Brain fun for curious people.
Scientists determined that Lucy, a human ancestor from 3.2 million years ago, couldn’t have beaten modern humans in a foot... more
Researchers tagged mouse RNA with the enzyme that makes fireflies glow, in hopes of better understanding how viruses and memories... more
On the heels of some big quantum computing advances in 2024, at least one company is telling businesses to get... more
Early analysis of asteroid samples from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission show the residue of an icy brine, and a soup of... more
When a fire burns in an urban area, it unleashes a slurry of chemicals. Scientists are trying to understand the... more
The outbreak of H5N9 avian influenza occurred at a California duck farm in November 2024. Also, new research pinpoints 298... more
A psychologist and author of “How To Winter” explains what we can learn from people thriving in the coldest, darkest... more
An analysis of 140,000 vocalizations from 77% of bird species showed that beak size and geography play a big role... more
Research on long COVID patients who took an extended course of Paxlovid shows mixed results.
AI models are able to design molecules that don’t even exist in nature. Some have proven effective as snake antivenom.
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health say the move has sent fear and confusion throughout the agency. Plus, what's... more
Publishers want to put out more papers with less editorial staff, all while charging scientists more to publish. Editors have... more
Astronomer Dean Regas gives us the lowdown on what to look for in the sky this winter, from a “planet... more
The award-winning novel explores the inner thoughts of astronauts during a single day aboard the International Space Station.
About a third of US homes are in a wildland-urban interface, a kind of high-risk area where development meets open... more
The SpaceX rocket carries lunar landers from companies based in Texas and Japan. They could arrive at the moon in... more
For years, AI companies have said that AGI is coming soon. But what does the term mean, and what is... more
Scientists investigated how the shape of the human body makes hula hooping possible—and what hips and a waist have to... more
In his final advisory, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy spotlights how alcohol increases the risk of developing certain cancers.
This week, the U.S. reported its first human death from bird flu amid a rise in cases globally.
After her SciFri internship 20 years ago, Flora went on to become a beloved science journalist, video producer, and podcaster.... more
Ira is joined on stage by experts in Portland, Oregon, to talk about the amazing world of lichen and their... more
A “mirror organism” would have proteins and DNA shaped in a way that’s the mirror image of how they naturally... more
Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence is still poised to be a major driver of technological change this year.
This winter marks Audubon’s 125th Christmas Bird Count. It’s the longest-running community science project in the world.
Without climate action, the United States would only have snow cover high in the mountains by the end of the... more
In an interview from 2002, the primatologist gave Ira a lesson in how to speak with chimps.
Two SciFri producers discuss the year’s most intriguing stories, from new weight-loss drugs to PFAS chemicals to the ManhattAnt.
Ira is joined on stage by researchers from three different fields to reflect on all that 2024 brought us in... more
What makes three very different conservation projects so successful? These experts say it’s getting the community involved. And, archaeologists make... more