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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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1384Founded21 years ago
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Life SciencesNatural SciencesScience

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Artwork for Science Friday

Latest Episodes

Microplastics have been documented throughout the human body, including the reproductive system. But the field of microplastics research is very new, and it’s not yet clear if, or how, these tiny particles affect our health.

Producer Kathleen Davis ... more

When you think of physics, your mind might go to forces—like gravity, friction, and magnetism—or to astrophysics, like galaxies and exoplanets. But many of the same principles used to understand how the universe works can also be used to study Earth’... more

When you ask an LLM like ChatGPT or Claude a question, the model goes through its massive amount of training data and guesses the answer by mathematically predicting the word most likely to appear next in a sentence.

This model, experts say, will no... more

Watching a loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia slowly lose their cognitive abilities can be heartbreaking. While the person you once knew seems to be slipping away, sometimes people with Alzheimer's briefly seem like their old selves again. They m... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dr. Saad Bhamla
Bioengineer at the University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Episode: Why this lab studies the speed of bug pee and other curiosities
Lia Betti
Anthropologist
University College London
Episode: Some primates undergo even more extreme childbirth than humans
Deb Haaland
Former Secretary of the Interior, current author
Former U.S. Department of the Interior
Episode: Deb Haaland is a politician, and proud of it
Keith Diaz
Physiologist at Columbia University Medical School
Columbia University Medical School
Episode: Sitting all day is terrible for us. Moving a little can help
Masao Tomonaga
Survivor of Nagasaki atomic bombing; Director Emeritus of the Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Hospital
Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Hospital
Episode: A Nagasaki survivor and physician recounts his life's work
Lawrence David
Associate professor of molecular genetics and microbiology; runs the Edible Atlas Project at Duke University
Duke University
Episode: What do people eat? Plant and animal DNA in sewage provide clues
JP Metservainio
Finnish specialist who converted 2-D galaxy images into 3-D representations
Episode: 3D images of galaxies will rock you (ft. Queen)
Derek Ward-Thompson
Astrophysicist at the University of Lancashire, expert on star and planet formation
University of Lancashire
Episode: 3D images of galaxies will rock you (ft. Queen)
Brian May
Astronomer and guitarist of Queen
Queen
Episode: 3D images of galaxies will rock you (ft. Queen)

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 7.8k ratings
  • We are just scraping at the surface. No government will want to really give peoples privacy if they want to suppress and control the population.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Richard Bloom Trainer
    a month ago
  • Always interesting topics, with great hosts.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    egn
    2 months ago
  • Excellent way to stay abreast of science discoveries without a slew of clickbaity shenanigans or advertisements for casinos. These people are good

    Podcast Addict
    5
    RhineOeris
    2 months ago
  • Excellent, well-researched and informative PC. Timely, factual and useful science presented in a manner understandable for all listeners. Full marks!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Just Me
    2 months ago
  • Great input in a complex universe!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    HågenH
    2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics note perceived political bias in certain episodes.
Audiences value accessible, thoughtful science storytelling with strong guest expertise.
Listeners praise the show's infectious curiosity and engaging hosts.
Fans describe the show as consistently informative and inspiring for lifelong learners.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why this lab studies the speed of bug pee and other curiosities
Q: Okay, Saad, how can you tell if a question is a good question to tackle scientifically?
It's like art or music; if the idea resonates as something that can be framed, communicated, and made palatable to others, and if it can yield testable insights or useful principles, then it's a good question to pursue. You look for a balance of curiosity, potential for clear measurement, and the capacity to teach or inspire others.
Some primates undergo even more extreme childbirth than humans
Q: What adaptations have humans developed for giving birth?
Culturally evolved midwifery and social support systems, allowing mothers to navigate birth while the baby often emerges facing backwards, unlike many other primates who give birth alone.
Some primates undergo even more extreme childbirth than humans
Q: Do other primates experience pain during birth, and how do we know?
Direct observations are scarce, but vocalization linked to pain is common in humans and not as evident in other primates; videos show visible tension during contractions, suggesting painful experiences.
Some primates undergo even more extreme childbirth than humans
Q: Why is human childbirth so hard from an evolutionary perspective?
Because our pelvis is constrained by bipedal walking while the brain is very large, forcing a mismatch that makes birth difficult, a problem historically termed the obstetrical dilemma.
Deb Haaland is a politician, and proud of it
Q: We're so happy to have you. These days, do you identify as a politician? Does that word sit right with you?
I suppose I am a politician and I am in politics, but I also have many other identities. I love politics and I want to help more people feel like they belong in the system, with a focus on grassroots organizing and accessibility to government.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Science Friday

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

Listeners tune in for a wide range of science and tech topics, often featuring researchers, engineers, physicians, and space professionals who explain complex ideas in accessible terms. Episodes frequently cover cutting-edge research, space exploration, public health, environmental science, and the human side of scientific work, including ethics, policy, and everyday applications. The show regularly highlights interdisciplinary work, strong storytelling, and the human impact of science, making it a solid fit for curious, educated audiences who want practical takeaways and context from experts. Notably, the program tends to blend rigorous analysis with engaging hosts and compelling guests, which can help demystify science for a broad audienc... more

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How many subscribers and views does Science Friday have?

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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 1384 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.

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What guests have appeared on Science Friday?

Recent guests on Science Friday include:

1. Dr. Saad Bhamla
2. Lia Betti
3. Deb Haaland
4. Keith Diaz
5. Masao Tomonaga
6. Lawrence David
7. JP Metservainio
8. Derek Ward-Thompson

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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