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.
Firefighting is a career with an inherent cancer risk, but a full understanding of what those risks are has been elusive. An important registry designed to help understand the link between firefighters and cancer was taken offline on April 1 because of federal cuts, then restored six weeks later. Host Flora Lichtman discusses this with firefighter health researcher Sara Jahnke and reporter Murphy Woodhouse from Boise State Public Radio and the Mountain West News Bureau. Plus, pests and pathogens...
What does it take to create and maintain one of the largest repositories of botanical information in the world? For starters, it can mean helicopter-ing into remote nooks of the Amazon, hiking through rough terrain, looking for strange fruits and flowers, and climbing trees to pluck specimens from the branches. Then there’s all the science required to identify, classify, and codify those species. Botanists Lúcia Lohmann and Charlotte Taylor join Host Flora Lichtman to discuss their work discover...
Medical sculptor Damon Coyle walks around with a Mary Poppins bag of body parts. Fake ones, that is. At the University of Missouri, his lab creates hyperrealistic body parts designed to help medical providers practice for real-world surgeries and procedures. They make things like lifelike arms for practicing blood draws or a set of eyeballs for ocular trauma training. On stage in Columbia, Missouri, Damon talks with Host Flora Lichtman about how he creates these eerily realistic body parts and h...
Biochemist Kati Karikó spent decades experimenting with mRNA, convinced that she could solve the problems that had kept it from being used as a therapeutic. Her tireless, methodical work was dismissed and she was ridiculed. But that work laid the foundation for the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines that saved millions of lives, and was recognized by a Nobel Prize in 2023. Kati shares her secret weapon for dealing with stress and naysayers. Plus, neurologist David Langer describes Kati’s exa...
This episode of Science Friday discusses proposed NASA budget cuts and their impact on space research, including robotic missions and the International Space Station. The conversation then shifts to deep sea mining, exploring environmental and geopolitical concerns surrounding a recent executive order that fast-tracks access for mining companies. Experts analyze the potential ecological damage and regulatory loopholes.
Dr. Bonnie Bassler discusses the complex communication methods of bacteria, which use chemicals to sense their environment and coordinate group behaviors. She explores how bacteria distinguish between relatives and competitors, and how they interact with viruses and host organisms. Bassler also touches on the potential applications of understanding bacterial communication for medicine and environmental science, and how her initial interest in bioluminescent bacteria led to broader insights into collective behavior.
A passion for fashion among the “bone collector caterpillar,” who wears a coat of body parts, and an artist who makes fabrics that remember. We inch into the world of extreme outerwear with the newly-discovered “bone collector caterpillar,” which wears a coat of many co… llected body parts . Why, Hanipillar Lecter? Entomologist Dan Rubinoff, who along with his team found the species on a mountainside in Oahu, Hawaii, shares the juicy details. And, what if clothes could remember our experiences? ...
This episode explores how iguanas traveled thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean on rafts, and the discovery of a pregnant ichthyosaur fossil named Fiona in Patagonia. Experts discuss the traits that enabled iguanas to survive such a voyage and what Fiona's fossil reveals about the evolution and birthing process of ichthyosaurs. The episode also touches on the challenges and importance of paleontological work in remote regions.
Dr. Kelsey Johnson discusses the limits of scientific inquiry, focusing on questions about the universe's origins, the nature of time, dark matter, and gravity. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity and continuous questioning, even when answers seem unattainable. The conversation explores the intersection of science, philosophy, and theology, highlighting the value of exploring the unknown.
This episode explores innovations in food science, featuring plant-based calamari created with 3D printing and lab-grown chicken. It also discusses New York City's mandatory composting initiative and new research into why human wounds heal slower than those of other primates, and a study on effectiveness of home washing machines for disinfecting clothes.
Being able to belt out a tune like Adele or Pavarotti is not just about raw talent. The best singers in the world have to work on their technique—like how to control their breath and develop the stamina to hit note after note for a two-hour concert. But pop stars and opera singers aren’t the only vocalists who have figured out how to harness their voices for maximum impact. Death metal vocalists also train their voices to hit that unique guttural register. And those iconic screams are not as eas...
Mindy Weisberger discusses her book, 'Rise of the Zombie Bugs,' exploring real-life parasitic mind control. She details various zombifying organisms like Ophiocordyceps and Leucochloridium, explaining how they manipulate host behavior. The conversation also touches on the scientific study of these phenomena and the broader philosophical implications of zombies in popular culture.
This episode of Science Friday explores the intricate relationship between chronic pain and mental health, highlighting how understanding this connection can lead to better treatments. Shoshana Buxbaum shares her reporting on pain reprocessing therapy, a psychological treatment showing promise in eliminating back pain by helping patients unlearn pain pathways. The discussion covers the science behind chronic pain, the stigma associated with psychological components, and the potential for new research and therapies.
Researchers James Fong and Dr. Ren Ng discuss their experiment using lasers to stimulate specific cone cells in the eye, resulting in the perception of a new color called 'Olo.' They explore the possibilities of creating new colors beyond the rainbow and boosting colorblind individuals to full color vision. They also touch on the philosophical questions surrounding color perception and the role of language in understanding color.
How will market uncertainty and a lack of federal support for climate efforts affect the future of clean energy in the United States? Plus, many wetlands are disappearing, but Louisiana’s “accidental” Wax Lake Delta is growing—and informing coastal restoration techniques. $8 Billion Of Climate Tech Projects Were Canceled In 3 Months In the first three months of the Trump administration, officials have been aggressive in cancelling climate change related efforts, from enacting layoffs at large ag...
Dr. Eleanor Carlson discusses the Darwin's Ark project, which aims to close the cat research gap by studying cat genetics and behaviors. The project seeks to understand cat breeds, personality traits linked to fur color, and the evolutionary history of cats compared to dogs. Listeners are encouraged to contribute to the project by visiting darwinsarc.org.
This episode of Science Friday explores the advancements in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for individuals with paralysis. Guests Dr. Matthew Willsey and Dr. Sergey Stavisky discuss their research on restoring movement and speech through neural activity decoding. They touch on the technology's potential, current limitations, ethical considerations, and future outlook, including commercialization and accessibility.
In Connecting Dots: A Blind Life , inventor Josh Miele recounts his life story and path to becoming an accessibility designer. When inventor and scientist Josh Miele was 4 years old, a neighbor poured sulfuric acid on his head, burning and permanently blinding him. In his new book Connecting Dots: A Blind Life , Miele chronicles what happened afterwards, growing up as a blind kid, and how he built his career as an inventor and designer of adaptive technology. Host Flora Lichtman talks with Dr. J...
Dr. Wes Marshall discusses the lack of scientific basis in many road design standards, arguing that current practices prioritize speed and capacity over safety. He highlights how outdated theories and reliance on technology contribute to preventable accidents, advocating for data-driven approaches and designs that prioritize pedestrians and empirical examples of successful streets. Marshall urges traffic engineers to acknowledge these shortcomings and embrace research-backed solutions for safer roads.
This episode of Science Friday dives into exciting science news, including the possible detection of life on an exoplanet and the first confirmed video of a colossal squid in its natural habitat. Discussions also cover the Trump administration's cuts to science funding, a detailed brain map of a mouse, and the effects of anti-anxiety medication on salmon. The episode provides insights into ongoing research and the mysteries of the deep sea.
This episode of Science Friday explores how science interpreters bring complex scientific concepts to life through museum exhibits and animations. Dr. Janet Iwasa and Tim Lee discuss their work in visualizing the microscopic world and updating traditional dioramas, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and accessibility in science communication. They also address challenges in their respective fields, such as color choices in animation and filming uncooperative animals.
Bringing back Southwest peach orchards won’t be easy, but researchers are on the lookout for remaining trees—and they need help. And, the newly discovered Lokiceratops is challenging paleontologists’ understanding of how horned dinosaurs evolved and existed together. How A Navajo Plant Researcher Is Reviving A Desert Peach When you think of states known for their peaches, Utah might not be at the top of your list. But there is a variety—the Southwest peach—that grows in this arid landscape, and ...
We are rounding up your questions about roads. What confounds you about traffic, or how interstates are laid out? Are there certain road design elements that ignite your road rage? Tell us about it: we’ve got a traffic engineer in the passenger seat this week, ready to answer your questions. Call us at (877) 4-SCIFRI or 877-472-4374. In this episode, utterances like “um,” “wow,” and “mm-hmm” aren’t just fillers—they keep conversations flowing. Also, new research suggests the artificial sweetener...
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation heard testimony from Jared Isaacman, President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA. During the confirmation hearing, Isaacman indicated a priority of sending humans to Mars—while maintaining the agency’s plans to return people to the lunar surface. In response to a question from Senator Ted Cruz, Isaacman said “I don’t think we have to make any tough trades here, Senator. I think if we can concentrate our resources at the world’...
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...
