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.
4:58
Preserving Acadia National Park’s Vanishing Birdsong
Climate change is affecting the ranges of the park’s 300 bird species.
11:47
In ‘The Pod Generation,’ Pregnancy Goes High-Tech
In the film “The Pod Generation,” a couple finds out what it’s like to grow their baby inside a pod. But how will the technology affect society?
17:22
The Rising Tide Against Deep Sea Mining
A recent global meeting of the International Seabed Authority to develop a treaty for the world’s oceans floors adjourned without a decision.
16:53
August Skies Set To Dazzle
Get ready stargazers: The Perseid meteor shower and a super blue moon are highly anticipated sights this August.
16:51
A Tuna’s Reel Life Adventures
Science journalist and the author of a new book talks about her research into a mighty fish nicknamed Amelia, and the recovery of fishery.
Bluefin Tuna Help Tell The Story Of Our Oceans
For 3,000 years, demand for bluefin tuna has existed in uneasy balance with its natural ability to reproduce and thrive.
Can Your Cat Talk To You? Use Science To Find Out!
What does meow really mean? Investigate how your favorite pet communicates in this fun, family-friendly STEM activity.
Stinky And Delicious: Why Fermentation Makes Great Food
Discover the world of fermentation with a world-renowned chef as you use kitchen chemistry to transform raw veggies into delicious dishes.
How NASA Translates Space Data Into Sparkly And Haunting Songs
NASA’s Sonification Project aims to turn astrophysics data into sound, enabling visually impaired people to engage with outer space.
How Hawaiian Voices Add To The Conversation On Deep Sea Mining
A Hawaiian elder discusses what’s at stake for Indigenous Hawaiians when we disturb the ocean floor.
11:19
A Possible Breakthrough Superconductor Has Scientists Split
Researchers provoked skepticism when they shared their study about a working superconductor at room temperature. Plus, NASA detects a ‘heartbeat’ from purported lost Voyager 2.
8:32
How Oppenheimer’s Bombs Compare To Today’s Nukes
Science Friday dives into how nuclear weapons technology has evolved since the Manhattan Project.
11:30
Protecting Other Planets From Earth’s Germs
As missions venture forth to places such as Mars or Jupiter’s moon, Europa, the need to protect worlds that could support life becomes more critical.
33:13
Ask An Expert: An Evolution Education
Talking about the science behind evolution, in light of laws allowing schools to teach creationism.
24:25
From Splenda to Aspartame: Are the Artificial Sweeteners We Use Hurting Us?
The science behind the WHO’s declaration of aspartame as a “possible carcinogen,” and the effects of artificial sweeteners on human health.
Evolution: The Roots Of Our ‘Tree Of Life’
Author Prosanta Chakrabarty leads us through the basics of evolutionary change, and explains how evolution doesn’t mean “perfection.”
11:45
No, The Gulf Stream Is Not Collapsing
A separate set of currents, called the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), is weakening.
12:52
The Kākāpō Parrot Returns To New Zealand
The critically endangered kākāpō haven’t lived on the mainland for nearly 40 years—until now.
4:14
Far Beyond Their Native Habitat, Parrots Rule The Roost
Brooklyn’s parrots are just one example of how the ingenious bird has learned to thrive in strange places.
12:03
What Is Your Cat’s Meow Trying To Tell You?
A biologist’s new book explores the evolution of our bond with our favorite four-legged felines.