Stories
Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science.
Volcanic Soundwaves
Explore how sound waves are transmitted and visualized in this activity about infrasound and volcanic activity. Develop a sound to model a waveform.
When Galactic Tourism Goes Awry: Exploring New Suns
On January 28, join us to explore how cities might transform if Earth was a tourist destination for intergalactic travel.
Enhancing Moods, One Brain Chip At A Time: Exploring New Suns
On February 4, join us to explore how relationships and culture might change when some are implanted with mood-enhancing brain chips.
How Companies Denied Their Role In Climate Change
Michael Mann seeks to debunk the lies that have derailed attempts to curb climate change and arms readers with a real path forward to preserving the planet.
11:58
West Virginia Leads In Race To Distribute Vaccines
Why has New York struggled to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, while West Virginia excelled?
16:21
The New Vision For Vaccines
How will the apparent success of the mRNA approach change the path of vaccine production in the future?
11:49
How The West Is Battling COVID-19 And Valley Fever
Clinicians say they are under a “triple threat” with the flu, the pandemic, and the fungal disease, valley fever.
17:09
How To Spot A Conspiracy Theory
Here’s how machine learning models and folklore analysis can help us detect—and perhaps defang—conspiracy theories.
17:14
A New President, An Ongoing Climate Crisis
Author and climate scientist Michael Mann lays out what President Biden can do in his first 100 days to show he’s serious about climate policy.
17:14
How Did A Vaccine Get Developed In Less Than A Year?
How decades of vaccine research, financial investment, and a bit of luck gave scientists the tools to quickly create—and test—vaccines for COVID-19.
12:11
Trump’s New EPA ‘Transparency’ Rule Could Hamper Science
Critics say the new rule could be used to hamper new environmental regulations.
8:52
Can Cells Rewind The Wrinkles Of Time?
A new study suggests it may be possible to reprogram cellular aging.
12:13
Strap In, It’s Going To Be A Big Year For Space News
From missions to Mars to civilian space flight, we round up what we can look forward to this year in space news.
17:16
Finding New Particles On The Frontier of Physics
Theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek explores the existence of new particles, and why they matter.
16:51
Giant, Toothed Birds Once Ruled The Skies
Before they went extinct, this ancient bird was more than twice the size of the modern albatross.
25:17
Fact Check My Feed: What’s Up With These COVID-19 Mutations?
Virologist Angela Rasmussen explains the virus variant and the latest controversy of the vaccine distribution.
How Big (Or Small) Is The Universe?
“One shouldn’t envy the universe just because it’s big. We’re big, too.” Theoretical physicist Frank Wilczek contemplates the idea of space.
12:27
Where Did The Word ‘Vaccine’ Come From?
The story of the first vaccine begins with a disease, a milkmaid, and a cow named Blossom.
23:46
New Year, New Birds
The annual Christmas Bird Count is still on this year—and the hundred-year-old community science project is guiding scientists.
10:24
Birds Of A Feather: Making Science More Inclusive
Black Birders Week co-founder Chelsea Connor discusses how to create—and maintain—spaces where Black scientists can thrive.