On Today's Podcast
EPA Seeks To Revoke Scientific Basis For Greenhouse Gas Rules
The “endangerment finding” is the basis for regulations on emissions from cars, power plants, and more. Plus, a robot performs surgery.
Listen NowAugust 1, 2025
A workout can be a mental health boost—or a psychological strain. Two exercise researchers discuss what physical activity does to your mind. Plus, in a new book, mathematician Adam Kucharski traces our relationship to truth from the ancient Greeks to our AI reality. And, a researcher who studies the effects of extreme cold on the body throws a few drops of icy water on cold plunges.
17:02
The Sweet Song Of The $7 Violin
The 3D-printed violins are affordable and still sound beautiful, making them great instruments for young learners.
12:16
Meet The Blind Birder Reimagining Accessibility In The Outdoors
In the Colombian Andes, a professional birder has developed trails to help visually disabled people take part in hiking and birding.
16:50
Why You Should Thank Your Local Wasp
From pest control to pollination, what might be considered pesky insects actually play essential environmental roles.
12:13
How Fungi Are Breaking The Binary: A Queer Approach To Ecology
An interdisciplinary group of scientists, researchers, and artists are using queerness as a lens to better understand the natural world.
12:19
Scientists Can Now Hear The Background Hum Of The Universe
Although scientists have theorized about this cosmic hum for years, they finally heard it by tracking pulses from spinning stars.
17:24
Scientists Think Cloning Could Help Save Endangered Species
The endangered Przewalski’s horse and black-footed ferret are the faces of cloning for conservation.
5:51
Twenty Years On, The Little CubeSat Is Bigger Than Ever
The tissue box-sized satellite made space research easier, and cheaper.
11:17
Remembering Engineer And Author Henry Petroski
The prolific and poetic author tackled everything from the safety of bridges to humanity’s follies.
33:52
Celebrating The Weird, Wonderful World Of Cephalopods
Did you know most cephalopods can only live for a year? Or that they rely heavily on taste to sense their environment?
Why This Sound Artist Recorded Nature And Human Life For 40 Years
Jim Metzner, a pioneer of science radio, looks back on his lifetime of nature recordings, now heading for the Library of Congress.
12:15
A See-Through Squid Success Story
Researchers will be able to study neural structure in a genetically modified line of albino squid that are essentially see-through.
11:56
How Art Can Help Treat Dementia And Trauma
A new book investigates the relatively new field of neuroaesthetics, which researches the effects that artistic experiences have on the brain.
5:10
Testing Mars Rovers In Utah’s Red Desert
Student innovators compete in a rover-testing challenge at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah.
12:05
When The Promise Of Social Media Becomes Perilous
New York Times journalist Max Fisher’s new book charts social media’s meteoric rise.
34:41
Remembering Roger Payne, Who Helped Save The Whales
Researcher Roger Payne died earlier this month, leaving behind a legacy of whalesong recordings that inspired global conservation efforts.
17:19
When Eye-Grabbing Results Just Don’t Pan Out
Is a drive to publish in prestigious scientific journals leading researchers to overstate their findings as the next big breakthrough?
Sign Up For Science Friday’s Newsletters!
From sneak peeks of the show to educational resources to events, stay up to speed with all things SciFri.
What Foods Do Wasps Love? What Foods Do Wasps Hate?
With careful observations while watching wasps, you can discover their favorite foods and use that to make your picnics more pleasant.
11:51
Why Have Ocean Temperatures Spiked?
Scientists still don’t know why global sea surface temperatures have risen so dramatically.
34:25
The Best Summer Books Of 2023, According To Two Science Writers
Two science writers weigh in on their favorite nonfiction and fiction books for the summer season.