Measles: How Worried Should We Be?
Thu, 24 Apr 2025
Measles is spreading in the U.S., with hundreds of cases across more than 20 states. And tons of peo...
Telepathy: Is It For Real?
Thu, 17 Apr 2025
A popular podcast called The Telepathy Tapes claims that telepathy is real — and tons of people ar...
Fluoride: Is Your Water Safe?
Thu, 10 Apr 2025
The battle over whether we should be putting fluoride in our water has reached fever pitch. We’ve ...
ADHD: Do We All Have It?
Thu, 03 Apr 2025
ADHD is all over the internet, with people saying that it’s way different than we thought it was —...
Squirting: What's Really Happening?!
Thu, 27 Mar 2025
[Video available on Spotify] To start off the new season we’re getting into the science of one of...
We're Back to Science Harder Than Ever
Thu, 20 Mar 2025
Have you been missing your weekly dose of science?? Well, we've got good news: Science Vs is BACK ne...
The War on Science
Wed, 19 Feb 2025
U.S. science is in turmoil. Amid agency firings and confusion over federal funding, researchers are ...
Narcissists: Are We Surrounded?
Thu, 19 Dec 2024
The internet tells us that narcissists are everywhere — and that the problem is only getting worse...
The Real Anti-inflammatory Diet
Thu, 12 Dec 2024
People say that lowering inflammation is the key to boosting your mental and physical health. And th...
When Vaginas Attack!
Thu, 05 Dec 2024
[VIDEO available on Spotify.] Imagine a vagina. You might be thinking of a passive tube, patiently w...
How a Nuclear Lab Helped Catch a Serial Killer
Thu, 28 Nov 2024
It’s the 1990s at a medical center in California, and patients are dying. At first, this doesn’t...
The Pill: Is It Messing Up Our Brain and Body?
Thu, 21 Nov 2024
For decades, taking the birth control pill to prevent pregnancy was seen as a no-brainer. But lately...
Lucid Dreaming: The Bonkers World Inside Our Minds
Thu, 14 Nov 2024
Some people can control their dreams. While they're fast asleep: they fly, create new worlds, live o...
Aphantasia: Missing the Mind's Eye
Thu, 07 Nov 2024
This week's episode comes to us from our friends at Radiolab! Close your eyes and imagine a red appl...
Fiber: The Secret to a Healthier, Happier You?
Thu, 31 Oct 2024
We hear about fiber as the main ingredient for a good poo. But we’re starting to hear that it’s ...
Ghosts: The Science of Spooky Encounters
Thu, 24 Oct 2024
About 40 percent of Americans believe in ghosts, and one in five even say they've had an encounter w...
Climate Crisis: We're Solving It?!
Mon, 21 Oct 2024
The climate is a mess. It's hot. There's fires, floods, hurricanes — and we may have even crossed ...
Menopause: The Myths and the Madness
Thu, 17 Oct 2024
Something is coming for 4 billion people on this planet, and if you've been watching the news — it...
The Keto Diet: Can It Supercharge Your Brain and Body?
Thu, 10 Oct 2024
The ketogenic diet has been booming for years, with people swearing that it boosts their brainpower ...
Microplastics: How Worried Should You Be?
Thu, 03 Oct 2024
Microplastics have been turning up in our blood, our lungs, and even our balls! But exactly what are...
The Time the Protesters Won
Thu, 26 Sep 2024
A group of teenagers and college kids were fed up with the lousy healthcare in their New York neighb...
Have We Crossed the Climate Tipping Point?
Thu, 19 Sep 2024
Headlines are screaming that the world is about to reach a climate tipping point, which feels like a...
Social Media: Is It Rotting Your Brain?
Thu, 12 Sep 2024
Social media. Many of us don’t feel very good when we’re on it, and yet we sometimes spend hours...
Coming Up On Science Vs [VIDEO]
Thu, 05 Sep 2024
We will be BACK with brand-new episodes in just one week! Join us for pun-packed science romps on mi...
Ask Wendy Anything: Behind the Scenes at Science Vs [VIDEO]
Thu, 08 Aug 2024
We asked you all: Do you have questions for Wendy and the Science Vs team? And oh boy, did you have ...
When the Olympics Wants You to Take Drugs
Thu, 01 Aug 2024
Since the beginning of women’s sports, there has been a struggle over who qualifies for the women’...
Hydration: Are You Drinking Enough Water?
Thu, 25 Jul 2024
[REBROADCAST] Celebs and wellness blogs treat water like a magic elixir that will make us the most a...
Mind-Blowing Orgasms: Does the Male G-Spot Exist?
Thu, 20 Jun 2024
We’re hearing stories of people having amazing, cosmic orgasms. So what buttons are they pressing ...
Protein: Are You Getting Enough?
Thu, 13 Jun 2024
Protein influencers are big right now, telling us that we're probably missing out on the protein we ...
Introducing The Journal: Trillion Dollar Shot
Tue, 11 Jun 2024
Today we’re presenting Trillion Dollar Shot, a new series that explores the business story behind ...
Trans Kids’ Healthcare: Are We Getting It Wrong?
Thu, 06 Jun 2024
Health care for trans kids has been in the spotlight, with battles over what the science says and to...
The Great Dinosaur Smashup
Thu, 30 May 2024
More than 150 years ago, just before dino-mania struck, New York City was supposed to get a majestic...
The Abortion Pill: How Dangerous Is It Really?
Thu, 23 May 2024
The Abortion Pill is now the most common way to have an abortion in the US. Yet what exactly happens...
What the Hell Is at the Edge of Space?
Thu, 16 May 2024
With the powers of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists discovered some super weird things in ...
Heartbreak: Why It Feels So Achy Breaky
Thu, 09 May 2024
Getting your heart broken sucks — and for some of us, it even feels physically painful. So why doe...
