Rasha Aridi
Producer
Rasha Aridi is a producer for Science Friday. She loves stories about weird critters, science adventures, and the intersection of science and history.
While studying wildlife conservation at Virginia Tech, Rasha realized that she had way more fun talking about science than actually doing it. She then pivoted into journalism and has since written for outlets like Science, Smithsonian, and The Guardian. Before coming to SciFri, she worked for NPR’s Short Wave and Science Vs from Gimlet Media.
When Rasha isn’t nerding out about science, you can find her on an outdoorsy adventure, reading, or trying (and failing) to leash train her cat. Rasha is the inaugural Outrider/Burroughs Wellcome Fund Fellow.
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17:18
The Many, Many Ways Tuberculosis Shaped Human Life
In a new book, author John Green traces how the disease has impacted culture, geography, and even fashion over the centuries.
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17:08
What Does Dismantling USAID Mean For Global Health?
USAID has historically funded programs focused on disease eradication, maternal and child health, and healthcare infrastructure.
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17:26
How Trump’s DEI Ban Will Affect Medical Research
Changes limiting programs, grants, and even the nature of studies are already underway at the NIH, NSF, FDA, CDC, and more.
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9:22
Bindi Irwin Encourages Kids To Become ‘Wildlife Warriors’
In her first children’s book, conservationist Bindi Irwin takes little readers on a journey through Australia Zoo.
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17:31
Adventures In Science At The Icy ‘Ends Of The Earth’
A new book explores how one biologist’s work at the North and South Poles changed the way he sees the world and our place in it.
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6:40
Why Snow Has That Crisp, Clean Smell
A combination of environmental factors and the way our bodies function play a role in how we perceive the smell of snow.
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17:22
The Toxic Aftermath Of An Urban Fire
When a fire burns in an urban area, it unleashes a slurry of chemicals. Scientists are trying to understand the chemistry at play.
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17:27
AI Is Coming Up With Brand New Molecules, Fueling Drug Discovery
AI models are able to design molecules that don’t even exist in nature. Some have proven effective as snake antivenom.
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17:08
Fire Risk To Homes Where Cities And Wildlands Meet
About a third of US homes are in a wildland-urban interface, a kind of high-risk area where development meets open land.
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17:31
First U.S. Bird Flu Death Raises Concerns About Preparedness
This week, the U.S. reported its first human death from bird flu amid a rise in cases globally.