On Today's Podcast
The heaviness and (not) hope of climate change
Elizabeth Kolbert has been writing about the environment for decades. And right now, she isn't feeling optimistic.
Listen NowMarch 13, 2026
AI-generated songs are breaking onto the charts, and music labels are pivoting from lawsuits to partnerships with AI startups. What comes next? Plus, what’s the science behind the much-hyped idea that you can “reset” your nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve? And, with science and good luck, 158 young tortoises were reintroduced to Floreana Island in the Galápagos.
22:15
The SciFri Book Club Talks ‘The Lost City of Z’
The SciFri Book Club convenes to talk about David Grann’s non-fiction tale of Amazonian exploration, “The Lost City of Z.”
10:10
Uncovering the Amazon’s Real ‘Lost Cities’
Archaeologist Michael Heckenberger’s discovery of “garden cities” in the Amazon suggests ancient civilizations once thrived there.
2:19
How Budget Plans on Earth Might Stop Opportunity Rover on Mars
A preliminary NASA budget contains no funding for the Mars rover Opportunity in 2016.
12:01
Can the FCC Proposal Protect the Open Internet?
This week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler announced a plan for “the strongest open Internet protections ever proposed by the FCC.”
22:44
Fess Up: We’re Taking Your ‘Climate Confessions’
Do you have a predilection for beef? Forget to flick off the lights? Or maybe you’re a much-too-frequent flier? Call in to confess your climate sins.
9:14
Catching Up on Sea Slug Science
The Hopkins’ rose sea slug has invaded Northern California, due to warming waters.
1:36
Remembering ‘The Father of the Pill’
The chemist Carl Djerassi passed away on January 30, 2015, at the age of 91.
SciFri Book Club: David Grann Answers Your Questions
“The Lost City of Z” author David Grann answers questions from SciFri Book Club readers.
What’s Causing the Color Change in Yellowstone’s Morning Glory Spring?
The interplay of light, bacteria, and water depth influence the dramatic colors at Yellowstone’s famous pool.
How Dense Is Snow?
How much water is there in snow? Use a kitchen measuring cup—and your math skills—to calculate the density of snow!
29:31
Scientists and the Public Disagree on Key Issues
Is it possible to shift public opinion on controversial scientific issues?
17:14
The True Story Behind ‘Spare Parts’
In “Spare Parts,” four teenage MacGyvers beat MIT with a smelly robot built with PVC pipe.
12:09
Small Drones Raise Big Legal Questions
Law professor Ryan Calo discusses how to regulate personal drones and other potentially invasive technologies.
17:14
Modernizing Money: ‘Chip-and-PIN’ Credit Cards and Mobile Payments
Sorting through the changing technology of credit cards and mobile payments.
7:46
Hitting the Sack: Sleep Cycles Can Affect Athletes’ Performance
An athlete’s performance can vary by up to 26 percent, depending on the time of day.
From a Destitute Phoenix School, an Underwater Robotics Team Rises
An excerpt from Joshua Davis’ book “Spare Parts.”
Face Time
We can make split-second judgments about someone’s personality and character without even consciously seeing their face.
How an Electric Eel Is Like a Taser
New research shows that the electric fish operates like a Taser to immobilize prey.
How Has Technology Changed Exploration?
Students will listen to explorers (both historical and present-day) describe their favorite expeditionary gadgets, then choose and justify one piece of technology to bring on an imaginary expedition, drawing from today’s modern tech.