Audio
Listen to Science Friday live on Fridays from 2-4 p.m. ET, or listen to our daily podcast
June 13, 2025
US Health Secretary RFK Jr. fired an entire panel that recommends vaccines. Plus, the EPA moves to expedite cleanup of Superfund sites amid budget cuts. Former President Joe Biden’s diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer has put a spotlight on prostate cancer screening.
The Many Lifestyles of Muck-Dwelling Microbes
From barely-alive to bits of a biocomputer, a look at two different microbes and their unusual stories.
Why Ignorance Trumps Knowledge in Scientific Pursuit
Neuroscientist Stuart Firestein discusses why ignorance is key to scientific discovery.
What’s The Secret To Great Tomato Flavor?
Horticulturalist Harry Klee is on a mission to bring great taste back to the supermarket tomato.
Breaking Out Of A Web Of Fear
After brief therapy, arachnophobes touch tarantulas and have lasting changes in fear response.
Tick Talk: Lyme Disease Under The Microscope
A look at Lyme disease, the illness linked to a multibillion-dollar banking blunder.
Humans, The World’s ‘Superomnivores’
Gotta have crunch? In The Omnivorous Mind, John S. Allen explains the universal appeal of crispy snacks like tempura and fried chicken.
Monster Turtle Fossil Discovered In Colombian Mine
The giant reptile lived shortly after the demise of the dinos–and may have snacked on baby gators.
The Itching Question That’s More Than Skin Deep
A connection between thinking and scratching shows how little we know about the tingles on our skin.
From Rooftops and Abandoned Lots, an Urban Harvest
How about some rooftop honey or dandelion flower jelly? A look at city harvests.
On Eve of Launch, SpaceX Head Talks about Mission
Elon Musk on the Dragon launch, traveling to Mars, and–his other hobby–electric cars.