Tig Notaro Shares Her Favorite Jokes
Tue, 07 May 2024
Comedian Tig Notaro, who just released her fifth comedy special, "Hello Again," joins us for a chat ...
The Funniest Joke in the World
Thu, 02 May 2024
If you Google "The Funniest Joke in the World," you'll be very disappointed. The internet might serv...
Wendy Talks About Her Pyromaniac Past — and More [Video]
Thu, 25 Apr 2024
[Video available on Spotify] Wendy and emma chamberlain of the Anything Goes podcast sit down for a ...
Hormone Balancing: Should You Try It?
Thu, 18 Apr 2024
Tons of us are feeling run-down and crummy and are wondering: What can we do about it? Well, lots of...
Murder in the Ivory Tower
Thu, 11 Apr 2024
It’s 1849, and a gruesome murder has just happened at Harvard. As body parts turn up, the science ...
Cannabis: I Get High With a Little Help From … Science
Thu, 04 Apr 2024
Weed has gone mainstream, and it's been rebranded as a wellness drug that you can customize to fit y...
Intermittent Fasting: Hungry for Facts?
Thu, 28 Mar 2024
Fasting diets are going bonkers right now — some tech bros are down to one meal a day! And health-...
Dreams: What Could They Mean?
Thu, 21 Mar 2024
Dreaming might be the weirdest thing that our brains do. Out of thin air we may see ourselves battli...
Ozempic: Is It Scarier Than We Thought?
Thu, 14 Mar 2024
We looked at this class of weight loss drugs a year ago, and they've only gotten more popular — an...
Anti-Aging: Can We Be Forever Young?
Thu, 07 Mar 2024
We’ve been hunting for the fountain of youth for millennia, but if you go online, it looks like th...
Get Ready for Our BIGGEST SEASON EVER
Thu, 29 Feb 2024
Strap in, nerds: New Science Vs episodes are coming! This season, we’re diving into the science of...
Ayahuasca: WTF is up with DMT?
Thu, 14 Dec 2023
DMT might be the weirdest drug in the already weird world of psychedelics. It’s the active ingredi...
Personality Tests: Who Are You Really?
Thu, 07 Dec 2023
Personality tests like the MBTI are all over the internet, the workplace, and dating apps — but so...
Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?
Thu, 30 Nov 2023
Caffeine is a drug that tons of us take every day. But is that a bad thing? And if we get it in the ...
MDMA: Can Ecstasy Cure Your Agony?
Thu, 23 Nov 2023
Molly, ecstasy, MDMA: whatever you call it, this drug is blowing up. Some say MDMA can be a legitima...
Pssst!! The Science of Gossip
Thu, 16 Nov 2023
We all know gossip can be bad — but some of us still can’t seem to get enough of it. So today we...
When Your Eyes See Lies
Thu, 09 Nov 2023
A dead man with a bitten penis and perplexing DNA, a terrifying syndrome where everything around you...
Sleep: How Do We Get More?
Thu, 02 Nov 2023
Not sleeping enough turning you into a monster? In one of our most popular episodes, we bring you th...
Seed Oils: Is Your Canola Oil Killing You?
Thu, 26 Oct 2023
We’ve been told that foods like butter and bacon are bad for us — because they're packed with sa...
UFOs: The Truth Is Right Here
Thu, 19 Oct 2023
A whistleblower claims that the U.S. government is covering up what it knows about aliens on Earth, ...
Andrew Huberman on Supplements, the Covid Lab Leak Theory and more
Thu, 12 Oct 2023
Andrew Huberman is a skate punk turned neuroscientist, and he hosts one of the most popular podcasts...
Self-Care: Can You Hack Your Mood?
Thu, 05 Oct 2023
Can plunging into an ice bath make us feel happier? What about gratitude journaling? We’re digging...
Why Fossil Nerds Are Pissed Right Now
Thu, 28 Sep 2023
The smash hit Netflix documentary “Unknown: Cave of Bones” has kicked off an all-out science bra...
Vaping: Is It Really That Bad?
Thu, 21 Sep 2023
More and more people are puffing on vapes — but some governments are making moves to ban them. So ...
Breathwork: A Bunch of Hot Air?
Thu, 14 Sep 2023
The latest hot new trend is: breathing. Yeah, that’s right — there are claims that so-called bre...
We're Back! And Boldly Going Where We've Never Gone Before
Thu, 07 Sep 2023
Brand-new episodes will drop starting next week! Stay tuned for science deep dives on breathing and ...
The Best Ever Episode of Science Vs
Thu, 24 Aug 2023
This week – our episode that you voted as our BEST wild card episode!! You’ll have to listen to ...
Orgasms: Your Favorite Sex Episode!
Thu, 17 Aug 2023
Here’s the episode you picked as our best sex and sexual health episode: Orgasms! There’s this i...
Exercise: Your Favorite Wellness Episode!
Thu, 10 Aug 2023
Here’s the episode you voted as our best wellness episode: Exercise! Lots of people hit the gym to...
Magic Mushrooms: Your Favorite Drugs Episode!
Thu, 03 Aug 2023
Here’s the episode you voted as our best drug episode: Magic Mushrooms! People are saying that shr...
Behind the Scenes of ‘Oppenheimer’
Thu, 27 Jul 2023
Today we're going behind the scenes of Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film “Oppenheimer.” Profe...
How Bats Break Science
Thu, 20 Jul 2023
Many bats can live a bizarrely long time, and brush off viruses that kill people. How do they do it ...
Sex Drive: The Dirrrrrrty Science
Thu, 29 Jun 2023
Tons of people struggle to get revved up about sex. It can mess with their relationships and how the...
Who Killed Affordable Housing?
Thu, 22 Jun 2023
Housing has gotten SO expensive — for many of us, buying something seems totally out of reach. And...
