On Today's Podcast
What urban design tells us about democracy
Archaeologists can use the design of ancient temples, plazas, and cities to piece together the story of how a place was governed.
Listen NowApril 24, 2026
The LuSEE-Night mission would place a radio telescope on the far side of the moon to listen for signals of the cosmic “dark ages.” Plus, the design and layout of ancient temples, plazas, and cities provide clues about how societies were governed. And, everyday DNA mutations can help us understand immune function and aging—and even mitigate harm caused by some inherited diseases.
11:50
Cancer Immunotherapy, Fear in the Natural World, and Abolishing Time Zones
Fine-tuning cancer immunotherapy and the good and bad of eliminating time zones.
17:26
Inside NASA’s Planetary Defense Office
How does NASA plan to protect the planet against an asteroid or comet strike?
15:54
To Stave Off Extinction, Protect ‘Half-Earth’
In his new book, “Half-Earth,” Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson argues that we must set aside half the planet for nature.
12:13
Revealing Van Gogh’s True Colors
Are the walls of Van Gogh’s “The Bedroom” blue…or violet? A chemist shares the results of a scientific investigation into Van Gogh’s palette.
9:51
Cable Box Wars: The FCC Battle to Open Up Cable Navigation Devices
Will the Federal Communications Commission proposal expand how consumers access pay-TV services?
24:11
The Perfect Cheese Pairing? Science
Cheese is the subject of a special SciFri investigation this week and next, including tales of the “maestro of mozzarella” and the aging tricks of a Wisconsin cheddarmaker.
Has Human Influence Already Defined a New Epoch?
E.O. Wilson on how we may have already entered the Anthropocene, the Epoch of Man.
A Wedge of Science
From fresh mozzarella to processed American, a look at the science of cheese.
#SciFriTrivia: DANGEROUS SCIENCE!
It’s time for the Second Annual Science Friday Trivia Event.
Vegan Cheese, Coming to a Platter Near You
A trend in artisanal vegan cheese is spreading across the nation.
The ‘Mad Scientist’ And His Cave-Aged Cheddar
Bleu Mont Dairy’s bandaged cheddar cheese is an American treasure.
Here’s How OK Go Made That Zero-G Music Video
The band worked with cosmonauts from Russia’s space program, a Russian airline, a large crew, and several aerialist acrobats.
Media Guide: The Bouba-Kiki Effect
The Bouba-Kiki effect describes the tendency of people to identify certain sounds with specific types of shape. Students will test out the Bouba-Kiki Effect, learn about current research, create their own sound-shape pairings based on the theories behind the Bouba-Kiki effect, and evaluate different explanations for the effect based on their observations.
The Maestro of Mozzarella
With 30 years of experience, Orazio Carciotto has learned that mastering the flavor and texture of this silky smooth cheese requires a deft (and burn-resistant) hand and a mastery of milk curd chemistry.
11:53
HIV Prevention, Ancient Armadillos, and Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads
An HIV prevention tool specifically developed for women. And the potential side effects of direct-to-consumer drug ads.
27:22
A Brief, Poetic Tour of Modern Physics
Theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli explains the fundamentals of modern physics in just 80 pages, in his Seven Brief Lessons On Physics.
12:03
Storytelling Teaches Robots Right and Wrong
How do you teach robots to behave ethically? One way is to feed robots human stories, and train them to model their behavior after the tales’ protagonists.
6:48
How Can Virtual Reality Plug In to Social Media?
More immersive media could help us forge deeper digital and real-world connections.
34:06
Forecasting The Future Of Pandemics—In 1994
In 1994, Laurie Garrett and Stephen Ostroff came on Science Friday to contemplate some troubling trends in public health. Twenty-two years later, they’re back for a check-up.