On Today's Podcast
The SciFri Book Club reads ‘The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year’
The author of SciFri’s November book club pick on how she found meaning in the stories that unfolded in her yard.
Listen NowNovember 6, 2026
A food historian and a nutrition researcher dig into the protein-maxxing trend—and explain why you might want to up your fiber intake instead. Researchers trapped an antimatter particle and held it at extremely cold temperatures for months. Plus, why armadillos are moving north, and how a tiny, see-through fish that can regenerate its brain is becoming a model species.
29:27
A Look Back at the Future of Personal Computing
Tech industry observer Esther Dyson looks back at predictions she made about the future of personal computing, circa 1992.
25:42
SciFri Live: Superhero Quiz
Physicist James Kakalios tests the superhero science smarts of teams from 3M and the CONvergence sci-fi convention.
Catching A Break
How a self-taught meteorologist turned a call-in surf forecasting company into a global enterprise.
12:17
Stalking The Wilds Of Mexico For A Christmas Classic
Clemson University floriculturist Jim Faust arrived in Manzanillo, Mexico, with an unusual mission: to stalk a population of wild poinsettias growing in their native habitat.
17:17
‘Findings’ Collects Science’s Best One-Liners
Harper’s magazine’s Findings column is a news ticker for science’s most fascinating—and flummoxing—facts.
10:37
How ‘Super Mario’ Could Lead to a Super Memory
Scientists find that 3D games boost memory.
6:11
Jump In Jerboas!
What can the long hindlimb of the jerboa (“a fuzzy rodent ‘T-Rex'”) tell us about the evolution of human bones?
46:43
Year in Review: 2015
A panel of science and technology journalists join Ira Flatow to discuss the biggest news in these fields during the last year.
The Best of Science Friday, 2015
SciFri staffers pick their favorite stories and activities from the year.
Jump In Jerboas!
These adorable critters bounce about on long, springy legs—appendages that just might help us better understand and manipulate the growth of human bones.
Boughs Of Folly: Science Blunders In National Lampoon’s ‘Christmas Vacation’
What can we learn from the Griswolds’ many mishaps?
11:52
Stranded Sea Lions, Warming Lakes, and Floating Schools
Sea lions struggle to navigate after domoic acid exposure, and communities around the world try to innovate in the face of climate change.
21:56
Backing Up the World Wide Web
The average lifespan of a web page is 100 days. How can we archive quickly changing web and digital content?
10:32
So You Want to Be an Astronaut?
As NASA begins “astronaut candidate” selection, Administrator Charles Bolden explains what it means to have the “right stuff.”
12:00
What If There Were Webcams in ‘Home Alone’?
CNET editor Ry Crist discusses the increasing options of do-it-yourself security devices.
17:14
Do Scientists Have the Duty to Speak Out?
The popular anti-terrorism slogan, “If you see something, say something,” asks citizens to speak up if they see a potential threat. But does that apply to scientists?
7:19
Cell Implant Treats Inflammation Before It Starts
Designer cells detect inflammatory compounds that foreshadow an autoimmune attack, pumping out anti-inflammatory compounds in response.
9:06
Keeping Tabs on ‘Hate’ Through Google Searches
Google searches could gauge public sentiment on controversial views that polls and surveys can’t always measure.
Motorcycles, Music, and a ‘Miracle’ Drug: Which Oliver Sacks Book Should We Read for the SciFri Book Club?
The SciFri Book Club celebrates the literary legacy of Oliver Sacks by reading one of his modern classics. Help us pick it!
Building A ‘Beest’ Fit For The Beach
Dutch artist Theo Jansen has spent 25 years constructing massive sculptures designed to crawl, scuttle, and stride along the beach.