On Today's Podcast
How Common Household Products Pollute Our Indoor Air
Candles, hair styling products, and other common items can produce toxic air pollution that lingers in our homes.
Listen NowAugust 29, 2025
Archaeologists are taking another look at tattoos on preserved corpses and verifying ancient techniques with modern tattoo artists. Plus, an ER doctor reflects on Hurricane Katrina, 20 years later. And, we’re pulling a few of our favorite stories about the science of ice cream out of the freezer.
To Stop Spotted Lanternflies, These Dogs Are Sniffing Them Out
A citizen science project is turning canines into crop protectors, and challenging what researchers know about dogs’ powerful noses.
Explore The Outdoors With SciFri Outside This Fall
On September 28 and October 12, join us outdoors to learn all about a well-loved species of the northeast: American beech trees!
How Science Fiction Influenced American Psychological Warfare
A new book looks at the history of psychological warfare, its connections to science fiction, and how it’s been adapted to modern politics.
12:05
Hawaiʻi Wildfire Survivors To Join Long-Term Health Study
The University of Hawaiʻi study will be the largest of its kind to investigate the health and social impacts of the Maui wildfires.
17:05
PLATO’s Mission To Discover Exoplanets Like Earth
The European Space Agency mission aims to discover new exoplanets in habitable zones. It is scheduled for launch in late 2026.
12:12
Deep-Sea ‘Nodules’ May Produce Oxygen, Study Finds
New research suggests that polymetallic nodules found 13,000 feet deep produce “dark oxygen” by electrolyzing water.
17:22
Why Does COVID-19 Spike In Summer?
This is the fourth summer the U.S. has seen a COVID-19 surge. And no, it’s not a coincidence.
7:23
Damaged Wind Turbine Blade Sinks Off Massachusetts Coast
Fiberglass is washing up on Nantucket’s shores, and residents are concerned about the long-term environmental impact of this debris.
9:50
One Bird’s Physics Trick For Flying At High Altitudes
At higher altitudes, the air is less dense, which makes it harder for birds in flight to generate lift. The turkey vulture has a solution.
17:14
Why Cancer Death Rates Have Decreased Over The Last 30 Years
Cancer treatment and prevention has come a long way in the past few decades. Here’s what’s new, and where challenges persist.
Take A Walk On The Lichen Side With SciFri In Portland, OR
On October 30, join Ira Flatow for a day full of the symbiotic fuzzy growths on trees, roofs and gravestones—lichen!
Putting Humboldt Back In The Spotlight With Andrea Wulf
On August 29, we’ll revisit Andrea Wulf’s book about globe-trekking explorer, scientist, and environmentalist Alexander von Humboldt.
What I Learned Setting Up The Science Friday Archive
I had two months to make sense of 33 years of programs–and set Science Friday up to document its future.
12:11
Curiosity Rover Discovers Pure Sulfur On Mars
Previously, the rover uncovered minerals mixed with sulfur. But this is the first time pure sulfur has been discovered on Mars.
11:25
What A Rodent Brain Shows Us About Love–And Loss
Monogamous prairie voles may help us understand how our brains respond to love, and how they move on after heartbreak.
6:04
If You Rolled Colorado Out Into A Brownie, How Big Would It Be?
Science suggests it would be very, very large. And still, somehow, probably larger than you think.
17:13
Inside The Race To Save Honeybees From Parasitic Mites
Varroa destructor mites are killing honeybees and their babies at alarming rates.
12:12
A Science Hero, Lost and Found
In our August book club pick, “The Invention of Nature,” Andrea Wulf restores Alexander von Humboldt to his rightful place in science history.
17:02
Sodium Replaces Lithium In A New Type Of Battery
Researchers developed the first anode-free solid-state battery that’s based on sodium, which is cheaper and more abundant than lithium.
17:25
From Farm To Fridge: The Science And History Of Refrigeration
In her book ‘Frostbite,’ Nicola Twilley examines how refrigeration changed the world and spoiled us—and our food.