We’re hearing stories of people having amazing, cosmic orgasms. So what buttons are they pressing to do this?? Well, it's... more

Protein influencers are big right now, telling us that we're probably missing out on the protein we need — and... more

Today we’re presenting Trillion Dollar Shot, a new series that explores the business story behind the rise of Ozempic and... more

Health care for trans kids has been in the spotlight, with battles over what the science says and tons of... more

More than 150 years ago, just before dino-mania struck, New York City was supposed to get a majestic dinosaur museum... more

The Abortion Pill is now the most common way to have an abortion in the US. Yet what exactly happens... more

With the powers of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists discovered some super weird things in the early Universe, and... more

Getting your heart broken sucks — and for some of us, it even feels physically painful. So why does it... more

Comedian Tig Notaro, who just released her fifth comedy special, "Hello Again," joins us for a chat about the science... more

If you Google "The Funniest Joke in the World," you'll be very disappointed. The internet might serve you something like,... more

[Video available on Spotify] Wendy and emma chamberlain of the Anything Goes podcast sit down for a chat and get... more

Tons of us are feeling run-down and crummy and are wondering: What can we do about it? Well, lots of... more

It’s 1849, and a gruesome murder has just happened at Harvard. As body parts turn up, the science of the... more

Weed has gone mainstream, and it's been rebranded as a wellness drug that you can customize to fit your needs.... more

Fasting diets are going bonkers right now — some tech bros are down to one meal a day! And health-fluencers... more

Dreaming might be the weirdest thing that our brains do. Out of thin air we may see ourselves battling a... more

We looked at this class of weight loss drugs a year ago, and they've only gotten more popular — and... more

We’ve been hunting for the fountain of youth for millennia, but if you go online, it looks like the search... more

Strap in, nerds: New Science Vs episodes are coming! This season, we’re diving into the science of longevity, cannabis, hormone... more

DMT might be the weirdest drug in the already weird world of psychedelics. It’s the active ingredient in ayahuasca, but... more

Personality tests like the MBTI are all over the internet, the workplace, and dating apps — but some say it’s... more

Caffeine is a drug that tons of us take every day. But is that a bad thing? And if we... more

Molly, ecstasy, MDMA: whatever you call it, this drug is blowing up. Some say MDMA can be a legitimate medicine... more

We all know gossip can be bad — but some of us still can’t seem to get enough of it.... more

A dead man with a bitten penis and perplexing DNA, a terrifying syndrome where everything around you appears in miniature,... more

Not sleeping enough turning you into a monster? In one of our most popular episodes, we bring you the cutting-edge... more

We’ve been told that foods like butter and bacon are bad for us — because they're packed with saturated fats.... more

A whistleblower claims that the U.S. government is covering up what it knows about aliens on Earth, and several military... more

Andrew Huberman is a skate punk turned neuroscientist, and he hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the U.S.:... more

Can plunging into an ice bath make us feel happier? What about gratitude journaling? We’re digging into some of the... more

The smash hit Netflix documentary “Unknown: Cave of Bones” has kicked off an all-out science brawl. The film makes extraordinary... more

More and more people are puffing on vapes — but some governments are making moves to ban them. So how... more

The latest hot new trend is: breathing. Yeah, that’s right — there are claims that so-called breathwork can cure depression... more

Brand-new episodes will drop starting next week! Stay tuned for science deep dives on breathing and breathwork, seed oils (what... more

This week – our episode that you voted as our BEST wild card episode!! You’ll have to listen to find... more

Here’s the episode you picked as our best sex and sexual health episode: Orgasms! There’s this idea that the female... more

Here’s the episode you voted as our best wellness episode: Exercise! Lots of people hit the gym to shed unwanted... more

Here’s the episode you voted as our best drug episode: Magic Mushrooms! People are saying that shrooms cured their depression... more

Today we're going behind the scenes of Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film “Oppenheimer.” Professor David Saltzberg, one of the scientists who... more

Many bats can live a bizarrely long time, and brush off viruses that kill people. How do they do it... more

Tons of people struggle to get revved up about sex. It can mess with their relationships and how they feel... more

