On Today's Podcast
What Did It Feel Like To Be An Early Human?
A new documentary puts viewers in the shoes of Neanderthals and early humans, giving an intimate glimpse into humans’ evolutionary history.
Listen NowOctober 17, 2025
While some AI-designed drugs have made it to clinical trials, none of them have been approved. Why has it been harder than experts thought? Plus, in “Mapmatics,” a mathematician tells the stories of how math helps us track epidemics, map the seafloor, and plot a complex delivery route. And, the authors of “Food Intelligence” answer listener questions and discuss how our food systems make staying healthy an uphill battle.
34:14
The Best Science Books To Read For Summer 2019
From historical nonfiction to graphic novels to poetry, we’ve got plenty of recommendations for science books.
33:54
Hot Enough For You? Cooling The Worsening Urban Heat Island
Cities have always been hotter than their surroundings. Meet the people trying to cool off the urban jungle even as the globe warms.
7:36
A Ban On Fetal Tissue Research
Trump administration officials announced that a ban on the use of fetal tissue for government scientists working under the National Institutes of Health.
4:03
Data From Destruction
Researchers in Missouri are examining the after-effects of recent tornadoes to engineer stronger homes.
17:30
A Trip To The Coldest And Most Remote River Of Antarctica
The Onyx River is the site of the longest ongoing climate record in Antarctica. Science Friday followed the researchers monitoring the flow.
11:44
A New View On Quantum Weirdness
New research says it may be possible to anticipate when a ‘quantum leap’ is about to take place—and even prevent it from happening.
17:27
Making Cancer Drugs Available For A Wider Pool Of Patients
There may soon be more treatment options for patients living with stage four cancers.
16:32
Now Playing: The (Real) Secret Life Of Pets
Researchers are using “catcams” to study the real secret lives of your feline friends.
16:36
Outdated Gender Stereotypes Are Harming Science
For half a century, most neuroscience experiments have ignored female study subjects.
The Continental Outlier
In the world’s coldest, most remote desert, keepers of Antarctica’s longest melt record have detected a recent and dramatic shift.
Children Of Invention
From a worry shredder to an odd sock sorter, Little Inventors brings kids’ ideas to life.
SciFri Extra: Remembering Murray Gell-Mann
A 1994 conversation with Nobel physicist Murray Gell-Mann, who died recently at the age of 89.
John Urschel Learns The ‘Secret Code’ Of Calculus
Calculus helped retired NFL player John Urschel “move from a world that was static to a world that could move and flow.”
6:38
What’s Whipping Up The Strong Tornado Season?
Blame the jet stream and climate change. Plus: More stories in this week’s News Roundup.
5:20
When A Dominant Herbicide Becomes Less Effective, What Next?
The herbicide glyphosate, found in products such as Roundup, has become a crucial tool on midwestern farms—but weeds are becoming resistant.
5:56
All The Single (Salamander) Ladies
Some populations of the mole salamander survive—and thrive without having any males of its own species to reproduce with.
12:18
Climate Wars Heat Up In Washington
Republican lawmakers are warming up to talking about climate change, but the Trump administration is striking back.
17:10
Former NFL Player Tackles Football And Math
At 26, John Urschel left the NFL to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics.
16:15
Revisiting A Once-Great Scientific Idea
Mainstream physicists once believed light was simply a disturbance of the “luminiferous ether”—before the idea fell from grace.
27:51
Spoiler Alert! When Does Food Actually Go Bad?
Puzzled by sell-by dates, freezer burn, and just how long you can eat your food? Don’t be a food failure—you’re not alone.