On Today's Podcast
Terence Tao on how AI math solutions miss the point
Terence Tao says mathematics is about understanding, not just right answers, and quick AI solutions are forcing soul-searching in the field.
Listen NowOctober 23, 2026
CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna discusses the evolution of gene-editing technology and what it takes to be a good scientist. Timekeepers around the world voted to stop using leap seconds, but what does that mean for us? Plus, how "problem bears" help test engineers evaluate consumer products, author Kazuo Ishiguro on emotional truth in our age of AI, and the science of apple varieties.
17:34
A Haunted House Turned Scientists’ Lab
Scientists turn Pittsburgh’s ScareHouse into a real-world lab to discover why some brains thrive on fear.
17:05
Behind the Monster Music: Why Some Tunes Scare Us
Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin and Sound Opinions co-host Jim DeRogatis discuss the neuroscience of spooky songs.
Creature Double Feature: Zombies and Bloodsuckers
Witness two tales that will make your skin crawl and your mind reel with fear and curiosity.
Gift Of The Mummy
A patient more than 3,000 years-old takes a turn through a CT scanner.
Invasion of the Zombees: A Bee Horror Film
Up and down the West coast of the U.S., bees are leaving their hives, flying around at night and then suddenly dropping dead – Learn why!
#ObserveEverything Reflection
Experience the Science Club’s #ObserveEverything project.
12:19
Nerve Transplant Allows Paralyzed Man to Move Legs Again
The pioneering treatment uses cells from the nasal cavity and strips of nerve from the ankle to repair a spinal injury.
26:32
Meet ‘The Innovators’ Who Made the Digital Revolution
Walter Isaacson’s “The Innovators” shows how the digital revolution was a team effort.
11:44
Hand Sanitizer May Increase BPA Absorption
Hand sanitizer and similar products could increase the amount of BPA absorbed by the skin.
25:19
You Observed…Everything
The Science Club meets to discuss your observations of the world around you, from spider habitats to lunar eclipses.
8:41
Making a Meal From a Mouthful of Seawater
A manta ray can filter 240 gallons of seawater per minute.
7:24
Fossil Find Pushes Back Neanderthal-Human Mixing
Researchers say a leg bone discovered in a Siberian river bank belongs to a man who lived some 45,000 years ago.
#ObserveEverything…Including the Cat
In the book “Lost Cat,” two feline fans reveal how methodical observation and GPS technology helped solve a kitty mystery.
No Strain, No Gain: Filter Feeding Mantas
Marine biologist and biomechanist, Misty Paig-Tran details her research into these graceful giants and reveals the multiple methods of filtration they use to sift a meal from the water.
Though They Be Tiny, These Algae Be Hardy
This hard-scaled algae adapted to increased temperatures and acidification of the water—and continued absorbing CO2.
Live From South Bend, Indiana
Video from Science Friday’s live show at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
11:43
Rooting Out the Plant Microbiome
Scientists are uncovering the importance of the plant microbiome for fighting off pathogens and increasing crop yields.
20:52
More Than Cornflakes
John Harvey Kellogg and his brother, W.K., are known today for their most famous discovery—corn flakes—but invented many other health foods along the way.
16:44
Forensic Entomologists Hunt Down Insects to Help Catch Criminals
To help piece together a crime scene, forensic entomologists examine the insects found in the area.