Gluten: Should You Give It Up?
Thu, 15 Jun 2023
Going gluten-free is all the rage — we hear it’s the secret hack to being more healthy, even if ...
AI: Is It Out Of Control?
Thu, 08 Jun 2023
Artificial Intelligence seems more human-like and capable than ever before — but how did it get so...
Blue Balls: A Ball-Faced Lie?
Thu, 01 Jun 2023
We join forces with Sarah Marshall from You’re Wrong About to dive into a question for the ages: B...
The Dentist: Toss the Floss? Flush the Brush?
Thu, 25 May 2023
The dentist tells us to floss, brush, avoid certain food and drinks ... but what actually matters wh...
Skin Care: Is Anti-Aging a Scam?
Thu, 18 May 2023
When it comes to keeping our skin looking younger, what works? Retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C? ...
Did We Predict the Pandemic?
Thu, 11 May 2023
Just two months before Covid-19 broke out, we made a fictional pandemic episode that was like “Con...
I’ll Be Dammed: Beavers Fighting Climate Change
Thu, 04 May 2023
Today, we give a dam about beavers. These busy rodents don’t just chill and go with the flow — i...
Ketamine: How Special is Special K?
Thu, 27 Apr 2023
For years, ketamine has been thought of mostly as a horse tranquilizer — or a street drug that put...
Pit Bulls: Bad to the Bone?
Thu, 20 Apr 2023
Pit bulls have a dark reputation. And some people say the science backs this up: that they bite peop...
Superbugs: Apocalypse … Now?
Thu, 13 Apr 2023
Imagine getting an infection, going to the doctor, and having no little pill to make you better. Wel...
Hangovers: What Really Helps?
Thu, 06 Apr 2023
What actually cures a hangover? Water? Crushed up Advil? Maybe a burger, fries and a Diet Coke? We w...
Alcohol: Time to Put a Cork in It?
Thu, 30 Mar 2023
For decades we’ve been yanked around over alcohol: one day it’s actually good for us, the next d...
Weight Loss Meds: Is Ozempic a Miracle Drug?
Thu, 23 Mar 2023
People say drugs like Ozempic are helping them lose tons of weight. But are these drugs really all t...
Nerds, Assemble! Science Vs Is Back
Thu, 16 Mar 2023
We’ve got the goods on weight loss drugs, ketamine, pit bulls, skincare and more! Come for the sci...
Listen to Science Vs in Spanish!
Thu, 09 Feb 2023
Science Vs has gone bilingual! La Ciencia Vs is the Spanish-language version of the show, and today ...
Adderall: What's It Doing to Your Brain?
Fri, 09 Dec 2022
There’s an Adderall shortage across the U.S., and it’s causing huge problems for people with ADH...
When Science and Superstitions Collide
Fri, 02 Dec 2022
This is the THIRTEENTH season of the show! So we’re diving into stories about superstitions and lu...
Hypnosis: Does It Really Work?
Thu, 17 Nov 2022
What is hypnosis? Is it mind control? Are some people just faking? We’re revisiting this episode i...
Deodorant: Is It Dangerous?
Thu, 10 Nov 2022
Today, we’re diving into your armpits! We’ll find out why some of us are so freaking smelly. And...
The Male Pill: When Is It Coming?
Thu, 03 Nov 2022
A male birth control pill has been this big tease for decades. And today, with the overturning of Ro...
The Mystery of the Man Who Died Twice
Thu, 20 Oct 2022
A dead body turns up with a stolen identity. We tell the story of how a grandmother tracked down the...
Mass Shootings: How Do We Stop Them?
Thu, 13 Oct 2022
Buffalo. Uvalde. Highland Park. These mass shootings keep happening. One side says the problem is th...
Should We Compost Human Bodies?
Thu, 06 Oct 2022
What's the greenest way to die? Some nerds are saying that our bodies should go the way of our veggi...
The Fight to Fix a Racist Medical Gadget
Thu, 22 Sep 2022
The EEG is an incredibly important medical tool — and it’s been failing Black patients for decad...
Vegans: Are They Right?
Thu, 15 Sep 2022
Do vegans have a right to be so smug? We’re finding out whether it really is better for the enviro...
Hydration: Are You Drinking Enough Water?
Thu, 08 Sep 2022
Celebs and wellness blogs treat water like a magic elixir that will make us the most attractive and ...
We're Back for Season THIRTEEN
Thu, 01 Sep 2022
There’s tons of misinformation, fads and strong opinions floating around out there — but then th...
Fauci on Monkeypox: What Went Wrong
Wed, 03 Aug 2022
We called up Dr. Anthony Fauci to talk about monkeypox. We wanted to know — what’s the deal with...
Monkeypox: What's Going On?
Tue, 02 Aug 2022
Monkeypox has been spreading around the world. So … what exactly is this disease? How worried shou...
Abortion: The Science and the Supreme Court
Thu, 30 Jun 2022
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. And in their opinion, we found a lot of sc...
Nightmare on Science Street
Thu, 09 Jun 2022
Today, we’re sharing a collection of spooky science stories. You’ll hear about a nightmare in th...
Placebo: Can the Mind Cure You?
Thu, 02 Jun 2022
[REBROADCAST] Could fake medicine actually take away your pain or treat a disease? We dig into the s...
A Mystery in the Air
Thu, 26 May 2022
When a little girl, Ella Kissi-Debrah, suddenly got sick and landed in the hospital, doctors were st...
ASMR: How Whispering Hijacks the Brain
Thu, 12 May 2022
ASMR is huge. People say these videos of someone whispering or making soft sounds can make them feel...
Serial Killers: The Mind of a Murderer
Thu, 05 May 2022
[REBROADCAST] What makes a serial killer? What drives them to kill again and again? To find out the ...
