May 2, 2025
An astronomer explores the cosmos and the limits of what science can test. Plus, how the mysterious properties of pasta—like how it bends, coils, and breaks—have been tested by physicists for decades. And, millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation.
11:49
A Stegosaurus Smackdown, Plus Bumblebee and Mosquito Mysteries
Arielle Duhaime-Ross, a science reporter at The Verge, gives us her take on the week’s news.
9:08
The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage
In Sydney Padua’s graphic novel, two real-life Victorian-era computing pioneers build a steam-powered computer and use it to have adventures.
18:58
A New Era for NASA? Charles Bolden Leads the Way
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden discusses the agency’s priorities, from understanding conditions on Earth to reaching Mars.
5:52
The Pot-Stirrer
Amanda Glaze studies perceptions of evolution as well as its religious and societal influences throughout the Southeastern United States.
Against the Grain: An Alternative View of Alzheimer’s
For decades, Duke neurology professor Allen Roses has doggedly pursued a theory that dysfunctional mitochondria in the brain cause late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and that beta-amyloid is just part of the disease’s pathology.
Attack of the Luddites!
An excerpt from Sydney Padua’s graphic novel “The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage.”
Pillars of Creation, 2.0
Two new versions of the iconic Hubble image commemorate the space telescope’s 25th anniversary.
Science Friday Discussion: Negotiating the Challenges of Teaching Evolution
Learn from experienced educators how to teach evolution in communities where evolution is controversial and browse classroom evolution resources.
The Pot-Stirrer: Teaching Evolution In The South
Amanda Glaze studies the perceptions of evolution and their religious and societal influences in the American Southeast.
11:44
New Climate Polls, A Comet Mystery, and Puppy Love
Rachel Feltman of the Washington Post gives us her rundown of the week’s science stories.
17:32
Water Wanes in the West
NASA’s Airborne Snow Observatory found that snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is a fraction of what it used to be.
7:13
Exploring Remote Villages for Clues to the Human Microbiome
The microbes that live on and in residents of an Amazonian village with no recorded contact with Western civilization are super-diverse—and some carry genes for antibiotic resistance.
10:25
How ‘Dark’ Is Dark Matter?
Scientists say dark matter may not be as “dark” as once thought.
12:17
3D-Printed Coffee Cups Help Liquids Defy Gravity
The cups work using capillary action: Simply press your lips to the rim, and you get a sip, whether you want one or not.
17:34
Geek Physics With Rhett Allain
In his book “Geek Physics,” Rhett Allain uses physics to answer pop culture and everyday science questions.
16:23
Science On Screen, From Old to New
The first science documentaries are almost as old as cinema itself.
The Problem With Superman, and Other Physics Conundrums
The author of “Geek Physics” answers your pop culture physics questions.
L.A.’s So Fly
A citizen science project uncovers 30 new species of scuttle fly in Los Angeles.
Convection Can Be Pretty
In this excerpt from the book Science for Parents, learn how to visualize convection using stuff you’ve probably already got in your kitchen.
Forecasting the Meltdown
NASA has developed the Airborne Snow Observatory, a program that uses specialized instrumentation to carefully measure the water content.