Science Friday
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Episodes
For Jennifer Chayes, math is a 'native tongue'
Jennifer Chayes, dean of UC Berkeley’s College of Computing, Data Science, and Society, discusses her foundational work in graph theory and its role in modern AI.
What an mRNA melanoma vaccine may mean for cancer treatment
Science Friday explores a breakthrough personalized mRNA melanoma vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck.
Why it's so hard to tell the age of a fungus
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews Lund University researcher Dr.
The power of the stories we tell about the ocean
Marine biologist Dr.
What should astronauts do first when they reach Mars?
Planetary scientist Dr.
AI is everywhere in healthcare now. Doctors are conflicted
Science Friday explores how doctors are integrating AI into medical practice, featuring Dr.
How much worse was that storm because of climate change?
This episode explores attribution science, a field that quantifies climate change’s role in specific extreme weather events.
How GPS shaped our world
Science Friday host Ira Flatow interviews author Catherine Dunn about her book "Little Blue Dot," exploring GPS's military origins and its evolution into a civilian essential.
The ancient Roman doctrine guiding modern environmental fights
This episode examines the legal battle over Line 5, an aging oil pipeline threatening the Great Lakes, following a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that voided a key permit.
What are the mysterious ‘little red dots’ in images of space?
Astrophysicist Dr.
Could we live in a dinosaur world?
Host Flora Lichtman and paleontologist Steve Brusatte discuss the scientific realities of time-traveling to the Cretaceous period, inspired by the movie The End of Oak Street.
Do microplastics in the body affect pregnancy?
Science Friday producer Kathleen Davis investigates the presence of microplastics in human reproductive systems, including placentas and breast milk.
Making a case for physicists to join climate research
Science Friday host Ira Flatow interviews Dr.
Creating 'world models' for robots + An AI math shakeup
Tech journalist Joanna Stern discusses the challenges of training AI for physical tasks, noting that humanoid robots are not yet ready for homes.
What can moments of lucidity teach us about Alzheimer’s?
Science Friday explores "lucid episodes" in Alzheimer's patients with Dr.
Colorado’s snow drought deals a major blow to recreation
This episode examines Colorado’s record-low snowpack and its cascading effects on local economies, ecology, and tourism.
How do you find a ‘lost’ species?
This episode explores "lost species"—those not recorded in the wild for over a decade—featuring Dr.
What we get wrong about vaccine hesitancy
Host Flora Lixman interviews Dr.
Why this lab studies the speed of bug pee and other curiosities
Bioengineer Dr.
Some primates undergo even more extreme childbirth than humans
Anthropologist Dr.
Deb Haaland is a politician, and proud of it
Flora Lichtman interviews former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland about her memoir, *A Voice Like Mine*, and her upcoming New Mexico gubernatorial run.
Sitting all day is terrible for us. Moving a little can help
Science Friday explores the health risks of prolonged sitting with Manoush Zomorodi, author of *Body Electric*.
A Nagasaki survivor and physician recounts his life's work
Dr.
What do people eat? Plant and animal DNA in sewage provide clues
Dr.
3D images of galaxies will rock you (ft. Queen)
Science Friday hosts astrophysicist Dr.
The evolution of an enzyme engineer who changed chemistry
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews Nobel laureate Dr.
Why is brain cancer so hard to treat?
Dr.
How can astronaut food be better?
Host Flora Lichtman discusses the future of space cuisine with retired astronaut Clayton Anderson and chef David Skinner.
The reality of living with extreme heat in India
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews Dr.
Tracking shark populations, one shark at a time
Catherine McDonald, director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program at the University of Miami, discusses field methods for monitoring shark populations and analyzing their health.
The Black women codebreakers of the Cold War
Dr.
Asha de Vos’ journey from deck hand to marine science leader
Dr.
Why worry about my data If I have nothing to hide?
Science Friday revisits an interview with Georgetown Law professor Laura Moy regarding data privacy amid new state laws and federal proposals.
Peering through dust clouds to the center of the galaxy
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews Nobel laureate Andrea Ghez about her groundbreaking discovery of the supermassive black hole at the Milky Way's center.
Why a paper about relocating coastal communities hit a nerve
Host Flora Lichtman discusses the complexities of climate-induced relocation with Jessica Dandridge-Smith and Dr.
How do you piece together what life was like in Pompeii?
Science Friday explores daily life in ancient Pompeii through interviews with archaeobotanist Dr.
Hold the lettuce: Updates on the 'explosive' cyclospora outbreak
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews Rutgers food safety expert Byron Chavez about a widespread Cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded…
A space telescope launch + Alvin submersible check-up
Host Flora Lichtman interviews Jackie Townsend about the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is launching ahead of schedule to map dark energy and discover exoplanets.
How does a tick bite cause a red meat allergy?
Science Friday explores alpha-gal syndrome, a severe red meat allergy triggered by Lone Star tick bites.
What will our reaction be when we discover aliens?
Science Friday hosts Dr.
Beautiful botflies, luscious leeches, and the wonder of parasites
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews entomologist Dr.
China's booming biotech, from a brain implant to drug discovery
Science Friday explores China’s approval of the Neo brain-computer interface, with Wired’s Emily Mullen discussing its potential for paralysis patients and comparison to US rivals like Neuralink.
Reconnecting with the night sky and reining in light pollution
Host Ira Flatow discusses light pollution with author Craig Childs, who recounts his bicycle journey from Las Vegas to dark desert skies to document the transition.
Amid shifting politics, can we build stable global health systems?
Flora Lichtman interviews Dr.
How does the gut-brain connection work?
Host Flora Lichtman interviews Dr.
Investigating ‘flow state’ with the bassist from Phish
Phish bassist Mike Gordon and neuroscientist Dr.
How the US patent system keeps drug prices high
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews Tahir Amin, author of *Pharma Monopoly*, about how the US patent system drives high drug prices.
What was science like in America 250 years ago?
Host Ira Flatow and historian Dr.
An artificial cell eats, grows, and reproduces. Is it alive?
Science Friday hosts Dr.
Growing lunar potatoes + Dealing with razor-sharp moon dust
Host Flora Lichtman explores challenges for NASA’s Artemis lunar base with Dr.