November 22, 2024
On the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she taught us about ourselves. Plus, divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. And, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts.
In a Lawless Desert, a Fight Over Water
In his science fiction book, author Paolo Bacigalupi describes a hellish American Southwest that yearns for water.
The Humble Seed, Waiting to Grow
Author Hope Jahren explains how all seeds, seen or unseen, wait patiently for their chance to flourish.
Craig Venter: Biologist and Minimalist Artist
Creating a bacterial cell with the minimal amount of genes.
This Art Installation Pokes Fun at NASA and Space Exploration
New York sculptor Tom Sachs built “A Space Program” entirely out of materials bought from Home Depot.
Poetry and Science: Can Our Eyes Fool Our Taste Buds?
Engage young learners in science with this poem and simple experiment from The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science for Kids by Pomelo Books.
Scientific Inquiry With Poetry
Explain and engage in scientific inquiry with this poem and investigation from The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science for Kids by Pomelo Books.
Welcome To The Emotion Arcade
A new generation of video games engages complex emotions like empathy, complicity, and grief. Game researcher Katherine Isbister gives a newbie gamer a tour of the “Emotion Arcade.”
17:17
Sorting Out Social Media Feeds
Why did Instagram’s announcement of a new way of filtering its photos set off a public outcry?
07:54
Spot the Spoof Science Study
How good are you at picking out an authentic research study from a spoof?
12:09
Antarctica May Accelerate Global Sea Level Rise
A new study suggests a melting Antarctica could pump up global sea levels much more than previously predicted.
16:33
Springtime Brings Unexpected Blooms
Noah Fierer, a microbial ecologist, says he swoons for the scent of springtime’s bacterial bloom.
11:51
Universal ‘Not Face,’ Alien Laser Defense, and Traffic Control for Robot Cars
A look at the universal “not face,” and what the future might be like with no stop lights.
25:51
How Games Move Us
Some of today’s video games are pushing players into new emotional territory, engaging complex feelings like complicity, empathy, and grief.
‘Sackboy’ Solidarity: An Emotional Gaming Experience
Gamers playing “Little Big Planet” engage in a friendly and comical shared emotional experience.
Faces Of The Moon
Images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera reveal a moonscape wrought by geologic forces and celestial bombardment.
The Week-After SciFri Quiz! 3/29/16
How closely did you listen to last week’s show?
A New Way to Fix Cataracts?
Two studies look into using stem cells for eye therapy.
Superbloom: How Death Valley Springs To Life
Beneath Death Valley lies a massive seed bank of desert wildflowers and when heavy winter rains soak deep into the soil, these hidden wonders spring to life.
