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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An upcoming resupply mission will carry tumor samples to the International Space Station for research. Experiments in microgravity have yielded shocking results: Some tumors triple in size in just 10 days—the kind of growth that could take 10 years on Earth. What does that mean for science, and for astronauts? Joining Ira to discuss this new frontier in cancer research are hematologist Catriona Jamieson and aerospace engineer Meenal Datta. Guests: Dr. Catriona Jamieson is a hematologist at the U...
Have you noticed that your newer appliances are serenading you? Many new washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, and vacuums have sonic signatures. But why? And who are the composers making music for the machines in your home? Flora talks to sonic branding experts Audrey Arbeeny, who has developed sounds for washing machines; and Joel Beckerman, who has composed for Roomba. Guests: Audrey Arbeeny is the owner and executive producer of Audiobrain. She’s composed for Whirlpool, KitchenAid, the Lond...
Scientists studying climate models say there’s a high chance this will be an El Niño year —and that we could be in for a “super” El Niño. The difference is indicated by sea surface temperatures in part of the Pacific Ocean rising a little—or a lot—above their long-term average. El Niño is one half of what climatologists call the ENSO, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. The oscillation operates on a roughly 3-7 year cycle, changing the path of the jet stream and shifting weather conditions around ...
In April, the crew of Artemis II got an unprecedented tour of the far side of the moon, and they brought back a proverbial shoebox full of pictures. Lunar scientist Kelsey Young stayed on Earth, and helped guide the astronauts through their photo shoots from Mission Control. Young talks with Host Flora Lichtman about how the science team chose their shot list, how to lead distant astronauts in their scientific observations, and what researchers are learning from the images and in-the-moment desc...
When Kemi Doll was in medical school, she learned that Black women are twice as likely to die from uterine cancer as white women, and also suffer disproportionately from other uterine-related conditions. What wasn’t explained was why. Now a gynecologic oncologist, Doll has made it her mission to change these trends and improve care for Black women . She joins Flora to discuss her new book, “ A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing.” They explor...
Cameras and sensors are just about everywhere, recording your face, how you walk, where you go, your heart rate. And AI is making it easy to amass and analyze that data about all of us. Privacy attorney Anne Toomey McKenna joins Host Flora Lichtman to talk about the ubiquity of biometric surveillance and how data brokers are gathering and selling our information, including to law enforcement. Guest: Anne Toomey McKenna is an attorney specializing in privacy and biometric surveillance. She’s on t...
In this episode, author Daniel H. Wilson delves into his novel 'Hole in the Sky,' which reimagines alien first contact through a Cherokee cultural lens set in Oklahoma. He discusses how indigenous perspectives, particularly on the unknown and technology, offer a powerful contrast to typical invasion narratives. Wilson also shares insights from his work as a sci-fi threat forecaster for the Air Force, highlighting science fiction's crucial role in exploring human responses to advanced technology and the importance of humanity in scientific endeavor.
Beavers are having a moment, thanks to the new Pixar movie “Hoppers.” Amid some body-swapping shenanigans, the film is about humans coexisting with wildlife—particularly oversized rodents capable of reworking landscapes in profound ways. The beaver science consultant on “Hoppers,” Emily Fairfax, joins Flora to talk about beavers’ brilliant, chaotic landscape engineering, and how the creatures show up in the movie. Then, reporter Zac Ziegler walks Flora through a successful beaver-centric enginee...
Deep in an active nickel mine near Sudbury, Ontario, researchers are installing and calibrating a set of sensitive detectors. They hope that the location roughly 6,800 feet underground will screen out much of the ordinary radiation and cosmic rays felt on the surface, and allow their detectors to sense tiny disturbances caused by a dark matter particle passing close to the nucleus of one of the germanium atoms in a target material. If successful, the SuperCDMS SNOLAB experiment may shed some lig...
