Lights! Camera! Action!
Why ‘The Toxic Avenger’ Has Kept Our Attention For Over 40 Years
The superhero satire that’s “the lowest brow you can go” has a secret identity—a message about environmental justice.
Don’t Lick The Toad From ‘Friendship’
In the movie, Tim Robinson seeks a psychedelic experience from an unusual source. Herpetologists want others to just say no.
In ‘Jurassic World,’ A Speculative Glimpse At Dinosaur Love
In the one good scene in “Jurassic World Rebirth,” 100-foot-long titanosaurs do some G-rated mating.
In ‘Jurassic World Rebirth,’ Paleontology Is Still The Star
We talked to the movie’s paleontology consultant about the new ways he wanted to bring these magnificent dinosaurs to life.
This Mission Was Possible, According To Medical Professionals
In the new “Mission: Impossible,” agent Ethan Hunt takes a death-defying dive. Doctors tell us the science of saving real-life scuba divers.
11:45
And The Oscar Goes To … Science
The Sci-Tech Awards honor behind-the-scenes technologies that bring movies to life, from car flippers to safe burn gel for fire stunts.
17:21
How Real Doctors Brought ‘The Pitt’ To Life
We go inside the scientifically accurate ER world created for the TV show with one of its medical consultants.
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.
In ‘The Shrouds,’ E-Textiles Capture The Intimacy Of Death
The movie’s burial shroud is a way to surveil the dead. In real life, artists are capturing intimate moments by weaving tech into textiles.
The Academy Award For Science You’ve Never Heard Of
Since 1931, the Academy has recognized technological innovations in the film industry. One 2025 honoree has taken fire stunts to the next level.
‘Common Side Effects’ And The Race To Save Invisible Fungi
A “mycology thriller” imagines a hidden healing mushroom. In real life, scientists are searching far and wide to map the world’s unseen fungi.
10:50
In ‘Common Side Effects,’ A Clash Over An All-Healing Mushroom
The show’s starring scientist finds a mushroom that can heal any ailment. But powerful people will do anything to stop him from cultivating it.
17:33
If ‘Interstellar’ Were Made Today, What Would Be Different?
The science advisor for “Interstellar” discusses the film’s impact, and how new information about gravitational waves could have changed it.
‘Y2K’ Fictionalizes The Past Cyber Threat—But More Are Coming
On the 25th anniversary of the Y2K scare, the eponymous film pokes fun at internet disasters. But real disruptions may loom in the future.
‘Gladiator II’ And The Evidence For Colosseum Naval Battles
Lots of moments from “Gladiator II” are fiction. But some scientists think mock naval battles in the Colosseum totally happened.
‘Salem’s Lot’ And The Bloody Fountain Of Youth
In this Stephen King adaptation, a vampire drinks blood to live forever. Can young blood have anti-aging effects for the living?
9:53
How ‘3 Body Problem’ Explores The Laws Of Physics
Particle accelerators, nanofibers, and solar physics: The science advisor for the Netflix adaptation breaks down the physics in the show.
‘The Substance’ And The Search For Human Regeneration
In the new movie, Demi Moore grows an entire clone of herself in just a few minutes. What does actual regenerative medicine look like?
10:30
‘Slingshot’ Imagines A Yearslong Space Mission Gone Wrong
The new sci-fi movie about an astronaut’s mental breakdown prompts questions about how to prepare humans for long-term space travel.
‘Slingshot’ And The Mental Battle Of Long Space Missions
The new movie “Slingshot” depicts an astronaut’s mental health meltdown. How is NASA preparing for the challenges of long-term space travel?
11:35
The Tornado Science To Know Before Seeing ‘Twisters’
The follow-up to the 1996 movie “Twister” is a whirlwind of tornado science. A weather expert decodes its lingo—and real-life tornado trends.
‘Twisters’ Highlights The Turbulent Language Of Twin Tornadoes
Comparing clusters of tornadoes is a tricky task for researchers and could affect their ability to predict these superstorms.
16:59
’The Last Of Us’ Hands Fungi The Spotlight
After watching the new TV series, a mycologist answers your questions about what fungi can really do, and how they shape our lives.
16:28
It’s Spacetime And Science Season At The Oscars
From multiverses to volcanoes, this year’s Academy Award nominees include many pictures where science drives the plot.
16:45
The Surprising Animal Science Behind Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope’
Spoilers abound! Learn how Jordan Peele’s new film ‘Nope’ used inspiration from the oceans to make its new creature.
12:13
Did ‘Soylent Green’s’ Predictions About 2022 Hold Up?
A classic film in the 1970s took on the collapse of civil society in 2022. Almost 50 years later, was it right?
12:07
For The Love Of Volcanoes
“Fire of Love,” a new documentary by director Sara Dosa, charts the career and relationship of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Kraft.
