On Today's Podcast
mRNA Vaccine For Pancreatic Cancer Continues To Show Promise
In the wake of funding cuts to mRNA vaccine research, we revisit a February story about a promising vaccine for pancreatic cancer.
Listen NowAugust 22, 2025
Humans drove wolves nearly to extinction in the American West. Reintroducing them in 1995 was, and still is, controversial. Plus, the FDA and HHS plan to eliminate petroleum-based food dyes as part of the MAHA agenda. What does science say about their effects on health? And, astronomers found a supernova whose lighter outer layers had been stripped away, revealing an inner shell rich in silicon and sulfur.
16:36
Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic?
Decades of research shows that expanding highways, despite its promise to reduce congestion, actually increases travel times.
Why More Highway Lanes Means More Traffic
As highways have become almost ubiquitous in the US, motorists travel faster and farther—resulting in more traffic.
Road Ecologists Want You To Fall In Love With Infrastructure
Why ask, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” when you can instead consider, “Why did the road cross the land?”
12:03
Maine Offshore Wind Auction Draws Few Bids
Two years ago, energy companies scrambled for offshore wind contracts. At a recent auction, the demand was significantly lower.
16:48
Gender-Affirming Care Is On The Line In This Election
Gender-affirming care is lifesaving treatment for many transgender people. Its availability could drastically change after the election.
12:15
Chickens Have Friendships, Memories, And Reputations
Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery discusses chicken intelligence and her experience raising a flock in New Hampshire.
24:46
The Clean Air Act Has Saved Millions Of Lives—But Gaps Remain
The legislation gave the U.S. some of the world’s cleanest air. But with industrial zones and climate change, it’s not protecting everyone.
10:34
Tourist Photos From Antarctica May Help Map Penguin Colonies
Snapshots from over the years could provide researchers with valuable data about how penguin colonies have shifted.
17:24
How Does Long-Distance Running Affect Your Body?
Running a marathon is a major physical feat. One expert answers listener questions about how it impacts the body and mind.
Intertwining The Lives Of Moths And Humans Through Music
A pair of musicians wrote a concept album inspired by moths—and found that humans have more in common with the insects than they expected.
Lights On Afterschool With Science Friday
Join Science Friday as we shine a light on the need for high-quality, hands-on afterschool STEM programs for all children.
12:15
Do Fossil Prints Show Dinosaur Flight Evolved More Than Once?
Some paleontologists argue the ancient footprints found in South Korea show flight may have evolved in multiple dinosaur lineages.
17:07
The Science Behind Third-Trimester Abortions
Abortions later in pregnancy are the most stigmatized, leading to misinformation and a hesitancy to talk openly about why people have them.
5:12
After California’s Park Fire, A Second Bloom of Milkweed
This is great news for the nearly-extinct monarch butterflies, which will pass through the area as they migrate back to Mexico.
12:00
Inside The ‘Creepy’ Procedure That Taps Into Young Blood
To find out how blood affects aging, scientists can surgically connect two animals and let blood circulate between them.
12:13
Biodiversity’s Biggest Event Is Underway In Colombia
COP16 will tackle questions like who should profit from non-human DNA, and who is responsible for financing critical conservation projects.
16:58
How Insects Changed The World—And Human Cultures
In “The Insect Epiphany,” an entomologist explores the history of insects in art, food, engineering, and more.
17:18
How Aging Water Systems Are Pushing Sewage Into U.S. Homes
Outdated and poorly maintained sewage and stormwater systems have led to chronic sewage backups in communities across the country.
Mission Tech Force: Robots For A Sustainable Future
Tackle a hands-on critical-thinking team challenge, then discover how robots from space can solve Earth’s problems.
12:08
Pandas Return To Washington, D.C., Zoo
In a new chapter of “panda diplomacy,” two giant pandas on loan from China have arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.