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April 18, 2025
Are traffic engineering decisions based on evidence-based research? Not as much as you might think. Plus, researchers captured the first confirmed video of a colossal squid swimming in its natural habitat. And, with brain-implanted devices, people with paralysis have been able to command computers to “move” virtual objects and speak for them.
8:51
What Imaginary Companions Tell Us About Our Kids
Imaginary companions help kids develop a “theory of mind,” says psychologist Tracy Gleason. And those make-believe friends give parents a window into their child’s world.
11:26
Why Is Vocal Fry Popping Up in Pop Music?
Researchers tested what vocal fry in music conveyed to listeners.
00:12:00
What Science Says About E-Cigarettes
Assessing risk, known and unknown, in the age of vaping.
25:11
Back to the Future of Electronic Newspapers
Will people ever want to get their news on a computer? Science Friday dips into its archives for a look at the past—and future—of electronic newspapers.
5:23
There’s An App For That: Detecting Earthquakes
Researchers developed an app that taps into the accelerometer in a smartphone to detect earthquakes.
17:11
Could Brain Infection Set the Stage for Alzheimer’s?
A provocative new study suggests that infection may spur the buildup of amyloid-beta, and that Alzheimer’s disease could be a toxic side effect.
12:06
A Synthetic Human Genome? Not So Fast
Bioethicist Laurie Zoloth and biologist Jeff Way discuss the scientific and ethical challenges that lie ahead for large genome synthesis.
16:38
Tracking the Hidden Trail Left by Your Smartphone
How much data is being transmitted through phone metadata and third-party keyboard apps?
12:03
Dog Longevity, Depression Treatments, and the Trouble With Wolves
An old drug’s new tricks could prolong your dog’s life, plus the controversy over wild wolves and their management.