Science Friday

Mathematician Steven Strogatz discusses the unexpected math in daily life, and how his field is picking up the pieces after AI disruptions.

The author of SciFri’s November book club pick on how she found meaning in the stories that unfolded in her yard.

It swims, it buzzes, it regenerates its brain: A tiny glassfish is becoming a model species for scientists. What could it teach us?

A food historian and nutrition researcher dig into the protein-maxxing trend—and explain why you might want to up your fiber intake instead.

Researchers have trapped a positron and held it at extremely cold temperatures for months, allowing them to measure its quantum properties.

Armadillos are turning up in states like Kentucky and Illinois, far from their warm southern habitats. Why are they moving north?

An analysis of bat genomes and fossil records has shown that the flying mammals first took wing in Europe some 60-65 million years ago.

Some online clinics are prescribing GLP-1 microdoses formulated by compounding pharmacies. Are these drugs safe and effective?

Terence Tao says mathematics is about understanding, not just right answers, and quick AI solutions are forcing soul-searching in the field.

T. rex may be the most famous prehistoric predator, but life wasn’t always bone-snapping chomps and food chain scaremongering.

Should we anthropomorphize animals or not? An actor and an ecologist share what they’ve learned about animal cognition.

Timekeeping scientists around the world voted to stop using leap seconds, but what does this mean for us?

Five years after “Klara and the Sun” was published, the film adaptation exists in an entirely different AI landscape.

In the name of safety, test engineers turn pill bottles over to kids, launch dead chickens through jet engines, and let bears loose on coolers.

CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna on the evolution of gene-editing technology, her own path, and what it takes to be a good scientist.

The proposed PRIMA space telescope just entered Phase B of its development. What does that mean?

Climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson reflects on this moment of the climate movement and why climate action should be fun.

"Whalefall" is a race against time, and sperm whale digestion. We get into the gooey gut science and what it took to bring it to the big screen.

A linguist weighs in on how "politician speak" has changed over the past century, and what it says about what we want from our leaders.

A free-floating seaweed called sargassum is exploding in the Atlantic ocean, clogging up coastlines from West Africa to the Caribbean.

For Ada Lovelace Day, our 2018 story about the women who made the internet, with the author of "Broad Band" and the founder of EchoNYC.

Attachment styles have taken off as a way to understand relationships. But does the science behind it line up with popular interpretations?

A new mRNA flu vaccine promises a closer match to circulating flu strains. But dysfunction at federal health agencies is complicating rollout.

El Niño is driving a Kelvin wave up the West Coast, raising sea levels. What is it, and how does it work?

This Cephalopod Week, we’re talking death spirals, cannibalism, and giant squid dissection.

In 2013, Frances Halzen spoke with Ira about the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. This week, Halzen won the Nobel Prize.

Why do some breakthroughs go dormant—and then wake up? Artist David Byrne writes about these sleeping beauties in his new book.

John Wilson’s latest feature film, “The History of Concrete” is an idiosyncratic journey about more than just concrete.

The tiny, three-pound tilcayo is the first cat species to be described in a century, and, yes—it is as cute as you’d think.

The country’s oldest natural history museum, in Philadelphia, has closed its doors to visitors. Will other museums follow?

Scientists are learning more about a recent impact crater on the moon. Plus, hunting for extraterrestrial life through technological clues.

The pandemic interrupted the lives of millions of kids. Researchers are studying the impact on their social and emotional development.

The latest scientific understanding of concussions is upending treatment recommendations for recovery.

More than 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, an illness with no current treatment. Is help on the way?

Concerns about AI safety are growing. Two researchers explain the unintended consequences of training AI models and what questions remain.

At the end of the last ice age, glacial melt inundated human settlements near shorelines. Underwater archeologists are uncovering their artifacts.

Hawaiʻi has generally been safe from the worst effects of hurricanes. But this year two hurricanes battered the islands in a matter of weeks.

Inventor John Rogers bridges the natural and artificial worlds with flexible, biocompatible electronics.

A new wellness trend focuses on stimulating the lymphatic system. What does this system do, and is there science to back these claims?

After decades of controversy over prescribing hormone therapy for perimenopause, many providers are reconsidering their approach.

Yohannes Haile-Selassie has a talent for spotting fossils, and has discovered clues to several branches of the human family tree.

Author Sam Kean explores our fascination with lost knowledge in his new book, “The Museum of Lost Things”

As black bears return to their historic ranges across the U.S., human encounters are increasing. How can bears and people live in harmony?

Shorter courses of antibiotics may reduce antimicrobial resistance. Plus, a new study finds a group of genes associated with fibromyalgia.

Cannabis seems to be everywhere, in many forms. We're learning more about its effect on teenage brains and its usefulness as a therapeutic.

The LUX-ZEPLIN detector picked up a strange signal that scientists haven’t cracked yet. Could it be a dark matter interaction?

Physicist Carlo Rovelli urges conversations between physics and philosophy in a search for answers about the universe.

Food recalls abounded this summer, but was it unusual? Plus, why some modern cars burst into flames, even when turned off.

In March 2026, we explored the science behind the much-hyped idea that you can "reset" your nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve.

Jennifer Chayes’ game-changing ideas in math and computer science helped pave the way for today’s innovations in machine learning and AI.

Moderna and Merck say an mRNA vaccine reduced melanoma recurrence in a clinical trial. Could this usher in a new era of cancer treatment?

