Audio
Listen to Science Friday live on Fridays from 2-4 p.m. ET, or listen to our daily podcast
May 2, 2025
An astronomer explores the cosmos and the limits of what science can test. Plus, how the mysterious properties of pasta—like how it bends, coils, and breaks—have been tested by physicists for decades. And, millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation.
9:43
A Handful of Nuts, a Lifetime of Benefits?
Researchers linked daily nut consumption to a lower risk of dying from major chronic diseases.
7:55
Stores May Be Snooping Into Your Smartphone
Stores can tap into your smartphone’s Wifi signal to track your in-store movements.
12:09
ISON: The Comet of the Century . . . or Is It?
As Comet ISON skirts the sun, it could be destroyed—or emerge, even more spectacular than before.
4:15
When Water Flows Uphill
Researchers test ridged surfaces in order to control the movements of hot water.
19:46
How To Avoid ‘Food Failures’ This Thanksgiving
Jeff Potter, author of “Cooking for Geeks,” dishes up a few cooking hacks for Turkey Day.
22:17
Using Modern Ballistics to Crack ‘Cold Case JFK’
Fifty years later, forensic scientists apply modern tech to the JFK assassination.
6:55
Should Sending Cash Be As Easy As Sending E-mail?
In this episode of App Chat, Ellis Hamburger debates the pros and cons of Square Cash.
16:20
Early Balloonists Took Science Up, Up and Away
Falling Upwards chronicles the balloonists who took science into the stratosphere.
23:40
Searching for Earth 2.0
New data suggest one in every five stars like the sun may have an Earth-like planet circling it.
4:06
The Other Golden Rule
Why most mammals—even elephants—take only 20-30 seconds to urinate.