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.
Join Us For SciFri Live In Washington, D.C.!
On Saturday, March 23, join Ira Flatow and the Science Friday team in Washington, D.C. for a special live stage version of our radio show.
12:13
NASA Finally Opens Canister Containing Asteroid Sample
Engineers had to design bespoke tools to open the OSIRIS-REx capsule nearly four months after it arrived back on Earth.
17:07
‘Mysterious’ Canine Illness: What Dog Owners Should Know
Veterinary experts discuss what is known about the potential respiratory pathogen—or pathogens—and which dogs are most at risk.
17:14
How Signing Characters Help Deaf Children Learn Language
A lab at Gallaudet University is creating television shows with signing characters to increase literacy in both English and ASL.
17:04
Expanding Our Umwelt: Understanding Animal Experiences
Writing about animals’ sensory experiences in ‘An Immense World’ changed author Ed Yong’s own worldview—and hobbies.
7:28
An App For People Of Color To Rate Their Birthing Experiences
Irth is a “Yelp-like” app to help expectant parents make informed decisions by exposing bias and racism in healthcare systems.
9:57
Are Roses Red, And Violets Blue? Depends On Your Species
A new video camera system shows the colors of the natural world as different animals see them.
12:07
ADHD Prescription Rates Spiked During The Pandemic–Why?
Prescription rates for ADHD drugs rose by 30% from 2020-2022, with large increases among women and young people.
Celebrate National Science Day At Trivia Night In Atlanta
On February 28, nerd out with your brain out at Trivia Night with Science Friday and Science ATL at Halfway Crooks!
Use Clues From Rapid Evolution To Design Better Fish Gills
Discover why and how fish are evolving rapidly in remote mountain lakes. Then use what you learn for an engineering challenge.
Two Art Exhibits: Climate Futures And A Genetic Engineering Past
Meet the creators behind exhibitions about humans’ and pigs’ intertwined histories, and what happens if we “get it right” on climate change.
Celebrate 20 Years Of ‘Stiff’ With Mary Roach
On February 21, Mary Roach tells us what it was like to write ‘Stiff’ and how cadavers science has changed in the last 20 years.
11:59
Rhesus Monkey Cloned With Modified Approach Has Survived Into Adulthood
In China, a cloned rhesus monkey has lived for over two years, signifying advances in cloning and reproductive gene editing technology.
26:55
How The Moon Transformed Life On Earth, From Climate to Timekeeping
A new book explores how the moon changed us—and how we’ve changed the moon.
10:08
Using AI To Help Find Ancient Artifacts In The Great Lakes
Researchers in Michigan modeled a prehistoric land bridge and used AI to predict where caribou–and humans–might have traveled along it.
6:51
An Artist Combines Indigenous Textiles With Modern Tech
Artist Sarah Rosalena uses Indigenous weaving, ceramics, and sculpture practices to create art that challenges tech’s future.
32:31
From Scans To Office Visits: How Will AI Shape Medicine?
Scientists are testing artificial intelligence’s ability to read imaging results, make diagnoses, and more. Listeners call in.
A World Apart: The Human Relationship With The Moon
In the book ‘Our Moon,’ Rebecca Boyle describes the intertwined existence of humanity and the moon in sharp detail.
The Absurdity—And Difficulty—Of Writing About The Dead
“There is nothing amusing about being dead,” Mary Roach writes. But how can one inject humor and levity while writing about cadaver science?
11:35
NASA Once Again Delays Artemis Crewed Missions To the Moon
With this week’s delays to Artemis II and III, astronauts likely won’t walk on the moon until 2026 at the earliest.