On Today's Podcast
Tangling With Entanglement And Other Big Ideas In Physics
Physicist Sean Carroll takes on black holes, Schrödinger’s cat, and other big physics concepts that had our audience wondering.
Listen NowDecember 26, 2025
Physicist Sean Carroll takes on black holes, Schrödinger’s cat, and other big physics concepts. Plus, we revisit some of our top stories of 2025, covering research into how death metal singers safely produce extreme vocalizations, how algorithms and social media are changing language, and what we can learn from people thriving in the coldest parts of the world.
Following Up on ‘A World Without Us’
An excerpt from “Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?”
Like That Wine? You Might Thank an Earth Scientist
Geologist Kevin Pogue helps winemakers pick out top vineyards based on the region’s terroir, which entails environmental attributes such as soil, climate, and rock composition.
10 Questions for Donna Nelson, Breaking Bad’s Science Muse
The organic chemistry professor helps the Emmy-winning series make scientific sense.
22:49
Modern Humans Still Evolving, and Faster Than Ever
Recent evolution has given humans the ability to break down starch and digest cheese. Bon appetit!
23:32
Saving Wild Places in the ‘Anthropocene’
Do we need to rethink how we protect nature in the age of climate change?
11:50
World’s Largest Neutrino Telescope Buried in Antarctic Ice
The IceCube telescope detects over 100,000 neutrinos every year.
17:07
Food Fermentation: The Science of Sausage and Cheese
The chemistry behind sausage and cheese.
16:50
Les Paul: Inventor and Innovator
Paul was a lifelong tinkerer, building a railroad rail guitar as a teen and hearing aids in his 90s.
Picture of the Week: Quantum Dot Sphere
This olive-like structure is composed of tiny luminescing spheres that could be used in cellular imaging.
Chasing Time Machines: A Photographer Turns High Energy Physics Into Art
Stanley Greenberg takes pictures of giant structures used to study tiny particles.
9:33
Why Climate Change Ups the Odds of Fires, Floods
Climatologist Jennifer Francis talks about how climate change and severe weather may be linked.
29:07
Can Mass Transit Solve City Sprawl?
L.A. commuters spend 60 hours a year stuck in traffic. But is mass transit a viable alternative?
7:07
These Smartphone Apps Track Every Step of Your Day
“Quantified self” apps count your steps, measure your sleep, and collect a bevy of other details.
27:42
Science Fairs 2.0
A report card on the state of science fairs today, and a look into the future.
13:06
Birding the Fall Migration
Birding tips on how to get the most out of the fall bird migration.
5:31
A Chronicle of a Whale’s Life, Captured in Earwax
Researchers say earwax can provide data about pesticide exposures, hormone levels, and even stress levels of the endangered blue whale.
Small Talk with Scientists: The Ig Nobel Prize Winners Unwind
Here’s what it’s like to party with researchers whose work might first make you laugh, then make you think.
Here’s What a Fire Whirl Looks Like
Firefighter Greg Sanders encountered a flaming, cobra-like swirl while doing reconnaissance work in Virginia.
A New Beginning: Science Friday Partners with PRI
We’re excited to work with PRI to expand their science and technology coverage.