Science Friday
Hosted by Flora Lichtman & Ira Flatow · 45 decoded episodes · newest Oct 7, 2026
Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff.
Episodes 45
- Sep 21, 2026 · 18 minEngineers make silicon work inside soft, moving bodiesThe episode examines how bioengineers turn rigid electronics into temporary, flexible tools that can safely interact with living tissue.
- Sep 18, 2026 · 18 minLymphatic medicine separates real treatment from wellness hypeThe episode clarifies what the lymphatic system does, where manual drainage helps, and why popular detox claims outpace the evidence.
- Sep 17, 2026 · 19 minNew evidence reframes hormone therapy for perimenopausePerimenopause symptoms vary widely, and hormone therapy decisions depend on individualized risks, benefits, and the limits of current evidence.
- Sep 16, 2026 · 26 minTiny fossil teeth redraw humanity’s branching pastThe episode shows how fossils, genetics, and more equitable research are reshaping what scientists know about human evolution.
- Sep 15, 2026 · 14 minHistory advances by losing knowledge, then finding it againThe episode challenges the idea of steady progress by showing how fragile discoveries can be—and how easily their significance disappears.
- Sep 14, 2026 · 18 minBlack bears reclaim habitat as communities learn to share itAs bear populations recover and development brings people into closer contact with wildlife, coexistence depends on changing both human behavior and community practices.
- Sep 12, 2026 · 18 minShorter antibiotics challenge a medical rule as fibromyalgia genetics emergeThe episode connects antibiotic stewardship with new genetic evidence that may reshape how fibromyalgia is understood and treated.
- Sep 11, 2026 · 18 minCannabis science struggles to keep pace with a changing marketAs products, delivery methods, and patterns of use evolve, weak evidence can shape medical advice, consumer safety, and public policy.
- Sep 10, 2026 · 13 minLZ detector spots a tantalizing dark matter candidateA confirmed signal would reshape decades of dark matter searches, but one unusual event still falls well short of proof.
- Sep 9, 2026 · 18 minRovelli argues physics needs philosophy to question its assumptionsThe episode shows how philosophical scrutiny helps science navigate counterintuitive discoveries and remain productive without promising absolute certainty.
- Sep 8, 2026 · 18 minFood recalls expose fragile oversight as car-fire risks evolveThe episode connects food-safety failures and vehicle fires through a shared question: whether prevention and oversight are keeping pace with complex risks.
- Sep 7, 2026 · 18 minVagus nerve science challenges the wellness reset industryThe episode separates clinically tested nerve stimulation from loosely supported wellness claims while examining how vagus nerve dysfunction may affect COVID and long COVID.