Ultra-Processed Foods: A Load of Baloney?
Thu, 28 Apr 2022
We hear over and over that ultra-processed food is bad for us. But is there actually something funky...
Ivermectin: The Story of a Wonder Drug
Thu, 21 Apr 2022
Today, we’re digging into the weird and wooly world of ivermectin. When promising papers came out ...
Spotify and Misinformation: An Update!
Fri, 15 Apr 2022
Today on the show an update about our push to get Spotify to do more to stop misinformation spreadin...
The Abortion Underground
Thu, 07 Apr 2022
REBROADCAST. The Supreme Court is set to rule on a major abortion case this year, and the court coul...
Ukrainian War: Fighting Russia's Propaganda Machine
Tue, 29 Mar 2022
Russia attacked Ukraine more than a month ago — and the war has raged ever since. From the beginni...
Ancient Aliens: Who Really Built the Pyramids?
Thu, 24 Mar 2022
[REBROADCAST] Is it possible that the pyramids were built with a helping hand ... from aliens? If no...
Trans Kids: The Misinformation Battle
Fri, 18 Mar 2022
U.S. politicians are trying to keep trans kids from getting the medical care they need to transition...
Here’s What’s Coming Up!
Fri, 11 Mar 2022
There’s tons of misinformation, fads and strong opinions floating around out there — but then th...
Misinformation: What Should Our Tech Overlords Do?
Fri, 25 Feb 2022
After Joe Rogan was accused of spreading Covid-19 vaccine misinformation on his podcast, Spotify lan...
Joe Rogan: The Malone Interview
Sat, 05 Feb 2022
Recently, Joe Rogan aired an interview that scientists are up in arms about — with Dr. Robert Malo...
The Moon: Why Are We Really Going Back?
Fri, 10 Dec 2021
The moon race is back! Countries — and billionaires — are lining up to take a crack at returning...
Fauci on How This Ends
Sat, 04 Dec 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci sits down with us to talk about omicron, how this pandemic actually ends — and h...
Omicron: Do You Need to Freak Out?
Fri, 03 Dec 2021
Welp, the pandemic has served up yet another poop sandwich, and it’s called omicron. This variant ...
Presenting Gastropod: How Chilis Conquered the World
Thu, 25 Nov 2021
This week we’ve got a spicy treat for you: a show called Gastropod. Hosts Nicola Twilley and Cynth...
Jurassic Park: Hold On to Your Butts
Thu, 18 Nov 2021
Could our dreams for a real Jurassic Park come true? Headlines say scientists are closer than ever t...
Killer Asteroids: NASA Strikes Back
Thu, 11 Nov 2021
[REBROADCAST] Asteroids! In just two weeks, NASA plans to launch a first-of-its-kind mission to try ...
Monkey Say What? LEOPARD!!
Thu, 04 Nov 2021
Science isn’t always dressed up in fancy lab coats and goggles — sometimes it goes undercover! I...
Chronic Pain: Can Our Brains Fix It?
Thu, 28 Oct 2021
People with chronic pain often struggle with it for years while doctors scour their bodies for the c...
The Legendary Condom Queen
Thu, 21 Oct 2021
Dr. Joycelyn Elders is a total badass. She grew up in poverty in rural Arkansas, but in 1993 she ros...
Burnout: Can We Fix Work?
Thu, 14 Oct 2021
Work can really suck. And for lots of us, burnout has been feeling especially terrible. This week, w...
Blue Balls: You're Wrong About Them
Thu, 07 Oct 2021
We join forces with Sarah Marshall from You’re Wrong About to dive into a question for the ages: B...
True Love: Is Monogamy Unnatural?
Thu, 30 Sep 2021
[REBROADCAST] Are humans built for monogamy? Or is the idea of having one partner forever just a myt...
The Secret World of Plants
Tue, 28 Sep 2021
Plants aren’t just sitting around looking cute; they’re doing all sorts of stuff, like defending...
Childbirth: Are Doctors Messing It Up?
Thu, 23 Sep 2021
Childbirth seems to be getting more and more medicalized, with C-sections and other interventions ou...
Weight: Is Fat Unhealthy?
Thu, 16 Sep 2021
We’re hearing nonstop chatter about the “quarantine 15.” But should we really care if we put o...
Therapy: Does It Work?
Thu, 09 Sep 2021
Our mental health has taken a turn for the worse the past couple of years. We keep hearing that ther...
Let’s Do Science Again!!
Thu, 02 Sep 2021
There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Season 11 starts Sep...
Presenting Not Past It: The Vax That Got Axed
Thu, 19 Aug 2021
Today, we’re sharing an episode of a show we love: Not Past It. Did you know there was almos...
The Delta Variant: How Bad Is It?
Tue, 10 Aug 2021
This delta variant of the coronavirus seems to really be screwing us over. Cases are spiking in the ...
Pet Food: How Fancy Should They Feast?
Thu, 27 May 2021
There are soooo many options for what to feed your dog or cat, from the cheap stuff at the supermark...
The G Spot: Come Again?
Thu, 20 May 2021
We’re heading into a big summer, with more places and — ahem — people opening up. So we’re r...
Back From the Dead
Fri, 14 May 2021
Today we're telling tales that push life to the ultimate limit. We're bringing things back from the ...
A Seedy, Late-Night Adventure
Thu, 06 May 2021
Today, under cover of darkness, we're hunting buried treasure. This is a wild romp through one of th...
Screens: Are They Ruining Our Brains and Mental Health and Eyes and
Thu, 29 Apr 2021
Tons of us are spending waaaayyy more time using screens these days — and it’s freaking us out. ...
Havana Syndrome: Did a Secret Weapon Fry Diplomats' Brains?
Thu, 22 Apr 2021
Back in 2016, U.S. Embassy workers in Cuba were struck by a mysterious noise, followed by symptoms l...
