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.
How The Age Of Mars Rovers Began
Perseverance is the fifth rover to land on the Red Planet. NASA scientists remember Mars Pathfinder’s Sojourner—the 90s experimental endeavor that started it all.
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11:47
Does A Vaccine Help You If You’ve Already Had COVID-19?
Recent studies showing that a single dose of vaccine could boost immunity for former COVID-19 patients.
15:01
Keeping An Eye On The Climate, From Space
As the government focuses more attention on climate issues, NASA has appointed a ‘senior climate advisor.’
1:50
A SciFri Soundscape Of The Red Planet
The Perseverance rover recently sent back audio of Martian wind. We investigated what Earth sounds would sound like on the Red Planet.
11:49
Memory And The Dreaming Mind
What role does sleep play in memory? Researchers look to lucid dreams for clues.
9:07
Progress In Considering Sex As A Biological Variable
Five years ago, NIH asked researchers to include how the sex of mice affects the outcome of pre-clinical research. One team member discusses what’s changed—and what lies ahead.
7:41
The Problem With ‘Parachute Science’
In Indonesia, close to half of published studies on coral reefs included no local scientists, causing researchers to reexamine practices.
16:16
The Global COVID-19 Supply Problem
An unfair vaccine rollout is threatening global health—and could prolong the pandemic for everyone.
16:34
The Aftermath Of Texas’ Winter Storm
While power has been mostly restored, journalists report Texans are now facing water shortages, housing damage, and crop losses.
Options Texas Lawmakers Are Considering To Prevent Future Blackouts
The recent winter storm and blackouts in Texas brought the state’s aging infrastructure into painful focus. Here’s what may change.
Robot: Making A Mechanical Mind
A mind we create isn’t necessarily a mind we can control.
These Stunning Images Were Created Using The Forces Behind Evolution
A computer programmer and artist discovers inspiration in biological growth processes.
12:08
Why Did The Texas Power Grid Fail?
What happens when you don’t winterize your infrastructure. Plus, NASA lands another rover on the Red Planet.
8:08
Uncovering An Ancient Mummy Mystery
A CT scan suggests that the Egyptian pharaoh Seqenenre-Taa-II was captured, bound, and executed by multiple assailants.
11:50
Fish Versus Feather: Georgia’s Salt Marsh Smackdown
Scientists capture unusual video evidence of a fish eating a seaside sparrow’s hatchlings, an example of how climate change is upending ecosystems.
17:22
Reprogramming Labor In Tech
Unions are rising in the technology world. A new labor movement is bridging the gap between blue collar and white collar tech employees.
17:01
The Neuroscience Behind Seeing Color
Neuroscientist and artist Bevil Conway is creating a model to map out how the neurons in our brain respond to color.
26:02
Fauci Says Majority Of U.S. Adults Likely To Be Vaccinated By Late Summer
NIAID Director Anthony Fauci sheds light on vaccines, variants, and a return to normalcy.
Why The Word “Lunacy” Comes From The Moon
How an ancient belief in the mind-altering power of the moon gave us a word.