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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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1323Founded21 years ago
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Life SciencesScienceNatural Sciences

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Latest Episodes

The benefits of getting a shingles vaccine seem relatively straightforward: It will prevent you from getting shingles, a painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. But researchers have found a surprising link between getting the sh... more

Two disease outbreaks are dominating the news: Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and hantavirus, which started spreading on a cruise ship.

The U.S. has a one-of-a-kind medical facility that exists just for emergencies like this. It’s ca... more

When Lewis and Clark crossed the United States in the early 1800s, they recorded their wildlife observations along the way. Now, more than 200 years later, an expedition is following the same route and partnering with scientists across the U.S. to ca... more

On Monday, Pope Leo XIV presented his encyclical, an open letter from the church, on AI. The 42,000-word document covers a lot of terrain—from screen time to resource extraction to job loss—but the core message is summed up in the title: “Magnifica H... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Milton Garcés
Director of the Infrasound Laboratory at the University of Hawai'i
University of Hawai'i
Episode: Is that spooky old house full of ghosts, or just infrasound?
Rodney Schmaltz
Professor of Psychology at MacEwan University
MacEwan University
Episode: Is that spooky old house full of ghosts, or just infrasound?
Holly Fernandez Lynch
Associate professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: How do clinical trials work, and who can participate?
Delaney Nolan
Environmental reporter
The Lens; Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk
Episode: Use of herbicide linked to Parkinson's is on the rise in the US
Beate Ritz
Professor of Epidemiology
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Episode: Use of herbicide linked to Parkinson's is on the rise in the US
Emma Zajdela
Applied Mathematician at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: Why does fashion repeat in 20-year cycles? Math has the answer
Arnaud Rebillard
PhD candidate in paleontology, lead author on fossil vomit study
Natural History Museum of Berlin
Episode: Earth's ancient hydrogen, and fossilized vomit
Anat Shahar
Planetary scientist, Vice President for Research at the Carnegie Institution for Science
Carnegie Institution for Science
Episode: Earth's ancient hydrogen, and fossilized vomit
Lynne Bilston
Biomechanical Engineer at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
Episode: How yawning might help clear dirty fluid from the brain

Host

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

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 7.6k 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 States14 days 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 States17 days 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 States17 days ago
  • This podcast is so fun and informative. Great for listening while on a walk 🎶 🚶‍♂️

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Jayzillabooks
    17 days ago
  • Fav Science Podcast

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    olllllllllllllli
    United States21 days 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.

Use of herbicide linked to Parkinson's is on the rise in the US
Q: What makes paraquat exposure from a plant site particularly concerning for nearby residents?
Exposure via fugitive emissions can release paraquat into the air without being a traditional smokestack pollutant, and nasal pathways may provide a direct route to brain regions involved in Parkinson's, elevating concern for communities near such facilities.
Use of herbicide linked to Parkinson's is on the rise in the US
Q: How strong is the evidence that paraquat exposure increases Parkinson's risk in humans?
Expert testimony indicates that while human experiments aren't feasible, observational data and animal/cell models show strong, biologically plausible links, and a large California study found a strong association with elevated risk, including potential doubling depending on exposure level.
Why does fashion repeat in 20-year cycles? Math has the answer
Q: Do you think math has been underutilized to help us understand culture or everyday life?
Emma explains that using math to understand human behavior is mind-blowing and that math can provide simple, elegant explanations for complex social dynamics, with broad implications beyond fashion.
How yawning might help clear dirty fluid from the brain
Q: Is it like squeezing it out like a tube of toothpaste?
Not exactly; CSF and blood flow during a yawn move in the same direction, which is more efficient for clearing deoxygenated blood and waste from the brain than a normal breath.
How yawning might help clear dirty fluid from the brain
Q: What does this fluid do?
Cerebrospinal fluid protects the brain and spinal cord and helps transport waste products away, so understanding how yawning affects CSF flow could illuminate mechanisms for brain cleaning.

Audience Metrics

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

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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. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Science Friday are there?

Science Friday launched 21 years ago and published 1323 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.

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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. Milton Garcés
2. Rodney Schmaltz
3. Holly Fernandez Lynch
4. Delaney Nolan
5. Beate Ritz
6. Emma Zajdela
7. Arnaud Rebillard
8. Anat Shahar

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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