Rephonic
Artwork for The World, the Universe and Us

The World, the Universe and Us

New Scientist
Cannabis
Climate Change
THC
Microbial Fermentation
Dolphins
Endocannabinoid System
Royal Flying Doctor Service
COP28
Cannabinoid Research
Environmental Impact
Folded Landscapes
Environmental Activism
Fungi
Wilderness
Dark Matter
Space Exploration
Symbiosis
Paul Erdős
Carbon
Lichen

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes423Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The World, the Universe and Us

Latest Episodes

Episode 356

A truck carrying antimatter has been driving around the campus at CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider. But why are scientists transporting this delicate and extremely expensive substance?

Antimatter is regular matter’s counterpart, ... more

Episode 355

An entire pig’s brain has been preserved after death, using a technique that will keep the structure of the brain intact - potentially for hundreds of years.

Scientists say they will offer the treatment to terminally ill humans, in the ... more

Episode 354

Women are being erased from AI technologies. When world-changing technology is built primarily by men, the impact for women is hugely damaging.

This was the focus of a recent conference at the Royal Society in London. Panellists discuss... more

Episode 353

The world might feel dark right now, but life is actually getting better, rapidly. From the rise of feminism and antiracism to environmental movements and shifting understandings of gender, the Western world looks nothing like it did 75 ... 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 Weekly
Science WeeklyThe Guardian
Unexpected Elements
Unexpected ElementsBBC World Service
The Naked Scientists Podcast
The Naked Scientists PodcastThe Naked Scientists
More or Less
More or LessBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

Boris Roebel
Researcher quoted on preservation and revival feasibility
Nectome
Episode: Scientists Can Now Preserve a Brain After Death - What’s Next?
Thomas Lewton
Consciousness writer and commentator
New Scientist
Episode: Scientists Can Now Preserve a Brain After Death - What’s Next?
Rebecca Solnit
Writer and activist, author of The Beginning Comes After the End
Author
Episode: Rebecca Solnit On Why the Future Isn’t as Dark as It Looks
Alex Wilkins
Reporter
New Scientist
Episode: Mathematics is Undergoing the Biggest Change in its History
Alice Klein
Reporter
New Scientist
Episode: The Radical Theory That Could Force Us To Rethink Alzheimer’s
Alec Luhn
Climate journalist
Episode: We Now Have Early Warning Signal Of Ocean Current Collapse
Tim Flannery
Leader of the team that confirmed the discovery
Australian Museum, Sydney
Episode: Two 'Extinct' Mammals Species Have Been Discovered in New Guinea
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

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 920 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 Kingdom2 months 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 Kingdom6 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
    Canada7 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 States10 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
#178
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#17
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#123
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#35
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#121
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#138
Italy/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rebecca Solnit On Why the Future Isn’t as Dark as It Looks
Q: What new stories do we need to tell?
She emphasizes stories that acknowledge interconnectedness, dismantle isolationist worldviews, and foreground collective action, ethics, and rights of nature as central to addressing climate and social justice.
Rebecca Solnit On Why the Future Isn’t as Dark as It Looks
Q: And I asked her for those wondering why, why do we need new stories?
Solnit explains that many communities, especially Indigenous peoples, carry old stories that are increasingly relevant as we rethink our relationship with nature and each other; new stories are needed to bridge science, culture, and justice in addressing global challenges.
Mathematics is Undergoing the Biggest Change in its History
Q: How do mathematicians check what an AI has done?
Checkers involve human mathematicians verifying AI-generated solutions and translating proofs into formal, machine-checkable language, with progress from simple problems to complex formalizations like Gauss and Lean.
Mathematics is Undergoing the Biggest Change in its History
Q: So will we be able to go to another level with maths, or is the AI going to start doing stuff we cannot cope with?
The guest explains that outcomes depend on how models advance, with some experts like Terence Tao suggesting AI will change how mathematicians work and what problems they tackle, even if the hardest problems remain challenging.
Mathematics is Undergoing the Biggest Change in its History
Q: Alex, am I overhyping it?
Alex Wilkins reassures that the AI developments are indeed significant and not overstated, underscoring the rapid shifts and real-world implications for mathematical research.

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for The World, the Universe and Us?

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

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

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The World, the Universe and Us, 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 The World, the Universe and Us?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The World, the Universe and Us, 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 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. Unexpected Elements
4. The Naked Scientists Podcast
5. More or Less

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

The World, the Universe and Us launched 6 years ago and published 423 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The World, the Universe and Us?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The World, the Universe and Us 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 The World, the Universe and Us?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The World, the Universe and Us. 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 The World, the Universe and Us?

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

1. Boris Roebel
2. Thomas Lewton
3. Rebecca Solnit
4. Alex Wilkins
5. Alice Klein
6. Alec Luhn
7. Tim Flannery
8. Serhii Andriev

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