On Today's Podcast
After CDC Director Is Ousted, More Senior Officials Resign
Former CDC scientist Demetre Daskalakis left his post, citing political interference and a lack of science in decision-making at the agency.
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.
The Nuts and Bolts of High-Speed Rail
After years on the slow track, America’s high-speed rail may finally be building momentum.
Climate Change Ups Odds of Heat Waves, Drought
Researchers say heat waves are 20 times more likely today than in the 1960s, due to global warming.
What Happens When Scientists Get It Wrong?
When a controversial paper comes out, skeptical scientists can attempt to replicate the study. But how many scientists have the time–and money–to police bad science?
Myths and Tips on Keeping Your Cool This Summer
Think caffeine dehydrates you? Or that you can’t get too much water on a hot day? Douglas Casa, of the Korey Stringer Institute, sets the record straight.
Manhattanhenge: Watch a Star Align
Twice a year, the sunset lines up with New York City’s street grid—making for spectacular views.
At Long Last, The Higgs Particle… Maybe
Physicists have finally discovered the elusive Higgs boson–or at least something a lot like it.
What’s Your IQ on SPF?
A look at the science of sunscreen: how it intercepts the sun’s rays, whether it blocks vitamin D production, and what SPF really means.
Relishing the Science of the BBQ
Mayo myth-busters, a ketchup jar that never jams, and a salute to the pickle.
Peering into the Dark Side of Scientific Discovery
Why scientists have come to blows — literally — over who gets the glory for a discovery.
SciFri Book Club Talks Silent Spring
Silent Spring revisited: Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman host the first SciFri Book Club meeting.
Astronauts Prepare for Departure
We’ll check in with crewmembers on board the International Space Station, just days before several are scheduled to return to Earth after months in orbit.
Bidding Farewell to Lonesome George
He never spoke, but affected many. We’ll look back on the life of the Galapagos icon Lonesome George.
A Tale of Two Coastlines, Skirted by Swelling Seas
Rising sea levels are swallowing up U.S. coastlines–with a flood of consequences onshore.
Alan Turing at 100
A look at the man who helped create the modern world–and was promptly forgotten by it.
Meet the Energy-Saving Gadgets of the Future
Floors that generate electricity from footsteps. A GPS that outsmarts traffic jams. Innovations like these could be the next big thing–and we have student inventors to thank.
Spider-Man Gets a Physics Lesson
Do the laws of physics apply to superheroes? Sort of, says James Kakalios.
Will China Blast Past America in Space?
China just ticked off another accomplishment in space: its first manned docking in orbit. Next stop…the Moon?
Voyager 1 Bids Farewell To The Solar System
Voyager 1 is leaving the solar system, making it the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space.
More to the Universe Than Meets the Eye
The universe is full of invisible stuff. Take dark matter–you can’t spot it with your eyes, but it outnumbers visible matter five to one!