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.
11:57
Putting Mosquito-Borne Illnesses On A Diet
New research finds that the same pathways in the brain that control human hunger can shut down a mosquito’s interest in biting you.
17:32
Exploring The Grand Canyon, Through Maps
A project aims to collect and organize maps of the iconic park to help tell its geologic and cultural stories.
17:07
Why Are We Obsessed With Pushing Buttons?
Rachel Plotnick discusses the development of buttons and what they reveal about our interactions with technology.
17:14
What Would You Pay For Faster, Smarter Government Data?
Calculating the financial and ethical cost of storing government data in the cloud.
Unfolding Stories In Maps Of The Grand Canyon
View historic maps of the Grand Canyon that tell tales of exploration of the national park.
‘You Press The Button.’ The Rest Is History.
You thought the hand-wringing around cell phone cameras was bad? Learn how controversial even adding a button to cameras was in this excerpt from Rachel Plotnick’s “Power Button.”
Trekking Around The World With Ira
Wish you were here! Ira gives us a little taste of local science as he travels the world.
The Geologists Who Control Lava
The molten material can be a menace of destruction in nature, but a geologist and an artist are investigating how it maneuvers.
7:44
Yes, It’s Cold. But Also, It’s Warmer
While the polar vortex has the Midwest in a deep freeze, Australia is having a heatwave—and globally, the planet’s warmer than average.
4:15
More Desalination, More Problems?
Desalination converts salt water into drinkable water, but there are pros and cons to the process.
6:18
Inside The Lava Lab, Burning Questions
A Syracuse University team studies the viscosity and flow of searing-hot lava…from a parking lot.
11:47
Feel Sleepy When You’re Sick? That Could Be Your Immune System Kicking In
Researchers identified a protein linked to the immune system that may make you feel sleepy when you’re sick.
17:08
How Much Carbon Do Our Forests Capture?
Forests are some of the biggest natural weapons we have to fight rising global temperatures. But how well are they working?
17:02
Peter A. Browne’s Hairy Obsession
Meet the 19th-century citizen scientist who collected hair from elephant chins, mummies, and presidents.
28:01
How Artists Made Code Their Paintbrush
Reflecting on the history and future of coding and technology in art.
How Do Scientists Know What Dinosaurs Looked Like?
Put yourselves in the shoes of a paleontologist and paleoartist as you try to recreate what dinosaurs looked like using the same methods as the experts.
4:13
A Phone Call From A Penguin Colony
Science Friday education director Ariel Zych calls in live from Antarctica.
7:51
Meet The Vampire-Like Beetles That Prey On Ants
One group of ground beetles has evolved to live in ant nests and feed on hapless workers.
3:52
The Complex Problem Of The Invasive Common Reed
Common reeds are invading New England marshlands—but could this “stubborn bully of a plant” help marshes weather climate change?