On Today's Podcast
What was science like in America 250 years ago?
Sure, the American colonies had Benjamin Franklin and his kite. But many other natural philosophers were thinking big thoughts about the world.
Listen NowJuly 3, 2026
What did science look like in America 250 years ago? Sure, there was Benjamin Franklin and his kite. But many other natural philosophers were asking big questions. Plus, researchers have engineered an artificial cell, hoping to build a customizable chassis for chemical production. And, Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is the only place where axolotls live in the wild, and they face growing threats.
28:37
Viewing the Road Ahead for Self-Driving Cars
Imagine a future in which all cars can drive themselves. What might that do to our cities, towns, and society?
High Pressure In The Deep Ocean
Pressure is a huge challenge for deep ocean explorers. Learn how pressure changes with depth and explore its effects on compressible solids in this series of experiments, demonstrations, and real-life data collected aboard the E/V Nautilus.
10 Questions for Alan Guth, Pioneer of the Inflationary Model of the Universe
The theoretical physicist discusses the expanding universe and the infinite possibilities it brings.
The Week-After Science Friday Quiz! 1/5/16
How much do you know about the early days of the personal computer?
Things of Beauty: Scientific Instruments of Yore
Brimming with Victorian medical masks, surreal anatomical models, and futuristic test prostheses, Steve Erenberg’s store/museum in Peekskill, New York offers a tour of long-forgotten devices.
21:06
From the Origin of Art, to the End of Humanity
In 2011, a novelist, a filmmaker, and a physicist joined Ira for a wide-ranging conversation about art, science, and the mysterious place where they intersect.
17:25
Two Cosmic Explorers Investigate the World Within Us
In this archival interview from October 9, 1992, Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan talk about their book “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are.”
29:27
A Look Back at the Future of Personal Computing
Tech industry observer Esther Dyson looks back at predictions she made about the future of personal computing, circa 1992.
25:42
SciFri Live: Superhero Quiz
Physicist James Kakalios tests the superhero science smarts of teams from 3M and the CONvergence sci-fi convention.
Catching A Break
How a self-taught meteorologist turned a call-in surf forecasting company into a global enterprise.
12:17
Stalking The Wilds Of Mexico For A Christmas Classic
Clemson University floriculturist Jim Faust arrived in Manzanillo, Mexico, with an unusual mission: to stalk a population of wild poinsettias growing in their native habitat.
17:17
‘Findings’ Collects Science’s Best One-Liners
Harper’s magazine’s Findings column is a news ticker for science’s most fascinating—and flummoxing—facts.
10:37
How ‘Super Mario’ Could Lead to a Super Memory
Scientists find that 3D games boost memory.
6:11
Jump In Jerboas!
What can the long hindlimb of the jerboa (“a fuzzy rodent ‘T-Rex'”) tell us about the evolution of human bones?
46:43
Year in Review: 2015
A panel of science and technology journalists join Ira Flatow to discuss the biggest news in these fields during the last year.
The Best of Science Friday, 2015
SciFri staffers pick their favorite stories and activities from the year.
Jump In Jerboas!
These adorable critters bounce about on long, springy legs—appendages that just might help us better understand and manipulate the growth of human bones.
Boughs Of Folly: Science Blunders In National Lampoon’s ‘Christmas Vacation’
What can we learn from the Griswolds’ many mishaps?
11:52
Stranded Sea Lions, Warming Lakes, and Floating Schools
Sea lions struggle to navigate after domoic acid exposure, and communities around the world try to innovate in the face of climate change.
21:56
Backing Up the World Wide Web
The average lifespan of a web page is 100 days. How can we archive quickly changing web and digital content?