On Today's Podcast
How important ideas get reawakened, with David Byrne
Why do some breakthroughs go dormant—and then wake up? Watch Flora's interview with artist David Byrne about these "sleeping beauties."
Listen NowOctober 2, 2026
The tiny, three-pound tilcayo is the first cat species to be described in a century, and, yes—it is as cute as you’d think. Are natural history museums going extinct? John Wilson’s latest feature film, “The History of Concrete” is an idiosyncratic journey about more than just concrete. Plus, to prepare for an overseas game, the LA Rams tried a hail mary jetlag strategy.
14:09
What Microbes Are Hiding In Your Home?
From slime in your shower head to fungi in your drywall, there’s no escaping the microbiome of the great indoors.
2:34
‘That Is Unreal!’ Experiencing The Total Solar Eclipse
On August 21st, millions of Americans stopped what they were doing and looked up. Science Friday was there.
10:46
Oh, Really? How Our Brain Turns Pitch Into Meaning
Researchers mapped the neurons that pick up on pitch in spoken language.
23:54
What Would An A.I.-Influenced Society Look Like In 10,000 Years?
Physicist Max Tegmark contemplates how artificial intelligence could reshape work, justice, and society in the future.
11:56
Running The Numbers On A Transition To Renewable Energy
A new study maps out the path for 139 countries to switch entirely to renewable energy sources by 2050.
Water, Water, Everywhere, So Make Some Beer To Drink
Amsterdam has two problems: It can’t seem to stop coming up with new types of beers, and it floods easily. Why not kill two birds with one stone?
Could Climate Change Really Help Farmers?
Rep. Lamar Smith says activists are ignoring the “positive impacts” of climate change for agriculture—but those positive impacts are overstated.
A Theoretical Physicist Dives Into Black Holes
Priyamvada Natarajan tells why she fell for black holes, how they shape galaxies, and her favorite fictional depictions of them.
Evolution Happens More Quickly Than You Think
Biologist Jonathan Losos tells the story of two biologists who witnessed evolution unfold before their eyes.
8:15
Supercomputers In Space, Alternative Cancer Therapies, And A Frozen Fruitcake
NASA is preparing a year-long test to examine how off-the-shelf supercomputers might withstand radiation in space.
3:59
Could Portraying Teen Suicide Spread The Wrong Kind Of Awareness?
Did ‘13 Reasons Why’ raise awareness or encourage copycats? A researcher weighs in.
16:04
For A Volcanic Prediction, Gaze Into The Crystalline Debris
Researchers are using magma trapped in crystal structures to study the life beneath volcanoes.
12:05
Does Faster Drug Approval Lead To Better Medicine?
Researchers say fast-tracked drugs are not being rigorously tested after the approval process.
26:38
Inevitable Or Accident? Tackling The Big Questions Of Evolution
Modern evolutionary science has some advantages Darwin didn’t. Here’s what we’re learning from DNA, experimentation, and more.
8:01
How The Blind Can ‘Watch’ A Solar Eclipse
Instead of pinhole cameras and solar filter lenses, researchers are using sound and vibrations to describe the scenes on August 21 to blind and low vision eclipse chasers.
17:16
Why Doesn’t Cherry Candy Taste Like Real Cherries?
Today’s fake flavors owe more to the chemistry of the past than their real fruit counterparts.
Summing Up The Skyscraper Problem
How do you figure out how much it will cost to wash the windows of a building “n” stories high? Try using consecutive sums or the quadratic equation!
When An Eclipse Meant The End Of The World
Today, a solar eclipse may be a thing of beauty, but it historically has caused panic around the world.
An App To Help The Blind ‘See’ The Eclipse
Eclipse Soundscapes will use real-time narration and rumble maps to help the blind experience the eclipse.
The Science Conducted Under The Darkness Of The Total Eclipse
Scientists have been spending years preparing experiments for two minutes of darkness. Here’s what they’ll be observing.