May 2, 2025
An astronomer explores the cosmos and the limits of what science can test. Plus, how the mysterious properties of pasta—like how it bends, coils, and breaks—have been tested by physicists for decades. And, millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation.
SciFri Science Club: #NeatRock Challenge
For this Science Club, we’re challenging you to go out, find a neat rock, and try to learn a little something about it.
7:17
A Nobel Roundup, Rafting Species, And The Odor Preferences Of Bedbugs
This year, the Nobel foundation honored researchers studying circadian rhythms, techniques for imaging proteins, and observations of gravitational waves.
5:02
How Frequent Floods May Uproot Whole Neighborhoods
Reporter Molly Peterson interviewed residents from two flood-prone Louisiana communities, who may be paid by the federal government to move.
24:47
The World Of Bitcoin Economics
This summer, the value of one Bitcoin jumped to $5,000. Who’s investing in the cryptocurrency?
8:58
A Homecoming For The Whales
In New York, one of the world’s largest mammals makes its comeback.
11:48
Got Neanderthal DNA?
Genetic advances are telling us more about how Neanderthal DNA might shape our appearance, behavior, and health.
10:29
Once Dismissed And Hidden, Chronic Fatigue Patients Speak Up
“When medicine has no answers for you, where do you turn?” asks filmmaker and patient Jennifer Brea.
When Mustang Populations Run Wild
When there’s frequent “hanky-panky among the herd,” researchers harness wild horses’ own immune systems as a contraceptive.
5:57
Science Club Challenge: Grab A Neat Rock
That cool rock you found probably has a story to tell about Earth’s past.
17:06
Big Trouble Managing Mustangs
Some 75,000 wild horses roam the sagebrush-lined slopes and basins of the American West—and the government can’t figure out what to do with them.
In NYC Waters, A Whale Of A Tale
After decades of absence, whales are back in New York City waters. Scientists say it could signal a wildlife resurgence.
The Whales Of New York
Just a few short miles from downtown Manhattan, you might see something unexpected—whales feeding.
Smell That? It’s Forensic Entomology At The Body Farm
Try your hand at forensic entomology and use insect larvae to find the age of a rotting corpse in this body farm simulation
The ‘Unbelievable’ Power Of Nuclear Bombs, Caught On Film
Last March, physicists declassified a trove of nuclear test films. Now you can see them for yourself.
The High Cost Of Notifications
The more you’re interrupted, the more likely you are to interrupt yourself. Can we win the war on our prefrontal cortex?
7:32
A Giant Rat, An Octopus City, And Space Life Beyond The ISS
This week, NASA and Roscosmos announced that they would cooperate to build a new space station, closer to the moon.
4:31
How Wind Farms Affect The World Beneath The Waves
Offshore wind farms are spreading around the globe. But how much do we know about how they affect the ecosystems beneath them?
22:21
The ABCs Of Nuclear War
From bomb chemistry, to radiation dosage to missile defense, there’s a lot of science behind nuclear warfare.
29:26
Charles Darwin’s Lesser-Known Eccentric Exploits
Paddling a duck foot in water and other small experiments led to Darwin’s big theory of evolution.
16:39
The Case For Boredom
How our smartphones are robbing us of an undervalued cognitive resource—and what to do about it.