Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Sniffle, Sneeze, Urrp: Time for Colds and Flu
They both bring wintertime suffering, but how similar is the common cold to influenza, scientifically speaking?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Simulating an Outbreak of Pandemic Flu
What can simulations of a flu outbreak in the city of Chicago teach us about how to better respond to a real-world pandemic?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Mapping Emerging Diseases
Researchers have mapped out likely 'hot spots' for the development of emerging infectious diseases. We'll talk about the threat of outbreaks of diseases such as SARS and Ebola, and whether outbreaks of emerging diseases are on the rise.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Colleges Preparing for Swine Flu
We'll find out what colleges and universities are doing to prepare for outbreaks of swine flu as students return to the classrooms and dorms.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Analysis Raises Questions on Flu Shot for Seniors
Should seniors get the flu vaccine? A new report is discussed in this audio recording showing evidence that the flu shot works for seniors is lacking. [22:10]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Debate Persists Over Publishing Bird Flu Studies
A microbiologist and a biosecurity expert debate the risks and benefits of publishing two studies.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: To the Moon
This week marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. We'll look back on the trip from the Earth to the moon.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Building Functional Fibers
Researchers have been able to build a fabric-based camera out of a mesh of light-sensitive fibers. We'll talk about the wok and efforts to use fibers in advanced electronics and other devices.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Paint the Town White
Replacing dark roofing and pavement with lighter, more reflective materials could reduce temperatures in cities and offset significant quantities of carbon dioxide emissions.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Longevity Compound
A compound used in humans to prevent rejection of organ transplants can significantly extend the lifespan of mice.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Ira talks with author Rebecca Skloot about 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,' a tale of biology and medical ethics.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: New Fusion Facility
Last week, a new fusion research facility was dedicated in California. We'll talk about the lab and what it hopes to achieve.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Future of Nuclear Energy
While solar, wind, and biofuels have been garnering the lion's share of public and political attention in plans to remake the nation's energy portfolio, some nuclear energy advocates want more emphasis put on nuclear energy. But what...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Tickling Gorillas and the Evolution of Laughter
Researchers have tickled gorillas, bonobos, chimps and humans in an effort to understand the evolution of laughter in the primate world.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Newton and the Counterfeiter
Isaac Newton is known as one of the world's greatest scientists, developing the three laws that define the way motion works. But did you know that he had a second life fighting crime?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Presidential Science Adviser John Holdren
Ira talks with John Holdren, head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, about the role of science in the Obama administration.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: The Hobbit Debate
Are the 'hobbit bones' found in an Indonesian cave from a different species, or from modern humans suffering from bone deformations?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: The Two Cultures, Fifty Years On
Are the humanities and the sciences irrevocably divided?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: All Listeners Must Wash Hands
Mom told you to wash your hands, but do you? New research gets the dirt on our handwashing behaviors. [17:42]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Smallpox
We'll talk about the history of the international effort to eradicate smallpox worldwide.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Infection
About 100,000 people die every year due to infections acquired in a hospital, according to a new government report. In this hour, we'll look at the problem, and talk about some of the infectious organisms that put patients at risk, from...
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: The Virus in Your Genes
Many vertebrate species contain snippets of viral genetic code within their genomes -- and according to new research, it's not all from the likely suspects.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Exosolar Planet Update
We'll hear about new work in the field of discovering exosolar planets -- including research that used the Hubble Space Telescope to take optical images of a planet orbiting a star some 25 light years away. [12 mins. 29]
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Statins as Preventative Medicine?
Should statin drugs be given as preventative medicine to help reduce heart problems?