On Today's Podcast
Asha de Vos’ journey from deck hand to marine science leader
In a 2025 story, Asha de Vos tells how she became the first Sri Lankan to earn a PhD studying marine mammals, then built a biology program.
Listen NowJuly 24, 2026
Archeologists are piecing together the lives of ordinary Pompeii residents, from a fish sauce entrepreneur to an enterprising businesswoman. Plus, Andrea Ghez developed a way to peer through dust clouds and observe stars orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. And, what do we know, and not know, about SSRI antidepressant withdrawal?
Tumors Evade Treatment with Help from Neighboring Cells
Researchers hone in on where cancer cells live for answers about drug resistance.
Silk Stretches Drugs Shelf Life to New Lengths
A silky solution to the age old question of how to keep drugs viable without refrigeration.
The Nuts and Bolts of High-Speed Rail
After years on the slow track, America’s high-speed rail may finally be building momentum.
Climate Change Ups Odds of Heat Waves, Drought
Researchers say heat waves are 20 times more likely today than in the 1960s, due to global warming.
What Happens When Scientists Get It Wrong?
When a controversial paper comes out, skeptical scientists can attempt to replicate the study. But how many scientists have the time–and money–to police bad science?
Myths and Tips on Keeping Your Cool This Summer
Think caffeine dehydrates you? Or that you can’t get too much water on a hot day? Douglas Casa, of the Korey Stringer Institute, sets the record straight.
Manhattanhenge: Watch a Star Align
Twice a year, the sunset lines up with New York City’s street grid—making for spectacular views.
At Long Last, The Higgs Particle… Maybe
Physicists have finally discovered the elusive Higgs boson–or at least something a lot like it.
What’s Your IQ on SPF?
A look at the science of sunscreen: how it intercepts the sun’s rays, whether it blocks vitamin D production, and what SPF really means.
Relishing the Science of the BBQ
Mayo myth-busters, a ketchup jar that never jams, and a salute to the pickle.
Peering into the Dark Side of Scientific Discovery
Why scientists have come to blows — literally — over who gets the glory for a discovery.
SciFri Book Club Talks Silent Spring
Silent Spring revisited: Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman host the first SciFri Book Club meeting.
Astronauts Prepare for Departure
We’ll check in with crewmembers on board the International Space Station, just days before several are scheduled to return to Earth after months in orbit.
Bidding Farewell to Lonesome George
He never spoke, but affected many. We’ll look back on the life of the Galapagos icon Lonesome George.
A Tale of Two Coastlines, Skirted by Swelling Seas
Rising sea levels are swallowing up U.S. coastlines–with a flood of consequences onshore.
Alan Turing at 100
A look at the man who helped create the modern world–and was promptly forgotten by it.
Meet the Energy-Saving Gadgets of the Future
Floors that generate electricity from footsteps. A GPS that outsmarts traffic jams. Innovations like these could be the next big thing–and we have student inventors to thank.
Spider-Man Gets a Physics Lesson
Do the laws of physics apply to superheroes? Sort of, says James Kakalios.
Will China Blast Past America in Space?
China just ticked off another accomplishment in space: its first manned docking in orbit. Next stop…the Moon?