On Today's Podcast
How do clinical trials work, and who can participate?
A bioethicist walks us through the complexity of clinical trials, from their core scientific questions to patient selection to FDA approval.
Listen NowMay 22, 2026
Low-frequency noises that humans can feel, but not hear, may be behind the spooky feeling of old houses. Plus, a processing plant in Mississippi is leaking massive amounts of the herbicide paraquat into the air. Its biological link to Parkinson’s is becoming clear. And, a bioethicist walks us through the complexity of clinical trials, from their core scientific questions to patient selection to FDA approval.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
This pristine white fungus might have neuroprotective properties.
12:09
News Roundup: The Birth of the Moon, E.T. Life, and LHC Season Two
Washington Post science blogger Rachel Feltman gives us her top stories this week, and the BBC’s Jonathan Webb tells us what to expect from the revved-up particle collider.
9:46
Babies on the Brink
A series of rigorous (and adorable) experiments by Karen Adolph of NYU’s Infant Action Lab shatters the myth that babies learn to fear heights as they learn to crawl.
17:22
Undersea Cables String Together the Global Internet
Ninety-nine percent of the data zipping between continents travels not via satellite, but through thousands of miles of cables.
6:00
As Arctic Permafrost Thaws, Microbes Kick Into Action
Recent findings suggest that microbes living in Arctic permafrost could produce carbon dioxide and methane as it thaws.
28:15
The Future of Artificial Intelligence
What questions should we ask as research on artificial intelligence progresses?
12:07
Are Scientific Journals Clogged With ‘Publication Pollution’?
Medical ethicist Art Caplan says science and medical journals are plagued by fraud, plagiarism, and predatory publishers.
7:20
How the Apple Watch Measures Up
Re/code’s Lauren Goode give us her take on Apple’s new wearable.
The Undersea Network That Connects the World
An excerpt from “The Undersea Network.”
What Freaks You Out About Robots?
Should we worry about the imminent rise of robots in our lives?
Can You Explain The Sun?
For this science club, we want you to explain something to us, something BIG!
Booting Up Computer Art
In the 1960s, curious computer scientists transformed computers into art machines.
Science Friday Introduces New Video Series, ‘The Macroscope’
Through fictional and documentary film-making approaches, we’ll bring you true stories from scientists and innovators.
Babies On The Brink
A series of rigorous (and adorable) experiments shatters the myth that babies learn to fear heights as they learn to crawl.
The 1-2-3s of Hard-Cooked Eggs
Cooking geek Jeff Potter cracks the code on easy-to-peel, hard-cooked eggs.
18:25
A Climate Pledge, a Medieval Antibiotic, and an Exoskeletal Boot
In the news roundup this week, Eric Holthaus breaks down the new U.S. climate pledge.
17:16
Festival of Fake Hypotheses Generates Real Laughs
The satirical science festival BAHFest challenges science fans to construct real arguments for completely bogus hypotheses.
6:56
Mercury: The Ashtray of the Solar System?
Scientists say that dust from passing comets could have darkened the surface of Mercury.
16:40
Cracking the Egg
There’s a better way to make hard-boiled eggs—and it doesn’t involve boiling.
4:55
Catching a Non-Stop, Transatlantic Flight on a Songbird’s Back
The blackpoll warbler, a songbird that weighs 12 grams, can fly 1,700 miles—non-stop—to its wintering grounds.