It’s March 14, or Pi Day, that day of the year where we celebrate the ratio that makes a circle a circle. The Greek letter that represents it is such a part of our culture that it merits our irrational attention.Joining Host Ira Flatow to help slice into our pi’s is Dr. Steven Strogatz, professor of math at Cornell University and co-host of Quanta Magazine’s podcast “The Joy Of Why.” They talk about how pi was “discovered,” the ways it’s figuring into recent science, and how AI is changing the field of mathematics.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

When you imagine prehistoric life, it’s likely that the first thing that comes to mind are dinosaurs: long-necked Apatosauruses, flying Pterosaurs, big toothy Tyrannosaurs. But what don’t get as much attention are the prehistoric plants that lived alongside them.Plants, shrubs, and trees played a key part in the food chains of dinosaurs, and many dinosaurs evolved to match the plant life available to them. The Apatosaurus’ long neck, for example, developed to reach leaves high up in prehistoric trees.Joining Host Flora Lichtman to defend the importance of prehistoric plants is Riley Black, author of the new book When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals and Evolution’s Greatest Romance. She’s based in Salt Lake City, Utah.Read an excerpt from When the Earth Was Green at sciencefriday.com.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

In this engaging conversation, Gregory O’Corry-Crowe, a research professor specializing in narwhals, shares fascinating insights about these elusive Arctic whales. He discusses how recent drone studies reveal the remarkable ways narwhals use their lengthy tusks for hunting and play. The conversation also touches on the challenges these creatures face due to climate change. Additionally, astronomer Dean Regas adds excitement by detailing the upcoming total lunar eclipse, providing tips to witness this breathtaking celestial event.

A sweeping new study on one of the most beloved insects, maybe the only truly beloved insect—the butterfly—details its rapid population decline in the United States. The new research, published in the journal Science widens the butterfly net and looks at how more than 500 species have fared over the past 20 years.Researchers found that many populations are taking a nosedive. What’s causing the downswing, and is there anything we can do?Host Flora Lichtman talks with two of the study authors, Dr. Elise Zipkin, Red Cedar distinguished professor of quantitative ecology and director of the ecology, evolution and behavior program at Michigan State University; and Dr. Nick Haddad, professor of integrative biology also at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon and former head of global health at USAID, and Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, an epidemiologist and director at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, delve into the fallout from the U.S. dismantling USAID. They discuss the devastating effects of funding cuts on vital health initiatives battling diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. The conversation highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by clinical trial participants and the geopolitical ramifications of U.S. withdrawal from global health leadership, especially as rivals like China rise.

Kevin Scholtes, an engineer at Firefly Aerospace, shares insights into the groundbreaking challenges of developing the Blue Ghost lunar lander. Dr. Nicky Fox, a NASA administrator, elaborates on the scientific instruments aboard, aimed at probing lunar regolith and dust. Both guests highlight the significance of the lander's successful commercial moon landing, marking a new era in space exploration. They also address the growing political activism among scientists against recent government interference in science, reflecting an urgent call for defending scientific integrity.

Last year, 9,000 deceased donor kidneys were discarded due to storage and time limitations. A kidney “life support” machine could change that. Also, the SS United States will join Florida’s 4,300 artificial reefs—human-made places for fish and other marine life to live. How do these reefs work?The Effort To Save Thousands Of Donor Kidneys From Being WastedSylvia Miles was diagnosed with lupus in 2006, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissue—including her kidneys.Miles, who lives in Indianapolis, was later diagnosed with advanced kidney disease, and was in need of a kidney transplant.Kidney diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the United States with 37 million people living with chronic kidney disease. Together with advanced kidney disease—the later stage of CKD—it cost Medicare billions of dollars in recent years.People like Miles, who need a kidney transplant, wait an average of five years—often on dialysis.But despite the long waitlists and organ shortages, around 9,000 kidneys from deceased donors last year were discarded due to perceived issues with their viability. A new Indiana-based organization, 34 Lives, is working to limit that waste and rehabilitate the organs.Read the rest of this article on sciencefriday.com.Ocean Liner SS United States Will Become An Artificial ReefThis week, after a notable career, the SS United States, a 1950s ocean liner, took her sunset cruise. Like many retirees, the ship is heading south—from Philadelphia to Florida—where she’ll be reinventing herself. In this next chapter, the SS United States will have new passengers: fish and other marine creatures. The ship will be sunk to the bottom of the sea and turned into an artificial reef, joining more than 4,300 artificial reefs off the coast of Florida.Other sunken ships have become artificial reefs in the past, which have helped boost marine life as well as scuba diving and fishing tourism. Host Flora Lichtman speaks with Scott Jackson, a regional specialized agent with the Florida Sea Grant and University of Florida IFAS extension, about the science behind artificial reefs, and what has been learned from decades of research.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

A journalist traveled to five continents to learn about the afterlife of our trash, and why most “recyclable” plastic actually isn’t.Have you ever gotten to the end of, say, a jar of peanut butter and wondered if it should go in trash or recycling? If it’s worth rinsing out? And where will it actually end up?Journalist Alexander Clapp had those same questions, and went to great lengths to answer them—visiting five continents to chronicle how our trash travels. Along the way, he discovered a multibillion dollar trash trade run by shady waste brokers, and a global industry powered by slimy spoons, crinkled plastic bags, and all the other stuff we throw away. It’s a putrid business that we’re a part of, and many of us know little about.Host Flora Lichtman speaks with Clapp about the garbage business and his new book Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife Of Your Trash.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Dr. Sarah Amand, an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins, challenges Peto's Paradox, which maintains that larger animals don’t have higher cancer risk. She reveals fresh findings suggesting that larger species might actually face increased cancer rates. The conversation also explores the fascinating traits of cancer-resistant animals like elephants. Additionally, a remarkable fossil of Bastetodon, a 30-million-year-old predator, is unveiled, connecting ancient ecological dynamics to cultural history.

Rachel Hardeman, a leader in health equity and anti-racism research, and Melissa Simon, an OB-GYN specializing in women's health, delve into the precarious impact of recent bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion in medical research. They discuss how these restrictions threaten essential studies, particularly in women's and reproductive health. The irony of cutting fertility care while worrying about birth rates is examined, along with concerns over potential censorship in medical research language and the urgent need to maintain diversity for equitable health outcomes.