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The World, the Universe and Us

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From the evolution of intelligent life, to the mysteries of consciousness; from the threat of the climate crisis to the search for dark matter, The world, the universe and us is your essential weekly dose of science and wonder in an uncertain world. Hosted by journalists Dr Rowan Hooper and Dr Penny Sarchet and joined each week by expert scientists in the field, the show draws on New Scientist’s u... more

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Latest Episodes

Episode 350

What If Alzheimer’s disease starts in the body, not the brain? A radical new theory upends everything we thought we knew about the disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia - the leading cause of death in the UK. And for 1... more

Episode 349

One of the most vital systems of ocean currents - needed to keep life in northern Europe stable - is at risk of collapse. And now we can predict when it’s going to happen.

Thanks to the work of climate scientists, we now have a model th... more

Episode 348

Thought extinct for 6,000 years, two marsupial species have been discovered alive in New Guinea. Biologists have found a new genus of marsupial glider and the Pygmy Long-fingered Possum on a small Western part of the island.

One biologi... more

Episode 347

Drones have taken over the battlefield in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Tens of thousands of drones are being produced every day - operating as kill vehicles for both sides. Multiple types are being deployed, including flying artillery drones... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Serhii Andriev
Deputy Company Commander of Kraken, 3rd Army Corps Drone Regiment
Episode: How Ukraine Became a Drone Factory - and Changed Warfare Forever
Matt Sparkes
Reporter who recently returned from Ukraine
Episode: How Ukraine Became a Drone Factory - and Changed Warfare Forever
Maggie Aderin
Space scientist and TV presenter
James Webb Space Telescope
Episode: How ancient humans crossed the vast ocean; Brain training for dementia; Life of science legend Maggie Aderin
Rutger Bregman
Bestselling author and historian, known for works like Moral Ambition and Humankind
Episode: Rutger Bregman on the crisis of moral ambition; Why primates have same-sex relationships; Living longer is easier than you think; Bizarre method to fight climate change
Anna Merril
Professor of Sustainability and Planning with experience living in Greenland
Aalborg University
Episode: Why does America want Greenland?; Mystery of dark DNA; Ozempic weight rebound
Ruth Mottram
Climate scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute
Danish Meteorological Institute
Episode: Why does America want Greenland?; Mystery of dark DNA; Ozempic weight rebound
Martin Stendel
Climate scientist monitoring Greenland's ice
Danish Meteorological Institute
Episode: Why does America want Greenland?; Mystery of dark DNA; Ozempic weight rebound
Nick Gray
Founder of G-Tech, a British design company
G-Tech
Episode: Humans are finally heading back to the moon; Cheaper weight loss drugs are coming; Milestone for LSD trials; Promise of new carbon tax
Bryan Johnson
Tech millionaire and longevity pioneer
Episode: Top Science Stories of 2025 | The New Scientist Features Special

Hosts

Dr. Rowan Hooper
Host and co-host, with a strong background in science journalism and expertise in various scientific topics.
Dr. Penny Sarchet
Host and co-host, known for her engaging storytelling and interview skills, contributing diverse scientific knowledge.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 914 ratings
  • A BS publication full of propaganda

    A company that has taken sponsorship from BP and Shell Oil has the gall to be Bitcoin bashing over extremely out dated arguments about Bitcoin and energy consumption. They know better, but they are owned by The Daily Mail who stand as an extreme right wing publication with interests in supporting the legacy banking and financial institutions. This publication cannot be trusted, full of bias and biased outside interests. Purposefully using all the outdated tropes and ignoring all the current fact... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    OG yes indeed
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Much too light and opinion-based

    A show with science in the title shouldn’t be presenting opinions backed up with anecdotal or no evidence. Who cares what books the presenters have been reading, how they think the world is, and how they’d like it to be. I’ve read and enjoyed the magazine for years and this is a poor representation of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    td14573
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Love it

    This is a great podcast for anyone wanting to get a clear and accessible introduction to the latest developments in science. The hosts do a wonderful job of guiding listeners through complex ideas in a way that’s both engaging and entertaining. I especially enjoy listening to Dr Penny’s sweet voice, which makes the experience even more delightful. Keep up the excellent work! ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nipuna (Nix)
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • One of the best podcasts overall!

