Science Friday Videos

Great short videos to accompany the radio podcast. I would love to see them integrated so you could watch the radio show with video and related stories. But... I think kids like the quick nature of these videos, like a YouTube video. These are visits with scientists, visits with animals, exciting quick- paced content I think make mostly by the young staff at Science Friday who really click with a young audience. My middle school daughter won't listen to the radio show but she will voluntarily watch these videos.

Stick to Friday's podcasts.

Although I’m getting tired of the Covid focus, I do love this show. Nice to get science from scientists and not from politicians.

I have been listening to SciFri since 1997. Just to be very clear, I am not questioning Dr. Rasmussen's credentials as a laboratory scientist ( PhD in microbiology Columbia Univ 2009). She provides excellent virology related discussions. However, the show has at least a fiduciary obligation to inform the listeners that she's not a medical "doctor"/ physician. The show is doing the listeners a disservice by interviewing a non physician who has never practiced medicine, has never dispensed a single medication (legally not authorized)) to make multiple misguided and false medical statements on the air to the unsuspecting public because her name has the word " Dr. "in it. 1. November 5, 2021 she tells a caller, mother of twin young boys who had just contracted COVID-19 asking about vaccination in light of natural immunity from their recent infection. The response by Angla Rasmussen, PhD: "Kids don't have the same response to having COVID-19 all the time as far as immune system is concerned so there's a lot of variability" (19:55 remaining on the podcast). Two callers later, Tania in Colorado, a practicing Pediatrician for 25 years (who actually treats and vaccinates children) asks Mrs. Rasmussen to give a reference for the statement. The pediatrician mentioned that she has had multiple vaccines including measles mumps and rubella (all viruses) and she still has circulating antibodies. Mrs. Rasmussen for lack of a better term gaslighted the pediatrician. She actually blamed the pediatrician for misunderstanding and ignored the question of on what grounds/research she is telling the listeners "Kids don't have the same response to having Covid-19 all the time as far as immune system is concerned and so there's a lot of variability"?? Ira, are there no practicing pediatric immunologists or infectious disease physicians in the Tristate region or nationally who can be interviewed along with Mrs Rasmussen, PhD on SciFri? 2. Ivermectin is a "discredited horse pill". This is an extremely misguided and false medical statement. Ivermectin tablets are approved by the FDA to treat people with intestinal Strongyloidiasis (A parasitic infection that can cause severe diarrhea and in some underserved individuals even death) and onchocerciasis (A worm infection that causes blindness). Ivermectin has saved the sight and vision of millions of people around the world especially in Africa). I personally use it to treat patients here in United States on off label basis for treatment of scabies and it is an absolutely essential treatment option especially with emerging permethrin resistance. Since your show aired I have had patients asking me why I'm giving them a "discredited horse pill " because they heard it on a science show on the radio! Kindly consider removing this false statement from your website. Please consider calling any practicing board certified infectious disease or dermatologist in this country about the use of ivermectin. Yes, many medications which are used for humans are also used for veterinary purposes that doesn't make them bad medicines. Yes, Ivermectin should most likely not be used to treat a COVID-19 infection but that does not make it a "discredited horse pill". It's an FDA approved medication that saves the lives and vision of millions of people around the globe. Visit FDA.Gov or Mayo Clinic. 3. During the pandemic she discussed hydroxychloroquine's cardiac toxicities. The medication has been used for over 40 years by many specialties to treat millions of Americans and people around the world the world with negligible to non existent (in my practice of 25 years) cardiac toxicities. Not clear why a science show would use a non-practicing physician who has never written and not legally authorized to prescribe a single medication to comment about the pharmacodynamics and safety of FDA approved perscription medications. These false and misguided medical statements mislead the listeners and the public at large.