizing seasonal weather forecasting by challenging the prevailing butterfly effect theory. He explains the critical differences between predicting daily weather, seasonal patterns, and long-term climate, highlights the vital impact of seasonal forecasts on agriculture and communities, and voices concerns over current threats to weather data collection and the future of the field.
This Science Friday episode explores the surprising return of physical buttons and knobs in car design. Host Ira Flatow speaks with automotive engineer James Forbes and author Rachel Plotnick about the ergonomic benefits, tactile feedback, and lower cognitive load offered by physical controls compared to touchscreens. They discuss customer preferences, the cultural history of buttons, accessibility, and how automation and design trends might shape the future of car interfaces, including sharing listener's most cherished buttons.
Scientists are mapping the genomes of nightshades like tomatoes and eggplants to understand the genetics behind traits such as fruit size. Using CRISPR gene editing, researchers can modify specific genes to grow larger fruits more quickly than traditional breeding, potentially preserving desirable traits like flavor. This research also has implications for understanding genetic changes in human diseases like cancer and developing therapeutic approaches.
As a teenager living in St. Vincent, Richie Robertson saw first-hand what a volcanic eruption did to life on the island. Forty years later, he was the scientist the community turned to when the same volcano roared back to life. Richie’s colleague, Stacey Edwards of the UWI Seismic Research Centre, explains how Richie earned the trust of the community, and why it was important to have a Vincentian leading the way in a crisis. Guests: Dr. Richard Robertson, geologist at the UWI Seismic Research Ce...
The lesser prairie chicken was granted endangered species status in 2023. Now the Department of the Interior is moving to revoke those protections . What can this bird known for its flamboyant courtship rituals tell us about the Trump administration’s approach to environmental policy and protections for endangered species? Host Flora Lichtman is joined by Producer Shoshannah Buxbaum and Vox environmental reporter Benji Jones to talk about his reporting on the lesser prairie chicken and other sci...
