SciFri
Entertaining conversations about science, technology and other stuff that’ll blow your mind and help you make sense of our weird, fascinating world. From supermassive black holes to superbugs, Science Friday brings you the latest in science news and connects you with leading experts to dig deeper. The show is hosted by Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman, and is distributed by WNYC Studios to over 500 public radio stations across the country.
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SciFri
Science Friday's Book Club is having a live Q&A with New York Times bestselling author Daniel H. Wilson!
When: Friday, May 29 at 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT
Where: Science Friday’s YouTube channel
Click the "Notify Me" button to make sure you don't miss it!
We'll be discussing our May/June read "Hole in the Sky" and Daniel’s life as an author, robotics engineer, and Cherokee citizen. Bring your curiosity as we'll be answering your questions live!
Not in our book club? No problem, all are welcome! And if you want to read along with us next time, we'd love to have you join. You can find more information about our book club in the livestream description.
1 day ago | [YT] | 2
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SciFri
Our new online shop is stocked with all kinds of merch for every SciFri listener: tees, hoodies, hats, mugs, and even onesies for the lil' fri in your life.
Check it out on our website at sciencefriday.com/shop and gear up, because science doesn't wait for Friday!
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 19
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SciFri
Something a little different today! We're bringing you the full video of our podcast.
Joining Ira Flatow to talk about some forgotten species from the past tens of millions of years—think gorilla-sized penguins—is Steve Brusatte, paleontologist and author of “The Story of Birds: A New History from their Dinosaur Origins to the Present.”
Let us know in the comments if you'd like to see more of these!
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 3
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SciFri
We’re working on an episode about the psychedelic ibogaine.
It's illegal in the U.S., but it has shown promise for treating traumatic brain injuries, addiction, and other conditions.
Have you used ibogaine before? What was it like? Where did you first learn about it? What made you want to try it?
Call Science Friday at 877-472-4374 and tell us about it.
1 month ago | [YT] | 11
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SciFri
For Earth Day, we asked for your favorite places on the planet and you took us to Zion National Park, Easter Island, and even into your backyards.
Hear more listener voicemails on our podcast today, as two poets help us put the beauty of our planet into words. We are so grateful to make episodes like this one, and it's only possible because of listeners like you.
If episodes like this are why you tune in, please consider making a donation on our website this Earth Day. Your support makes it possible for us to keep science journalism on the air.
1 month ago | [YT] | 14
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SciFri
Earth day is coming up and we want to hear about the places on our planet that you love and feel connected to.
Maybe it's the pond where you learned to swim. Your grandma’s garden that has the best tomatoes. Your park, your beach, even your backyard!
Take us to your happy place and tell us why it means so much to you.
Call 877-472-4374 and leave a voicemail!
1 month ago | [YT] | 9
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SciFri
Dr. Tracy Scott@tracylscott wasn't just a child from the Apollo era. She was a child of an Apollo astronaut. Her dad is Commander David R. Scott, who went to space three times and was the seventh person to walk on the moon.
We’ve talked a lot about astronauts because of the recent Artemis II mission, but what about the families watching from Earth?
Tracy gave Science Friday a glimpse into her childhood and her new perspective as a sociologist studying the lives and families of Moonshot era astronauts. Hear the full convo on our YouTube channel.
Photo Credit: Nasa
Image 1: David R. Scott salutes the camera on the moon during the Apollo 15 mission.
Image 2: David R. Scott drives the lunar rover during the Apollo 15 mission.
Image 3: David R. Scott stands in the open hatch during the Apollo 9 mission.
Image 4: David Scott with his family, including daughter Tracy Scott, in April 1971.
1 month ago | [YT] | 28
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SciFri
A newborn sperm whale is held up by its family as it takes its first breath in our #PictureOfTheWeek.
The entire birth was captured on camera off the coast of Dominica, giving researchers new insight into sperm whale behavior.
We spoke with whale biologist Dr. Shane Gero, one of the researchers who witnessed the event, about the different roles the whales took on, from fending off nearby pilot whales and dolphins to helping the calf to the surface. Plus, he explains how one whale got the name “Fruit Salad.”
Listen to the podcast on our channel and check out our shorts to watch the whale birth video.
Photo credits:
© Project CETI and Brian J. Skerry/National Geographic
1 month ago | [YT] | 57
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SciFri
Our #PictureOfTheWeek pairs the iconic “Blue Marble,” captured by the final Apollo crew, with a new image from Artemis II aptly named “Hello, World.”
The Orion spacecraft has entered the lunar sphere of influence, where the Moon’s gravity has a stronger pull than Earth’s. As Mission Specialist Christina Koch put it, “We are now falling to the Moon rather than rising away from Earth.”
Tonight, the Artemis II crew will loop around the Moon and break the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.
Want to know more about the Artemis II mission? Listen to our recent podcast on our YouTube channel.
1. Comparison picture of Earth taken by the Apollo17 crew in 1972 and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman in 2026.
2. Artemis II captures the terminator line.
3. NASA astronaut / Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of a window on the Orion spacecraft.
4. A picture of the Moon from the Orion spacecraft, which entered the lunar sphere of influence on April 6.
5. Orion took a selfie in space with a camera mounted on one of its solar array wings during a routine external inspection of the spacecraft.
6. The Artemis II crew presented Jeremy Hansen with his Gold Wings signifying his first flight into space during Flight Day 5.
Images credit: Nasa
1 month ago | [YT] | 74
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SciFri
Join us tomorrow for a live Q&A with author Elizabeth Kolbert. 🌎️
Where will you go when you follow climate stories across the globe? In “Life on a Little-Known Planet”, Kolbert brings us along to meet the researchers and communities working to protect our changing world.
We’ll explore the science behind our Book Club pick for March and April 2026. Plus, Kolbert will answer questions from the live chat!
Watch on our YouTube channel Friday, March 27th at 4pm ET/ 1pm PT.
Want to learn more about SciFri Book Club? You can find all the info on our website: www.sciencefriday.com/sf-books/life-on-a-little-kn…
2 months ago | [YT] | 6
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