Science Friday

Scientists using the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory have located a possible new dwarf planet beyond Neptune. What would you name it?

Mathematician Steven Strogatz discusses the unexpected math in daily life, and how his field is picking up the pieces after AI disruptions.

The author of SciFri’s November book club pick on how she found meaning in the stories that unfolded in her yard.

It swims, it buzzes, it regenerates its brain: A tiny glassfish is becoming a model species for scientists. What could it teach us?

A food historian and nutrition researcher dig into the protein-maxxing trend—and explain why you might want to up your fiber intake instead.

Researchers have trapped a positron and held it at extremely cold temperatures for months, allowing them to measure its quantum properties.

Armadillos are turning up in states like Kentucky and Illinois, far from their warm southern habitats. Why are they moving north?

An analysis of bat genomes and fossil records has shown that the flying mammals first took wing in Europe some 60-65 million years ago.

Some online clinics are prescribing GLP-1 microdoses formulated by compounding pharmacies. Are these drugs safe and effective?

Terence Tao says mathematics is about understanding, not just right answers, and quick AI solutions are forcing soul-searching in the field.

T. rex may be the most famous prehistoric predator, but life wasn’t always bone-snapping chomps and food chain scaremongering.

Should we anthropomorphize animals or not? An actor and an ecologist share what they’ve learned about animal cognition.

Timekeeping scientists around the world voted to stop using leap seconds, but what does this mean for us?

Five years after “Klara and the Sun” was published, the film adaptation exists in an entirely different AI landscape.

In the name of safety, test engineers turn pill bottles over to kids, launch dead chickens through jet engines, and let bears loose on coolers.

CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna on the evolution of gene-editing technology, her own path, and what it takes to be a good scientist.

The proposed PRIMA space telescope just entered Phase B of its development. What does that mean?

Climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson reflects on this moment of the climate movement and why climate action should be fun.

"Whalefall" is a race against time, and sperm whale digestion. We get into the gooey gut science and what it took to bring it to the big screen.

A linguist weighs in on how "politician speak" has changed over the past century, and what it says about what we want from our leaders.

A free-floating seaweed called sargassum is exploding in the Atlantic ocean, clogging up coastlines from West Africa to the Caribbean.

For Ada Lovelace Day, our 2018 story about the women who made the internet, with the author of "Broad Band" and the founder of EchoNYC.

Attachment styles have taken off as a way to understand relationships. But does the science behind it line up with popular interpretations?

A new mRNA flu vaccine promises a closer match to circulating flu strains. But dysfunction at federal health agencies is complicating rollout.

El Niño is driving a Kelvin wave up the West Coast, raising sea levels. What is it, and how does it work?

This Cephalopod Week, we’re talking death spirals, cannibalism, and giant squid dissection.

In 2013, Frances Halzen spoke with Ira about the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. This week, Halzen won the Nobel Prize.

Why do some breakthroughs go dormant—and then wake up? Artist David Byrne writes about these sleeping beauties in his new book.

John Wilson’s latest feature film, “The History of Concrete” is an idiosyncratic journey about more than just concrete.

The tiny, three-pound tilcayo is the first cat species to be described in a century, and, yes—it is as cute as you’d think.

The country’s oldest natural history museum, in Philadelphia, has closed its doors to visitors. Will other museums follow?

Scientists are learning more about a recent impact crater on the moon. Plus, hunting for extraterrestrial life through technological clues.

The pandemic interrupted the lives of millions of kids. Researchers are studying the impact on their social and emotional development.

The latest scientific understanding of concussions is upending treatment recommendations for recovery.

More than 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, an illness with no current treatment. Is help on the way?

Concerns about AI safety are growing. Two researchers explain the unintended consequences of training AI models and what questions remain.

At the end of the last ice age, glacial melt inundated human settlements near shorelines. Underwater archeologists are uncovering their artifacts.

Hawaiʻi has generally been safe from the worst effects of hurricanes. But this year two hurricanes battered the islands in a matter of weeks.

Inventor John Rogers bridges the natural and artificial worlds with flexible, biocompatible electronics.

A new wellness trend focuses on stimulating the lymphatic system. What does this system do, and is there science to back these claims?

After decades of controversy over prescribing hormone therapy for perimenopause, many providers are reconsidering their approach.

Yohannes Haile-Selassie has a talent for spotting fossils, and has discovered clues to several branches of the human family tree.

Author Sam Kean explores our fascination with lost knowledge in his new book, “The Museum of Lost Things”

As black bears return to their historic ranges across the U.S., human encounters are increasing. How can bears and people live in harmony?

Shorter courses of antibiotics may reduce antimicrobial resistance. Plus, a new study finds a group of genes associated with fibromyalgia.

Cannabis seems to be everywhere, in many forms. We're learning more about its effect on teenage brains and its usefulness as a therapeutic.

The LUX-ZEPLIN detector picked up a strange signal that scientists haven’t cracked yet. Could it be a dark matter interaction?

Physicist Carlo Rovelli urges conversations between physics and philosophy in a search for answers about the universe.

Food recalls abounded this summer, but was it unusual? Plus, why some modern cars burst into flames, even when turned off.

In March 2026, we explored the science behind the much-hyped idea that you can "reset" your nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve.