February 21, 2025
The CEO of one of America’s oldest scientific societies discusses the recent cuts to scientific institutions, and how scientists can respond. Plus, flu infections are the highest they’ve been in nearly 30 years, and flu deaths this winter have surpassed COVID deaths. And, a video of a gloriously creepy anglerfish inspired tears and poetry online.
Take a Selfielopod for #CephalopodWeek!
Print one of our cutouts and take your own selfielopod for Cephalopod Week.
Jet-setting Cephalopods
Can you engineer a jet propulsion system that mimics the speed of a squid?
12:00
A Cometary Awakening, a Vaccine Mystery, and Brand New Bacteria
Tariq Malik of Space.com talks about Philae’s unexpected awakening, and Arielle Duhaime-Ross helps decipher a mystery that has plagued scientists for 50 years.
17:36
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘Jurassic World’
Paleontologists Lindsay Zanno and Kenneth Lacovara share what made them clap and cringe while watching “Jurassic World.”
7:14
Could Mars Have a Cold, Icy Past?
The ancient climate of Mars may have been cold and icy, according to researchers.
9:33
Cephalopod Week Is Back
We kick off our second annual Science Friday Cephalopod Week—a celebration of all things tentacled.
5:57
Engineering Evaporation
Researchers at Columbia University design engines powered by evaporation.
15:57
Not All Cooking Oils Are Created Equal
Ever wondered which cooking oil is healthiest? Tom Brenna, a professor of human nutrition at Cornell University, helps us get to the fat of the matter.
24:23
Throw These Science Books in Your Beach Bag
Maria Popova and Lee Billings share their summer reading picks.
Run, Octopus, Run!
Chrissy Huffard explains how and why an octopus might stand up on two tentacles and run backwards.
The Attraction of Liquid Magnets
Liquid magnets lend themselves to art, as well as medical research.
Isn’t This Octopus Adorabilis?
Stephanie Bush of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute aims to classify and name a presently undescribed deep-sea cephalopod.
What Lemurs Can Teach Us About Human Evolution
An excerpt From “The Strange Case of the Rickety Cossack and Other Cautionary Tales From Human Evolution.”
12:12
Polluting Planes, Coked-Out Eels, and the Science of ‘Frass’ (Fake Grass)
What cutting airlines’ carbon emissions could mean, why scientists gave eels cocaine, and the good and bad of artificial turf.
17:27
The Peculiarity of Homo Sapiens
Modern humans are the only surviving hominin from what was once a rich, fairly bushy family tree. But why did we alone survive?
7:53
Will Our Smartphones Know Us Better Than Ourselves?
This week Apple revealed an improved Siri comparable to Android’s Google Now.
8:44
The Silky Wonders of Worm Spit
Bioengineers at Tufts University are crafting silk protein into medical, optical, and bioelectronic materials.
12:06
Repurposing Drugs to Discover New Treatments
Could approved drugs be repurposed to discover new treatments for chronic and rare diseases?
17:43
Climate Skeptics Convene on Capitol Hill
This week, the Tenth International Conference on Climate Change convened in Washington, D.C. But don’t confuse it with the IPCC.