This week on Science Rules! Bill and Corey talk through why exploring space has created so much progress for many fields of science and for humanity at large. Plus, they take listener calls about, you guessed it...SPACE! You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com [stitcherpremium.com] and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’...
When it comes to vitamins and health supplements, we’re often told that the more we take, the healthier we’ll be, but journalists Elah Feder & Annie Minoff find that the research tells a different story. This week, they join us to answer questions from callers like Olivia who asks, “Does hair, skin, and nail vitamins such as biotin actually do anything to make your hair, skin and nails healthier?” You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month...
We’re constantly being sold the "latest" and "best" when it comes to food, but Dr. Marion Nestle doesn’t believe much has changed when it comes to what we need in our diets. She joins us to talk food production and public health, plus she answers some phone calls like this one from Samuel in Indianapolis who asks, “Is it more important to be cutting out the bad things, or introducing healthier things into my diet?”. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premiu...
We use energy in its various forms everyday. But what is it? This week, it’s back to basics. Bill and Corey teach us about the fundamentals of energy and answer caller questions including one from Renee from Kansas, who asks, "How much energy is being wasted when my kids leave the lights on?"You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’...
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) often gets a bad rap, but farmers have been using them for decades to feed the world. Former CTO of Monsanto Dr. Robb Fraley who helped develop the very first genetically modified seeds joins us to discuss the science behind GMOs and he answers questions from listeners, including one from Emma who asks, “Do GMOs have the ability to alter the DNA of the organisms that consume them?”. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Pr...
It turns out being happy, or becoming happier is possible with a bit of effort. We’re joined by happiness expert and host of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos to talk about her research into human happiness and to take your calls, including one from Mike from Colorado who asks, “Is there a genetic component to happiness?”. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com [stitcherpremium.com] and...
There are teeny-tiny organisms living at the depths of our oceans, which can tell us a lot about the possibility of life beyond Earth. Real life deep sea explorer Dr. Julie Huber from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution joins us to talk about the clues the deep water gives us about alien life. And as usual, we go to the phones to answer your questions, like one from Patrick, who asks, "how close to an alien environment are our oceans near the underwater volcanic vents?" You can listen to ad...
It’s Halloween and the perfect time to get apocalyptic. Eschatology expert and Science Rules! co-host Corey S. Powell brings us his insights this week on all the scientifically plausible and not-so-plausible ways the world could end. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.' This episode is sponsored by The Great Courses ( www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIENCERULES...
Fusion Power! CEO of TAE Technologies Michl Binderbauer believes he can bring safe and sustainable fusion power to the market in a couple short decades. He, Bill, and Corey take your calls, including one from Anne who asks Bill why he’s opposed to nuclear energy. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.' This episode is sponsored by Quality Logo Products ( www.qu...
There’s a lot to human sexuality. That’s why we’re joined by comedian & actress Margaret Cho and by Dr. Lisa Rubin, associate professor of psychology at the New School for Social Research. They’ll help us piece together what makes up a person’s sexuality. Plus, Margaret Cho takes a couple listener phone calls and conquers the lightning round. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use ...
Everyone you’ll ever meet knows something you don’t. Especially if you meet John Hodgman— he’s an expert in expertise. John, Bill and Corey give expert advice to callers, including Kevin, who wants to know how he should propose to his girlfriend, and to Laurel calling from Ms. Cann’s 10th grade class, who wants an idea for her science project. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use...
Ever wonder why your skin is the color it is? Decades ago, Dr. Nina Jablonski wondered the same thing. She’s here to tell us the science behind the story of our skin and to break down some of the deeply entrenched myths about race and color. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.' This episode is sponsored by Ministry of Supply ( www.ministryofsupply.com code: ...
Check out Lost at the Smithsonian, a new podcast from Stitcher! Comedian and pop culture fanatic Aasif Mandvi gets up close and personal with the most iconic artifacts at the National Museum of American History. Join Aasif and his guests as they explore how vintage clothing, ratty furniture, and mismatched shoes transformed into Fonzie's leather jacket, Archie Bunker's chair, and Dorothy's ruby slippers and became defining symbols of American culture along the way. Lost at the Smithsonian is out...
The world population is approaching 8 billion people and it's not stopping there. So how will we address the needs of everyone on earth? Our guest this week Dr. Susan Hockfield says we out to look to biology for answers. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.'
The word “psychopath" can be thrown around rather flippantly— but what does it really mean to be a psychopath? Psychopathy expert Dr. Arielle Baskin-Sommers of Yale University joins us to explain this anti-social trait a little more clearly. And answers some caller questions, including one from Nora who calls in to ask, “Can psychopaths have real relationships?” Plus, Arielle gets “dorky” science on us with a deep dive into the role of empathy in psychopathy. You can listen to ad-free new episod...
If we're going to embrace nuclear energy, we want to understand the effects of radiation and how to handle them. And that’s just the sort of work Dr. Lauren Jackson does! She joins us to talk about how radiation affects people, and what steps are being taken to protect the public in the event of a nuclear incident. Plus, she answers some caller questions, including one from Tiffany in Detroit who wonders: Should I be as scared of nuclear radiation as I am!? You can listen to ad-free new episodes...
