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Science Friday podcast

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Science Friday

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  Science Friday and WNYC Studios  

Brain fun for curious people.

Brain fun for curious people.

 

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#150

Bacteriophages Lurk In Your Bathroom, But Don’t Worry

It sounds like something from an advertisement for bathroom cleaner: Researchers found over 600 different viruses, most of which are new to science, in samples taken from showerheads and toothbrushes. The viruses, however, are unlikely to affect humans. They are bacteriophages, a type of virus that preys on bacteria. The [expedition into bathroom biodiversity] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/toothbrush-bacteriophages/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes. Around a hundred years ago in the former Soviet Union, there were [major efforts] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/toothbrush-bacteriophages/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) to develop bacteriophages for medical use. The approach really didn’t catch on in Western countries, overshadowed there by the rise of conventional antibiotics like penicillin. But with some diseases developing resistance to those conventional antibiotics, there’s been [increased interest in phages] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/toothbrush-bacteriophages/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) as part of an antibacterial toolkit. Dr. Erica Hartmann, an associate professor in the department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University, joins Ira to talk about what researchers found when they took a close look at a collection of bathroom samples, and how phage research has advanced in recent years. Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-15-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

9 hrs Ago

18 MINS

18:00

9 hrs Ago

#149

Managing Invasive Plants And Ticks Together | Clue Into The Evolution Of The Bird Brain

Researchers are connecting two ecological problems in the Northeast in hopes of reducing the risk of tick-borne illnesses. Also, a “one-of-a-kind” fossil of Navaornis hestiae helps fill a giant gap in scientists’ understanding of how bird brains evolved. Managing Some Invasive Plants Might Reduce Blacklegged Ticks ------------------------------------------------------------ In much of the eastern US, October and November usher in an autumn peak of the blacklegged tick season. For years, researchers have noticed that these ticks, also called deer ticks, are more abundant on certain invasive plant species, like Japanese barberry, that create dense thickets in the forest understory.  Now, a group of scientists in Vermont and Maine is investigating how managing these plants might decrease the number of blacklegged ticks—and the risk of people developing tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease and Babesiosis. After getting a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation, they’re hoping to come up with guidance for landowners. Read the rest at [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/invasive-plants-blacklegged-ticks-vermont/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Ancient Bird Fossil Offers Clues Into How Bird Brains Evolved ------------------------------------------------------------- Archaeopteryx is the earliest bird-like dinosaur that we know of. It lived 150 million years ago, but researchers don’t know much about how the bird brain evolved from then to now. An [80 million-year-old bird] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/bird-brain-fossil-evolution/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) from the Mesozoic Era is now helping fill in the blanks. It’s called Navaornis hestiae. Researchers uncovered a fossil of this species, which was previously unknown to science, in Brazil in 2016. That specimen has a remarkably well-preserved skull, which a team of paleontologists used to digitally reconstruct the bird’s brain. The researchers recently [reported their findings] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/bird-brain-fossil-evolution/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) in the journal Nature. Ira talks with a lead author of the study, Dr. Luis Chiappe, a paleontologist and curator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in California. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-15-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

Yesterday

18 MINS

18:05

Yesterday

#148

The Gurgling, Growling History Of The Gut

Despite advances in scientific research, the stomach remains a subject of mystery and intrigue. After all, it’s nearly impossible to ignore its gurgles and growls. Some [cultural understanding of the gut has changed] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/rumbles-history-of-the-gut-book/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) too—from an unruly being that must be fed and placated, to a garden ecosystem that is to be nourished in order to flourish. And if you’re a frequent listener of Science Friday, you’re familiar with the gut’s microbiome—the constellation of trillions of microbes thriving in our bodies. And that the stomach has some of the same neuroreceptors as the brain, which has earned it the nickname of [the “second brain.”] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/rumbles-history-of-the-gut-book/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Ira talks with Dr. Elsa Richardson, author of Rumbles: A Curious History of the Gut and co-director of the Centre for the Social History of Health and Healthcare at University of Strathclyde in Scotland. They discuss the changing cultural and scientific understanding of the gut, including the discovery of the enteric nervous system and Victorian-era physician Sir William Arbuthnot Lane’s [obsession with curing constipation] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/rumbles-history-of-the-gut-book/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-15-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

18 Nov 2024

18 MINS

18:33

18 Nov 2024

#147

At COP29, The World’s Top Polluters Are No-Shows | Walking Pneumonia Is Spiking

Leaders from the top-polluting countries, like the US and China, aren’t showing up to the UN’s big climate conference in Azerbaijan. And, walking pneumonia typically affects school-age kids, but the CDC reports a rise in cases in children aged 2-4. At COP29, The World’s Top Polluters Are No-Shows ------------------------------------------------ The United Nations’ annual international climate conference, [COP29, got underway this week] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cop29-top-polluters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Leaders from around the world come together at this conference to hammer out deals between nations to lower emissions and coordinate climate change-related financial efforts. And a big focus this year was to negotiate a deal for wealthier countries to financially [compensate developing nations] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cop29-top-polluters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) who’ve experienced climate-change related damage. The only problem is that world leaders from the top-polluting countries, like the US and China, [aren’t even showing up] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cop29-top-polluters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Ira Flatow is joined by Umair Irfan, senior correspondent at Vox, to catch up on this and other science stories of the week, including new data on rising alcohol consumption, why Voyager 2 got an inaccurate snapshot of Uranus in the 1980s, and why the world’s largest organism might also be its oldest. Walking Pneumonia Is Spiking. Here’s How To Stay Safe ----------------------------------------------------- Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out a report outlining a significant spike in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, better known as [walking pneumonia] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/walking-pneumonia-spike-safety-tips/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . This respiratory illness is caused by bacteria spread through respiratory droplets, and symptoms usually mimic the common cold. It’s pretty common, with about 2 million infections happening each year, mostly in school-age kids. This year’s spike, which started in the spring, is a little different: There’s been a [significant increase in kids aged 2 to 4] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/walking-pneumonia-spike-safety-tips/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) and it is now the new leading cause of pneumonia for that group. Dr. Preeti Sharma, pediatric pulmonologist at Children’s Heath in Dallas, knows what it’s like to have a child with mycoplasma pneumonia. Her daughter came home with the illness in the spring. What she thought was a typical cold turned into [a deep and lingering cough] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/walking-pneumonia-spike-safety-tips/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) : a telltale sign of walking pneumonia. Dr. Sharma, who is also an associate professor at UT Southwestern, joins Ira Flatow to discuss this year’s Mycoplasma pneumoniae spike, the best treatments, and how to keep your family healthy this holiday season.  Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-15-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

