On Today's Podcast
Could a whale swallow a human, 'Whalefall' style?
In the new movie “Whalefall,” a scuba diver has a very bad day in the guts of a sperm whale. Could it actually happen?
Listen NowOctober 16, 2026
A free-floating seaweed called sargassum is exploding in the Atlantic Ocean, clogging up coastlines from West Africa to the Caribbean. Attachment styles have taken off as a way to understand relationships. But does the science behind it line up with popular interpretations? Plus, the latest on commercial space stations, a mission to bring a sample from a Martian moon, and space-based weapons.
Did the COVID pandemic stunt kids’ development?
The pandemic interrupted the lives of millions of kids. Researchers are studying the impact on their social and emotional development.
How do concussions affect the brain?
The latest scientific understanding of concussions is upending treatment recommendations for recovery.
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson on making climate action cool
Climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson reflects on this moment of the climate movement and why climate action should be fun.
Are new treatments for celiac disease on the horizon?
More than 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, an illness with no current treatment. Is help on the way?
Discover the chambered nautilus with Dr. Gregory J. Barord
Join SciFri Educate on October 8 for a Cephalopod Week live Q&A about the ancient relative of the octopus and squid.
Play this game to build critical thinking and science literacy
This facilitator’s guide for “Endangered Rescue: Chambered Nautilus” offers expert tips for sharing escape room-style games with learners.
Can a living fossil learn new tricks? Meet the nautilus!
With poor eyesight, the chambered nautilus hunts by smell. Explore how a blue-light experiment revealed mysteries of the cephalopod’s memory.
Myth or math? Is the nautilus shell’s golden ratio real?
Grab a ruler, crunch the length-to-height ratios, and use the Fibonacci sequence to test whether this famous spiral is truly golden.
Everyone is calling for safer AI. So what does that mean?
Concerns about AI safety are growing. Two researchers explain what “alignment” means, and what questions remain.
Underwater archeology reveals clues about Ice Age humans
At the end of the last ice age, glacial melt inundated human settlements near shorelines. Underwater archeologists are uncovering their artifacts.
Bringing hard electronics into soft and squishy bodies
Inventor John Rogers bridges the natural and artificial worlds with flexible, biocompatible electronics.
The inner secrets of a snake with a spider on its tail
The spider-tailed horned viper uses an unusual appendage to lure in birds. Researchers looked inside the spidery tail.
Climate change is increasing hurricane risk for Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi has generally been safe from the worst effects of hurricanes. But this year two hurricanes battered the islands in a matter of weeks.
What is lymphatic drainage, anyway?
A new wellness trend focuses on stimulating the lymphatic system. What does this system do, and is there science to back these claims?
Hot flashes, hormone therapy, and the science of perimenopause
After decades of controversy over prescribing hormone therapy for perimenopause, many providers are reconsidering their approach.
Telling the tale of human origins, one fossil tooth at a time
Yohannes Haile-Selassie has a talent for spotting fossils, and has discovered ancestors on several branches of the human family tree.
Did the fire at the Library of Alexandria set humanity back?
Author Sam Kean explores our fascination with lost knowledge in his new book, “The Museum of Lost Things.”
How Caesar’s civil war led to a devastating loss of knowledge
In “The Museum of Lost Things,” a beheading and a late-night visitor lead to the devastating fire at the Library of Alexandria.
From scraps to soil: the dirt on the (not so lowly) worm
Turn your leftovers into new soil by building a worm farm to learn about composting, vermicomposting, and how decomposition works.
What would a Jurassic forest sound like?
Using fossil records and AI tools, scientists reconstructed a soundscape of a Jurassic forest, complete with ancient katydid calls.