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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Science writer Sam Kean shares his immersive experiences in experimental archaeology, where he recreated aspects of ancient life for his book, "Dinner with King Tut." He discusses the challenges of processes like hide tanning, the ingenuity of ancient solutions for things like pest control and building self-healing concrete, and the commitment of archaeologists to physically connect with the past. The episode culminates in his most delightful recreation: a historically accurate Egyptian sourdough bread.
This episode explores fascinating evolutionary adaptations. First, researchers discuss a global experiment using 15,000 origami moths to understand how camouflage and warning coloration strategies are influenced by environmental context and predator behavior. Later, a deep dive into the unexpected evolutionary success of rodent thumbnails reveals their crucial role in dexterity and accessing vital food resources like seeds and nuts, highlighting an often-overlooked appendage.
Our country’s public health system is ailing. With layoffs and leadership changes at the CDC, changing vaccine guidelines, a government shutdown, and declining public trust—where do we go from here? Can state and local public health agencies pick up the slack? Are there other solutions? Host Flora Lichtman talks with former CDC director Tom Frieden to put these questions into perspective. Guest: Dr. Tom Frieden is a former CDC director, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, and author of T...
Researchers claim an ancient hominid skull from China, potentially linked to Denisovans, suggests human relatives emerged much earlier than thought, sparking a scientific debate. Anthropologist John Hawks discusses the strong genetic evidence that contradicts this new fossil interpretation, highlighting the need for more compelling data and open science. The episode also explores how our understanding of the human family tree is constantly evolving with new discoveries.
Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist, conservationist, and humanitarian, died on October 1 at the age of 91. Goodall was born in London in 1934, and her curiosity about the natural world led her to the forests of Gombe, Tanzania, where she made groundbreaking observations of chimpanzee behavior, including tool use. Her research challenged the accepted scientific perceptions of our closest relatives. Host Ira Flatow shares his memories of Dr. Goodall , including an interview from 2002 in which sh...
Roughly 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants. The most common type is SSRIs , or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, like Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft. But what happens when you stop taking them? Studies don’t point to a single conclusion, and there’s ongoing debate among physicians and patients about the severity and significance of SSRI withdrawal symptoms. The discourse reached a fever pitch when Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. compared SSRI withdrawal to heroin withdrawal in Ja...
The tropical waters of Sri Lanka, an island off the coast of India, are home to a population of blue whales unlike any other. These whales stay put, while every other known population migrates. That discovery was made by budding scientist Asha de Vos more than 20 years ago—it made a splash, and so did she. She later became the first Sri Lankan to earn a PhD studying marine mammals, charting a new scientific path in her country. Host Flora Lichtman talks with de Vos about her path into science, w...
In mid-September, artists from around the country convened in Laurel, Maryland, for one of the splashiest events in the wildlife art world: the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest . At the annual event, artists compete to have their excruciatingly detailed waterfowl painting appear on the Federal Duck Stamp, which is a waterfowl hunting license. This year, Digital Producer Emma Gometz was there to watch the duck drama unfold. They join Host Flora Lichtman to explain why artists take this competition ...
Football season is well underway, and fans know those athletes get hit hard. Could better helmets and guidelines around concussion prevention someday eliminate head injuries from the sport? Host Flora Lichtman speaks with concussion doctor Michael Collins and helmet specialist Barry Miller about how our understanding of head injuries and equipment has evolved. Guests: Dr. Michael Collins is the clinical and executive director of the Sports Medicine Concussion Program at the University of Pittsbu...
At a news conference on September 22, President Trump claimed that taking acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, during pregnancy “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.” Many experts have pushed back on the statement, saying it’s a false claim that downplays the risks of fever during pregnancy, which Tylenol may be used to treat. Autistic people and their families also raised concerns about the language used and the premise that autism is a scourge that needs to be el...
Robots are just about everywhere these days: circling the grocery store, cleaning the floor at the airport, making deliveries. Not to mention the robots on the assembly lines in factories. But how far are we from having a human-like robot at home? For example, a robot housekeeper like Rosie from “The Jetsons.” She didn’t just cook and clean, she bantered and bonded with the Jetsons. Stanford roboticist Karen Liu joined Host Ira Flatow to talk about how AI is driving advances in humanoid robotics...
In the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, scientists are on the cutting edge of growing coral. Rising ocean temperatures have caused mass coral bleaching, and experts are racing against the clock to figure out how to help corals be more resilient to stress. Coral scientist Rebecca Albright joined Host Ira Flatow at our live show at the Fox Theater in Redwood City, California, to talk about the work her lab does to help corals reproduce —romantic lighting and full moons included. Guest: D...
Dr. Paula Welander explains how ancient microbial chemical fossils, specifically preserved lipids, provide crucial insights into Earth's early history, revealing how life adapted to extreme conditions long before complex organisms existed. She details how studying extremophiles from hot springs informs our understanding of major planetary changes, like the rise of oxygen. Furthermore, this research is vital for identifying potential biosignatures and guiding the search for extraterrestrial life, highlighting the importance of basic scientific discovery in understanding our universe.
Nigeria is home to 100 known species of bats—about a third of Africa’s bat species—but scientists don’t know much about them. Ecologists Iroro Tanshi and Benneth Obitte, collaborators and life partners, are trying to change that. In addition to studying and protecting the bats of their homeland , they’re also working to raise up a whole network of bat scientists across West Africa. Host Flora Lichtman talks with them about how they started their work, what they’ve learned, and how they’re paving...
The overall state of birds can seem rather grim. Almost a third of North American bird species are in decline, and in the last five decades, more than 100 species have lost over half of their populations. This is primarily due to lack of food—fewer insects to eat—and habitat loss, like the development of grasslands. But there’s a bright spot: Some birds that were once rare are now abundant, like the merlin, sandhill crane, and pileated woodpecker. Host Ira Flatow talks with biologist Tom Langen,...
Codependency between humans gets a bad rap. But in nature, species often rely on each other for survival. While humans think they’re in control of relationships between other species, like dogs and even the yeast for our breads, the opposite is often true. Host Flora Lichtman speaks with ecologist Rob Dunn, whose new book, The Call of the Honeyguide , argues that mutualisms are the story of life itself. Read an excerpt of The Call of the Honeyguide: What Science Tells Us about How to Live Well w...
You might remember news reporting from earlier this year that a 180-foot asteroid had about a 3% chance of hitting Earth in 2032. And if it did, it would unleash energy equivalent to hundreds of nuclear bombs. After further observations, astronomers revised that probability way down, to close to zero. So what is our current capability to spot Earthbound asteroids? And how are governments preparing to communicate and respond to a potential impact on a populated area? Joining Host Ira Flatow with ...
It’s common knowledge that many diseases and conditions have some kind of genetic link. But that wasn't always the case. In 1990, long before the Human Genome Project tied so many health issues to differences in genetics, researchers identified a gene called BRCA1. It was the first gene linked to a hereditary form of any common cancer. People with certain variants of BRCA1 stood a higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer than those without those mutations. Geneticist Mary-Claire King ...
What makes someone a genius? Are they the smartest, most creative, most innovative people? Those with the highest IQ? Who we consider a genius may actually tell us much more about what we value as a society than any objective measure of brilliance. A compelling or quirky life story often shapes who is elevated to genius status . Host Ira Flatow unpacks the complicated and coveted title of genius with Helen Lewis, author of T he Genius Myth: A Curious History of A Dangerous Idea . Read an excerpt...
Host Ira Flatow and guests Umair Irfan and Becky Ferreira delve into a broad range of scientific topics, including potential signs of ancient life on Mars, new insights into brain decision-making, the rise of vector-borne illnesses, and a unique ant species phenomenon. The episode then shifts to humanity's deep-rooted obsession with alien life, tracing its history from ancient philosophies and early sightings to current scientific efforts in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. A special segment also pays tribute to the late Nobel laureate Dr. David Baltimore.
