On Today's Podcast
Can A Microbe Conservation Movement Take Off?
Microbes make up about 99% of all species, but they’re not part of any global conservation plans. One group is trying to change that.
Listen NowNovember 28, 2025
The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate unusual scientific research—this year including lizard pizza preferences and fingernail growth. Plus, in a conversation from August, exercise researchers discuss what physical activity does to mental health. And, in a story from February, a journalist explains the afterlife of our trash, and why most “recyclable” plastic actually isn’t.
Challenge: Build A Roller Coaster
Roller coasters are fun, fast, and are a great example of physics in action. Let’s make one.
11:16
Three Missions To Mars
The United Arab Emirates, China and the U.S. are all launching missions to Mars this month.
16:46
New Photos Show Swirling Mysteries On Sun’s Surface
Scientists say phenomena on the surface of the sun look like “campfires.”
12:11
Federal Ruling Against Common Herbicides Leaves Farmers Confused
While this is an environmental win, farmers say the ruling is yet another hurdle in an already difficult year.
17:06
Preparing For Long-term Health Effects Of COVID-19
As recovered patients return home, medical professionals are learning about lingering health effects from serious cases of COVID-19.
16:41
Why Mosquitos Are Mingling More With Humans
Mosquitoes’ taste for humans is growing and a gene that changes their sex might solve the problem.
17:27
Fewer Coronavirus Antibodies May Not Mean Less Immunity
Here’s what you should know about coronavirus and children, the latest in vaccine development, and new research into aerosols and spike mutations.
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!
12:05
A Coronavirus Vaccine Passes First Test Phase In The US
The National Institutes of Health completed a phase one trial on a vaccine created by the company Moderna.
17:36
How NASA’s Perseverance Rover Will Look For Life
When it lands on Mars in winter of 2021, the Perseverance rover will search an ancient river delta for signs of life.
12:12
How Do Our Brains Keep Smells Organized?
An investigation into how our brain keeps track of everything we smell.
16:57
Understanding Plant Evolution Through Art
An art historian and plant biologist find clues to botanical evolution in paintings of wheat, strawberries, and potatoes.
17:38
Rethinking A New Aid For Hearing Loss
A new generation of tech is helping change the stigma around hearing aids.
17:28
Can We Keep Coronavirus Out Of The Classroom?
With little federal guidance, the country is a patchwork of plans to open schools or keep students learning from home.
10:56
Can COVID-19 Spread Through The Air?
A dive into the debate over whether the coronavirus is airborne, plus other news from the week.
16:47
Take A Trip Through Time With Emily Graslie
The Field Museum’s Chief Curiosity Correspondent talks about her ultimate paleontology road trip across the Great Plains and the state of science communication.
17:10
Who Owns The Night Sky?
As space fills with satellites, how do we weigh the value of a dark night over the benefits of a connected world?
34:02
The Climate Is Changing—But Can We?
The chaos of 2020 made conversations about the climate crisis more difficult—and more important than ever.
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.