11:43
‘All That Breathes:’ A Story Of Two Brothers Saving New Delhi’s Raptors
The Oscar-nominated documentary follows two brothers on their mission to save black kites.
17:26
How Did ‘Prehistoric Planet’ Make Dinosaurs Look So Real?
Paleontologists and producers unveil the behind-the-scenes action of recreating accurate dinosaurs in a new docuseries on Apple TV+.
09:02
Notes On Composing For Science
Film composer Darren Fung describes what it took to score the science documentary series “The Great Human Odyssey.”
16:44
Science Goes To The Movies: Blade Runner 2049
Could we build … or grow … replicants in the near future?
26:47
50 Years Ago: The Odyssey To Craft ‘2001’
A look back on Arthur C. Clarke, Stanley Kubrick, and the science fiction masterpiece they wrote as they went along.
16:24
The Real Science In The New Ghostbusters
How physicists made a movie about ghosts a bit more realistic.
17:03
Could Thor Punch The Hulk Without Knocking Himself Over?
Mythbusting the physics of this summer’s superhero blockbusters.
Step Inside A Mad Scientist’s Lab
Take a video tour of the California-based prop shop Jadis, where technological curiosities both real and imagined intermingle.
28:52
Consciousness At The Center Of ‘Westworld’s’ Maze
We’re a long way from human-mimicking AI. But can artificial intelligence ever truly achieve human levels of consciousness?
16:10
How Humans Might Really Colonize The Solar System
The minds behind the “The Expanse” chat about space flight, space politics, and how they keep the show feeling real.
16:57
When ‘Nope’ Needed Aliens, Director Jordan Peele Looked To The Ocean
(Spoilers abound!) Jordan Peele’s film ‘Nope” used inspiration from the oceans to make its new creature.
27:02
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘First Man’
We gather a panel of space experts to discuss the new movie. Plus, what are the stories that Hollywood could tell about space that we haven’t heard yet?
11:24
Decoding The Hacks Of ‘Mr. Robot’
Kor Adana, a writer for Mr. Robot, unpacks the toolkit of real-life hackers that inspired the show.
20:25
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Arrival’
How would real scientists achieve mutual understanding with an alien race?
23:43
SciFri Live: Science Movie Quiz
You may know science, but how well do you know movie science?
What Can We Learn From On-Screen Psychopaths?
Few psychopaths who terrorize the big screen could pass a reality check, but those who do can be used as teaching tools for aspiring psychiatrists.
23:49
Seeking Humanity In Volcanoes With Werner Herzog
The legendary filmmaker has a new documentary about the power of volcanoes and the gods they’ve inspired.
16:23
Science On Screen, From Old to New
The first science documentaries are almost as old as cinema itself.
00:26:38
The Secret to Moana’s Special Animation Sauce? Just Add Water.
Disney animators break down the water effects in its latest hit film.
25:14
Science Goes To The Movies: The Martian
An astronaut and a NASA engineer weigh in on “The Martian,” on this edition of Science Friday’s “Science Goes to the Movies.”
17:22
Making Hollywood’s Digital Doubles
Now that Hollywood’s visual effects wizards can create convincing “digital actors,” will we still need the real thing?
22:44
Spreading The Word About The ‘Mother Of Wi-Fi’
Actress Hedy Lamarr was so much more than a beautiful face. Here’s why her story needs to be told.
24:09
From Dothraki To Valyrian: Building The Languages Of Game Of Thrones
Language creator David J. Peterson explains how he constructed Dothraki and the Valyrian languages for the TV series “Game of Thrones.”
17:23
Science In The Writers’ Room
Hollywood T.V. and film writers explain how they balance scientific accuracy and storytelling.
17:36
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Jurassic World’
Paleontologists Lindsay Zanno and Kenneth Lacovara share what made them clap and cringe while watching “Jurassic World.”
12:27
From The Lab To The Silver Screen: The Birth of CGI
Animator Tom Sito explains how scientists and engineers kickstarted Hollywood’s digital animation revolution.
How To Make Your Own Lightsaber
One “Star Wars” fan shares best practices for a DIY lightsaber.
23:27
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Gravity’
Astronauts separate fact from fiction in Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity.”
29:57
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Her’
Our scientist-film critics weigh in on “Her.”
26:41
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Transcendence’
SciFri’s scientist-film critics weigh in on the science behind the Hollywood techno-thriller “Transcendence.”
22:09
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘The Imitation Game’
SciFri’s scientist-film critics weigh in on the Alan Turing biopic.
11:29
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Rememory’
Is memory manipulation the stuff of Hollywood, or a glimpse into the near future?
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Spine-Chilling Science
Don’t let these science stories send a shiver down your spine.
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