On Today's Podcast
A Startling Plan To Save Spotted Owls—From Barred Owls
To save spotted owls in the Pacific Northwest, one plan suggests killing thousands of barred owls. Conservationists and activists are at odds.
Listen NowNovember 28, 2025
The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate unusual scientific research—this year including lizard pizza preferences and fingernail growth. Plus, in a conversation from August, exercise researchers discuss what physical activity does to mental health. And, in a story from February, a journalist explains the afterlife of our trash, and why most “recyclable” plastic actually isn’t.
Scientists Solve Mystery of Earth’s Shifting Poles
A look beneath Earth’s surface at what may be causing the planet’s poles to wander back and forth.
Hurricane Sandy Claims Thousands of NYU Lab Mice
Thousands of mice at one of New York University’s research facilities were lost due to flooding.
Climate Change Takes Flight in New Novel
An ecological anomaly is at the center of the story in Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior.”
Desktop Diaries: Oliver Sacks
Writer and neurologist Oliver Sacks explains what his desk means to him. From lumps of metal to lemurs, Sacks describes some of his treasures.
As Storm Recovery Continues, Looking to the Future
With Sandy leaving destruction in her wake, a look at how cities might plan for future storms.
Past is Present in ‘An Enemy of the People’
Themes of power, integrity, and truth still resonate in a new production of Ibsen’s classic play.
Genetic Clues May Help Unravel Cause of Crohn’s
Better treatment options are being developed, but the cause of Crohn’s disease is still unknown.
How Reliable Are Electronic Voting Machines?
Can electronic voting machines be hacked? An expert gives us a pre-election update on voting technologies.
Sandy’s CT Scan, and Other Vital Images
Satellites looked at Sandy this week, and they also looked in.
Scared to Death… Literally
An earthquake, terrorist attack, or even a hole-in-one can cause a heart-stopping surge of adrenaline.
Medusa’s Gaze and Vampire’s Bite
Think monsters are make-believe? In his new book, science journalist Matt Kaplan writes of real-life zombies in Haiti, and how rabies infection could explain the vampire’s aversion to garlic and sunlight.
Plunging Into the Science of BASE Jumping
The physics and neuroscience of jumping off cliffs.
In Twitter We Trust: Can Social Media Sway Voters?
Scientists are examining how social media can influence the opinions of voters.
The SciFri Book Club Falls For Mr. Feynman
The Science Friday Book Club discusses the classic book “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!”
Plunge Into the Science of BASE Jumping
BASE stands for the objects the practitioners of the sport jump from: buildings, antennas, spans, earth. Wingsuits are sometimes involved; parachutes, always.
Scientists in the Dark Over Birth of the Moon
Two new studies present very different ideas about how the Moon was formed—a riddle that one scientist says may never be solved.
Making Sense of Presidential Polls
Feeling a little overwhelmed by all the presidential polls? A neuroscientist and statistician talk about how to make sense of the election—and why not all votes are created equal.
Winter Weather Predictions—Science or Folklore?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts winter weather months in advance. But how scientific are those predictions? And are NOAA and Accuweather any better at the art of seasonal forecasting?