On Today's Podcast
The tilcayo is the new wild cat on the block
The tiny, three-pound tilcayo is the first cat species to be described in a century, and, yes—it is as cute as you’d think.
Listen NowOctober 2, 2026
The tiny, three-pound tilcayo is the first cat species to be described in a century, and, yes—it is as cute as you’d think. Are natural history museums going extinct? John Wilson’s latest feature film, “The History of Concrete” is an idiosyncratic journey about more than just concrete. Plus, to prepare for an overseas game, the LA Rams tried a hail mary jetlag strategy.
‘The Garbage-Men’ Rock a Trashy Sound
The Garbage-Men prove one man’s trash is another man’s upright bass.
Cracking the Egg Sprinkler Mystery
When engineer Tadd Truscott was in grad school, one of his classmates at MIT suggested they spin an egg in a puddle of milk and film it with a high-speed camera.
How Buffett’s Cancer Is Shaping National Dialogue
One journalist says Warren Buffett’s decision to treat prostate cancer sets a bad precedent.
Mining Quarries Millions of Miles from Earth
A company aims to expand the world’s natural resource base by mining asteroids.
An Astronaut Explores NASA’s Scientific Frontiers
Astronaut and astrophysicist John Grunsfeld leads NASA’s investigations of Earth–and beyond.
The Idea Factory: How Bell Labs Created the Future
Jon Gertner writes of how Bell Labs became a hotspot for innovation in The Idea Factory.
A New Stage Play Tackles Athletes and Concussions
“Headstrong” looks at the high price some athletes pay for staying in the game.
Designing the Pied Piper of Fish
Maurizio Porfiri designed a robotic fish that attract real fish. Now he’s trying to understand why.
Pied Piper of Fish
Maurizio Porfiri wants to build robots that can herd fish like sheepdogs. Sound fishy?
How Movie Makers Use Science to Make Magic
From miniatures and matte paintings to motion capture, a look at how movie technology has changed.
Untangling The Hairy Physics Of Rapunzel
Kelly Ward, of Walt Disney Animation Studios, was tasked with bringing Rapunzel’s locks to life.
Exploring The Deepest, Darkest Spots On Earth
James Cameron, Sylvia Earle, and John McCosker talk about the sights and creatures of the deep ocean.
Designing a Bridge for Earthquake Country
Inside the world’s longest self-anchored suspension bridge being built in quake-prone San Francisco Bay.
Untangling the Hairy Physics of Rapunzel
The secret to animating hair? Physics. Kelly Ward, senior software engineer for Walt Disney Animation Studios, was responsible for bringing Rapunzel’s locks to life in Disney’s Tangled.
Living It Up In Space
Two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station talk about life and the view from 220 miles above Earth.
Engineering for Success by Building on Failure
A new book explores why engineers should pay close attention to past failures when designing a new bridge or plane.
Marc Abrahams Makes Science Improbably Funny
The editor and co-founder of The Annals of Improbable Research talks about why some seemingly absurd science matters.
How Humans and Insects Conquered the Earth
E.O. Wilson discusses evolution and natural selection in The Social Conquest of Earth.
Searching for Nature’s Time Machines in Relics
A new book documents the creatures and places that can tell us about life on Earth millions of years ago.
Desktop Diaries: E. O. Wilson
In the latest installment of Science Friday’s Desktop Diaries series, ecologist Edward O. Wilson takes us on a tour of his office, located in Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology.