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Covid-19
Neuroscience
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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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1293Founded21 years ago
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Natural SciencesScienceLife Sciences

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Latest Episodes

To mark Earth Day, we asked you to tell us about your favorite places on the planet. You took us to the woods near Traverse City, Michigan, to a lake in Oklahoma, to Long Island Harbor where you spent your summers as a kid.

Basking in a sea breeze a... more

What makes Earth special, and why are we here at all? In his book “Why Do We Exist? The Nine Realms of the Universe That Make You Possible,” astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi tackles the conditions needed to put life on Earth, from the formation of stars... more

Nearly all Americans have some type of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in their blood. The chemicals, which are linked to numerous health issues, were first regulated in drinking water at the federal level two years ago (though some limi... more

A new imaging technique using a particle accelerator is giving researchers an unprecedented level of detail of our organs, producing scans 100 billion times brighter than a CT scanner. Those 3D models are now part of a public database called the Huma... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dr. Claire Walsh
Director of the Human Organ Atlas Hub and Associate Professor at University College London
University College London
Episode: How a particle accelerator illuminated 56 human organs
Simone Giertz
Engineer, maker, YouTube creator, founder of Yetch Studio
Yetch Studio
Episode: Simone Giertz’s journey from robot comedy to high-end design
Laela Sayigh
Senior Research Specialist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Episode: When a dolphin whistles, what does it mean?
Dr. Tracy Scott
Sociologist at Emory University who studies the lives and families of moonshot era astronauts
Emory University
Episode: Inside the lives of astronauts’ families
Cassandra Marketos
A composting aficionado and author of Compost After Reading, A Practical Manifesto for Purposeful Decomposition
Author, Compost After Reading
Episode: Green stuff, brown stuff: Secrets to a great compost pile
Tim Errington
Senior Director of Research at the Center for Open Science
Center for Open Science
Episode: Why so many studies can’t be replicated
Abel Brodeur
Professor of Economics at the University of Ottawa and founder of the Institute for Replication
University of Ottawa; Institute for Replication
Episode: Why so many studies can’t be replicated
Erik Aadahl
Sound designer and editor on Project Hail Mary, Godzilla, Transformers, A Quiet Place
Project Hail Mary (sound design)
Episode: How a sound designer gave an alien its voice (and 250 words)
Sarah Carstens
Addictions Clinical Director of Outpatient Services
Penn Medicine's Princeton House Behavioral Health
Episode: Can GLP-1 drugs treat addiction?

Hosts

Flora Lichtman
Host of Science Friday, known for engaging storytelling and inquisitive nature.
Ira Flatow
Host of Science Friday, recognized for long-time contributions to science journalism.
Kathleen Davis
Producer and co-host contributing to content development and episode preparation.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 7.5k ratings
  • My little review

    I love listening to science Friday and always learn something new. I share it often with my friends.

    Thank you for this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PxlQuantZ
    United Statesa month ago
  • Balance to Socials

    I love this show! The new shorter length is perfect for in the car. And it helps me feel like my brain is healthy, balancing out social media time!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NotAFanGirl3333
    United Statesa month ago
  • Keeps me informed

    This show regularly provides information I can use in my life and keeps me informed on matters that I may need to consider when I vote in the future.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CLN57
    United States2 months ago
  • Thanks!

    Great podcast, love the daily format

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jmoneyballin
    United States2 months ago
  • This is what the Internet was supposed to feel like!

    First - thank you Ira for finding Flora - as she assumes a greater roll in “SciFri” I have come to the conclusion that you are a visionary. I should have trusted you when you first introduced her, but I am a creature of habit and not very accepting of changes to my routine. But, Flora, you have won me over - your happy, breezy, but always reverent style is the perfect antidote to our current predicament. I think you make me smile AT LEAST once an episode, and I often listen to two a day. And... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr. Fabulous, esq
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There are mixed sentiments regarding the frequency of certain conversational habits by hosts that some find repetitive.
Overall, the hosts are frequently commended for their inquisitive interviewing style and genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter.
Listeners praise the podcast for its wide-ranging scientific topics and engaging conversations with knowledgeable guests.
Many appreciate the balance between depth and accessibility, allowing complex subjects to be easily understood.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When a dolphin whistles, what does it mean?
Q: Are all the whistles unique or do some differ only slightly between individuals?
Most whistles are distinct enough to differentiate individuals, with subtle variations like upsweeps or downsweeps, though some cases involve whistles very similar to another's, making identification challenging.
When a dolphin whistles, what does it mean?
Q: Do they name themselves, and does each dolphin have their own signature whistle?
Yes, most dolphins have unique signature whistles that function like names, though there are exceptions and some similarities between individuals; calves often develop whistles related to their mothers, but it's not always a direct copy.
Why so many studies can’t be replicated
Q: What practical improvements are being observed in data sharing and replication?
There is an upward trend in data sharing, particularly in economics and political science, and more studies are master-reproduced across fields, though coding errors and incomplete sharing persist and need continued cultural and policy changes.
Why so many studies can’t be replicated
Q: Why was DARPA involved in SCORE and what makes SCORE different?
DARPA supported the SCORE project to explore how to assess confidence in research findings beyond binary published/unpublished judgments, emphasizing automation and tools to aid confidence assessment across a broad range of social science disciplines.
Is the US backing out of the electric vehicle market?
Q: Tell me about that.
Kyle explains that China's aggressive use of industrial policy—supported by local governments and infrastructure investments—has helped it push into EVs, batteries, and other clean technologies, while the US has relied more on market-driven approaches, delaying widespread adoption.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Science Friday

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

This podcast provides listeners with a wide-ranging exploration of various scientific topics, from astronomy to microbiology, offering engaging discussions that are both informative and entertaining. With a consistent focus on evidence-based science, it showcases expert guests who share their insights and research on pressing issues like climate change, health sciences, and emerging technologies. Unique perspectives are often brought to the forefront, enabling discussions on contemporary topics such as the impact of genetic research on understanding diseases or the implications of current environmental policies.

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. Freakonomics Radio
5. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

How many episodes of Science Friday are there?

Science Friday launched 21 years ago and published 1293 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.

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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. Dr. Claire Walsh
2. Simone Giertz
3. Laela Sayigh
4. Dr. Tracy Scott
5. Cassandra Marketos
6. Tim Errington
7. Abel Brodeur
8. Erik Aadahl

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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