On Today's Podcast
How Conservation Efforts Brought Rare Birds Back From The Brink
The merlin, sandhill crane, and pileated woodpecker were once rare in North America. Environmental conservation fueled their resurgence.
Listen NowSeptember 19, 2025
Dr. Mary-Claire King was the first to link a gene to hereditary cancer risk with the identification of BRCA1 in the 1990s. She was just getting started. Plus, sooner or later, a sizable asteroid could impact a populated area on Earth. How are we preparing? And, the merlin, sandhill crane, and pileated woodpecker were once rare in North America. Environmental conservation fueled their resurgence.
SciFri Extra: Revisiting Unique Science Stories of 2019
Listen to three science storytellers talk about a notable story they reported in 2019, including untold and surprising facts.
7:16
Coaxing Nerves To Repair Breaks
Plus the evolution of culture, the mental effects of smartphones, and the sound of a mummy’s vocal tract.
4:33
Can’t See The River For The Trees
Increased forestation can lead to dramatic declines in river water flow.
16:43
A Drop To Drink
Millions of people rely on the Great Lakes for clean drinking water. What happens when water access is threatened?
12:02
Meet the ‘Dancing Dragon’—A Fierce Winged Dinosaur
The house cat-sized dino had well-developed wings, but not necessarily for flying.
17:18
Drug Researchers Refuse To Follow The Law. The Government Isn’t Stopping Them.
Almost a third of registered drug studies are not reporting data to the government.
16:31
Using Chemistry To Get The Perfect Cup Of Coffee
How understanding water flow, particle size distribution, and water chemistry can help you brew the perfect cup of coffee.
17:05
New Virus Paralyzes Chinese Cities
Officials in China have quarantined two large cities, where some 20 million people live, over fears of a novel virus outbreak.
What You Said: Your Favorite Memories Of The Great Lakes
From loons to canoes to migrating wildlife, the Great Lakes have it all.
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Gattaca’ In Princeton, NJ
On Thursday, March 19, join us at the Princeton Garden Theatre as we screen ‘Gattaca.’ Plus, a live conversation with local experts.
The Messy Math Of Mammograms
Math biologist Kit Yates breaks down the numbers behind breast cancer screenings—and the serious implications of false positive and negative results.
7:49
Our Bodies Are Cooling Down
98.6 F is no longer the average healthy body temperature. Is improving health the culprit?
3:54
Planning For Spring Waters Along The Missouri
Looking to repaired levees in the hopes of reducing future flood damage.
14:06
Why Native Fish Matter
How restoring native fish species can help Great Lakes ecosystems weather the next invasion.
12:14
Living Robots, Designed By Computer
Researchers have designed collections of frog skin and heart cells to carry out specific functions.
23:23
The Math Behind Big Decision Making
We encounter numbers in our everyday lives that can influence how we make decisions, from growing algal blooms, to cancer treatment, to courtroom verdicts. But what do these numbers really tell us?
10:34
Bird Love Letters, Planetary Potatoes, And The Science Comics Of Rosemary Mosco
Nature cartoonist Rosemary Mosco dreams up scenes from the funny side of science.
20:02
The Science Of Polling In 2020 And Beyond
Polling is changing as modern technology influences our behaviors. Can we continue to trust it?
The Seriously Silly Science Cartoons Of Rosemary Mosco
Comic artist Rosemary Mosco creates science cartoons that reveal the weird, wacky, and wonderful in the natural world.
Opinion: Michael Mann, Australia, And Climate Change
In an editorial for ‘The Guardian,’ Michael Mann recounts his recent visit to one of Australia’s biggest burn sites—and contemplates how climate change will affect its future.