Lauren J. Young is a digital producer at Science Friday. She crafts and edits 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 (she was a high school champion) and an impressive collection of Pez dispensers.
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.
11:49
How The West Is Battling COVID-19 And Valley Fever
Clinicians say they are under a “triple threat” with the flu, the pandemic, and the fungal disease, valley fever.
The Best Of Science Friday, 2020
2020 has been a remarkable and difficult year. Science Friday staff and listeners reflect on the most inspirational and impactful science stories of the year.
27:28
The Best Science Books Of 2020
Catch up on our list of books that celebrate some of the best science non-fiction reads you might have missed this year.
28:45
Science Friday’s Second Life: The Voyage Home
A decade ago, Science Friday helped build—and abandoned—our Second Life community. What happened next?
17:12
How Do Wildfires Affect Our Bodies?
What happens to our insides as the outside world burns?
17:19
Koji: The Mold You Want In Your Kitchen
The fluffy white mold has transformed food for centuries—and it’s a perfect tool for culinary experimentation.
The Complicated Sex Lives Of Butterflies
It involves these large, elaborate mating plugs.
These Amazing STEM Educators Are Going Above And Beyond
Here’s the quick and comforting cup of hope you’re looking for—inspiring educators share STEM lessons and tidbits of wisdom.
Must Read List Of Speculative Fiction By Writers Of Color
The SciFri Book Club team and writers of color recommend some of their favorite novels, podcasts, anthologies, and films by diverse creators.
17:17
Gathering Together (Carefully) For A Pandemic Holiday
There’s no way to have a completely safe in-person gathering this holiday season. But if you’re going to see friends and family, here’s how to do so with the least risk.