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.
Manhattanhenge: Watch a Star Align
Twice a year, the sunset lines up with New York City’s street grid—making for spectacular views.
At Long Last, The Higgs Particle… Maybe
Physicists have finally discovered the elusive Higgs boson–or at least something a lot like it.
What’s Your IQ on SPF?
A look at the science of sunscreen: how it intercepts the sun’s rays, whether it blocks vitamin D production, and what SPF really means.
Relishing the Science of the BBQ
Mayo myth-busters, a ketchup jar that never jams, and a salute to the pickle.
Peering into the Dark Side of Scientific Discovery
Why scientists have come to blows — literally — over who gets the glory for a discovery.
SciFri Book Club Talks Silent Spring
Silent Spring revisited: Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman host the first SciFri Book Club meeting.
Astronauts Prepare for Departure
We’ll check in with crewmembers on board the International Space Station, just days before several are scheduled to return to Earth after months in orbit.
Bidding Farewell to Lonesome George
He never spoke, but affected many. We’ll look back on the life of the Galapagos icon Lonesome George.
A Tale of Two Coastlines, Skirted by Swelling Seas
Rising sea levels are swallowing up U.S. coastlines–with a flood of consequences onshore.
Alan Turing at 100
A look at the man who helped create the modern world–and was promptly forgotten by it.
Meet the Energy-Saving Gadgets of the Future
Floors that generate electricity from footsteps. A GPS that outsmarts traffic jams. Innovations like these could be the next big thing–and we have student inventors to thank.
Spider-Man Gets a Physics Lesson
Do the laws of physics apply to superheroes? Sort of, says James Kakalios.
Will China Blast Past America in Space?
China just ticked off another accomplishment in space: its first manned docking in orbit. Next stop…the Moon?
Voyager 1 Bids Farewell To The Solar System
Voyager 1 is leaving the solar system, making it the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space.
More to the Universe Than Meets the Eye
The universe is full of invisible stuff. Take dark matter–you can’t spot it with your eyes, but it outnumbers visible matter five to one!
Field Trip! Can You Stomach It?
Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum has a lot of heart, and other organs too.
Can 3D Printers Reshape the World?
From batteries to bikinis, a look at what’s in the queue for 3D printers.
Tall Buildings a Cut above the Rest
Desert towers with their own sunscreen are among the world’s best skyscrapers.
What Your Brain Looks Like When You Lose Self-Control
New pictures show what happens in the brain when you pass up the pie, but later eat the pudding.