Stories
Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science.
7:39
Arctic Wildfires Are Burning An Important Carbon Sink
Fires in the far north may impact forests’ ability to store carbon.
16:43
Can Woodchips Help The Gulf Of Mexico’s Dead Zone?
Crop scientists are tackling fertilizer runoff with woodchips, bacteria, and a trench.
23:40
Is COVID-19 Herd Immunity Even Possible Anymore?
Between variants and vaccine hesitancy, the U.S. may be a long way from vaccinating our way out of the pandemic.
12:10
India Suffering Under A Deadly Second Wave Of COVID-19
Yesterday, India reported nearly 380,000 new COVID-19 cases in just one day. And the number of deaths has reached nearly 4,000.
17:24
Ask An Expert: What The Heck Are Microplastics?
We create them, we eat them, we breathe them in. But what effect do microplastics have on our bodies and our planet?
11:50
Uncovering Metal Crafts Of The Viking Age
Archaeologists find that metalworkers in the 8th-century Viking trading port of Ribe made quick technological advances in brass production.
17:19
An Illustrated Exploration Of Hypothetical Futures
In a new illustrated guide, futurist Rose Eveleth dives into the slippery nature of predicting what might come next.
15:56
The Global Pollinating Forces Behind Your Food
When you eat foods grown in another country, you’re benefiting from pollinating insects and animals thousands of miles away.
17:22
The Future Of Plastics
How we make—and dispose of—plastics is one of our biggest environmental challenges. Here are some potential solutions.
What Does Restorative Justice Look Like… In Space?
In a graphic anthology of possible futures, astronauts embarking on a moon settlement operation explore justice in space.
Examining Texas And California’s Very Different Vaccination Approaches
California stresses equity for minority groups. Texas is all about personal choice and liberty. Both states face roadblocks.
12:14
World Leaders Gather Virtually For Climate Summit
Forty world leaders attended to discuss how each country would commit to decreasing emissions.
4:41
Offshore Wind Power Moves Forward In Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm has been in the planning stage for years. Now, the project may finally be going forward.
16:36
The Dazzling Rufous Hummingbird, Threatened By Climate Change
The population of one of the most common hummingbird species in the U.S. is plummeting. Climate change may be the culprit.
12:04
Proposed Legislation Threatens Trans Rights Nationwide
From participation in sports to accessing medical care, over 30 state legislatures are weighing anti-trans proposals.
36:19
Why Gender-Affirming Healthcare Is ‘Lifesaving Care’
Two medical providers discuss how gender-affirming healthcare helps transgender kids—and adults—figure out who they are. Plus, what opponents get wrong about what this care does.
16:21
What Does It Mean To Be Alive?
Science writer Carl Zimmer explores the complicated search for a definition of life.
12:51
Setting New Goals At An Earth Week Climate Summit
The European Union is targeting climate neutrality by 2050, and the Biden administration has announced a national goal of a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
The Fiery Hummingbird Of Isla Robinson Crusoe
The Juan Fernández Firecrown hummingbird is a magnificent, isolated castaway that had evolved to look unlike others of its kind.
10 Questions With The Father Of Environmental Justice
Since 1979, Robert Bullard has studied the disproportionate impacts of pollution on communities of color. He reflects on the past and future of the environmental justice movement.