On Today's Podcast
Telling the tale of human origins, one fossil tooth at a time
Yohannes Haile-Selassie has a talent for spotting fossils, and has discovered clues to several branches of the human family tree.
Listen NowSeptember 11, 2026
Scientists used fossil records and AI tools to reconstruct a soundscape of a Jurassic forest. Shorter courses of antibiotics may actually reduce antimicrobial resistance. Plus, a new study found a group of genes associated with fibromyalgia. And, as black bears return to their historic ranges across the U.S., human encounters are increasing. How can bears and people live in harmony?
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.
17:27
Would You Trust a Robot to Schedule Your Life?
Given access to your Google calendar, a personal assistant named Amy will happily schedule all your appointments. The catch? She’s a machine—a digital personal assistant.
16:58
Food Failures: The Science Of Side Dishes
Find out how to avoid Turkey Day trip-ups in this episode of our “Food Failures” series.
5:50
‘Hot’ for Turkey
Female wild turkeys parse the courtship performances of males to determine their genetic potential.
11:41
Ghosts of Early Language May Linger in the Brain
Chinese adoptees living in Canada, who now speak only French, still process Chinese sounds as native speakers do, even if they have no conscious recall of word meaning.