On Today's Podcast
Isabella Rossellini on how acting connects to animal cognition
Should we anthropomorphize animals or not? An actor and an ecologist share what they’ve learned about animal cognition.
Listen NowOctober 23, 2026
CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna discusses the evolution of gene-editing technology and what it takes to be a good scientist. Timekeepers around the world voted to stop using leap seconds, but what does that mean for us? Plus, how "problem bears" help test engineers evaluate consumer products, author Kazuo Ishiguro on emotional truth in our age of AI, and the science of apple varieties.
Degrees Of Change
Understanding the challenges, but focused on the solutions, Degrees of Change was a project exploring the problem of climate change and how we as a planet are adapting to it.
11:57
Read ‘The Genius Of Birds’ With The SciFri Book Club!
Join the flock as we celebrate bird brilliance of all kinds.
12:05
Our Ancient Obsession With Capturing The Moon
For millennia, humans have been trying to see the moon, capture its craters, and imagine what it could be like up there.
17:24
Preserving—And Telling—Space History
You know the iconic stories of space flight. But new stories may still be waiting to be found in archives and museum collections.
17:30
NASA’s Megarocket Bet To Return To The Moon—And Beyond
Components of the Space Launch System are undergoing testing, with an aim for a test flight next year.
Mapping The Intelligent Mind Of Birds
In this excerpt of ‘The Genius of Birds,’ Jennifer Ackerman charts out how the connectivity maps of bird brains are not too different from our own.
33:03
Celebrating Apollo’s ‘Giant Leap’
Ira Flatow and space historian Andy Chaikin celebrate the history of the Apollo program and examine its legacy.
Will Future Astronauts Need To Worry About Moonquakes?
Analyze real evidence of seismic activity on the lunar surface to advise the next generation of crewed missions to the moon.
Join The Science Friday Bird Club On iNaturalist
Get outside and observe some birds! Join the Science Friday Bird Club on iNaturalist, and support research around the world with your observations.
These Launchpads Took Humans To The Moon. Will Rising Tides Bring Them Down?
In the shadow of worsening flooding conditions and structural degradation, NASA is upgrading some of its historic launchpads—and leaving others behind.
Can Robots Influence ‘The Fate Of Food’?
In ‘The Fate of Food’ by Amanda Little, a robot gets its hands dirty in a lettuce field.
11:28
A No-Go For White House Climate Panel
Efforts to create a Presidential Committee on Climate Security—a controversial climate advisory panel—have stalled.
11:39
Mosquitoes Have Evolved To Sniff Out Their Prey Of Choice
Even though humans and other mammals emit similar odor compounds, mosquitoes can still detect the difference.
27:42
World-Class Tips For The Home Fermenter
The ‘Noma Guide to Fermentation’ reveals the secrets to fermentation.
6:14
The (Model) Rockets’ Red Glare
Model rocketeers are planning to launch thousands of model rockets worldwide in salute to the Apollo anniversary.
33:45
Eating Smarter In A Warming World
Our eating habits produce a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions—but scientists are finding smarter ways to grow and distribute our food.
Why Fermentation Is So Important To One Of The World’s Best Restaurants
Two chefs at the world-famous restaurant Noma explain why the microbes at work in fermentation are key to unlocking flavors in their food.
Talk To Science Friday Using The VoxPop App
We’ve launched a new way for you to talk to us all week long: the SciFri VoxPop app.
28:39
Planning Your Science Travel Itinerary
Suggestions for science-focused locations to add to your summer vacation plans.
42:23
How The Allies Sabotaged The Nazi Atomic Bomb
The Allies were terrified the Nazi atomic bomb would be ready before their own—and they were willing to try anything to stop them.