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Universe of Art
Universe of Art
Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Meet artists who use science to bring their creations to the next level.

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Episodes

Our favorite 2024 science books for kids

You asked for science book recommendations for the kids in your life. Two bookworm experts respond—and share their own favorites.

10 Dec 2024 · 18 minutes
How metaphors help—and hurt—science

Metaphors can help us understand complicated scientific concepts. But they can also have a downside.

26 Nov 2024 · 12 minutes
How insects changed the world—and human culture

In “The Insect Epiphany,” an entomologist explores the history of insects in art, food, engineering, and more.

12 Nov 2024 · 17 minutes
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... more

29 Oct 2024 · 13 minutes
Benjamin Franklin and the American experiment collide on stage

In the play “Franklinland,” Benjamin Franklin’s son takes centerstage in an exploration of his father’s life as a scientist, statesperson,... more

15 Oct 2024 · 11 minutes
Pollution cookies and the hidden physics in Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'

The Center for Genomic Gastronomy is making foods that capture environmental crises. Plus, what scientists found when they took a... more

01 Oct 2024 · 19 minutes
How a diver and artist brought a mysterious octopus to light

The larger Pacific striped octopus is unusually social. But it wasn’t recognized by scientists until 2015, despite one man’s efforts.

17 Sep 2024 · 11 minutes
What newly discovered cave art tells us about human creativity

Archaeologists keep finding older and older cave art. Here’s what it could tell us about how humans evolved over time.

03 Sep 2024 · 12 minutes
How ancient art influenced modern astronomy

A new podcast series examines sonified space data to explore pivotal moments throughout the history of astronomy.

20 Aug 2024 · 18 minutes
How science fiction influenced American psychological warfare

A new book looks at the history of psychological warfare, its connections to science fiction, and how it’s been adapted... more

06 Aug 2024 · 18 minutes
The tornado science of 'Twisters' and a real-life 'Dune' stillsuit

A meteorologist decodes the tornado science in the new 'Twisters' sequel, and researchers made a spacesuit inspired by the one... more

23 Jul 2024 · 18 minutes
The best summer science beach reads for 2024

Discover new science reads for this summer with two authors and science writers familiar with the best books on the... more

09 Jul 2024 · 30 minutes
Meet the emotions behind teenage angst in ‘Inside Out 2’

Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour helped make the film more scientifically accurate to how a teenager’s mind works.

25 Jun 2024 · 17 minutes
The bird call that music producers love to use in pop songs

The eerie calls of the common loons have been heard in songs by Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey,... more

11 Jun 2024 · 8 minutes
This scientist’s memoir charts her journey from acting to astrobiology

In her new memoir, astrobiologist Dr. Aomawa Shields describes how a quest for life in the cosmos helped her find... more

28 May 2024 · 17 minutes
Three Universe of Art listeners tell us about their science-inspired art

For Universe of Art's one year birthday, listeners share their science-inspired poems, sound art, and collages.

14 May 2024 · 12 minutes
Using motion capture tech to make TV shows for deaf children

A lab at Gallaudet University is creating television shows with signing characters to increase literacy in both English and ASL.

30 Apr 2024 · 17 minutes
This documentary explores the loneliness of a Mars mission

In a new documentary, NASA psychologists try to find solutions for the mental health challenges of a three-year trip to... more

16 Apr 2024 · 12 minutes
Breaking down the physics behind ‘3 Body Problem’

The science advisor for the Netflix adaptation breaks down the physics in the show.

02 Apr 2024 · 10 minutes
Could life exist on a planet like Arrakis from 'Dune'?

A planetary scientist compares Arrakis to real planets and analyzes whether life could exist on such a sandy, scorching-hot world.

19 Mar 2024 · 12 minutes
Meet the comedians bringing a sense of humor to science

How do you integrate science into standup comedy? Comedians Chuck Nice, Kasha Patel, and Kyle Marian Viterbo tell us how.

05 Mar 2024 · 32 minutes
How gamification has crept into school, work, and fitness

Game developer and author Adrian Hon explains the consequences of allowing gaming principles to creep into so many corners of... more

20 Feb 2024 · 17 minutes
Why a robotics professor writes Black STEM romance novels

Dr. Carlotta Berry writes romance novels about Black women in the sciences to encourage more people to go into the... more

06 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
Let's take a field trip!

