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Big Picture Science

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes679Founded21 years ago
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ScienceTechnology

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Artwork for Big Picture Science

Latest Episodes

Since humans first chiseled marks into stone, we have externalized our thoughts and ideas. Our tools may have evolved—now we clack away at computer keyboards—but written communication remains a bedrock of modern society. Now that the pace of informat... more

Runny nose. Itchy, watery eyes. Sneezing. If you don’t have allergies, you probably know someone who does. The number of people with allergies, including food allergies and eczema, is increasing. What is going on? A medical anthropologist describes h... more

We may not want to think about another pandemic, but, as epidemiologists say, it is once again a “when,” not “if,” scenario. For his latest book, journalist Jon Cohen, who has written extensively about infectious disease for the magazine Science, int... more

Forty years later, the exclusion zone surrounding the infamous Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant remains uninhabited by humans. But among the radioactive remnants, wildlife is flourishing, including endangered species. In the second of our two-part serie... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Tom Scott
Professor of Nuclear Materials and Devices, University of Bristol
University of Bristol
Episode: Shadow of Chernobyl
Steve Biegalski
Chair of the Nuclear Engineering Program, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech
Episode: Shadow of Chernobyl
Jacopo Buongiorno
MIT nuclear scientist and engineer
MIT
Episode: Shadow of Chernobyl
Adam Higginbotham
Author of Midnight in Chernobyl
Author
Episode: 40 Years After Chernobyl
Huw Groucutt
Archaeologist at the University of Malta
University of Malta
Episode: Old School
Ed Brook
Paleoclimatologist, professor at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Episode: Old School
Simon Lamb
Earth scientist, professor at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Episode: Old School
Regan Dunn
Assistant Curator at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Episode: Flower Power
Eva-Maria Sadowski
Paleobotanist from the Natural History Museum in Berlin
Natural History Museum, Berlin
Episode: Flower Power

Hosts

Molly Bentley
Host of Big Picture Science
Seth Shostak
Host of Big Picture Science; Senior Astronomer

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • 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 States2 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Delete

    Delete

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States9 months ago
  • Silly Statement

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States10 months ago
  • Best podcast

    I listen to about a dozen podcasts. Big picture Science is by far the most informative and entertaining

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    R be l.
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate accessible, intelligent science storytelling with engaging guests.
Many praise the hosts' ability to ask insightful questions and balance depth with clarity.
Some critique occasional ad load or perceived bias, suggesting tighter topic focus would help.
Fans value the Skeptic Check segments for critical thinking and debunking pseudo-science.
Guests are described as knowledgeable, diverse, and well-prepared for in-depth discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#160
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#178
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#203
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#33
Philippines/Science
Apple Podcasts
#63
Colombia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#97
Singapore/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Skeptic Check: Feeling Risky
Q: How does media coverage influence our perception of risk, according to the guest?
Media coverage can amplify fear and create a distorted sense of danger; responsible reporting should weigh the potential harm of alarmism and provide context about actual risks.
Skeptic Check: Feeling Risky
Q: What can individuals do to better navigate the risk perception gap in daily life?
Pause before reacting to a risk, invite slower, more effortful thinking, and seek reliable facts to balance emotion against data for healthier decisions.
Skeptic Check: Moon Conspiracy
Q: How do experts debunk claims such as the waving flag or fake footage?
Experts explain these phenomena with physical explanations (e.g., residual motion of the flag due to no atmosphere) and production details, while noting the overwhelming amount of corroborating evidence from multiple sources.
Celestial Shake-Up
Q: What are the risks of solar storms to Earth?
They can disrupt GPS signals, damage satellites, and pose radiation risks to astronauts, especially beyond Earth's magnetic protection.
Celestial Shake-Up
Q: Why is NASA focusing on the Artemis missions?
To return humanity to the moon and establish a sustainable presence there as a stepping stone for future Mars missions.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Big Picture Science

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

The show consistently combines accessible science storytelling with expert insight from researchers, journalists, and authors across a wide range of fields, including biology, environmental science, physics, space, and public health. Hosts guide conversations with depth and humor, often weaving in history, policy, and societal implications to help listeners understand complex topics. A recurring Skeptic Check segment adds a critical eye on pseudoscience, making the program useful for curious minds and decision-makers seeking thoughtful scientific context in a approachable format.

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?

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What are the audience demographics for Big Picture Science?

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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. Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science
4. Astronomy Cast
5. Unexpected Elements

How many episodes of Big Picture Science are there?

Big Picture Science launched 21 years ago and published 679 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.

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What guests have appeared on Big Picture Science?

Recent guests on Big Picture Science include:

1. Tom Scott
2. Steve Biegalski
3. Jacopo Buongiorno
4. Adam Higginbotham
5. Huw Groucutt
6. Ed Brook
7. Simon Lamb
8. Regan Dunn

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.

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