Science Friday

Plastics are everywhere, in packaging, clothing, and even our bodies. Could they be made less integral to manufacturing and more recyclable?

Superfund sites contain extreme pollution. Flooding—made worse by climate change—could carry their toxic contaminants into surrounding areas.

An explosion of research is painting a clearer picture of how climate change is affecting mental health across the globe. Also, a citizen science project aims to find species that have gone unnoticed by sampling the waters of hundreds of lakes worldwide for environmental DNA.

Global temperature increases are slowing, electric vehicle sales are growing, and renewable energy is now cheaper than some fossil fuels. Also, in a recent outbreak of avian flu, the virus has jumped from birds to cows, and to one dairy worker. A disease ecologist provides context.

When you watch a baseball game, you’re also enjoying a spectacular display of science—from physics to biomechanics.

Some food has a larger carbon footprint when grown in urban settings than on commercial farms, while for other foods the reverse is true. Also, what’s the difference between wildflowers blooming in the desert each spring, and the rare phenomenon of a “superbloom”?

Varroa destructor mites are killing honeybees and their babies at alarming rates.

These lesser-known nervous system cells were long thought to be the “glue” holding neurons together. They’re much more.

A long-awaited rule from the EPA limits the amounts of six PFAS chemicals allowed in public drinking water supplies. Also, some spiders, beetles, and centipedes spend winter under snow in a layer called the subnivium. Plus, a drumroll for the total solar eclipse.

When an animal dies at Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo, a pathologist gathers clues about its health and death from a necropsy.

In the ever-changing and biodiverse Chesapeake Bay, conservation and food production go hand in hand.

Satellite technology—and community outreach—can help harness trees’ cooling power for city residents.

Dr. Eric Topol discusses the promise of “opportunistic” AI, using medical scans for unintended diagnostic purposes. Also, a study in mice found that the brain tags new memories through a “sharp wave ripple” mechanism that then repeats during sleep.

A Massachusetts man who received a kidney from a genetically modified pig is recovering well. Also, on April 8, a total solar eclipse will plunge parts of North America into darkness. Scientists answer the questions you asked.

We revisit a 2020 interview with cosmologist Katie Mack about how the universe could end. Plus, remembering psychologist Daniel Kahneman.

Officials say offshore wind turbines aren’t killing North Atlantic right whales. So why do so many people think otherwise?

After a controversial Alzheimer’s medication was discontinued, a new anti-amyloid drug receives extra scrutiny from the FDA.

Particle accelerators, nanofibers, and solar physics: The science advisor for the Netflix adaptation breaks down the physics in the show. Also, in her new book, Jessica J. Lee looks at how humans have moved plants around the globe–and how our migrations are intertwined with theirs.

We look into the engineering reasons why the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed after a ship crashed into it. Also, a new analysis finds that more viruses spread from humans to animals than from animals to humans.

In a conversation from 2019, Dr. Frans de Waal tells the story of a female chimp who didn’t produce enough milk to feed her young. The prominent primatologist, who died this month, helped humans understand the emotional lives of our closest living animal relatives.

In a new memoir, planetary scientist Dr. Dante Lauretta takes readers behind the scenes of a mission to secure a sample from the asteroid Bennu.

Understanding how sea lions move through water could help engineers design better underwater vehicles.

The U.S. Botanic Garden is one of 62 locations across the United States that rescue endangered species poached in the wild.

The World Meteorological Organization’s report confirms last year had the highest temperatures on record and predicts an even hotter 2024. Also, NASA’s new PACE satellite will study how these tiny creatures could affect Earth’s climate, and how aerosols influence air quality.

A group of fish called gar, dubbed “living fossils,” may have the slowest rate of evolution of any jawed vertebrate.

Four years ago this week, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Experts say it’s far from over.

In her new book, Dr. Arielle Johnson explains how and what we taste with chemistry.

Post-Dobbs, ob-gyns and medical students alike must navigate the risk of criminal prosecution associated with patient care in some states.

A recent study looked into life-threatening Acanthamoeba infections, and a few deaths, linked to the use of tap water with devices like neti pots. And, in ‘The Balanced Brain,’ Dr. Camilla Nord explores the neuroscience behind mental health, and how our brains deal with life’s challenges.

Do you think math is boring? Drag queen Kyne is on a mission to make math fun and accessible for all.

A new book explores idiopathic hypersomnia, which causes overwhelming daytime sleepiness despite ample sleep.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has unveiled an election science task force led by experts from across the country. Also, a survey of soil and animal poop samples from around the world identified 18 new species of Enterococcus bacteria.

On the heels of the Oscars, we dive into three films that take us to other worlds: A planetary scientist compares Arrakis from 'Dune' to real planets and analyzes whether life could exist on such a sandy, scorching-hot world. And, in a new documentary, NASA psychologists try to find solutions for the mental health challenges of a three-year trip to Mars. Finally, in the movie “65,” an alien crashes on Earth during the Jurassic era, shocked to discover dinosaurs. An astrobiologist has questions.

