Episodes

Measuring radioactive elements in wild boar and turtles sheds light on how radioactive materials travel through the environment. Plus, three new vaccines will be available this fall to address COVID, the flu, and RSV. And the buzz on native bees in your neighborhood.

Canopy soil builds up over decades in the nooks and crannies of old trees. But how does it get there? Plus, a rodent biologist reflects on her career. And, scientists successfully created a 14-day old human embryo model without sperm or eggs.

Dr. Vivek Murthy on the intersection of youth mental health, social media, and loneliness. Plus, a computer model can predict the odor of a chemical based on its structure. And, intensive efforts in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest helped the golden lion tamarin recover.

As Alaska begins looking beyond fossil fuels, mining companies are quietly preparing to take over its highways. Plus, a new book uses science and hindsight to figure out how to survive history’s greatest disasters. And, an expert from the Monterey Bay Aquarium talks all things sea otter.

As COVID-related hospitalizations once again surge, virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen answers listener queries about the latest variant. Plus, a conversation about the gap in womens’ sports science, and why it’s so important to better understand female athletic performance. And, a trip to Reno, NV to check in on a wastewater recycling program.

Science journalist and the author of a new book talks about her research into a mighty fish nicknamed Amelia, and the recovery of the tuna fishery. Plus in the new movie “Pod Generation,” a couple finds out what it’s like to grow their baby inside a high-tech egg. And as the climate shifts, bird species’ ranges are changing–a capture of bird song in Acadia National Park.

Artificial sweeteners are widely used in soft drinks, baked goods, and candy. But are they safe? Plus, Science Friday dives into how nuclear weapons technology has evolved since the Manhattan Project. And, talking about the science behind evolution in light of laws allowing schools to teach creationism.

After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, state abortion bans are causing a shift in reproductive health care that’s rippling across the country. Plus, the kākāpō returns to New Zealand. And, understanding how plastics in your old Barbie doll degrade.

The connections between the brain and the body are complex—we dive in. Plus, on the big screen, moviegoers will be faced with the United States’ contentious nuclear history. And, an unusual white dwarf star appears to be made of hydrogen on one side and helium on another.

Hospitals can’t keep up with the need for mental health treatment in children. What is driving the increase in youth mental health issues? Plus, the children’s book ‘Mother of Sharks’ makes the case for the kings of the deep. And, two companies recently received approval to grow and sell lab-cultivated meat in the U.S.