Stories
Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science.
12:07
When Times Get Tough, These Toads Make Hybrid Babies
To avoid their eggs turning into “tadpole brittle,” these toads breed across species to give them a leg up in survival.
6:57
Major Semiconductor Support Bill Passes First Hurdle
If passed, the CHIPS Act will allow tech companies to manufacture semiconductors in the U.S. instead of relying on imports.
10:20
Drought Could Raise Toxic Dust Around Utah’s Great Salt Lake
As the country’s largest saltwater lake dries up, toxic dust storms threaten the surrounding residents.
17:16
A Flaw in Human Judgment: How Making Decisions Isn’t As Objective As You Think
Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman explains how ‘noise’ and bias can lead to poor decisions.
16:37
Genetics Suggest Indigenous People Arrived In Americas Earlier Than Some Thought
A geneticist on the growing evidence for earlier arrivals of First Peoples to North and South America—and how to ethically collect that data.
How To Extract DNA From A 500 Year-Old Human Tooth
Genetic anthropologist Jennifer Raff walks through the delicate and precise art of obtaining DNA samples from centuries-old human remains.
SciFri Is Hosting Virtual Trivia Nights—And You’re Invited
Be the most popular person in your group thread: bring your team to the nerdiest virtual trivia night out there, full of science nerdiness!
A Future Where Gene Editing Is A Federal Crime
From this SciFri Book Club pick, a peek into a world where gene editing is a crime—or, as some believe, the only way to save humanity.
Read Blake Crouch’s ‘Upgrade’ With The SciFri Book Club
Blake Crouch imagines a world where your genome can be hacked in his new sci-fi thriller ‘Upgrade.’ Read it with us this August.
11:35
1,000 Acres Of Ancestral Land Returned To Onondaga Nation
This decision marks one of the largest returns of land to an Indigenous nation in U.S. history.
17:24
A New COVID Wave Is Here, Raising The Risk Of Reinfections
As omicron continues to evolve and reinfect, experts join us to debunk the latest pandemic misinformation and shed light on new boosters.
5:45
Texas Heatwave Puts Strain On Electric Grid
Shining a light on solar power infrastructure might prove beneficial during one of the state’s hottest summers on record.
11:14
Gene Editing Is Easy—And A Crime—In This New Techno Thriller Book
Author Blake Crouch joins Ira to discuss the not-so-improbable future of gene editing from his new novel, “Upgrade.”
17:17
A Busy Time For Space Launches
The breathtaking telescope images aren’t the only exciting thing happening in space. Space reporter and “Are We There Yet?” host explains.
17:29
U.S. Attempts To Catch Up With Rising Monkeypox Cases
The orthopox virus continues to spread as officials scramble to get on top of the national response.
12:05
Stunning JWST Images Show New Details Of The Universe
This week, the world watched as the first science images from the JWST were unveiled. Here’s what it means for astronomy.
Recruiting New Brain Donors For Science
A live Q&A and radio broadcast inspired over 1,000 listeners to pledge their brains to scientific research. Future brain donors share their motivations and questions about brain donation.
12:03
We Need To Talk About Bird Poop
Seabird poop is a vital fertilizer for ecosystems. What happens to the health of those ecosystems as those seabirds go extinct?
26:07
Sweating Is Our Biological Superpower
Sweat gives us so much more than a smell, thanks to the cool chemistry of this vital bodily fluid.
8:51
From Zero To 100 Butts: The Wild World Of Invertebrate Behinds
#InverteButtWeek is here! Meet the scientists and illustrators who are spreading joy and knowledge about the backends of the backbone-less.