February 28, 2025
A federal DEI ban is already prompting changes across science agencies. How will it affect medical research? A journalist traveled to five continents to learn about the afterlife of our trash, and why most “recyclable” plastic actually isn’t. And, the ocean liner SS United States will become an artificial reef in Florida. How do artificial reefs work?
9:51
Not The Last Straw, But A Different One
Companies are looking for alternatives to the ubiquitous plastic drinking straw.
7:06
The Scientific Strategy Of Soccer Dives
It’s all about the dynamics of risk and reward.
16:35
What Makes Your Brain Happy?
Laurie Santos studies primate cognition—and teaches about the psychology of happiness.
16:49
Read ‘A Brief History of Time’ With The SciFri Book Club!
This summer, we’re remembering the late Stephen Hawking and diving into his landmark work on black holes, the Big Bang, and the nature of the universe.
A Celebration Of Great Science Writing!
On August 16 in Chicago, ‘Undiscovered’ host Annie Minoff joins authors David Quammen and Sy Montgomery for an evening of literary discovery.
If You Smelt It, The Corpse Flower Dealt It
A corpse flower bloomed at the New York Botanical Garden. Its smell lives up to its name.
The Map That Changed How We View The West
John Wesley Powell’s map of the American West sectioned off by watersheds offered a bold new vision of the region.
12:03
Monkeys Try Their Hand At Stone Tools
One troop of capuchin monkeys has learned the art of using stone tools.
9:55
Protecting Eagles’ Nests Are Key To Conservation
In a national park in Minnesota, protecting a nest of eagles increased the number of breeding pairs of birds to nearly forty percent.
12:16
In The Distant Past, A Massive Space Collision
New simulations look at a possible ancient impact that was enough to knock the planet Uranus on its side.
9:06
A Genetic Future For A Near-Extinct Rhino?
How the northern white rhino could make a comeback—with a little help from its southern white rhino friends.
24:51
Science Goes To The Movies: Jurassic World 2
In ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,’ dinosaurs are at risk of extinction…again. Here’s what real paleontologists thought of the film.
23:09
Pioneering Western Water Management Strategies
The 19th-century geologist John Wesley Powell charted paths through the American West—and proposed ideas about developing the land with climate and ecology in mind.
What Did Ancient Whales Look Like?
Author and curator Nick Pyenson describes the similarities and differences between humans and our distant mammalian relatives.
These Science Books Were Made For Summer. Take Our Word For It.
The SciFri staff recommends our favorite summertime science beach reads.
7:33
After A Long Wait, More Telescope Delays
NASA announced that the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope would be pushed back yet again, and more headlines from this week in science.
4:43
Genetic Tests Reshape Bull Market For Beef Producers
When it comes to raising beef, farmers face choices beyond “well, medium, or rare?”
7:39
Radiolab Investigates Our ‘Magical Organs’
In a limited-run series called ‘Gonads,’ Radiolab producer and host Molly Webster explores the fascinating world of embryonic development.
20:31
Hive Mind: Inside The Complicated World of Bee Colonies
Bumblebee colonies in urban areas may be more successful than those in the country. Also, how do honeybees choose a new queen?
25:07
Your Summer Science Reading List 2018
Ira Flatow and guests give you the best summer reading assignment ever.