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.
A Nanoparticle Heart
This heart-shaped nanoparticle contains a trio of elements that helps drive the oxidation of ethanol in fuel cells.
Test the Finger Wrinkle Hypothesis
Perform an experiment to determine whether smooth or wrinkled fingers are better at holding wet objects. The experiment requires only a water bottle, paperclip, and plastic ruler.
Downloads: Video, student data sheet, illustrated instructions
8:43
Stem Cell Research Update
Researchers in a recent study report creating stem cells in 30 minutes through an acid bath.
28:34
Solving Life’s Everyday Problems, With Data
Data geeks say our “digital breadcrumbs” can reveal where to eat, who to date, or which bus to take.
8:22
Out of the Bottle: Wine Psychology
How do our expectations, environment, and social cues trick us into believing our wine tastes better or worse?
12:04
Scientists Hunt for Morning Dew on Mars
Could mysterious dark streaks on Martian slopes be evidence of liquid water flows?
17:41
Andy Weir: ‘The Martian’
Andy Weir’s novel of Mars survival mixes science fact and fiction.
9:43
In Wind Tunnels, Ski Jumpers Become Flying Machines
Wind tunnels help Olympic ski jumpers balance between lift and drag.
6:42
For Some Olympians, Winning Medals Is All About Flow
Understanding fluid dynamics helps Olympians shave minutes off race times.
Olympic Ski Jump Training in the Wind Tunnel
Physics Professor Adam Johnston, explains how, with the help of a wind tunnel, U.S. ski jumpers can fine tune the physics of their jumps along with the flow of air around their bodies in order to attain Olympic gold.
Seeing (and Feeling) the Future of Virtual Reality With the Oculus Rift
SciFri tests out the cutting-edge virtual reality device at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Vote in SciFri’s Winter Nature Photo Contest
Vote for your favorite winter snapshot in the contest.
11:36
Greenland’s Fast-Moving Glacier Speeds Up
The Jakobshavn glacier reached speeds of more than 150 feet per day during the summer of 2012.
24:53
Meet Vermeer, the Engineer
A new documentary, “Tim’s Vermeer,” shows that the Dutch master painter was a tinkerer, too.
9:12
What Pulled the Plug on the Bioluminescent Bay?
The glowing bioluminescent bay near Fajardo, Puerto Rico went dark for more than a week in November.
9:59
When Do Childhood Memories Start to Fade?
On average, adults’ earliest memories go back to the age of three.
19:12
Can Gaming Make Us More Social?
NYU’s Katherine Isbister imagines a future where technology connects us to other people, not avatars.
6:32
Crafting the ‘Fastest Ice on Earth’
Marc Norman obsessively monitors the ice at the Utah Olympic Oval to create the perfect skating surface.
9:53
Ice Science a Slippery Quandary for Physicists
Friction researcher and avid curler Robert Carpick discusses the tricky physics of ice.