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Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science.
What Happens When You Don’t Shower For Five Years
Author James Hamblin hasn’t showered in five years. In this excerpt of his new book, he recounts his approach to personal hygiene.
Why We Should Defend Parasites
From ‘Alien’ to ‘The Last of Us,’ parasites have a gruesome reputation. But parasitologists are finding ways to change the conversation.
Refugee Families Find Shelter After Iowa’s Derecho
After days of sleeping in tents, cars, and on the ground, refugee families in Cedar Rapids have moved to temporary housing and received much needed aid.
Racial Injustice Is Increasing Chronic Disease In Black Americans
Systemic racism directly affects the health of marginalized communities, and it may be the cause of early health issues in Black Americans.
Help Science Friday Create Multilingual Media
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Buscando microbios en el río Hirviente de Perú
En la Amazonía peruana, la bioquímica Rosa Vásquez Espinoza investiga las propiedades medicinales de los microbios que fluyen en el río sagrado.
Communal Eating With ‘Gastropod’
The science behind why sharing a meal means so much.
Mapping Extreme Microbes In The Amazon’s Boiling River
Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, biochemist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza investigates the medicinal properties of microbes flowing in a sacred boiling river.
What Will Happen When The Universe Collapses?
Scientists have a good idea about how the universe got to this point. But how will it end? Cosmologist Katie Mack explores one possible end, the Big Crunch.
Why Does ‘Rocky Road’ Ice Cream Sound So Delicious?
How linguistic tricks can influence your choices at the ice cream freezer.
Before Facing COVID-19, A California State Prison Struggled With Valley Fever
A decade ago, Avenal State Prison scrambled to contain an outbreak of a deadly fungal disease that former inmates still battle today.
Arizona Inmates And Staff “Just Trying To Survive” COVID-19
In two Arizona state prisons, understaffed correctional officers and inmates are navigating rising rates of COVID-19 infections with few resources.
A Coronavirus Outbreak Inside An Ohio Correctional Institution
At Marion Correctional Institution in Ohio, coronavirus testing revealed more than 80% of the incarcerated population was contaminated—becoming one of the country’s largest outbreaks.
Indiana Women’s Prison Forced To Sweat Out Coronavirus Lockdown
In an effort to contain coronavirus numbers, inmates are confined up to 20 hours in their cells with no air conditioning, toilets, or sinks.
Join Us For A Week Of Making And Building!
Let’s go to (virtual) camp! Science Friday is hosting a week of free DIY maker challenges for kids, families, and caregivers on July 24 – 31. Anyone can participate!
In A Moment Of Black Holes And Pandemics
A year after the Event Horizon Telescope captured the first ever image of a black hole, author and astrophysicist Janna Levin looks back at the project’s impact.
Seeking Algorithmic Justice In Policing AI
AI researchers and advocates discuss abolishing facial recognition tech—and why gradual reforms aren’t enough.
Cephalopod Week Postponed
Science Friday will still celebrate Cephalopod Week later this year, but we’ve decided that now is not the time.