Rephonic
Artwork for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

Popular Science
Human Composting
Cats
Evolution
Goosebumps
Water
Right-Handedness
Autonomic Nervous System
Fear Responses
New York City
Precipitation
Domestic Cats
Memory
Natural Burial
Braces
Jaw Size
Childhood Amnesia
Parrots
Storm Chasing
Cold Weather
Classical Music

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 monthlyEpisodes59Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesNatureScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

Latest Episodes

We're talking hands, and that's no jive, as PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ gesture wildly through a conversation about why roughly 90% of humans have right-ha... more

It's summer and the days are just packed, as PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig deep through their memories to figure out why summers stretched seemingly forever as... more

You've seen Twister AND Twisters, now let PopSci Editors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Laura Baisas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ clue you into what storm chasing is life in the real world, through an eye-opening conversation with meteorologist, storm chaser and aut... more

There's more than a little bathroom talk in this episode, as PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and News Editor Laura Baisas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ laugh and learn all the ins, outs, and ugly secrets of airplane toilets.

Read the Popul... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

99% Invisible
99% InvisibleRoman Mars
Science Friday
Science FridayScience Friday and WNYC Studios

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

Sarah Dern
Host and editor at Popular Science; frequently leads episodes with a science-forward angle
Annie Colbert
Editor-in-chief / host with a focus on making science accessible and entertaining
Laura Baisas
News Editor and co-host associated with breaking science stories

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 149 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 States3 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 States8 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

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners note voice and script issues in certain episodes but still enjoy the content.
Hosts mix of enthusiasm and approachable delivery is appealing.
Short, bite-sized science snippets are great for quick commutes.

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

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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 delivers concise, accessible science tidbits across a wide range of topics, from archaeology and evolution to meteorology and everyday engineering. Episodes emphasize clear explanations, quick “bite-sized” insights, and relatable examples, often featuring expert guests to ground the discussion in research. The format is consistently short and approachable, making it easy to fit into a commute while still delivering memorable facts and thoughtful context. A standout trait is the blend of light, entertaining banter with solid science, and a willingness to tackle quirky, curiosity-driven questions with pace and personality.

Where can I find podcast stats for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Ask Us Anything by Popular Science and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Ask Us Anything by Popular Science get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Ask Us Anything by Popular Science have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ask Us Anything by Popular Science has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. Unexplainable
3. 99% Invisible
4. Science Friday
5. Short Wave

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

Ask Us Anything by Popular Science launched 5 years ago and published 59 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ask Us Anything by Popular Science?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Ask Us Anything by Popular Science?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Ask Us Anything by Popular Science. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days