Creating 'world models' for robots + An AI math shakeup
How do you create a model to help AI understand the physical world? Plus, the latest AI-driven advancements in math.
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Science Friday
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Science Friday Podcast Guide
Listen to Science Friday, a Science & Medicine podcast by Science Friday and WNYC Studios. Stream 1,382 episodes in English, follow new audio stories, and play episodes online on Radio and Podcast.
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What can moments of lucidity teach us about Alzheimer’s?
Researchers are looking into what triggers lucid episodes in Alzheimer's patients, and what they tell us about caring for people with dement...
Colorado’s snow drought deals a major blow to recreation
A record-breaking snow drought in Colorado jeopardizes skiing, fishing, and rafting. Can economies that rely on outdoor recreation adjust?
How do you find a ‘lost’ species?
A new journal documents species “lost to science.” Plus, a project to locate lost firefly species in the U.S. and Canada.
What we get wrong about vaccine hesitancy
An immunologist who's been on both sides of vaccine hesitancy talks about what drives it, what gets missed, and how to build trust.
Why this lab studies the speed of bug pee and other curiosities
What do the hydrodynamics of insect pee, $1 hearing aids, and squid robots have in common? A lab organized around curiosity, not disciplines...
Some primates undergo even more extreme childbirth than humans
Scientists have long thought extreme childbirth was unique to humans. But some other primates appear to face similar anatomical challenges.
Deb Haaland is a politician, and proud of it
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland recounts her unconventional path into politics in a new book. And she tells us why lawsuits can be goo...
Sitting all day is terrible for us. Moving a little can help
Modern life involves a lot of sitting and staring at screens, and that takes a toll. Can moving for 5 minutes make a difference?
A Nagasaki survivor and physician recounts his life's work
Dr. Masao Tomonaga was 2 when Nagasaki was bombed. In August 2025, he spoke with Ira Flatow about a lifetime caring for fellow survivors.
What do people eat? Plant and animal DNA in sewage provide clues
DNA signatures of plant and animal species remain behind even after they’ve been eaten, digested, excreted, and flushed down the toilet.
3D images of galaxies will rock you (ft. Queen)
In a March 2026 story, Astronomer and Queen guitarist Brian May teamed up with astrophysicist Derek Ward-Thompson to bring the cosmos to 3D.
The evolution of an enzyme engineer who changed chemistry
In a March 2026 story, Frances Arnold discusses her technique of “directed evolution” that creates enzymes with unusual abilities.
Why is brain cancer so hard to treat?
A pioneer of cancer neuroscience explains how brain cancer develops, the role of the nervous system, and what might lead to new treatments.
How can astronaut food be better?
As NASA plans for longer spaceflights to the moon and Mars, a better menu is important both nutritionally and psychologically.
The reality of living with extreme heat in India
Extreme heat is hitting India hard. One physician is trying to understand the health impacts, and help Indians prepare for future heat waves...
Tracking shark populations, one shark at a time
A Florida research team catches and releases about 600 sharks a year to monitor their populations and study the health of marine ecosystems.
The Black women codebreakers of the Cold War
A new book tells the story of Black women cryptologists who deciphered Soviet telegrams intercepted during the early days of the Cold War.
Asha de Vos’ journey from deck hand to marine science leader
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.
Why worry about my data If I have nothing to hide?
In a story from February, how companies collect your personal data and compile it into a profile for advertisers, ICE, and other agencies.