November 22, 2024
On the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she taught us about ourselves. Plus, divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. And, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts.
Help SciFri Track The ‘Flu Near You’
SciFri and Flu Near You are teaming up to track the flu.
What’s The Most Important Science Issue To You In Your State?
Tell us what local science issue you care most about!
7:49
There Are Microplastics In Our Poop. Is It Bad For Us?
The invisible plastic particles in our poop. Plus organic food and health, changing hurricane patterns, and the waters of Mars.
4:19
Crowdfunding Can Lead To Sketchy Medicine
A survey of crowdfunding sites found campaigns raising funds for scientifically unsupported, ineffective, or potentially dangerous medical treatments.
9:39
Breathing Through Your Nose Helps You Remember Better
The olfactory system has privileged access to the regions of your brain that control memory and emotion.
6:39
The Math That May Save Democracy
Statistics are at the center of a case that pits voters against unfairly gerrymandered districts in this episode of
“Undiscovered.”
12:11
Self-Driving Cars Are Bringing The Trolley Problem Into The Real World
How can autonomous car makers develop ethical vehicles when ethics are different across cultural lines?
27:02
Science Goes To The Movies: ‘First Man’
We gather a panel of space experts to discuss the new movie. Plus, what are the stories that Hollywood could tell about space that we haven’t heard yet?
6:52
The Love Songs Of The Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle
You might know the horned male Japanese rhinoceros beetles for being ruthless fighters. But they also sing songs to win over potential mates.
17:15
The Mysterious Power Of Blood
Blood banks, taboos, and other ways that humans have tried to harness the power of blood.
The Problem With The Plasma
In this excerpt from “Nine Pints,” Rose George explains how issues with the 1970s American plasma led to a contaminated supply.
Beetle Royale
For some rhino beetles, winning a battle doesn’t mean winning the war over a female’s heart.
Welcome To The Bone Room
Biologist and functional morphologist Steve Huskey has nothing to hide, despite the hundreds of skeletons in his closet.
7:41
Is The Oil Industry Ready To Do Something About Climate Change?
Exxon Mobil says it will spend $1 million lobbying for a carbon tax. But there’s a catch.
4:18
In Puerto Rico, Farmers Still Grapple With The Effects Of Hurricane Maria
In Puerto Rico, volunteers and farmers are working together to rebuild after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico’s small agriculture sector.
6:35
A Turtle By Any Other Name
What happens when the rules established by the scientific community are used against it?
12:29
Money Mark Is Reviving Dead Pianists
His ‘Echolodeon’ machine converts original piano rolls from great composers into MIDI signals, in effect letting the dead pianists ‘play’ various synthesizers.
17:44
The Complex Societies Of Bees And Beyond
Honeybees, bumblebees, ants, and even spiders can live complicated social lives.
17:39
How Genes Determine Our Quality Of Sleep
Are you a night owl or a morning lark? Why genetics dictate when, how long, and how well we sleep.
12:16
Outfitting Avatars To Cross The Uncanny Valley
A virtual reality designer says success is being able to generate photorealistic faces that don’t spook.