15 Nov 2024

25 MINS

25:17

15 Nov 2024

#146

Oliver Sacks Searched The Brain For The Origins Of Music

Today, November 8, 2024, marks Science Friday’s 33rd broadcast anniversary. One of the most beloved interviewees on Science Friday over the years was the late neurologist and author Dr. Oliver Sacks, who shared his insights into [neuroscience, art, and what it means to be human] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/oliver-sacks-music-brain/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Recently, Sacks’ long-time collaborator Kate Edgar published a book of Dr. Sacks' letters. And earlier this fall, the New York Public Library announced its acquisition of Sacks’ entire archive. In this segment, Ira revisits a 2007 conversation with Oliver Sacks about his book Musicophilia. They talk about the way [music and the brain interact] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/oliver-sacks-music-brain/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , why music can sometimes remain in the brain long after other memories fade, and why a person with limited language abilities might still be able to sing unimpaired. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-8-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

14 Nov 2024

18 MINS

18:25

14 Nov 2024

#145

CAR-T Cell Therapy For Autoimmune Diseases | Measuring Early Life Adversity—In Marmots

In a Chinese study, donor CAR-T cells sent autoimmune diseases into remission. There’s hope that the therapy is scalable. And, scientists used decades of yellow-bellied marmot research to find a way to measure how adverse events affect wild animals’ survival. CAR-T Cell Therapies Show Promise For Autoimmune Diseases --------------------------------------------------------- For decades, immunologists have explored CAR-T cell therapy as an effective tool to fight blood cancer. Increasingly, CAR-T cells are being explored as a potential silver bullet for [treating autoimmune diseases] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/car-t-cell-therapy-autoimmune-disease/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , like lupus—which currently have no cure. Thus far, CAR-T cell therapy has largely used CRISPR-modified immune cells from a person to treat that person’s own diseases. But new research from China has made a huge step forward for this treatment: Researchers were successful in [using donated CAR-T cells] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/car-t-cell-therapy-autoimmune-disease/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) from one person to treat another person’s systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune condition that causes atypical growth of connective tissues. If donor CAR-T cell therapy does indeed work, as posited in this paper, it could mean the therapy is more scalable than it would be otherwise. Joining Ira to talk about this study and its potential impact is Daniel Baker, PhD student in the immunology lab of Dr. Carl June at the University of Pennsylvania. Measuring The Effects Of Early Life Adversity—In Marmots -------------------------------------------------------- It’s well-established in psychology that if you experience trauma as a child, chances are it’ll impact your physical and mental health as an adult, and could even affect your economic status. In academic terms, this is called [ early childhood adversity] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/early-life-adversity-index-wild-animals/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . And psychologists have developed a scoring system for measuring the cumulative effect of adverse childhood experiences, which can include abuse and household dysfunction, and it can help predict health risks later in life. So we can specifically measure that in humans. [But what about other animals?] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/early-life-adversity-index-wild-animals/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) If you’ve adopted a dog that’s had a turbulent past, you know that that can result in reclusive or skittish behavior as an adult. But there hasn’t been a good way to measure it in wild animals. Well, a new study from UCLA, published in the journal Ecology Letters, establishes a similar index for wild animals, and it used decades of findings from a mammal: the yellow-bellied marmot. So how could it [help conservation efforts] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/early-life-adversity-index-wild-animals/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) for other animals? Ira Flatow talks with Xochitl Ortiz-Ross, a PhD student in ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA, and one of the authors on that study. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-8-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

13 Nov 2024

20 MINS

20:32

13 Nov 2024

#144

Your Arm Position Can Make Blood Pressure Readings Inaccurate

Think back to the last time you went to the doctor’s office. Chances are, at the start of the visit, they took your temperature, pulse, and blood pressure—your “vitals.” But how did they take your blood pressure? The medical literature that describes safe blood pressure ranges is all based on readings taken with the patient sitting with feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed, back supported, and the testing arm supported by a desk at mid-heart level. But if the blood pressure is measured with the person in a different position—say, perched on the edge of an exam table, legs dangling, and an arm hanging at the side—the readings given by a blood pressure monitor can be [distorted] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/accurate-blood-pressure-measurements-arm-position/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . In a [recent study] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/accurate-blood-pressure-measurements-arm-position/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers found that arm position could account for as much as a 7mmHg difference in pressure readings. That difference could be enough to [incorrectly classify] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/accurate-blood-pressure-measurements-arm-position/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) some people as hypertensive. Dr. Tammy Brady, medical director of the Pediatric Hypertension Program at Johns Hopkins University, joins Ira to talk about the art of blood pressure measurement, how to better track your own blood pressure, how to find blood pressure monitors that have been properly validated, and the importance of advocating for yourself in medical settings. Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-8-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

12 Nov 2024

17 MINS

17:50

12 Nov 2024

#143

Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic?