We’re checking out two museum exhibitions: one exploring our history with genetic modification of pigs, and another envisioning potential positive... more

23 Jan 2024 · 15 minutes
Why a scientist made a graphic novel about understanding physics

In “The Dialogues,” a graphic novel by theoretical physicist Clifford Johnson, the superheroes are scientists—and they’ll teach you a thing... more

09 Jan 2024 · 29 minutes
The delightfully silly science comics of Rosemary Mosco

Nature cartoonist Rosemary Mosco shares her process about how dreams up scenes from the funny side of science.

26 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
How artists and scientists collaborated to make art about HIV

At an HIV research conference earlier this year, HIV-positive artists and scientists were paired together to create art for an... more

12 Dec 2023 · 18 minutes
Music genres are more universal than you may think

Researchers tested if listeners could identify lullabies, dance, love, and healing songs from different cultures.

28 Nov 2023 · 12 minutes
Bonus episode: Musician Kilo Kish learns a new trick

We might think that an old dog can't learn new tricks. According to neuroscience and neuroplasticity though, that’s not true... more

14 Nov 2023 · 20 minutes
Why is daydreaming so difficult for adults?

Daydreaming is a great source for creativity. But why is it so hard for adults to do?

31 Oct 2023 · 19 minutes
This poet turns to science in times of uncertainty

Poet Jane Hirshfield takes on crises both biological and human in her new book “Ledger.”

17 Oct 2023 · 18 minutes
How this composer integrated neuroscience into her music

Composer Sarah Hennies’ new piece “Motor Tapes” was inspired by a neurological theory of the same name. How did she... more

03 Oct 2023 · 12 minutes
How video game devs and musicians are processing climate change

How does our changing climate get expressed in a folk song versus a video game?

19 Sep 2023 · 22 minutes
How scientifically accurate are the sharks in "Meg 2: The Trench"?

The new monster action flick plays fast and loose with ancient shark science, but this megalodon researcher doesn’t mind that... more

05 Sep 2023 · 12 minutes
Pregnancy goes high-tech in "The Pod Generation"

The new film follows a couple as they find out what it’s like to grow their baby inside a pod.... more

22 Aug 2023 · 13 minutes
How NASA translates space data into sparkly and haunting songs

NASA’s Sonification Project aims to turn astrophysics data into sound, enabling visually impaired people to engage with outer space.

08 Aug 2023 · 22 minutes
Star Trek’s science advisor reveals the real astrophysics on screen

Astrophysicist Dr. Erin Macdonald talks about consulting on the famous series and the real (and fictional) science on screen.

25 Jul 2023 · 30 minutes
Changing parasites’ bad reputation with monster girl art

From ‘Alien’ to ‘The Last of Us,’ parasites have a gruesome reputation. But this parasitologist is using anime-inspired art to... more

11 Jul 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

27 Jun 2023 · 23 minutes
The surprising ways the arts transform our brains and bodies

A new book, ‘Your Brain On Art,’ examines new research about the effectiveness of art in healthcare and the benefits... more

13 Jun 2023 · 15 minutes
This violinist is making ultra-affordable 3D-printed violins for kids

A concert violinist is developing a 3D-printed violin that costs $7, in hopes of lowering the barrier to getting kids... more

30 May 2023 · 22 minutes
Soak in the sounds of a river with this composer’s sound maps

Composer Annea Lockwood uses stereo microphones and underwater hydrophones to create detailed “river maps.”

16 May 2023 · 11 minutes
This astrophysicist turns star data into 3D-printed spheres

Astrophysicist Nia Imara's career merges art and astronomy to figure out how stars are born.

02 May 2023 · 15 minutes
Illustrating the anal teeth and deadly farts of invertebrate butts

Meet the illustrators and scientists who are spreading joy and knowledge about the backends of the backbone-less.

18 Apr 2023 · 10 minutes
These drag artists are making science more accessible

Drag performers, like Pattie Gonia and Kyne, are using social media to bring science communication to a wider audience.

11 Apr 2023 · 22 minutes
Introducing Universe of Art

Universe Of Art is a new podcast from Science Friday about artists who use science to bring their creations to... more

03 Apr 2023 · 1 minute
Universe of Art
This violinist is making ultra-affordable 3D-printed violins for kids
Universe of Art
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Description

A concert violinist is developing a 3D-printed violin that costs $7, in hopes of lowering the barrier to getting kids into music.