January 10, 2025
Science Friday now has two hosts: Meet Flora Lichtman! Plus, in his final advisory, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy spotlights how alcohol increases the risk of developing certain cancers. And, scientists investigated how the shape of the human body makes hula hooping possible.
17:03
Webb Telescope Data Point To Six ‘Rogue Worlds’
Rogue worlds float around in the cosmos, untethered to a specific star. They could help scientists understand the formation of the Milky Way.
17:00
Why Eels Are So Mysterious—And In Demand
In her new book, Ellen Ruppel Shell covers the natural history of eels and the crime ring that has sprung up from illegally trafficking them.
How A Hunger For Eels Sparked A Bustling Black Market
The book “Slippery Beast” traces how the explosion in demand for eel led to overfishing, poaching, and black market activity.
How One Photo Of A Flower Reignited A Species Debate
A new photo of a long-forgotten flower showed up online. Identifying it means getting into the tricky question of how a species is defined.
12:13
Study Finds A Staggering Amount Of Plastic In Human Brains
A new study measuring microplastics in organs of the recently deceased found that about two dozen brain samples were 0.5% plastic by weight.
9:30
CDC Updates Guidelines For Managing Pain From IUD Insertion
Having an IUD inserted in the uterus is extremely painful for some people. The CDC now recommends that doctors use local anesthetics.
7:59
Protecting Sequoias From Wildfire Raises Tricky Questions
Sequoia National Park is largely designated as wilderness. That complicates efforts to protect its iconic trees from worsening wildfires.
17:06
Astronaut Cady Coleman On ‘Sharing Space’
Cady Coleman discusses her reaction to seeing Earth from orbit, the challenges of her path into space, and her new book.
17:32
Errors On Death Certificates May Be Skewing Mortality Data
Misreporting on death certificates could lead to inaccurate mortality data, including for key statistics like maternal mortality rates.
17:07
The History Of Teeth, From Ancient Fish To Humans
In “Bite,” author Bill Schutt takes readers on a dental adventure spanning half a billion years and much of the animal kingdom.
12:12
What Newly Discovered Cave Art Tells Us About Human Creativity
Archaeologists keep finding older and older cave art. Here’s what it could tell us about how humans evolved over time.
What Vampire Bat Teeth Tell Us About Their Evolution
Author Bill Schutt writes about vampire bats’ unusual teeth—and how scientists puzzled over their evolutionary history.
When The Spacesuit Didn’t Fit, She Wore It Anyway
Astronaut Cady Coleman had to make do when NASA decided not to use small spacesuits on the International Space Station.
Imagine “What If We Get It Right?” With The SciFri Book Club
On September 24, meet us for our Climate Week NYC event with marine biologist, nonprofit co-founder, and author Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
Make Ancient Ink With The Help Of Oak Tree Parasites
Bring history to life through biology and chemistry as you make iron oak gall ink like Leonardo da Vinci did.
Atlantans, Come Out For Our Science Trivia Night!
On November 13, nerd out with your brain out at Science Trivia Night with Science Friday and Science ATL at Halfway Crooks!
How Ancient Art Influenced Modern Astronomy
How do we make sense of the vast expanse above our heads, the millions of stars we might be able to see, and the billions more we can’t?
12:02
Scientists Find Strong Evidence For Liquid Water On Mars
Data from the Mars InSight lander points to the presence of liquid water underneath its crust.
8:51
Releasing Campsite Reservations In Waves Makes Booking Fairer
Some national and state parks are changing the way they open up campsite reservations online to make them more accessible to everyone.
12:05
Could Light And Sound Therapy Treat Alzheimer’s?
Exposing mice to a specific frequency of light and sound decreases Alzheimer’s biomarkers and symptoms. Now it’s being tested on humans.