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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It’s shaping up to be one of the worst tick years yet, and concerns about Lyme disease—which is transmitted through the bites of some species—are high. Aside from a short-lived vaccine released in the late 1990s, people have not had the opportunity to get vaccinated against Lyme disease. But if our dogs can get vaccinated, why can’t we? Host Flora Lichtman speaks with immunologist and Lyme disease expert Linden Hu about the ongoing quest for a vaccine against Lyme disease, and our evolving under...
About 7% of veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and that number can be closer to 30% for those who have served in a war zone. But PTSD has been treated pretty much the same way since the disorder was first recognized roughly four decades ago: Patients are instructed to revisit their trauma until the memory no longer creates an emotional response. This process can be so harrowing that over half of veterans are unable to complete the full course of treatment. But what if the...
Cosmologists discuss the current state of the standard model of the universe, focusing on the unresolved 'Hubble tension' where expansion rates don't match predictions. They explore the mysterious nature of dark energy and dark matter, questioning if entirely new physics is needed to explain the universe's accelerating expansion. The episode highlights exciting new instruments like the Vera Rubin Observatory that promise to shed light on these cosmic mysteries.
For decades, residents of the small city of Newburgh, New York, were unknowingly drinking water contaminated with toxic PFAS —also known as forever chemicals. The source turned out to be firefighting foam used on a nearby air base that had seeped into streams and creeks, and ultimately the city’s main drinking water reservoir. Now, Newburgh is one of 10 sites that are part of a CDC-led study investigating the health effects of PFAS exposure. Early data out of Newburgh links PFAS with high choles...
Oceanographer Victoria Orphan’s dream was coming true. She was sitting in the Alvin submersible, on one of its deepest science dives ever. But the trip was anything but smooth sailing. Victoria takes us inside the sub, where her dream turns nightmarish as things start to go wrong, and Alvin pilot Nick O’Sadcia works frantically to troubleshoot. Oceanographer Shana Goffredi, who’s also Victoria’s wife, tells us about the tense scene unfolding on the ship miles above, as they wait for word from th...
Researchers found a new sea spider with a giant nose, leg cannons, and—most remarkably—a novel way of surviving in the lightless, freezing environment miles below the sea surface. These oceanic arthropods are powered by methane that seeps out of the ocean floor. Biologist Shana Goffredi joins Host Flora Lichtman to tell us more about the discovery and explain how we’re connected to these little beasts. Guest: Dr. Shana Goffredi is a biology professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Tra...
President Trump has said that he wants to phase out FEMA , the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and move responsibility for dealing with major disasters to the state level. Since its creation in 1979, the agency has played a key role in coordinating emergency response nationally. Host Ira Flatow talks with Samantha Montano, an emergency management specialist and author of Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis , about the path forward for FEMA and how US emergenc...
Most pasta is made from just two ingredients—flour and water. For decades this humble food has prompted physicists around the world to try to understand its mysterious properties and answer questions like: Why does a stick of spaghetti break into three pieces and not cleanly into two? And why is cacio e pepe so hard to perfect? The answers reveal more about the building blocks of the universe than you might expect. Host Ira Flatow talks with Joseph Howlett, math writer at Quanta Magazine , and a...
We live in a world filled with microbes—they’re inside our bodies, in soil, in deep sea hydrothermal vents, and in your window AC unit. Some microbiologists are hopeful that finding more of these tiny organisms could help us address the climate crisis . Joining Host Flora Lichtman to talk about how are microbiologists James Henriksen and Lisa Stein. Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram , TikTok , ...
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic have dominated headlines over the past couple of years. When writing his new book, Diet, Drugs and Dopamine: The New Science of Achieving a Healthy Weight , former FDA commissioner David Kessler wanted to unpack the science beyond those headlines. He also has a personal relationship with the subject, having taken GLP-1 medications himself. Host Flora Lichtman joins Kessler to talk about the latest science on metabolism, weight loss, and how these blockbuster drugs ...
In both her life and her work, researcher Karmella Haynes has never followed the pack. Karmella explains why she created her own area of research at the intersection of synthetic biology and epigenetics. Emory colleague David Katz weighs in on the challenges Karmella faces in pioneering a new research field. Plus Karmella’s sister Sherrone Wallace fills us in on their family life, and how their father raised them to inhabit spaces that weren’t always welcoming. Karmella has been recognized by th...
In excerpts of two conversations from the Science Friday archives (originally recorded in 2000 and 2009), oceanographer Robert Ballard joins Host Ira Flatow to discuss the 1985 expedition in which he discovered the wreck of the Titanic. He also emphasizes the value of combining the efforts of oceanographers, engineers, and social scientists to study the world’s deep oceans. Guest: Robert Ballard is a National Geographic Explorer-at-Large and a Professor of Oceanography in the Center for Ocean Ex...
Summer means sun exposure, but protecting your skin is crucial due to the link between UV radiation and skin cancer. This episode breaks down the science behind sun damage and explores the differences between mineral and chemical sunscreens. A dermatologist answers common questions about SPF, reapplication, sunscreen in makeup, sensitivity, and how sunscreen affects vitamin D production, offering practical advice for choosing and using sun protection effectively.
Paleontologist and scientific consultant Steve Brusatte shares his experience working on "Jurassic World Rebirth," detailing the specific dinosaurs featured and how the film incorporates scientific accuracy regarding their appearance and behavior. He also discusses the film's positive portrayal of scientists and the importance of communicating science's value, before revealing some intriguing dinosaur ideas for future installments.
AI is not just for automating tasks or coming up with new recipe ideas. Increasingly, people are turning to AI chatbots for companionship. Roughly half a billion people worldwide have downloaded chatbots designed specifically to provide users with emotional and social support. And while these human-chatbot relationships might ease loneliness or simply be fun to have, these digital friends can also cause real harm by encouraging dangerous or inappropriate behavior—especially in children or teens....
Discover the improbable journey of NASA's Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers. Principal investigator Steve Squyres shares the decade of rejections and immense pressure, while engineer Jennifer Trosper recounts overcoming technical failures like ripped parachutes and fuzzy cameras under an unprecedented tight deadline. This episode highlights the critical collaboration between scientists and engineers, the intensity of the project, and the human story behind the mission's miraculous launch and incredible success on Mars.
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.
