Flora has produced science media for 20 years across many formats. She got her start right here at Science Friday, working her way up from intern to fill-in host, and resident videographer. From there, she worked as a video producer for The New York Times, co-creating an Emmy-nominated film series that dramatized scientific discoveries using… paper puppets. She also was nominated for an Emmy for her writing on Bill Nye’s Netflix show “Bill Nye Saves the World.” She has created and launched a number of podcasts in various roles, including hosting Gimlet’s beloved “Every Little Thing,” which connected listeners to experts who could answer their burning questions. The show ran for five years and published over 200 episodes.
Making science accessible, relatable, and human has been a focus of Flora’s career. Some of her inspiration comes from her own experience in science: Long, long ago, she worked at a NATO oceanographic lab in Italy. For the lab’s research expeditions, she lived on a ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.
You can find her @flichtman on social media platforms.
5:08
How Owls Turn Heads
How do these birds turn their heads 270 degrees without damaging their blood vessels?
How Owls Turn Heads
How do owls turn their heads 270 degrees without damaging their blood vessels? X-rays and dissections may provide an answer.
4:27
Months After Sandy, Mucking and Gutting
Mold has become a concern for residents of a Sandy-damaged neighborhood in Queens.
24:17
The Book Club Catches ‘The Andromeda Strain’
The Science Friday book club chats about Michael Crichton’s 1969 classic sci-fi thriller.
Mold Compounds Sandy’s Destruction
The Rockaways, a Queens, N.Y. neighborhood, is still recovering from Sandy. Debris from fires lingers on the streets, and buildings torn apart by the storm are crumbling on the beach. But those with restored heat and power have another concern: mold.
7:00
Getting a Handle on Why Fingers Wrinkle
Only a handful of researchers (ever) have looked into why fingers get pruney after a water bath.
Getting a Grip on Finger Wrinkles
Why do your fingers get pruney after a swim? A new study suggests that wrinkles improve our handling of wet objects.
5:09
Science Looked Good in 2012
Catfish eating pigeons, water traveling uphill, a blue whale barrel roll, and other science cinema highlights from the year.
Reel Science Friday: 2012 Highlights
Catfish eating pigeons, water traveling uphill, a blue whale barrel roll—we’re taking a stroll down memory lane for a look at the year’s best moments in science cinema. What were your favorite science videos of 2012?
Get the Most Bang from Your Bubbly
Chemist Richard Zare pores over the science of bubbles—from champagne fizz to beer foam.