What's intelligence? Ashley Llorens, Chief of the Intelligent Systems Center at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, has a good idea. He joins us to talk about intelligence of the human-type and the machine-type, and what it will take for machines to get up to speed. We'll take some caller questions, including one from Ahmed, who wants to know: will AI eventually take away our motivation to learn? Plus, Ashley talks about the connection between being a hip hop artist and a machine learning enginee...
Combining consciousness and technology leaves us with some big questions. Questions that philosopher and cognitive scientist Dr. David Chalmers thinks about (someone's got to!). Caller Keith wants to know if consciousness can be manufactured, and Elizabeth asks if we will ever garner true emotion from AI? Chalmers gives his thoughts on those big questions, and experiments on Bill and Corey by kicking them in the shin! You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Prem...
Evolution doesn't want anything. You just have to be good enough to survive! Geologist, paleontologist, and author Dr. Don Prothero joins us to talk evolution, creationism and Big Foot! Plus, he gives listener Jacob some tactics to respectfully talk with creationists about evolution, and he answers Stephanie's burning question: Could mermaids have ever existed? You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherp...
To solve any problem, you must be optimistic that you can find a solution. The problem of climate change is no different. We're joined by Dr. Michael Mann of Penn State, who's been studying climate science for decades, to talk the climate reality we're dealing with and to answer some calls. Mann gives caller Jacob some strategies for conversing with climate change skeptics, and he answers Emma's critical question: What is the single most important thing we can do right now to alleviate the press...
What do you think about when you eat? When Bill Nye eats, he thinks about the science behind every bite. Expert eater and host of the Sporkful Dan Pashman joins us to talk about food and give his eater perspective to caller questions, including from Nicole who wants to know whether adding salt to water really makes it boiler faster, and from Derek who wonders what is it about ketchup that makes it a non-Newtonian fluid. Plus, Dan gives his hot take on Evan’s question— what will be the next food ...
To be scientifically literate, you first have to be literate. That’s why loving reading is so important and why LeVar Burton is here to take your questions! Matthew calls in to ask why he can’t remember anything without a story, Karina wonders how she can make reading feel less like a chore, and Giusseppe asks if listening to audiobooks is like cheating. LeVar will answer those questions and remind us that it’s reading and stories that make us human. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Sci...
To understand our role in the universe, we have to explore the cosmos. Astrophysicist and author Dr. Janna Levin guides us in exploring the origins of the cosmos, black holes, string theory, and more! Plus, Dr. Levin answers a question from Hailey, who asks how we can measure a constantly-expanding universe, and from Victoria who’s been wondering if we’re living a holographic universe. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules!, only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitche...
Language, especially English, has a lot of rules. We tackle how and why those rules apply to English with Copy Chief at Random House Benjamin Dreyer, who reminds us that while rules are important, we have to change our minds about some rules. We hear from a few callers, including Allyson who wants to know why the classic "i before e" rule barely applies. Plus, two of this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee "Octochamps" tell us how they made it twenty rounds without one misspelling. You can lis...
Nuclear weapons should be important to all of us because we've got to figure out how to not use them, and how to protect them. Caller Valentina wonders how a generation inundated with information can prioritize nukes as an issue, while caller Larry suggests that maybe the answer to this world problem is as simple as blasting them all into space. Science historian and nuclear weapons expert Dr. Alex Wellerstein joins us to talk history, address those concerns, and more. You can listen to ad-free ...
Consider this episode of Science Rules! a user manual for how you think, feel and remember, as we explore the nature of consciousness with neuroscientist Dr. Heather Berlin. This episode is sponsored by Progressive Insurance ( www.progressive.com ), ZipRecruiter ( www.ziprecruiter.com/SCIENCERULES ), The Great Courses Plus ( www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIENCERULES ). and Turo....
You've probably heard someone say, "She takes after her father." But what does that really mean? How do we inherit certain traits and characteristics? Writer Carl Zimmer joins us to answer your calls about what heredity means, how it plays out, and whether you should consider taking a DNA test. His book, She Has Her Mother's Laugh, is now available in paperback. This episode is sponsored by Turo, KiwiCo ( www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES ), and MagellanTV ( www.magellantv.com/sciencerules )....
Maybe you've heard drinking coffee will keep you alive longer, that antioxidants will slow down the aging process, or that jogging will add 10 years to your life. But is there really a secret to living longer? Whatever the secret is, we're talking about the latest research with Dr. Nir Barzilai. He joins us to discuss his research on human lifespan and longevity, and to take your calls about the mysteries of aging! This episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus ( www.thegreatcoursesplus.com...
Antibiotics have changed the world and helped keep us healthy. But, the use of broad spectrum drugs have had some serious consequences. Bacteria and disease expert Dr. Peg Riley has some big ideas about bacteria and how to deal with these consequences. She's also here to set the record straight about how often you should be washing your hands and just how safe vaccines are.
In a world of fake news and real warming, Bill Nye is back to assure you science is for everyone! Along with his co-host Corey S. Powell and Ologies host, humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward, Bill takes your questions about everything from declining insect populations to how to be a dad who combats climate change. This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter ( www.ziprecruiter.com/SCIENCERULES )....
