Science Friday
@scifri.bsky.social
Entertaining & educational conversations about science, tech, + more. Hosted by Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman. From WNYCStudios.
To understand the amount of anatomical research that went into creating Guillermo del Toro’s new monster movie, you have to get a look at these tables. ⬇️
400-Year-Old Displays Of Human Tissue Live On In ‘Frankenstein’
The 17th century Evelyn Tables show real human nerves and veins, dried on wooden boards. Designers on the new Netflix film took note.
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November 10, 2025 at 10:55 PM
To understand the amount of anatomical research that went into creating Guillermo del Toro’s new monster movie, you have to get a look at these tables. ⬇️
There's more evidence that mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 can supercharge the immune system—this time in cancer patients.
Study Finds COVID mRNA Vaccines Boost Cancer Treatment
New research found that mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 could enhance cancer treatments and help patients live longer.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 5:11 PM
There's more evidence that mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 can supercharge the immune system—this time in cancer patients.
"With wave energy, there just hasn’t been the opportunity to test. And realistically, testing out in the ocean is far more difficult than testing on land," reporter Jes Burns told SciFri. That's just one reason why wave energy hasn't yet made a splash: buff.ly/rinHW2K
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
"With wave energy, there just hasn’t been the opportunity to test. And realistically, testing out in the ocean is far more difficult than testing on land," reporter Jes Burns told SciFri. That's just one reason why wave energy hasn't yet made a splash: buff.ly/rinHW2K
Information scientist Jed Brubaker used to think it best to delete the social media profiles of deceased loved ones. His research changed his mind: buff.ly/8pmUDHF
November 10, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Information scientist Jed Brubaker used to think it best to delete the social media profiles of deceased loved ones. His research changed his mind: buff.ly/8pmUDHF
@geodesaurus.bsky.social, creator of the Spooky Lake Month series on TikTok and Instagram, gave us a guided tour of some of the world's most mysterious lakes.
🎧 Listen—if you're feeling brave: buff.ly/SyRWeKb
🎧 Listen—if you're feeling brave: buff.ly/SyRWeKb
November 9, 2025 at 1:12 PM
@geodesaurus.bsky.social, creator of the Spooky Lake Month series on TikTok and Instagram, gave us a guided tour of some of the world's most mysterious lakes.
🎧 Listen—if you're feeling brave: buff.ly/SyRWeKb
🎧 Listen—if you're feeling brave: buff.ly/SyRWeKb
This researcher is exploring both the biology of endometriosis and why it’s so difficult for people to get diagnosed. For her, it’s personal: She happens to have the condition.
Endometriosis Is Common. Why Is Getting Diagnosed So Hard?
A scientist diagnosed with endometriosis is working to answer fundamental questions about the disease and pave the way for better treatments.
buff.ly
November 8, 2025 at 10:50 PM
This researcher is exploring both the biology of endometriosis and why it’s so difficult for people to get diagnosed. For her, it’s personal: She happens to have the condition.
Drumroll please. 🥁
We have *forecasted* the winners of Science Friday's first-ever Halloween costume contest. They really *blew away* their competition.🌪️
We have *forecasted* the winners of Science Friday's first-ever Halloween costume contest. They really *blew away* their competition.🌪️
November 8, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Drumroll please. 🥁
We have *forecasted* the winners of Science Friday's first-ever Halloween costume contest. They really *blew away* their competition.🌪️
We have *forecasted* the winners of Science Friday's first-ever Halloween costume contest. They really *blew away* their competition.🌪️
In a story from March, psychologist Jennifer Katzenstein shares how mental health information on social media can be both revelatory and misleading—and how we can make sense of it: buff.ly/c5lWXUU
!["As we’ve had more and more young adults share their experiences, how they’re feeling, how that impacts them in their daily lives, it’s empowered others to be able to have that insight, [and] recognize they not only can be open about that and share it with others, but go and seek supports when they need them." —Dr. Jennifer Katzenstein](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rjtifgmgwnacwa24lqp4tpsy/bafkreicbwx4w5ompo2sxvyhgu2gfaullnwtbwn4xz3h25nrcyvpvbhptua@jpeg)
November 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
In a story from March, psychologist Jennifer Katzenstein shares how mental health information on social media can be both revelatory and misleading—and how we can make sense of it: buff.ly/c5lWXUU
“We live in the desert and we really need these water sources for wildlife to survive,” says a conservation manager. A new section of border wall could deplete springs in a crucial wildlife corridor between Arizona and Mexico—and that’s just one concern about it.
Will Border Wall Construction Deplete Desert Springs?
