On Today's Podcast
Apple: trying to think different for 50 years
April 1 marks 50 years since the founding of the Apple Computer Company, and we're diving into some of the company's lesser-known stories.
Listen NowMarch 20, 2026
Move over, Ryan Gosling: Rocky the alien is the breakout star of the movie adaptation of "Project Hail Mary." Plus, how a particle accelerator, a robot, and 2,000 ants came together to paint a picture of biological diversity. And, a mathematician analyzed 150 years of women’s fashion to understand 20-year trend cycles, and how “optimal distinctiveness” drives change.
16:27
Could Restoring Animal Populations Store More Carbon?
Rewilding certain animal populations like wildebeests and sea otters could help absorb greenhouse gas emissions.
Create An Interactive Game Using AI
Combine a visual programming language, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to program an interactive game using hand gestures.
This Violinist Is Making Ultra-Affordable 3D-Printed Violins For Kids
A concert violinist is developing a 3D-printed violin that costs $7, in hopes of lowering the barrier to getting kids into music.
12:06
Orcas Are Attacking Boats Near Spain. Scientists Don’t Know Why
Orca attacks on boats in the region have increased, leading to three sinkings. Plus, how a Supreme Court decision could affect wetlands.
11:57
The Long And Short Of Telomere Activity
Short sequences of genetic code on the ends of chromosomes called telomeres may be more involved in the cell than previously understood.
5:02
Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum Takes Down Digital Resources
A patient with a rare condition donated his heart to the museum, only to have it caught up in the conversation over how to handle human remains.
11:58
The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Debate Keeps Pecking Away
The last verified sighting was in 1944, but bill-ievers are still looking for the bird.
9:46
Tracking Pain In Your Brain
Scientists are decoding the brain signals linked to chronic pain.
7:27
What Can We Learn From A Woman Who Feels No Pain?
Understanding the gene mutations causing Jo Cameron’s inability to feel pain could lead to better pain medications for the rest of us.
16:53
Turning To Space While Processing Grief
After her husband’s death, astronomer Michelle Thaller turned to space’s mysteries to find solace in grief.
17:22
A Famous Sled Dog’s Genome Holds Evolutionary Surprises
By looking at 240 mammals’ genomes, including the heroic sled dog Balto, a project called Zoonomia offers a new view of evolutionary history.
Design A One-Of-A-Kind Chatbot
Become a chatbot engineer as you design, create, and adapt your own one-of-a-kind chatbot using artificial intelligence.
AI For Kids: A Chatbox Exploration
Learn about artificial intelligence (AI) by experimenting directly with chatbots and machine learning technology.
12:16
Can Science Find An Antidote To Americium?
Researchers are testing a drug that could help remove radioactive elements from the human body.
16:01
What To Do When 500-1,000 Crows Roost In Your Neighborhood
When hundreds of crows took up long-term residence in a Baltimore neighborhood this past winter, one woman turned to Reddit for answers.
10:01
Science Says Eat More Beans
SciFri staff round up their favorite bean recipes to help address the humble legume’s PR problem.
2:00
The World According To Sound: Feeding Time
The gnarly sound of grizzlies feasting on a bison.
17:20
Bees Have Feelings, Too
After fifty years of studying bees, pollination ecologist Stephen Buchman suggests bees have feelings.
17:09
Pinning Down The Origin Of Butterflies
A new map of butterfly heritage suggests an origin in North or Central America some 100 million years ago.
17:20
Debunking Common Myths About Being Fat
Author and podcast host Aubrey Gordon uses science and history to dispel common misconceptions about weight and health.