On Today's Podcast
What will our reaction be when we discover aliens?
The sci-fi movie “Disclosure Day” predicts that our reaction to intelligent alien life will be chaotic. But what does the science say?
Listen NowJuly 10, 2026
Two experts at the forefront of untangling the gut-brain connection explain its role in IBS, Parkinson’s, and depression. Plus, writer Craig Childs biked from the brightest sky to the darkest in our Book Club pick "The Wild Dark." And, while fog itself is not alive, researchers found that it can contain an ecosystem, including bacteria that eat pollutants.
10:31
Is Your Empty Stomach Fueling Your Shopping Spree?
Hungry shoppers spent up to 60 percent more than those who had a full stomach, according to a new study.
12:03
What Bilingual Babies Can Teach Us About Language Learning
Babies raised in bilingual households spend significantly more time lip-reading than their monolingual counterparts, which suggests that it could also be a vital skill for language learners of all ages.
17:22
Are Women at Greater Risk for Alzheimer’s?
Neurologists look at genes and hormones to understand why more women are developing Alzheimer’s than men.
16:08
Forecasting the Future of Maps
How will new maps help us navigate from point A to point B more efficiently?
A Hideous Fungus, A Nutritious Snack
A Canadian researcher is cultivating a ghastly looking fungal disease into a gourmet snack.
How Can We Build Homes That Are Resistant to Mold?
Test which building materials will be resistant to mold after a flood or hurricane.
11:50
Are Decades-Long Megadroughts on the Horizon?
Climate change might be pushing the Southwest and Central Plains of the U.S. towards megadroughts.
17:12
Medical Fraud Missing From Public Record
An investigation of the FDA claims the agency isn’t doing enough to expose instances of fraud and misconduct.
16:54
A Love Story, Set in the Multiverse
In Nick Payne’s play “Constellations,” a beekeeper and cosmologist fall in and out of love across 50 parallel universes.
8:02
The World’s Oceans Are Overflowing With Plastics Pollution
Researchers estimate that between 4.8-12.7 million metric tons of plastic leaked into the ocean in 2010.
21:57
Dogs, They’re Just Like Us
An in-depth survey of pet dogs revealed surprising insights about breed-specific behaviors.
16:33
Tales of Broken Hearts
In “The Man Who Touched His Own Heart,” Rob Dunn writes of the creative—and sometimes tragic—ways that scientists and surgeons have sought to mend the maladies of the heart.
How a Bar Fight Paved the Way for Heart Surgery
An excerpt from “The Man Who Touched His Own Heart.”
This Valentine’s Day, Say ‘I Love You’ With Science
SciFri asked real scientists to write love notes. Now you can share them with that special someone.
Is Pedigree What It’s Cracked Up To Be?
Data distilled 80,000 individual dog profiles revealed that outside of the show ring, there’s a lot of behavioral variation within any given breed.
An Unusual Rose Blooms in Northern California
This bubblegum-pink sea slug is cropping up in areas where it’s rarely seen in large numbers.
Use Magnetic Fields To Navigate Like A Sea Turtle
Create small turtle navigators and use them to detect magnetic fields in this activity and companion game.
11:55
Honey, I Shrunk the Lab: Testing for STDs on a Smartphone
A new, inexpensive smartphone dongle tests for HIV and syphilis in 15 minutes.
22:15
The SciFri Book Club Talks ‘The Lost City of Z’
The SciFri Book Club convenes to talk about David Grann’s non-fiction tale of Amazonian exploration, “The Lost City of Z.”
10:10
Uncovering the Amazon’s Real ‘Lost Cities’
Archaeologist Michael Heckenberger’s discovery of “garden cities” in the Amazon suggests ancient civilizations once thrived there.