Have you ever been stuck in traffic and thought, if only this highway was a little wider so it could fit more cars? You aren’t alone. Many states have been [expanding their highways] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/widening-highways-makes-traffic-worse/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced a $1.3 billion project to expand one of the state’s highways for an estimated maximum six-minute travel savings. Other highway-widening projects are underway in Texas, California, and Maryland. In 2022, federal, state, and local governments in the US spent $127 billion on highway construction. Some departments of transportation say expanding highways is necessary to reduce congestion, especially in areas with growing populations, and to encourage economic development. But decades of research shows the opposite effects when highways are expanded—that [travel times actually increase] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/widening-highways-makes-traffic-worse/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) when more lanes are added. So how does this happen, and why do we keep expanding highways even though the research says it doesn’t work? Megan Kimble, journalist and author of [City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, And The Future Of America’s Highways] (https://bookshop.org/a/18570/9780593443781) , joins Ira to break down the research behind highway widening and discuss how increasing funding for public transit could help make traffic better, and why some cities are deciding to remove their highways entirely. Read an excerpt from [ City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, And The Future Of America’s Highways] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/city-limits-book-why-more-highway-lanes-means-more-traffic/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-8-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

11 Nov 2024

17 MINS

17:48

11 Nov 2024

#142

Ballot Measures Passed To Protect Abortion Rights | New Largest Prime Number

Abortion was on the ballot in 10 states, and seven of them passed constitutional amendments defending abortion rights. Also, this ginormous number has a whopping 41,024,320 digits, which isn’t very helpful for mathematicians but is certainly exciting for math nerds. Seven States Passed Ballot Measures To Protect Abortion Rights -------------------------------------------------------------- This week, science was on the ballot in many states. Voters across the country weighed in on issues like drug legalization, money to fund climate programs, and, of course, abortion rights. Ten states voted on the issue, and in seven of them, voters chose to [protect or expand abortion rights] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/ballot-measures-abortion-rights-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Those states are Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New York, Colorado, Arizona, and Missouri. On the flip side, voters in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota rejected measures that would protect abortion rights. Ira Flatow talks with Tim Revell, executive editor at New Scientist, about the outcome of some sciencey ballot measures and what we can expect going into another Trump presidency. They also discuss the launch of the world’s first [wooden satellite] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/ballot-measures-abortion-rights-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , what scientists learned when they put [vampire bats on a treadmill] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/ballot-measures-abortion-rights-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , and more. Math Enthusiast Finds The Largest Known Prime Number ---------------------------------------------------- Let’s go back to grade school—do you remember learning about prime numbers? They’re numbers that can only be divided by themselves and one. So 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and so on are prime numbers. The number 12, for example, wouldn’t be prime because you can divide it by other numbers, like 2 and 3. And as you count up and up, prime numbers become more sparse. Math lovers are always competing to find the largest prime number, and just recently, an engineer discovered the largest one—so far. And you won’t believe how ginormous it is: It has more than [41 million digits.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/new-giant-prime-number-unlocked/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Ira talks with Jack Murtagh, math writer and columnist for Scientific American, about why prime numbers are so cool, and the quest to find the largest one. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-8-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

08 Nov 2024

22 MINS

22:37

08 Nov 2024

#141

Chickens Have Friendships And Reputations | Tourist Photos May Help Map Penguin Colonies

Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery discusses chicken intelligence and her experience raising a flock in New Hampshire. And, snapshots from over the years could provide researchers with valuable data about how penguin colonies have shifted. Chickens Have Friendships, Memories, And Reputations ---------------------------------------------------- Chickens don’t exactly have a reputation of being the sharpest creatures in the animal kingdom. Yet, talk to anyone who raises chickens and they’ll tell you that they are [far more intelligent and social] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/what-the-chicken-knows-book-sy-montgomery/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) than we often give them credit for. For example, chickens can recognize the faces of 100 other chickens and find their way home just days after birth. Guest host Rachel Feltman talks with Sy Montgomery, author of the new book, [What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World’s Most Familiar Bird] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/what-the-chicken-knows-book-sy-montgomery/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , about her own flock and what she’s learned about chicken intelligence. Tourist Photos From Antarctica May Help Map Penguin Colonies ------------------------------------------------------------ If you’re lucky enough to visit Antarctica, you’ll probably aim to snag a classic photo— [a colony of penguins] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/tourist-photos-antarctica-help-map-penguin-colonies/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , set against the chilly, barren landscape. But now, in addition to being a cherished memory, those pictures could turn out to be a valuable source of ecological data. Writing in the journal PLOS One, researchers describe a [computer vision technique] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/tourist-photos-antarctica-help-map-penguin-colonies/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) that uses elevation data combined with landscape features in photographs to allow the images to be positioned in a 3D rendering of the Antarctic landscape. And that allows scientists to [map the precise boundaries of penguin colonies] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/tourist-photos-antarctica-help-map-penguin-colonies/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) over time, even without knowing who held the camera or where the photographer was standing. Dr. Heather Lynch, the Institute for Advanced Computational Science Endowed Professor of Ecology & Evolution at Stony Brook University, joins guest host Rachel Feltman to discuss the technique, and the value in being able to extract scientific data from pictures stored in photo albums and museum archives. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-1-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

07 Nov 2024

24 MINS

24:00

07 Nov 2024

#140

The Clean Air Act Has Saved Millions Of Lives—But Gaps Remain

In the 1960s, the urban air pollution crisis in America had reached a fever pitch: Cities were shrouded in smog, union steelworkers were demanding protections for their health, and the Department of Justice was mounting an antitrust lawsuit against the Detroit automakers for conspiracy to pollute. But all that changed when Richard Nixon signed the [Clean Air Act of 1970] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/clean-air-act-50-years-climate-change-loophole/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . The law set national limits for six major pollutants, established stringent emissions standards for vehicles, and required the latest pollution-limiting technology for industrial facilities. It was widely recognized as innovative, landmark legislation because it was evidence-based, future-proofed, and it had teeth. Since the Clean Air Act took effect, emissions of the most common pollutants have fallen by around 80%. The law has [saved millions of lives] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/clean-air-act-50-years-climate-change-loophole/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) and trillions of dollars. An EPA analysis showed that the Clean Air Act’s benefits outweigh its costs by a factor of 30. Thanks to this policy, the United States enjoys some of the cleanest air in the world. But five decades on, has the Clean Air Act protected everyone? And can a policy designed for the problems of urban, mid-century cities protect our health in the face of climate change? [Read the full story at sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/clean-air-act-50-years-climate-change-loophole/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-1-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

06 Nov 2024

25 MINS

25:18

06 Nov 2024

#139

How Does Long-Distance Running Affect Your Body?