How Science Created Morons
Thu, 08 Apr 2021
REBROADCAST: This episode looks at how one of the worst ideas in science got a big push from a bad s...
Coronavirus: How Scary Are the Variants?
Fri, 02 Apr 2021
UPDATE 4/13/21: Since this episode published, there has been some evidence linking the Johnson & Joh...
Snake Bite Cures: Weasels, Pigeons, Pee
Tue, 30 Mar 2021
Venomous snakes entranced medieval Europe. And although bites were rare, this didn’t stop 14th cen...
SNAKES!!!
Thu, 25 Mar 2021
Snake venom is a wily beast. It's packed with hundreds of toxins that can attack our blood vessels, ...
UFOs: Through the Wormhole Again
Thu, 18 Mar 2021
In 2017, a weird-looking space object called ʻOumuamua whipped past our sun. Now a Harvard scientis...
Brood X: A Drug-fueled Cicada Orgy
Fri, 12 Mar 2021
Parts of the U.S. are about to see a surge of cicadas — masses of flying bugs, popping up all over...
Immune Boosting: Is It a Bust?
Fri, 05 Mar 2021
Internet influencers have been pushing “immune boosters” during the pandemic — claiming they’...
Bringing the Science Back, Baby!
Thu, 25 Feb 2021
There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Season 10 starts Mar...
Butterflies Are Secret Monsters
Thu, 28 Jan 2021
Butterflies flit through life as the pride and joy of the insect world. But when we saw photos of bu...
Presenting Coronavirus: Fact Vs. Fiction
Thu, 21 Jan 2021
This week, we’re sharing an episode of Coronavirus: Fact Vs. Fiction, a podcast from CNN. This epi...
Magic Mushrooms: Trip Through the Science
Thu, 10 Dec 2020
Magic mushrooms have hit the headlines, with people saying that shrooms cured their depression and a...
Coronavirus: More Scared or Less Scared?
Mon, 07 Dec 2020
MINI EPISODE! Tons of new science means fresh answers on a few things that really freaked us out at ...
Coronavirus: Shots! Shots! Shots!
Thu, 03 Dec 2020
There’s a ton of hoopla over these new coronavirus vaccines. But given that they’ve been produce...
Did the CIA do it? Part II
Thu, 19 Nov 2020
When a deadly pig virus hit Cuba in 1971, some claimed the CIA was behind it all. But could it be tr...
Did the CIA Plant a Virus in Cuba?
Fri, 13 Nov 2020
When the Cuban government rounded up and killed thousands of pigs in 1971, people were angry and con...
Platypuses Get a Glow Up
Thu, 05 Nov 2020
The eccentric platypus has always turned heads, and now it’s got something else up its sleeve. We ...
Reparations: How Could It Work?
Fri, 30 Oct 2020
The idea of paying Black Americans reparations for slavery has been around for a long time, but it’...
Supervolcanoes: Is Yellowstone Gonna Blow?
Thu, 22 Oct 2020
We keep hearing that a Yellowstone supervolcano could blow at any moment — and possibly wipe us al...
Science Vs Presents: How to Save a Planet
Thu, 15 Oct 2020
We’re sharing another great Gimlet show, How to Save a Planet. On this episode: It started with st...
Lab-Grown Meat: We Grill It
Thu, 08 Oct 2020
Silicon Valley seems to be constantly pumping out "solutions" to fix our broken food system. The lat...
Hunting an Invisible Killer
Fri, 02 Oct 2020
An adventuring Swedish doctor takes on a decades-long medical mystery: What exactly was the 1918 flu...
Orgasms: Come for the Science
Fri, 25 Sep 2020
There’s this idea that the female orgasm is a complicated riddle, but for a man with a penis, gett...
SHARKS!!! Sink Your Teeth in Again
Thu, 10 Sep 2020
NOTE: This episode first published 6/13/19. Are sharks the super-predators we think they are? Or hav...
Astrology: Are Geminis the Worst?
Thu, 03 Sep 2020
For centuries, people have been looking to the stars to tell us all kinds of things — what our fut...
Mini Mask Update
Tue, 01 Sep 2020
MASKS. Since the early days of the pandemic, it’s been tough to nail down how much they can really...
Probiotics: Scam or Superfood?
Thu, 27 Aug 2020
Kombucha, kefir and other probiotic-crammed foods are marketed as charmers of the human microbiome —...
New Season! Time for Non-Coronavirus Content
Thu, 20 Aug 2020
Science Vs is back August 27th. Fact you next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
Coronavirus: Are We Back Where We Started?
Fri, 03 Jul 2020
We’re six months into this coronavirus pandemic, which has shaken the world and stunned scientists...
Fauci! He’s Back!
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, member of ...
Coronavirus: Dude, Where's My Vaccine?
Fri, 19 Jun 2020
All through the pandemic, we’ve been waiting for a possible silver bullet: a vaccine. How soon cou...
Coronavirus: Weirdest Virus Ever?
Fri, 12 Jun 2020
The coronavirus seems to cause symptoms all over our body, from nose to toes. So how can one virus d...
Coronavirus: Protesting in a Pandemic
Tue, 09 Jun 2020
Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the global protest movement sparked by the death of Geor...
Coronavirus: Labs Go Dark
Fri, 29 May 2020
Life is on pause for many of us right now. But scientists don’t want to stop! Researchers have had...
Coronavirus: Sweden Goes Rogue
Fri, 22 May 2020
While a lot of countries have put in strict measures, like lockdowns, to stop the coronavirus, there...
Coronavirus: The Mask Wars
Fri, 15 May 2020
When the pandemic started, we were told not to bother with masks. But now it looks like experts have...
