On Today's Podcast
Bearded Vulture Nests Hold Trove Of Centuries-Old Artifacts
Picking through a dozen vulture nests, scientists discovered hundreds of artifacts, including a sandal that could be more than 700 years old.
Listen NowNovember 7, 2025
Two new studies suggest that, contrary to longstanding belief, dinosaurs were not on the decline before the Chicxulub asteroid impact. Plus, a giant infrastructure project aims to block invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan, but Chicago’s polluted water already keeps them out. And, Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is the only place where axolotls live in the wild, and they face growing threats.
6:50
NASA Is Making Some Big Promises. But Can It Deliver?
NASA’s all-female space walk is cancelled the same week the Trump administration announces a shorter timeline for a manned lunar mission.
The Language Of Calculus
Mathematician Steven Strogatz argues that “humans have used calculus to remake the world.”
5:15
A Glacier Grows In Greenland (For Now)
Scientists report cooler Arctic waters have temporarily thickened the ice at the edge of Jakobshavn Glacier in Greenland.
17:10
One Constant, Two Answers
Astronomers are trying to figure out how fast the universe is expanding. But two approaches are giving different answers.
16:28
Was The Flu Near You?
‘Flu Near You’ created a map of this season’s influenza-like illness across the U.S. How did the SciFri community stack up?
23:12
Steven Strogatz On The ‘Infinite Powers’ Of Calculus
From gravity to HIV treatments, calculus has helped us understand our universe.
23:16
Metaphors, Medicine, And The Poetry Of Science
For National Poetry Month this April, we’re looking at where science waxes poetic.
‘My God, It’s Full Of Stars’
Read Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith’s poems influenced by science.
The Poetry Of An X-Ray
Rafael Campo, a doctor and a poet, turns his experiences in the operating room into poetry.
How To Catch The Flu (Under The Lens)
Since 1983, electron microscopist Cynthia Goldsmith has captured the beauty of deadly viruses.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Helium’
Astronomers thought the element could only be found in the sun.
Would You Trust AI With Your Health?
In his new book, Eric Topol argues that AI can be used in hospitals for everything from patient safety to improving workflow.
5:47
Hitting The Superbloom Jackpot
It’s like playing a slot machine—three factors have to line up just right.
11:31
Snow Surveys Have Gone High-Tech
Tom Painter flies over the Sierra Nevada mountains in a small plane, shooting lasers at the snowpack to discern its depth.
8:09
The Results Are In From The Distant Asteroid Ryugu
The first scientific data back from Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission to the asteroid Ryugu indicate that its very rocky and surprisingly dry.
3:47
New Mexico Sets A Renewables Plan
The New Mexico state legislature has passed a bill calling for the state to transition entirely to renewable energy by 2050.
29:24
Can AI Make Medicine More Personal?
How artificial intelligence could be used for reading scans, making diagnoses, and refocusing doctors’ attention towards patients.
16:58
On The Frontier Of An Alzheimer’s Cure
A combination of pulsing light and sound can reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s in mouse brains. Meanwhile, another top drug candidate has failed clinical trials.
17:07
Meet The Member Of Congress Renewing Science On Capitol Hill
The new face of the U.S. House Science Committee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, is putting her foot down over partisan bickering over science.
Head Of NASA Jim Bridenstine Answers Your Questions
The NASA administrator discusses everything from Mars to the Space Force.