logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
11m 33s

Space Firefighting, Sleep Schedules, Pol...

DISCOVERY
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Today
Life Under the Sea, No Singing Crabs
They say it’s better down where it’s wetter… but is it really? Aquanauts have more in common with astronauts than they do with singing marine life. In fact, NASA conducts research into the biological and psychological effects of space on the ocean floor. This episode, Sam is join ... Show More
26m 38s
Feb 25
Happiness IRL
If everyone wants happiness, why does it so often seem hard to achieve? This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by psychologist Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky to talk about positive psychology and what science tells us about how to be happy. Sam also explores a new study that sa ... Show More
25m 53s
Feb 18
Tips For Pits: The Science of Body Odor
It’s not a stretch to say that everyone suffers from unwanted body odor from time to time. Whether it’s stress, exercise, or heat, there are plenty of reasons why we sweat and there is a lot to learn about our bodies from the odors they create. To learn more about the science of ... Show More
23m 23s
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
How to Make Gold, Flamingo Food Tornado, and Kosmos-482 Lands
Soviet-era spacecraft Kosmos-482 lands, though no one is certain where. Physicists turn lead into gold. Overdose deaths are down, in part thanks to the availability of naloxone. Flamingos make underwater food tornadoes. Chimps use leaves as a multi-tool. Recommended reading: A Ne ... Show More
8m 9s
Feb 2021
Lucid Dreaming, Sex As A Biological Variable, Parachute Science, Global Vaccine Access. Feb 26, 2021, Part 2
<p>Memory And The Dreaming Mind</p> <p>If you’ve ever stayed up too late studying for a test, you know that sleep impacts memory—you need that precious shut-eye in order to encode and recall all that information. But what is it about sleep that aids memory? </p> <p>Researchers ha ... Show More
46m 16s
Mar 2023
S26E33: Official - Findings into the Vega C Rocket Failure // Detailed Gigantic Jet Study // Time on the Moon
<b>*Board of inquiry hands down its findings into the Vega C rocket failure</b> A European Space Agency board of inquiry has found a fault in a nozzle caused the failure of the European Vega C rocket's second flight. <b>*The most detailed study yet of a Gigantic Jet</b> A detaile ... Show More
26m 32s
Nov 2024
An Off Day on Uranus, a Wildfire in Prospect Park and Dispatches from COP29
A wildfire in Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Prospect Park was in part linked to drought conditions nationally. Plastic waste is set to grow with our expanding economy, but potential solutions look promising. Drops in gonorrhea and early-stage syphilis point to the first decline in sexually tr ... Show More
11m 44s
Nov 2024
An Off Day on Uranus, a Wildfire in Prospect Park and Dispatches from COP29
A wildfire in Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Prospect Park was in part linked to drought conditions nationally. Plastic waste is set to grow with our expanding economy, but potential solutions look promising. Drops in gonorrhea and early-stage syphilis point to the first decline in sexually tr ... Show More
11m 44s
Aug 2023
Covid Update, Brain Fog Research, Toilet to Tap. Aug 18, 2023, Part 1
<h2>Youth Climate Activists Score A Win In Montana</h2><p>This week, a state court in Montana ruled in favor of a group of <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/youth-climate-activism-law-montana/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">1 ... Show More
47m 23s
Apr 2023
Artemis II Astronauts, AI Research Pause, Terra Nil Video Game. April 7, 2023, Part 2
<p>An Open Letter Asks AI Researchers To Reconsider Responsibilities</p> <p>In recent months, it’s been hard to escape hearing about artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT, the AI-enabled version of Bing, and Google’s Bard—large language models skilled at manipulating ... Show More
47m 41s
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
Feb 2025
Measles Outbreaks, Asteroid Risks and Fish Friends
The black hole at the center of our galaxy is emitting near-constant, random light. The European Space Agency has approved astronaut candidate John McFall, making McFall the first physically disabled candidate to be cleared to fly. The risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth rose ... Show More
7m 20s