Coronavirus: Pregnant in a Pandemic
Fri, 08 May 2020
How bad is the coronavirus for pregnant people and babies? Producer Meryl Horn is digging into this ...
Coronavirus: Was It Made In a Lab?
Fri, 24 Apr 2020
Since the outbreak started, we’ve been hearing that this coronavirus came from bats before jumping...
Working Out From Home — in 7 Minutes? [Rebroadcast]
Mon, 20 Apr 2020
Social distancing has made it harder for a lot of us to get exercise. So we’re revisiting our epis...
Coronavirus: Can You Get It Twice?
Fri, 17 Apr 2020
We’re hearing stories of people getting this coronavirus, recovering, and then getting it again. S...
Coronavirus: When Will It End?
Fri, 10 Apr 2020
In the U.S. we've been social distancing for a few weeks now, and the question on everyone’s mind ...
Coronavirus: Should I Disinfect EVERYTHING?
Tue, 07 Apr 2020
There are reports that the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for days. So how careful should we be...
Coronavirus: Is It Airborne?
Fri, 03 Apr 2020
We’re hearing conflicting things about how the coronavirus spreads — is it through coughs and sn...
Coronavirus: Are Young People Safe?
Tue, 31 Mar 2020
From the early days of this coronavirus outbreak, it’s looked like the disease is way worse for ol...
Coronavirus: Will Chloroquine Save Us?
Fri, 27 Mar 2020
President Trump says an anti-malarial drug could be a “gift from god” for treating Covid-19. Doe...
Coronavirus: Unmasking the Facts and Ibuprofen Scares
Tue, 24 Mar 2020
Healthcare workers across the U.S. are saying they don’t have enough protective gear to keep them ...
Coronavirus: A Story From the Front Lines
Thu, 19 Mar 2020
As Covid-19 cases rise in the U.S., healthcare workers are already struggling to keep up. In a diffe...
Coronavirus: What Should You Do Now?
Mon, 16 Mar 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is here, and in the U.S., this is starting to get very real. We talk to peo...
More Science Vs Coming Right Up
Thu, 12 Mar 2020
Science Vs is back March 19th. Fact you next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...
Coronavirus: Fears and Facts
Wed, 04 Mar 2020
The new coronavirus continues to spread around the world, and it’s already killed several people i...
Coronavirus Outbreak: How Scared Should You Be?
Fri, 31 Jan 2020
A new virus showed up in China late last year, and it’s making its way to other countries too. So ...
How to Stop A Killer Asteroid
Fri, 20 Dec 2019
This week — asteroids. Could a space rock really slam into us and destroy the world? And if we did...
Healthcare: How Do We Fix It?
Fri, 13 Dec 2019
American healthcare has big problems. Some say the solution is Medicare For All: one government plan...
Ants: Tales from the Underground
Thu, 05 Dec 2019
On today’s show, three f-ant-astic stories of survival, friendship and courage about some of the m...
Police Shootings: The Data and the Damage Done
Fri, 22 Nov 2019
It’s been five years since the high profile shootings of several unarmed black teenagers and men l...
When a Hospital becomes The Butcher Shop
Fri, 15 Nov 2019
A group of teenagers and college kids were fed up with the lousy healthcare in their neighborhood. S...
Sleep: All Aboard the Snooze Cruise!
Fri, 08 Nov 2019
Not sleeping enough turning you into a monster? Cutting-edge science helps us understand why. And we...
5G: Welcome to the Revolution?
Thu, 31 Oct 2019
How should we feel about 5G? Is it a breakthrough technology that will revolutionize our world, or i...
Vaping: What the Hell is Going On?!
Fri, 25 Oct 2019
Vaping is all the rage in the U.S., but young people are turning up at hospitals barely able to brea...
PANDEMIC!!!
Fri, 11 Oct 2019
If a pandemic ripped across the world, how bad would it really get? You’ve heard the horror storie...
Heartbreak: Why does it hurt so bad?
Thu, 03 Oct 2019
We’ve all been dumped, but some of us have felt physically sick from a heartbreak -- sometimes rea...
Football: Should We Cancel It?
Fri, 27 Sep 2019
America’s favorite pastime seems to be plagued by tragedy. Former NFL players have come forward to...
Exercise: Fat Buster or Belly Flop?
Thu, 19 Sep 2019
Lots of people hit the gym to shed unwanted pounds, but they don’t always see results on the scale...
Let's...science...AGAIN!
Thu, 12 Sep 2019
Science Vs is back September 19th. Fact you next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...
The Dinosaur Explosion
Thu, 08 Aug 2019
Why are there so many new, weird dinosaurs? Friend of the show Joel Werner goes down the rabbit hole...
How Bad Science Killed A President
Thu, 06 Jun 2019
When President Garfield was shot by an assassin in 1881, the best and brightest in medicine and scie...
Peanuts: Public Enemy No. 1?
Thu, 30 May 2019
Peanut allergy in children has been on the rise since the 1990s. What’s to blame? We find a clue i...
The Abortion Underground
Thu, 23 May 2019
Before Roe v. Wade, there were thousands of illegal abortions in the U.S. every year. Some of these ...
Placebo: Can the Mind Cure You?
Thu, 09 May 2019
Could fake medicine actually take away your pain or treat a disease? We dig into the science of plac...
Vaccines: Time for a Booster Shot [Rebroadcast]
Thu, 02 May 2019
Autism, seizures, and overloaded immune systems - could these really be side effects of vaccines? Fr...
Fertility Cliff: Is It Real?
Thu, 25 Apr 2019
We’re often told to have kids quickly, before our biological clock strikes and we fall off the fer...
Race: Can We See It In Our DNA?
Fri, 19 Apr 2019
For decades, we've heard that race is a social and cultural idea — not scientific. But with the ch...
DNA Kits: Can You Trust Them?
