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Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science.
Space Vs. Food: Whose Side Are You On?
We’re pitting two of our favorite topics against each other. Are you #TeamSpace or #TeamFood?
A Glowing Volcano
This Indonesian volcano burns blue at night, but that’s not lava you’re seeing.
Sock Puppets on Steroids: The Internet’s Fake Personalities
An excerpt from “Virtual Unreality: Just Because The Internet Told You, How Do You Know It’s True?”
Behaviors of the Venomous, Blue-Lined Octopus
This venomous octopus packs a punch, but it’s more likely to hide than launch a poisonous attack.
Chinook Salmon Could Make Splashy Return
Some scientists predict that record numbers of fall Chinook will return to the Columbia River Basin this year.
On the Oregon Truffle Scent
Oregon leads the country in commercial truffle production, boasting several native culinary varieties. And the best way to find them is to enlist the help of man’s best friend.
Proving Dad’s Worth (With Science)
An excerpt from “Do Fathers Matter?” by Paul Raeburn.
The Amazing, Flying Munk’s Devil Ray
This small ray can breach several feet into the air, causing a loud slapping sound upon its return to the ocean that has earned it the nickname “tortilla.”
The Eye Of The Sahara
The Richat Structure can be seen from space and might be 100 million-years-old.
Why Do Songs Get Stuck in Our Heads?
Why some tunes lodge in our brains isn’t so clear. Here are a few theories.
Beware the Antibiotic Winter
An excerpt from “Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues.”
10 Questions for George Church, Geneticist
The Harvard genetics professor talks DNA sequencing, raising extinct species from the dead, and going vegan.
The Agony, And Reward, Of Passing A Kidney Stone
This otherworldly orb with purple projections comes from a surprising source: the urinary tract of its photographer.
A Recipe For Invisible Ink
An excerpt from “Prisoners, Lovers & Spies: The Story of Invisible Ink from Herodotus to al-Qaeda.”
This Cryptocurrency Could Be an Answer to Bitcoin’s Privacy Problems
A new cryptocurrency in development called ZeroCash claims to preserve its users’ anonymity. Here’s how it works.
This Bee Buzzes For Blueberries
This metallic beauty is one of an estimated 4,000 bees native to the U.S., hundreds of which haven’t been scientifically named yet.
Why Are Elephant Ears So Big? And Other Pachyderm Questions
Research scientist Joseph Soltis answers your elephant-related queries.