February 7, 2025
Some research shows that e-cigarettes can be a useful tool for quitting cigarettes, but that strategy is hotly contested by scientists. Plus, an investigative journalist outlines how fraud and misconduct have stalled the search for effective Alzheimer’s treatments in a new book. And, why snow has that crisp, clean smell.
24:32
Tracing Light to Map the Cosmic Darkness
Two astrophysicists are creating maps and images of the hidden side of the universe: dark matter and black holes.
Sampling and Estimation With Bountiful ‘Beetles’
In this activity, explore the science and the math behind sampling. Use your data to make predictions about the most common color in a population of candy beetles.
How Do Scientists Create A Vegan Alternative To Beef?
Beyond Meat says that its new plant-based burger cooks and tastes just like beef.
17:21
Solar Ovens, Water Rockets, and Other DIY Summer Science Projects
These DIY experiments will keep your kitchen chemists and backyard explorers busy throughout the summer vacation.
12:10
Bumblebees Pick Up On The ‘Buzz’ From Flowers
Bumblebees use hairs on their bodies to pick up on weak electrical signals emitted by flowers.
11:50
Progress on a Universal Cancer Vaccine, an Inflatable Space Habitat, and Blocking Mobile Ads
A tool for recruiting the immune system to fight cancer, and a look at mobile ad-blocking software.
16:51
Inside the Minds of Zoo Animals
How well do we understand the emotional well-being of zoo animals?
33:33
Old Ideas May Help Us Fight New Superbugs
Researchers are reviving ideas from the pre-antibiotic age to fight drug-resistant bacteria.
Protected Pitfall Traps
In this activity from the book “Outdoor Science Lab for Kids” by Liz Heinecke, learn to make a pitfall trap to safely capture and observe arthropods.
What’s the Best Way to Lose Weight and Keep It Off?
A new study on contestants from “The Biggest Loser” found that dramatic weight loss led to a surprising slowdown in metabolism.
Coral Sperm Banks: A Safety Net for Reefs?
Marine biologist Mary Hagedorn is carefully freezing and storing coral sperm for safekeeping.
In Your Own Words: Imaginary Friends
SciFri fans share anecdotes about their imaginary companions.
A Cephalopod Movie Night!
Science Friday is kicking off Cephalopod Week with an evening of talk, tentacles, and merriment.
12:00
Tornado Tracks, Microbiome Bias, and Overtime Pay for Postdocs
Tracking tornado hotspots and weighing the good and (potential) bad of better-paid postdocs.
8:51
What Imaginary Companions Tell Us About Our Kids
Imaginary companions help kids develop a “theory of mind,” says psychologist Tracy Gleason. And those make-believe friends give parents a window into their child’s world.
11:26
Why Is Vocal Fry Popping Up in Pop Music?
Researchers tested what vocal fry in music conveyed to listeners.
00:12:00
What Science Says About E-Cigarettes
Assessing risk, known and unknown, in the age of vaping.
25:11
Back to the Future of Electronic Newspapers
Will people ever want to get their news on a computer? Science Friday dips into its archives for a look at the past—and future—of electronic newspapers.
5:23
There’s An App For That: Detecting Earthquakes
Researchers developed an app that taps into the accelerometer in a smartphone to detect earthquakes.
17:11
Could Brain Infection Set the Stage for Alzheimer’s?
A provocative new study suggests that infection may spur the buildup of amyloid-beta, and that Alzheimer’s disease could be a toxic side effect.