What are dolphins actually saying with their iconic, high-pitched whistles? Dolphin communication researcher Laela Sayigh is trying to find out. She’s been compiling a database of whistles from a pod of dolphins in Sarasota, Florida, the <a href="https://sarasotadolphin.org/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">longest-studied group</a> of cetaceans in the world. 
She joins Flora to discuss fundamental questions about <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/when-a-dolphin-whistles-what-does-it-mean?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dolphin dialects</a>, including how dolphins’ “signature” whistles can change depending on context, and the process of decoding new types of whistles. 
Guest: 
Dr. Laela Sayigh is a senior research specialist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/when-a-dolphin-whistles-what-does-it-mean?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;What are dolphins actually saying with their iconic, high-pitched whistles? Dolphin communication researcher Laela Sayigh is trying to find out. She’s been compiling a database of whistles from a pod of dolphins in Sarasota, Florida, the &lt;a href="https://sarasotadolphin.org/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;longest-studied group&lt;/a&gt; of cetaceans in the world. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She joins Flora to discuss fundamental questions about &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/when-a-dolphin-whistles-what-does-it-mean?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;dolphin dialects&lt;/a&gt;, including how dolphins’ “signature” whistles can change depending on context, and the process of decoding new types of whistles. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. Laela Sayigh is a senior research specialist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. &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/when-a-dolphin-whistles-what-does-it-mean?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>

Recordings from a decades-long research project in Florida are helping scientists decode the complexity of dolphin whistles.  

When a dolphin whistles, what does it mean?

“This was not easy, being 200,000+ miles away from home. Like before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on earth. And when you're out there, you just wanna get back to your families and your friends.” – Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman
Last week, the crew of <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/inside-the-lives-of-astronauts-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Artemis II</a> made it safely home. Throughout the journey, we heard the astronauts talk about moonjoy, awe, wonder, and—without exception—gratitude for their families. 
To learn more about what it's like to be part of an astronaut family, Host Flora Lichtman chats with Tracy Scott, whose dad was a commander during the Apollo missions. Now, as a sociologist who studies the Moonshot era, Scott gives us a glimpse into astronaut life and the social context of the Apollo and Artemis missions.
Guest: 
Dr. Tracy Scott is a sociologist at Emory University studying the lives and families of Apollo era astronauts. She’s based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/inside-the-lives-of-astronauts-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sciencefriday.com</a><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/how-to-compost/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">.</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;“This was not easy, being 200,000+ miles away from home. Like before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on earth. And when you're out there, you just wanna get back to your families and your friends.” – Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Last week, the crew of &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/inside-the-lives-of-astronauts-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Artemis II&lt;/a&gt; made it safely home. Throughout the journey, we heard the astronauts talk about moonjoy, awe, wonder, and—without exception—gratitude for their families. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To learn more about what it's like to be part of an astronaut family, Host Flora Lichtman chats with Tracy Scott, whose dad was a commander during the Apollo missions. Now, as a sociologist who studies the Moonshot era, Scott gives us a glimpse into astronaut life and the social context of the Apollo and Artemis missions.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. Tracy Scott is a sociologist at Emory University studying the lives and families of Apollo era astronauts. She’s based 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/inside-the-lives-of-astronauts-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sciencefriday.com&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/how-to-compost/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&lt;i&gt;.&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>

Tracy Scott’s dad walked on the moon. Now, as a sociologist, she studies the lives and families of other Apollo-era astronauts. 

Inside the lives of astronauts’ families

If you’re a gardener, thinking about getting your soil in shape probably means thinking about compost. But composting can be a mysterious process. What can go into the pile? How do you balance carbon and nitrogen? And how do you do it in a city?
Compost expert Cassandra Marketos joins Host Ira Flatow to <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/how-to-compost/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">break down the basics</a> of what she calls “purposeful decomposition,” and give practical tips for the backyard composter.
<a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/compost-after-reading-book-excerpt/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read an excerpt from Marketos’ new book, “Compost after Reading.”</a>
Guest: 
Cassandra Marketos is the author of “Compost After Reading: A Practical Manifesto for Purposeful Decomposition.”
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/how-to-compost/?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;If you’re a gardener, thinking about getting your soil in shape probably means thinking about compost. But composting can be a mysterious process. What can go into the pile? How do you balance carbon and nitrogen? And how do you do it in a city?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Compost expert Cassandra Marketos joins Host Ira Flatow to &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/how-to-compost/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;break down the basics&lt;/a&gt; of what she calls “purposeful decomposition,” and give practical tips for the backyard composter.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/compost-after-reading-book-excerpt/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Read an excerpt from Marketos’ new book, “Compost after Reading.”&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cassandra Marketos is the author of “Compost After Reading: A Practical Manifesto for Purposeful Decomposition.”&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/how-to-compost/?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>

As spring gardens sprout, we're digging into the basics of composting, and how to get started no matter where you are.

Green stuff, brown stuff: Secrets to a great compost pile

How do we know what we know? That's where science comes in—it gives us a method for testing our ideas and getting trustworthy results. But some researchers have warned that many scientific studies <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/social-science-replication-crisis-score-study/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">can't be replicated.</a>
To find out how deep the problem goes, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency funded one of the largest analyses of social science, called the <a href="https://www.cos.io/score" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SCORE project</a>. They checked the results of thousands of papers across economics, education, and psychology—and found that only half of them could be replicated.
Joining Host Ira Flatow to discuss the findings are Tim Errington, one of the leads on this project, and economist Abel Brodeur, who recently released the results of a separate replication study that found more encouraging results than SCORE did.
Guest:
Dr. Tim Errington is senior director of research at the Center For Open Science in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Abel Brodeur is a professor of economics at the University of Ottawa and founder of the Institute for Replication.
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/social-science-replication-crisis-score-study/?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;How do we know what we know? That's where science comes in—it gives us a method for testing our ideas and getting trustworthy results. But some researchers have warned that many scientific studies &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/social-science-replication-crisis-score-study/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;can't be replicated.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To find out how deep the problem goes, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency funded one of the largest analyses of social science, called the &lt;a href="https://www.cos.io/score" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;SCORE project&lt;/a&gt;. They checked the results of thousands of papers across economics, education, and psychology—and found that only half of them could be replicated.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Joining Host Ira Flatow to discuss the findings are Tim Errington, one of the leads on this project, and economist Abel Brodeur, who recently released the results of a separate replication study that found more encouraging results than SCORE did.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. Tim Errington is senior director of research at the Center For Open Science in Washington, D.C.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. Abel Brodeur is a professor of economics at the University of Ottawa and founder of the Institute for Replication.&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/social-science-replication-crisis-score-study/?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;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>

An analysis of thousands of social science studies found that half couldn't be replicated. What's behind this pattern, and can it be fixed?

Why so many studies can’t be replicated

Movies may be a largely visual medium, but sound plays a huge role in setting tone, creating new worlds, and fleshing out characters. Sound designer Erik Aadahl has brought some of Hollywood’s iconic creatures to life with sound, like the Transformers, 2014’s Godzilla, and Rocky the alien from “Project Hail Mary.” He joins Flora to talk about the <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/movie-sound-design-project-hail-mary-godzilla/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">science of sound design</a>, and how he uses his background in biology to look for sounds in the animal kingdom.
Guest: 
Erik Aadahl is a sound designer and editor at E² in Los Angeles, California.
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/movie-sound-design-project-hail-mary-godzilla/?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;Movies may be a largely visual medium, but sound plays a huge role in setting tone, creating new worlds, and fleshing out characters. Sound designer Erik Aadahl has brought some of Hollywood’s iconic creatures to life with sound, like the Transformers, 2014’s Godzilla, and Rocky the alien from “Project Hail Mary.” He joins Flora to talk about the &lt;a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/movie-sound-design-project-hail-mary-godzilla/?utm_source=wnyc&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;science of sound design&lt;/a&gt;, and how he uses his background in biology to look for sounds in the animal kingdom.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guest: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Erik Aadahl is a sound designer and editor at E² in Los Angeles, California.&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/movie-sound-design-project-hail-mary-godzilla/?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>

Erik Aadahl, the sound designer behind “Project Hail Mary” and 2014’s “Godzilla,” uses his background in biology to bring characters to life. 

How a sound designer gave an alien its voice (and 250 words)

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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