One of the world’s largest organisms is an Oregon fungus thought to be over 8,000 years old. But what does age mean to a fungus, anyway?

The ocean is in trouble. But the sea has a hold on us, and the stories we tell about it are helping turn the tide.

Our January 2026 conversation about the goals for a crewed mission to Mars. Plus, updates on NASA's mission to survey the asteroid Psyche.

Medical AI tools are transcribing patient visits, responding to doctors' questions, and analyzing scans. What are the benefits—and the risks?

We know that climate change causes weather to be more extreme, more often. Attribution science tries to nail down exactly by how much.

How GPS transformed from a niche military technology to one we rely on every day.

In an effort to protect natural resources, environmentalists and tribes are using state-level public trust doctrines to fight development.

Little red dots appear all over images from the James Webb Space Telescope. They may belong to a new cosmic category called black hole stars.

If you got sucked back to dino times, you might get snacked on by a giant meat-eater. But what other dangers would you face?

Microplastics have been found throughout the body, including in placentas and reproductive organs. What does that mean for pregnancy?

Physics and climate science use the same basic principles, but institutions often keep them separate. Morgan O’Neill is trying to change that.

How do you create a model to help AI understand the physical world? Plus, the latest AI-driven advancements in math.

Researchers are looking into what triggers lucid episodes in Alzheimer's patients, and what they tell us about caring for people with dementia.

A record-breaking snow drought in Colorado jeopardizes skiing, fishing, and rafting. Can economies that rely on outdoor recreation adjust?

A new journal documents species “lost to science.” Plus, a project to locate lost firefly species in the U.S. and Canada.

An immunologist who's been on both sides of vaccine hesitancy talks about what drives it, what gets missed, and how to build trust.

What do the hydrodynamics of insect pee, $1 hearing aids, and squid robots have in common? A lab organized around curiosity, not disciplines.

Scientists have long thought extreme childbirth was unique to humans. But some other primates appear to face similar anatomical challenges.

Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland recounts her unconventional path into politics in a new book. And she tells us why lawsuits can be good.

Modern life involves a lot of sitting and staring at screens, and that takes a toll. Can moving for 5 minutes make a difference?

Dr. Masao Tomonaga was 2 when Nagasaki was bombed. In August 2025, he spoke with Ira Flatow about a lifetime caring for fellow survivors.

DNA signatures of plant and animal species remain behind even after they’ve been eaten, digested, excreted, and flushed down the toilet.

In a March 2026 story, Astronomer and Queen guitarist Brian May teamed up with astrophysicist Derek Ward-Thompson to bring the cosmos to 3D.

In a March 2026 story, Frances Arnold discusses her technique of “directed evolution” that creates enzymes with unusual abilities.

A pioneer of cancer neuroscience explains how brain cancer develops, the role of the nervous system, and what might lead to new treatments.

As NASA plans for longer spaceflights to the moon and Mars, a better menu is important both nutritionally and psychologically.

Extreme heat is hitting India hard. One physician is trying to understand the health impacts, and help Indians prepare for future heat waves.

A Florida research team catches and releases about 600 sharks a year to monitor their populations and study the health of marine ecosystems.

A new book tells the story of Black women cryptologists who deciphered Soviet telegrams intercepted during the early days of the Cold War.

In a 2025 story, Asha de Vos tells how she became the first Sri Lankan to earn a PhD studying marine mammals, then built a biology program.

In a story from February, how companies collect your personal data and compile it into a profile for advertisers, ICE, and other agencies.

Andrea Ghez developed a way to peer through dust clouds and observe stars orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

In a recent analysis, scientists argued that New Orleans should relocate. But planning for a city's future is about much more than geography.

Archeologists are piecing together the lives of ordinary Pompeii residents, from a fish sauce entrepreneur to an enterprising businesswoman.

The cyclospora outbreak causing diarrhea for thousands has been linked to shredded lettuce. What's making it so hard to pinpoint a source?

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is slated for launch in August. Plus, routine maintenance for the Alvin deep-sea submersible is no joke.

Cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy that comes from a tick bite, are climbing fast. But why does it only develop in certain people?

The sci-fi movie “Disclosure Day” predicts that our reaction to intelligent alien life will be chaotic. But what does the science say?

Sure, botflies are gross, but they also know just how to hitch a ride on a camel sneeze. An entomologist celebrates the world of parasites.

China's biotech industry is on a rapid rise, with the first approved brain-computer interface and massive growth in drug discovery.

Writer Craig Childs biked from the brightest sky to the darkest in our Book Club pick "The Wild Dark." Plus, the latest on light pollution.

Virologist, policymaker, diplomat: Dr. John Nkengasong discusses the current Ebola outbreak, and how public health is inherently political.

Two experts at the forefront of untangling the gut-brain connection explain its role in IBS, Parkinson’s, and depression.

In a 2025 story, Phish bassist Mike Gordon explains his work with neuroscientists to explore the transcendent experience of musical flow state.

Pharmaceutical companies can use overlapping patents to extend their exclusive rights to a drug, delaying production of cheaper generic forms.

Sure, the American colonies had Benjamin Franklin and his kite. But many other natural philosophers were thinking big thoughts about the world.

Researchers have engineered an artificial cell, hoping to build a customizable chassis for chemical production.

As NASA prepares for long-term moon bases, scientists are working on how to grow food in lunar soil and deal with razor-sharp moon dust.