Deepfakes have been everywhere lately, from fake AI images of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following his (real) capture by the United States, to X’s Grok AI generating <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/deepfakes-grok/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">nonconsensual images</a> of real people in states of undress. And if you missed all that, you've almost certainly had <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/deepfakes-grok/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">your own deepfake close encounter</a> in your feed: maybe rabbits bouncing on a trampoline or an unlikely animal friendship that seems a little too good to be true.Deepfakes have moved beyond the realm of novelty, and it’s more difficult than ever to know what is actually real online. So how did we get here and what is there, if anything, to do about it?Joining Host Flora Lichtman are Hany Farid, who’s studied digital forensics and how we relate to AI for over 25 years, and Sam Cole, a journalist at 404 Media who’s covered deepfakes and their impact since 2017.Guests: Dr. Hany Farid is a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at University of California, Berkeley. Sam Cole is a journalist at 404 Media, based in New York, NYTranscripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/deepfakes-grok/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sciencefriday.com.</a>
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<description>&lt;p&gt;Deepfakes have been everywhere lately, from fake AI images of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following his (real) capture by the United States, to X’s Grok AI generating &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/deepfakes-grok/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;nonconsensual images&lt;/a&gt; of real people in states of undress. And if you missed all that, you've almost certainly had &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/deepfakes-grok/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;your own deepfake close encounter&lt;/a&gt; in your feed: maybe rabbits bouncing on a trampoline or an unlikely animal friendship that seems a little too good to be true.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Deepfakes have moved beyond the realm of novelty, and it’s more difficult than ever to know what is actually real online. So how did we get here and what is there, if anything, to do about it?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Joining Host Flora Lichtman are Hany Farid, who’s studied digital forensics and how we relate to AI for over 25 years, and Sam Cole, a journalist at &lt;i&gt;404 Media&lt;/i&gt; who’s covered deepfakes and their impact since 2017.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests:&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Hany Farid is a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at University of California, Berkeley.&lt;br /&gt;Sam Cole is a journalist at &lt;i&gt;404 Media&lt;/i&gt;, based in New York, NY&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/deepfakes-grok/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&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>

X’s AI chatbot Grok is undressing users, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg with fake imagery online. How does it work and what comes next? 

Deepfakes Are Everywhere. What Can We Do?

When it comes to “bad” cholesterol, most cardiologists say lower is better. But what’s the best way to get that number down? Can diet and exercise alone do the job?Cardiologists Kiran Musunuru and Neha Pagidipati join Host Ira Flatow for a look at the latest in <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/new-cholesterol-treatment-crispr/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">cholesterol-lowering treatments</a>, including CRISPR technology that could turn off cholesterol-making genes for life. How does it work, and is it safe?Guests: Dr. Kiran Musunuru is the scientific director of the Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Neha Pagidipati is the director of the Cardiometabolic Prevention Clinic at the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/new-cholesterol-treatment-crispr/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">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 it comes to “bad” cholesterol, most cardiologists say lower is better. But what’s the best way to get that number down? Can diet and exercise alone do the job?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cardiologists Kiran Musunuru and Neha Pagidipati join Host Ira Flatow for a look at the latest in &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/new-cholesterol-treatment-crispr/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;cholesterol-lowering treatments&lt;/a&gt;, including CRISPR technology that could turn off cholesterol-making genes for life. How does it work, and is it safe?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests:&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Kiran Musunuru is the scientific director of the Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Neha Pagidipati is the director of the Cardiometabolic Prevention Clinic at the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC.&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/new-cholesterol-treatment-crispr/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sciencefriday.com.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&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>

When it comes to “bad” cholesterol, most cardiologists say lower is better. But what’s the best way to get that number down?

