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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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1338Founded21 years ago
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ScienceLife SciencesNatural Sciences

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Artwork for Science Friday

Latest Episodes

If you watch sports, whether the recent NBA finals or the ongoing World Cup matches, you may have noticed that the athletes aren’t the only ones putting on a show. The announcers seem to be playing a beautiful game of their own, capturing the excitem... more

There is a murderous crime spree happening right under—and perhaps inside—our noses. Killer microbes armed with weapons are eviscerating, assassinating, and detonating their fellow microbes. And the newest culprit? A protist that morphs into a cannib... more

Do you ever hear a song that transports you to a specific place and time? This auditory wormhole has a name: musical daydreams. Music cognition expert Elizabeth Margulis studies why they happen, and what they tell us about our brains. She joins Host ... more

Researchers just published details of a massive undersea graveyard of whales deep in the Indian Ocean. Spanning about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), it contains whale remains dating back more than 5 million years—and at least five active whale fall si... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Mark Elbroch
Director of the Puma Program at Panthera, a big cat conservation organization
Panthera
Episode: Should we bring mountain lions back to the Northeast?
Kenneth Chang
Space reporter for The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: Blue Origin explosion hits NASA timeline + Artemis III crew
Tom Shellhammer
Brewer and professor of Fermentation Science
Oregon State University
Episode: Why can I handle tequila but not rum?
Jacqui Barker
Associate Professor studying alcohol effects on the brain
Drexel University College of Medicine
Episode: Why can I handle tequila but not rum?
Dr. Jackie Lyn Guevara
Assistant Professor in Turfgrass Management
Michigan State University
Episode: AI + turfgrass science in the most high-tech World Cup yet
Ryan O'Hanlon
Staff writer at ESPN and author
ESPN
Episode: AI + turfgrass science in the most high-tech World Cup yet
Jessica Bartley
Psychologist for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee
US Olympic and Paralympic Committee
Episode: How extreme athletes like Alex Honnold keep their cool
Alex Honnold
Professional climber, host of Planet Visionaries Podcast
Planet Visionaries / Various climbing ventures
Episode: How extreme athletes like Alex Honnold keep their cool
Elizabeth Preston
Science journalist and author of The Creatures' Guide to Caring
The Creatures' Guide to Caring (Book)
Episode: Parenting tips from the animal kingdom

Host

Flora Lichtman
Host of Science Friday; frequently introduces guests and leads interviews.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 7.7k ratings
  • Infectious! In a Good Way

    It doesn’t matter what the topic being discussed is, if Flora Lichtman gets excited about it, I’m soon completely invested.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JenMededit
    United Statesa month ago
  • Lifelong learning

    In a digital world filled with shallow influencers and brainless content, these curated topics fill your brain with curiosity and awe of science and nature. I also admire the platform they give to researchers and thinkers in society. Highly recommend to lifelong learners.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laine Hunter
    United Statesa month ago
  • Loved episode on yawning

    Very interesting. As a citizen scientist for years I have been studying my yawns almost nightly lying in bed before going to sleep. I find a perfect correlation between yawning and an increase in heart rate of about 2-3 bpm that lasts for about 10-15 seconds after the yawn before it returns lower again. I think that this could be an indication of the temporary increased blood flow to the brain as mentioned in the podcast. I’d like to hear if anyone else has experienced this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VintageTexas
    United Statesa month ago
  • This podcast is so fun and informative. Great for listening while on a walk 🎶 🚶‍♂️

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Jayzillabooks
    a month ago
  • Fav Science Podcast

    My favorite science podcast, have been listening since I was a kid.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    olllllllllllllli
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate deep-dive interviews with researchers and clear real-world relevance.
Some listeners wish for more depth on certain topics and longer segments.
Audience notes strong guest diversity and thorough explanations but some critiques of perceived bias in topics.
Listeners praise accessible science stories and engaging hosts.
Show is seen as a reliable source for science news and thoughtful discussion.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Should we bring mountain lions back to the Northeast?
Q: Let's just jump right in. Why would people want to bring mountain lions back to the northeast?
The guest explains that reintroducing apex predators like mountain lions aligns with American conservation values, helps restore ecological balance, and can rebuild ecosystem processes that were disrupted by past losses, ultimately contributing to healthier, more resilient forests and landscapes.
Why can I handle tequila but not rum?
Q: Do different alcohols affect different people differently?
The hosts explain that individual differences come from how a beverage is consumed, the accompanying context, and biological factors, so effects can vary but are also shaped by environment and behavior.
Looking for life in the clouds of Venus
Q: So you're proposing to go to the clouds of Venus, a mission to Venus called the Morning Star Mission, and to do what?
The plan is to deploy a series of small, focused missions that would first look for organic molecules in the clouds, then search for more complex organics, and finally aim for a sample-return to Earth to analyze materials with our best laboratory tools.
How did Neanderthals deal with illness and injuries?
Q: Penny, what's the oldest evidence of medical care?
There is evidence from early Homo species showing care for injured individuals, and from Neanderthals indicating dental treatments and medicinal plant use, suggesting that medical care and caregiving were present far earlier than we might have assumed.
Inside the Nebraska quarantine facility responding to hantavirus
Q: How many hantavirus exposed patients do you have right now? And how are they doing?
There are 18 individuals in quarantine who have been in place since May 11th, and all of them are currently well, with monitoring for potential symptom development if needed.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Science Friday

What is Science Friday about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-focused show covers a wide range of topics from space and climate to health, technology, and everyday phenomena. Episodes blend interviews with researchers, journalists, and industry experts to explain complex ideas in accessible terms, often tying scientific findings to policy, society, and everyday life. Notable strengths include a track record of skeptical inquiry, interdisciplinary storytelling, and a consistent emphasis on real-world implications—whether examining environmental health risks, the math behind cultural trends, or the future of space biology. Listeners likely appreciate clear explanations, curiosity-driven exploration, and guests who bring both technical depth and human context to their work.

Where can I find podcast stats for Science Friday?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Science Friday. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Science Friday and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Science Friday get?

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What are the audience demographics for Science Friday?

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How many subscribers and views does Science Friday have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Science Friday has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Science Friday?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Science Friday:

1. Radiolab
2. Short Wave
3. Science Magazine Podcast
4. Hidden Brain
5. TED Radio Hour

How many episodes of Science Friday are there?

Science Friday launched 21 years ago and published 1338 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Science Friday?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Science Friday?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Science Friday from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Science Friday?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Science Friday. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Science Friday?

Recent guests on Science Friday include:

1. Mark Elbroch
2. Kenneth Chang
3. Tom Shellhammer
4. Jacqui Barker
5. Dr. Jackie Lyn Guevara
6. Ryan O'Hanlon
7. Jessica Bartley
8. Alex Honnold

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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