Lauren J. Young was a digital producer at Science Friday. She crafted and edited pre- and post-show content for ScienceFriday.com so that listeners can get their fill of science stories throughout the week. Among the cool things Lauren has done as a journalist is hold a honeycomb frame filled with bees while standing on the roof of the Waldorf Astoria; cradle a rose hair tarantula in her hands; and re-watch the movies from the Alien franchise to “research” a creepy carnivorous plankton species.
Before joining the SciFri team, Lauren wrote for Atlas Obscura. There, she learned that the Victorians came up with odd inventions for nearly every aspect of daily life and that there are still many wondrous places yet to be explored in the world.
Lauren hails from an ever-growing rodeo town in the San Joaquin Valley of California. She studied biology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Even though the nearest beach was just a 20-minute drive from campus, she preferred working at the library and cultivating microbes in the lab. She’s got a knack for badminton and continues to help patrons as a library assistant. She’s quite proud of her impressive collection of Pez dispensers and shiny Pokémon.
While receiving her master’s degree in science journalism from NYU, Lauren interned at IEEE Spectrum and Science Friday. She was thrilled to reunite with the team.
18:00
As Wildfire Intensity Rises, So Does The Human Toll Of Blazes
Wildfire season in the West is now year-long, thanks to climate change. Listen to residents and rescuers as they grapple with the new normal.
The Voices That Shaped 30 Years Of Science Friday
For three decades, Science Friday has connected scientists with the public. Listen to the voices that have shaped our show.
26:05
SciFri Reflects On Three Decades Of Covering Science News
A lot has changed since the first broadcast in 1991. The show’s commitment to science hasn’t.
11:14
A Maggot Revolution In Modern Medicine
Fly larvae have been used to cure wounds for thousands of years. Researchers say they’re still more useful than you might think.
19:35
Stories From Those On The Frontlines Of Sea Level Rise
As seas rise, what do frontline communities want and need? Trust, agency—and money.
Algebra: From Broken Bones To Twitter Feuds
When a high school student asked a question about algebra on TikTok, she unknowingly awoke an age-old debate in mathematics history.
How The Humble Asiatic Dayflower Revealed Clues To Blue Hues
This briefly-blooming plant gave Japanese artists a distinctive dye—and helped scientists answer a color chemistry mystery.
17:26
The Healing Power Of Nostalgia
The complex emotion that you feel when digging up photos from the past could also be the key to coping with our present—and navigating our future.
Tracking Time Through Shifting Sands
What the world’s beaches can teach us about Earth’s history.
Untangling The Long-Armed Mystery Of The Bigfin Squid
The elbowed, spindly appendages of the bigfin squid have long stunned the public. But scientists say there is more to this deep-sea dweller than its ghostly appearance.