On Today's Podcast
Should Ultraprocessed Foods Be Off The Menu?
New USDA dietary guidelines tell us to “eat real food.” Should policymakers get highly processed foods out of our stores and school lunches?
Listen NowJanuary 30, 2026
A flu variant called subclade K emerged too late to be fully covered by this year’s vaccine. But the flu shot can still help protect you. Plus, a new study suggests dogs began to diversify about 11,000 years earlier than we thought. And, in turbulent times, it helps to hear stories of resilience. What can we learn from 3.5 billion-year-old bacteria that eat light?
5:15
A Glacier Grows In Greenland (For Now)
Scientists report cooler Arctic waters have temporarily thickened the ice at the edge of Jakobshavn Glacier in Greenland.
17:10
One Constant, Two Answers
Astronomers are trying to figure out how fast the universe is expanding. But two approaches are giving different answers.
16:28
Was The Flu Near You?
‘Flu Near You’ created a map of this season’s influenza-like illness across the U.S. How did the SciFri community stack up?
23:12
Steven Strogatz On The ‘Infinite Powers’ Of Calculus
From gravity to HIV treatments, calculus has helped us understand our universe.
23:16
Metaphors, Medicine, And The Poetry Of Science
For National Poetry Month this April, we’re looking at where science waxes poetic.
‘My God, It’s Full Of Stars’
Read Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith’s poems influenced by science.
The Poetry Of An X-Ray
Rafael Campo, a doctor and a poet, turns his experiences in the operating room into poetry.
How To Catch The Flu (Under The Lens)
Since 1983, electron microscopist Cynthia Goldsmith has captured the beauty of deadly viruses.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Helium’
Astronomers thought the element could only be found in the sun.
Would You Trust AI With Your Health?
In his new book, Eric Topol argues that AI can be used in hospitals for everything from patient safety to improving workflow.
5:47
Hitting The Superbloom Jackpot
It’s like playing a slot machine—three factors have to line up just right.
11:31
Snow Surveys Have Gone High-Tech
Tom Painter flies over the Sierra Nevada mountains in a small plane, shooting lasers at the snowpack to discern its depth.
8:09
The Results Are In From The Distant Asteroid Ryugu
The first scientific data back from Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission to the asteroid Ryugu indicate that its very rocky and surprisingly dry.
3:47
New Mexico Sets A Renewables Plan
The New Mexico state legislature has passed a bill calling for the state to transition entirely to renewable energy by 2050.
29:24
Can AI Make Medicine More Personal?
How artificial intelligence could be used for reading scans, making diagnoses, and refocusing doctors’ attention towards patients.
16:58
On The Frontier Of An Alzheimer’s Cure
A combination of pulsing light and sound can reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s in mouse brains. Meanwhile, another top drug candidate has failed clinical trials.
17:07
Meet The Member Of Congress Renewing Science On Capitol Hill
The new face of the U.S. House Science Committee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, is putting her foot down over partisan bickering over science.
Head Of NASA Jim Bridenstine Answers Your Questions
The NASA administrator discusses everything from Mars to the Space Force.
Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’: Science Goes To The Movies
On March 28 – 31, Science Friday is bringing ‘Science Goes To The Movies’ to select Alamo Drafthouses to reveal the science behind upcoming blockbusters.