On Today's Podcast
A space telescope launch + Alvin submersible check-up
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is slated for launch in August. Plus, routine maintenance for the Alvin deep-sea submersible is no joke.
Listen NowJuly 17, 2026
The sci-fi movie “Disclosure Day” predicts that our reaction to intelligent alien life will be chaotic. But what does the science say? Plus, sure, botflies are gross, but they also know just how to hitch a ride on a camel sneeze. An entomologist celebrates the world of parasites. And, in a recent analysis, scientists argued that New Orleans should relocate. But planning for a city's future is about much more than geography.
Connecting the Dots on Climate Change
There’s more science than first meets the eye in these vivid watercolor paintings.
No Whey! Six Surprising Facts About Cheese
Bet you didn’t know these deliciously cheesy facts.
Get Cheesy: Make Curds and Mozzarella
Learn to make cheese curds and experiment with different types of milk to determine how fat, protein, and sugar content affect the yield and quality of curds.
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.