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Artwork for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

Popular Science
Human Composting
Cats
Natural Burial
Evolution
Goosebumps
Water
Cremation
Right-Handedness
Dogs
Yellowstone Caldera
Autonomic Nervous System
Fear Responses
New York City
Precipitation
Domestic Cats
Memory
Childhood Amnesia
Braces
Jaw Size
Storm Chasing

Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. Join our editors as they explain it all, with new episodes every other Wednesday. Submit a question for a future episode at popsci.com/ask

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes66Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesNatureScience

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Artwork for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

Latest Episodes

So many mammals have useful, interesting, or just plain CUTE tails–so why not humans? PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ sit down (without... more

Everyone knows that getting good sleep is the best thing you can do for your body, but... does it matter how you lay your head (and body)? PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... more

Note: Our show has grown a LOT recently and a ton of new listeners have joined us, so we decided it’d be fun to share one of our favorite episodes since we relaunched, which ALSO happens to be among the most-popular questions we’ve ever answered - EN... more

Dog behavior exploration incoming! PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ talk through their personal dog experiences before lolling their heads through t... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Anna Goldfield
Archaeologist, science writer, and media producer
Sapiens piece on handedness; archaeologist
Episode: Why are most people right handed?
Cyrena Arnold
Meteorologist, author, and host of the Storm Front Freaks Podcast
Atmospheric G2 (Director of Product Marketing)
Episode: Is real-life storm chasing like the movies?
Erin Welsh
Epidemiologist, host of This Podcast Will Kill You
This Podcast Will Kill You
Episode: How come only modern humans need braces?
Erin Allman-Updike
Board-certified family medicine physician, host of This Podcast Will Kill You
This Podcast Will Kill You
Episode: How come only modern humans need braces?
Les Stroud
Survival expert and creator of the survival TV genre
Discovery Channel
Episode: How fast would NYC crumble without people? Featuring 'Survivorman' Les Stroud
R.L. Stine
Bestselling author known for the Goosebumps series
Author of Goosebumps
Episode: Why do we get goosebumps? Plus: RL Stine!

Hosts

Annie Colbert
Editor-in-Chief, Popular Science; co-host on Ask Us Anything; frequent presence across episodes.
Sarah Dern
Editor/Host on Ask Us Anything; leads conversations with a focus on clear, engaging science storytelling.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 170 ratings
  • Love the new hosts!

    Annie and Sarah are so fun! I love listening to this on my quick 15 minute commute.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kyle131
    United States6 months ago
  • Loving the new hosts!

    Sarah and Annie are awesome, and love that the episodes are short and fun

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chabonic
    United Statesa year ago
  • Short Science Snippets

    Cool little podcast to listen to for answers to random questions (some simple, some more complicated). Short and sweet, so you won’t have to dedicate a lot of time to this one.

    Some people seem to have issues with the hosts’ voices, but I don’t mind them. To me, none of that takes away from the interesting tidbits they share.

    I love The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week, and this show is a bit like that, but bite-size.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    NikomiBlue
    United States3 years ago
  • Reading answers

    Love the content, but editors need to try to have natural conversations, not read answers aloud. Take the chance, guys. Could be a great show, but put away the scripts.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    PK Shep
    United States4 years ago
  • Great podcast for a quick commute!

    This podcast is the perfect length for my under 15 minute commute to work. The hosts are always positive and upbeat while teaching me a little tidbit of information. Great topics, too!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jess Boddy
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate accessible explanations without sacrificing accuracy.
Some reviews mention voices and pacing as a sticking point for a few listeners.
Listeners love the short, snackable format and the hosts' chemistry.
Fans enjoy the mix of everyday topics with solid science sourcing.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What's the most eco-friendly burial option? (ENCORE)
Q: So what is the most eco-friendly option?
Natural burial is identified as the winner, featuring no embalming, no vaults, and direct burial in soil to minimize environmental impact.
How come only modern humans need braces?
Q: What changed in our jaws over time that led to the need for braces?
Our jaws were much larger in ancient times due to constant chewing of tough, fibrous foods, which kept space for teeth; as diets softened, jaws didn't grow as much, causing a mismatch between jaw size and tooth size and leading to crowding that braces can correct.
What's the most eco-friendly burial option?
Q: So Sarah, how do today's burial options stack up? What's the most eco-friendly option?
Natural burial is the winner, with no embalming, no vaults, no metal, and direct soil placement, resulting in minimal environmental impact and no machinery-driven emissions.
Surviving freezing temperatures: How low can humans go?
Q: How exactly does hypothermia affect the body?
Mild hypothermia can make people confused, clumsy, and hungry. If body temperature continues to drop, heart rate and breathing slow, and severe cases below an 82 degree body temp can lead to body systems shutting down.
Surviving freezing temperatures: How low can humans go?
Q: Can you tell us what exactly is hypothermia?
Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing your core body temperature to drop below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

What is Ask Us Anything by Popular Science about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show delivers bite-sized, curiosity-led science questions answered by Popular Science editors. Each episode tackles practical or quirky topics—from ecology and health to everyday physics—using accessible explanations, expert sourcing, and playful banter. Short, approachable, and info-dense, it appeals to listeners who want quick, reliable science takes that fit into commutes or a lunch break, with a collaborative, upbeat host dynamic that keeps complex ideas relatable. A standout trait is its willingness to cover both everyday curiosities and timely scientific questions in a compact form, making it easy for first-time listeners to jump in and for fans to binge a few episodes at a time.

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Which podcasts are similar to Ask Us Anything by Popular Science?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ask Us Anything by Popular Science:

1. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week
2. Science Friday
3. Radiolab
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. Stuff You Should Know

How many episodes of Ask Us Anything by Popular Science are there?

Ask Us Anything by Popular Science launched 6 years ago and published 66 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Ask Us Anything by Popular Science?

Recent guests on Ask Us Anything by Popular Science include:

1. Dr. Anna Goldfield
2. Cyrena Arnold
3. Erin Welsh
4. Erin Allman-Updike
5. Les Stroud
6. R.L. Stine

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