On Today's Podcast
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.
Listen NowAugust 15, 2025
This year marks the 100th anniversary of two papers that sparked the field of quantum mechanics. Plus, a science journalist documents his quest to understand his own cluster headaches in the new book “The Headache.” And, what the cancelation of nearly $500 million in funding means for the future of mRNA vaccine research.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Mercury’
From ancient alchemists to Lewis and Clark, mercury has a storied history.
Tough Times for the World’s Oldest Trees
The bristlecone pine tree can live up to 5,000 years. Will these ancients continue to survive under climate change?
First Take With Science Friday In Huntsville
On May 21, enjoy “First Take With Science Friday,” live from Huntsville, Alabama!
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.