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How do astronomers photograph a black hole? How often do planes get hit by lightning? What does the EPA actually do? Science is all around us and transforming our world at a rapid pace. Extragalactic astrophysicist Sabrina Stierwalt is here to guide you through it. She'll help you make sense of the...
Recent Episodes
414 episodesThe Age Of Resilience
The viruses keep coming, the climate is warming, and the Earth is rewilding. Our human family has no playbook to address the mayhem unfolding around u...
The History of Transplant Surgery
Witty, entertaining, and illuminating, Spare Parts shows us that the history - and future - of transplant surgery is tied up with questions about not...
Could we have domesticated a T-Rex?
Hello, Ask Science listeners! This week, we're sharing the first episode of Curious State, a brand new podcast from Quick and Dirty Tips.
Could...
Life's Last Bow
Episode 5 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Standing Up for Sex
Episode 4 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Dinosaurs in Flight
Episode 3 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
The Great Permian Catastrophe
Episode 2 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
A Song of Fire and Ice
Episode 1 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Bonus: Virgin Galactic and the Making of a Modern Astronaut
Today, we're sharing a special excerpt from Test Gods, an audiobook from our friends at Macmillan Audio. Test Gods tells the remarkable story of the t...
397 - The Devastating Collapse of the Arecibo Telescope
The Arecibo Telescope, featured in movies like "Contact" and "Goldeneye," collapsed in early December 2020 after 57 years of observing the universe. H...
238 - When Does Your Intelligence Peak?
Are we really at our smartest in our 20s? What about the wisdom and experience that come with age? At what age do we strike the right balance between...
305 - Does CBD Oil Work? The Science Behind Cannabidiol
What is CBD oil? What does science have to say about the extract's proposed health benefits?
396 - Wait a Minute! How Am I Still Getting Sick on Lockdown?
You've isolated at home for months because of the pandemic, so why are you suddenly sick? Here are a few scientific reasons why you can get sick even...
395 - How to Conceive a Boy or a Girl (According to Science)
Is there a way to predetermine your baby's biological sex and conceive a girl or a boy? Here's what science has to say about things like genetics, tim...
394 - Can we ever go faster than the speed of light?
Light is the fastest moving thing we know of, but just how fast is it? Has science attempted to break the light speed record? And does the universe ha...
393 - Is Melatonin Safe? Should You Stop Taking It?
Go to the supplement aisle of almost any store in the US and you'll find melatonin, a synthetic hormone, marketed as an effective natural sleep aid, e...
392 - How We Know a Supermassive Black Hole Lurks in the Center of Our Galaxy
Not even light can escape a black hole's gravitational pull, so how do we actually know they exist? And what's the deal with the supermassive black ho...
391 - Phobias and Fears—Can You Literally Be Scared to Death?
Spiders, snakes, heights, political corruption—we're afraid of a lot of things. But what's the difference between a fear and a phobia? And can either...
390 - What Happens to Saltwater Fish in Fresh Water?
Why do some fish thrive in salt water and others in fresh? And what happens if you, say, drop a saltwater shark into a fresh water swimming pool? Here...
389 - What Are the Coldest and Hottest Temperatures Possible?
We experience extreme hot and cold temperatures on Earth, but they're nothing compared to the temperature extremes we've created in labs, not to menti...
388 - Astronomers Found a Sign of Life on Venus—What Does It Mean?
Astronomers recently made a huge discovery—there may be life on Venus. But what does it really mean when we say we've discovered the potential for lif...
387 - How Do We Control Wildfires? The Surprising Facts
How many days can it take to control a large wildfire? (More than you think.) Who fights wildfires? (You may be surprised!) What tools and methods do...
386 - What Is a Derecho? A Meteorologist Explains
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes make headlines, but fewer people know about the unique and destructive weather force known as a derecho. What are dere...
385 - Why Do We Need to Save the Bees?
Wild bee populations are at risk. Why are wild bee colonies in decline, why is it a big deal, and how can you help? First, step away from the pesticid...
384 - Did Scientists Just Unravel One Mystery of Stonehenge?
Recently, a rock sample from the Neolithic structure Stonehenge made its way to a science lab after 60 years in a private collection. Here's what we l...
383 - What Does Your Blood Type Mean? How Rare Is Yours?
Your blood type is one of the many things you inherit from your parents. But what does it mean, and how does it affect your medical care? Do you have...
382 - Emotional, Irritated, Faking It—Why Do Humans Cry?
Humans seem to be the only animals who produce one of three different types of tears. Can you guess what it is? Let's look at the science behind cryin...
381 - Wearing a Mask During Coronavirus—Separating Myths from Facts
We have scientific evidence that masks effectively and dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19, yet myths about mask-wearing abound. Let's put them...
380 - Can Nukes Actually Stop a Devastating Hurricane?
Congress recently introduced a bill to prohibit the President from using weapons to alter weather patterns. But can you tame a hurricane by nuking it...
379 - Is It Aliens? A Science Writer On UFOs and Her Visit to Area 51
Are aliens out there observing us? If they're not, why has the Pentagon released videos of "unidentified aerial phenomena?" What's going on at Area 51...
243 - 8 Rules for Picking the Right Sunscreen According to Science
Does the SPF really matter? Should I go organic? What about the warnings on possible carcinogens in sunscreens? Is it better to avoid sunscreen altoge...
378 - Without Plate Tectonics, Earth Might Not Support Life
The Earth's surface is made of large slabs called plates. They move faster than your fingernails grow, and life on Earth might not exist without them.
377 - Did a Virus Make Us Mammals?
Many viruses are like bad party guests—they show up uninvited and wreak havoc. But some viruses are more cooperative guests. A virus may have even mad...
376 - Has NASA Found a Parallel Universe?
Did NASA really discover a parallel universe where time runs backward? It's not impossible! But we're still a long way from proving it.
375 - "Is Takeout Safe?" and Other Food Safety Questions
How concerned should you be about transmission of the novel coronavirus through food?
374 - Subterranean Rivers—Water Flowing Underground
There's much left unexplored beneath Earth's surface, uncluding miles of underground rivers. What forms them? What lives there? And how do these subte...
373 - Why Is a NASA Spacecraft Currently Orbiting an Asteroid?
The OSIRIS REx spacecraft will perform a cosmic smash-and-grab on the surface of the potentially hazardous asteroid, Bennu. What do scientists hope to...
372 - Can I visit just one other family while social distancing?
You're longing for connection, your child is begging for a playdate, you're stir crazy. Is it okay to visit with just one other family during the COVI...
371 - What Is the Air Quality Like Near You?
Is the air noticeably clearer where you live right now? For Earth Day, you can become a citizen scientist by using an app to track air pollution in yo...
370 - What's the Difference Between Germs, Bacteria, and Viruses?
What’s the difference between a germ, a virus, and bacteria? Let's put these different disease-causing objects under a microscope and find out.