logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2023
47m 3s

Rewilding, Allergy Season, Sharing Scien...

SCIENCE FRIDAY AND WNYC STUDIOS
About this episode
Could Restoring Animal Populations Store More Carbon? Did you know that land and ocean ecosystems absorb about half of the carbon dioxide we emit each year? But what if the earth had the capacity to absorb even more? With the help of some furry, scaly, and leathery critters, maybe it can. A recent study in the journal Nature Climate Change claims that by res ... Show More
Up next
Nov 21
African Grey Parrots Are Popular—And It’s Fueling Illegal Trade
<p>African grey parrots are internet stars. It’s easy to see why—the charismatic birds sing, tell jokes, and sling profanities. But how do the endangered birds get from African forests to your feed? </p><p>Wildlife crime reporter Rene Ebersole joins Host Flora Lichtman to describ ... Show More
13m 45s
Nov 20
Attention, Trivia Nerds! It’s A Food Science Fact Feast
<p>After years of getting your emails and phone calls, we know that SciFri listeners are in the 99th percentile when it comes to nerdy knowledge. We’re putting your fact retention skills to the test with the first ever Super Food Science Excellence Trivia Blowout (SFSETBO).</p><p ... Show More
12m 1s
Nov 19
Can Animal Super-Agers Teach Us Their Secrets?
<p>Some animals have a very different <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/animal-fountain-of-youth/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">relationship to aging</a> than we do: They don’t get cancer, they never go through menopause, an ... Show More
18m 40s
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
Trolled in science: “Hundreds of hateful comments in a single day”
Atmospheric scientist Katharine Hayhoe realised she was the only climate researcher in West Texas when she joined Texas Tech University in Lubbock, 15 years ago. Within a few months she was being asked to address community groups about climate change, but also a growing number of ... Show More
43m 34s
Jun 2025
Will the Hole in the Ozone Layer Close?
40 years ago scientists in Antarctica discovered a hole in the Ozone layer. The world acted quickly, phasing out harmful CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons. Evidence suggests the hole has been getting smaller. But in 2025, there are new pollutants threatening to slow progress. Eloise Ma ... Show More
28m 17s
Jan 2025
Combatting Climate Anxiety through Community Science
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the news these days and to fear for the future. What if you could interrupt doomscrolling and contribute to conservation at the same time? That’s the idea behind programs like Adventure Scientists, eBird and iNaturalist. Guest Gregg Treinish, fo ... Show More
14m 34s
Aug 2024
The not-so-secret life of plants
<p>From the perspective of Western science, plants have long been considered unaware, passive life forms; essentially, rocks that happen to grow. </p><p>But there’s something in the air in the world of plant science. New research suggests that plants are aware of the world around ... Show More
35m 49s
Jan 2025
The Year in Science
We look back on 2024 in science, from billionaires in space, to record-breaking heat here on Earth, and the meteoric rise of new weight-loss drugs. From the biggest stories to the unsung and the plain fun, Inside Science presenter Victoria Gill hosts a special panel, featuring: - ... Show More
28m 18s
Aug 22
Could Peanut Allergies Be Cured?
Peanut allergies have surged dramatically in recent decades, and scientists are still working to understand why. In this episode, journalist Maryn Mckenna, who recently authored an article on the subject, and host Rachel Feltman explore the latest research on causes, treatments a ... Show More
20m 29s
Sep 25
Does warm weather mean more rats in UK towns and cities?
Summer heatwaves and missed bin collections have created panic in the press that rat numbers in the UK are increasing. We ask Steve Belmain, Professor of Ecology at the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich for the science. This summer Wales became the first ... Show More
32m 27s
Aug 5
Summer picks: what is ‘mirror life’ and why are scientists sounding the alarm?
Recently, a group of world-leading scientists called for a halt on research to create ‘mirror life’ microbes amid concerns that the synthetic organisms would present an ‘unprecedented risk’ to life on Earth. Ian Sample tells Madeleine Finlay about why this work initially seemed e ... Show More
17m 33s
Sep 10
How a Tick Bite Can Make You Allergic to Meat
A tick bite can trigger a rare allergy to red meat and animal products, forcing major lifestyle changes. Scientist Lee Haines joins host Rachel Feltman to break down what causes alpha-gal syndrome, why it’s spreading and how to spot the signs. Recommended Reading Red Meat Allergy ... Show More
14m 9s
Aug 25
Science’s Greatest 180s
Science doesn’t always get it right the first time—and that’s part of the journey. In this anniversary episode, we explore how ideas about nerve damage, sustainable materials and alien life have done a full 180. Recommended Reading Celebrating 180 Years of Scientific American 180 ... Show More
8m 4s