On Today's Podcast
Hold the lettuce: Updates on the 'explosive' cyclospora outbreak
The cyclospora outbreak causing diarrhea for thousands has been linked to shredded lettuce. What's making it so hard to pinpoint a source?
Listen NowJuly 17, 2026
Sci-fi stories often imagine how humans would react to intelligent alien life. But what does the science say? Plus, botflies are gross, but they also know just how to hitch a ride on a camel sneeze. An entomologist celebrates the wonder of parasites. And, in a recent analysis, scientists argued that New Orleans should relocate. But planning for a city's future is about much more than geography.
20:13
Building an Open ‘Internet of Things’
Will the ‘Internet of Things’ be open to developers—or hindered by proprietary smart boxes?
16:48
App Chat: Social Media Gets Newsy
Ellis Hamburger, a reporter at The Verge, talks about why social media giants are betting on news.
6:51
Beneath a Sleeping Volcano, Magma Mush Lies in Wait
Despite what Hollywood might show you, there’s no big tank of liquid rock under a volcano. Stored magma spends most of its time as a crystalline mush.
22:37
The Science Behind The World’s Strangest Sounds
Acoustic engineer Trevor Cox recorded the world’s longest reverberation.
6:55
Olympians Look to Science for a Competitive Edge
Physiologist and aerospace engineer Troy Flanagan shares the science behind Olympic training.
9:41
Can Technology Build a Better Athlete?
Will the next big Olympics competition be a race for more technology?
Forecasting Avalanches
Using field tests and a deep understanding of how to identify weaknesses in the snow pack, staff members from the Utah Avalanche Center forecast avalanches and take preventive measures.
Why Olympic Curling Stones Come From This Scottish Island
A small Scottish island is now the sole source of Olympic curling stone granite.
Meet John Weller, Our Winter Nature Photo Contest Judge
This nature photographer is drawn to pictures that capture a subject’s essence and tell a story.
Sports Science
Exploring the science, physiology, and tech behind sports and athletics.
The Internet’s Dark Side, Exposed in Three New Films
Three documentaries raise important questions about Internet use, from its effect on our personal relationships to our right to access information.
SciArts at Sundance: Web Junkie
Science Friday attended the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and had a conversation with Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia, the directors of the feature documentary film, “Web Junkie.”
A Nanoparticle Heart
This heart-shaped nanoparticle contains a trio of elements that helps drive the oxidation of ethanol in fuel cells.
Test the Finger Wrinkle Hypothesis
Perform an experiment to determine whether smooth or wrinkled fingers are better at holding wet objects. The experiment requires only a water bottle, paperclip, and plastic ruler.
Downloads: Video, student data sheet, illustrated instructions
8:43
Stem Cell Research Update
Researchers in a recent study report creating stem cells in 30 minutes through an acid bath.
28:34
Solving Life’s Everyday Problems, With Data
Data geeks say our “digital breadcrumbs” can reveal where to eat, who to date, or which bus to take.
8:22
Out of the Bottle: Wine Psychology
How do our expectations, environment, and social cues trick us into believing our wine tastes better or worse?
12:04
Scientists Hunt for Morning Dew on Mars
Could mysterious dark streaks on Martian slopes be evidence of liquid water flows?
17:41
Andy Weir: ‘The Martian’
Andy Weir’s novel of Mars survival mixes science fact and fiction.
9:43
In Wind Tunnels, Ski Jumpers Become Flying Machines
Wind tunnels help Olympic ski jumpers balance between lift and drag.