Audio
Listen to Science Friday live on Fridays from 2-4 p.m. ET, or listen to our daily podcast
May 9, 2025
Some car designers are turning from touchscreen controls back to physical buttons. Two researchers explain why that could be better. Plus, geneticists used CRISPR gene editing to grow bigger fruits without sacrificing flavor. And, an executive order could change the political tides for deep sea mining.
11:52
The Blossoming Internet of Things — For Your Garden
A growing group of apps, sensors, and other technologies can tell you when to water and fertilize, or even what to plant.
26:50
Mapping Out the Future of Genomics
Genomics pioneer Craig Venter revisits his predictions for the field made during a SciFri conversation in 2003.
6:34
Plugging Into DNA for Digital Data Storage
Engineers were able to store and retrieve digitized photos from sequences of DNA.
11:58
A Volcano Mystery, HIV and Alzheimer’s, and Cold Lab Mice
A mysterious North Korean volcano, and the implications of cold lab mice for research.
17:26
How Do You Measure the I.Q. of an Octopus?
The trick, says primatologist Frans de Waal, is to measure animal intelligence not by human standards, but by the standards of an octopus or elephant or chimpanzee.
12:20
When Laser Science Was ‘Far Out’
In the 1970s, millions of people experienced a groovier side of science: the planetarium laser show.
17:36
Learning to Walk Like a Gecko, See Like a Lobster
Biomimicry is the practice of using nature to inspire new technology and innovations.
7:03
For Your Protection, a New Kind of Metal
Metal foam can disintegrate bullets on impact, reduce the impact of car crashes, and more.
10:19
Could ‘Brainprints’ Unlock Your Future Phone?
Researchers created a system that could match EEG readings to an individual with 100 percent accuracy.
17:18
What Is the Future of Coral Reefs in Warming Ocean Waters?
Ninety-three percent of Great Barrier Reef corals have been affected by a recent bleaching event.