On Today's Podcast
What was science like in America 250 years ago?
Sure, the American colonies had Benjamin Franklin and his kite. But many other natural philosophers were thinking big thoughts about the world.
Listen NowJuly 3, 2026
What did science look like in America 250 years ago? Sure, there was Benjamin Franklin and his kite. But many other natural philosophers were asking big questions. Plus, researchers have engineered an artificial cell, hoping to build a customizable chassis for chemical production. And, Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is the only place where axolotls live in the wild, and they face growing threats.
Beauty and the Brain: Understanding Our Responses to Art
The field of neuroaesthetics uses techniques of neurology to understand our response to art.
There Is Such a Thing As Too Much Medical Care
An excerpt from “Less Medicine, More Health.”
22:06
One Hundred Years of General Relativity
Albert Einstein published his theory of general relativity on December 2, 1915.
9:03
Dawn Arrives at Ceres
Mission director and chief engineer Marc Rayman gives an update on the Dawn mission, scheduled to arrive in orbit around dwarf planet Ceres this week.
14:31
Avoid the Doctor—For Your Health
How much medical care is too much medical care?
17:27
The Interstellar Tourist’s Guide to Exoplanets
Exoplanet hunter Sara Seager explains how biosignature gases could help identify life on exoplanets, and The Takeaway’s John Hockenberry takes Ira on a futuristic tour of exoplanet vacation destinations.
12:08
Fossil Jaw Turns Back Clock on Human Evolution
A newly discovered fossil jaw pushes the date of Homo’s evolution back to 2.8 million years ago.
15:39
Balancing Surveillance: Privacy and Security in the Digital Age
Is it possible to keep our personal information secure in the digital age?
0:39
Mysteries of the Mars Plume
Wayne Jaeschke, a patent attorney and amateur astronomer, captured a photo of a wispy cloud rising 120 miles into the Martian atmosphere.
Step Inside A Mad Scientist’s Lab
Take a video tour of the California-based prop shop Jadis, where technological curiosities both real and imagined intermingle.
The Man Who Froze Snowflakes In Time
Wilson Bentley brought the beauty of snow crystals to the public using a technique called photomicrography.
Why Do I See This Dress as Blue and Black, While Others See It As White and Gold?
A combination of color and white balance, exposure, and computer displays likely play a role, as well as our own physical perception.
In Memory of Leonard Nimoy
The Star Trek actor died on February 27, 2015. He spoke to SciFri about science fiction in this archival interview.
11:48
Airport Apiaries, Now Boarding
Several major airports have found a new use for open but restricted space alongside runways and hangars—as a home for beehives.
17:17
Which Scientific Ideas Must Die?
“This Idea Must Die” asks scientists and big thinkers which scientific theories they’d target for extinction.
8:53
Apps That Judge What’s on Your Plate
A new class of food-coaching apps connects you to pros and peers who offer tips on healthy eating, based on descriptions and photos of what you eat.
7:34
Dawn of the Cyborg Bacteria
In a basement laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania, two roboticists have harnessed the sensing, swimming, and swarming abilities of bacteria to power microscopic robots.