When <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-people-love-punch-the-monkey/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Punch the monkey</a> was abandoned by his mother, zookeepers gave him a surrogate and unexpected source of comfort: a stuffed animal. Videos of Punch snuggling the stuffie went viral, and, as his stardom rose, millions of us began wondering,  “Is Punch OK? Does he have a girlfriend?” Primatologist Christine Webb joins Host Flora Lichtman to talk about the ways humans relate to our closest relatives, and whether we can—and should—map human feelings onto other primates.
Guest:
Christine Webb is an assistant professor of environmental studies (CK) at New York University. She is the author of “The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters.”
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-people-love-punch-the-monkey/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sciencefriday.com</a>.
<a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank">Subscribe to this podcast.</a> Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sign up for Science Friday's newsletters</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;When &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-people-love-punch-the-monkey/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Punch the monkey&lt;/a&gt; was abandoned by his mother, zookeepers gave him a surrogate and unexpected source of comfort: a stuffed animal. Videos of Punch snuggling the stuffie went viral, and, as his stardom rose, millions of us began wondering,  “Is Punch OK? Does he have a girlfriend?” Primatologist Christine Webb joins Host Flora Lichtman to talk about the ways humans relate to our closest relatives, and whether we can—and should—map human feelings onto other primates.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Christine Webb is an assistant professor of environmental studies (CK) at New York University. She is the author of “The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at &lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-people-love-punch-the-monkey/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sciencefriday.com&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subscribe to this podcast.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt; Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;strong&gt;sign up for Science Friday's newsletters&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

A young macaque at a zoo in Japan has a fan base that can’t get enough of him. Why are we so invested in the social life of one cute monkey?

Is Punch the monkey really just like us?

Bird flu has flown off the national news radar, with only scattered, <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/could-bird-flu-start-pandemic/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">local reports of dead birds</a> in parks and poultry farms. Is it simply no longer a concern, or have cuts to federal science funding disrupted monitoring for this disease? Airborne pathogens expert Seema Lakdawala gives a flyover view on where bird flu stands today, and whether the government’s current monitoring efforts are enough to help prevent another pandemic.
Guest:
Dr. Seema Lakdawala is co-director of the Center for Transmission of Airborne Pathogens and an associate professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/could-bird-flu-start-pandemic/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sciencefriday.com</a>.
<a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank">Subscribe to this podcast.</a> Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sign up for Science Friday's newsletters</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Bird flu has flown off the national news radar, with only scattered, &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/could-bird-flu-start-pandemic/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;local reports of dead birds&lt;/a&gt; in parks and poultry farms. Is it simply no longer a concern, or have cuts to federal science funding disrupted monitoring for this disease? Airborne pathogens expert Seema Lakdawala gives a flyover view on where bird flu stands today, and whether the government’s current monitoring efforts are enough to help prevent another pandemic.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. Seema Lakdawala is co-director of the Center for Transmission of Airborne Pathogens and an associate professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at &lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/could-bird-flu-start-pandemic/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sciencefriday.com&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subscribe to this podcast.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt; Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;strong&gt;sign up for Science Friday's newsletters&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

As local reports of dead birds rise, the greatest human risk continues to fall on some of the most vulnerable: farm workers.

Could bird flu still spark a pandemic?

Flowers peeking up through the soil are a welcome sight after a long cold winter—and are one of the first markers of spring. Biologist David George Haskell argues that <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/flowers-critical-to-biodiversity/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">flowers aren’t just beautiful</a>: They’re also critical to most ecosystems and the diversity of life as we know it. Flowering plants also make up a large part of human diets (rice, maize, and wheat are all flowers). And homing in on orchids, Haskell says, can help us understand the complex relationship between flowers and pollinators.
Guest:
Dr. David George Haskell is a biologist and author of: “How Flowers Made Our World: The Story of Nature’s Revolutionaries”
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/flowers-critical-to-biodiversity/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sciencefriday.com</a>.
<a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank">Subscribe to this podcast.</a> Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sign up for Science Friday's newsletters</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Flowers peeking up through the soil are a welcome sight after a long cold winter—and are one of the first markers of spring. Biologist David George Haskell argues that &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/flowers-critical-to-biodiversity/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;flowers aren’t just beautiful&lt;/a&gt;: They’re also critical to most ecosystems and the diversity of life as we know it. Flowering plants also make up a large part of human diets (rice, maize, and wheat are all flowers). And homing in on orchids, Haskell says, can help us understand the complex relationship between flowers and pollinators.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. David George Haskell is a biologist and author of: “How Flowers Made Our World: The Story of Nature’s Revolutionaries”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at &lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/flowers-critical-to-biodiversity/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sciencefriday.com&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subscribe to this podcast.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt; Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;strong&gt;sign up for Science Friday's newsletters&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Flowers are known for their beauty, but biologist David George Haskell argues they are also critical to the diversity of life as we know it.

