Science Friday

Science Friday and WNYC Studios•www.wnycstudios.org

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.

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Episodes

Are We Prepared To Fight ‘The New Polio’?

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...

Jun 06, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1051

How Science Communication Can Step Up Amid Federal Cuts

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...

Jun 05, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1050

How Cannibalistic Tadpoles Could Curb Invasive Cane Toads

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...

Jun 04, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1049

Turning The Binoculars On Birders

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...

Jun 03, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1048

The Leap: Be Bold Or Just Don't Do It

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.

Jun 02, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1041

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