On Today's Podcast
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.
Listen NowJuly 31, 2026
A new book tells the story of Black women cryptologists who deciphered Soviet telegrams intercepted during the early days of the Cold War. Plus, a pioneer of cancer neuroscience explains how brain cancer develops, the role of the nervous system, and what might lead to new treatments. And, extreme heat is hitting India hard. One physician is trying to understand the health impacts, and help Indians prepare for future heat waves.
27:28
The Best Science Books Of 2020
Catch up on our list of books that celebrate some of the best science non-fiction reads you might have missed this year.
7:12
What’s In A (Hurricane) Name?
This year, we ran out of hurricane monikers. Why do we name hurricanes in the first place?
Surveying The Northern Lights
For nearly two decades, Don Hampton has been monitoring the Northern Lights in Alaska to understand the energy pouring down from auroras.
11:40
U.K. Approves Pfizer Vaccine
The U.K.’s emergency authorization approval could lead to vaccinations as soon as next week.
11:42
China’s Chang’e-5 Lander Touches Down On The Moon
China caps off an historic space mission, as the era of the Arecibo Observatory comes to a crashing end.
27:23
Science Friday’s Second Life: The Voyage Home
A decade ago, Science Friday helped build—and abandoned—our Second Life community. What happened next?
17:12
How Do Wildfires Affect Our Bodies?
What happens to our insides as the outside world burns?
22:15
David Attenborough Observes A Natural World In Crisis
The esteemed filmmaker and naturalist is still calling attention to wonder—and peril—in the natural world.
David Attenborough: To Save The Earth, Rethink The Economy
In Attenborough’s new book, he imagines a world economy that resembles the Amazon rainforest rather than one that values growth at all costs.
Tapping Into The Slime Mind
From ant colonies to single-celled slime mold, biologist Audrey Dussutour explores the wonders of animal cognition.
Donate To Science Friday
Help support great science journalism. Make a gift today!
12:04
Can You Get COVID-19 More Than Once?
Immunologists explain how your body remembers this virus, and what that might mean for a vaccine.
16:57
Why We’re Giving Thanks To Microbes For Stinky Cheese
New research suggests that the microbe vibrio loves those fumes as much as we do.
17:27
What Is The Future Of Meat?
These scientists are devoting their careers to a future where meat comes from plants, or even cells grown in a lab.
17:19
Koji: The Mold You Want In Your Kitchen
The fluffy white mold has transformed food for centuries—and it’s a perfect tool for culinary experimentation.
29:56
Laugh Along At Home With The Ig Nobel Awards
While the Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony might seem different this year, its celebration of strange and silly science remains.
12:05
What The Latest Promising Pfizer And Moderna Vaccine Trials Mean
Two encouraging COVID-19 vaccine trials reported strong clinical results this week. So what comes next?
17:18
Puerto Rico’s Famous Arecibo Observatory Decommissioned
The NSF plans to decommission the giant radio observatory after major damage. A look at the loss for science, and for Puerto Rico.
11:55
Ancient Big Game Hunters May Have Included Women
In Peru, a team of researchers uncovered a 9,000-year-old burial site of a possible female big game hunter.