On Today's Podcast
African Grey Parrots Are Popular—And It’s Fueling Illegal Trade
Talkative African grey parrots are charismatic internet stars. A global scramble to source and sell the birds threatens their survival.
Listen NowNovember 21, 2025
Flora and “Part-Time Genius” co-host Mangesh Hattikudur put one lucky listener to the test with food science trivia. Plus, talkative African grey parrots are charismatic internet stars. A global scramble to source and sell the birds threatens their survival. And, Google’s tool for predicting how proteins “fold” turns 5 this year.
A Cephalopod Movie Night!
Science Friday is kicking off Cephalopod Week with an evening of talk, tentacles, and merriment.
12:00
Tornado Tracks, Microbiome Bias, and Overtime Pay for Postdocs
Tracking tornado hotspots and weighing the good and (potential) bad of better-paid postdocs.
8:51
What Imaginary Companions Tell Us About Our Kids
Imaginary companions help kids develop a “theory of mind,” says psychologist Tracy Gleason. And those make-believe friends give parents a window into their child’s world.
11:26
Why Is Vocal Fry Popping Up in Pop Music?
Researchers tested what vocal fry in music conveyed to listeners.
00:12:00
What Science Says About E-Cigarettes
Assessing risk, known and unknown, in the age of vaping.
25:11
Back to the Future of Electronic Newspapers
Will people ever want to get their news on a computer? Science Friday dips into its archives for a look at the past—and future—of electronic newspapers.
5:23
There’s An App For That: Detecting Earthquakes
Researchers developed an app that taps into the accelerometer in a smartphone to detect earthquakes.
17:11
Could Brain Infection Set the Stage for Alzheimer’s?
A provocative new study suggests that infection may spur the buildup of amyloid-beta, and that Alzheimer’s disease could be a toxic side effect.
What Should I Do If My Child Has an Imaginary Friend?
More than half of kids between ages 3 and 8 will have an imaginary companion at some point. Here’s what parents should know.
The Truth About Imaginary Friends
Developmental psychologist Marjorie Taylor has turned our understanding of imaginary companions upside down.
Are We Smart Enough to Understand How Smart Animals Are?
Primatologist Frans de Waal makes a case for animal intelligence.
Dive Into the World of Imaginary Friends
What may seem like whimsical creations are much more than child’s play.
The Real Guide to Imaginary Companions: Episode 1
Developmental psychologist have pieced together an unexpectedly diverse and nuanced profile of the children who create imaginary companions, while finding out how and why they create them.
The Real Guide to Imaginary Companions: Episode 3
Research by psychologists has revealed that imaginary companions can provide glimpses into the development of critical creative, social, and cognitive skills of children.
The Real Guide To Imaginary Companions: Episode 2
A trip into the lab of developmental psychologist Jacqueline Woolley reveals how children can become so enamored with their pretend friends, that they blur the lines between real and fantasy.
What’s the Deal With Kepler?
We break down Kepler’s achievements and what’s coming next.
12:06
A Synthetic Human Genome? Not So Fast
Bioethicist Laurie Zoloth and biologist Jeff Way discuss the scientific and ethical challenges that lie ahead for large genome synthesis.
16:38
Tracking the Hidden Trail Left by Your Smartphone
How much data is being transmitted through phone metadata and third-party keyboard apps?