The secret powers of flowers

The Apple Computer Company was founded on April 1, 1976, and in the 50 years since, the company has evolved from a handful of Silicon Valley misfits to a global <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/apple-first-50-years/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">technology and media powerhouse</a>. 
Tech journalist David Pogue talks with Ira Flatow about the backstory of the company, and the leadership of the mercurial Steve Jobs. He offers a peek into some lesser known chapters of the company’s history, like the ill-fated Apple Paladin, a prototype Apple-produced fax machine. Pogue chronicles the company’s history in his latest book, <a href="https://www.applefirst50.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“Apple: The First 50 Years.”</a>
Guest:
David Pogue is a tech journalist, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, and author of the book “Apple: The First 50 Years.”
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/apple-first-50-years/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sciencefriday.com</a>.
<a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank">Subscribe to this podcast.</a> Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sign up for Science Friday's newsletters</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;The Apple Computer Company was founded on April 1, 1976, and in the 50 years since, the company has evolved from a handful of Silicon Valley misfits to a global &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/apple-first-50-years/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;technology and media powerhouse&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tech journalist David Pogue talks with Ira Flatow about the backstory of the company, and the leadership of the mercurial Steve Jobs. He offers a peek into some lesser known chapters of the company’s history, like the ill-fated Apple Paladin, a prototype Apple-produced fax machine. Pogue chronicles the company’s history in his latest book, &lt;a href="https://www.applefirst50.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;“Apple: The First 50 Years.”&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;David Pogue is a tech journalist, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, and author of the book “Apple: The First 50 Years.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at &lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/apple-first-50-years/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sciencefriday.com&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subscribe to this podcast.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt; Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;strong&gt;sign up for Science Friday's newsletters&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

April 1 marks 50 years since the founding of the Apple Computer Company, and we're diving into some of the company's lesser-known stories.

Apple: trying to think different for 50 years

Science fiction nerds, rejoice: the long-awaited adaptation of “Project Hail Mary” is in theaters now. Host Flora Lichtman chats with book author Andy Weir and astrobiologist Mike Wong about the film’s aliens, and <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/project-hail-mary-rocky-the-alien/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">how they buck the trend</a> of what extraterrestrials usually look like on screen.
Guest:
Andy Weir is the author of “Project Hail Mary” and “The Martian.”
Dr. Mike Wong is an astrobiologist and planetary scientist at Carnegie Science in Washington, D.C.
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/project-hail-mary-rocky-the-alien/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sciencefriday.com.</a>
<a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank">Subscribe to this podcast.</a> Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sign up for Science Friday's newsletters</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Science fiction nerds, rejoice: the long-awaited adaptation of “Project Hail Mary” is in theaters now. Host Flora Lichtman chats with book author Andy Weir and astrobiologist Mike Wong about the film’s aliens, and &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/project-hail-mary-rocky-the-alien/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;how they buck the trend&lt;/a&gt; of what extraterrestrials usually look like on screen.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Andy Weir is the author of “Project Hail Mary” and “The Martian.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. Mike Wong is an astrobiologist and planetary scientist at Carnegie Science in Washington, D.C.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at &lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/project-hail-mary-rocky-the-alien/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sciencefriday.com.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subscribe to this podcast.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt; Plus, to stay updated on all things science,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;strong&gt;sign up for Science Friday's newsletters&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Move over, Ryan Gosling: Rocky the alien is the breakout star of the big-budget movie adaptation of "Project Hail Mary." 

‘Project Hail Mary’ brings a new kind of alien to the big screen

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.

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