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.
A Day With Fossil Hunters
Science Friday treks with paleontologists on the fossil hunt in Utah’s dusty canyons.
12:28
The Great Salt Lake Is An ‘Oasis’ For Migratory Birds
Ten million birds stop at Utah’s Great Salt Lake every year to feed, fatten up, and relax.
17:44
The Exotic Life Above The Forest Floor
For years, tree canopies were the last frontiers of the forest—until ecologist Nalini Nadkarni pioneered innovative ways to explore them, with hot air balloons and cranes.
10:31
Life In The Shadow Of The Milky Way
Light pollution can have negative health effects on city dwellers. One scientist urges us to seek darker skies.
12:28
Bringing Back An Endangered Crow
How researchers are working to save a nearly extinct Hawaiian crow, the ʻAlalā.
17:43
Endless Spiders And Snails Most Beautiful
A look at some of the unique biodiversity found in the Hawaiian islands, and efforts to preserve some species found nowhere else on Earth.
17:39
A Tiny Martian Colony, Here On Earth
Researchers sequester six volunteers on the side of a Hawaiian volcano to simulate a mission to Mars.
27:02
A Tiny Fungus With A Big Impact
The spread of a microscopic fungus is threatening a key Hawaiian forest canopy tree.
17:39
Utah Is A Gold Mine For Fossils
We find out what it’s like to step into a paleontologist’s boots and discover some dino gold.
Hack A Solar Circuit
Deconstruct an inexpensive solar circuit, then repurpose it to engineer a foldable, lightweight solar-powered device that solves a real human problem.
6:02
What Really Killed The Dinosaurs?
The prevailing theory says a meteorite led to the demise of the dinos. But one holdout scientist isn’t buying it.
7:30
To Combat The Great Garbage Patch, A Great Pool Noodle?
A test aims to lasso floating plastic waste in the Pacific. But not everyone is convinced the approach will be helpful.
4:39
In Utah, A New Approach To School Vaccine Waivers
Will a new education program convince fewer people to forego vaccines?
5:08
Water, Water, Everywhere
As Hurricane Florence nears land, one engineer notes the rising risk of a flooding double whammy as sea levels rise and the climate changes.
12:04
The Future Of Soil Under A Changing Climate
How can we protect soil health under changing climate conditions?
17:34
When Plants Sense Danger, They Cry Out With Calcium
After long suspecting a signaling system, scientists can now see how one leaf talks to another—in real time.
00:17:27
The High-Stakes, Hormone-Filled Showdown Of ‘Science Fair’
A new film about the International Science and Engineering Fair gives a look into the niche world of the grand championship of science fairs.
23:10
The Algorithms Around Us
They can influence so much more than what’s on your social media feed.
How Did A Computer Beat A Chess Grandmaster?
Some say Garry Kasparov was more than capable of defeating Deep Blue—but he underestimated the ability of the algorithm.
How To Be A Vibration Detective
By measuring the ground’s vibrations, you can learn a lot about what is happening both near and far away.