Fri, 12 Apr 2019
Millions of people are sending off their DNA to companies like Ancestry.com and 23andme to find out ...
Pets on Planes: Are Emotional Support Animals Legit?
Thu, 04 Apr 2019
Can petting Fluffy or Fido help with anxiety on planes? Or are emotional support animals a load of c...
Fasting Diets: What's the Skinny?
Fri, 29 Mar 2019
Fasting diets are all the rage right now and health-fluencers claim it can help you lose weight, liv...
Science's Rotten Underbelly
Fri, 22 Mar 2019
During a golden age for scientific progress, a group of scientists were given free rein to do whatev...
Alcohol: A Pour Decision?
Fri, 15 Mar 2019
For decades we’ve been told that having a glass or two of wine is good for you. But recently there...
We're back next week!
Thu, 07 Mar 2019
Season 6 is on it's way, fellow nerds! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...
The Mystery of the Man Who Died Twice
Thu, 20 Dec 2018
A dead body turns up with a stolen identity. This week, we tell the story of how a grandmother track...
The Science Of Being Transgender
Thu, 13 Dec 2018
Recently we’ve been hearing a lot about transgender identity. That made us wonder… what makes us...
The Wank Worm: How NASA Got Hacked
Thu, 06 Dec 2018
Before WikiLeaks, there was the Wank Worm. In this week’s episode, we tell you the story of how Au...
Ancient Aliens: Who Really Built the Pyramids?
Thu, 29 Nov 2018
Is it possible that the pyramids were built with a helping hand... from aliens? If not, how on Earth...
7 Minute Workout: Fit or Fad?
Wed, 21 Nov 2018
The 7 Minute Workout is all the rage, but can working out for just 7 minutes really do anything? To ...
CBD: Weed Wonder Drug?
Thu, 15 Nov 2018
CBD mania is in full swing and people are using it for just about anything, but what is this chemica...
Election Special: Immigration
Fri, 02 Nov 2018
In the final installment of our election series, we tackle immigration: the #1 concern of Americans ...
Election Special: Climate Change
Thu, 01 Nov 2018
Recently we've been warned that climate change is scarier than ever -- and that we are to blame. Yet...
Election Special: Abortion
Wed, 31 Oct 2018
The battle over abortion is fast becoming one of the key issues of the midterm election. And in this...
Election Special: Gun Violence
Tue, 30 Oct 2018
After 11 people were shot and killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue over the weekend, mass shootings are ...
Online Dating: Can Science Find You Love?
Fri, 26 Oct 2018
Online dating can feel like drudgery… can science help you game the system? And do those matching ...
Murder Mystery: An 1850s Whodunnit
Thu, 18 Oct 2018
It’s 1849, and a gruesome murder has just happened at Harvard. As body parts turn up, the science ...
Gentrification: What's Really Happening?
Thu, 11 Oct 2018
You’ve probably heard that gentrification changes neighborhoods for the worse: first come the hips...
Soy, Almond, Oat Milks: Are They Udder Bull?
Thu, 04 Oct 2018
Moooove over, dairy milk: the alternative milk craze is here. But are they more than just a frothy f...
Vegans: Are They Right?
Thu, 27 Sep 2018
Do vegans have a right to be so smug? This week we find out whether it really is better for the envi...
Essential Oils: Science or Snake Oil?
Thu, 20 Sep 2018
Essential Oils - and their claims - are huge right now. But is it all hype, or is there something sp...
Plastics: The Final Straw?
Thu, 13 Sep 2018
We’re back! This week we tackle the War on Straws and how worried we should be about all the plast...
We Return... With A Twist.
Thu, 06 Sep 2018
Season Five of Science Vs will be in your ears next Thursday. This season we're covering plastic str...
Welcome, New Listeners!
Tue, 17 Jul 2018
We'll be back in your ears with season 5 of Science Vs in the Fall... but in the meantime, new liste...
Serial Killers: Science of the Lambs
Thu, 28 Jun 2018
What makes a serial killer? What drives them to kill again and again? To find out the truth about th...
UFOs: What the Government Covered Up
Thu, 21 Jun 2018
Could aliens actually exist? Is there any chance they’ve visited Earth already? What really happen...
Lyme Disease: How Scary Is It?
Fri, 15 Jun 2018
This week, we’re entering the Lyme Wars. We’re asking: what is Lyme disease? How do you get it? ...
Circumcision: Why Are We Doing This?
Thu, 31 May 2018
This week, we’re entering the foreskin firestorm. We’re asking: what are the risks of circumcisi...
How Science Created Morons
Fri, 25 May 2018
This week, how one of the worst ideas in science got a big push from a bad study… and intellectual...
Polar Bears: A Surprising Tail
Thu, 17 May 2018
We have this idea that polar bears are teetering on the brink of extinction. But the story isn’t t...
Scott Kelly: How A Year in Space Changes You
Thu, 03 May 2018
This week, something different. We speak to astronaut Scott Kelly, who went up to space a man and ca...
Ketogenic Diet... Is Fat Good For You?
Thu, 26 Apr 2018
People who love the ketogenic diet swear it boosts their brainpower, melts their fat, and makes them...
Nuclear War... Total Annihilation?
Thu, 19 Apr 2018
Nine countries, including North Korea, have nuclear weapons. What would happen if a nuclear bomb was...
Sex Addiction: Are They Faking It?
Thu, 05 Apr 2018
Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey are said to have it. You probably have a friend who says they have...
Opioids: Kicking America's Addiction
Thu, 29 Mar 2018
America’s got an opioid problem. So where do we go from here? What can actually help people strug...
Opioids: How America Got Hooked
Fri, 23 Mar 2018
More people in the U.S. died from opioids in 2016 than the peak year of the AIDS epidemic. So how di...
Brand New Science Vs!
