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Alzheimer's Disease
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Cholesterol
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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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1399Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesNatural SciencesScience

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Latest Episodes

There’s a flashy new find in the hunt for dark matter—the stuff that makes up 85% of all matter in the universe, but we have no clue what it is.

A mile under Lead, South Dakota, is a giant cauldron filled with 7 tons of liquid xenon, encased in wate... more

Once upon a time, much of what we call “science” was performed by people called “natural philosophers,” delving into mysteries of nature, physics, chemistry, and more. Physicist and author Carlo Rovelli argues that there’s still a great need for phil... more

Between E. coli in blueberries, glass in popsicles, and that dreaded cyclospora, this summer was all about keeping a wary eye on the groceries in the fridge. But how does the recall data stack up against previous years? And are federal cuts to food s... more

On social media, the vagus nerve often gets billed as the gateway to nervous system nirvana: It’s your ticket to better rest, relaxation, and health if you “stimulate” it correctly. Where did this idea come from, and what does the research say?

In M... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ira Glass
Host of This American Life (credited in a segment)
This American Life
Episode: For Jennifer Chayes, math is a 'native tongue'
Jennifer Chayes
Dean of the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society at UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley
Episode: For Jennifer Chayes, math is a 'native tongue'
Dr. Michael Postow
Chief of the Melanoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Episode: What an mRNA melanoma vaccine may mean for cancer treatment
Kristin Aleklett
Researcher at Lund University in Sweden
Lund University
Episode: Why it's so hard to tell the age of a fungus
Helen Scales
Marine biologist and author
Episode: The power of the stories we tell about the ocean
Lindy Elkins-Tanton
Planetary scientist, director of UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory and head of NASA's Psyche mission
NASA; UC Berkeley
Episode: What should astronauts do first when they reach Mars?
Jonathan Chen
Associate Professor of Medicine, Stanford University; Director for Medical Education in Artificial Intelligence
Stanford University
Episode: AI is everywhere in healthcare now. Doctors are conflicted
Joyce Kimutai
Climate scientist for the World Weather Attribution Consortium at Imperial College London and for the Kenya Meteorological Services
Imperial College London; Kenya Meteorological Services
Episode: How much worse was that storm because of climate change?
Maxine Burkett
Professor of Climate, Environment and Society at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: How much worse was that storm because of climate change?

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 7.9k ratings
  • Love this podcast!

    The topics are wide ranging, and the information is well researched. You never know what the new topic will be; it’s like opening a surprise gift every weekday. I’m proud to be a monthly supporter.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    blau1202
    United States10 days ago
  • Science Friday

    Great show! Always fascinating and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JeffS51
    United States10 days ago
  • Informative

    Each daily segment opens up a whole new world. Thank you Ira and Flora.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BabsGG
    United States13 days ago
  • Smarter than ever!

    I have been listening to this show for years, and have learned so much along the way. I didn’t think anyone could be as good as Ira, but Flora is his equal: both are skilled interviewers, have wonderful voices, and bring a broad understanding of science to the job. They ask all the questions I want to ask, and many more I wouldn’t have thought of. Thanks, and keep up the wonderful program.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Joneswoman
    United States13 days ago
  • Even better than before

    I have always loved this program and podcast, but in the last year it’s really sounding great. The topics are broad, the guests are well chosen, and the entire listening experience is fun. You can tell the hosts love their jobs! I also like how the program has been broken and into shorter pods, making the listening experience easier throughout the week and allowing me to determine which stories to prioritize. Science Friday makes me feel like no subject in science is beyond my grasp or interest.... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dannyd310
    United States21 days 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.

AI is everywhere in healthcare now. Doctors are conflicted
Q: Have we done the research to know if these tools help patients more than they harm?
Research shows mixed results: AI can help doctors in some cases but may worsen patient outcomes in others, and the benefits depend heavily on how the tool is used, how information is elicited and interpreted, and the quality of underlying data and guidelines.
Why it's so hard to tell the age of a fungus
Q: Do we have a method for aging fungi, like tree rings for trees?
Not really; there isn't a universal method that works for all fungi because of their immense diversity and underground life, making age hard to determine just from size.
What should astronauts do first when they reach Mars?
Q: What is the purpose of science, Lindy?
Science is a toolset to understand how the world works and to progressively tighten our understanding by asking better questions and seeking evolving truths, not by proclaiming final answers.
Could we live in a dinosaur world?
Q: If you got sucked back into the age of dinosaurs, what would you notice first?
There would be a lot of dinosaurs around, including large predators like T-Rex, and the atmosphere and ecosystems would feel very different from today, with fewer mammals and evolving grasses starting to shape the landscape.
Creating 'world models' for robots + An AI math shakeup
Q: How do you see this panning out for everyday tasks like folding a shirt, and is this going to catch on like large language models did?
Folding a shirt remains a long way from being a routine task; progress will be incremental and highly data-driven, with improvement measured over time rather than overnight, and widespread home-use of humanoid robots is unlikely in the near term.

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?

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 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. Freakonomics Radio
4. Science Magazine Podcast
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Science Friday are there?

Science Friday launched 21 years ago and published 1399 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?

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What guests have appeared on Science Friday?

Recent guests on Science Friday include:

1. Ira Glass
2. Jennifer Chayes
3. Dr. Michael Postow
4. Kristin Aleklett
5. Helen Scales
6. Lindy Elkins-Tanton
7. Jonathan Chen
8. Joyce Kimutai

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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