Mar 19

What even is DEET?

#053 Rebroadcast This week, Melissa and Jam revisit one of their fav episodes on the topic of mosquitos. What is DEET? What part does it play in repelling mosquitos? How do repellants repel mosquitos in the first place? Is it just straight witchcraft? Let's do it. Support this po ... Show More

37m 20s

Mar 12

How do birds fly? And how is chemistry involved?!

Birds fly all the time. We see it constantly. But how does it actually work? Is it just "Bernoulli’s" principle? Is the air pushing up? Are the wings pushing down? And what’s happening at the molecular level when a bird takes off? Let’s talk about feathers, airflow, collisions be ... Show More

40 m

Mar 5

Fun Fact or Fake Factoid?! Game Rematch (with Claire Caballero)

In this bonus episode, we host a rematch of our game “Fun Fact or Fake Factoid” with Claire and Jam, using stricter rules: each claim must be entirely true or false as worded, and the winner earns a treat. We test statements about pregnancy-related brain changes, koala fingerprin ... Show More

33m 32s

Apr 2025

Explosive Science with Kate the Chemist

What are chemical reactions like in space? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice team up with Kate the Chemist to explore how cesium helps us tell time, the elusive quest for the periodic table’s “island of stability,” how AI is revolutionizing chemistry, and more!NOTE: St ... Show More

54m 29s

Oct 2025

Things You Thought You Knew – Quantum Cat

What happens when you fall into a black hole? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice give us the step-by-step on spaghettification, explain Schrodinger's cat, and explore quantum tunnelling… Or do they? NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-fr ... Show More

46m 35s

Nov 2025

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

Mar 2023

A SURvival Guide to the Vanderpump Rules Scandoval

Turns out, Tom Sandoval might be the #1 guy in this group - in all the worst ways. After the Bravo world blows up following the shocking news that VPR star Tom Sandoval has been cheating on his longtime partner Ariana Madix with costar Raquel Viess, Sarah records a special ep ... Show More

1h 26m

Feb 2025

Valentine’s Day Isn’t Just for Romance—The Science of Deep Friendships

Love isn’t just about romance. This Valentine’s Day, we’re exploring the power of deep nonromantic bonds. Host Rachel Feltman sits down with Rhaina Cohen, a producer and editor for NPR’s podcast Embedded and author of The Other Significant Others, to discuss the history and psych ... Show More

17m 2s

Feb 2025

A Brutally Honest Review Of Apple Cider Vinegar

On today's show, we're diving deep into Netflix's gripping new Australian series Apple Cider Vinegar, which tells the infamous story of wellness scammer Belle Gibson. From Kaitlyn Dever's eerily perfect Australian accent to the fascinating creative liberties taken with the real s ... Show More

37m 46s

Jul 2023

A Guide to Asking Better Questions - From the Archive

Episode 480: Shaan Puri (https://twitter.com/ShaanVP) has a motto — "Ask a better question, get a better answer". In this episode, he shares the most valuable questions he’s collected over the years that provide outsized returns in business and life. If you want a worksheet with ... Show More

17m 29s

Jul 2022

S18 Ep3: NoSleep Podcast S18E03

Tune in to Episode 3 of Season 18 for fiendishly frightening games! “Hide and Seek” written by <a href="https://twitter.com/soalexgoes">A.A. de Levine</a> (Story starts around 00:02:50) Produced by: <a href="http://www.philmichalski. ... Show More

1h 10m

Sep 2024

Cleaning up the macro-messes caused by microplastics with Sarah Paiji Yoo from Blueland

Microplastics are everywhere: In our water, cleaning supplies, and in so many of our everyday household essentials. This week’s guest, Sarah Paiji Yoo, started Blueland to help us cut out microplastics and reduce the amount of single-use plastics we use, once and for all. Bluela ... Show More

50m 5s

Sep 2024

#766: The Random Show — Lessons from Tim’s Sabbatical, Alzheimer's Breakthroughs, Kevin Tries a Medium, Fitness Tools and Protocols, Book Recommendations, and More

This time, we have a very special episode I recorded with my close friend <a href="http://kevinrose.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kevin Rose</a> in person at his house. We trade our latest discoveries, and I think it’s one of our best. Tons o ... Show More

2h 4m

What to Use and Avoid in the Kitchen: 3 ...