On Today's Podcast
Who Wants To Smell An Ancient Embalmed Mummy?
Chemists and perfumers are using new techniques to bring ancient scents back to life, from mummies to a 5,000-year-old incense burner.
Listen NowFebruary 6, 2026
The mountaineering history behind "skimo," a new Winter Olympic event. Plus, new USDA dietary guidelines tell us to “eat real food.” Should policymakers get highly processed foods out of our stores and school lunches? And, it's easier than ever for companies to collect your personal data and compile it into a profile for advertisers, ICE, and other agencies.
25:51
How Games Move Us
Some of today’s video games are pushing players into new emotional territory, engaging complex feelings like complicity, empathy, and grief.
‘Sackboy’ Solidarity: An Emotional Gaming Experience
Gamers playing “Little Big Planet” engage in a friendly and comical shared emotional experience.
Faces Of The Moon
Images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera reveal a moonscape wrought by geologic forces and celestial bombardment.
The Week-After SciFri Quiz! 3/29/16
How closely did you listen to last week’s show?
A New Way to Fix Cataracts?
Two studies look into using stem cells for eye therapy.
Superbloom: How Death Valley Springs To Life
Beneath Death Valley lies a massive seed bank of desert wildflowers and when heavy winter rains soak deep into the soil, these hidden wonders spring to life.
12:15
Reservoir Rules, Killer Prairie Dogs, and Wine Weather
Rethinking the rules of running reservoirs, and will climate change help wine makers?
16:13
The Road to LIGO
Janna Levin’s book Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space reveals what it took to pull off one of “big science’s” biggest experiments: the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).
11:56
Concocting Modern-Day Chicha De Molle
Two anthropologists are studying an ancient brewery that may have pumped out 500-gallon batches of pepperberry-flavored corn beer.
34:05
From Clipper Chip to Smartphones: Unlocking the Encryption Debate
In the ‘90s, the Clipper Chip was the big government encryption case. Two Science Friday guests involved in that early debate rejoin us to weigh in on the Apple argument.
17:29
Minimalist Biology: Craig Venter’s Latest Life Form
Biologist Craig Venter and his team have once again booted up a cell using DNA they synthesized themselves.
Catching Sonic Wisps of Cataclysmic Mayhem
Author Janna Levin on gravitational waves and how the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatories help us detect them.
Design a Better Vortex Cannon
Build an air vortex cannon that shoots air across the room, then modify and test your design to make an air cannon that shoots even farther.
The Paleobiologist Who Inspired the Science in ‘Jurassic Park’
George Poinar, Jr.’s lifelong obsession with amber has led to remarkable discoveries of ancient specimens.
Van Gogh’s ‘Bedroom’ Walls Weren’t Always Blue
The Art Institute of Chicago recently made a surprising discovery about an iconic Van Gogh painting.
Incredible Eggs
They’re nutritious, delicious, and come in all shapes and sizes.
Live Online Discussion: Bringing Climate Science Into the Classroom
On Tuesday, April 5, 2016, Science Friday hosted a live online web panel to discuss challenges and approaches to teaching climate change science in the classroom. Led by passionate educators who are committed to best practices in climate education, this discussion provided strategies for bringing climate change data into the classroom.
12:00
DARPA ‘Improv’ Challenge, a Tiny T-Rex, and Plastic Homes for Sea Life
DARPA turns to the crowd to find “off-the-shelf” threats, and a look at how floating plastic waste can provide a home for sea life.
11:58
Tricking Tumor Cells to Accept a Lethal Payload
A new method convinces cancer cells to gobble up a ball of poison and ferry it directly to the cell nucleus.