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.
10:38
A Fish By Any Other Name: Inside The Effort To Bring ‘Copi’ To Dinner
This invasive fish has a new moniker, one that experts hope will encourage more restaurants to place it on their menus.
10:28
A Teen Inventor Builds A Fingerprint Scanner for Gender Equity
16-year-old Elizabeth Nyamwange’s fingerprint scanner uses blockchain technology to make proof of identity more accessible worldwide.
6:07
Remembering Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek’s Pioneering Lieutenant Uhura
The actress broke new ground on television, and inspired many viewers to enter science and technology careers.
12:14
What’s Inside A Sudden, Second Chance At A Climate Bill
A political scientist who advised for the Inflation Reduction Act explains the bill’s goals, and the politics that led to its creation.
Menstruation: Another Way Humans Are Unique In The Animal Kingdom
From this SciFri Book Club pick, a peek inside the vast—and still relatively under-researched—part of the human body: the uterus.
12:19
Decades Of Alzheimer’s Research Could Be Based On Fraudulent Data
Plus, the moon may have pockets of pleasant temperature, and why a space vacation would be terrible for global warming on Earth.
16:38
Higher Temperatures Are Bad For The Body
As the world heats up, the human body will be put under increased strain.
12:03
Protecting Piping Plovers Isn’t A Walk On The Beach
Piping plovers face a myriad of threats: predators, flooding, and human development. But volunteers are intervening to help them survive.
4:58
This Glove Takes Inspiration From An Octopus’ Arm
When a team of engineers were designing a glove that could pick up objects underwater, they turned to octopus’ arms for inspiration.
12:07
For The Love Of Volcanoes
“Fire of Love,” a new documentary by director Sara Dosa, charts the career and relationship of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Kraft.
17:35
A Blind Researcher Making A More Accessible World
Joshua Miele, a blind scientist, uses his own experience to design new and accessible technologies driven by the needs of disabled people.
17:07
What You Might Not Have Known About The Vagina
A new book explores the history of human genitals and how researchers are finally making breakthroughs in our understanding of how so-called female reproduction works.
12:12
Earth Faces A Global Heat Wave
Unless you’re in Australia, you’re probably hotter than normal.
16:14
Can Genetic Modification Help Plants Survive Climate Change?
Plants struggle to fend off disease in the heat. Scientists are turning to gene editing to defend global food supplies from future heat waves.
12:07
When Times Get Tough, These Toads Make Hybrid Babies
To avoid their eggs turning into “tadpole brittle,” these toads breed across species to give them a leg up in survival.
6:57
Major Semiconductor Support Bill Passes First Hurdle
If passed, the CHIPS Act will allow tech companies to manufacture semiconductors in the U.S. instead of relying on imports.
10:20
Drought Could Raise Toxic Dust Around Utah’s Great Salt Lake
As the country’s largest saltwater lake dries up, toxic dust storms threaten the surrounding residents.
17:16
A Flaw in Human Judgment: How Making Decisions Isn’t As Objective As You Think
Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman explains how ‘noise’ and bias can lead to poor decisions.
16:37
Genetics Suggest Indigenous People Arrived In Americas Earlier Than Some Thought
A geneticist on the growing evidence for earlier arrivals of First Peoples to North and South America—and how to ethically collect that data.
How To Extract DNA From A 500 Year-Old Human Tooth
Genetic anthropologist Jennifer Raff walks through the delicate and precise art of obtaining DNA samples from centuries-old human remains.