It all started harmlessly enough: People bought kits to grow mushrooms at home. But then, scientists in the upper Midwest noticed something strange. The golden oyster mushroom , which is not native to the United States, was thriving in local forests. Those homegrown mushrooms escaped our basements into the wild. Fungal ecologist Aishwarya Veerabahu joins Host Ira Flatow to discuss what impact these invasive mushrooms might have on the ecosystem. Plus, nightshade expert Sandra Knapp describes the...
If you’ve flipped through an issue o f National Geographic or scrolled through their social media, and caught a stunningly detailed photo of a tiny creature—like one where you can make out the hairs on a honeybee’s eyeballs, or the exact contours of a hummingbird’s forked tongue—you have probably seen the work of Anand Varma. He’s an award-winning science photographer, a National Geographic Explorer, and the founder of WonderLab, a storytelling studio in Berkeley, California. Varma speaks with H...
Dietary supplements are big business, with one recent estimate showing the industry is worth almost $64 billion in the United States alone. Take a casual scroll through your social media and you’ll find influencers hawking all kinds of supplements. But how effective are they? How are they regulated? And why are these “natural” remedies so appealing to millions of Americans? To size up the science and culture of supplements, Host Flora Lichtman talks with supplement researcher Pieter Cohen, and C...
Former CDC Director of Immunization, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, discusses his resignation and the agency's current state following the firing of the CDC Director. He raises concerns about political leadership overriding scientific expertise, leading to potential harm and a loss of trust in public health guidance. Daskalakis emphasizes the critical impact on vaccine access and the emerging role of states in filling the federal public health void.
This episode explores two groundbreaking astronomical discoveries: the fleeting interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which scientists are intensely studying with the James Webb Space Telescope to understand its unique carbon dioxide-rich composition and implications for other planetary systems. Additionally, new analysis of samples from asteroid Bennu has revealed pre-solar stardust, providing unprecedented insights into Bennu's complex formation history and the dynamic early conditions of our solar system. Both findings highlight the invaluable data derived from direct observation and sample return missions.
You have probably given some thought to outdoor air pollution, whether it’s wildfire smoke or smog from traffic. You may even check AQI measurements on your phone. But what about the air inside your home ? Host Flora Lichtman talks to civil and environmental engineer Nusrat Jung, who studies indoor air pollution, about how we create toxic air without even knowing it, and what we can do to avoid it. Guest: Dr. Nusrat Jung is a civil and environmental engineer at Purdue University. Transcripts for...
In some places, sand dunes protect shorelines from the onslaught of ocean waves. In other places, the dunes themselves are on the move, and threaten human structures. Host Flora Lichtman talks with mechanical engineer Nathalie Vriend, who studies the structure of sand dunes, about what makes a heap of sand a dune, and what scientists still hope to learn about sand . Guest: Dr. Nathalie Vriend is an associate professor in mechanical engineering and leader of the Granular Flow Laboratory at the Un...
Summer may be winding down, but we’re not quite ready to let go of beach days, backyard cookouts, or ice cream cones. We love ice cream here at SciFri, so we’re pulling a few of our favorite ice cream science stories out of the freezer this week. Back in 2015, ice cream expert Maya Warren sat down with Host Ira Flatow to help us understand a science mystery of “unmeltable” ice cream that made the evening news in Cincinnati. That same summer, Ira spoke to Jeff Potter, author of Cooking for Geeks ...
Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, and the levees designed to protect New Orleans failed. Huge swaths of the city flooded, and 1,600 people were trapped inside Charity Hospital. Physician Erica Fisher was working in Charity’s emergency room at the time, and she and her colleagues fought for days to keep their patients alive. Host Flora Lichtman speaks with Dr. Fisher, now an emergency medicine physician at University Medical Center in New Orleans, about Hurricane Kat...
