Science Friday Archives - browsing recent stories

International Space Station following most recent upgrade. Credit: STS-119 Shuttle Crew, NASA.

An Etch-A-Sketch for Nanotech?: New research published this week may point to an easier way to create nanoscale electronic devices. (first broadcast Friday, February 20, 2009)

Space Debris: Last week, two satellites collided in orbit around Earth. We'll check in on the after-effects of that collision, and talk about what the lingering debris from the crash means for future space missions. (first broadcast Friday, February 20, 2009)

Future of Animation: Recent films such as Coraline have wowed audiences with their visual effects. We'll talk with movie industry experts about the science and technology that lies behind animation, 3D images, and other visual tricks of the silver screen. (first broadcast Friday, February 20, 2009)

Far Side of the Moon: We'll check in on the progress of a Japanese lunar orbiter, and what it's teaching scientists about the far side of our moon. (first broadcast Friday, February 13, 2009)

What's a Smart Grid?: There's been plenty of attention paid in recent weeks to the idea of rebuilding our nation's electric infrastructure using new technologies. But just what is a 'smart grid,' how would one work, and is the idea realistic? (first broadcast Friday, February 13, 2009)

Prosthetic Limb Advance: A new surgical technique improves amputees' control of prosthetic arms. (first broadcast Friday, February 13, 2009)

Buying Experiences, Not Things, May Increase Happiness: Psychologists say buying experiences, not things, can can make you happier. (first broadcast Friday, February 13, 2009)

Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Ira talks with astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson about Pluto, teaching science, and more. (first broadcast Friday, February 13, 2009)

Contaminating Planets: What steps should planetary explorers take to prevent contaminating other planets with life from Earth? (first broadcast Friday, February 6, 2009)

Google Ocean?: An update to the Google Earth program adds new data on the rest of the planet -- the oceans. (first broadcast Friday, February 6, 2009)

Future of the FDA: As health officials continue to investigate an outbreak of salmonella poisoning linked to a peanut processing plant, we'll take a look at the FDA and its operations. Is it time for an overhaul of the agency? (first broadcast Friday, February 6, 2009)

Largest Snake: Researchers have found fossil remains of a species of snake that they say weighed 2500 pounds, and grew to 45 feet long. (first broadcast Friday, February 6, 2009)

Caterpillar Mimicry: How does a parasitic caterpillar survive inside an ant nest? According to research published this week, it sounds like a queen ant. (first broadcast Friday, February 6, 2009)

Ancient Whale Relative Gave Birth on Land: Fossil remains of an ancient pregnant whale suggest that the animal gave birth on land some 47.5 million years ago. (first broadcast Friday, February 6, 2009)