Science Friday

NASA wants to test our ability to deflect asteroids that could come too close to Earth for comfort. Plus, how Wilco keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen and art historian/musician James Merle Thomas took inspiration from the sounds of NASA missions to weave a tale of human space exploration.

Physicists have observed subatomic particles decaying in a way that does not jibe with the predictions of the Standard Model, suggesting, if the results are correct, that there could be undiscovered particles at play. Plus, the fascinating story of the air we breathe and the gases that have shaped human history.

The booming growth of solar and wind power is stressing out our ancient electrical grid. How can our grid get a grip? A look at that challenge, and some creative answers: from building neighborhood microgrids to inventing smarter transformers. Plus, a new Science Club challenge to keep you cool this summer.

Ants can build awesome colonies underground. But did you know they can build tall towers too? A look at what engineers can learn by studying a social community of the ant kind. Plus, a filmmaker documents the devastation of bleached coral reefs in the warming oceans. Why he thinks dying coral could stir faster action on climate change.

A new Food Failures segment teaches us how to make delicious dishes without turning up the heat. Plus, President Trump has yet to name a presidential science advisor or directors for NASA and NOAA, and other key science positions.

The hidden wonders you might want to hit on a geeky science-themed road trip. Plus, researchers are working to understand the exceptional durability of an ancient building material. And why standardizing our mass measurements relies on an elaborate and exacting physics experiment.