Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Episodes
How do squirrels find their buried nuts in winter?
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every fall, squirrels hide thousands of acorns—but how do they find them again in the winter? PopSci Editors Sarah Durn and ...
What happens to your bag after you check it in?
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Each year, roughly 500 MILLION bags are checked at U.S airports, with only 0.4% getting lost - so how DO airlines move your bags around and keep track...
What is human composting?
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A growing number of Americans are choosing to return to earth after death—literally. Green burials, and specifically human composting, is an environ...
Why do we get goosebumps? Plus: RL Stine!
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Goosebumps are a valuable tool for many animals. They keep mammals with thick fur warm by trapping air near their skin, or help make them look bigger ...
Welcome back to Ask Us Anything from Popular Science
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we dive into your weirdest, most mind-burning questions–from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never...
How do chatbots work?
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you remember chatting with SmarterChild back on AOL Instant Messenger back in the day, you know how far ChatGPT and Google Bard have come. But how ...
How is Voyager's vintage technology still flying?
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 launched back in 1977 with only a five-year mission to take a gander at Jupiter and Saturn’s rings and moons. Obviously, the...
Can you become a morning person?
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's plenty of good reasons to be a morning lark. So is it possible, or is biology totally against us wannabe early birds? -- Follow us on Twitter:...
Where’s the best place to sit in a movie theater?
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all have our preferred seats at the movies. But is there scientifically a best place to sit? Stan Horaczek has the answer. -- Follow us on Twitter:...
Are the bees still dying?
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Five or ten years ago, all we heard was "save the bees." Well, are they still dying? PopSci's Philip Kiefer has the answers—and they're surprisingly...
Why do we like pimple popping?
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's super gross, but you can't look away—why are pimple popping videos so magnetic? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hoste...
How do planes fly?
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Airplanes are massive, heavy, gigantic hunks of metal. So how do their engines keep them aloft? PopSci's Rob Verger has the details. -- Follow us on T...
What’s the best way to reheat pizza?
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cold pizza is *chefs kiss.* But what if you want to heat up that leftover 'za? Our DIY editors have done the (mostly) delicious research to tell you t...
What’s the best way to detox?
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's a lot of talk these days about the best way to "detox" your bod. But the real secret to it all was inside you all along. -- Follow us on Twitt...
Can I have a pet fox?
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Foxes are cute, seemingly cuddly, and full of personality. So can we have them as pets? PopSci's Philip Kiefer explains why the answer gets complicate...
How can I be more photogenic?
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Without the filters, without the FaceTune—just using light, camera know-how, and posing—is there a way to be more photogenic? Photography expert a...
What’s a haboob?
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ever heard of a haboob? Don't worry, PopSci's Chelsey B. Coombs explains it all—from their anatomy to their historical appearances. -- Follow us on ...
Is the megalodon shark still alive?
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Could the legendary megalodon shark still be lurking in our oceans? PopSci's Purbita Saha dishes out the details. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twi...
Why do we get wisdom teeth?
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Season 3 is HERE! First up, Lauren sinks her teeth into a real head-scratcher—why do we still get wisdom teeth if they're useless? -- Follow us on T...
Season 3: Premiering 6/21!
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Season 3 goes live on Tuesday, June 21st! We'll answer questions like why we still get wisdom teeth, are the bees still dying, and what is the scienti...
24. Did food taste better 50 years ago?
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's the season 2 finale! What did food taste like 50 years ago—and was it actually better than it is now? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitte...
23. What is a super car?
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are regular cars, there are luxury cars, and then there are.... SUPER cars. But what even is a super car? As our host explains, it can often be ...
22. What would happen if the sun went out?
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The sun is, to put it lightly, quite important to life on Earth. What would happen if it suddenly went poof? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter....
21. Can stress kill you?
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you're looking for a sign to take a vacation... this might be it. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldar...
20. Why can't we all touch our toes?
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We finally dive into the classic question—why can't we all touch our toes? And why the heck is it such a big deal? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://...
19. What does space smell like?
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sure, you can't literally smell IN space. But what if you could? Just how stinky is it out there? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopS...
18. Do we really need homework?
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Homework—we've all done it. (Or avoided it.) But is homework truly necessary for learning and becoming a fully formed human? -- Follow us on Twitter...
17. How much water should I drink a day?
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most people will tell you to drink 8 cups of water per day—but what if we told you that the answer is SO much more complicated than that? -- Get you...
16. What did dinosaurs taste like?
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Modern dinosaurs obviously taste like chicken—because they ARE chickens. But what would dinos like stegosauruses and T. rexes have tasted like back ...
15. What'd happen if I ate my computer?
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
So... yes, this is a weird question. But electronics are hard to recycle, ok? Can't we just toss them down the hatch? What would they do to our bodies...
14. How can you safely send nude photos?
09 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a pandemic world, we've gotta get a little creative in order to stay intimate. But even sending a nude can be dangerous—so how can we do it safel...
13. Can you cure a hangover?
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let's face it—hangovers suck. But what if there was a way to cure them? -- Get your tickets to Weirdest Thing's virtual live show, which is Tuesday,...
Season 2: Premiering 9/7!
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you liked season 1 of our show, then you are going to LOVE Season 2. We’ll hit your feeds on Tuesday, September 7th, with new hosts and new quest...
12. Why can't we see more colors?
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The world is teeming with colors we see everyday. But humans don’t see every color on the light spectrum. There is a whole world of color that we ca...
11. What is an allergy?
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As many of us know far too well, allergy season is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. But why do our bodies cause us such pain every spring? And...
10. What's your brain doing when you daydream?
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On long days, it's not unusual to conjure up scenes of lush beaches, serene mountaintops, or even a cozy blanket fort and a good movie. But what's hap...
9. Are there good viruses?
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For the last year and a half, we've really only had one big virus on our minds—and it's a very bad one. But are there good viruses out there? And wh...
8. Why can't we burn our trash in volcanoes?
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At first glance, a volcano’s hot lava seems ideal for incinerating our trash. But, like so many things in science, it’s so much more complicated t...
7. Can you overdose on weed?
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There aren't any recorded deaths attributed solely to marijuana—you can't really blaze yourself to death. But even so, is it possible to overdose on...
6. What causes side stitches?
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you know, you know—that jabbing, stabbing pain in your side just when you hit your groove in a work out. So what's actually going on in your body...
5. How much sleep do you actually need?
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all lead busy lives, so it's easy to skimp out on catching all of those Zs. But the question is, how much sleep can you get without sacrificing any...
4. What would happen if you fell into a black hole?
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Black holes—humungous, dense, celestial objects—suck in everything that cross their jaws (also known as their event horizons). But what if one suc...
3. Can you survive on a single food forever?
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Grocery shopping can be a chore. But what if, even hypothetically, you could survive by only consuming one food for the rest of your life? There's a w...
2. Why don't we all grow to be 10 feet tall?
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Claire is 5'4", and Jess is 6'1", and most of the world is somewhere in between. But why is it that we don't just all end up being 10 feet tall? What'...
1. Can you boost your immune system?
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the classic flu season, many of us often wonder: is it possible to boost our immune systems so they can vanquish any...
Trailer: Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Premiering Tuesday, March 16th, Ask Us Anything is a brand new podcast from the editors of Popular Science. It’s a bite-sized show that answers your...