Nov 19

Footless Goose Murder, Sex in Space, Viking Sicko Mode, Sports Bra Tech

Behold: our LIVE show from earlier this year at Caveat in NYC! Rachel, Jess, Moiya McTier and Claire Maldarelli each bring a weird fact to the stage. Topics run the gamut this week. We've got an avian murder mystery, why having sex in space sucks, how preworkout is kind of like b ... Show More

1h 18m

Nov 12

Check it out: 'Ask Us Anything' from Popular Science. On this episode, GOOSEBUMPS

Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. On this episode: Goosebumps are a valuable tool for many animals. They keep mammals with thick fur warm by trapping ... Show More

14m 50s

Nov 5

What Rats are REALLY Saying, Cosmic Caffeine, Lamarck was RIGHT?!

Tom Lum joins the show to reveal what rats are ACTUALLY saying to each other. Plus, Rachel talks about the color of the Universe, and Lauren explains one evolutionary exception. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and ... Show More

1h 4m

Nov 12

Can AI Ease the Pain of Loss?

Griefbots—artificial-intelligence-powered chat tools that simulate conversations with the deceased—are helping some people navigate loss in unexpected ways. Science writer David Berreby shares his firsthand experience with these digital companions and explores what they reveal ab ... Show More

13m 10s

Sep 19

Algorithmic Social Media Is Driving New Slang

From viral slang such as “skibidi” to the rise of so-called brain rot, linguist and content creator Adam Aleksic, aka the “Etymology Nerd,” and associate editor Allison Parshall, who covers the mind and brain, unpack how social media and algorithms are reshaping the way we commun ... Show More

26m 55s

Sep 26

The Dead Composer Whose ‘Brain’ Still Makes Music

In a hauntingly innovative exhibit, brain cells grown from the late composer Alvin Lucier’s blood generate sound. Set in a museum in Perth, Australia, the installation blurs the line between art and neuroscience. Host Rachel Feltman and associate editor Allison Parshall explore t ... Show More

25m 25s

Sep 17

The Role Our Microbiome Plays In Our ‘Gut Feelings’

Scientists are tuning in to a surprising conversation happening inside us—between our gut and our brain. Host Rachel Feltman chats with Maya Kaelberer, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona’s department of physiology, to explore how intestinal cells and microbiomes ... Show More

13m 26s

Mar 2022

Noah’s Sisters Spill The Tea (feat. Haley and Tatum Beck)

Buckle in for an intense family therapy session. Noah’s sisters, Haley and Tatum join to give us the dirt on growing up with Noah. Tatum gives us an inside look at her life, and the group discusses their toxic traits. Want to be featured on the show? Submit your message to the Pu ... Show More

1h 2m

Jan 2025

5. ORIGINS OF SEX + should I pursue my taken labmate??

<p>🍆 welcome BACK to season 4 episode 5 of the @SoCulturedPodcast ! This season is all about discovering science through the lens of history, and in today’s episode we are delving into the origins of Sex! </p><br><p>❓Where did Sex originate? Where did humans think babies came fr ... Show More

42m 30s

Oct 22

The Science of a Convincing Sorry

What makes an apology sound sincere? Psychologist Shiri Lev-Ari joins host Rachel Feltman to explore how the effort we put into our words—especially through longer, easier-to-understand language—can signal genuine remorse. New research reveals that even subtle linguistic choices ... Show More

11m 16s

Oct 22

The Science of a Convincing Sorry

What makes an apology sound sincere? Psychologist Shiri Lev-Ari joins host Rachel Feltman to explore how the effort we put into our words—especially through longer, easier-to-understand language—can signal genuine remorse. New research reveals that even subtle linguistic choices ... Show More

11m 16s

Aug 22

Could Peanut Allergies Be Cured?

Peanut allergies have surged dramatically in recent decades, and scientists are still working to understand why. In this episode, journalist Maryn Mckenna, who recently authored an article on the subject, and host Rachel Feltman explore the latest research on causes, treatments a ... Show More

20m 29s

Feb 2025

The War on Science

U.S. science is in turmoil. Amid agency firings and confusion over federal funding, researchers are freaking out. Many can’t do their work, and they have no idea what the future holds. Plus, we’re hearing that all of this could jeopardize medical treatments for people in the U.S. ... Show More

34m 43s

Why Pain Hurts So Good, Growing Mutant G...