Stories
Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science.
17:29
COVID And Climate Change Collide At The Olympics
How athletes are attempting to avoid infection–and coping with extreme heat–in Tokyo.
17:01
What’s Shaking Below Mars’ Surface?
Scientists are using quakes on Mars to peer inside the interior of the Red Planet. Plus, a planned mission to investigate Venus.
16:12
How Long Do Viruses Hang Out In Your Body?
A look at how viruses—from SARS-CoV-2 to HIV to measles—persist in the body and how this can provide new clues into understanding immunity.
To Plan For Disaster, Talk To Your Community
With climate change accelerating, a disaster researcher offers tips on what government agencies can do better when planning for emergencies.
Tracking Time Through Shifting Sands
What the world’s beaches can teach us about Earth’s history.
12:09
Flooding Worldwide Fits Climate Change Models
Intense rainfall and flooding killed hundreds and displaced more around the world this week. Why climate change means we can expect even more.
16:05
Will Blockchain Really Change The Way The Internet Runs?
The promise of blockchain, a decentralized database technology, has drawn attention for years. But what can it really do?
7:39
Billions Of Sea Creatures, Lost To Heat Waves
During record-breaking temperatures in the Pacific Northwest, starfish, mussels, oysters, sea snails and more virtually baked to death on beaches.
21:29
EPA Whistleblowers Allege ‘Atmosphere Of Fear’
Scientists from the agency say their assessments were altered to downplay the health risks of chemicals.
17:12
How The Humpback Says Hello
In the documentary ‘Fathom,’ two scientists explore the complex communication of humpback whales.
17:30
Biden’s Surgeon General On How To Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, talks about the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond.
How Do We Keep Microplastics Out Of The Ocean? Filtration, Naturally.
Model a bioretention cell! Experiment to understand how microplastics are getting in the ocean—and the ocean food chain.
What Can Hawaiian Shark-Toothed Weapons Tell Us About Sharks?
Examine Hawaiian shark-toothed weapons and learn about traditional Hawaiian beliefs that help build our ecological history of sharks.
Why Your Skin And Streets Need Antioxidants
Conduct experiments with everyday antioxidants like lemon juice and chocolate, then learn how antioxidant byproducts from olive oil production can be repurposed for roads and cosmetics.
Spider Webs: A Tangled Spring Of Force And Energy
Have you ever wondered how spiders capture prey? Learn how spiders create structures that can store mechanical energy.
From Sputnik To Twitter, The History Of Science Communication
Instead of yesteryear’s dry and dusty lectures, science communicators are creating new and exciting ways to engage with science.
12:03
A Tale Of Two Pandemics
People getting seriously ill from COVID-19 in the U.S. are overwhelmingly from unvaccinated populations.
12:12
Songbirds Suffer Mystery Illness From The East Coast To The Midwest
Songbirds from the mid-Atlantic to Indiana are suffering from an illness that causes swollen eyes, neurological symptoms, and death.
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.
8:15
Betelgeuse’s False Supernova Alarm
Supernova expert Sarafina Nance explains a new theory for why red giant star Betelgeuse abruptly went dark in 2019.