Housing has gotten SO expensive — for many of us, buying something seems totally out of reach. And even renting... more

Going gluten-free is all the rage — we hear it’s the secret hack to being more healthy, even if you... more

Artificial Intelligence seems more human-like and capable than ever before — but how did it get so good so quickly?... more

We join forces with Sarah Marshall from You’re Wrong About to dive into a question for the ages: Blue balls... more

The dentist tells us to floss, brush, avoid certain food and drinks ... but what actually matters when it comes... more

When it comes to keeping our skin looking younger, what works? Retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C? This simple question has... more

Just two months before Covid-19 broke out, we made a fictional pandemic episode that was like “Contagion” but with citations.... more

Today, we give a dam about beavers. These busy rodents don’t just chill and go with the flow — it... more

For years, ketamine has been thought of mostly as a horse tranquilizer — or a street drug that puts you... more

Pit bulls have a dark reputation. And some people say the science backs this up: that they bite people more... more

Imagine getting an infection, going to the doctor, and having no little pill to make you better. Welcome to a... more

What actually cures a hangover? Water? Crushed up Advil? Maybe a burger, fries and a Diet Coke? We wanted to... more

For decades we’ve been yanked around over alcohol: one day it’s actually good for us, the next day it’s a... more

People say drugs like Ozempic are helping them lose tons of weight. But are these drugs really all they’re cracked... more

We’ve got the goods on weight loss drugs, ketamine, pit bulls, skincare and more! Come for the science, stay for... more

Science Vs has gone bilingual! La Ciencia Vs is the Spanish-language version of the show, and today we’re introducing the... more

There’s an Adderall shortage across the U.S., and it’s causing huge problems for people with ADHD. But on the flip... more

This is the THIRTEENTH season of the show! So we’re diving into stories about superstitions and luck. We’ll share the... more

What is hypnosis? Is it mind control? Are some people just faking? We’re revisiting this episode in which we explore... more

Today, we’re diving into your armpits! We’ll find out why some of us are so freaking smelly. And then we’re... more

A male birth control pill has been this big tease for decades. And today, with the overturning of Roe v.... more

A dead body turns up with a stolen identity. We tell the story of how a grandmother tracked down the... more

Buffalo. Uvalde. Highland Park. These mass shootings keep happening. One side says the problem is the guns, and the other... more

What's the greenest way to die? Some nerds are saying that our bodies should go the way of our veggie... more

The EEG is an incredibly important medical tool — and it’s been failing Black patients for decades. So today we’ll... more

Do vegans have a right to be so smug? We’re finding out whether it really is better for the environment,... more

Celebs and wellness blogs treat water like a magic elixir that will make us the most attractive and healthiest version... more

There’s tons of misinformation, fads and strong opinions floating around out there — but then there’s SCIENCE. Season 13 starts... more

We called up Dr. Anthony Fauci to talk about monkeypox. We wanted to know — what’s the deal with the... more

Monkeypox has been spreading around the world. So … what exactly is this disease? How worried should we be, and... more

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. And in their opinion, we found a lot of scientific-sounding... more

Today, we’re sharing a collection of spooky science stories. You’ll hear about a nightmare in the ocean, a nightmare on... more

[REBROADCAST] Could fake medicine actually take away your pain or treat a disease? We dig into the science of placebos... more

When a little girl, Ella Kissi-Debrah, suddenly got sick and landed in the hospital, doctors were stumped. In this episode,... more

ASMR is huge. People say these videos of someone whispering or making soft sounds can make them feel all tingly... more

[REBROADCAST] What makes a serial killer? What drives them to kill again and again? To find out the truth about... more

We hear over and over that ultra-processed food is bad for us. But is there actually something funky going on... more

Today, we’re digging into the weird and wooly world of ivermectin. When promising papers came out early in the pandemic,... more

Today on the show an update about our push to get Spotify to do more to stop misinformation spreading on... more

REBROADCAST. The Supreme Court is set to rule on a major abortion case this year, and the court could decide... more

Russia attacked Ukraine more than a month ago — and the war has raged ever since. From the beginning, Russia... more

[REBROADCAST] Is it possible that the pyramids were built with a helping hand ... from aliens? If not, how did... more