Hurricane season officially begins in June. And in the event of a big storm, local and state governments often rely on help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA . But, President Trump has questioned the value of the agency. “I've never been a big fan of FEMA. I like to keep it local. I like to see governors and neighboring states help each other as opposed to FEMA,” Trump said in March. We’ve heard this from the administration about other federal agencies, but FEMA is a special c...
Science Friday investigates why animals like dogs and cats have a wider hearing range than humans, discussing the anatomical and evolutionary adaptations that enable this, alongside factors like noise-induced and congenital hearing loss in pets. The episode then shifts to the sense of smell, revealing new research that challenges long-held beliefs by demonstrating a precise spatial organization of olfactory receptors in the nose. This 'smell map' could revolutionize understanding of how we perceive odors and lead to new treatments for smell loss.
The news we hear about plastic is often alarming: We have a spoon’s worth of plastics in our brains, and there are microplastics in our hearts, lymph nodes, and bloodstreams. Plastics are ubiquitous, but the reality might be more complicated than it seems. It turns out that measuring microplastics is really, really difficult. One reason? Because we’re surrounded by plastics! Think of the pipettes and petri dishes and gloves we use in labs. Host Flora Lichtman chats with microplastics researcher ...
In mid-April, President Trump issued an executive order to set aside funding and loosen the bureaucratic process at the FDA to fast-track psychedelic therapy research. One obscure psychedelic got a particularly bright spotlight: ibogaine . Originating from the root bark of the iboga plant of central Africa, the psychedelic has shown promise for curbing opioid addiction and treating PTSD. But it also can be risky to take, and hasn’t made it to the medical mainstream like psilocybin or ketamine. S...
Paleontologist Steve Brusatte reveals how modern birds are living dinosaurs, tracing their evolution from feathered raptors to flight-capable species. He explains how specific adaptations like small size and seed-eating enabled their survival after the asteroid impact. The discussion also highlights incredible extinct birds like giant penguins and terror birds, concluding with an optimistic look at birds' resilience against current threats.
Our bodily systems are rife with mutations. In fact, your DNA is mutating right now. These errors, and attempts to repair them, are a key to understanding immune function, aging, and even how heart disease develops. Gene mutations can even mitigate the harm caused by some inherited diseases. Host Ira Flatow goes on a journey through the illuminating science of genetic mutations with Roxanne Khamsi, science writer and author of “Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding ...
Data centers make controversial neighbors: They’re loud, they use a lot of water, and can drive electricity prices up. Following public concern and organizing efforts, Maine nearly implemented an 18-month ban on data center construction, before a governor veto . Joining Flora to talk about real changes communities can advocate for in regards to data centers are Pete McGuire, climate reporter at Maine Public, and Lauren Keeler, director of ASU’s Just Energy Transition Center. Guests: Pete McGuire...
The way ancient societies like the Greeks, Maya, and Khmer Empire built their cities can tell us a lot about how a place was governed. Did rulers live in ornate palaces or alongside other residents? Are there large, open spaces for community gatherings? In a new study, archaeologists document how they use the design of ancient temples, plazas, and cities to understand how a society was governed. So what does ancient architecture reveal about democracy? And do the democratic design principles hol...
What did the universe look like before any stars turned on? Astronomers call that time the “dark ages,” and while they think it may be possible to see remnants of it in very low frequency radio signals, hearing those signals from Earth can be challenging. One possibility is to put a radio telescope on the far side of the moon, where it would have periods of observation shielded from interference both from Earth and from the sun—and potentially be able to receive that dark ages signal. The LuSEE-...
To mark Earth Day , we asked you to tell us about your favorite places on the planet. You took us to the woods near Traverse City, Michigan, to a lake in Oklahoma, to Long Island Harbor where you spent your summers as a kid. Basking in a sea breeze and admiring a sunset are basic human pleasures. But how do you take these moments and turn them into meaning? How do you pin those feelings down with words? Joining Host Flora Lichtman are two poets who make that attempt for their livelihood: Jane Hi...
Astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi explores the improbable yet inevitable conditions that make life on Earth possible. He details the cosmic journey from giant molecular clouds forming stars and planets, to Earth's unique galactic position and essential protective features like the magnetosphere. The discussion also delves into the mysteries of abiogenesis and the role of imagination in scientific discovery.
Nearly all Americans have some type of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in their blood. The chemicals, which are linked to numerous health issues, were first regulated in drinking water at the federal level two years ago (though some limits have been rolled back). But, back in 2018, New Jersey became the first state to adopt its own drinking water standards for PFAS . Now, researchers at Rutgers University have crunched the data to see how well it worked. They found that levels of th...
A new imaging technique using a particle accelerator is giving researchers an unprecedented level of detail of our organs, producing scans 100 billion times brighter than a CT scanner. Those 3D models are now part of a public database called the Human Organ Atlas , available to researchers and the medically curious. Joining Host Ira Flatow to explain why they needed so much power and what kind of research advances will follow is imaging scientist Claire Walsh, director of the Human Organ Atlas h...
In the 2010s, inventor Simone Giertz (pronounced “Yetch”) began making videos that straddled the line between practical and absurd. What if you had a robot that could feed you soup? Or a drone that could cut your hair? As time went on, her projects became more polished and more ambitious, like converting a Tesla sedan into a pickup truck. Today, with almost 3 million subscribers to her YouTube channel, Simone is still designing and building objects that are quirkily useful—a fruit bowl that chan...
What are dolphins actually saying with their iconic, high-pitched whistles? Dolphin communication researcher Laela Sayigh is trying to find out. She’s been compiling a database of whistles from a pod of dolphins in Sarasota, Florida, the longest-studied group of cetaceans in the world. She joins Flora to discuss fundamental questions about dolphin dialects , including how dolphins’ “signature” whistles can change depending on context, and the process of decoding new types of whistles. Guest: Dr....
“This was not easy, being 200,000+ miles away from home. Like before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on earth. And when you're out there, you just wanna get back to your families and your friends.” – Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman Last week, the crew of Artemis II made it safely home. Throughout the journey, we heard the astronauts talk about moonjoy, awe, wonder, and—without exception—gratitude for their families. To learn more about what it's like to be part of an astronau...
If you’re a gardener, thinking about getting your soil in shape probably means thinking about compost. But composting can be a mysterious process. What can go into the pile? How do you balance carbon and nitrogen? And how do you do it in a city? Compost expert Cassandra Marketos joins Host Ira Flatow to break down the basics of what she calls “purposeful decomposition,” and give practical tips for the backyard composter. Read an excerpt from Marketos’ new book, “Compost after Reading.” Guest: Ca...
How do we know what we know? That's where science comes in—it gives us a method for testing our ideas and getting trustworthy results. But some researchers have warned that many scientific studies can't be replicated. To find out how deep the problem goes, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency funded one of the largest analyses of social science, called the SCORE project . They checked the results of thousands of papers across economics, education, and psychology—and found that only h...
Explore the fascinating world of movie sound design with Erik Aadahl, the creative force behind memorable alien and monster vocalizations. He details how he crafted Rocky's unique voice using a blend of instruments and animal sounds, and the extensive process of updating Godzilla's iconic roar. Aadahl also shares insights into the science of sound's subliminal emotional power and the abstract nature of creating sounds for the universe itself.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound are prescribed for weight loss, diabetes, and blood-sugar management. But as more people use them, patients are reporting a decrease in cravings for drugs and alcohol. Researchers are now investigating whether GLP-1s might be effective for treating alcohol and drug addiction. How much do we know? What are the risks? And do these drugs tell us anything new about the biology of addiction? Host Flora Lichtman talks with neuroscientist Joseph Schacht, w...
This episode explores the groundbreaking footage of a sperm whale birth off Dominica, highlighting an extraordinary display of communal care involving multiple whales, some unrelated to the mother. Whale biologist Shane Gero discusses what this never-before-seen event reveals about complex whale culture, reciprocal altruism, and the cognitive processes that drive cooperation in the animal kingdom, prompting reflections on human social structures.
