Science Friday

We review the sounds, images, and videos our listeners chose to represent our world. Plus, pop-up designer Matthew Reinhart engineers paper cut-outs that move and extend, sometimes reaching nearly two feet tall.

As rideshare companies like Uber strike deals with cities to supplement or replace traditional transit options and parking lots, we ask: What is the future of commuting? Plus astronaut Mike Massimino talks about his journey from the suburbs of Long Island to the crew of two shuttle missions to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. And are we ready to go to Mars?

Oyster farmers have been hit hard by acidifying seas. Can they adapt? And how curiosity about tardigrades in the 1970s led to a major breakthrough in medical science.

Connected cars tap into vehicle sensors to read road signs, determine traffic patterns, and find open parking spaces. Plus, artist David Macaulay on the art of explaining science in pictures.

Health experts tout the benefits of standing desks, and walking five miles a day. Science says otherwise. Plus theoretical physicist Roger Penrose argues against some prominent theories about the universe, calling them fashion, faith, and fantasy.

As artificial intelligence advances, it could transform our world. How do we ensure it does so in the best possible way? Plus,  what the fight of one frog against the deadly chytrid fungus could mean for the survival of imperiled amphibians around the globe.

Activity trackers like the Fitbit and the Apple Watch aim to make fitness more fun by incorporating elements of gameplay. But does it work? Plus, how the Silicon Cowboys of Compaqs early days took on the behemoth IBM with a 28-pound portable computer.

Two of the creators of the Voyager Golden Record remember how they crafted a message for alien civilizations. Plus, can a robotic avatar let you remotely experience a trip to the zoo? And Pluto may be the source of the wispy red cap on the north pole of its moon Charon.

Neuropsychiatrist Eric Kandel explores the relationship between neuroscience and abstract art. Plus, what  small, everyday data can reveal about our thoughts and emotions.

An audiologist describes overcoming her hearing loss. Plus, how new research could expand the aural world for patients with hearing loss. And the  sensory cues that help to enhance your enjoyment of a glass of wine.