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.
7:00
A Whiff of What’s to Come: What Sense of Smell Says About Health
Older adults’ sense of smell might be a strong indicator of their risk of mortality within a five-year span.
22:34
Community Labs Practice Do-It-Yourself Biology
In DIY biology labs across the country, citizen scientists take the tools of synthetic biology into their own hands.
16:58
Catching a Glimpse of an Eclipse
This month, North America will be under the skies of a full lunar eclipse on October 8 and a partial solar eclipse on October 23.
Is MSG Bad For Your Health?
Monosodium glutamate has gotten a bad rap for causing allergies, but is it justified?
Here’s What A Slice Of Mouse Eye Looks Like
A special imaging technology peers inside a mouse eye, revealing the distinct roles that cells play in maintaining retinal health.
The Science Friday Crossword Puzzle, Solved
Find out the answers—and backstories—to the SciFri-themed crossword puzzle.
Who’s Got the Biscotti? Mingling at the Ig Nobel Awards After-Party
The man of the hour is an octogenarian who claims more than 3,500 patents.
Science Club #ObserveEverything
Go out and observe something interesting! Submit your in-depth observations with the hashtag #ObserveEverything.
12:08
MAVEN Maneuvers Into Mars’s Orbit
MAVEN makes into Mars’s orbit in time to meet a comet and begin unraveling mysteries of the Martian atmosphere.
17:22
‘Internal Medicine’ Gives a Resident’s Eye View of the Hospital
A writer-doctor’s stories reveal the hospital through the eyes of a resident.
5:43
Sprouting a Forest in the City
Foresters are piecing together the complicated ecosystem of the urban forest.
11:04
Plant Emissions: How Do Trees Interact With Pollution?
Certain tree species can add to pollution if they’re planted in certain locations.
11:34
Water on Earth Is a Million Years Older Than the Sun
The cloud of gas and dust that eventually condensed to form the Sun contained “thousands of oceans of water,” says astronomer Ted Bergin.
17:26
Stories to Make You Think BIG
With his new story about a 20-kilometer-high skyscraper, sci-fi author Neal Stephenson hopes to get engineers thinking big.
16:54
Science Friday Science Club: Observe Everything
The Science Club embarks on its next project and explores observation.
Picking Up Where We Left Off
An excerpt from Neal Stephenson’s story in “Hieroglyph: Stories and Visions For a Better Future.”
Art Bots and Talking Blenders: A Stroll Through Ars Electronica
Every September, the Ars Electronica Festival draws artists, scientists, and technologists to Linz, Austria, to swap ideas and show off cutting-edge artworks.
A Resilient Hybrid: Fused Staghorn Coral
This hybrid coral could withstand climate change better than its relatives.
Solve the Science Friday Crossword Puzzle!
Test your Science Friday knowledge with this crossword puzzle challenge by constructor Fred Piscop.