On Today's Podcast
Inside The Race To Save Wild Axolotls
Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is the only place where axolotls live in the wild, and they face growing threats.
Listen NowOctober 31, 2025
Why do we find joy in the scary and the macabre? Two psychology experts weigh in on humans’ affinity for horror and desire to get spooked. Plus, tales of the amazing capabilities of bats, spiders, and snakes. And, a guided tour of some of the world’s spookiest lakes.
17:07
Breakthrough: Hearing A Whole New World
In the first video of our new series, an audiologist describes overcoming her hearing loss. Plus, how new research could expand the aural world for patients with hearing loss.
16:59
Revealing Envy, Laughter, and Curiosity Through Data
What can small, everyday data reveal about our thoughts and emotions?
29:31
This Is Your Brain on Jackson Pollock
In his new book, neuropsychiatrist Eric Kandel explores the relationship between neuroscience and abstract art.
16:22
A Wine’s Tint Can Color Your Perception
The color of wine can prime your brain to expect a certain aroma and taste—a detail that’s useful to both winemakers and psychologists.
Why Do We Use Shock Therapy?
Electroconvulsive therapy is generally a safe and effective treatment for depression and other mental illnesses.
50 Years of Star Trek, and the Influence of Science Fiction
Live long and prosper.
Five Back-To-School Books For Science-Loving Kids
A handful of good reads for the shark fans, budding architects, and other curious kids in your life.
7:29
A Space-Launch Loss, Blood and the Brain, and Thought-Controlled Medical Nanobots
Science journalist Sophie Bushwick explains some of the week’s top stories in science, including Thursday’s explosion of a SpaceX rocket in Florida.
4:06
The Touch, the Feel of Plastic
A new fabric made of plastic kitchen wrap could keep you cool, but would you wear it?
17:31
Understanding Canine Communication
How do dogs pick up on our tones, gestures, and moods?
16:42
Lucy’s Bones
How anthropologists peer inside scarce, ancient fossil bones to find clues about our evolutionary history.
12:05
A New Drug to Tackle Alzheimer’s
Here’s why we can be cautiously optimistic about a new drug designed to remove amyloid plaques from the brain.
7:08
Reeling In the Coral Reef Soundscape
Marine animals use coral reefs sounds to find suitable habitat.
26:43
U.S. Wind Power Finally Gets Its Sea Legs
The U.S. is already a global leader in land-based wind energy. Now momentum is building for offshore wind power, with a new wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island.
Science Friday and Studio 360 Present: The Golden Record Remastered
What message would you send into the depths of space to represent humanity?
A Look Into the Future With Dean Kamen
The entrepreneur best known for inventing the Segway wants to create better medical devices and health technologies.
Margaret Atwood on Dystopia, CRISPR, and ‘Oryx and Crake’
Listen to a podcast extra: Margaret Atwood live with Ira at Housing Works in NYC.
7:25
A Planetary Neighbor, Recovering a Lost Spacecraft, and Iceman Fashion
Science journalist Rachel Feltman discusses a newly discovered exoplanet neighbor, and other stories from the week in science.
4:36
The Pros and Cons of Potential Development in National Parks
What are the impacts of more tourists and development at Grand Canyon National Park?