On Today's Podcast
A Halloween Monster Mashup, And A Spooky Lakes Tour
Tales of the amazing capabilities of bats, spiders, and snakes. Plus, a guided tour of some of the world’s spookiest lakes.
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.
12:07
Google Doodles Add Some Science History to Your Search
Google Doodle team lead Ryan Germick shares the stories behind some of the search engine’s geekiest “doodles.”
9:40
Melding Biology and Chemistry in a ‘Bionic Leaf’
A “bionic leaf” combines advanced catalysts with engineered bacteria to produce hydrocarbon fuels from light, water, and carbon dioxide.
23:03
Stink Bombs, Submarine Safety, and the Science of Soldiering
In “Grunt,” author Mary Roach looks at the technology used to battle disease, shock, and exhaustion in the ranks.
10:15
The Hyperloop: From Pipe Dream to Possible
Inside the race to realize Elon Musk’s vision of tube-based transport.
24:32
Tracing Light to Map the Cosmic Darkness
Two astrophysicists are creating maps and images of the hidden side of the universe: dark matter and black holes.
Sampling and Estimation With Bountiful ‘Beetles’
In this activity, explore the science and the math behind sampling. Use your data to make predictions about the most common color in a population of candy beetles.
How Do Scientists Create A Vegan Alternative To Beef?
Beyond Meat says that its new plant-based burger cooks and tastes just like beef.
17:21
Solar Ovens, Water Rockets, and Other DIY Summer Science Projects
These DIY experiments will keep your kitchen chemists and backyard explorers busy throughout the summer vacation.
12:10
Bumblebees Pick Up On The ‘Buzz’ From Flowers
Bumblebees use hairs on their bodies to pick up on weak electrical signals emitted by flowers.
11:50
Progress on a Universal Cancer Vaccine, an Inflatable Space Habitat, and Blocking Mobile Ads
A tool for recruiting the immune system to fight cancer, and a look at mobile ad-blocking software.
16:51
Inside the Minds of Zoo Animals
How well do we understand the emotional well-being of zoo animals?
33:33
Old Ideas May Help Us Fight New Superbugs
Researchers are reviving ideas from the pre-antibiotic age to fight drug-resistant bacteria.
Build Pitfall Traps To Observe Insects And More
Learn to make a simple pitfall trap to safely capture, observe, and identify arthropods like insects and spiders.
What’s the Best Way to Lose Weight and Keep It Off?
A new study on contestants from “The Biggest Loser” found that dramatic weight loss led to a surprising slowdown in metabolism.
Coral Sperm Banks: A Safety Net for Reefs?
Marine biologist Mary Hagedorn is carefully freezing and storing coral sperm for safekeeping.
In Your Own Words: Imaginary Friends
SciFri fans share anecdotes about their imaginary companions.
A Cephalopod Movie Night!
Science Friday is kicking off Cephalopod Week with an evening of talk, tentacles, and merriment.
12:00
Tornado Tracks, Microbiome Bias, and Overtime Pay for Postdocs
Tracking tornado hotspots and weighing the good and (potential) bad of better-paid postdocs.
8:51
What Imaginary Companions Tell Us About Our Kids
Imaginary companions help kids develop a “theory of mind,” says psychologist Tracy Gleason. And those make-believe friends give parents a window into their child’s world.
11:26
Why Is Vocal Fry Popping Up in Pop Music?
Researchers tested what vocal fry in music conveyed to listeners.