On Today's Podcast
A Delicious But Invasive Mushroom Could Affect Fungal Diversity
Golden oyster mushrooms have escaped from home growing kits into the wild. Plus, the ancient origin story of the humble potato plant.
Listen NowSeptember 5, 2025
A sand dune is much more than just a big pile of sand. But how do sand dunes work, and what else do scientists want to know about sand? Plus, candles, hairstyling products, and other common items can produce toxic air pollution that lingers in our homes. And, former CDC scientist Demetre Daskalakis left his post, citing political interference and a lack of science in decision-making at the agency.
11:38
How Humboldt Squid Talk To Each Other In The Dark
In the deep ocean, these cephalopods use a combination of skin color patterns and bioluminescence to communicate to one another.
17:14
Mapping The Microbiome Of Your Tongue
Researchers are trying to understand the relationships between the communities inside “microbial skyscrapers” on the human mouth.
15:25
Rethinking Invasive Species With Pablo Escobar’s Hippos
Colombia’s non-native hippo population is ballooning. New research says that might not be a bad thing.
16:59
Fact Check My Feed: Which COVID-19 Treatments Are Backed By Science?
Virologist Angela Rasmussen returns to explain the studies behind the stories on your news feed.
‘O Snail’ And Other Poems From Jane Hirshfield
Poet Jane Hirshfield writes prose about humanity and our planet while pondering the crises of refugees, justice, and climate in her new book of poems.
12:26
A New World, Shaped By COVID-19
A roundup of the COVID-19 stories that will define the “new normal,” including tracking spread through smartphone location data and ventilator triage.
27:09
Jane Goodall Reflects On 60 Years Of Research And Conservation
Jane Goodall on her research in the Gombe, and the need for hope and cooperation in the modern world.
6:07
The New ‘Science Diction’ Podcast Brings You: Vaccine
Here’s what cows have to do with your yearly flu shot.
12:27
What Can Vampire Bats Teach Us About Socializing In A Pandemic?
Illness changes how these small mammals interact. An expert says it’s not so different from how people are socializing amidst the coronavirus.
16:30
Poetry Wields Science In ‘Unaccountable’ Times
Poet Jane Hirshfield takes on crises both biological and human in her new book “Ledger.”
16:57
Fact-Checking Your Coronavirus News Feed
Experiencing COVID-19 information overload? Two experts offer clarity on the studies taking over news headlines this week.
Your Questions About COVID-19, Answered
You’ve had a lot of questions about the novel coronavirus. We’ve compiled answers and tips from health experts we’ve interviewed on the show.
6:44
What Does A ‘Pandemic’ Actually Mean?
What the World Health Organization’s declaration of a ‘pandemic’ means, and more from the week in science.
5:04
Is A New HIV-Prevention Drug Worth The Extra Cost?
With affordable generic PrEP drugs on the horizon, a new brand-name PrEP rollout complicates access to underserved communities.
4:44
Introducing Our New Podcast: Science Diction
A new podcast from Science Friday looks at the scientific backstories behind words.
29:33
How Will We Respond To The Latest Farm Crisis?
In the 1980s, farmers were pushed to the brink of suicide. Today, it might be worse.
17:05
Walking With The Dinosaurs Of Scotland’s Isle Of Skye
Paleontologists discovered tracks of middle Jurassic carnivorous dinosaurs and a stegosaurus in the area.
28:16
Coronavirus: Sanitizing, According To Science
The coronavirus is easy to kill with soap and water. We talk how it works, and why it matters for more people than you.
Science Diction: Cobalt
‘Cobalt’ takes its name from a pesky goblin—and mischief is baked into its name.