On Today's Podcast
African Grey Parrots Are Popular—And It’s Fueling Illegal Trade
Talkative African grey parrots are charismatic internet stars. A global scramble to source and sell the birds threatens their survival.
Listen NowNovember 21, 2025
Flora and “Part-Time Genius” co-host Mangesh Hattikudur put one lucky listener to the test with food science trivia. Plus, talkative African grey parrots are charismatic internet stars. A global scramble to source and sell the birds threatens their survival. And, Google’s tool for predicting how proteins “fold” turns 5 this year.
Beyond the Butter: Twists on the Same Ol’ Ingredients
Two foodies offer baking ingredient twists—and scientific insight into why they work.
Fungal Freeways
Marcus Roper of UCLA explains how fungal networks function with remarkable efficiency and prevent microscopic traffic jams.
Simulate Net Forces to Predict an Object’s Motion
Use a simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations to model force in a tugging competition and a pushed skateboard.
21:26
Climate Deal or Not, Fight Against Global Warming Has Begun
Last year, for example, new solar plants outpaced coal installations in the U.S., and carbon-trading schemes across state and national borders have already begun.
7:42
How Long Does a President’s Legacy Last?
In 1991, 53 percent of students tested could recall Lyndon Johnson as the 36th president; that number dropped to 20 percent by 2009, according to a new study released in Science.
16:50
Paola Antonelli: ‘Design Is More Than Cute Chairs’
For MoMA curator Paola Antonelli, “design” includes computer interfaces, video games, and maker kits.
12:07
You Are ‘When’ You Eat
In mice, eating within an 8-12 hour window helped to prevent and even reverse obesity and type 2 diabetes.
17:13
Test Launch Marks New Phase for NASA
NASA is in early stage test flights for Orion, its updated crew capsule, but the spaceflight landscape is changing.
7:21
What’s Killing West Coast Starfish?
Scientists have linked an unprecedented starfish die-off along the West Coast to a virus.
9:08
Near City Streets, an Insect Cleaning Crew
Ants and other insects could be able to remove thousands of pounds of food waste from street medians and city parks each year.
Seals Deep Dive for Ocean Data
Seals sporting telemetry tags are providing scientists with data on the ocean environment.
The Design Arcade
Join the Museum of Modern Art’s Senior Curator of Architecture and Design, Paola Antonelli, on an exclusive tour of the video games in their collection.
David Livingstone’s Beetles
A museum curator has discovered a box of beetles containing specimens collected during a famous expedition.
47:30
Ig Nobel Prizes Salute Science’s Strange and Silly
In a Science Friday holiday tradition, we’re playing highlights from this year’s 24th First Annual Ig Nobel awards ceremony.
29:27
Does Your Genome Belong to Your Family, Too?
Should doctors share information about your risky genes with your family, since they, too, might harbor that suspect DNA sequence?
16:55
An Art Movement Where Art and Science Collide
In the new art movement “art-sci,” artists take inspiration from science, use scientific techniques in their artwork, and inspire new science.
How a Bohemian Engineer Helped Blend Art and Science
An excerpt from “Colliding Worlds.”
Cranberries, With A Side Of Science
Some tasty facts about the popular Thanksgiving treat.
Truth, Educated Guesses, and Speculations in ‘Interstellar’
An excerpt from “The Science of Interstellar.”
What Exactly IS a Comet?
Gather evidence from interviews with scientists about comets, then create a wordy illustration of comet characteristics.