Rephonic
Artwork for Discovery
Climate Change
Chicken
Artificial Intelligence
Animal Welfare
Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change
Salt
Asima Chatterjee
Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner
Madagascar Periwinkle
Cancer
Maternal Health
Family Planning
Bearded Vulture
Population Ageing
Killer Whales
Global Carbon Budget
Menopause
Covid-19
Education
Period Poverty

Explorations in the world of science.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes845Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Discovery

Latest Episodes

What if robots of the future weren’t just clever machines, performing tasks in isolation, but trusted teammates you could have a chat with? That could respond naturally to conversational cues and even explain their work? Making this relationship a re... more

Dr Seth Berkley is an epidemiologist and global health leader whose career has been shaped by one central problem: vaccines save lives, but only if people can actually get them. His 40-year career has spanned the global, from helping to build Uganda’... more

Hiranya Peiris is playing a starring role in a movie that promises to tell perhaps the greatest story of all time. However, it’s a movie with a difference – there’s no director and no script. The Legacy Survey of Space and Time is one of the most amb... more

As a child growing up on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya, Washington Yotto Ochieng once watched a plane cross the night sky and told his mother he wished he could travel on it. But he remembers her encouraging him to dream bigger... Toda... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Hiranya Peiris
Professor of Astrophysics, Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
Episode: The Life Scientific: Hiranya Peiris
Washington Yotto Ochieng
Professor of Engineering, Imperial College London; President of the Royal Institute of Navigation
Imperial College London; Royal Institute of Navigation
Episode: The Life Scientific: Washington Yotto Ochieng
Lucy Carpenter
Experimental atmospheric chemist and co-chair of the Montreal Protocol Scientific Assessment Panel
University of York
Episode: The Life Scientific: Lucy Carpenter
Jens Juul Holst
Professor of medical physiology and biomedical sciences
University of Copenhagen
Episode: The Life Scientific: Jens Juul Holst
Jim Ashworth-Beaumont
Orthotist and prosthetist with a background in neurorehabilitation
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital; University of Strathclyde
Episode: The Life Scientific: Jim Ashworth-Beaumont
Dan Stokels
Social ecologist at the University of California offering skepticism about doom narratives
University of California
Episode: Inside Universe 25
Ed Ramston
A scientist from Queen Mary University in London who discusses Calhoun's work and its implications
Queen Mary University of London
Episode: Inside Universe 25
Oliver Tseng
Assistant professor of psychology at UC, applying animal behavior concepts to human social behavior
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: Inside Universe 25
Andrew Sweetman
Professor of seafloor ecology, central to the dark oxygen claim
Scottish Association for Marine Science / The Metals Company
Episode: Dark Breath

Hosts

Jim Al-Khalili
Host known for in-depth scientific conversations with leading researchers
Roland Pease
Host and interviewer with a background in science journalism

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • Less variety than previous

    This podcast used to have lots of interesting mini series on multiple topics but now pretty much every week it’s ‘life scientific’

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    IS2019
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Former science podcast

    This used to be really interesting and well presented, but in the current episode somebody says “last year Elon Musk tweeted“ and the remark was clearly meant to imply that corresponded to some sort of objective reality. Hard to describe it as much better than conspiracy theory with a thin veneer of scientific whitewash.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    David Edge
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • I Love it so much

    I love listening to life science Tim Peak but it’s got loads of Adds!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Snovej
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • BBC, where are you?

    Discontinued?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Sound Creator 9
    Japan6 months ago
  • Sub Par Journalism

    Drop the ethical superiority rubbish you claim you are in almost every episode. The BBC and Britain as a whole are no longer seen as any sort of ethical gold standard and the “journalism” of the BBC continues to embarrass Britain on the world stage. We have no right to stick up our nose at other countries with the way things have played out in recent years.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Original_Owl
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging hosts who make complex topics approachable for non-specialists.
Diverse topics and credible guests; occasionally heavy on ads which can disrupt flow.
Strong yet clear scientific explanations with balanced viewpoints.
Some listeners feel occasional bias or tension between accessibility and depth.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#184
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#86
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#147
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#109
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#176
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#179
Italy/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Life Scientific: Lucy Carpenter
Q: Well, we'll come on to possible ways of saving the planet, but just to ease ourselves in, let's hear the start of your story. You grew up in rural Wiltshire with mum, dad, three brothers.
I was a tomboy as a kid who enjoyed all subjects, especially chemistry, sparked by a dramatic chemistry teacher; I later pursued chemistry at university and found a passion for the physical and mathematical side, which set my path into atmospheric chemistry.
The Life Scientific: Jens Juul Holst
Q: Certainly a lot of people will have heard about weight loss jabs in recent years. How exactly do they work?
They work by inhibiting appetite and signaling the brain to feel full, which reduces food intake and over time leads to weight loss, while also influencing insulin and glucagon dynamics. The guest explains the mechanism and the therapeutic implications for diabetes and obesity.
Inside Universe 25
Q: How did you first come across Calhoun and Universe 25?
The study kept popping up in academic circles as a seminal exploration of how crowding can alter social behavior, prompting deeper investigation into whether similar dynamics could appear in human populations.
Superbugs: Resistance Rising Part 3
Q: Why is the antibiotics market failing to sustain investment even after high scientific achievement?
Because the traditional business model rewards short‑term profitability and high volume, while antibiotics are used judiciously and for short durations, limiting sales growth and returns; this misalignment discourages long‑term investment despite clear medical need.
Superbugs: Resistance rising, part 2
Q: Given the AI-driven approaches, could you describe how AI changes the discovery timeline from lab to animal testing?
AI accelerates screening and design, enabling rapid identification of promising compounds and narrowing down candidates before synthesis and biological testing, which can shorten discovery timelines while still requiring extensive safety validation.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Discovery

What is Discovery about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-focused interview show that features in-depth conversations with researchers, clinicians, engineers, and policy experts. Episodes cover topics from climate science and atmospheric chemistry to medical breakthroughs, antibiotic resistance, and oceanography, often weaving personal stories with historical context and practical implications for policy and industry. Notable strengths include access to leading researchers, a tendency to connect complex science to real-world impact, and a willingness to explore ethical and societal questions around technology and public health. Listeners are likely to appreciate rigorous explanation, broad scientific curiosity, and nuanced discussions that balance theory with application.

Where can I find podcast stats for Discovery?

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

How many listeners does Discovery get?

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What are the audience demographics for Discovery?

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How many subscribers and views does Discovery have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Discovery 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 Discovery?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Discovery:

1. Unexpected Elements
2. BBC Inside Science
3. CrowdScience
4. The Life Scientific
5. The Documentary Podcast

How many episodes of Discovery are there?

Discovery launched 18 years ago and published 845 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 Discovery?

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 Discovery?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Discovery from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Discovery?

Recent guests on Discovery include:

1. Hiranya Peiris
2. Washington Yotto Ochieng
3. Lucy Carpenter
4. Jens Juul Holst
5. Jim Ashworth-Beaumont
6. Dan Stokels
7. Ed Ramston
8. Oliver Tseng

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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