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Science Friday

Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff.

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73 episodes
daily
Avg 16 min
English

Episodes 73

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#1418
Today · 12 min
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson on making climate action cool
Climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson reflects on this moment of the climate movement and why climate action should be fun.
#1417
Friday · 18 min
Could a whale swallow a human, 'Whalefall' style?
"Whalefall" is a race against time, and sperm whale digestion. We get into the gooey gut science and what it took to bring it to the big screen.
#1416
Thursday · 18 min
Why do politicians talk like that?
A linguist weighs in on how "politician speak" has changed over the past century, and what it says about what we want from our leaders.
#1415
Wednesday · 12 min
Sargassum superblooms are choking coastlines around the Atlantic
A free-floating seaweed called sargassum is exploding in the Atlantic ocean, clogging up coastlines from West Africa to the Caribbean.
#1414
Tuesday · 17 min
Celebrating Ada Lovelace Day and the women who made the internet
For Ada Lovelace Day, our 2018 story about the women who made the internet, with the author of "Broad Band" and the founder of EchoNYC.
#1413
October 12 · 17 min
Are attachment styles more than a social media trend?
Attachment styles have taken off as a way to understand relationships. But does the science behind it line up with popular interpretations?
#1412
October 10 · 12 min
The science and politics of the new mRNA flu vaccine
A new mRNA flu vaccine promises a closer match to circulating flu strains. But dysfunction at federal health agencies is complicating rollout.
#1411
October 9 · 12 min
What is the Kelvin wave on the West Coast?
El Niño is driving a Kelvin wave up the West Coast, raising sea levels. What is it, and how does it work?
#1410
October 8 · 18 min
The punk rock life of cephalopods
This Cephalopod Week, we’re talking death spirals, cannibalism, and giant squid dissection.
#1409
October 7 · 13 min
The Nobel winner searching for deep-space neutrinos in Antarctica
In 2013, Frances Halzen spoke with Ira about the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. This week, Halzen won the Nobel Prize.
#1408
October 6 · 16 min
How important ideas get reawakened, with David Byrne
Why do some breakthroughs go dormant—and then wake up? Artist David Byrne writes about these sleeping beauties in his new book.
#1407
October 5 · 15 min
'The History of Concrete' with John Wilson
John Wilson’s latest feature film, “The History of Concrete” is an idiosyncratic journey about more than just concrete.
#1406
October 2 · 12 min
The tilcayo is the new wild cat on the block
The tiny, three-pound tilcayo is the first cat species to be described in a century, and, yes—it is as cute as you’d think.
#1405
October 1 · 17 min
Are natural history museums going extinct?
The country’s oldest natural history museum, in Philadelphia, has closed its doors to visitors. Will other museums follow?
#1404
September 30 · 18 min
Examining a new lunar crater + searching for signs of alien technology
Scientists are learning more about a recent impact crater on the moon. Plus, hunting for extraterrestrial life through technological clues.
#1404
September 29 · 21 min
Did the COVID pandemic stunt kids’ development?
The pandemic interrupted the lives of millions of kids. Researchers are studying the impact on their social and emotional development.
#1403
September 28 · 18 min
How do concussions affect the brain?
The latest scientific understanding of concussions is upending treatment recommendations for recovery.
#1402
September 25 · 11 min
Are new treatments for celiac disease on the horizon?
More than 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, an illness with no current treatment. Is help on the way?
#1401
September 24 · 22 min
Everyone is calling for safer AI. So what does that mean?
Concerns about AI safety are growing. Two researchers explain the unintended consequences of training AI models and what questions remain.
#1400
September 23 · 18 min
Underwater archeology reveals clues about Ice Age humans
At the end of the last ice age, glacial melt inundated human settlements near shorelines. Underwater archeologists are uncovering their artifacts.

Showing 1–20 of 73 episodes