Flora has produced science media for 20 years across many formats. She got her start right here at Science Friday, working her way up from intern to fill-in host, and resident videographer. From there, she worked as a video producer for The New York Times, co-creating an Emmy-nominated film series that dramatized scientific discoveries using… paper puppets. She also was nominated for an Emmy for her writing on Bill Nye’s Netflix show “Bill Nye Saves the World.” She has created and launched a number of podcasts in various roles, including hosting Gimlet’s beloved “Every Little Thing,” which connected listeners to experts who could answer their burning questions. The show ran for five years and published over 200 episodes. In her previous role as Hypothesis Fund Managing Editor, she told the stories of world-class scientists pursuing bold new ideas in a new storytelling initiative, The Leap.
Making science accessible, relatable, and human has been a focus of Flora’s career. Some of her inspiration comes from her own experience in science: Long, long ago, she worked at a NATO oceanographic lab in Italy. For the lab’s research expeditions, she lived on a ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.
You can find her @flichtman on social media platforms.
Be Bold Or Just Don’t Do It
Plant biologist Joanne Chory spent her career trying to grow plants that could sequester CO2 in their roots. Her wild ideas took hold.
17:15
Turning The Binoculars On Birders
Lace up those comfortable sneakers, and get out your bug spray and field guides, because we’re about to go birder-watching.
17:29
How Cannibalistic Tadpoles Could Curb Invasive Cane Toads
Scientists used gene-editing technology to create “Peter Pan” tadpoles that would eat the eggs of Australia’s cane toads—and never grow up.
What Huge Cuts To NSF Funding Mean For Science
Government cuts have left NSF funding at the lowest level in decades. Plus, the FDA has cleared a blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s.
What Happens When Air Traffic Control Systems Go Dark?
Recent outages at Newark Airport highlighted the challenges facing air traffic controllers. What’s the science underpinning air safety?
This Is Going To Kill Your Career
Betül Kaçar started out as a biochemist. But then she found her calling: investigating some of the hardest questions in evolutionary biology.
The Science Of That Big Stunt From The New ‘Mission: Impossible’
How the “Final Reckoning” crew used science to bring an underwater stunt to life. Plus, the psychology behind thrill-seeking.
11:37
Running The Numbers On AI Energy Use
The energy consumption of one AI query may seem small, but they add up. A new analysis calculates the AI industry’s footprint—so far.
33:32
How ‘Super Agers’ Stay Sharp And Active Longer Than Their Peers
Super agers are folks who stay fit into their 80s and beyond. What’s behind their unique health and longevity?
29:33
Could The NIH Plan For A ‘Universal Vaccine’ Really Work?
The plan raises some eyebrows, as some in the Trump administration have been skeptical of vaccines and moved to limit vaccine access.