July 12, 2024
Rising temperatures shut down some conchs’ impulse to reproduce. So scientists are ferrying them to colonies in deeper, cooler waters. Plus, there are currently 323 ongoing drug shortages in the U.S., leaving patients scrambling for necessary medications. And, new research shows that cats’ tendency to scratch is affected by stress, certain kinds of play, and how active they are at night.
33:27
Ready, Set, Play: 2022’s Best Science Fiction Games
Nerd out with the newest science fiction and science-inspired video and board games of the year (and the slightly recent past).
12:17
To Stop Whale Strikes, Ships Were Asked To Slow Down. It Worked
NOAA found that when ships decreased their speed during migration times, whale fatalities were cut in half.
16:32
How The Transistor Transformed The World
The invention of the transistor 75 years ago made the modern age possible, thanks to its ability to amplify or switch electrical signals.
17:31
Medicine Is Failing Disabled Patients. Meet The Doctors Pushing For Change
A series of studies reveals a majority of doctors don’t feel confident they can give disabled patients the same level of care as their non-disabled patients. Our guests aim to change that.
The Best Of Science Friday, 2022
In a year of unpredictable news, science or otherwise, these are the stories that moved, inspired & fascinated Science Friday’s staff.
11:40
Wish A Happy 190th Birthday To Jonathan The Tortoise
Plus, scientists have found the oldest known fragments of DNA.
33:15
The Joy And Sadness Of Bird Counting
From grasslands to beaches, bird species are losing numbers in droves. Plus, celebrating the birds that are with us here and now.
16:32
How Will AI Image Generators Affect Artists?
AI text-to-image generators, like DALL-E 2 and Midjourney, produce impressive and trippy images. But how will they change art and our society?
28:31
The Science Behind The Psychedelics Boom
As therapeutic psychedelics become more readily available, scientists are continuing to answer fundamental questions about the drugs’ medicinal benefits.
Donate To Science Friday
Want to help support Science Friday for the next 30 years? Make a gift today and support quality science journalism.
12:05
Hawai’i’s Mauna Loa Volcanic Eruption Sparing Homes For Now
So far no one is at imminent risk from the flow of lava from the famed volcano. But an important climate research station is without power.
10:33
Scientists Discover What Makes Jazz Music Swing
Research mixing math and music finds what gives jazz that funky feeling.
11:48
Consider Empathy For The Yeti Crab (And Other Sea Creatures, Too)
Science writer Sabrina Imbler’s wide-ranging essays mix memoir and marine biology in “How Far The Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures.”
17:23
Advances In Pig-To-Human Organ Transplantation Hold Promise
Scientists hope that pig-to-human organ transplantation could someday save the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people waiting for organ donations.
11:13
Teaching Your Smart Devices To Get Along
A new standard for Internet of Things devices may smooth some of the headaches of a device-heavy smart home.
6:12
Putting Tap Water To The Test
Reporter Alex Hager reports on what happens when sommelier standards are applied to Colorado’s tap water.
23:55
A Nobel Prize For Chemistry Work ‘Totally Separate From Biology’
Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi talks about her groundbreaking research and how it might be applied to advanced drug delivery.
Celebrating The Human Side Of Sea Creatures
Sabrina Imbler’s book traces their life through the stories of ten sea creatures.
17:02
Indigenous Knowledge Is Central To Climate Solutions
Indigenous scientist and author Jessica Hernandez on what it might mean to heal—rather than conserve—endangered landscapes.
16:39
Prizes For Science That Makes You Laugh, Then Think
From the engineering of doorknobs to an algorithm that tells you when to lie, an annual salute to unusual science.