Science Friday

How does the gut-brain connection work?

Discover how your gut acts as a second brain, influencing everything from your mood to complex diseases like Parkinson's.

Investigating ‘flow state’ with the bassist from Phish

Phish bassist Mike Gordon and a neuroscientist discuss using brain signals to decode the science of musical flow state.

How the US patent system keeps drug prices high

Pharmaceutical companies use overlapping patent filings to block competition and keep drug prices artificially high.

What was science like in America 250 years ago?

Discover how Benjamin Franklin and other early American natural philosophers used science to build a new nation.

An artificial cell eats, grows, and reproduces. Is it alive?

Researchers are engineering synthetic cells from scratch to act as modular biological factories for new technologies.

Growing lunar potatoes + Dealing with razor-sharp moon dust

Scientists are tackling the challenges of growing potatoes in lunar soil and managing razor-sharp moon dust.

Even Nobel Prize winners deal with imposter syndrome

Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian reflects on his path in science and the imposter syndrome he battled along the way.

Squirrel poop drops Ice Age clues + The neuroscience of laughter

Ancient squirrel poop reveals Ice Age secrets and researchers uncover the distinct brain networks behind our laughter.

Promising new treatments for pancreatic cancer and ALS

New clinical trials for pancreatic cancer and a targeted genetic therapy for ALS offer breakthrough hope for patients.

That chlorine smell at the pool? It’s pee

That strong chlorine odor at the pool is actually a chemical reaction caused by pool water mixing with human urine.

Under proposed rule, science funding must pass political review

Proposed rules at the OMB could shift U.S. research funding from expert review to politically driven oversight.

Can you learn to love the scorpion?

Despite their fearsome reputation, scorpions are actually low-metabolism ballroom dancers that practice live birth.

FDA approves a well-known sunscreen ingredient—finally

The FDA has finally approved BEMT, the first new broad-spectrum sunscreen ingredient in over two decades.

Why do sports announcers talk like that?

Linguists break down the unique speed, pitch, and inverted grammar that define the distinct style of sports announcers.

Swords, cannibalism, poison: inside the world of killer microbes

Microscopic predators use swords, poison, and cannibalistic tactics to battle for survival in unseen microbial wars.

When music transports you to a different place

Discover the science behind musical daydreams and how certain songs act as auditory wormholes to our past or psyche.

A vast whale graveyard + Zombie sea cucumbers

Researchers explore a massive underwater whale graveyard and the bizarre phenomenon of zombie sea cucumber parts.

Should we bring mountain lions back to the Northeast?

Experts explore whether reintroducing mountain lions to the Northeast could restore ecosystem health and safety.

Blue Origin explosion hits NASA timeline + Artemis III crew

A Blue Origin explosion threatens NASA's moon mission timeline as the agency announces its new Artemis III crew.

Why can I handle tequila but not rum?

Alcohol affects you differently based on context, your unique biology, and the varying minor ingredients in each drink.