On Sunday, more than 50,000 athletes are expected to compete in the New York City Marathon, one of the largest, and most elite marathons in the world. Running a continuous 26.2 miles is a major physical challenge. But what exactly is happening in the body when running such a long distance? Joining guest host Rachel Feltman to answer [questions from long-distance runners] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/long-distance-running-health-body-marathon/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) is Dr. Brandee Waite, Director of UC Davis Health Sports Medicine. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Waite has directed the medical care for multiple marathons and ultra-marathons, and has served as a team physician for USA Track & Field. Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-1-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

05 Nov 2024

18 MINS

18:15

05 Nov 2024

#138

Gender-Affirming Care Is On The Line In This Election

[Gender-affirming care] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/gender-affirming-care-election-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) is on the ballot in this presidential election. These treatments, which can include hormone therapy and surgeries, can be lifesaving for trans people. But they could be impacted by the results of this election. This year alone, states have considered [182 bills] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/gender-affirming-care-election-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) aimed at prohibiting gender-affirming care. It’s become a central part of Donald Trump’s campaign, which has stated that, if he is elected, he’ll ask Congress to ban Medicare and Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care, and cut off federal funding to hospitals and clinics that do provide it. Guest host Rachel Feltman discusses what’s at stake for gender-affirming care this election season with Dr. Logan Casey, director of policy research for the Movement Advancement Project, and Kate Steinle, chief clinical officer at FOLX Health. Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-1-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

04 Nov 2024

18 MINS

18:16

04 Nov 2024

#137

Maine Offshore Wind Auction Draws Few Bids | An Artist Combines Indigenous Textiles With Modern Tech

Two years ago, energy companies scrambled for offshore wind contracts. At a recent auction, the demand was significantly lower. Plus, artist Sarah Rosalena uses Indigenous weaving, ceramics, and sculpture practices to create art that challenges tech’s future, in a segment from earlier this year. Maine Offshore Wind Auction Draws Few Bids ------------------------------------------ Offshore wind is coming to the Gulf of Maine. Earlier this week, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held an auction for eight leases to develop wind projects off the coast of Maine. But companies bid on [only half] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/maine-offshore-wind-auction-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) of the available leases. Guest host Rachel Feltman talks with Casey Crownhart, senior climate reporter for MIT Technology Review about that and other top science news of the week including; [bird flu found in pigs] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/maine-offshore-wind-auction-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , [AI’s electronic waste problem] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/maine-offshore-wind-auction-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , [what’s in your black plastic spatula] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/maine-offshore-wind-auction-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , and [giant rats fighting the illegal wildlife trade] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/maine-offshore-wind-auction-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . An Artist Combines Indigenous Textiles With Modern Tech ------------------------------------------------------- When multidisciplinary artist [Sarah Rosalena] (https://www.sarahrosalena.com/) looks at a loom, she thinks about computer programming. “It’s an extension of your body, being an algorithm,” she says. Rosalena, a Wixárika descendant and assistant professor of art at the University of California Santa Barbara, combines traditional Indigenous craft—weaving, beadmaking, pottery—with new technologies like AI, data visualization, and 3D-printing. And she also works with scientists to make these otherworldly creations come to life. She involved researchers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab to make [3D-printed pottery with simulated Martian clay] (https://www.sarahrosalena.com/transposing-a-form) . And she collaborated with the Mount Wilson Observatory to produce [intricately beaded tapestries] (https://www.lacma.org/lab/project/sarah-rosalena-standard-candle) based on early-1900s glass plates captured by the observatory’s telescope, which [women mathematicians] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/these-black-women-helped-send-us-to-the-moon/) used to make astronomical calculations. And that’s also a big focus for Rosalena: spotlighting the overlooked contributions women made to computer science and connecting it to how textiles are traditionally thought of as a woman-based craft. When she first started making this kind of art, Rosalena learned that the Jacquard loom—a textile advancement in the 1800s that operated on a binary punch card system which allowed for mass production of intricate designs— [inspired computer science pioneer] (https://massivesci.com/articles/ada-lovelace-first-programmer-science-heroes/) [Ada Lovelace] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/the-women-who-made-the-internet/) when she was developing the first computer program. “[They] have this looped history,” she says. “And when I weave or do beadwork, it’s also recalling that relationship.” [Read the rest at sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/indigenous-art-technology/) Transcript for these segments will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/november-1-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

01 Nov 2024

19 MINS

19:46

01 Nov 2024

#136

After A Park Fire, Milkweed Bloomed | The ‘Creepy’ Procedure That Taps Into Young Blood

Great news for the nearly-extinct monarch butterflies, which will pass through the area as they migrate back to Mexico. Also, to find out how blood affects aging, scientists can surgically connect two animals and let blood circulate between them. After California’s Park Fire, A Second Bloom of Milkweed -------------------------------------------------------- Don Hankins examines a bright yellow-green patch in the meadow. The land all around is charred by fire. But here, there’s a sort of miracle at work. Native milkweed has sprung up and bloomed for the second time this year. This is not something these plants, Asclepias eriocarpa, also known as Indian milkweed, are known to do. They bloomed in late spring and early summer and had already done so this year when the Park Fire roared through. But the fire seemed to happen at just the right time to coax a second flowering, one that is likely to line up with the return migration of the monarch butterflies south to overwinter in Mexico. Monarchs rely on these flowers to complete their life cycle. For researcher Don Hankins, this is a surprise delight. “We may be coming back into some knowledge here that hasn’t been practiced in a long time,” said Don Hankins, a professor at Chico State, who teaches classes in geography with a focus on fire. He is also a California Plains Miwok traditional cultural practitioner. [Read the rest at sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/california-fire-milkweed-butterflies/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Inside The ‘Creepy’ Procedure That Taps Into Young Blood -------------------------------------------------------- While fictional vampires suck the blood of the young to live forever, some researchers have found that certain elements in young blood actually can improve the health of the old. This is possible through a spooky procedure called parabiosis, in which the circulatory systems of two animals [are joined] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/young-blood-parabiosis-neuroscience/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , letting the blood flow from one into the other. By connecting old mice and young mice through parabiosis, researchers have observed how different molecules in the blood impact symptoms of aging. While some outcomes have excited experts, enthusiastic biohackers attempting to defy their own aging might have jumped the gun. There’s a long way to go before we understand how elements of young blood might be harnessed to treat aging humans. Emma Gometz, SciFri’s digital producer of engagement, talks to Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray, a neurology professor at Stanford University who has used parabiosis (which he once described as [“creepy”] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/young-blood-parabiosis-neuroscience/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) ) to help reveal how components of our blood affect our cognition as we age. They discuss parabiosis, vampires, and how far the field has to go before humans can benefit. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-25-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

31 Oct 2024

18 MINS

18:47

31 Oct 2024

#135

How Insects Changed The World—And Human Cultures

Did you know that there are ten quintillion—or 10,000,000,000,000,000,000—individual insects on the planet? That means that for each and every one of us humans, there are [1.25 billion insects] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/insect-epiphany-human-cultures/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) hopping, buzzing, and flying about. A new book called The Insect Epiphany: How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture celebrates the [diversity of the insect world] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/insect-epiphany-human-cultures/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , as well as the many ways it has changed ours—from fashion to food to engineering. Guest host Sophie Bushwick talks with entomologist and author Dr. Barrett Klein about the beauty of the insect world, [how it has shaped human history] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/insect-epiphany-human-cultures/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifrihttps://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/insect-epiphany-human-cultures/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaihttps://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/insect-epiphany-human-cultures/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifrign=scifri) , and what we can learn from these six-legged critters. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-25-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

30 Oct 2024

18 MINS

18:04

30 Oct 2024

#134

The Science Behind Third-Trimester Abortions

Leading up to the November election, Science Friday is covering top science issues on the ballot. For voters, those top issues include abortion. Since the Dobbs ruling overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, many states have curtailed access to abortion, and 13 states have a total abortion ban. The election season in particular, there’s been a focus on abortions in the [third trimester of pregnancy.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/election-reproductive-care-third-trimester-abortions-science/) Some of the political rhetoric is inflammatory and false. But even among politicians who support abortion rights, there’s a tendency to deflect attention away from these procedures later in pregnancy. Though third trimester abortions are rare, they make up about [1% of abortions in the United States] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/election-reproductive-care-third-trimester-abortions-science/) and are often the most stigmatized. They are legal in only a small number of states, and just a fraction of providers perform them. To better understand the real science behind abortions later in pregnancy, guest host Sophie Bushwick talks with Dr. Katrina Kimport, professor of obstetrics, gynecology & reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco; and Dr. Cara Heuser, a maternal and fetal medicine physician who specializes in high risk pregnancy and complex abortion care, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

29 Oct 2024

18 MINS

18:03

29 Oct 2024

#133

How Aging Water Systems Are Pushing Sewage Into U.S. Homes

Walter Byrd remembers the first time sewage came bubbling out of his toilet like it was yesterday. “It was just pumping up through there,” Byrd says. “One of the bathrooms was so full of waste, at least 4 inches high in there. It smelled just like a hog pen.” He sopped up the murky, foul-smelling water and doused the floor with bleach. But the sewage kept coming. On rainy days, it overflowed from drainage ditches into his yard, carrying wads of toilet paper and human waste. The eight-bedroom home in Cahokia Heights, Illinois, had been a source of pride for Byrd when he first built it in 1996. He spent a lot of time outside, caring for his vegetable garden and watching wildlife wander through the backyard. But trying to stop the sewage backups quickly became his main focus, consuming countless hours and thousands of dollars of his savings. “It was a dream house, until the floods came,” says Byrd, now 67. “That house broke me down.” [Read the rest at sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/sewage-stormwater-systems-infrastructure-policy/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-25-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

28 Oct 2024

17 MINS

17:50

28 Oct 2024

#132

Did Dinosaur Flight Evolve More Than Once? | Biodiversity’s Biggest Event Is Underway

