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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.
SciFri Book Club Talks ‘Monkey Mind’
Peer into the anxious mind of writer Daniel Smith with the SciFri Book Club.
Martian Lab Made in Manhattan
What’s it like to build tools for Curiosity? Intense.
With ‘Terror’ in the Past, Mars Scientists Plan for Exploration Ahead
Mars Science Laboratory project scientist John Grotzinger describes plans for the Curiosity rover, now in Gale Crater on Mars.
Catching Up with Tom Swift a Century Later
A look back at the fictional boy inventor and his 100 year legacy.
Amidst Rocky Peaks, Physicists Ponder the Universe
The Aspen Center for Physics, a mountain retreat for theoretical physicists, turns 50 this year.
Attacking Alzheimer’s with Antibodies, Hormones
Researchers are using an arsenal of techniques to cure Alzheimer’s, some with disappointing results.
Spending the Holidays at a Toxic Waste Site
Where the typical tourist sees putrid wasteland, writer Andrew Blackwell sees magnificent scenery.
One Doc’s Prescription For Hassle-Free Healthcare
Dr. Jay Parkinson envisions more efficient healthcare for his patients’ and it starts with an email.
Making Movies That Zoom into Foreign Worlds
The stars of these films usually have only one cell.
Tech Giants Gear Up for Patent Battle
Apple and Samsung enter the courtroom in a battle over the way their mobile devices work, look, and feel.