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Listen to Science Friday live on Fridays from 2-4 p.m. ET
July 19, 2024
A noisy bitcoin mine’s cooling fans are so loud they rattle windows. Residents of Granbury, Texas, are experiencing symptoms of noise pollution. Plus, a weather expert decodes the lingo from the new movie “Twisters”—and real-life tornado trends. And, an FDA panel rejects MDMA therapy for PTSD, raising concerns about the study’s methods and failure to address previous instances of research misconduct.
16:43
Simulating the Red Planet, on the Pale Blue Dot
What’s it like to live—and cook—on Mars? To find out, researchers are simulating Mars missions in Russia and on the slopes of a Hawaiian volcano.
29:43
The Fallacies of Fat
In “Fat Chance,” obesity doc Robert Lustig deconstructs the mythology on fat and exercise.
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.
4:14
How E-Waste Is Becoming a Big, Global Problem
More than 2.5 million tons of electronic waste is produced each year in the U.S.
27:31
Doctors Turn to Genetics to Search for Cancer’s Achilles Heel
Understanding the genetic drivers of cancer may revolutionize treatment options in the future.
7:45
Pap Test May Detect More Than Just Cervical Cancer
Routine pap tests may be capable of spotting signs of ovarian and uterine cancers.
6:31
Negative Temperatures That Are Hotter Than the Sun
Scientists have cooled potassium gas to one billionth of a degree below absolute zero. But in the quantum world, that’s actually “hotter” than the sun. How is that possible?
16:40
A Journey to the Oort Cloud, Where Comets Are Born
The comet ISON, discovered by two amateur astronomers last year, will zoom past Earth next fall. But where did it come from?
17:03
‘Full Planet, Empty Plates’
In his new book, Lester Brown says the world’s food supply is tightening—and the reasons are many.
5:25
Cold-Water Fish Break the Ice with Antifreeze
Cold-water fish and snow-dwelling insects have evolved antifreeze proteins to avoid icing up. This natural antifreeze also keeps the “ice” out of some ice creams.