Some paleontologists argue the ancient footprints found in South Korea show flight may have evolved in multiple dinosaur lineages. And, COP16 will tackle questions like who should profit from non-human DNA, and who is responsible for financing critical conservation projects. Do Fossil Prints Show Dinosaur Flight Evolved More Than Once? ------------------------------------------------------------- Researchers studying tracks fossilized in Cretaceous-era lakeshore mud in what is now South Korea argue this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that the dinosaur footprints are “indirect evidence of [pre-avian aerial behavior] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/dinosaur-flight-evolution-footprint-fossils/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) ” in a tiny microraptor. The tracks, which belong to a sparrow-sized theropod related to Tyrannosaurus rex, are spaced far enough apart to indicate that the tiny dino was moving across the mud very quickly. That speed, the researchers argue, is faster than the animal should have been able to go just by running with its hindlimbs. However, [if flapping wings were added] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/dinosaur-flight-evolution-footprint-fossils/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) into the equation to give a power boost, the spacing might make sense. If the microraptor did, in fact, have flight-capable wings, that would mean that the ability to fly may have evolved in multiple lineages of dinosaurs, not just the descendants of Archaeopteryx we see as modern birds. Other researchers are not convinced of the analysis, arguing that the tracks may not all have come from the same individual at the same time. Jason Dinh, climate editor for Atmos, joins guest host Sophie Bushswick to talk about the debate, and other [stories from the week in science] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/dinosaur-flight-evolution-footprint-fossils/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , including an archeological find of medieval-era Silk Road cities in the Uzbek mountains, breathing differences in people born with the inability to smell, and the surprising ability of hornets to hold their liquor. Biodiversity’s Biggest Event Is Underway In Colombia ---------------------------------------------------- From now until November 1, bureaucrats from nearly every country in the world will be gathered in Cali, Colombia, for COP16, better known as the [United Nations biodiversity summit] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cop16-biodiversity-non-human-dna-profits/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . This “conference of the parties” comes together about every two years to deliberate on the biggest issue in conservation science: how to stop ecological collapse. At the last summit, COP15, nearly every country agreed to a deal to [halt biodiversity loss by 2030] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cop16-biodiversity-non-human-dna-profits/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . This year’s conference will take a temperature check on how nations are doing in their quest to meet this goal (spoiler alert: not well). Also on the agenda are the questions of who should [profit from non-human DNA] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cop16-biodiversity-non-human-dna-profits/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , and how a $700 billion funding gap for conservation work can be filled. Joining guest host Sophie Bushwick to parse through these big ideas is Benji Jones, environmental correspondent for Vox based in New York. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-25-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

25 Oct 2024

25 MINS

25:28

25 Oct 2024

#131

How Do Animals Understand Death?

Throughout history, humans have given a lot of thought to death. We’ve grappled with our mortality, created elaborate burial rituals, and contemplated how best to mourn the loss of a loved one. But what about other animals? How do they understand death? Scientists have begun looking at this question more closely in the last two decades. For example, [chimpanzees] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/animals-understand-death/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) have a wide variety of responses to death based in part on their relationship with the deceased. Possums put on [elaborate displays] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/animals-understand-death/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) to fake their own deaths. Ants can tell another ant is dead by the [chemicals it omits] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/animals-understand-death/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , but have no concept of what death actually means. SciFri producer Kathleen Davis talks with Dr. Susana Monsó, associate professor of philosophy at the National Distance Education University in Spain and author of [Playing Possum: How Animals Understand Death.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/animals-understand-death/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-18-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

24 Oct 2024

17 MINS

17:59

24 Oct 2024

#130

MRIs Show How The Brain Changes During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a hugely transformative experience, both in how it can change someone’s day-to-day life, and [how it affects the body] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/how-the-brain-changes-during-pregnancy/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . There’s a key part of the body that’s been under-researched in relation to pregnancy: the brain. Those who have been pregnant often talk about [“pregnancy brain,”] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/how-the-brain-changes-during-pregnancy/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) the experience of brain fog or forgetfulness during and after pregnancy. There’s also the specter of postpartum depression, a condition that affects about 1 in 7 women post-birthing. There’s still a dearth of information about what causes these cognitive, psychological, and emotional experiences. In a recent study, scientists took MRI scans of participants before, during, and after pregnancy, and [spotted distinctive changes] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/how-the-brain-changes-during-pregnancy/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) in the brain’s gray and white matter. While these anatomical changes are noticeable, the researchers are still trying to determine what they actually mean for behavior. Joining guest host Kathleen Davis to talk about this study is Dr. Liz Chrastil, associate professor of neurobiology and behavior at the University of California Irvine. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-18-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

23 Oct 2024

17 MINS

17:45

23 Oct 2024

#129

How Metaphor Shapes Science | Intertwining The Lives Of Moths And Humans Through Music

Metaphors can help us understand complicated scientific concepts. But they can also have a downside. And, a pair of musicians wrote a concept album inspired by moths—and found that humans have more in common with the insects than they expected. How Metaphor Has Shaped Science, For Better Or Worse ---------------------------------------------------- Here at Science Friday, we’re [big fans of metaphors] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/metaphors-in-science/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . They can make complicated scientific concepts easier to understand, for both non-experts and scientists themselves. For example, “the big bang” helps us visualize the beginning of the universe. Or we can understand DNA’s role better as a “building block of life.” But some of these scientific metaphors also have a downside, and can even [set research back] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/metaphors-in-science/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Sam Harnett and Chris Hoff are the hosts of the podcast series “The World According to Sound,” and they sat down with Science Friday’s Director of News and Audio, John Dankosky, to talk about their new project, “An Inexact Science.” They discuss a special two-hour episode that explores how [language and metaphor have shaped science] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/metaphors-in-science/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , for better or worse. Intertwining The Lives Of Moths And Humans Through Music -------------------------------------------------------- Before the pandemic, Peter Kiesewalter didn’t think much of moths. Like a lot of people, he’d thought of them mostly as pests. But when his brother Tobi, an interpretive naturalist for Ontario Parks and moth enthusiast, showed him macro photos he’d taken of them, he was blown away. “[They were] absolutely stunning,” Peter says. “The amount of colors and hair were just extraordinary.” Peter is a Grammy-nominated musician based in New York City. He’s composed music for ABC News, Monday Night Football, and even a “Winnie The Pooh” show. As COVID-19 spread in 2020, work for him and his partner Whitney La Grange, a professional violinist, dried up. So they hunkered down at the family cottage in Ottawa, Canada, along with Tobi’s family. Peter was looking for a new show idea, and when his brother opened up [the world of moths] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/intertwining-lives-of-moths-and-humans-through-music/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) to him, he was hooked. “I had to find a way to interpret moths artistically,” he said. “And I started to find connections between them and us.” That led to [“The Moth Project,”] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/intertwining-lives-of-moths-and-humans-through-music/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) a concept album and stage show that combines moth science and visuals with a whole ecosystem of musical genres: 80s pop, funk, classical, covers, even spoken word. Each song ties a stage of a moth’s life (emergence, flight, migration) to a universal human experience. But for Peter, a lot of these songs turned out to be [far more personal] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/intertwining-lives-of-moths-and-humans-through-music/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) than he initially thought. SciFri producer and host of our Universe of Art podcast D Peterschmidt sat down with Peter and Tobi Kiesewalter and Whitney La Grange to find out how this album came together and how understanding moths could better help us understand ourselves. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-18-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

