Brain fun for curious people.
Researchers say the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is a better indicator of heat stress. Also, cancer is the leading cause... more
Two mannequins walk into a science lab, and one’s got a big tick problem. She can teach humans how to... more
Two decades after his book “The Singularity is Near,” Kurzweil is back with more predictions about the future of AI.
Squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish use ink to confuse predators and to communicate. But there’s still a lot we don’t understand... more
Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour helped make the film more scientifically accurate to how a teenager’s mind works.
A new study used machine learning to analyze elephant vocalizations and identified “contact rumbles” that appear to function as names.... more
In her new book, science journalist Amorina Kingdon explores the astonishing variety of sound in the ocean, and how it... more
Plants called “hyperaccumulators” have evolved to absorb high levels of metals. Scientists want to harness them for greener metal mining.... more
A new book looks at the history of psychological warfare, its connections to science fiction, and how it’s been adapted... more
The COVID vaccines proved that RNA could be extremely powerful. A new book explores even more medical applications for the... more
Boeing’s Starliner successfully launched and docked at the ISS, SpaceX’s Starship rocket launched and returned. Also, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo brings... more
Scientists are studying birds’ unique vocal organ, the syrinx, to better understand its evolutionary history. Also, the eerie calls of... more
Indigenous data sovereignty is the idea that Indigenous Peoples should decide how to collect, own, and use their own data.
Science journalist Zoë Schlanger discusses plants’ ability to communicate, store memories, and more in her new book, “The Light Eaters.”
A growing number of states are adopting laws that force companies to give consumers better options to repair their devices.
The much-delayed crewed test flight is back on the calendar, despite a helium leak. Also, researchers used data from the... more
Metabolic markers could eventually result in a test for “biological age,” which considers how things other than time age the... more
After decades of under-development, spending on high-speed rail projects is ramping up in California, Florida, and the Northeast Corridor.
A van outfitted as a mobile laboratory helps scientists study how legal cannabis products affect users—without breaking the law.
For the first time, scientists have recorded how salps form chains and swim in corkscrews to reach the ocean’s surface... more
An early study found that electrical stimulation could improve hand and arm function in people with spinal cord injuries. Also,... more
Scientists are breeding wine grapes that will grow in Iowa’s climate in hopes of expanding the state’s wine industry.
Scientists have developed a way to recycle rare earth elements found in discarded electronics without using acid or harsh chemicals.
Early data from the DESI collaboration suggests that dark energy, which powers the universe’s accelerating expansion, may evolve over time.
The latest update moves the recommended age to start mammograms from 50 down to 40. How are these decisions made?
Upgrades to the power grid under a new rule could help accommodate an increasing renewable energy supply and meet data... more
Sports ecologist and author Dr. Madeline Orr discusses how climate change is affecting sports, from ski conditions to athletes’ health.
Medical researchers are working to better understand—and hopefully mute—tinnitus, a persistent “ringing in the ears.”
In her new book, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant shares how her lifelong love for the natural world led her to become... more
The Field Museum has unveiled a new specimen of Archaeopteryx, a species that may hold the key to how ancient... more
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.
Science Friday is in Ames, Iowa, home to prairies, greater prairie chickens, and an array of wildlife. Also, the co-emergence of two... more