On Today's Podcast
Why is brain cancer so hard to treat?
A pioneer of cancer neuroscience explains how brain cancer develops, the role of the nervous system, and what might lead to new treatments.
Listen NowJuly 31, 2026
A new book tells the story of Black women cryptologists who deciphered Soviet telegrams intercepted during the early days of the Cold War. Plus, a pioneer of cancer neuroscience explains how brain cancer develops, the role of the nervous system, and what might lead to new treatments. And, extreme heat is hitting India hard. One physician is trying to understand the health impacts, and help Indians prepare for future heat waves.
Time Traveling at La Brea Tar Pits
The SciFri staff visited La Brea Tar Pits, which is celebrating 100 years of excavation.
Mavericks Of The Bat World
Mexican free-tailed bats engage in aerial acrobatics reminiscent of the jet maneuvers in “Top Gun.”
Am I A Psychopath?
An excerpt from “The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist’s Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain.”
12:09
The Real-Life Walking Dead
People suffering from Cotard’s syndrome believe they are dead or no longer exist.
17:29
Uncovering the Brain of a Psychopath
Neuroscientist James Fallon’s brain scan matched the patterns in the scan of a psychopath.
12:26
Climate Change Aids Toxic Slime’s Advance
Toxic blooms of cyanobacteria are choking lakes and rivers worldwide, due in part to warmer waters.
3:59
Discover the Inner Beauty of the Naked Mole Rat
How do naked mole rats live to 30 years without getting cancer?
22:44
Craig Venter: Life at the Speed of Light
In his latest book, Venter imagines printing out flu vaccines and teleporting Martian DNA.
23:27
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Gravity’
Astronauts separate fact from fiction in Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity.”
Great Balls of Lightning!
The phenomenon has impressed people for centuries, but it has yet to be created in the lab.
The Inner Beauty of Naked Mole Rats
How do naked mole rats live to 30 years without getting cancer? Research by Vera Gorbunova and Andrei Seluanov of the University of Rochester shows how these aesthetically challenged creatures live long, cancer-free lives.
Show, Not Tell: The Rise of the Infographic
Data visualizations are all the rage these days. Here’s a sampler of science-based ones to feed both your brain and your eyes.
11:31
New Fossil May Trim Branches of Human Evolution
Could Homo erectus, Homo habilis, and the rest of the Homo genus be one species?
24:27
Logging In to the Brain’s Social Network
Neuroscientist Matthew Lieberman explores how our brains connect to the social world.
9:50
Promising New Treatment for the Deadly Ebola Virus
Outbreaks of the Ebola virus have a 90 percent fatality rate in humans.
16:51
Vines Choking Out Trees in the Tropics
Increased forest fragmentation and a boost in carbon dioxide may contribute to the vines’ success.
17:43
Making Sense of Science Infographics
How you can decode modern infographics and spot those that mislead.
11:56
With Shutdown Over, Scientists Assess the Damage
Government labs are turning on their lights—but many Antarctic scientists are still in limbo.
A Double Take on the Northern Lights
A method using consumer grade photography gear offers a fresh look at the aurora borealis.