Fri, 16 Mar 2018
We'll be in your ears with new episodes next week - Thursday March 22nd. Learn more about your ad ch...
Obesity - Is It Your Fault?
Thu, 14 Dec 2017
We’ve always been told to get off the couch and stop eating junk food if you want to lose weight -...
Chiropractors
Thu, 07 Dec 2017
Can they help with back pain or anything else? We talk to chiropractor Carl Cleveland III, physical ...
Birth Control - The Biggest Myths
Thu, 30 Nov 2017
Everyone’s got a myth or two about birth control they want cleared up. Like... is 'pulling out' AK...
Molly - Scary Drug or Promising Therapy?
Thu, 16 Nov 2017
Molly, Ecstasy, MDMA... whatever you want to call it, it's all the same thing. This week, we’re tu...
Balding - What Actually Works?
Thu, 09 Nov 2017
So... you’re losing your hair. Is there anything that can be done about it? And are the treatments...
The Bee-pocalypse
Thu, 02 Nov 2017
What is killing the bees? And will we have enough food to eat if the bee-pocalypse becomes worse? We...
Vitamins & Supplements - Are They Worth It?
Thu, 19 Oct 2017
Americans spend billions of dollars on vitamins and supplements, but are they worth it? We look at t...
Bigfoot
Thu, 12 Oct 2017
All over the world people report sightings of big, hairy, human-like beasts, so could Bigfoot really...
100% Renewable Energy - Can We Do It?
Thu, 05 Oct 2017
We need to ditch fossil fuels. Can America go 100% renewable by 2050? Does the technology already ex...
The Rise of Anti-Vaxxers
Thu, 21 Sep 2017
Last week we explored the science behind vaccine safety. This week we try to understand where these ...
Vaccines - Are They Safe?
Thu, 14 Sep 2017
Autism, seizures, and overloaded immune systems. Could these really be side effects of vaccines? Thi...
Detoxing & Cleanses - Do They Work?
Thu, 07 Sep 2017
Juice cleanses, fancy foods, sweat, charcoal, and colonics-- is there a scientifically proven way to...
New Season... Coming Soon!
Thu, 31 Aug 2017
Science Vs is back in your ears next week! This season we're going to dissect the science behind det...
Artificial Sweeteners - not so sweet?
Thu, 08 Jun 2017
Low calorie, no calorie and so sweet. Artificial sweeteners just seem too good to be true. Is there ...
Nuclear Power - what are the Risks?
Thu, 01 Jun 2017
Fukushima. Chernobyl. Three Mile Island. There’s been some big nuclear accidents over the past few...
Meditation
Thu, 25 May 2017
Silicon Valley CEOs, Tibetan monks, and crunchy hippies alike describe meditation as blissful and li...
True Love
Thu, 11 May 2017
What is love? With half of first time American marriages ending in divorce by the 20th anniversary, ...
Antioxidants
Thu, 04 May 2017
Are chocolate, coffee and red wine actually good for us? Reading the news it seems that one day they...
Abortion: What You Need To Know
Thu, 27 Apr 2017
Abortion is so taboo. People don’t talk about abortions they’ve had. Doctors don’t talk about ...
GMO... OMG?
Mon, 17 Apr 2017
Science Vs peels back the label on GM foods to find out whether they’re safe to eat and what impac...
Lemmings
Thu, 06 Apr 2017
Why do four out of five dentists recommend Colgate? How many Americans really approve of Trump? This...
Ghosts
Thu, 30 Mar 2017
One third of Americans believe in ghosts, and one fifth have had a personal encounter. We go to a ha...
Climate Change... the Apocalypse?
Thu, 16 Mar 2017
Less than half of Americans think climate change is caused by humans, but scientists are sure about ...
Acne
Thu, 09 Mar 2017
Trying to get rid of acne can feel like a science experiment with your face -- so we get to the bott...
Immigration
Thu, 09 Mar 2017
We head to a farm in Alabama to find out what happened after thousands of immigrants left the state....
New season... coming soon!
Tue, 28 Feb 2017
We’ve read the studies. We’ve spoken to the experts. And now it’s time for facts. There is no ...
Antidepressants
Fri, 28 Oct 2016
There’s an intriguing body of research that suggests the power of antidepressants doesn’t come f...
DNA and the Smell of Death
Fri, 21 Oct 2016
In these cases, emerging DNA evidence and the smell of death (yes, really) pushed the boundaries of ...
Forensic Science
Fri, 07 Oct 2016
There are a slew of scientific techniques that forensic experts use to solve crimes. But how reliabl...
Zika
Fri, 30 Sep 2016
Since 2015 there have been Zika outbreaks reported in sixty countries. So, where did Zika come from?...
Hypnosis
Fri, 23 Sep 2016
This week, we explore the science of hypnosis, and take Science Vs to the edge of consciousness. In ...
The G-spot
Fri, 02 Sep 2016
Join us on a hunt for the elusive G-spot. Our guides: Prof. Beverly Whipple, who introduced America ...
Organic Food
Fri, 26 Aug 2016
People are going bonkers for organic, but what are you really getting when you buy them? Better tast...
Gun Control (Pt 2)
Fri, 12 Aug 2016
In last week’s episode, we learned that around 30,000 Americans die each year from guns. This week...
Guns
Thu, 04 Aug 2016
We find out how many times a year guns are used in self-defense, how many times they’re used to mu...
Attachment Parenting
Thu, 28 Jul 2016
Judy, a mother of two young kids, practices a demanding style of child-rearing. It’s called attach...
Fracking
Wed, 27 Jul 2016
We often hear stories about fracking that go like this: a gas company comes to a small town, starts ...
Sneak Peek
Tue, 28 Jun 2016
There are a lot of fads, a lot of strong opinions and a lot of blogs, but then there’s SCIENCE. Sc...