On Today's Podcast
Everyone is calling for safer AI. So what does that mean?
Concerns about AI safety are growing. Two researchers explain the unintended consequences of training AI models and what questions remain.
Listen NowSeptember 18, 2026
Hawaiʻi has generally been safe from the worst effects of hurricanes. But this year, two hurricanes battered the islands in a matter of weeks. A new wellness trend focuses on stimulating the lymphatic system. What does this system do, and is there science to back these claims? Plus, perimenopause science, our fascination with lost knowledge, and a snake's spider-like tail appendage.
How To Participate In Citizen Science During A Pandemic
Science Friday is an official partner for Citizen Science Month! Join us online throughout April to become a citizen scientist yourself.
11:15
Why Do We Still Not Have Enough COVID-19 Tests?
The new reason for the U.S.’s testing backlog? Materials like swabs, chemical reagents, and lab shortages are causing delays.
16:21
Citizen Scientists: Submit Your COVID-19 Symptoms (Or Lack Of Them)
How citizen scientists can help the CDC track the spread of coronavirus in the United States.
11:38
How Humboldt Squid Talk To Each Other In The Dark
In the deep ocean, these cephalopods use a combination of skin color patterns and bioluminescence to communicate to one another.
17:14
Mapping The Microbiome Of Your Tongue
Researchers are trying to understand the relationships between the communities inside “microbial skyscrapers” on the human mouth.
15:25
Rethinking Invasive Species With Pablo Escobar’s Hippos
Colombia’s non-native hippo population is ballooning. New research says that might not be a bad thing.
16:59
Fact Check My Feed: Which COVID-19 Treatments Are Backed By Science?
Virologist Angela Rasmussen returns to explain the studies behind the stories on your news feed.
‘O Snail’ And Other Poems From Jane Hirshfield
Poet Jane Hirshfield writes prose about humanity and our planet while pondering the crises of refugees, justice, and climate in her new book of poems.
12:26
A New World, Shaped By COVID-19
A roundup of the COVID-19 stories that will define the “new normal,” including tracking spread through smartphone location data and ventilator triage.
27:09
Jane Goodall Reflects On 60 Years Of Research And Conservation
Jane Goodall on her research in the Gombe, and the need for hope and cooperation in the modern world.
6:07
The New ‘Science Diction’ Podcast Brings You: Vaccine
Here’s what cows have to do with your yearly flu shot.
12:27
What Can Vampire Bats Teach Us About Socializing In A Pandemic?
Illness changes how these small mammals interact. An expert says it’s not so different from how people are socializing amidst the coronavirus.
16:30
Poetry Wields Science In ‘Unaccountable’ Times
Poet Jane Hirshfield takes on crises both biological and human in her new book “Ledger.”
16:57
Fact-Checking Your Coronavirus News Feed
Experiencing COVID-19 information overload? Two experts offer clarity on the studies taking over news headlines this week.
Your Questions About COVID-19, Answered
You’ve had a lot of questions about the novel coronavirus. We’ve compiled answers and tips from health experts we’ve interviewed on the show.
6:44
What Does A ‘Pandemic’ Actually Mean?
What the World Health Organization’s declaration of a ‘pandemic’ means, and more from the week in science.
5:04
Is A New HIV-Prevention Drug Worth The Extra Cost?
With affordable generic PrEP drugs on the horizon, a new brand-name PrEP rollout complicates access to underserved communities.
4:44
Introducing Our New Podcast: Science Diction
A new podcast from Science Friday looks at the scientific backstories behind words.
29:33
How Will We Respond To The Latest Farm Crisis?
In the 1980s, farmers were pushed to the brink of suicide. Today, it might be worse.
17:05
Walking With The Dinosaurs Of Scotland’s Isle Of Skye
Paleontologists discovered tracks of middle Jurassic carnivorous dinosaurs and a stegosaurus in the area.