22 Oct 2024

26 MINS

26:22

22 Oct 2024

#128

NASA’s Europa Clipper Heads To Jupiter’s Icy Moon Europa

On October 14, NASA launched [Europa Clipper] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/europa-clipper-nasa/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , its largest planetary mission spacecraft yet. It’s headed to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, which could have a giant ocean of liquid water hidden under its icy crust. And where there’s water, scientists think there may be evidence of life. The spacecraft is equipped with nine different instruments and will complete nearly 50 flybys of Europa, scanning almost the entire moon. SciFri producer Kathleen Davis talks with Dr. Padi Boyd, NASA astrophysicist and host of the agency’s podcast “Curious Universe,” about the launch and the excitement at NASA. Then, Ira checks in with two scientists who are working on the mission about what they’re excited to learn: Dr. Ingrid Daubar, planetary scientist at Brown University and a Europa Clipper project staff scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and Dr. Tracy Becker, planetary scientist at Southwest Research Institute and a deputy principal investigator for the ultraviolet spectrograph on the Europa spacecraft. Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-18-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

21 Oct 2024

18 MINS

18:07

21 Oct 2024

#127

Pandas Return To Washington, D.C. | A Lesser-Known Grain Called Kernza

Two giant pandas on loan from China have arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Also, originally from Central Asia, Kernza doesn’t need to be replanted every year, unlike crops such as corn and soybeans. Pandas Return To Washington, D.C., Zoo -------------------------------------- On Tuesday, two VIPs (Very Important Pandas) arrived at Washington’s Dulles International Airport, en route to new quarters at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. The arrival marks a new chapter of [“panda diplomacy,”] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/pandas-return-to-washington-dc/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) which leverages the public’s affection for the cute, charismatic animals to both strengthen US-China ties and fund conservation initiatives. Sophie Bushwick, senior news editor at New Scientist, joins SciFri’s John Dankosky to talk about [the giant pandas’ arrival] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/pandas-return-to-washington-dc/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) and other stories from the week in science. Scientists Push For A Lesser-Known Grain Called Kernza ------------------------------------------------------ On a recent weekday afternoon, dozens of people filled the cozy taproom at Blue Jay Brewing Company. On tap that day was a fresh creation called New Roots. The American Lager was a hit, with many of the patrons going back to the bar for another glass. Blue Jay’s owner and brewer, Jason Thompson, was also pleased with the result of this experimental beer, which he described as “earthy, almost nutty,” with a “lingering honey-like sweetness to it.” Those flavors came from his choice to use a novel grain called Kernza for 25% of the 600 pounds of grain needed for the whole brew, he said. [Read the rest at sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/kernza-beer-sustainable-grain/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-18-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

18 Oct 2024

17 MINS

17:26

18 Oct 2024

#126

How Health Misinformation Spreads | A Play About Ben Franklin And His Son

The Basics Of How Health Misinformation Spreads ----------------------------------------------- Health misinformation can circulate quickly on social media: false claims about vaccines, ads pushing suspicious-looking supplements, politicians making claims about contraception or abortion that don’t match the science. As November nears, Science Friday is spotlighting the science that’s shaping the election with a short series about health misinformation. Ira is joined by Irving Washington, senior vice president and executive director of the Health Misinformation and Trust Initiative at KFF, a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization to provide a primer on the basics of health misinformation; how to identify it, emerging trends and the role of artificial intelligence. We want to hear from you! Is there a piece of health information that you’ve seen recently that you’re skeptical about? [Fill out this form] (https://i1j7zijgb78.typeform.com/to/WuBL81Gn) , email us a voice memo to [scifri@sciencefriday.com] (mailto:scifri@sciencefriday.com) , or leave us a voicemail at 1-646-767-6532. In the coming weeks we’ll select a couple of topics from our listeners to investigate with the help of a subject matter expert. Benjamin Franklin And The American Experiment Collide On Stage -------------------------------------------------------------- When you think of famous scientists of the early United States, you likely think of Benjamin Franklin, inventor of the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and even the glass harmonica. He and his son are the subject of the play “ [Franklinland.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/franklinland-play-benjamin-franklin/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) ” It explores their sometimes contentious relationship, Benjamin Franklin’s accomplishments as a scientist, and how the scientific method can be used to understand the ongoing experiment of the United States. It’s running now until November 3 at the Ensemble Studio Theater in New York City. Ira Flatow is joined by the playwright of “Franklinland,” Lloyd Suh, to learn how he joined all of these elements for the stage. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-11-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

17 Oct 2024

23 MINS

23:31

17 Oct 2024

#125

Searching The Universe For Clues To The Ultra-Small

What exactly is … everything? What is space-time? At one extreme, you’ve got the weird rules of quantum physics that deal with subatomic particles. At the other extreme, you’ve got the vast expanses of space, such as spinning galaxies and black holes. By mapping the cosmic microwave background, surveying the distribution of galaxies around the sky, and listening for gravitational waves, researchers are studying the cosmos for [clues to the quantum] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/general-relativity-equation-quantum-physics/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . They hope that by finding patterns in some of these large-scale structures, tiny irregularities involving [quantum effects in the earliest days of the universe] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/general-relativity-equation-quantum-physics/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) might be revealed. Charlie Wood, a staff writer covering physics for Quanta Magazine, has written about some of these space-time mysteries in a special issue. He joins Ira to discuss the nature of space-time and how scientists are trying to decode its physics. Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-11-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

16 Oct 2024

17 MINS

17:22

16 Oct 2024

#124

What Makes ‘SuperAgers’ Stay Healthy For So Long?

