Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Ibex Spacecraft Intercepts "Alien" Particles
A discussion of the research being conducted by NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer. The IBEX has detected interstellar particles that give clues as to the composition of the Milky Way. Aired Feb. 3, 2012 [12:15 min]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Obama Environmental Appointments
A conversation about the expected appointments by then President-elect Obama for important environmental positions, including the Secretary of State and the director of the Environmental Protection Agency. Aired Dec. 12, 2008 [12:27 min]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Physics for Future Presidents
A conversation with Richard Muller, author of Physics for Future Presidents. He believes that (then) President-elect Obama cannot rely solely on physics advisors to help him make important decisions as they see issues solely through the...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Science Challenges for the Next Administration
A conversation about the challenges that newly elected President Obama faces that are related to science. These include energy policy and health care. Aired Nov. 7, 2008 [17:48]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Science Advice for Future Presidents
A report from the Center for the Study of the Presidency examines the science and technology that are embedded in many issues that the President must confront. To do that, the President needs a basic understanding of the these, and...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: The Heart of Power
A discussion with James Morone, one of the authors of The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office. The book examined the health of past presidents and drew some conclusions about how their personal health affected their...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Vitamin B3 and Alzheimer's
A conversation with Kim Green, a research scientist, who has been studying mice to see if large doses of vitamin B3 could reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease. After having success with this research, they are looking to start...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: New Renewable Energy Journal
An interview with Craig Taylor, an editor of the newly founded Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy. Aired Nov. 7, 2008 [12:28]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: What Makes Stem Cells Stem Cells?
Stem cell researcher George Daley talks about a protein scientists have discovered that may provide the key to understanding how stem cells get their unique abilities. Aired Feb. 22, 2008 [10:49 min]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Towards a Saliva Test for Cancers?
Scientists are developing a saliva test that has had some success in diagnosing cancers of the head and neck. Joseph Califano from John Hopkins Medical Institutions explains how it works. Aired Jan. 4, 2008 [12:29 min]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Wildlife Csi
An interview with Laurel Neme, the author of Animal Investigators, and experts from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They discuss the field of animal forensic science and what animal investigators do. Aired May 1, 2009 [35:35]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Mass Extinction Event on the Horizon?
An interview with biologist Paul Ehrlich to discuss the possibility of a sixth mass extinction event in the not too distant future, due to the severe biodiversity loss that scientists are witnessing. They discuss whether anything can be...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Beautiful Science
Chat with the curator of the exhibition entitled Beautiful Science: Ideas that Changed the World, which spans centuries of scientific progress, and includes original books and drawings by scientific luminaries such as Galileo, Robert...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Michael Novacek and 'Terra'
An interview with Michael Novacek, author of Terra: Our 100-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem - and the Threats That Now Put it at Risk. He talks about the history of ecosystems and environmental threats the Earth faces. Includes link to a...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Studying a Baby Mammoth
A 40,000-year-old baby mammoth was discovered frozen in Siberian permafrost in 2007. Most of her body was still intact, allowing paleontologists an unparalleled opportunity to study this extinct animal. Aired May 1, 2009 [12:29]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Year of Astronomy
The year 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy. This podcast [17:47] looks back at the many milestones in astronomy, including Galileo's accomplishments 400 years ago, what is happening now, and what the Hubble Space...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Mapping Human Genetic Diversity
Researchers working on the Human Genome Project have been able to map human genetic variation across populations and continents. They were able to trace human ancestry back to Africa, and determine the genetic history of a number of...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Levitating Fruit Flies to Learn About Space Travel
Listen to this discussion of a Video Pick of the Week, which looks at research into levitating fruit flies (and other things) using a strong magnet. This work, being done at the University of Nottingham, has applications to space travel....
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Winter Wonderland? Wonder No Longer
A group of scientists discuss the scientific phenomena that we experience in the winter season. Aired Jan. 6, 2012 [33:48 min]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Listening to Frog Love Songs
In this interview, biologist Darcy Kelley tells us about her work listening to the underwater love songs of South African clawed frogs, and what they tell us about animal communication. Aired Feb. 12, 2010 [12:26 min]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: What's a Smart Grid?
A discussion of what President Obama believes must be done to increase the ability of the national electricity distribution grid to meet the energy needs of today and the future. Aired Feb. 13, 2009 [21:17 min]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Wind Power
A visit to Oklahoma to see what they are doing to harness wind energy. How does size factor into the potential of a wind turbine? And if Oklahoma becomes a major energy producer for the country, who will build the infrastructure for...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: The Modern Dog
Learn all about dogs, from how they communicate with us, to how they've evolved along with our technology. This segment also talks about dog genetics and evolution- how can a single species contain breeds as different as Great Danes and...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Judah Folkman's Legacy
This Science Friday looks at the scientific legacy of angiogenesis researcher Judah Folkman. [25:7]