Science Friday
Episodes
Pope Leo's encyclical on AI, and the Vatican science advisors
Science Friday explores Pope Leo’s new encyclical on AI, which urges safeguarding human dignity amid technological advancement.
Bizarre exoplanet clouds + Counting insects with weather radar
Flora Lichtman interviews Dr.
A trailblazing geneticist reflects on her life and work
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews geneticist Dr.
Is that spooky old house full of ghosts, or just infrasound?
Dr.
How do clinical trials work, and who can participate?
Science Friday explores clinical trial eligibility and FDA drug approval standards with bioethicist Dr.
Use of herbicide linked to Parkinson's is on the rise in the US
Environmental reporter Delaney Nolan discusses a Mississippi plant leaking massive amounts of the toxic herbicide paraquat into the air, coinciding with high local Parkinson’s rates.
Why does fashion repeat in 20-year cycles? Math has the answer
Princeton mathematician Dr.
Earth's ancient hydrogen, and fossilized vomit
Planetary scientist Dr.
How yawning might help clear dirty fluid from the brain
Biomechanical engineer Dr.
The new frontier of cancer research is in space
Dr.
Who's composing music for my washing machine?
Science Friday explores the rise of sonic branding in appliances with composers Audrey Arbini and Joel Beckerman.
How El Niño shapes the world’s weather trends
Science Friday explores the potential for a "super El Niño" this year with NOAA research scientist Dr.
Planning your photo ops for a trip around the moon
Flora Lichtman interviews Dr.
Understanding the gynecological health crisis facing Black women
Dr.
Data about your body is up for sale. Who's buying it?
Science Friday explores the pervasive collection of biometric data through smart devices and surveillance cameras.
Sci-fi thriller combines aliens, robots, and Cherokee culture
Science Friday hosts author Daniel H.
Beavers could be humans' biggest ally, if we let them
Science Friday explores beavers as ecological engineers who mitigate wildfires and filter water, featuring University of Minnesota researcher Emily Fairfax, science consultant for Pixar’s *Hoppers*.
Searching for dark matter, deep in the Earth
Dr.
The decades-long movement to kill FEMA
Flora Lichtman speaks with Micah Loewinger about the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle FEMA and the agency’s history of conspiracy theories.
What cats and dogs hear + A 'smell map' of the nose
Dr.
How do you study microplastics in a plastic-filled lab?
Science Friday explores the complexities of measuring microplastics in the human body with Dr.
What is ibogaine, and why is it in the news?
This episode examines the renewed political and scientific interest in ibogaine, a psychedelic drug with potential for treating opioid addiction and PTSD.
The long history of birds, from velociraptors to pigeons
Science Friday host Ira Flatow interviews paleontologist Steve Brusatte about his book, *The Story of Birds*.
Your DNA is constantly mutating, and that’s a good thing
Science Friday host Ira Flatow interviews Roxanne Kamsley, author of "Beyond Inheritance," about how DNA mutates throughout life rather than remaining static.
Maine nearly became the first state to ban data centers
Science Friday examines the controversy surrounding AI data centers, focusing on Maine’s vetoed moratorium and national pushback.
What urban design tells us about democracy
Science Friday explores how ancient and modern architecture reflect democratic or autocratic governance.
Listening for the cosmic ‘dark ages,’ from the lunar far side
Science Friday discusses the Lucy Knight mission, a small radio telescope destined for the Moon’s far side.
How do you describe nature? Two poets help us
For Earth Day, Science Friday explores how poets translate nature’s beauty into meaning.
The lucky breaks that make our Earth home
Astrophysicist Hakeem Olusheye joins Flora Lichtman to discuss the cosmic conditions enabling life, from star formation to Earth’s protective magnetosphere.
How New Jersey tamped down PFAS in drinking water
Science Friday host Ira Flatow speaks with Dr.
How a particle accelerator illuminated 56 human organs
Host Ira Flatow interviews Dr.
Simone Giertz’s journey from robot comedy to high-end design
Science Friday host Flora Blankman interviews inventor Simone Yetch, known for her "shitty robots" and quirky DIY projects.
When a dolphin whistles, what does it mean?
Science Friday host Flora Lichtman interviews Dr.
Inside the lives of astronauts’ families
Following the Artemis II splashdown, Science Friday host Flora Lichtman speaks with sociologist Dr.
Green stuff, brown stuff: Secrets to a great compost pile
Science Friday host Ira Flatow interviews Cassandra Marchetto, author of *Compost After Reading*, about the science and practice of home composting.