Rephonic
Artwork for Big Picture Science

Big Picture Science

Big Picture Science
Climate Change
Arctic
Mars
SETI Institute
Permafrost
NASA
Artificial Intelligence
Mental Health
Exoplanets
String Theory
Evolutionary Benefits Of Play
Lightning
Child Development
Hurricane Katrina
Social Media
Chernobyl
Risky Play
James Webb Space Telescope
Klamath River
Forever Chemicals

The surprising connections in science and technology that give you the Big Picture. Astronomer Seth Shostak and science journalist Molly Bentley are joined each week by leading researchers, techies, and journalists to provide a smart and humorous take on science. Our regular "Skeptic Check" episodes cast a critical eye on pseudoscience.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes701Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Big Picture Science

Latest Episodes

We admire the ornamental beauty of flowers in a garden, but those blooms are more than lush color. The seemingly fragile, delicate petals are part of a resilient, adaptive innovation that arrived on the scene 250 million years ago and transformed lif... more

Breakthroughs around the detection of cosmic neutrinos — the “ghost” particles that may reveal why matter, not antimatter, fills the universe — recently earned a physicist the Nobel Prize in Physics. But one group of neutrino hunters isn’t waiting f... more

A growing online movement of sunscreen skeptics believes that sunblock is toxic, even suggesting that it might cause skin cancer. Medical experts, concerned by rising skin cancer rates, are rushing to push back against these claims. Meanwhile, new re... more

Extreme heat is taking its toll on the natural world. We use words like “heat domes” and “freakish” to describe our everyday existence. These high temperatures aren’t only uncomfortable - they are lethal to humans, animals, and crops. In search of an... 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.

Science Magazine Podcast
Science Magazine PodcastScience Magazine
Science Friday
Science FridayScience Friday and WNYC Studios
Unexpected Elements
Unexpected ElementsBBC World Service
Astronomy Cast
Astronomy CastFraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

Recent Guests

David George Haskell
Biologist, professor at Emory University and author
Emory University
Episode: Our Floral Planet
Kate Shaw
Experimental particle physicist working on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment
University of Sussex
Episode: On a Collision Course
Kimberly Palladino
Astrophysicist, physics professor, and project scientist for LUX-ZEPLIN
University of Oxford
Episode: On a Collision Course
Harry Cliff
Particle physicist and LHCb researcher
University of Cambridge
Episode: On a Collision Course
Rowan Jacobsen
Science writer, author of In Defense of Sunlight
Author, In Defense of Sunlight
Episode: Skeptic Check: Sunny Daze
Dr. Michelle Henry
Board-certified dermatologist based in Manhattan; founder of Skin and Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan
Skin and Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan; Weill Cornell Medical College
Episode: Skeptic Check: Sunny Daze
Gordy Slack
Science reporter who has written extensively about climate change
Independent / various publications
Episode: How Hot is Too Hot?
Jeff Goodell
Author of The Heat Will Kill You First, Life and Death on a Scorched Planet
Author, Journalist
Episode: How Hot is Too Hot?
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist, director of Hayden Planetarium
American Museum of Natural History
Episode: A Coup De Grace in Space

Hosts

Molly Bentley
Host of Big Picture Science, lead interviewer, and executive producer with a background in science communication.
Seth Shostak
Host of Big Picture Science; Institute Senior Astronomer; frequent scientific moderator.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Malawi Episode

    The Malaw episode would appear to have nothing to do with science

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States2 months ago
  • Always learn something interesting.

    I’ve enjoyed this podcast for years and there’s always something new and amazing I learn. I love Molly as an interviewer and throughly woot Seth’s commentary and humor. All the gusts are incredibly compelling and in my feed filled with politics, this podcast is an inspiring, fresh and always bright listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bizcochito73
    United States6 months ago
  • Disappointing podcast

    I’ve tried several episodes now as the subjects are interesting and I’d love to know more. Unfortunately the hosts are rambling and don’t really end up exploring the topics in depth, and I can’t say I come away either better informed or entertained.

    Unsubscribed

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ladybird166
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Delete

    Delete

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MarkChicagoIL
    United Statesa year ago
  • Silly Statement

    Why state that the Rubin Observatory is the first one named after a woman?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarkChicagoIL
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners feel episodes can become ad-heavy or repetitive over time.
Listeners praise the clear questions and engaging guests that make complex topics accessible.
Fans value balanced, evidence-based discussions even on controversial topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#118
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#175
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#246
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#125
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#30
New Zealand/Science
Apple Podcasts
#95
Ireland/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

On a Collision Course
Q: What was different? I think it was in June 2023, that sort of at some point leapt out and said, hang on, have we actually got something at last?
Palladino says the event stood out because it had higher energy and showed a nuclear recoil. The detector recorded two light signals whose ratio can help distinguish a nuclear interaction from an electron interaction.
On a Collision Course
Q: Help us understand how a particle that has no mass can oscillate, can shape shift in this way. What is it changing from if it's so elusive, but also if it doesn't have mass?
Shaw explains that oscillation is evidence that neutrinos have mass, even though the Standard Model predicts zero mass for them, and that scientists do not yet know how they acquire it.
Our Floral Planet
Q: How might we experience the world differently or live differently if we took to heart how central flowers are to our existence?
Haskell suggests paying closer attention to flowers through simple practices such as making perfume or sitting with a flower and noticing its details. This can build joy, belonging and awareness of interdependence, while encouraging people to care for local plants and their habitats.
Our Floral Planet
Q: Why do we typically sideline flowers when we describe evolution and life on this planet?
Haskell says flowers are often treated as merely pretty, ornamental and feminine, associations that a patriarchal culture can equate with weakness. Yet flowering plants rapidly came to dominate habitats and transformed the world through cooperation and other evolutionary strategies.
Skeptic Check: Sunny Daze
Q: Do you want to lay out seven-word advice for people to think about sun exposure?
The seven-word guidance is: get some, not too much, go outside. It emphasizes balanced exposure to harness benefits like vitamin D and nitric oxide while avoiding overexposure and undue risk.

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 Big Picture Science

What is Big Picture Science about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-forward show that blends deep-dive interviews with expert guests across space, biology, technology, and climate topics. Episodes frequently explore cutting-edge research (SETI COSMIC, bioelectric medicine, CRISPR, Arctic science, and environmental tech) alongside cultural and ethical angles, often pairing researchers with journalists or authors to illuminate complex ideas. A notable strength is the integration of science with storytelling and real-world implications, including field reporting, historical context, and thoughtful skepticism. Listeners likely appreciate clear questions, accessible science communication, and a willingness to tackle controversial or speculative topics without sacrificing rigor.

A standout format is th... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Big Picture Science?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Big Picture 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 Big Picture Science and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Big Picture Science get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Big Picture 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 Big Picture Science?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Big Picture 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 Big Picture Science have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Big Picture 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 Big Picture Science?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Picture Science:

1. Science Magazine Podcast
2. Science Friday
3. Unexpected Elements
4. Astronomy Cast
5. Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

How many episodes of Big Picture Science are there?

Big Picture Science launched 21 years ago and published 701 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 Big Picture 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 Big Picture Science?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Big Picture 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 Big Picture Science?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Big Picture 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 Big Picture Science?

Recent guests on Big Picture Science include:

1. David George Haskell
2. Kate Shaw
3. Kimberly Palladino
4. Harry Cliff
5. Rowan Jacobsen
6. Dr. Michelle Henry
7. Gordy Slack
8. Jeff Goodell

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