    Looking forward to it every week! Love the hosts, I could listen to them talking about science and being super fun and witty for hours. I recommend listening to everyone -- keeps you informed, questioning, and lifts the mood!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dausmaus
    Canada6 months ago
  • Surprisingly luddite

    I’ve been listening on and off for a few years and in that time I’ve been consistently surprised by a luddite, sceptical undercurrent in these discussions. Take for example a recent episode on LLMs, where the bulk of the time focused on how poorly they function and how unethical it is to use them. I can imagine if this were set 140 years ago, we would be hearing about how unreliable the automobile functions compared to horses or the velocipede and how unethical it is to even try driving one.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ssabo
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The scientific depth and the variety of expert guests are praised for keeping the content fresh and relevant.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and informative discussions, noting the hosts' ability to make complex scientific topics accessible and entertaining.
Some criticism arises regarding the podcast's entertainment value overshadowing the scientific rigor, with occasional concerns about bias in discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#128
United States/Science
Spotify
#17
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#17
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#89
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#25
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#162
Italy/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Ukraine Became a Drone Factory - and Changed Warfare Forever
Q: Do you have any sense of what's next? How can you stay ahead of what's coming next?
It's complicated; both sides are evolving rapidly in drone warfare, leading to a continuous arms race.
How Ukraine Became a Drone Factory - and Changed Warfare Forever
Q: Can you tell us about how Ukraine has transformed to a war-footing where it produces so many drones?
Ukraine's drone industry has rapidly evolved from almost nothing to around 500 companies making drones in the country, producing tens of thousands daily.
How Ukraine Became a Drone Factory - and Changed Warfare Forever
Q: Can you describe for us what it's like being under a drone attack?
It's terrifying due to the constant awareness that someone is looking for you, indicated by the drone's buzzing sound.
The world is running out of water - can cloud-seeding save us?; Why some people get stuck in grief; Is our black hole actually a clump of dark matter?
Q: Is our galaxy's black hole made of dark matter?
It's possible, as researchers have found that a clump of dark matter could match observations just as well as a black hole.
The world is running out of water - can cloud-seeding save us?; Why some people get stuck in grief; Is our black hole actually a clump of dark matter?
Q: What are the unique brain activity patterns associated with prolonged grief disorder?
They involve pronounced changes in reward-related brain circuits and a bias towards reminders of the deceased.

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 The World, the Universe and Us

What is The World, the Universe and Us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring a wide range of scientific topics, this podcast covers everything from the evolution of intelligent life and consciousness to pressing issues like climate change and the mysteries of dark matter. Each episode features engaging discussions hosted by two knowledgeable journalists, who bring in expert scientists to provide depth and context to the most relevant developments in the field. The blend of humor and insightful commentary offers listeners both entertainment and education, making complex ideas accessible and interesting. This podcast stands out for its optimistic tone and commitment to enlightening its audience about the wonders of science in today's uncertain world.

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How many listeners does The World, the Universe and Us get?

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How many subscribers and views does The World, the Universe and Us have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The World, the Universe and Us 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 The World, the Universe and Us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The World, the Universe and Us:

1. Science Weekly
2. BBC Inside Science
3. The Life Scientific
4. More or Less
5. CrowdScience

How many episodes of The World, the Universe and Us are there?

The World, the Universe and Us launched 6 years ago and published 417 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 The World, the Universe and Us?

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.

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What guests have appeared on The World, the Universe and Us?

Recent guests on The World, the Universe and Us include:

1. Serhii Andriev
2. Matt Sparkes
3. Maggie Aderin
4. Rutger Bregman
5. Anna Merril
6. Ruth Mottram
7. Martin Stendel
8. Nick Gray

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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