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.
This Valentine’s Day, Say ‘I Love You’ With Science
SciFri asked real scientists to write love notes. Now you can share them with that special someone.
Is Pedigree What It’s Cracked Up To Be?
Data distilled 80,000 individual dog profiles revealed that outside of the show ring, there’s a lot of behavioral variation within any given breed.
An Unusual Rose Blooms in Northern California
This bubblegum-pink sea slug is cropping up in areas where it’s rarely seen in large numbers.
Use Magnetic Fields To Navigate Like A Sea Turtle
Create small turtle navigators and use them to detect magnetic fields in this activity and companion game.
11:55
Honey, I Shrunk the Lab: Testing for STDs on a Smartphone
A new, inexpensive smartphone dongle tests for HIV and syphilis in 15 minutes.
22:15
The SciFri Book Club Talks ‘The Lost City of Z’
The SciFri Book Club convenes to talk about David Grann’s non-fiction tale of Amazonian exploration, “The Lost City of Z.”
10:10
Uncovering the Amazon’s Real ‘Lost Cities’
Archaeologist Michael Heckenberger’s discovery of “garden cities” in the Amazon suggests ancient civilizations once thrived there.
2:19
How Budget Plans on Earth Might Stop Opportunity Rover on Mars
A preliminary NASA budget contains no funding for the Mars rover Opportunity in 2016.
12:01
Can the FCC Proposal Protect the Open Internet?
This week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler announced a plan for “the strongest open Internet protections ever proposed by the FCC.”
22:44
Fess Up: We’re Taking Your ‘Climate Confessions’
Do you have a predilection for beef? Forget to flick off the lights? Or maybe you’re a much-too-frequent flier? Call in to confess your climate sins.
9:14
Catching Up on Sea Slug Science
The Hopkins’ rose sea slug has invaded Northern California, due to warming waters.
1:36
Remembering ‘The Father of the Pill’
The chemist Carl Djerassi passed away on January 30, 2015, at the age of 91.
SciFri Book Club: David Grann Answers Your Questions
“The Lost City of Z” author David Grann answers questions from SciFri Book Club readers.
What’s Causing the Color Change in Yellowstone’s Morning Glory Spring?
The interplay of light, bacteria, and water depth influence the dramatic colors at Yellowstone’s famous pool.
How Dense Is Snow?
Use a measuring cup to figure out the density of snow.
29:31
Scientists and the Public Disagree on Key Issues
Is it possible to shift public opinion on controversial scientific issues?
17:14
The True Story Behind ‘Spare Parts’
In “Spare Parts,” four teenage MacGyvers beat MIT with a smelly robot built with PVC pipe.
12:09
Small Drones Raise Big Legal Questions
Law professor Ryan Calo discusses how to regulate personal drones and other potentially invasive technologies.
17:14
Modernizing Money: ‘Chip-and-PIN’ Credit Cards and Mobile Payments
Sorting through the changing technology of credit cards and mobile payments.
7:46
Hitting the Sack: Sleep Cycles Can Affect Athletes’ Performance
An athlete’s performance can vary by up to 26 percent, depending on the time of day.