U.S. politicians are trying to keep trans kids from getting the medical care they need to transition — and states are... more

There’s tons of misinformation, fads and strong opinions floating around out there — but then there’s SCIENCE. Find it here! Learn... more

After Joe Rogan was accused of spreading Covid-19 vaccine misinformation on his podcast, Spotify landed in the hot seat. People... more

Recently, Joe Rogan aired an interview that scientists are up in arms about — with Dr. Robert Malone. Malone talked... more

The moon race is back! Countries — and billionaires — are lining up to take a crack at returning to... more

Dr. Anthony Fauci sits down with us to talk about omicron, how this pandemic actually ends — and how he’s... more

Welp, the pandemic has served up yet another poop sandwich, and it’s called omicron. This variant is popping up in... more

This week we’ve got a spicy treat for you: a show called Gastropod. Hosts Nicola Twilley and Cynthia Graber dig... more

Could our dreams for a real Jurassic Park come true? Headlines say scientists are closer than ever to resurrecting prehistoric... more

[REBROADCAST] Asteroids! In just two weeks, NASA plans to launch a first-of-its-kind mission to try to move an asteroid off... more

Science isn’t always dressed up in fancy lab coats and goggles — sometimes it goes undercover! In this episode, we... more

People with chronic pain often struggle with it for years while doctors scour their bodies for the cause. But are... more

Dr. Joycelyn Elders is a total badass. She grew up in poverty in rural Arkansas, but in 1993 she rose... more

Work can really suck. And for lots of us, burnout has been feeling especially terrible. This week, we dive into... more

We join forces with Sarah Marshall from You’re Wrong About to dive into a question for the ages: Blue balls... more

[REBROADCAST] Are humans built for monogamy? Or is the idea of having one partner forever just a myth forced on... more

Plants aren’t just sitting around looking cute; they’re doing all sorts of stuff, like defending themselves, and even warning other... more

Childbirth seems to be getting more and more medicalized, with C-sections and other interventions out the wazoo. But childbirth isn’t... more

We’re hearing nonstop chatter about the “quarantine 15.” But should we really care if we put on weight? Is fat... more

Our mental health has taken a turn for the worse the past couple of years. We keep hearing that therapy... more

There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Season 11 starts Sept. 9! Learn more... more

Today, we’re sharing an episode of a show we love: Not Past It. ​​Did you know there was almost an... more

This delta variant of the coronavirus seems to really be screwing us over. Cases are spiking in the U.S., and... more

There are soooo many options for what to feed your dog or cat, from the cheap stuff at the supermarket... more

We’re heading into a big summer, with more places and — ahem — people opening up. So we’re revisiting one... more

Today we're telling tales that push life to the ultimate limit. We're bringing things back from the dead, diving into... more

Today, under cover of darkness, we're hunting buried treasure. This is a wild romp through one of the oldest science... more

Tons of us are spending waaaayyy more time using screens these days — and it’s freaking us out. We’ve got... more

Back in 2016, U.S. Embassy workers in Cuba were struck by a mysterious noise, followed by symptoms like headaches, dizziness... more

REBROADCAST: This episode looks at how one of the worst ideas in science got a big push from a bad... more

UPDATE 4/13/21: Since this episode published, there has been some evidence linking the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine to rare... more

Venomous snakes entranced medieval Europe. And although bites were rare, this didn’t stop 14th century doctors from using everything but... more

Snake venom is a wily beast. It's packed with hundreds of toxins that can attack our blood vessels, muscles and... more

In 2017, a weird-looking space object called ʻOumuamua whipped past our sun. Now a Harvard scientist is suggesting it miiiight... more

Parts of the U.S. are about to see a surge of cicadas — masses of flying bugs, popping up all... more

Internet influencers have been pushing “immune boosters” during the pandemic — claiming they’ve got just the pill, berry or brew... more

There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Season 10 starts March 4! Learn more... more

Butterflies flit through life as the pride and joy of the insect world. But when we saw photos of butterflies... more

This week, we’re sharing an episode of Coronavirus: Fact Vs. Fiction, a podcast from CNN. This episode is The Hunt... more

