Science Friday
Science Friday
Science Friday and WNYC Studios
Brain fun for curious people.
Flint’s Water Crisis, 10 Years Later | Underwater Cables Could Help Detect Tsunamis
While progress has been made in replacing water pipes in Flint, Michigan, many residents say they still don’t know if their tap water is clean or not. Also, scientists are adding sensors to an underwater cable network to monitor changes in the ocean and quickly detect earthquakes and tsunamis.
Apr 26
25 min
Fighting Banana Blight | Do Birds Sing In Their Dreams?
America’s most-consumed fruit is at risk from a fungal disease. Researchers in North Carolina are on a mission to save Cavendish bananas. Also, birds move their vocal organs while they sleep, mimicking how they sing. Scientists have translated those movements into synthetic birdsong.
Apr 25
19 min
Why Is Solving The Plastic Problem So Hard?
Plastics are everywhere, in packaging, clothing, and even our bodies. Could they be made less integral to manufacturing and more recyclable?
Apr 24
17 min
What Worsening Floods Mean For Superfund Sites
Superfund sites contain extreme pollution. Flooding—made worse by climate change—could carry their toxic contaminants into surrounding areas.
Apr 23
17 min
The Global Mental Health Toll Of Climate Change | Capturing DNA From 800 Lakes In One Day
An explosion of research is painting a clearer picture of how climate change is affecting mental health across the globe. Also, a citizen science project aims to find species that have gone unnoticed by sampling the waters of hundreds of lakes worldwide for environmental DNA.
Apr 22
18 min
Clean Energy Transition Progress | Avian Flu In Cattle And Humans Has Scientists Concerned
Global temperature increases are slowing, electric vehicle sales are growing, and renewable energy is now cheaper than some fossil fuels. Also, in a recent outbreak of avian flu, the virus has jumped from birds to cows, and to one dairy worker. A disease ecologist provides context.
Apr 19
25 min
A Cheer For The Physics Of Baseball
When you watch a baseball game, you’re also enjoying a spectacular display of science—from physics to biomechanics.
Apr 18
17 min
Carbon Cost Of Urban Gardens And Commercial Farms | Why There's No Superbloom This Year
Some food has a larger carbon footprint when grown in urban settings than on commercial farms, while for other foods the reverse is true. Also, what’s the difference between wildflowers blooming in the desert each spring, and the rare phenomenon of a “superbloom”?
Apr 17
18 min
Inside The Race To Save Honeybees From Parasitic Mites
Varroa destructor mites are killing honeybees and their babies at alarming rates.
Apr 16
18 min
The Brain’s Glial Cells Might Be As Important As Neurons
These lesser-known nervous system cells were long thought to be the “glue” holding neurons together. They’re much more.
Apr 15
15 min
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