On Today's Podcast
The Uncertain Science Behind What We Understand As ‘Truth’
In a new book, mathematician Adam Kucharski traces our relationship to truth, from the ancient Greeks to our AI reality.
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.
6:48
Blissed Out On Earth’s Blingy Core
Plus, the search for virtual particles and a distant planet gets swallowed by its sun.
5:30
Massive Toxic Algae Bloom Stinks Up Florida Towns
Foul smelling algae is plaguing three Florida counties, spurred on by billions of gallons of polluted water, rising water levels, and higher temperatures.
17:34
A Dangerous Fungal Superbug In Hospitals Worldwide
There’s a new infectious yeast in town and we’re almost out of drugs for it.
12:14
How Much Food Would A Dino Eat For Dinner?
Scientists grew plants under prehistoric atmospheric conditions to see how much nutrition sauropods would have received from their vegetarian diets.
4:49
SciFri Book Club: ‘A Brief History Of Time’ Begins Now
The time is now: A reminder to pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read.
12:15
Jupiter Wins The Moon Lottery
The largest planet in our solar system officially racked up a total of 79 moons this week, including one newly discovered “oddball.”
11:13
Following The Burnt Crumbs To The Rise Of Bread
By analyzing bits of burnt bread, scientists determined that breadmaking may pre-date the agricultural revolution.
22:11
What We Know—And Don’t Know—About Human Heredity
What does heredity actually mean? Carl Zimmer finds out in his book ‘She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity.’
Hacer pintura de relieve (3D) con almidón
Algo gracioso sucede cuando se agrega almidón de maíz a un líquido y se calienta la mezcla: se vuelve muy, muy espesa, o viscosa.
Haz paletas de fruta superenfriada
¿Cómo puedes superenfriar agua, y qué hace que al final se congele como sólido?
Crea una arena rara
¿Qué sucede cuando cambias las propiedades de la arena para que se vuelva hidrófoba, o “repelente al agua”?
Crea un mensaje secreto con malvaviscos
Con un poco de química, puedes controlar dónde y cuándo aparezca ese color tostado, y crear un mensaje oculto en un malvavisco.
It’s Time For A Time Traveler Cocktail Party!
On August 21 in NYC, experience Stephen Hawking’s ‘A Brief History of Time’ through games and curious concoctions.
‘A Brief History Of Time’: Artist Challenge
The Science Friday Book Club invites you to submit your artistic imaginings of Stephen Hawking’s visions of the universe.
7:50
Trying To Build A Computer As Powerful As The Human Brain
Brain-inspired computing hits a new milestone, the neural networks of a noisy fish, and other subjects in science news.
3:56
Under Climate Change, The AC Giveth And The AC Taketh Away
Air conditioning can save lives on the hottest summer days. But as the climate warms, what happens when we need more cooling power?
17:13
Tracing A Neutrino’s 4 Billion Light-Year Journey
Scientists were able to pinpoint the origin of a high-energy neutrino to a supermassive black hole for the first time.
12:06
The Chemistry Behind Nerve Agents
Why a brush with the deadly substance isn’t always fatal.