June 13, 2025
US Health Secretary RFK Jr. fired an entire panel that recommends vaccines. Plus, the EPA moves to expedite cleanup of Superfund sites amid budget cuts. Former President Joe Biden’s diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer has put a spotlight on prostate cancer screening.
SciFri Is Headed To Redwood City!
Don’t miss Ira Flatow, Flora Lichtman, and the SciFri team live in Redwood City, CA, on Sept 18 for a special stage version of our radio show.
Garbage In, Garbage Out
Biochemist Virginia Man-Yee Lee has spent her career unlocking the proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Her secret? Happiness.
Small City Pays A Price For PFAS In Drinking Water
A military base polluted water in Newburgh, New York, with PFAS for years. Now a CDC-led study is uncovering the health impacts.
EPA Moves To Accelerate Superfund Cleanup Amid Cuts
The agency plans to expedite the process of cleaning up toxic waste sites, even as Trump aims to slash its budget and staff.
RFK Jr. Reshuffles CDC Vaccine Panel With Vaccine Skeptics
The health secretary fired the entire panel that recommends vaccines. Plus, the EPA moves to expedite cleanup of Superfund sites.
17:29
What Are The Best Practices For Prostate Cancer Screening?
Former President Joe Biden’s diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer has put a spotlight on prostate cancer screening.
17:30
A Dino’s Last Dinner And Eavesdropping Birds
Scientists look inside the fossilized stomach contents of a massive dinosaur. And, why some birds listen for prairie dogs’ alarm calls.
What’s Next For China’s Space Program?
From lunar missions to a space station to an asteroid rendezvous, China has been making impressive strides in spaceflight.
The Ruin And Redemption Of The American Prairie
Tallgrass prairies in the United States were cleared for industrial farms. Can the lost biodiversity be restored?
Don’t Lick The Toad From ‘Friendship’
In the movie, Tim Robinson seeks a psychedelic experience from an unusual source. Herpetologists want others to just say no.
A Scientist’s Quest To See Every Organism On Earth
Manu Prakash wants to map the whole tree of life, with the help of everyone on this planet.
Chasing A Butterfly Down Its Changing Migration Route
Each year, painted lady butterflies migrate thousands of miles between Africa and Europe. As the environment changes, so do their journeys.
Are We Prepared To Fight ‘The New Polio’?
A mysterious polio-like disease could challenge our healthcare infrastructure. And, zooming in on non-cancerous cells in and around tumors.
17:14
What Does It Mean To Have A Chatbot Companion?
People are turning to AI chatbots for emotional and social support. While chatbot friends can ease loneliness, they can also cause real harm.
12:14
Bedbugs Have Been Bugging Us Since Before Beds
New research follows a distinct lineage of bedbugs that lived alongside humans for thousands of years, suggesting they might be the first human pest.
Fighting ‘The New Polio’ In An Era Of Defunded Science
Since 2014, a virus related to polio has paralyzed hundreds of children. Amid government cuts, what happens if the outbreaks worsen?
17:13
Ancient Bone Proteins May Offer Insight On Megafauna Extinction
Collagen from a fossilized bone fragment can identify the animal it came from. And, some new info about our galaxy’s eventual extinction.
How Science Communication Can Step Up Amid Federal Cuts
As funding for US science is slashed, a science photographer and researcher takes a hard look at how scientists communicate their work.
Saying Goodbye To Universe Of Art
After two years, Universe of Art is coming to an end. But don’t worry—we’ll keep reporting on stories that mix art and science together.
Be Bold Or Just Don’t Do It
Plant biologist Joanne Chory spent her career trying to grow plants that could sequester CO2 in their roots. Her wild ideas took hold.