Magic mushrooms have hit the headlines, with people saying that shrooms cured their depression and anxiety. But is this for... more

MINI EPISODE! Tons of new science means fresh answers on a few things that really freaked us out at the... more

There’s a ton of hoopla over these new coronavirus vaccines. But given that they’ve been produced at warp speed —... more

When a deadly pig virus hit Cuba in 1971, some claimed the CIA was behind it all. But could it... more

When the Cuban government rounded up and killed thousands of pigs in 1971, people were angry and confused. Castro claimed... more

The eccentric platypus has always turned heads, and now it’s got something else up its sleeve. We talked with mammalogist... more

The idea of paying Black Americans reparations for slavery has been around for a long time, but it’s starting to... more

We keep hearing that a Yellowstone supervolcano could blow at any moment — and possibly wipe us all out. So... more

We’re sharing another great Gimlet show, How to Save a Planet. On this episode: It started with students walking out... more

Silicon Valley seems to be constantly pumping out "solutions" to fix our broken food system. The latest and greatest: cell-cultured... more

An adventuring Swedish doctor takes on a decades-long medical mystery: What exactly was the 1918 flu? We talk to Dr.... more

There’s this idea that the female orgasm is a complicated riddle, but for a man with a penis, getting off... more

NOTE: This episode first published 6/13/19. Are sharks the super-predators we think they are? Or have we been baited with... more

For centuries, people have been looking to the stars to tell us all kinds of things — what our future... more

MASKS. Since the early days of the pandemic, it’s been tough to nail down how much they can really do... more

Kombucha, kefir and other probiotic-crammed foods are marketed as charmers of the human microbiome — and the key to immune,... more

Science Vs is back August 27th. Fact you next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re six months into this coronavirus pandemic, which has shaken the world and stunned scientists. What have we learned? Where... more

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, member of the White House Coronavirus Task... more

All through the pandemic, we’ve been waiting for a possible silver bullet: a vaccine. How soon could we actually get... more

The coronavirus seems to cause symptoms all over our body, from nose to toes. So how can one virus do... more

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the global protest movement sparked by the death of George Floyd. And a... more

Life is on pause for many of us right now. But scientists don’t want to stop! Researchers have had to... more

While a lot of countries have put in strict measures, like lockdowns, to stop the coronavirus, there’s been a conspicuous... more

When the pandemic started, we were told not to bother with masks. But now it looks like experts have done... more

How bad is the coronavirus for pregnant people and babies? Producer Meryl Horn is digging into this question for today’s... more

Since the outbreak started, we’ve been hearing that this coronavirus came from bats before jumping to humans. But recently, claims... more

Social distancing has made it harder for a lot of us to get exercise. So we’re revisiting our episode on... more

We’re hearing stories of people getting this coronavirus, recovering, and then getting it again. So what’s going on: Does getting... more

In the U.S. we've been social distancing for a few weeks now, and the question on everyone’s mind is: When... more

There are reports that the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for days. So how careful should we be about cleaning... more

We’re hearing conflicting things about how the coronavirus spreads — is it through coughs and sneezes only? Or could it... more

From the early days of this coronavirus outbreak, it’s looked like the disease is way worse for older people. But... more

President Trump says an anti-malarial drug could be a “gift from god” for treating Covid-19. Does it really work? And... more

Healthcare workers across the U.S. are saying they don’t have enough protective gear to keep them safe against the coronavirus.... more

As Covid-19 cases rise in the U.S., healthcare workers are already struggling to keep up. In a different kind of... more

The coronavirus pandemic is here, and in the U.S., this is starting to get very real. We talk to people... more

Science Vs is back March 19th. Fact you next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new coronavirus continues to spread around the world, and it’s already killed several people in the U.S. People are... more

A new virus showed up in China late last year, and it’s making its way to other countries too. So... more

This week — asteroids. Could a space rock really slam into us and destroy the world? And if we did... more

American healthcare has big problems. Some say the solution is Medicare For All: one government plan for everybody. But others... more

On today’s show, three f-ant-astic stories of survival, friendship and courage about some of the most underrated creatures in the... more

