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Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

Popular Science
Human Composting
Cats
Goosebumps
Water
Fear Responses
Autonomic Nervous System
New York City
Precipitation
Evolution
Domestic Cats
Natural Burial
Jaw Size
Braces
Emotional Reactions
Classical Music
Cold Weather
Checked Bags
Squirrels
Survivorman
Weather Forecasting

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 starting November 12th. Submit a question for a future episode at popsci.com/ask

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes54Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesNatureScience

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Artwork for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

Latest Episodes

Plumbing the depths of their childhood memories, PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ explain why almost no humans remember infancy or early childhood.

Read the Popular Science stor... more

Chomping right through the history of orthodontics and human bone development, PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ investigate why human ancestors never needed braces, but so many modern ... more

Digging deep into the fossil record, PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ investigate whether there really were venomous dinosaurs, like the Dilophosaurus depicted in the first Jurassic Park mov... more

After a lifetime of trying to put things in the right bin, we all eventually arrive at the ultimate recycling dilemma: what to do with our bodies after we die? PopSci Editors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠Laura Baisas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ go on exploration to fin... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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

Sarah Dern
Features Editor at Popular Science
Annie Colbert
Editor-in-Chief

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 146 ratings
  • Loving the new hosts!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chabonic
    United States5 months 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
  • Childish

    Really simple questions with dumbed down answers. The main host has a valley girl voice with an upward inflection at the end of every sentence so statements sound like questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Fluffin-A
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience enjoys quick commutes-friendly episodes and strong host dynamics.
Some critique the hosts' delivery but praise accessible explanations and topics.
Listeners appreciate short, bite-sized science with engaging hosts and fun energy.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
How fast would NYC crumble without people? Featuring 'Survivorman' Les Stroud
Q: Les, say you're in New York City, everyone disappeared, what would it take to survive in an abandoned New York City?
Surviving requires knowing where resources are and helping each other, rather than focusing solely on individual survival skills.

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?

This show blends concise, accessible science and trivia across a wide range of topics, from environmental and technological questions to quirky animal science and human biology. Episodes emphasize practical explanations, real-world implications, and entertaining anecdotes, often citing sources or historical context to ground the discussion. Short, digestible formats and a lively host dynamic make complex topics approachable, with a light, curiosity-driven tone that's easy to skimm for quick commutes or coffee breaks. A notable strength is turning everyday mysteries into concise, bookmarkable takeaways, sometimes featuring guest experts to broaden perspectives.

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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. Gastropod
3. Science Vs
4. Short Wave
5. Unexplainable

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

Ask Us Anything by Popular Science launched 5 years ago and published 54 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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What guests have appeared on Ask Us Anything by Popular Science?

Recent guests on Ask Us Anything by Popular Science include:

1. Erin Welsh
2. Erin Allman-Updike
3. Les Stroud
4. R.L. Stine

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