May 9, 2025
Some car designers are turning from touchscreen controls back to physical buttons. Two researchers explain why that could be better. Plus, geneticists used CRISPR gene editing to grow bigger tomatoes and eggplants without sacrificing flavor. And, an executive order could change the political tides for deep sea mining.
Celebrating 150 Years Of The Periodic Table Of Elements
In honor of the 150th anniversary of the periodic table, Ira opens up the Science Friday vaults to share tales of chemical discovery and creation.
7:23
SpaceX And A Dummy ‘Crew’ Visit The International Space Station
The first commercial vehicle designed to carry a crew visits the ISS.
4:46
Jet Stream Brings California Rain, But Not Relief
Research suggests California’s wet winter will not save it from a harsh wildfire season.
11:56
A Second HIV-Positive Patient May Have Been Cured. Now What?
Why gene therapy—not bone marrow transplants—could be one piece in the puzzle of neutralizing HIV worldwide.
6:10
Trying To Determine Forest Health? Look To The Lichens
The types of lichens living in a patch of forest may be a better indicator of ecological health than the trees themselves.
16:58
The Leg Bone’s Connected To The Ankle Bone—But Why?
The story of how our skeletons evolved to look they way they do.
16:24
How Jumping Spiders Avoid Becoming A Tasty Snack
From bright colors to disguising as ants, jumping spiders have evolved different ways to evade predators.
27:28
NASA: To The Moon (And Definitely Beyond)
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine talks about the agency’s ambitions beyond Planet Earth.
The Secrets Of The Extraordinary Human Skeleton
From shoulders to skulls, learn how our bones made humans unique in this excerpt from “Skeleton Keys” by Riley Black.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Humor’
From pseudoscience to Shakespeare, it’s no laughing matter.
7:01
Blue Skies Forever? It’s Not As Cheery As It Sounds
Extreme conditions during climate change could cause the disappearance of stratocumulus clouds—for good.
5:10
Rethinking Recycling In Philadelphia Suburbs
China won’t take our subpar plastics anymore. What’s next for your local recycling plant?
8:54
White House Aims To Counter Climate Science
As the nation’s scientists and military leaders sound the alarm on climate change, the White House is assembling a group of climate change skeptics to counter them.
12:06
Blood As White As Snow
How do you breathe with no red blood cells? Scientists take a closer look at genomes to find the secrets of the strange Antarctic icefish.
26:08
The Disastrous Days Of April 1986
A new book tells the story of the engineering missteps and operational errors that led to the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl.
7:49
Wireless Monitoring Gives Parents Greater Access To Newborns In The NICU
Free from wires, parents can experience more skin to skin contact with their babies thanks to a new wireless monitoring device.
25:58
Rewriting The Genomic Alphabet
Scientists are creating unnatural base pairs and synthesizing genomes to better understand DNA—and create new medicines and fuels.
The Moments After Chernobyl Blew
First responders arrive at the crippled nuclear power station in this excerpt from ‘Midnight in Chernobyl’ by Adam Higginbotham.
A Night Of Volcanoes And Earthquakes With N.K. Jemisin
Learn how N.K. Jemisin used volcanology and seismology to write ‘The Fifth Season.’
6:46
A Tantalum Bullet For Asteroid Research
Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft will use a bullet to collect samples from an asteroid and return them to Earth.