On Today's Podcast
‘A Many-Headed Beast’: Telling The Story Of Cancer
Science writer and oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee discusses what we get wrong about cancer, and why he leans into nuance as an author.
Listen NowNovember 21, 2025
Flora and “Part-Time Genius” co-host Mangesh Hattikudur put one lucky listener to the test with food science trivia. Plus, talkative African grey parrots are charismatic internet stars. A global scramble to source and sell the birds threatens their survival. And, Google’s tool for predicting how proteins “fold” turns 5 this year.
9:57
Are Roses Red, And Violets Blue? Depends On Your Species
A new video camera system shows the colors of the natural world as different animals see them.
12:07
ADHD Prescription Rates Spiked During The Pandemic–Why?
Prescription rates for ADHD drugs rose by 30% from 2020-2022, with large increases among women and young people.
Celebrate National Science Day At Trivia Night In Atlanta
On February 28, nerd out with your brain out at Trivia Night with Science Friday and Science ATL at Halfway Crooks!
Use Clues From Rapid Evolution To Design Better Fish Gills
Discover why and how fish are evolving rapidly in remote mountain lakes. Then use what you learn for an engineering challenge.
Two Art Exhibits: Climate Futures And A Genetic Engineering Past
Meet the creators behind exhibitions about humans’ and pigs’ intertwined histories, and what happens if we “get it right” on climate change.
Celebrate 20 Years Of ‘Stiff’ With Mary Roach
On February 21, Mary Roach tells us what it was like to write ‘Stiff’ and how cadavers science has changed in the last 20 years.
11:59
Rhesus Monkey Cloned With Modified Approach Has Survived Into Adulthood
In China, a cloned rhesus monkey has lived for over two years, signifying advances in cloning and reproductive gene editing technology.
26:55
How The Moon Transformed Life On Earth, From Climate to Timekeeping
A new book explores how the moon changed us—and how we’ve changed the moon.
10:08
Using AI To Help Find Ancient Artifacts In The Great Lakes
Researchers in Michigan modeled a prehistoric land bridge and used AI to predict where caribou–and humans–might have traveled along it.
6:51
An Artist Combines Indigenous Textiles With Modern Tech
Artist Sarah Rosalena uses Indigenous weaving, ceramics, and sculpture practices to create art that challenges tech’s future.
32:31
From Scans To Office Visits: How Will AI Shape Medicine?
Scientists are testing artificial intelligence’s ability to read imaging results, make diagnoses, and more. Listeners call in.
A World Apart: The Human Relationship With The Moon
In the book ‘Our Moon,’ Rebecca Boyle describes the intertwined existence of humanity and the moon in sharp detail.
The Absurdity—And Difficulty—Of Writing About The Dead
“There is nothing amusing about being dead,” Mary Roach writes. But how can one inject humor and levity while writing about cadaver science?
11:35
NASA Once Again Delays Artemis Crewed Missions To the Moon
With this week’s delays to Artemis II and III, astronauts likely won’t walk on the moon until 2026 at the earliest.
11:59
Top Technologies To Watch In 2024
Weight-loss drugs, AI, clean-energy tech and more: digging into MIT Technology Review’s annual list with executive editor Amy Nordrum.
13:20
Brain ‘Organoids’: Lab-Grown Cell Clusters Model Brain Functions
Scientists can coax stem cells into clusters that mimic the functions of brain regions, which could help us understand brain disorders.
19:49
3,000 Types Of Brain Cells Categorized In Massive Brain Cell Atlas
The new atlas catalogs cell types by the genes they express, which could help medical researchers tailor treatments.
33:06
How Close Are We To Answers About Aliens?
Dr. Adam Frank discusses the human fascination with extraterrestrial life—and the scientific search for it—in his new book.
Are We Alone? Science Searches For Aliens
From biosignatures in exoplanet atmospheres to radio telescope arrays, science is searching for extraterrestrial life.
Why A Scientist Made A Graphic Novel About Understanding Physics
In “The Dialogues,” a graphic novel by theoretical physicist Clifford Johnson, the superheroes are scientists—and they’ll teach you a thing or two about physics.