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.
We go inside the scientifically accurate ER world created for the TV show with one of its medical consultants. What is it actually like to work in an emergency room? To deal with overcrowded waiting rooms, a shortage of hospital beds, and a constant flow of life-and-death health conditions—while trying to maintain your sanity at the same time? That’s the focus of “The Pitt,” a new medical drama on Max from the creators of “ER,” starring one of that show’s key actors, all grown up: Noah Wyle. The...
This episode discusses the planned decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030 and the transition to private companies for building future space stations. Lauren Grush explains NASA's strategy to offload low Earth orbit operations to the private sector, the financial incentives for companies, and the competition with China's space program. The episode also explores the potential for artificial gravity in future stations and the debate over whether to retire the ISS at all.
This episode of Science Friday explores the concept of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), its definition, and potential impacts. Guests discuss the challenges in defining AGI, the economic motivations driving its development, and whether AI can be ethical. They also address concerns about job displacement, environmental impact, and potential doomsday scenarios, while highlighting the positive advancements AI has already enabled in fields like medicine and weather prediction.
Dr. Nita Ogden joins Science Friday to discuss the science behind seasonal allergies and effective treatments. The conversation covers the impact of climate change on pollen seasons, the types of plants that cause allergies, and the effectiveness of various treatments like antihistamines, immunotherapy, and probiotics. Listeners also share their experiences and remedies.
Over the past two decades, rates of peanut allergies in children have more than tripled. A variety of theories has been proposed to explain this, from a rise in industrialization keeping kids away from the germs that develop the immune system, to the previous pediatric guidelines that urged parents to restrict access to peanuts early in life. Whatever the cause, higher rates of peanut allergies means effective treatments are in higher demand. New research published in NEJM Evidence shows that a ...
The cuts hit multiple agencies, affecting work on HIV, gun violence prevention, vaccines, minority health research, and more. On April 1, thousands of federal health workers woke up to find that they had been laid off . Scientists and civil servants at the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health were let go as part of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pledge to cut jobs at the country’s top disease-fighting agencies. Host Ira Flatow talks...
This episode discusses concerns about NOAA funding cuts impacting hurricane forecasting accuracy and preparedness, featuring insights from a climate reporter. It also explores music therapy for babies, providing tips from a music therapist on optimal music choices and practices for infant development and soothing.
Scientists discuss their expedition to study the seafloor beneath a newly calved iceberg in Antarctica, revealing a surprisingly diverse and thriving ecosystem. They describe the challenges of accessing such remote environments, the unexpected discoveries of life and geological features, and the importance of understanding how these ecosystems will respond to climate change and ice loss. The team hopes to return and monitor the changes over time.
Mental health information on social media can be both revelatory and misleading. How do clinicians and their patients make sense of it? TikTok and other social media sites are full of mental health content—often short, grabby, first-person videos detailing symptoms for conditions like ADHD and autism. But what does this mean for teens and young adults who spend hours a day scrolling? A new study published in PLOS One analyzes the 100 most viewed TikTok videos about ADHD to assess both how accura...
Engineers take an in-depth look at why the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed and how to prevent future tragedies. In the early morning of March 26, 2024, the container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Within 30 seconds, the bridge collapsed into the river below. Six construction workers lost their lives. On the one-year anniversary of the accident, we talk about what went wrong , and how to improve the safety of our nation’s bridges and prevent another tr...
En este episodio de Science Friday, se discuten varios temas interesantes. Se explora el impacto de la quiebra de 23andMe y la necesidad de que los usuarios borren sus datos genéticos. También se analiza el descubrimiento de posibles indicios de vida antigua en Marte, el comportamiento tramposo de la IA en el ajedrez, y la importancia de la calidad del audio. Además, se presenta un fascinante encuentro entre un pulpo y un tiburón y se introduce un innovador revestimiento para pelotas de golf diseñado para mejorar el juego.
Certain words are overrepresented in text written by AI language models. A study investigates why such patterns develop. Also, the ends of chromosomes, called telomeres, typically shorten as an organism ages. But when some fat-tail dwarf lemurs hibernate, they lengthen. ‘Delving’ Into The ‘Realm’ Of AI Word Choice Several years ago, some eagle-eyed readers of scientific papers noticed an unusual trend —an increase in the number of abstracts using certain words. The terms, including “delve,” “rea...
TB kills more than a million people each year. Dr. Mireille Kamariza has spent her career developing better detection and treatment tools. As the United States retreats from global health leadership—withdrawing from the World Health Organization, dismantling USAID—public health experts warn that there will be implications for the spread of certain diseases around the globe. One such disease is tuberculosis (TB), which is the deadliest infectious disease in the world. If you live in the United St...
In a new book, author John Green traces how the disease has impacted culture, geography, and even fashion over the centuries. Tuberculosis (TB) has had an incredibly large impact on human history. One staggering statistic? It’s been estimated that by the start of the 1800s, the disease had killed one in seven people who had ever lived. Because of this, tuberculosis affected human culture, geography, and fashion—and even killed off some of literature and media’s most famous heroines. While TB inc...
Researchers built the largest 3D map of our universe yet. What they found supports the idea that dark energy could have evolved over time. One of the mysteries of the universe is why it expands at the rate that it does. Back in 1998, two teams of researchers observed that not only was the universe expanding, but that the rate of expansion was increasing . That observation was the basis for a concept now known as dark energy. In the years since, cosmologists have been trying to get a handle on be...