It’s been five years since the high profile shootings of several unarmed black teenagers and men launched the Black Lives... more

A group of teenagers and college kids were fed up with the lousy healthcare in their neighborhood. So they decided... more

Not sleeping enough turning you into a monster? Cutting-edge science helps us understand why. And we sort through the fads... more

How should we feel about 5G? Is it a breakthrough technology that will revolutionize our world, or in a bid... more

Vaping is all the rage in the U.S., but young people are turning up at hospitals barely able to breathe.... more

If a pandemic ripped across the world, how bad would it really get? You’ve heard the horror stories, but you’ve... more

We’ve all been dumped, but some of us have felt physically sick from a heartbreak -- sometimes really sick. Neuroscientist... more

America’s favorite pastime seems to be plagued by tragedy. Former NFL players have come forward to say they’re suffering from... more

Lots of people hit the gym to shed unwanted pounds, but they don’t always see results on the scale. This... more

Science Vs is back September 19th. Fact you next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why are there so many new, weird dinosaurs? Friend of the show Joel Werner goes down the rabbit hole, and... more

When President Garfield was shot by an assassin in 1881, the best and brightest in medicine and science did everything... more

Peanut allergy in children has been on the rise since the 1990s. What’s to blame? We find a clue in... more

Before Roe v. Wade, there were thousands of illegal abortions in the U.S. every year. Some of these were incredibly... more

Could fake medicine actually take away your pain or treat a disease? We dig into the science of placebos to... more

Autism, seizures, and overloaded immune systems - could these really be side effects of vaccines? From the archives, we bring... more

We’re often told to have kids quickly, before our biological clock strikes and we fall off the fertility cliff. This... more

For decades, we've heard that race is a social and cultural idea — not scientific. But with the changing world... more

Millions of people are sending off their DNA to companies like Ancestry.com and 23andme to find out where they come... more

Can petting Fluffy or Fido help with anxiety on planes? Or are emotional support animals a load of croc? We... more

Fasting diets are all the rage right now and health-fluencers claim it can help you lose weight, live longer and... more

During a golden age for scientific progress, a group of scientists were given free rein to do whatever they wanted... more

For decades we’ve been told that having a glass or two of wine is good for you. But recently there’ve... more

Season 6 is on it's way, fellow nerds! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A dead body turns up with a stolen identity. This week, we tell the story of how a grandmother tracked... more

Recently we’ve been hearing a lot about transgender identity. That made us wonder… what makes us the gender that we... more

Before WikiLeaks, there was the Wank Worm. In this week’s episode, we tell you the story of how Australian hackers... more

Is it possible that the pyramids were built with a helping hand... from aliens? If not, how on Earth did... more

The 7 Minute Workout is all the rage, but can working out for just 7 minutes really do anything? To... more

CBD mania is in full swing and people are using it for just about anything, but what is this chemical... more

In the final installment of our election series, we tackle immigration: the #1 concern of Americans as they head to... more

Recently we've been warned that climate change is scarier than ever -- and that we are to blame. Yet surveys... more

The battle over abortion is fast becoming one of the key issues of the midterm election. And in this battle... more

After 11 people were shot and killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue over the weekend, mass shootings are back in the... more

Online dating can feel like drudgery… can science help you game the system? And do those matching algorithms actually work?... more

It’s 1849, and a gruesome murder has just happened at Harvard. As body parts turn up, the science of the... more

You’ve probably heard that gentrification changes neighborhoods for the worse: first come the hipsters and then the bankers. Soon, the... more

Moooove over, dairy milk: the alternative milk craze is here. But are they more than just a frothy fad? To... more

Do vegans have a right to be so smug? This week we find out whether it really is better for... more

Essential Oils - and their claims - are huge right now. But is it all hype, or is there something... more

We’re back! This week we tackle the War on Straws and how worried we should be about all the plastic... more

Season Five of Science Vs will be in your ears next Thursday. This season we're covering plastic straws, essential oils,... more

We'll be back in your ears with season 5 of Science Vs in the Fall... but in the meantime, new... more

What makes a serial killer? What drives them to kill again and again? To find out the truth about this... more