Looking Beyond Statins For New Ways To Lower Cholesterol

An <a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fluoride-kennedy-trump-science-antiscience-legislation-73af8e65f407331e8f31b2909812a004" target="_blank">Associated Press investigation</a> found that more than 420 “anti-science” bills were introduced in statehouses last year, targeting protections around public health issues like vaccines, milk safety, and fluoride. As state legislatures come back into session, <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/anti-science-bills-2026/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank">what can we expect for 2026?</a> Joining Ira Flatow is Laura Ungar, science and medical reporter for the Associated Press.Plus, reporter Elise Plunk joins Host Flora Lichtman to discuss the complex case of a <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/louisiana-pollution-citizen-science-data/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">citizen-led pollution monitoring program</a> in Louisiana that persists despite a law banning the use of its data.Guests:  Laura Ungar is a science and medical reporter for the Associated Press. Elise Plunk is an environmental reporter and Report for America corps member at the Louisiana Illuminator.The transcript for this episode is available at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/anti-science-bills-2026/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank">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;An &lt;a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fluoride-kennedy-trump-science-antiscience-legislation-73af8e65f407331e8f31b2909812a004" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Associated Press&lt;/i&gt; investigation&lt;/a&gt; found that more than 420 “anti-science” bills were introduced in statehouses last year, targeting protections around public health issues like vaccines, milk safety, and fluoride. As state legislatures come back into session, &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/anti-science-bills-2026/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank"&gt;what can we expect for 2026?&lt;/a&gt; Joining Ira Flatow is Laura Ungar, science and medical reporter for the &lt;i&gt;Associated Press.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Plus, reporter Elise Plunk joins Host Flora Lichtman to discuss the complex case of a &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/louisiana-pollution-citizen-science-data/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;citizen-led pollution monitoring program&lt;/a&gt; in Louisiana that persists despite a law banning the use of its data.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests: &lt;br /&gt;Laura Ungar is a science and medical reporter for the &lt;i&gt;Associated Press.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Elise Plunk is an environmental reporter and Report for America corps member at the &lt;i&gt;Louisiana Illuminator.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;The transcript for this episode is available at &lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/anti-science-bills-2026/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank"&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>

In 2025, more than 420 bills were introduced to weaken public health measures for vaccines, milk safety, and fluoride. What will we see in 2026?

States Expected To See More ‘Anti-Science’ Bills This Year

It’s a wintertime question that you may have had as you struggled down a frozen sidewalk, or strapped on some ice skates: Just why is ice slippery, anyway? It turns out the answer is somewhat complicated.Mechanical engineer Robert Carpick studies tribology, the science of surface interactions, from friction to wear to lubrication. He joins Host Ira Flatow to <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-is-ice-slippery/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">wrangle some new ideas</a> about the slippery science of ice.Guest: Dr. Robert Carpick is the John Henry Towne Professor in the department of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.The transcript for this episode is available at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-is-ice-slippery/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">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;It’s a wintertime question that you may have had as you struggled down a frozen sidewalk, or strapped on some ice skates: Just why is ice slippery, anyway? It turns out the answer is somewhat complicated.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mechanical engineer Robert Carpick studies tribology, the science of surface interactions, from friction to wear to lubrication. He joins Host Ira Flatow to &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-is-ice-slippery/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;wrangle some new ideas&lt;/a&gt; about the slippery science of ice.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guest: Dr. Robert Carpick is the John Henry Towne Professor in the department of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;The transcript for this episode is available at &lt;/i&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-is-ice-slippery/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&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>

Conventional wisdom is that ice is slippery because it has a thin layer of water on top, but new research suggests something else is at play.

What’s Happening On The Slippery Surface Of Ice?

Each year, around 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease that can cause tremors and affect cognition. Scientists are working to identify some of the <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/parkinsons-early-symptoms-causes/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">earliest signs of the disease</a>, and to figure out how we might test for—and treat—Parkinson’s in the future.Neurologists Emily Tamadonfar and Michael Okun join Host Flora Lichtman to discuss what we know about <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/parkinsons-early-symptoms-causes/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">why Parkinson’s starts</a> and how it may be associated with genetic mutations, pollution, and other factors.Guests: Dr. Emily Tamadonfar is a clinical associate professor of neurology in the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Dr. Michael Okun is a professor and executive director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at University of Florida Health in Gainesville, Florida.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/parkinsons-early-symptoms-causes/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">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;Each year, around 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease that can cause tremors and affect cognition. Scientists are working to identify some of the &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/parkinsons-early-symptoms-causes/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;earliest signs of the disease&lt;/a&gt;, and to figure out how we might test for—and treat—Parkinson’s in the future.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Neurologists Emily Tamadonfar and Michael Okun join Host Flora Lichtman to discuss what we know about &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/parkinsons-early-symptoms-causes/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&gt;why Parkinson’s starts&lt;/a&gt; and how it may be associated with genetic mutations, pollution, and other factors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests:&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Emily Tamadonfar is a clinical associate professor of neurology in the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Michael Okun is a professor and executive director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at University of Florida Health in Gainesville, Florida.&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/parkinsons-early-symptoms-causes/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"&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>

Some Parkinson’s patients may experience strange symptoms, like smell loss and sleep disorders, decades before diagnosis.

Teasing Apart The Causes And Early Signs Of Parkinson’s

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