On Today's Podcast
How Have Gray Wolves Fared 30 Years After Reintroduction?
Humans drove wolves nearly to extinction in the American West. Reintroducing them in 1995 was, and still is, controversial.
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.
Desktop Diaries: Michael Pollan
In the latest installment of our Desktop Diaries video series, we’ll take you into the home office (and garden) of the famous food and nature author Michael Pollan.
Make Supercool Fruit Pops
Make supercooled water and use it to coat fruit pops in instant ice crystals
Hackers Have Been Targeting Nuclear Power Plants
A U.S. government report warns that hackers have been targeting power facilities in the US and other countries.
Air Pollution Is As Unhealthy As Secondhand Smoke, A New Study Says
Kids who live near pollution are at the same risk of asthma as those exposed to secondhand smoke.
The Secrets Of Drying Your Food
‘Cooking for Geeks’ author Jeff Potter explains the scientific secrets to making the perfect dehydrated food.
8:17
A Tower Of Skulls, A Frog Explosion, And A Study Of Cycles
Science journalist Annalee Newitz joins us to talk about some of the stories from the week in science.
4:04
A Mathy Makeover For The Kilogram
Standardizing our mass measurements relies on an elaborate and exacting physics experiment.
9:37
Drilling Into The Secrets Of Roman Concrete
Researchers are working to understand the exceptional durability of an ancient building material.
12:23
With Key Staff Missing In Washington, Can Science Policy Move Ahead?
President Trump has yet to name a presidential science advisor or directors for NASA and NOAA, and other key science positions.
9:38
Don’t Phone A Friend. Skype A Scientist!
A new program introduces schoolkids around the world to real, working scientists using videoconferencing tools like Skype.
23:56
Food Failures: Too Hot In The Kitchen? Try No-Heat Cooking
A hot summer day is no time to turn on the stove. Try these recipes and tricks for cooking with little to no heat.
24:00
Hidden Wonders To Hit On Your Science Road Trip
SciFri teams up with the authors of “Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders” to recommend geeky summer road trip destinations, like the mysterious moving rocks in Death Valley, and a museum full of brains.
First Elephants, Then Rhinos—Now Donkeys Are Under Threat
Chinese demand has created a huge underground market for African donkey hides.
Antarctica Is Getting Greener
Climate change is slowly making parts of Antarctica turn green. New species of plants and insects are taking hold, threatening to transform the continent’s delicate ecosystem.
Can You Taste The Color?
How does hue alter flavor? Experimental psychologist Charles Spence gives us a tour of our tastebuds.
7:23
Overlapping Surgeries, A Little Drummer Bird, And Human-Free Hedge Funds
Hospitals commonly schedule surgeons to start a new surgery while someone else finishes their last one. Should they notify patients?
5:01
The Bad News About California’s Solar Power Boom
Solar energy generation is exploding in California. But the solar glut is overwhelming the state’s grid, and costing ratepayers money.
16:08
The Polar Bear Necessities
USGS wildlife biologist Karyn Rode monitors how populations of polar bears are affected by shrinking sea ice and other changing conditions in the Arctic.
11:57
Curiosity Gets An AI Upgrade
A new autonomous system lets the Mars rover conduct research even while offline.
6:42
Flu? There’s A Patch For That
An experimental vaccine patch would deliver influenza vaccine via an array of dissolvable, microscopic needles.