September 27, 2024
Climate activists Bill McKibben and Akaya Windwood say it isn’t fair to leave the climate crisis for younger generations to solve. Plus, a cultural anthropologist discusses the Mariana Islands’ long history of colonization and why demilitarization matters for climate progress. And, new research into a fish known as the sea robin finds that leg-like appendages can “taste” prey buried in the sand.
10:09
Tribal Concerns Grow As Water Levels Drop In The Colorado River Basin
Historically excluded from negotiations, Indigenous communities want to make sure they have a seat at the water-distributing table.
24:22
Space Tourists, Asteroids, And Anti-Satellite Tests, Oh My!
A trio of stellar space reporters round up 2021’s out-of-this-world headlines.
Michael Pollan On Plants That Change Our Minds, From Tea To Peyote
In a new book, Michael Pollan explores why some psychoactive plants are socially acceptable, which aren’t, and how those norms are changing.
A Tour Through Maria Ferreira’s Crystal Gardens
Blending chemistry, physics, and animation, artist Maria Constanza Ferreira grows tiny gardens of crystals to create dazzling images.
Vocal Fry: Why I’m Not Getting A Voice Coach
Vocal fry has been around for ages. So why are people suddenly so bothered by it?
10:18
Travel Bans Do Little To Slow Spread Of Omicron
As cases of the new variant appear globally, vaccination is a key strategy to prevent future mutations.
1:44
Alvin Lucier, Composer At The Intersection Of Science And Sound, Dead At 90
A giant figure in experimental music, who composed with brain waves, room resonances, and a curiosity about the world around us.
26:09
Ralph Nader Reflects On His Auto Safety Campaign, 55 Years Later
Over the last half-century, auto safety has drastically advanced, thanks in part to Nader’s groundbreaking investigation.
8:09
New Drug Reverses Paralysis In Mice With Spinal Cord Injuries
After receiving an injection of “dancing molecules,” paralyzed mice were able to walk again.
17:10
Decoding Quantum Computing
The disruptive technology of quantum computing could be a game-changer.
9:54
Diving Into The Strange World Of Xenobots
Structures designed by an algorithm transform frog embryo cells into structures that can swim.
7:09
A 30th Anniversary Edition Of SciFri Trivia
SciFri Trivia host Diana Montano quizzes Ira on stories he’s talked about over the past 30 years on the show.
12:07
What We Do—And Don’t—Know About Omicron
There’s still a lot of uncertainty about what the Omicron variant might mean for the global pandemic.
Donate To Science Friday For #GivingTuesday!
Want to help support Science Friday for the next 30 years? Make a gift today, for #GivingTuesday. All donations are matched $1 to $1.
12:10
New Cold Storage Method Solves Freezer Burn—And Saves Energy
Scientists are working on an ice-free method for preserving food at cold temperatures, avoiding freezer burn. And it could save energy too.
15:00
The Bacteria Behind Your Favorite Blues, Bries, and More
Microbiologist Rachel Dutton discusses the bacterial battle behind the tastes and textures of cheese.
1:59
The World According To Sound: When Your Wine Bottle Sings
Named after the 19th-century physicist and physician Hermann von Helmholtz, this phenomenon of sound is more than just a party trick.
12:11
A More Delicious COVID Screener
Researchers are learning more about how COVID affects taste and smell with candy.
34:27
Laugh And Learn With The Ig Nobel Prizes
The evolutionary history of beards! The communications of cats! And more at the 31st first annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony.
16:45
Koji: The Mold You Want In Your Kitchen
The fluffy white mold has transformed food for centuries—and it’s a perfect tool for culinary experimentation.