Volunteers are monitoring natural springs in an Arizona wilderness to understand what the construction of a border wall will cost wildlife.
buff.ly
November 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
“We live in the desert and we really need these water sources for wildlife to survive,” says a conservation manager. A new section of border wall could deplete springs in a crucial wildlife corridor between Arizona and Mexico—and that’s just one concern about it.
People have long wondered if dinosaurs really would've thrived if not for the asteroid that killed them. Two new studies, involving paleontologists @stevebrusatte.bsky.social and Lindsay Zanno, dig further into that question.
Were Dinos On Their Way Out Before The Asteroid Hit? Maybe Not
Two new studies suggest that, contrary to longstanding beliefs, dinosaurs were not on the decline before the Chicxulub asteroid impact.
buff.ly
November 7, 2025 at 6:19 PM
People have long wondered if dinosaurs really would've thrived if not for the asteroid that killed them. Two new studies, involving paleontologists @stevebrusatte.bsky.social and Lindsay Zanno, dig further into that question.
Happy Science Friday! Here’s what we’re covering today on the show. Listen on your local public radio station, 2-4 p.m. ET. 📰 🪅 🦕
Learn more here: buff.ly/GYpt7Xw
Learn more here: buff.ly/GYpt7Xw
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Happy Science Friday! Here’s what we’re covering today on the show. Listen on your local public radio station, 2-4 p.m. ET. 📰 🪅 🦕
Learn more here: buff.ly/GYpt7Xw
Learn more here: buff.ly/GYpt7Xw
✨ Understanding the world just takes a little bit of math, says renowned physicist and author Sean M. Carroll. Now, you can experience his big ideas live—alongside SciFri host Ira Flatow—at WNYC’s Greene Space in New York City.
Get more details and buy tickets here: buff.ly/XBrRvSi
Get more details and buy tickets here: buff.ly/XBrRvSi
November 7, 2025 at 12:56 AM
✨ Understanding the world just takes a little bit of math, says renowned physicist and author Sean M. Carroll. Now, you can experience his big ideas live—alongside SciFri host Ira Flatow—at WNYC’s Greene Space in New York City.
Get more details and buy tickets here: buff.ly/XBrRvSi
Get more details and buy tickets here: buff.ly/XBrRvSi
📣 Calling all educators! Get experiments, lesson ideas, PD opportunities and more—delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free, monthly K-12 education newsletter today: buff.ly/gaW2Xht
![Subscribe to the Science Friday Educate monthly newsletter. [image of child looking through telescope with adult]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rjtifgmgwnacwa24lqp4tpsy/bafkreify7bhdzl72rkmpqe5lgrsoss5ojrwe6hhnl5gcvgbmq4cmjcvary@jpeg)
November 6, 2025 at 8:41 PM
📣 Calling all educators! Get experiments, lesson ideas, PD opportunities and more—delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free, monthly K-12 education newsletter today: buff.ly/gaW2Xht
With Black Friday approaching, you might be looking for a deal on a super-high-res television. But a new study questions whether you’ll see a difference—literally. 👀
Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Resolution On A TV?
At what point does the resolution on a TV display outpace what human eyes can actually see? Researchers investigated.
www.sciencefriday.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:26 PM
With Black Friday approaching, you might be looking for a deal on a super-high-res television. But a new study questions whether you’ll see a difference—literally. 👀
When someone is drawn to a map, it can be about “connection to a place, a reminder of who they are as a human being, and an identity," says Andrew Middleton, owner of The Map Center. Here are some of the maps *you* shared with us. ⬇️
We Asked What Maps You Love. Here’s What You Showed Us.
Maps aren’t just for navigation. They’re also about stories, identity, and understanding the world around us–even if the picture is incomplete.
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 1:18 AM
When someone is drawn to a map, it can be about “connection to a place, a reminder of who they are as a human being, and an identity," says Andrew Middleton, owner of The Map Center. Here are some of the maps *you* shared with us. ⬇️
Decades ago, non-native carp escaped into the Illinois River, wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. Now, a proposed project that’s both expensive and contentious aims to keep the fish out of the Great Lakes. 🐟
Can A Billion-Dollar Barricade Keep Carp Out Of The Great Lakes?
A giant infrastructure project aims to block invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan, but Chicago’s polluted water already keeps them out.
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Decades ago, non-native carp escaped into the Illinois River, wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. Now, a proposed project that’s both expensive and contentious aims to keep the fish out of the Great Lakes. 🐟
Our #PictureOfTheWeek is a bit fishy. 🍣
"Wildtype is the only company that is making and selling lab-grown fish to restaurants in the US," says SciFri Producer Kathleen Davis, who gave its salmon a try in San Francisco. Can you guess which fish is lab-grown and which is traditional in this photo?
