On Today's Podcast
Making a case for physicists to join climate research
Physics and climate science use the same basic principles, but institutions often keep them separate. Morgan O’Neill is trying to change that.
Listen NowAugust 21, 2026
Microplastics have been found throughout the body, including in placentas and reproductive organs. What does that mean for pregnancy? Plus, little red dots appear all over images from the James Webb Space Telescope. They may belong to a new cosmic category called black hole stars. And, environmentalists and tribes are using state-level public trust doctrines to fight development.
How do you figure out if microplastics are affecting pregnancy?
Microplastic researchers are trying to find answers about pressing health concerns while navigating the challenges of a new field of science.
Can microplastic-loving algae clean up water pollution?
An unexpected discovery laid the path for using genetically engineered algae to remove microplastics from water.
Making a case for physicists to join climate research
Physics and climate science use the same basic principles, but institutions often keep them separate. Morgan O’Neill is trying to change that.
Creating ‘world models’ for robots + An AI math shakeup
How do you create a model to help AI understand the physical world? Plus, the latest AI-driven advancements in math.
Dive into the deep with marine biologist Helen Scales
On September 25, SciFri Book Club will discuss Scales’s book, “What the Wild Sea Can Be,” as we celebrate the ocean’s living wonders.
What can moments of lucidity teach us about Alzheimer’s?
Researchers are looking into what triggers lucid episodes in Alzheimer’s patients, and what they tell us about caring for people with dementia.
Researchers identify a ‘golden age’ of language diversity
At the peak of linguistic diversity, humans may have spoken up to 10 times as many languages as we do today.
12:11
Colorado’s snow drought deals a major blow to recreation
A record-breaking snow drought in Colorado jeopardizes skiing, fishing, and rafting. Can economies that rely on outdoor recreation adjust?
How do you find a ‘lost’ species?
A new journal documents species “lost to science.” Plus, a project to locate lost firefly species in the U.S. and Canada.
What we get wrong about vaccine hesitancy
An immunologist who’s been on both sides of vaccine hesitancy talks about what drives it, what gets missed, and how to build trust.
Why this lab studies the speed of bug pee and other curiosities
What do the hydrodynamics of insect pee, $1 hearing aids, and squid robots have in common? A lab organized around curiosity, not disciplines.
Some primates undergo even more extreme childbirth than humans
Scientists have long thought extreme childbirth was unique to humans. But some other primates appear to face similar anatomical challenges.
Deb Haaland is a politician, and proud of it
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland recounts her unconventional path into politics in a new book. And she tells us why lawsuits can be good.
Finding political identity in nature and community
In “A Voice Like Mine,” Deb Haaland finds connection through running, and reflects on how we all have a role in the politics of community.
Sitting all day is terrible for us. Moving a little can help
Modern life involves a lot of sitting and staring at screens, and that takes a toll. Can moving for 5 minutes make a difference?
Reclaiming health and humanity in a tech-filled life
“Body Electric” examines what technology and screens are doing to our minds and bodies, and how we can reclaim our well-being.
A Nagasaki survivor and physician recounts his life’s work
Dr. Masao Tomonaga was 2 when Nagasaki was bombed. In August 2025, he spoke with Ira Flatow about a lifetime caring for fellow survivors.
What do people eat? Plant and animal DNA in sewage provide clues
DNA signatures of plant and animal species remain behind even after they’ve been eaten, digested, excreted, and flushed down the toilet.
3D images of galaxies will rock you (ft. Queen)
In March 2026, astronomer and Queen guitarist Brian May and astrophysicist Derek Ward-Thompson discussed how they brought the cosmos to 3D.
The evolution of an enzyme engineer who changed chemistry
In a March 2026 story, Frances Arnold discusses her technique of “directed evolution” that creates enzymes with unusual abilities.