May 14, 2021
Can machine learning provide better diagnoses—and be used as a tool for justice in healthcare? Plus, more on the CDC announcement that fully vaccinated people can unmask often. And, how Elon Musk’s Neuralink fits into neurotechnology research.
11:45
Fully Vaccinated Can Unmask Often, CDC Says
Plus the WHO details a “lost month” in the pandemic, an update on the Colonial pipeline hack, and research on why cats love sitting in boxes.
14:06
Ever Wonder Why Big Cereal Chunks Are Always On Top?
The science of the “brazil nut effect” has implications from drug manufacturing to avalanche planning.
02:22
This Alaskan Glacier Is Moving 100 Times Faster Than Usual
The Muldrow Glacier is moving 10-100 times faster than usual. Why is it moving so quickly?
12:12
How Novel Is Neuralink?
Experts explain how Elon Musk’s Neuralink fits into the wider field of neurotechnology research.
17:14
What’s Behind The Blockchain-Based Art Boom?
Digital tokens, like NFTs, are opening new opportunities for writers, musicians, and artists.
17:11
Decolonizing And Diversifying The Future Of Food
The Science Friday Book Club explores what a sustainable culinary future might look like.
17:23
Can An Algorithm Explain Your Knee Pain?
Researchers suggest an algorithm can be used as a tool for justice in healthcare.
12:01
Weighing COVID-19 Vaccinations For Teens
Pfizer’s vaccine may soon be available to Americans 12 to 15 years old. Plus, climate change models predict faster sea level rise.
9:48
This Computer Won The 2021 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
A computer program, Dr. Fill, beat the human competition in the 2021 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in just 49 seconds.
12:08
A Beetle’s Chemical (And Plastic) Romance
3D-printed beetles and some pheromones are helping scientists understand where new insect species come from.
9:41
Nature’s Early Warning Signs For A Bad Wildfire Season
California wildfire researcher Craig Clements explains how landscape and moisture content in plants can give early clues to how smoky a summer might be.
7:39
Arctic Wildfires Are Burning An Important Carbon Sink
Fires in the far north may impact forests’ ability to store carbon.
16:43
Can Woodchips Help The Gulf Of Mexico’s Dead Zone?
Crop scientists are tackling fertilizer runoff with woodchips, bacteria, and a trench.
23:40
Is COVID-19 Herd Immunity Even Possible Anymore?
Between variants and vaccine hesitancy, the U.S. may be a long way from vaccinating our way out of the pandemic.
12:10
India Suffering Under A Deadly Second Wave Of COVID-19
Yesterday, India reported nearly 380,000 new COVID-19 cases in just one day. And the number of deaths has reached nearly 4,000.
17:24
Ask An Expert: What The Heck Are Microplastics?
We create them, we eat them, we breathe them in. But what effect do microplastics have on our bodies and our planet?
11:50
Uncovering Metal Crafts Of The Viking Age
Archaeologists find that metalworkers in the 8th-century Viking trading port of Ribe made quick technological advances in brass production.
17:19
An Illustrated Exploration Of Hypothetical Futures
In a new illustrated guide, futurist Rose Eveleth dives into the slippery nature of predicting what might come next.
15:56
The Global Pollinating Forces Behind Your Food
When you eat foods grown in another country, you’re benefiting from pollinating insects and animals thousands of miles away.