Science Friday

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Science Friday

Science, technology, and other cool stuff from the folks behind public radio's Science Friday. Eastern time and anchored by award winning journalist Ira Flatow.

Science Friday is your trusted source for news about science, technology, health and the environment. Now in it's 26th year, Science Friday is at first a radio program, broadcast by PRI live over public radio stations nationwide from 2-4 p.m. We also create entertaining science videos and web content. Both audio and video are available on Adroid and Apple iOS smart phones and tablets. Science, hea

lth, technology stories in the news are our focus and we bring an educated, balanced and lively discussion. Expert guests join Science Friday's host to discuss to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program. Science Friday is also involved in social media, keeping the conversation going all week in Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and on our home page. And you can take us along for the ride via our portable apps for iOS and Android.

08/24/2026

Our is an illustration of a new astrophysical phenomenon, a black hole star.

When the James Webb Space Telescope started sending back images in 2022, never-before-seen little red dots were speckled throughout the sky. There were different theories that they could be massive galaxies or average black holes, but now researchers believe these dots are a completely new celestial object.

Astrophysicist Rohan Naidu and his team studied one particular dot, MoM-BH*-1, and believe it is the beginnings of a black hole surrounded by dense clouds of gas. It has properties of a black hole, but also a star.

Listen to Dr. Naidu explain it all with Flora in our podcast episode "What are the mysterious 'little red dots' in images of space?" https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/space-little-red-dots/

Credit: Jose-Luis Olivares, MIT

08/22/2026

Back to school season is the perfect time to grab some Science Friday merch!

We have mugs for teachers, t-shirts for adults and kids, tote bags for books and laptops, and even onesies for the lil' fri in your life.

Check out our online store at ScienceFriday.com/shop!

08/21/2026

We have an extra special episode today. Science Friday’s producer, Kathleen Davis, wanted to know how microplastics affect pregnancy after a 2024 study found microplastics in 62 human placentas.

The field of microplastics research is very new, and it’s not clear yet if, or how, these tiny particles affect our health. Kathleen spoke with ten experts at the forefront of this research to find out more.

Listen to Kathleen today on your local public radio station from 2–4pm ET!

Or read her article “How do you figure out if microplastics are affecting pregnancy?” right now at ScienceFriday.com/plastics.

08/20/2026

Large language models like ChatGPT and Claude can be quick to answer questions, but a robot doing chores in a house needs a "world model" to understand physical space.

So how do you train AI to understand the real world around it? Ira talked with tech journalist Joanna Stern about world models and where they're headed.

Listen to our episode “Creating ‘world models’ for robots + An AI math shakeup” wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/world-models-for-robots-ai-math/

08/18/2026

What does it mean when a species is lost to science?

A species is considered lost if it hasn't been recorded in the wild in 10 years, isn't in captivity, and hasn't been declared extinct. Sounds simple enough, but for insects it gets tricky because people aren't always looking for them.

Our , a Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly, inspired biologist Matt Forister to create the Journal of Lost Species. He was reading a student grant application, and saw a proposal that said this butterfly hasn’t been seen in many years. He realized that there wasn’t a clear venue for scientists to report on these possible lost species.

Check out our podcast episode “How do you find a ‘lost’ species?” wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/journal-of-lost-species-endangered-fireflies/

Image credit: Julie McIntyre/USFWS

08/15/2026

We’re working on a story about the ocean and want to hear your stories!

Did a snorkeling experience bring you to tears? Did you fall in love with sea slugs at a tidal pool? Did you lock eyes with a manta ray and realize the meaning of life?

Leave us a voicemail and tell us about your most memorable or surprising experience with the ocean. We want to know where you were, what happened, and why it was so important.

Call in at 1-877-4-SCIFRI.
https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/contribute-your-voice-to-our-show/

08/14/2026

Have you ever seen a larval firefly?

Firefly researcher Candace Fallon says everyone should check out the juvenile insect that kind of looks like a steamrolled roly-poly.

Producer Kathleen Davis chatted with Fallon about all things fireflies, including the search for species that are “lost” to science.

Hear the full interview and other science stories today from 2–4pm ET on your local public radio station!

Or listen right now to our podcast episode “How do you find a ‘lost’ species?” wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/journal-of-lost-species-endangered-fireflies/

08/13/2026

Who knew insect p*e could be so fascinating?

Research projects like this are the norm at The Bhamla Lab, where Saad Bhamla believes scientists should take risks and find new ways of looking at things.

Flora talked with Bhamla about what drives his curiosity and the other wonderfully weird projects his lab is working on.

Listen to our podcast episode “Why this lab studies the sp*ed of bug p*e and other curiosities” wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/bhamla-lab-curiosity-driven-research/

Challita, E.J., Sehgal, P., Krugner, R. et al. Droplet superpropulsion in an energetically constrained insect. Nat Commun 14, 860 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36376-5

08/11/2026

Science Friday, in partnership with Grove Atlantic, is giving away 10 copies of “What the Wild Sea Can Be“ by Helen Scales. Enter for your chance to win! Apply here: https://i1j7zijgb78.typeform.com/to/F5dHQjVk

This giveaway will close at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, August 17. Winners will be chosen randomly and notified via email no later than Tuesday, August 18.

Science Friday’s Book Club will be reading this book in September and October. Explore the future of our ocean and read along with us! Find more info on how to join on our website: https://www.sciencefriday.com/sf-books/what-the-wild-sea-can-be/

08/10/2026

Our features astronaut Leland Melvin surrounded by floating food and drink packets in space. As NASA prepares for long-term space missions to the moon and Mars, how important is the food they send up?

Flora talked with chef David Skinner, who has advised NASA on food, and astronaut Clayton Anderson about the innovative ways they're making space meals taste better, including scent packets. And they get into why shrimp cocktail is a fan favorite on the International Space Station.

Listen to our podcast episode “How can astronaut food be better?” wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/astronaut-food-improvement-space-missions/

Image credits and captions:
1. Astronaut Leland Melvin posing for a photo on the shuttle Atlantis Flight Deck. Credit: NASA
2. Astronaut Sandra Magnus posing with her food in the ISS. Credit: NASA
3. Astronaut Jonny Kim shows off a variety of food items from South Korea and the U.S. in the ISS. Credit: NASA
4. Astronaut Kevin Ford juggles some tomatoes in the ISS. Credit: NASA
5. Astronauts juggle some of the newly arrived fruit aboard the ISS. Credit: NASA
6. Various food and beverage items on the ISS. Credit: NASA
7. A maple cookie floating in the ISS. Credit: Chris Hadfield
8. A bag of asparagus and garlic paste about to be rehydrated in the ISS. Credit: Karen Nyberg

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