On Today's Podcast
Teamwork Between Species Is The Key To Life Itself
“The Call of the Honeyguide” traces the mutualisms found throughout nature, from hunting pairs to the microbes all around us.
Listen NowSeptember 12, 2025
Octopuses can use their suckers to detect harmful microbes on the surface of objects like crab shells, or their own eggs. Plus, a new book charts the millennia-old history of our fascination with aliens, and how myth transformed into research. And, golden oyster mushrooms have escaped from home growing kits into the wild. Could they affect fungal diversity in North American forests?
How Common Household Products Pollute Our Indoor Air
Candles, hairstyling products, and other common items can produce toxic air pollution that lingers in our homes.
The Shape-Shifting Science Of Sand Dunes
A sand dune is much more than just a big pile of sand. But how do they work? And what else do scientists want to know about sand?
17:03
Food Science Experts On Perfecting At-Home Ice Cream
We’re pulling a few of our favorite stories about the science of ice cream out of the freezer.
Managing Wildfires Using A Centuries-Old Indigenous Practice
The Karuk Tribe in Northern California has stewarded its home using prescribed burns for millennia. Now, they’re training others on the skill.
‘Orbital’ Imagines The Inner Lives Of Astronauts On The ISS
The award-winning novel explores the inner thoughts of astronauts during a single day aboard the International Space Station.
Why ‘The Toxic Avenger’ Has Kept Our Attention For Over 40 Years
The superhero satire that’s “the lowest brow you can go” has a secret identity—a message about environmental justice.
An ER Doctor Reflects On Hurricane Katrina, 20 Years Later
Dr. Erica Fisher was working at Charity Hospital when it flooded, trapping her and 1,600 other people inside during Hurricane Katrina.
An Archaeologist And A Tattoo Artist Decipher Ancient Ink
Archaeologists are taking another look at tattoos on preserved corpses and verifying ancient techniques with modern tattoo artists.
Science Friday Is Coming To Burlington, Vermont!
Join the Science Friday team in Burlington on Friday, October 17, for a special live stage version of the beloved radio show!
A Blind Inventor’s Life Of Advocacy And Innovation
In “Connecting Dots: A Blind Life,” inventor Josh Miele recounts his life story and path to becoming an accessibility designer.
12:05
How Have Gray Wolves Fared 30 Years After Reintroduction?
Humans drove wolves nearly to extinction in the American West. Reintroducing them in 1995 was, and still is, controversial.
Are Animal ‘Pests’ Really The Villains We Make Them Out To Be?
Science writer Bethany Brookshire’s book tries to untangle why we call some animals “pests.”
17:02
Are Food Dyes Really Bad For You?
The FDA and HHS plan to eliminate petroleum-based food dyes as part of the MAHA agenda. What does science say about their effects on health?
12:12
What Lies Beneath The Outer Layers Of A Star?
Astronomers found a supernova whose lighter outer layers had been stripped away, revealing an inner shell rich in silicon and sulfur.
mRNA Vaccine For Pancreatic Cancer Continues To Show Promise
In the wake of funding cuts to mRNA vaccine research, we revisit a February story about a promising vaccine for pancreatic cancer.
10:06
A Neurologist Investigates His Own Musical Hallucinations
Neurologist Bruce Dobkin started hearing a phantom choir singing on a loop after he received a cochlear implant. He’s not the only one.
17:22
100 Years Later, Quantum Science Is Still Weird
This year marks the 100th anniversary of two papers that sparked the field of quantum mechanics.
How The Moon Transformed Life On Earth, From Climate to Timekeeping
A new book explores how the moon changed us—and how we’ve changed the moon.
What Do mRNA Funding Cuts Mean For Future US Research?
RFK Jr. canceled nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine research funding. Plus, the latest climate news, from flooding in Alaska to new EVs.
When Headaches Are Ruining Your Life, Where Can You Turn?
In “The Headache,” a science journalist documents his quest to understand his own cluster headaches.