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.
SciFri Extra: Marking 40 Years Since Apollo 11
In this archival interview, Alan Bean, Harrison Schmidt, and more remember the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon.
7:43
The Best Studied Volcano On The Planet
Plus, researchers uncover the reproductive trickery of stick bugs and a high stakes game of “Pandemic” gets real.
4:10
In Wyoming, A Solution To Wildlife Traffic Accidents May Be In The Bag
Out with the reflectors, in with the canvas totes.
17:14
How Is The Microbiome Keeping Peace? Ask The Immune System
Researchers are learning how immunoglobulin A is responsible for much more than fighting infection in the gut.
16:16
What Can Scientists Bring To Congress?
Many scientists are showing up on the ballot this year. What unique perspectives can they bring to the political process?
12:00
Looking Ahead To Hurricane Season
Forecasters use statistics and modelling to estimate the number of major tropical storms and hurricanes in the months ahead.
34:25
How Seafaring Scientists Are Mapping The Deep
Scientists are discovering new species nearly everywhere they look in the deepest parts of the ocean. Two of them make a case for why this remote habitat is worth our close attention.
Meet A ‘Blue Planet’ Sub Pilot
From the first filming of a live giant squid to underwater lakes, Buck Taylor has seen it all.
Welcome To Oceans Month
Throughout the month of June, we’ll dive into the stories of the deep.
Your Guide To The Summer Sky 2018
Time to dust off those binoculars! Dean Regas tells us what to look out for this summer.
No Assembly (Or Hardware) Required
Researcher Lining Yao programs biological materials to act like robots and brings them to life on stage.
Big Ideas, Tiny Museum
Traditional museums can be intimidating and are usually in wealthier neighborhoods. A new company that makes portable museums is hoping to change that.
6:45
A Trip To The Moon, Hurricane Antimatter, And A Wrong-Way Asteroid
A satellite launched this week would aid in planned Chinese lunar exploration.
4:56
Bringing Electronic Health Records Into The Modern Age
While many medical providers have adopted electronic health records, most of those records mimic the style and utility of the old paper files.
9:29
The Portable Science Museum
This company is shrinking the museum to an accessible, bite-sized learning experience.
I Was Awake All Night. So How Did This Drool Get On My Shirt?
A sleep doctor explains our misperceptions about our own sleep.
12:29
Forget Weather, These Bots Make Good Conversation
Virtual assistants designed to build rapport are making the way for a generation of more trustworthy AI.
17:44
A Bot You Can Trust
Not every robot will look human or talk like us. How will roboticists build trust and mutual understanding?
17:39
Artificial Intelligence Gets A Musical Makeover
Computer scientists, artists, and designers are creating orchestras that play themselves, and algorithms that compose original music and lyrics.
24:09
Ask A Sleep Doctor: The Questions That Keep You Up At Night
A sleep specialist talks about the science of getting a good night’s sleep.