Stories
Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science.
25:48
Your Summer Science Book List
Lee Billings and Maria Popova compile your perfect summer science book list.
8:50
The Science of the ‘Brazuca’
How will the “Brazuca” fly? Scientists put the World Cup soccer ball through its paces.
12:19
Pre-Surgery Routine Needs an Update, Says Doc
Robert Cima of the Mayo Clinic says science doesn’t back up pre-surgical practices like fasting and colon cleanses.
17:20
Is NASA Ready To Make The Leap To A Manned Mission To Mars?
What technologies, budget, and partners would NASA needed for a successful manned mission to Mars?
16:34
‘Do Fathers Matter?’ Explores Dad’s Influence
In his new book, Paul Raeburn writes of the surprising biological and genetic connections fathers have with their children.
Proving Dad’s Worth (With Science)
An excerpt from “Do Fathers Matter?” by Paul Raeburn.
Have a Cricket Tell You the Temperature!
In this activity from Science Buddies, you will investigate how the chirps of crickets can be used as a kind of thermometer.
The Amazing, Flying Munk’s Devil Ray
This small ray can breach several feet into the air, causing a loud slapping sound upon its return to the ocean that has earned it the nickname “tortilla.”
11:47
The EPA’s New Proposal to Curb Carbon Emissions
The EPA’s proposal sets a 30 percent decrease in power plant carbon emissions by 2030.
30:24
It’s a Material World
In his book “Stuff Matters,” Mark Miodownik explains why the everyday materials around us are truly extraordinary.
3:51
The Goat Brigade
A herd of ‘elite’ brush-clearing goats demonstrate why they are a versatile tool to shield against wildfires in Southern California.
22:04
Documenting the Oldest Living Things in the World
In her new book of photography, “The Oldest Living Things in the World,” artist Rachel Sussman documents the oldest continuously living organisms on the planet.
22:51
Making Summer Travel Plans With Climate Change in Mind
With projections of warmer temperatures and rising sea levels, which tourist destinations should you plan to visit sooner rather than later?
The Goat Brigade: Preventing Wildfires in Southern California
A herd of “elite” brush-clearing goats demonstrate why they are a versatile tool to shield against wildfires in Southern California.
Chocolate Crystal Concoctions
Act like an experimental chocolatier and determine how different melting and cooling procedures impact the shine, hardness, and texture of finished chocolate.
The Eye Of The Sahara
The Richat Structure can be seen from space and might be 100 million-years-old.
12:01
How Touch Helps Us Emotionally Experience the World
Researchers describe a type of nerve that helps us understand social interactions and emotion.
8:27
Laser Blast Can Regrow Teeth, in Rats
Zapping dental stem cells with lasers appears to switch on production of new dentin, the hard stuff under tooth enamel.
16:13
Why Do Some Songs Stick in Our Heads?
“Earworms” are song fragments that get stuck in our mind.