On Today's Podcast
Pope Leo's encyclical on AI, and the Vatican science advisors
On the release of Pope Leo’s encyclical about AI, we peek inside the Vatican academy that helps inform the Pope’s scientific views.
Listen NowMay 22, 2026
Low-frequency noises that humans can feel, but not hear, may be behind the spooky feeling of old houses. Plus, a processing plant in Mississippi is leaking massive amounts of the herbicide paraquat into the air. Its biological link to Parkinson’s is becoming clear. And, a bioethicist walks us through the complexity of clinical trials, from their core scientific questions to patient selection to FDA approval.
Robot Roundup
From personal assisting, to search and rescue operations, to laparoscopic surgery, robots are becoming an ever-growing part of human life.
The ‘Breadcrumb Sponge’
This sea sponge challenges a popular idea of what triggered the evolution of animal life on earth.
Blog: Teaching Digital Design Using New World Studio
Teenage girls learn computational design in a collaborative weeklong workshop at the New York Hall of Science.
29:57
Detecting the ‘Bang’ from the Big Bang
Researchers detected waves coming just after the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago.
8:22
A Bird-Like ‘Chicken From Hell’ Dino Discovery
Anzu wyliei was a toothless, bird-like dinosaur that weighed 500 pounds.
8:57
Digital Gets Physical
Students in MIT’s Tangible Media Group break down the barriers of graphic interfaces and allow users to touch and manipulate pixels in real life.
22:26
Food Failures: Knead-to-Know Science Behind Bread
America’s Test Kitchen editorial director Jack Bishop talks about the science behind a perfect loaf.
15:05
Sculpting Science
Paleo-artist John Gurche and paleoanthropologist Rick Potts discuss the intersection between art and science.
9:10
Scientists Test What the Nose Knows
A new study claims the human nose can distinguish one trillion unique smells.
Digital Gets Physical
Students in MIT’s Tangible Media Group break down the barriers of graphic interfaces and allow users to touch and manipulate pixels in real life.
10 Questions for Walter Robinson, Polar Vortex Pioneer
Don’t blame the polar vortex for this winter’s cold weather woes.
What’s the Cosmic Microwave Background?
The universe’s oldest light is one of the great pieces of evidence for the Big Bang.
Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have a Winner
Kai Sander’s photograph of a snowy cornfield was the audience favorite in SciFri’s Winter Nature Photo Contest.
Make A Wire Critter That Can Walk On Water
Learn how insects have inspired engineers and design your own water-walking critter using thin wire and your knowledge of surface tension.
12:16
Three Years After the Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown
Three out of the six reactors at the Fukushima Daichii nuclear power plant suffered a meltdown.
25:10
As the Web Turns 25, Where Is It Going Next?
We celebrate the web’s 25th birthday with an archival clip of Tim Berners-Lee, the web’s inventor, and take a look ahead with Lee Rainie of the Pew Research Center.
9:05
EncROACHment: New York’s Invasive Cockroaches
Rutgers University entomologists unravel clues to identify a new invasive roach species in New York City.
10:01
Could a Blood Test Help Diagnose Alzheimer’s?
In a preliminary study, researchers identified 10 lipids in the blood that correlated with an increased risk for Alzheimer’s.
25:50
Celebrating Irrational, Transcendental Pi
As we celebrate Pi Day, mathematician Steven Strogatz talks about how the ancients calculated pi—and how you can do it at home.
10:33
SciFri’s Winter Nature Photo Contest Winner…Revealed!
Winter Nature Photo Contest judge John Weller discusses your top shots.