September 27, 2024
Climate activists Bill McKibben and Akaya Windwood say it isn’t fair to leave the climate crisis for younger generations to solve. Plus, a cultural anthropologist discusses the Mariana Islands’ long history of colonization and why demilitarization matters for climate progress. And, new research into a fish known as the sea robin finds that leg-like appendages can “taste” prey buried in the sand.
4:49
A Case Of Mistaken (Equine) Identity
Researchers discover there are no more wild horses left anywhere on Earth.
25:11
How To Spot The Engineering Tricks Hidden In Buildings
It takes a lot of crafty physics to keep a skyscraper standing. A structural engineer tells the secrets of her trade.
8:05
Do Florida’s Flamingos Really Belong There?
New research argues that flamingos are a species native to Florida, and should be protected.
16:51
Were Neanderthals Artists?
Uranium dating of art in Spanish caves turns up a number too old to be human. And if it’s true—what does art have to do with complex thought?
29:48
For These Robots, Squishy Is Superior
Roboticists are turning to fleshy substances like mouse, insect, and sea slug muscles to build a fleet of bio-inspired robots.
Meet The Father Of Modern Skyscrapers
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world—but the design techniques that make it possible are more than a century old.
SciFri Trivia Is BACK In Brooklyn!
On Wednesday, May 9, our fourth annual Science Friday Trivia Night returns to Brooklyn.
Breakthrough
Meet scientists who are overcoming insurmountable obstacles to pave new paths in STEM.
How Shrinking Sea Ice May Be Shrinking Polar Bears
How is the body mass of polar bears changing as sea ice disappears? The answer may depend on where they live and feed.
7:22
Love On The Surface Of An Eyeball, Life’s First Steps, And Clues From Poop
One woman’s dubious dance with a cow parasite left her rubbing her eyes—and medical experts scratching their heads.
4:35
In Idaho, A Battle Over Climate In The Classroom
The Idaho legislature is debating how to address human-induced climate change in revised science education standards.
24:44
The Reality-Distorting Tools Of The Future
A collection of AI-assisted tools could allow the average person to create videos of anyone saying or doing anything.
9:50
‘Cryptojacking’ Could Turn Your Computer Into A Bitcoin Mining Machine
The latest hacking could be used to steal your computer’s CPU power without you knowing it.
16:51
The Story Of Aerosols: From Spray Can To Ocean Spray
Aerosols do play a role in climate change, but not the one you might think.
7:38
There’s A New Urban Air Polluter On The Block
Volatile organic compounds like wall paints and cleaning agents are becoming our cities’ biggest sources of air pollution.
9:32
How UV Light Could Zap The Flu Bug
A type of UV light could be used to disable proteins in the flu virus.
12:17
The Physics Of Figure Skating
Those leaps and spins are a physics demonstration in action.
Science Friday Live In Oxford, Ohio
On Saturday, April 21, Science Friday heads to Oxford, Ohio to reveal nature’s secrets.
6:56
SpaceX Car Launch And A Hot Getaway By Bombardier Beetles
SpaceX successfully launched the Heavy Falcon rocket with two of the three boosters safely landing back onto the launch pad.
5:01
The Earth’s Ozone Woes Haven’t Gone Away Yet
While the ozone layer above the poles is on the mend, the health of the layer in middle latitudes is less clear.