A common worry among older adults is how their brains and bodies might decline as they age. A small but fortunate group will live past their 95th birthdays, while staying cognitively sharp and free of major health complications. They’re called “SuperAgers.” Researchers are working to figure out some of the genetic factors behind SuperAgers’ longevity—and how that knowledge might help the rest of the population live longer and healthier lives. Ira talks with Dr. Sofiya Milman, director of Human Longevity Studies at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the lead researcher of the [SuperAgers Family Study] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/superagers-genetics-study-health-longevity/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) ; and one of the study’s participants, Sally Froelich, a 95-year-old New York resident. Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-11-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

15 Oct 2024

17 MINS

17:54

15 Oct 2024

#123

Asheville Was Never A ‘Climate Haven.’ Nowhere Is.

For years, Asheville, North Carolina, has been [billed as a “climate haven,”] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/asheville-climate-haven-climate-risk/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) a place safe from the touch of climate change-exacerbated disasters. But last month, Hurricane Helene called that label into question. Some of the worst damage of the storm occurred inland, in Western North Carolina. Data visualization designer David McConville lived in Asheville for about 20 years, before moving to California. “Watching people idealize Asheville was a little bit crazy-making,” McConville says. “ [There were very clear patterns] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/asheville-climate-haven-climate-risk/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) of the combination of the topography and hydrology, weather patterns, and development patterns that were creating these dangers,” he says, referring to the extreme flooding and damage brought on by Hurricane Helene. [Resilience and adaptation] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/asheville-climate-haven-climate-risk/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) for communities hit hard by storms is a huge area of conversation for cities. And for places hit hard consecutively, like Florida’s coast after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, that need is even more pressing. Joining Ira to talk about this is Dr. Jesse Keenan, associate professor of sustainable real estate and urban planning at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Dr. Jola Ajibade, associate professor of environmental and climate justice at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-11-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

14 Oct 2024

18 MINS

18:15

14 Oct 2024

#122

The Science Behind Hurricane Milton | ‘Unsettling’ Warm Water In Lake Michigan

Hurricane Milton caused a major storm surge, but also a reverse one. And, Lake Michigan's surface temperature has been above average nearly every day this year so far. All five Great Lakes are heating up. The Science Behind Hurricane Milton ----------------------------------- On October 9, [Hurricane Milton made landfall] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/hurricane-milton-science/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) in Siesta Key, Florida, then barrelled across the state. This comes just a couple of weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the southeastern US. Hurricane Milton dumped up to 18 inches of rain in some places, flooding cars, homes, and other buildings. Several people are confirmed dead. Around 3 million are without power. Hurricane Milton was expected to cause a 15-foot storm surge, but it appears that the storm surge maxed out at five to six feet. And there wasn’t just a storm surge, but [a reverse one] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/hurricane-milton-science/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Ira talks with Maggie Koerth, science writer and editorial lead for Carbon Plan, about some of the science of Hurricane Milton. They also discuss other [science stories from the week] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/hurricane-milton-science/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , including President Biden’s new rule for replacing lead pipes, concerns about the security of genetic data with 23andMe, and how to tell if an elephant is left or right-trunked. Lake Michigan Swimmers Enjoy ‘Unsettling’ Warm Water ---------------------------------------------------- On a sunny, mid-September afternoon, Olu Demuren took a running start off the concrete ledge just south of Belmont Harbor and leapt into Lake Michigan for the first time. “I was preparing myself for cold water,” Demuren said. “And this immediately felt very nice.” The water along Chicago’s lakeshore averaged [an unseasonable 71 degrees] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/lake-michigan-warming-water/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) that day. The weather was picturesque too: clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid-80s. Annelise Rittberg watched their friends from the concrete ledge and said the weather felt “deeply abnormal.” “While it’s fun to be out here, it’s also unsettling,” Rittberg said. [Lake Michigan is heating up] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/lake-michigan-warming-water/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . The lake’s surface temperature has surpassed the running average dating back to 1995 nearly every day this year, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data. And it’s not just one Great Lake. All five are warming. The massive bodies of water, which provide drinking water to more than 30 million people, are among the fastest-warming lakes worldwide, according to the federal government’s Fifth National Climate Assessment. [Read the full story at sciencefriday.com.] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/lake-michigan-warming-water/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-11-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

11 Oct 2024

19 MINS

19:17

11 Oct 2024

#121

How Campaigns Use Psychology To Get Out The Vote

We’re one month away from the presidential election. The campaigns are in high gear,  trying to get their messages out, and hoping that those messages will be [enough to motivate voters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/election-campaign-psychology/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) to both go to the polls—and to vote in their favor.  But just how solid are people’s political opinions at this point? [Can anyone be swayed] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/election-campaign-psychology/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) at this point by another debate, campaign ad, or stump speech talking point? And how do campaigns judge the mood of the electorate to better position their messages?  Dr. Jon Krosnick, director of the Political Psychology Research Group at Stanford University, joins Ira Flatow to talk about [political decision-making] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/election-campaign-psychology/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) , the ways campaigns can influence voters, the effectiveness of polling, and what researchers know about how people make and hold opinions. Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on [sciencefriday.com] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/october-4-2024/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . [Subscribe to this podcast.] (https://pod.link/73329284) Plus, to stay updated on all things science, [sign up for Science Friday's newsletters] (https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . ... Read more

10 Oct 2024

18 MINS

18:18

10 Oct 2024