Brain fun for curious people.
Astronomers have confirmed they found an atmosphere around an Earth-like rocky exoplanet for the first time. Also, Boeing’s Starliner craft... more
In a conversation from 2023, SciFri producer Kathleen Davis talks to journalist Christine Yu about how most participants in sports... more
The geology of Mars could provide a snapshot of what our planet was like as the crust was forming and... more
As climate change intensifies storms, Louisiana is dealing with catastrophic flooding of cemeteries. Now other states face similar problems.
The Ada Hayden Herbarium preserves hundreds of thousands of specimens, including some collected by George Washington Carver. And, as the... more
Science Friday is in Ames, Iowa, home to prairies, greater prairie chickens, and an array of wildlife. Also, the co-emergence... more
A study found aggression between male bonobos to be more frequent than aggression between male chimpanzees. Also, visual artist Todd... more
An array of new products monitors users’ brain waves using caps or headbands. That neural data has few privacy protections.
Researchers are trying to develop a better picture of what’s happening in the regions closest to a black hole’s event... more
For her new book, Aarathi Prasad spent years researching the past and future of silk—and even grew her own silkworms.
While progress has been made in replacing water pipes in Flint, Michigan, many residents say they still don’t know if... more
America’s most-consumed fruit is at risk from a fungal disease. Researchers in North Carolina are on a mission to save... more
Plastics are everywhere, in packaging, clothing, and even our bodies. Could they be made less integral to manufacturing and more... more
Superfund sites contain extreme pollution. Flooding—made worse by climate change—could carry their toxic contaminants into surrounding areas.
An explosion of research is painting a clearer picture of how climate change is affecting mental health across the globe.... more
Global temperature increases are slowing, electric vehicle sales are growing, and renewable energy is now cheaper than some fossil fuels.... more
When you watch a baseball game, you’re also enjoying a spectacular display of science—from physics to biomechanics.
Some food has a larger carbon footprint when grown in urban settings than on commercial farms, while for other foods... more
Varroa destructor mites are killing honeybees and their babies at alarming rates.
These lesser-known nervous system cells were long thought to be the “glue” holding neurons together. They’re much more.
A long-awaited rule from the EPA limits the amounts of six PFAS chemicals allowed in public drinking water supplies. Also,... more
When an animal dies at Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo, a pathologist gathers clues about its health and death from a... more
In the ever-changing and biodiverse Chesapeake Bay, conservation and food production go hand in hand.
Satellite technology—and community outreach—can help harness trees’ cooling power for city residents.
Dr. Eric Topol discusses the promise of “opportunistic” AI, using medical scans for unintended diagnostic purposes. Also, a study in... more
A Massachusetts man who received a kidney from a genetically modified pig is recovering well. Also, on April 8, a... more
We revisit a 2020 interview with cosmologist Katie Mack about how the universe could end. Plus, remembering psychologist Daniel Kahneman.
Officials say offshore wind turbines aren’t killing North Atlantic right whales. So why do so many people think otherwise?
After a controversial Alzheimer’s medication was discontinued, a new anti-amyloid drug receives extra scrutiny from the FDA.
Particle accelerators, nanofibers, and solar physics: The science advisor for the Netflix adaptation breaks down the physics in the show.... more
We look into the engineering reasons why the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed after a ship crashed into it. Also,... more
In a conversation from 2019, Dr. Frans de Waal tells the story of a female chimp who didn’t produce enough... more
In a new memoir, planetary scientist Dr. Dante Lauretta takes readers behind the scenes of a mission to secure a... more
Understanding how sea lions move through water could help engineers design better underwater vehicles.
The U.S. Botanic Garden is one of 62 locations across the United States that rescue endangered species poached in the... more
The World Meteorological Organization’s report confirms last year had the highest temperatures on record and predicts an even hotter 2024.... more
A group of fish called gar, dubbed “living fossils,” may have the slowest rate of evolution of any jawed vertebrate.
Four years ago this week, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Experts say it’s far from over.
In her new book, Dr. Arielle Johnson explains how and what we taste with chemistry.
Post-Dobbs, ob-gyns and medical students alike must navigate the risk of criminal prosecution associated with patient care in some states.
A recent study looked into life-threatening Acanthamoeba infections, and a few deaths, linked to the use of tap water with... more
Do you think math is boring? Drag queen Kyne is on a mission to make math fun and accessible for... more
A new book explores idiopathic hypersomnia, which causes overwhelming daytime sleepiness despite ample sleep.
The Union of Concerned Scientists has unveiled an election science task force led by experts from across the country. Also,... more
On the heels of the Oscars, we dive into three films that take us to other worlds: A planetary scientist... more
Voyager 1 has been sending incoherent data back to Earth, possibly marking the beginning of the end of its decades-old... more
The book “Countdown” looks at why the US is modernizing its arsenal, and what it means to exist with nuclear... more
Neuroscience graduate student Senegal Alfred Mabry is looking at effects of Parkinson’s disease beyond the most visible body tremors.
In the trees, through the water, and under the dirt: Snakes evolve faster than their lizard relatives, allowing them to... more
Two pediatricians discuss the outbreak, vaccine hesitancy, and unraveling public health measures in Florida and beyond.
In the trees, through the water, and under the dirt: Snakes evolve faster than their lizard relatives, allowing them to occupy diverse... more