Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Mars Rovers, Mars Water
We'll check on the progress of the Mars rover mission. While new data collected by rover Opportunity during its exploration of Victoria Crater was published this week, the Spirit rover appears to be stuck.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Sensing the Atmosphere of Distant Planets
Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have been able to detect the chemical signature of methane in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting a star 63 light-years away.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Colliding Planets (Don't Panic)
New research finds a small -- but present -- chance of a collision between Earth and one of its planetary neighbors in the next few billion years.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Is Put on Hold
Funding cutbacks have forced the hibernation of the Allen Telescope Array--that's the series of dishes used to search for radio signals from alien life.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Carl Djerassi's 'Taboos'
We'll talk with scientist and playwright Carl Djerassi about his new play, 'Taboos,' a story about love, sex and parenthood in an age of reproductive technologies.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Solar Winds
New research suggests that the solar wind is weaker now than it has been in the past. What does that mean, and why does it matter?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Nanoantenna Sheets Harvest Energy
We'll talk with the developers of flexible sheets of 'nanoantennas' that could aid in getting energy from solar energy or from other heat sources.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Solar Energy Roundup
In this segment, we'll get a sampling of the latest news on solar energy sources, including new developments in technology and energy policy. Plus, what you can do on a small scale to add solar power to your world.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Solar Energy Update
Solar power is often offered as one of the most promising forms of renewable energy. But how close is solar power to becoming a major player in energy production?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Viral Bacteria Killers
Could engineered viruses help conquer antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Oldest Fossil Brain Discovered
Scientists have found a 300 million year old fossil shark ancestor with an unusual feature -- fossilized brain tissue within the creature's skull.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Largest Snake
Researchers have found fossil remains of a species of snake that they say weighed 2500 pounds, and grew to 45 feet long.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Climate Change and the Media
Ira talks with New York Times reporter Andrew Revkin about coverage of climate change.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Warming Temperatures Hurt Western Trees
Warming temperatures may have led to dying trees in the western US, researchers say.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Climate Update
In this segment, we'll get the latest on climate news around the world -- from new rifts in the Wilkins Ice Shelf, to the new round of international climate talks now underway in Poland.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Considering Climate
Ira talks with Michael Oppenheimer about the history of climate research, and about key misconceptions relating to climate change.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Calculating Your Carbon
How large is your 'carbon footprint' -- the amount you contribute to greenhouse gas emissions? We'll talk to a researcher looking at energy usage around the country, from homeless people to the rich and famous.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Obama, Congress, and Climate Change
We'll get an update on the prospects for US policy dealing with climate change. Will the government be able to make progress on climate change while the economy dominates the policy stage?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Raising a Stink Over a Flower in Bloom
Botanists expect a very rare, very large, and very stinky flower to bloom this week in California.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Tracking Bird Migration
Geese head south for the winter, and the swallows return to Capistrano - but how? In this hour, we'll talk about how birds make their migratory journeys, and how scientists are trying to study their travels.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Listening to Wild Soundscapes
What can we learn from 'soundscape ecology,' a new field of biology?
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Looking Back on 2007 Science
From dramatic new stem cell techniques to new ideas about cosmic rays, 2007 had plenty of scientific surprises. Join Ira and guests for a look back at the top science stories of the year.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: The Body Has a Mind of Its Own
How your body sees itself -- and the world around it -- may have a big influence on how it behaves.
Science Friday Initiative
Science Friday: Spring Birding
Sure, there's always the first robin of spring, and the swallows returning to Capistrano -- but what other birding sights should you be on the lookout for as the weather warms?