Voyager 1 has been sending incoherent data back to Earth, possibly marking the beginning of the end of its decades-old mission.

The book “Countdown” looks at why the US is modernizing its arsenal, and what it means to exist with nuclear weapons.

Neuroscience graduate student Senegal Alfred Mabry is looking at effects of Parkinson’s disease beyond the most visible body tremors.

In the trees, through the water, and under the dirt: Snakes evolve faster than their lizard relatives, allowing them to occupy diverse niches. Also, researchers are working to understand just how baleen whales are able to produce their haunting songs.

Two pediatricians discuss the outbreak, vaccine hesitancy, and unraveling public health measures in Florida and beyond.

The Greek philosopher Pythagoras had specific ideas about the mathematical ratios behind music. It turns out that he was wrong. Also, the charcoal-like substance known as biochar packs carbon into a stable form, making it less likely to escape into the atmosphere.

A new generation of space lawyers will broker deals and handle disputes between countries as the world enters a new era of space exploration.

Despite their reputation as super-smellers, sharks don’t have a better sense of smell than other fish. One researcher investigates.

How can some people recall random facts so easily? It may have to do with what else they remember about the moment they learned the information. Also, in Kenya, an invading ant species pushed out ants that protected acacia trees. That had cascading effects for elephants, zebras, lions, and buffalo.

A security expert weighs in on Sora, OpenAI’s new text-to-video generator, and the risks it could pose, especially during an election year.

The Odysseus lander, made by Intuitive Machines and launched by SpaceX a week ago, is the first commercial mission to soft-land on the moon. Also, scientists try swapping silver iodide for liquid propane to keep long-running cloud seeding programs effective in warmer temperatures.

Scientists are working to make chemical research more accessible to blind and low-vision students through 3D-printed models and modified equipment.

As the environmental costs of tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E mount, governments are demanding more clarity from tech companies.

Researchers found that a specific number and symmetry of certain feathers can indicate whether a bird (or dinosaur) could fly. Plus, a lack of diversity in the microbes that make Camembert, brie, and some blue cheeses could mean we bid adieu to some French varieties.

Michael Mann discusses what the victory means for the public understanding of climate science—and for bad-faith attacks on scientists.

If successful, Odysseus will be the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since the Apollo mission. And, in East Palestine, Ohio, the stream that flows under residents’ houses is still polluted following a train derailment and chemical spill.

The leaders of a global architecture and design firm discuss how design can help communities adapt to global crises.

A new podcast series examines sonified space data to explore pivotal moments throughout the history of astronomy.

Colorectal cancer is becoming increasingly common among adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Plus, associating images and sounds from a child’s daily life helped teach a computer model a set of basic nouns.

In a new book, Dr. Uché Blackstock reflects on her experiences as a Black physician and the structural racism embedded in medicine.

Hycean planets were thought to be covered by oceans of water, but a new study suggests it could be magma instead. And, author Rafi Kohan explains the psychological and physiological responses to trash talk, ahead of Super Bowl Sunday.

A new study uses artificial intelligence to show that each of our ten fingerprints are remarkably similar to one another. Plus, honey could be the secret ingredient in building a more eco-friendly “memristor,” which transmits data through malleable pathways.

The first CRISPR gene-editing treatment is a cure for sickle cell disease. Are we on the cusp of a gene therapy revolution?

A team of scientists in Ecuador is on a mission to describe new-to-science tarantula species to help secure conservation protections. And, undergraduate researchers pasted striped capes onto termites’ backs to see if a well-known warning sign would fend off predators.

New findings about how substances like air pollutants can trigger cancer may help reveal carcinogens we were unaware of.

There has been a boom of syphilis cases, including a 180% increase in congenital syphilis cases, despite other STI levels staying stable. Also, the world's largest deep-sea reef stretches for hundreds of miles in near-freezing waters and total darkness, but it’s bustling with life.

Writing about animals’ sensory experiences in ‘An Immense World’ changed author Ed Yong’s own worldview—and hobbies.

A lab at Gallaudet University is creating television shows with signing characters to increase literacy in both English and ASL.

Veterinary experts discuss what is known about the potential respiratory pathogen—or pathogens—and which dogs are most at risk.

Irth is a “Yelp-like” app to help expectant parents make informed decisions by exposing bias and racism in healthcare systems. Also, a new video camera system shows the colors of the natural world as different animals see them.

Engineers had to design bespoke tools to open the OSIRIS-REx capsule nearly four months after it arrived back on Earth. Also, prescription rates for ADHD drugs rose by 30% from 2020-2022, with large increases among women and young people.

Researchers in Michigan modeled a prehistoric land bridge and used AI to predict where caribou–and humans–might have traveled along it. Also, artist Sarah Rosalena uses Indigenous weaving, ceramics, and sculpture practices to create art that challenges tech’s future.

