On Today's Podcast
Can A Billion-Dollar Barricade Keep Carp Out Of The Great Lakes?
A giant infrastructure project aims to block invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan, but Chicago’s polluted water already keeps them out.
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.
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.
The Year Ahead in Science Film
This year’s SXSW Film festival highlighted our fears about emerging tech and concerns facing online and gaming communities.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
This pristine white fungus might have neuroprotective properties.
12:09
News Roundup: The Birth of the Moon, E.T. Life, and LHC Season Two
Washington Post science blogger Rachel Feltman gives us her top stories this week, and the BBC’s Jonathan Webb tells us what to expect from the revved-up particle collider.
9:46
Babies on the Brink
A series of rigorous (and adorable) experiments by Karen Adolph of NYU’s Infant Action Lab shatters the myth that babies learn to fear heights as they learn to crawl.
17:22
Undersea Cables String Together the Global Internet
Ninety-nine percent of the data zipping between continents travels not via satellite, but through thousands of miles of cables.
6:00
As Arctic Permafrost Thaws, Microbes Kick Into Action
Recent findings suggest that microbes living in Arctic permafrost could produce carbon dioxide and methane as it thaws.
28:15
The Future of Artificial Intelligence
What questions should we ask as research on artificial intelligence progresses?
12:07
Are Scientific Journals Clogged With ‘Publication Pollution’?
Medical ethicist Art Caplan says science and medical journals are plagued by fraud, plagiarism, and predatory publishers.
7:20
How the Apple Watch Measures Up
Re/code’s Lauren Goode give us her take on Apple’s new wearable.
The Undersea Network That Connects the World
An excerpt from “The Undersea Network.”
What Freaks You Out About Robots?
Should we worry about the imminent rise of robots in our lives?
Can You Explain The Sun?
For this science club, we want you to explain something to us, something BIG!
Booting Up Computer Art
In the 1960s, curious computer scientists transformed computers into art machines.
Science Friday Introduces New Video Series, ‘The Macroscope’
Through fictional and documentary film-making approaches, we’ll bring you true stories from scientists and innovators.
Babies On The Brink
A series of rigorous (and adorable) experiments shatters the myth that babies learn to fear heights as they learn to crawl.
The 1-2-3s of Hard-Cooked Eggs
Cooking geek Jeff Potter cracks the code on easy-to-peel, hard-cooked eggs.
18:25
A Climate Pledge, a Medieval Antibiotic, and an Exoskeletal Boot
In the news roundup this week, Eric Holthaus breaks down the new U.S. climate pledge.