"Wildtype is the only company that is making and selling lab-grown fish to restaurants in the US," says SciFri Producer Kathleen Davis, who gave its salmon a try in San Francisco. Can you guess which fish is lab-grown and which is traditional in this photo?
November 5, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Our #PictureOfTheWeek is a bit fishy. 🍣
"Wildtype is the only company that is making and selling lab-grown fish to restaurants in the US," says SciFri Producer Kathleen Davis, who gave its salmon a try in San Francisco. Can you guess which fish is lab-grown and which is traditional in this photo?
"Wildtype is the only company that is making and selling lab-grown fish to restaurants in the US," says SciFri Producer Kathleen Davis, who gave its salmon a try in San Francisco. Can you guess which fish is lab-grown and which is traditional in this photo?
Digital photo albums. Old voicemails. Your Facebook profile. Your digital presence will outlive you. Here's what happens to it after you die: buff.ly/8pmUDHF
November 5, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Digital photo albums. Old voicemails. Your Facebook profile. Your digital presence will outlive you. Here's what happens to it after you die: buff.ly/8pmUDHF
What has external gills, a perma-smile, and a limb-regenerating superpower? The axolotl, of course! These salamanders are popular research subjects, but their wild habitat is down to just one lake—and the race to save them is mounting.
Inside The Race To Save Wild Axolotls
Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is the only place where axolotls live in the wild, and they face growing threats.
buff.ly
November 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
What has external gills, a perma-smile, and a limb-regenerating superpower? The axolotl, of course! These salamanders are popular research subjects, but their wild habitat is down to just one lake—and the race to save them is mounting.
@geodesaurus.bsky.social loves lakes and ponds, especially the possessed ones. Hear what she told us about a special Lake Superior resident (and learn about three quintessentially creepy creatures, too): buff.ly/SyRWeKb
November 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
@geodesaurus.bsky.social loves lakes and ponds, especially the possessed ones. Hear what she told us about a special Lake Superior resident (and learn about three quintessentially creepy creatures, too): buff.ly/SyRWeKb
In a sea of renewable energy technology, wave power hasn’t yet made a splash. Reporter Jes Burns shares the latest on a massive wave energy testing site in Oregon, and an ocean engineer explains what’s going on with the tech elsewhere.
Why Hasn’t Wave Energy Gotten Its Sea Legs Yet?
It’s hard to convert energy from the ocean into electricity, thanks to a tough regulatory environment and, well, the ocean.
buff.ly
November 4, 2025 at 12:09 AM
In a sea of renewable energy technology, wave power hasn’t yet made a splash. Reporter Jes Burns shares the latest on a massive wave energy testing site in Oregon, and an ocean engineer explains what’s going on with the tech elsewhere.
Welcome to Nightmare on Nerd Street. Your science-inspired costumes blew the top off our chemistry sets. Now, SciFri staff have narrowed the competition down to 10 terrific finalists, and it's time for YOU to pick our winner.
🧵1/11
🧵1/11
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Welcome to Nightmare on Nerd Street. Your science-inspired costumes blew the top off our chemistry sets. Now, SciFri staff have narrowed the competition down to 10 terrific finalists, and it's time for YOU to pick our winner.
🧵1/11
🧵1/11
“It took a long time for my OB to take me seriously.” Here's what the latest research says about the science of endometriosis—and why it takes so long for so many people to get diagnosed.
Endometriosis Is Common. Why Is Getting Diagnosed So Hard?
A scientist diagnosed with endometriosis is working to answer fundamental questions about the disease and pave the way for better treatments.
buff.ly
November 3, 2025 at 7:03 PM
“It took a long time for my OB to take me seriously.” Here's what the latest research says about the science of endometriosis—and why it takes so long for so many people to get diagnosed.
Behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner is a lover of horror. But sometimes, the genre isn't enough to get everyone's heart rate up, he explains: buff.ly/65RuAZY
November 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner is a lover of horror. But sometimes, the genre isn't enough to get everyone's heart rate up, he explains: buff.ly/65RuAZY
In 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases began recommending exposing children to peanuts “early and often.” A @stanfordallergy.bsky.social physician shares what's happened since that recommendation. 🥜
Peanut Allergies In Kids Are Finally On The Decline
A 2017 change in guidance recommended exposing children to allergens “early and often,” likely preventing tens of thousands of allergy cases.
buff.ly
November 2, 2025 at 10:26 PM
In 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases began recommending exposing children to peanuts “early and often.” A @stanfordallergy.bsky.social physician shares what's happened since that recommendation. 🥜