In a conversation from 2014, Ira and guests looked back on the early days of personal computing, talk about how the Macintosh came to be, and reflect on what the anniversary of the Mac meant after 30 years.

A new book explores how the moon changed us—and how we’ve changed the moon.

Scientists are testing artificial intelligence’s ability to read imaging results, make diagnoses, and more. Listeners call in.

In China, a cloned rhesus monkey has lived for over two years, signifying advances in cloning and reproductive gene editing technology.

The new atlas catalogs cell types by the genes they express, which could help medical researchers tailor treatments.

Scientists can coax stem cells into clusters that mimic the functions of brain regions, which could help us understand brain disorders.

In a conversation from March 2023, the maritime archeologist who found the storied wreck discusses the mission and his new book.

Dr. Adam Frank discusses the human fascination with extraterrestrial life—and the scientific search for it—in his new book.

With this week’s delays to Artemis II and III, astronauts likely won’t walk on the moon until 2026 at the earliest. Also, weight-loss drugs, AI, clean-energy tech and more: digging into MIT Technology Review’s annual list with executive editor Amy Nordrum.

Spending time in space affects everything from eyesight to bone health. NASA’s CIPHER program will measure these changes and more.

In 2023, a flood of science journalists lost their jobs. At the same time, public trust in science continues to decline.

It's been 50 years since the Endangered Species Act established protections for plant and animal species at risk of extinction. Conservationists discuss ongoing efforts to protect orchids and red wolves.

It's been 50 years since the Endangered Species Act established protections for plant and animal species at risk of extinction. Two conservationists discuss the effort to save Hawaiian land snails.

Look out for a total solar eclipse, more solar flares, and the Parker Solar Probe’s closest approach to the sun. Also, underground hydrogen stores have raised renewable energy hopes, but can the industry overcome the logistical hurdles of distributing it?

In November 2023, the SciFri Book Club met with author Ainissa Ramirez to talk about how our values are baked into our creations—and the people who helped bring them into reality.

In August 2023, the SciFri Book Club talked with author John Scalzi about what it takes to write a believable monster onto the page.

In a conversation from May 2023, astrophysicist Dr. Erin Macdonald talks about consulting on the famous series and the real (and fictional) science on screen.

When math is based on abstract concepts, how do we know it’s correct? In a conversation from October 2023, Dr. Eugenia Cheng takes on that question in a new book.

In conversations from 2023, Jennifer Ackerman’s delves into owls' mysteries, and an artificial tongue helps researchers understand how texture impacts what people like about chocolate.

Earlier this year, the SciFri Book Club met to reflect on our favorite stories from last year and the future of scientific discovery and journalism.

In a conversation from 2023, an author celebrates the beautiful and underappreciated seaweeds shaping coastlines around the world. Also, scientists have recovered the DNA of thousands of new species of fungi from the environment, but they aren’t eligible for scientific names.

For decades, panda policy has guided conservation advancements. Now, pandas in the US are being returned to China.

Researchers used music to elicit different emotions, then looked at how shifts in emotion influenced participants’ memory formation.

This year brought us new vaccines, a highly anticipated asteroid sample, and an update to T. rex’s smile. Also, local historic committees in Cape Cod are blocking some residents from installing solar panels, citing visual impact on the neighborhood.

Pennsylvania will receive more than $1.6 billion in opioid settlement funds. But state laws may prevent that money from going to syringe services. Also, Dr. Carlotta Berry writes romance novels about Black women in the sciences to encourage more people to go into the field.

Scientists are using leftover cocoa pod husks to extract lignin, an organic polymer that can become flame retardant, foam, or a straw. Also, Non-Newtonian fluids challenge our ideas of what’s liquid and what’s solid. We now have a better understanding of how they work.

A recent report estimates that climate reparations of the US and UK militaries would reach $111 billion.

While they’re nesting, chinstrap penguins take thousands of seconds-long naps a day. It adds up. Also, powerful cosmic rays like the “Amaterasu” particle are typically caused by celestial events. This one’s source is unknown.

COP28 ended with an agreement calling for a transition away from fossil fuels, but critics say it’s too little, too late. Also, some people are more prone to develop seasonal depression. A researcher discusses the most effective treatments.

Birders across the world band together to record the number of birds in their communities from Dec 14 to Jan 5.

In a conversation from 2021, Ira and a researcher discuss how the physics of plasma, particles, and the Earth’s magnetic field combine in dazzling displays of aurora.

In a new book, astronaut Mike Massimino reflects on his time in space, and what it taught him about succeeding on Earth.

In a conversation from 2016, Ira and Dava Sobel discuss a team of women astronomers at the Harvard College Observatory who worked to classify the stars at the beginning of the 20th century.

A new theory pins the throbbing pain of a red wine headache on quercetin, an antioxidant in grape skins. Plus, wildfires in the Western US have not only lowered air quality, but led to increased deaths between 2000 and 2020.