After nine months aboard the International Space Station, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally landed back on Earth. Also, a German physicist and homebrewer discovered brief, intense physical reactions that happen when you uncork a bubbly swing-top bottle. NASA Astronauts Return To Earth After Extended Stay On The ISS After 286 days aboard the International Space Station— 278 days longer than their initial planned mission—NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams landed ...
The framework of Adverse Childhood Experiences started with an unexpected finding over 30 years ago. How is our approach changing? We know that experiences from our childhood, both good and bad, shape who we become as adults. But, understanding what kinds of early experiences have staying power into adulthood and the wide range of impacts they can have is an emerging science. In the 1980s, Dr. Vincent Felitti ran a weight loss clinic in San Diego, California. He noticed that some patients who re...
Former NIH director Dr. Harold Varmus speaks out about what recent budget cuts and policy changes could mean for science. One of the areas targeted by President Trump’s administration for cuts has been the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cost-cutting actions have included the layoffs of some 1,200 NIH employees, the termination of research grants , a pause in the “study sections” that evaluate and award grant funding, and a cap on indirect costs included in research grants. Some of those mo...
Fungal networks in the ground ferry crucial nutrients to plants. But how do brainless organisms form complex supply chain networks? Also, in this year’s baseball spring training, the new Automated Ball-Strike System is helping settle challenges to home plate pitch calls. Scientists Observe Fungi Creating Complex Supply Chains As the leaves start to pop out, it’s natural to look up and admire the trees. But actually, there’s a lot of action happening underneath your feet. Beneath you is a complex...
This episode discusses the impact of federal budget cuts on NOAA, including potential consequences for weather forecasting and climate research. It also explores the prevalence of microplastics in rain and the discovery of numerous new moons around Saturn. Finally, the episode investigates the freeze on USDA grants for climate-smart farming and its effects on farmers and the food system.
It’s March 14, or Pi Day , that day of the year where we celebrate the ratio that makes a circle a circle. The Greek letter that represents it is such a part of our culture that it merits our irrational attention. Joining Host Ira Flatow to help slice into our pi’s is Dr. Steven Strogatz, professor of math at Cornell University and co-host of Quanta Magazine ’s podcast “The Joy Of Why.” They talk about how pi was “discovered,” the ways it’s figuring into recent science, and how AI is changing th...
Paleontologist Riley Black discusses the crucial role of prehistoric plants in shaping ecosystems and influencing the evolution of dinosaurs, highlighting the often-overlooked field of paleobotany. The episode explores the intimate relationships between plants and animals, using the concept of "evolution's greatest romance" to describe their deep connection. Black also discusses specific prehistoric plants like scale trees and Metasequoia, and how modern-day locations can provide a glimpse into ancient plant life.
This episode explores the mysterious lives of narwhals using drone technology to reveal their hunting and social behaviors, including the surprising uses of their tusks. It also discusses the upcoming total lunar eclipse (blood moon), offering tips for viewing this celestial event. The episode highlights the importance of both technological advancements and traditional observational methods in understanding the natural world.
This episode of Science Friday explores the alarming decline in butterfly populations across the United States, as revealed by a recent comprehensive study. Researchers discuss the factors contributing to this decline, including climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use, with a particular focus on the impact of insecticides. They highlight the crucial role of citizen scientists in data collection and offer insights into potential solutions and areas for future research, emphasizing that reversing the trend is still possible through both individual and systemic efforts.
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 International Development (USAID). Comprising less than 0.1% of the federal budget , USAID provides international humanitarian and development aid for poverty eradication, education, disease prevention, and medical programs. The Trump administration has cut off funding for these programs and most of the USAID staff was placed on leave or laid off. Sinc...
Scientists aren’t always encouraged to be politically active. But recent political interference by the Trump administration has many fired up. And, the Blue Ghost lunar lander, part of NASA’s CLPS initiative, completed the first fully successful commercial moon landing. Protesters ‘Stand Up For Science’ At Rallies Across The Country Scientists and defenders of science are gathering in cities across the U.S. today as part of Stand Up for Science rallies , events to protest recent political interf...
Last year, 9,000 deceased donor kidneys were discarded due to storage and time limitations. A kidney “life support” machine could change that. Also, the SS United States will join Florida’s 4,300 artificial reefs—human-made places for fish and other marine life to live. How do these reefs work? The Effort To Save Thousands Of Donor Kidneys From Being Wasted Sylvia Miles was diagnosed with lupus in 2006, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissue—in...
This episode of Science Friday delves into the complex world of trash disposal and recycling. Journalist Alexander Clapp discusses his book "Waste Wars," revealing the global waste trade, its environmental and social consequences, and the challenges of plastic recycling. The conversation explores the history of waste management, the role of international regulations, and potential solutions for reducing plastic production and holding producers accountable.
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 nearly complete predator skull was found in the Egyptian desert. Its lineage indicates that it was a top carnivore of the age. What Does An Animal’s Size Have To Do With Its Cancer Risk? If you throw a huge party, there’s more of a chance of problems than if you host a quiet get-together for a couple of friends. The logic is simple: Having more people a...
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 first day in office, he signed an executive order to end what he calls “illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” referencing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the federal government. The repercussions of this are already being felt across science agencies. Things are changing fast: Last week, a federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked ...
