The storm flooded mines in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, which supply the tech industry with some of the purest quartz... more

This summer, the Bureau of Land Management approved seven herbicides to fight invasive plants in the West. Also, when scientists... more

Emergency departments often handle incidents of self-inflicted injury. Equipping them better could save lives.

Emissions from anesthesia are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases from hospitals. This anesthesiologist wants to change that.... more

Climate activists Bill McKibben and Akaya Windwood say it isn’t fair to leave the climate crisis for younger generations to... more

The company is betting big on nuclear energy to meet increasing power needs of data centers and new technologies like... more

In his new book, Dr. Francis Collins explores how the pandemic increased skepticism of the scientific process and what to... more

Generative AI is boosting production of fake scientific papers. How are journal publishers adjusting to this new reality?

May we interest you in a smog-infused cookie? The Center for Genomic Gastronomy is making foods that capture environmental crises.

In his latest advisory, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy adds parents’ wellbeing to his agenda of improving the nation’s mental... more

The ring would have gradually fallen to Earth as meteorites, correlating to a spike of impacts seen in the geological... more

The heaviest antimatter nucleus to date was spotted in a particle accelerator. It could provide new insights into the nature... more

Immunologist Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire answers audience questions about when to get the latest COVID shot, rapid test efficacy, and more.

In her new book, climate policy expert Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson explores what ideal climate solutions look like to a... more

Researchers, educators, and parents discuss smartphones in school. Plus, why research on how social media affects teens defies easy answers.

Two citizen astronauts on SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission left their capsule and returned safely. Also, while Aaron James can’t see... more

Samples of 2.5 billion-year-old mantle rocks found at spreading ocean ridges could put bounds on models of how the planet... more

In a new book called “Cowpuppy,” neuroscientist and farmer Gregory Berns investigates cow intelligence.

Shark fishing is alive and well, but the fishermen who do it are increasingly prioritizing conservation. And, an unknown ant... more

Researchers are harnessing DNA’s incredible capacity for information storage by turning genetic code into binary code.

ESA officials said it was only the ninth time an asteroid was spotted before reaching Earth’s atmosphere. And, as the... more

A new study suggests that the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs may have originated from the outer parts of the... more

In her new book, Ellen Ruppel Shell covers the natural history of eels and the crime ring that has sprung... more

Rogue worlds float around in the cosmos, untethered to a specific star. They could help scientists understand the formation of... more

The seasons are arriving at different times than they used to. A psychologist weighs in on whether these shifts could... more

Several states have reported cases of the rare but serious mosquito-borne illness eastern equine encephalitis. And, the new sci-fi movie... more

In “Bite,” author Bill Schutt takes readers on a dental adventure spanning half a billion years and much of the... more

Misreporting on death certificates could lead to inaccurate mortality data, including for key statistics like maternal mortality rates.

Cady Coleman discusses her reaction to seeing Earth from orbit, the challenges of her path into space, and her new... more

Sequoia National Park is largely designated as wilderness. That complicates efforts to protect its iconic trees from worsening wildfires. Also,... more

A new study measuring microplastics in organs of the recently deceased found that about two dozen brain samples were 0.5%... more

September’s SciFri Book Club pick, “Forest Walking,” teaches readers how to use all five senses to engage with forests in... more

The space elevator has long been a part of science fiction, but some experts believe it could soon be a... more

Exposing mice to a specific frequency of light and sound decreases Alzheimer’s biomarkers and symptoms. Now it’s being tested on... more

His new book “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service” chronicles his work on health crises from HIV/AIDS to... more

Data from the Mars InSight lander points to the presence of liquid water underneath its crust. Also, some national and... more

Analyzing fossilized feces, called coprolites, is key to better understanding ancient ecosystems and dinosaur diets.

This specific type of solar cell is more efficient than what’s currently on the market. But what is it, and... more

As the climate changes, we need vegetables resilient to drought, pests, and heat. An expert explains how to breed plants... more

After a stegosaurus skeleton sold for $44.6 million, paleontologists are concerned about how selling dinosaur fossils affects research.

The Boeing capsule is having issues with its thrusters and cannot bring astronauts back to Earth, leaving NASA scrambling for... more

This is the fourth summer the U.S. has seen a COVID-19 surge. And no, it’s not a coincidence.

New research suggests that polymetallic nodules found 13,000 feet deep produce “dark oxygen” by electrolyzing water. Also, at higher altitudes,... more

The European Space Agency mission aims to discover new exoplanets in habitable zones. It is scheduled for launch in late... more

Cancer treatment and prevention has come a long way in the past few decades. Here’s what’s new, and where challenges... more

The University of Hawaiʻi study will be the largest of its kind to investigate the health and social impacts of... more

In her book ‘Frostbite,’ Nicola Twilley examines how refrigeration changed the world and spoiled us—and our food.

Researchers developed the first anode-free solid-state battery that’s based on sodium, which is cheaper and more abundant than lithium.

Varroa destructor mites are killing honeybees and their babies at alarming rates.

Monogamous prairie voles may help us understand how our brains respond to love, and how they move on after heartbreak.... more

In a first, NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered pure sulfur on Mars. And, we revisit a conversation from 2015 about... more

As public figures promote raw milk, and sales increase, experts warn about the risks from pathogens like salmonella and avian... more

Researchers developed a prototype of a space suit that could replace the high-absorbency diapers that astronauts wear on space walks.... more

In her book, marine biologist Jasmin Graham writes about uplifting young scientists of color and why she pursues research outside... more

The panel raised concerns about the study’s methods and failure to address previous instances of research misconduct.

The foot-long meteor passed through the Earth’s atmosphere near the Statue of Liberty. Don’t worry, it was fine. Also, the... more

It’s not just Ozempic. There are 323 ongoing drug shortages in the U.S., leaving patients scrambling for necessary medications.

Most gut microbiome research focuses on the colon. But understanding the small intestine might unlock better treatments for GI disorders.

Rising temperatures shut down some conchs’ impulse to reproduce. So scientists are ferrying them to colonies in deeper, cooler waters.

Congestion pricing increases commuting costs in cities, but it can also mean better air quality and a healthier population.

As the James Webb Space Telescope marks two years of operations, NASA unveils a new image of two galaxies interacting.... more

Gene variants inherited from Neanderthals can impact pain tolerance and nose shape in modern humans. What else could they influence?

From drought-resistant crops to making sure farmers of color thrive, here’s how experts in Iowa are looking at the future... more

At a live event in Washington, Ira talks to restoration experts about the science of preserving America’s founding documents.

In this story from 2023, we look back at 80 years of panda conservation, and how “panda diplomacy” paved the... more

Two science writers and voracious readers have compiled their summer reading recommendations, just for Science Friday fans.

In a conversation from 2014, Ira talks marinade myths, charcoal chemistry, and the elusive “smoke ring”—the science behind barbecue and... more

In “Becoming Earth,” author Ferris Jabr reexamines our relationship to Earth, and makes the case that Earth itself is alive.

The age of first menstruation trended downward from 1950 to 2005, but more so among low-income kids and kids of... more

In an effort to learn from scientific failure, The Journal of Trial Error only publishes “negative” results.