On Today's Podcast
Why do politicians talk like that?
A linguist weighs in on how "politician speak" has changed over the past century, and what it says about what we want from our leaders.
Listen NowOctober 9, 2026
A new mRNA flu vaccine promises a closer match to circulating flu strains. An estimated 2 billion tons of dust are lofted into the air each year, affecting ecosystems, the atmosphere, and the weather. Plus artist David Byrne sits down with Flora for a conversation on why some ideas go dormant, and then reawaken. And, a Cephalopod Week finale featuring death spirals, cannibalism, and more.
7:17
The Fate of Kratom, Hidden Oil Spills, and Celebrities of Science
Will the DEA ban a potentially promising drug for treating opioid addiction?
5:00
The Cost of Co-Pay Drug Coupons
Co-pay drug coupons can provide a discount for prescription medicines, but can carry a steep price in the long term.
17:30
An Exit Interview With U.S. Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil
What will be the legacy of the Obama administration’s “big data” programs?
17:10
How You—and the Science Club—Broke It Down
The Science Friday Science Club meets to wrap up their latest project, devoted to the idea of disassembly.
12:22
21st Century Cures Act Will Hasten Drug Approval
Patient advocates say the Act will get life-saving new drugs to patients faster. But critics contend that looser FDA regulations will raise the number of unsafe and ineffective drugs that make it to consumers.
16:43
The Female Astronomers Who Captured the Stars
At the beginning of the 20th century, a team of female astronomers at the Harvard College Observatory worked to classify the stars.
17:22
Views From Aloft: The Art of Space Photography
Astronaut Don Pettit has taken hundreds of thousands of photos from the International Space Station.
Space, Seen Through A Window
Astronaut Don Pettit has taken thousands of mesmerizing images during his three missions to the International Space Station.
7:41
Dormouse Telomeres and Cat Tongues
Most animals’ DNA shortens with age, but scientists are studying an animal that increases its genetic strands as it grows older—the dormouse.
4:20
Not All Soles Are Created Equal
Boots made for extreme winter weather may be easily succumb to an icy sidewalk.
27:44
The Best Science Books Of 2016
Time travel, microbes, black holes, and polar bears.
7:19
Cassini’s Final Year, And Juno’s First
One mission is winding down. Another has just begun. A look at what’s next for each.
12:22
Do You Know What’s in Your Medical Record?
The first step to taking ownership of your medical data is to ask for it. Then it’s up to you how to share and store it.
17:27
Tracking the Daily Rhythms of the Microbiome
How do the circadian rhythms of gut bacteria affect the rest of the body?
17:37
How to Bring Back the Dead (Animals)
An anatomist’s eye and an artist’s touch are key to creating enduring taxidermy.
What Happens If We Detect Extraterrestrial Intelligence?
Finding communicative aliens is a long shot, but if we do, here are a few next steps to consider.
Memories in the Mud
Create a simulated sediment core and use it to identify the number of tropical cyclones that swept through the area near Belize’s Blue Hole. Learn how scientists use sediment cores to get information about weather events dating back 1500 years.
11:50
In Indigenous Genes, Evidence Of Colonization’s Plagues
Members of one Canadian Indigenous community have different immune genes than their forebears. Plus, how researchers and Indigenous communities can create more mutually beneficial relationships.
17:25
Skyscraper Bridges, Floating Airports, And A Dome Over Midtown
An alternate history of New York City architecture lives on in “Never Built New York.”
47:35
Celebrating Science With Silliness: The 2016 Ig Nobel Prizes
An annual awards ceremony honors scientific research that first makes you laugh, but then makes you think.