Could aliens actually exist? Is there any chance they’ve visited Earth already? What really happened at Roswell? The truth... is... more

This week, we’re entering the Lyme Wars. We’re asking: what is Lyme disease? How do you get it? How do... more

This week, we’re entering the foreskin firestorm. We’re asking: what are the risks of circumcision? And are there any medical... more

This week, how one of the worst ideas in science got a big push from a bad study… and intellectuals... more

We have this idea that polar bears are teetering on the brink of extinction. But the story isn’t that simple.... more

This week, something different. We speak to astronaut Scott Kelly, who went up to space a man and came back... more

People who love the ketogenic diet swear it boosts their brainpower, melts their fat, and makes them better athletes. Is... more

Nine countries, including North Korea, have nuclear weapons. What would happen if a nuclear bomb was dropped-- say, in New... more

Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey are said to have it. You probably have a friend who says they have it... more

America’s got an opioid problem. So where do we go from here? What can actually help people struggling with opioid addiction?... more

More people in the U.S. died from opioids in 2016 than the peak year of the AIDS epidemic. So how... more

We'll be in your ears with new episodes next week - Thursday March 22nd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit... more

We’ve always been told to get off the couch and stop eating junk food if you want to lose weight... more

Can they help with back pain or anything else? We talk to chiropractor Carl Cleveland III, physical therapist Anita Gross,... more

Everyone’s got a myth or two about birth control they want cleared up. Like... is 'pulling out' AKA withdrawal really... more

Molly, Ecstasy, MDMA... whatever you want to call it, it's all the same thing. This week, we’re turning up the... more

So... you’re losing your hair. Is there anything that can be done about it? And are the treatments dangerous --... more

What is killing the bees? And will we have enough food to eat if the bee-pocalypse becomes worse? We speak... more

Americans spend billions of dollars on vitamins and supplements, but are they worth it? We look at the science behind... more

All over the world people report sightings of big, hairy, human-like beasts, so could Bigfoot really be out there... somewhere?... more

We need to ditch fossil fuels. Can America go 100% renewable by 2050? Does the technology already exist? We speak... more

Last week we explored the science behind vaccine safety. This week we try to understand where these fears came from,... more

Autism, seizures, and overloaded immune systems. Could these really be side effects of vaccines? This week, we dive into the science... more

Juice cleanses, fancy foods, sweat, charcoal, and colonics-- is there a scientifically proven way to ‘clean out’ your system? This... more

Science Vs is back in your ears next week! This season we're going to dissect the science behind detox diets,... more

Low calorie, no calorie and so sweet. Artificial sweeteners just seem too good to be true. Is there a catch?... more

Fukushima. Chernobyl. Three Mile Island. There’s been some big nuclear accidents over the past few decades, but how dangerous is... more

Silicon Valley CEOs, Tibetan monks, and crunchy hippies alike describe meditation as blissful and life-changing, but what does the science... more

What is love? With half of first time American marriages ending in divorce by the 20th anniversary, and infidelity being... more

Are chocolate, coffee and red wine actually good for us? Reading the news it seems that one day they are... more

Abortion is so taboo. People don’t talk about abortions they’ve had. Doctors don’t talk about abortions they’ve given. But it's... more

Science Vs peels back the label on GM foods to find out whether they’re safe to eat and what impact... more

Why do four out of five dentists recommend Colgate? How many Americans really approve of Trump? This special episode is... more

One third of Americans believe in ghosts, and one fifth have had a personal encounter. We go to a haunted... more

Less than half of Americans think climate change is caused by humans, but scientists are sure about it. So, how... more

Trying to get rid of acne can feel like a science experiment with your face -- so we get to... more

We head to a farm in Alabama to find out what happened after thousands of immigrants left the state. Did... more

We’ve read the studies. We’ve spoken to the experts. And now it’s time for facts. There is no alternative.  The new... more

There’s an intriguing body of research that suggests the power of antidepressants doesn’t come from chemicals in the drugs, but... more

In these cases, emerging DNA evidence and the smell of death (yes, really) pushed the boundaries of what was technologically... more

There are a slew of scientific techniques that forensic experts use to solve crimes. But how reliable are they? We’re... more