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.
Menstruation: Another Way Humans Are Unique In The Animal Kingdom
From this SciFri Book Club pick, a peek inside the vast—and still relatively under-researched—part of the human body: the uterus.
12:19
Decades Of Alzheimer’s Research Could Be Based On Fraudulent Data
Plus, the moon may have pockets of pleasant temperature, and why a space vacation would be terrible for global warming on Earth.
16:38
Higher Temperatures Are Bad For The Body
As the world heats up, the human body will be put under increased strain.
12:03
Protecting Piping Plovers Isn’t A Walk On The Beach
Piping plovers face a myriad of threats: predators, flooding, and human development. But volunteers are intervening to help them survive.
4:58
This Glove Takes Inspiration From An Octopus’ Arm
When a team of engineers were designing a glove that could pick up objects underwater, they turned to octopus’ arms for inspiration.
12:07
For The Love Of Volcanoes
“Fire of Love,” a new documentary by director Sara Dosa, charts the career and relationship of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Kraft.
17:35
A Blind Researcher Making A More Accessible World
Joshua Miele, a blind scientist, uses his own experience to design new and accessible technologies driven by the needs of disabled people.
17:07
What You Might Not Have Known About The Vagina
A new book explores the history of human genitals and how researchers are finally making breakthroughs in our understanding of how so-called female reproduction works.
12:12
Earth Faces A Global Heat Wave
Unless you’re in Australia, you’re probably hotter than normal.
16:14
Can Genetic Modification Help Plants Survive Climate Change?
Plants struggle to fend off disease in the heat. Scientists are turning to gene editing to defend global food supplies from future heat waves.
12:07
When Times Get Tough, These Toads Make Hybrid Babies
To avoid their eggs turning into “tadpole brittle,” these toads breed across species to give them a leg up in survival.
6:57
Major Semiconductor Support Bill Passes First Hurdle
If passed, the CHIPS Act will allow tech companies to manufacture semiconductors in the U.S. instead of relying on imports.
10:20
Drought Could Raise Toxic Dust Around Utah’s Great Salt Lake
As the country’s largest saltwater lake dries up, toxic dust storms threaten the surrounding residents.
17:16
A Flaw in Human Judgment: How Making Decisions Isn’t As Objective As You Think
Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman explains how ‘noise’ and bias can lead to poor decisions.
16:37
Genetics Suggest Indigenous People Arrived In Americas Earlier Than Some Thought
A geneticist on the growing evidence for earlier arrivals of First Peoples to North and South America—and how to ethically collect that data.
How To Extract DNA From A 500 Year-Old Human Tooth
Genetic anthropologist Jennifer Raff walks through the delicate and precise art of obtaining DNA samples from centuries-old human remains.
SciFri Is Hosting Virtual Trivia Nights—And You’re Invited
Be the most popular person in your group thread: bring your team to the nerdiest virtual trivia night out there, full of science nerdiness!
A Future Where Gene Editing Is A Federal Crime
From this SciFri Book Club pick, a peek into a world where gene editing is a crime—or, as some believe, the only way to save humanity.
Read Blake Crouch’s ‘Upgrade’ With The SciFri Book Club
Blake Crouch imagines a world where your genome can be hacked in his new sci-fi thriller ‘Upgrade.’ Read it with us this August.
11:35
1,000 Acres Of Ancestral Land Returned To Onondaga Nation
This decision marks one of the largest returns of land to an Indigenous nation in U.S. history.