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.
A Common Cold Medicine Ingredient Doesn’t Work. What Now?
Twenty years ago, scientists found that phenylephrine, listed as a decongestant in many cold medicines, didn’t work. What can you use instead?
Beech Leaf Disease Is Spreading Rapidly in Massachusetts
Scientists are working to understand the new tree disease, which is caused by a microscopic worm.
Placenta Research May Help Explain Pregnancy Loss
By studying placentas from lost pregnancies, one doctor hopes to provide answers that are so often lacking after a miscarriage or stillbirth.
12:17
An mRNA Advance Wins A Nobel Prize
Other awards went to advances in quantum dots, and timing super-fast electron pulses.
17:02
Full-Body MRIs Promise To Detect Disease Early. Do They Work?
Influencers like Kim Kardashian have promoted full-body scans, but experts say the potential harms outweigh any possible benefits.
12:17
Venus Lightning Debate Gets Lit
Does Venus have lightning? A study based on data from the Parker Solar Probe gives the 40-year-old debate a jolt.
7:41
A Saltwater Wedge Is Moving Up The Mississippi River
Thanks to a persistent drought, the creeping crisis threatens infrastructure and human health. Reporter Halle Parker answers your questions.
8:58
Kenya’s Geothermal Boom Could Help Power Africa
The geologically active East African Rift System has already helped Kenya become the world’s seventh largest geothermal producer.
16:48
Meet The Doctor Who Solves Medical Mysteries
Dr. Joe DeRisi specializes in helping patients with no clear explanation for their symptoms.
12:15
Countries Seek To Return To The Moon
India’s Chandrayaan-3 craft landed at the lunar south pole on Wednesday, while Russia’s Luna-25 craft crashed.