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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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1353Founded21 years ago
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Natural SciencesLife SciencesScience

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Artwork for Science Friday

Latest Episodes

What happens when the skies are no longer dark at night? Writer Craig Childs biked from the brightest night sky, to the darkest, to find out what we lose when the lights don’t go out. He joins Host Ira Flatow to talk about his book “The Wild Dark,” o... more

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has become the third-largest on record. And while the regional response is more robust than it was during the largest outbreak, in 2014-2016, the U.S. has now largely divested ... more

Gut feelings, trusting your gut, butterflies: We have lots of expressions about how our brains and our bowels are intertwined. But how well do we understand the science of this on the biomolecular level? And which of those organs is actually in the d... more

The band Phish has toured for over 40 years. One of the draws of their legendary live shows—which can go on for 8 hours—is finding moments of “flow,” when the band members lock into an improvised jam, finding new musical ideas in real time.

Phish fa... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dr. Sophie Scott
Study author on the neuroscience of laughter
University College London
Episode: Squirrel poop drops Ice Age clues + The neuroscience of laughter
Dr. Tyler Murchie
Lead author on the ancient DNA study
Hakali Institute, British Columbia
Episode: Squirrel poop drops Ice Age clues + The neuroscience of laughter
Zev Wainberg
Co-director of UCLA Health's GI Oncology Program
UCLA Health
Episode: Promising new treatments for pancreatic cancer and ALS
Pam Belluck
Health and science reporter
The New York Times
Episode: Promising new treatments for pancreatic cancer and ALS
Ernest Blatchley
Professor of environmental engineering, Purdue University
Purdue University
Episode: That chlorine smell at the pool? It’s pee
Holden Thorp
Editor-in-Chief, Science Family of Journals
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) / Science Family of Journals
Episode: Under proposed rule, science funding must pass political review
Dr. Richie Howard
Invertebrate paleontologist, curator of fossil arthropods at the Natural History Museum, London
Natural History Museum, London
Episode: Can you learn to love the scorpion?
Dr. Lauren Esposito
Scorpion researcher, director of Islands and Seas, nonprofit
Islands and Seas
Episode: Can you learn to love the scorpion?
Michael Scaturro
Health journalist
KFF News
Episode: FDA approves a well-known sunscreen ingredient—finally

Host

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

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 7.7k ratings
  • 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
    a month 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
    a month ago
  • Great input in a complex universe!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    HågenH
    a month ago
  • Very informative, interesting, relevant and FUN!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    matTrixta
    a month ago
  • 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 States2 months 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.

Promising new treatments for pancreatic cancer and ALS
Q: When might patients be able to access this drug more broadly?
The therapy is under FDA review with hopes for a quick decision, and there are plans to study it in earlier lines of pancreatic cancer, beyond the immediate second-line indication.
Promising new treatments for pancreatic cancer and ALS
Q: Nice to have you. Okay, first tell us what this drug did. Just how effective was it for patients with pancreatic cancer?
The drug targeted KRAS, showed tumor shrinkage and longer control of the cancer, and significantly extended survival in advanced pancreatic cancer when used in combination with another chemotherapy regimen.
Can you learn to love the scorpion?
Q: Where does the sperm go and how does the pregnancy work in scorpions?
The female stores the sperm in a pocket inside her body and only fertilizes eggs when environmental conditions are favorable; embryos develop inside the mother's body and are born live, later climbing onto her back.
Can you learn to love the scorpion?
Q: Okay, first category is food and drink. What does that reveal about scorpions' biology?
Scorpions have the lowest metabolic rate of any recorded land animal, sometimes going without eating for a year or more and getting most of their water from prey, aided by book lungs that minimize water loss.
Squirrel poop drops Ice Age clues + The neuroscience of laughter
Q: Why is poop such a good time capsule for environmental DNA?
Because poop can preserve DNA by binding to minerals and the digestive process may protect some DNA, making coprolites unusually well-preserved records of past biodiversity.

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. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Science Friday are there?

Science Friday launched 21 years ago and published 1353 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. Dr. Sophie Scott
2. Dr. Tyler Murchie
3. Zev Wainberg
4. Pam Belluck
5. Ernest Blatchley
6. Holden Thorp
7. Dr. Richie Howard
8. Dr. Lauren Esposito

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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