Rephonic
Artwork for Science History Podcast

Science History Podcast

Frank A. von Hippel
Nuclear Disarmament
Leo Szilard
Nuclear Energy
Soviet Nuclear Program
American Universities
Malaria
Jerusalem
Pascual Jordan
Nuclear Weapons
USSR
Free Speech
Aquaporins
World War II
Zionism
Civilian Control Of Nuclear Technology
Scientific Innovation
Manhattan Project
Einstein-Szilard Letter
Atomic Bomb
Salk Institute For Biological Studies

Monthly interviews on important moments in the history of science.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes94Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChemistryScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Science History Podcast

Latest Episodes

Our health, and the health of wildlife, depends on a clean environment. Since the advent of the industrial revolution, our environment has suffered from waves of pollution as different technologies came to the fore, each with its own set of practical... more

The year 2025 has seen the most aggressive moves ever by the US executive branch against scientific research as the Trump Administration has gutted federal science and regulatory agencies and cancelled billions of dollars in research grants that had ... more

In Episode 62, I interviewed two Reuters journalists about how industry and government in the United States use conservation easements to avoid rigorous cleanup of contaminated sites. Today, one of those journalists, Jaimi Dowdell, is back to discuss... more

In prior episodes, we examined political interference and bias in science in a few contexts, including episode 3 on the history of U.S. congressional attacks on science, episode 57 on types of bias, episode 65 on ideology and science, and episode 84 ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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.

Recent Guests

Claudia Polsky
Clinical professor of law and founding director of the Environmental Law Clinic
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: Episode 93. Attacks on University Research: Claudia Polsky
Jaimi Dowdell
Investigative journalist from Reuters
Reuters
Episode: Episode 92. ATSDR: Jaimi Dowdell
Henry Erlich
One of the innovators of PCR and a key figure in genetics
Cetus Corporation, Roche Molecular Systems
Episode: Episode 88. Polymerase Chain Reaction: Henry Erlich
Marissa Moss
Award-winning author and illustrator of over 70 books for children and young adults, including "The Woman Who Split the Atom, The Life of Lise Meitner".
Episode: Episode 87. Meitner's Atom: Marissa Moss
Jim Baggott
Author of nearly 20 books related to physics.
Oxford University Press
Episode: Episode 86. Quantum Mechanics: Jim Baggott
Bret Stephens
Opinion Columnist at the New York Times and author focusing on American universities and democracy.
The New York Times
Episode: Episode 84. Antisemitism and the Academy: Bret Stephens
Shalom Goldman
Pardon Tillinghast Professor of Religion at Middlebury College, expert in Hebrew culture and education.
Middlebury College
Episode: Episode 83. Hebrew: Shalom Goldman
Jodi Magness
A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Kanaan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Episode: Episode 82. Jerusalem Archeology: Jodi Magness
Steve Fetter
Professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland and an expert on nuclear disarmament
University of Maryland
Episode: Episode 81. Nuclear Disarmament: Steve Fetter

Host

Frank von Hippel
Host of a podcast focused on significant moments in science history, engaging with a variety of expert guests to explore the intersection of scientific events, culture, and public policy.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 139 ratings
  • Enlightening

    One of my favorite podcast. I end up listening to these multiple times out of both enjoyment and information. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mharrisARCH
    United States2 years ago
  • Interesting and engaging!

    I appreciate Dr. Von Hippel’s ability to make science understandable and interesting. I enjoy his show, I learn something new each time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MelBums
    United States3 years ago
  • Disappointing

    The host is very intelligent and knowledgeable, guests and subjects typically the same but when the political bias and one sidedness comes out it is very alienating and frustrating!

    If the host would sometimes have guests on he does not always see eye to eye with, and presented current topics more broadly and had a real and nuanced discussion it would be much more palatable.

    This is science after all - always evolving and never black and white. Please consider staying more open to other possibi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Serena Fox
    United States3 years ago
  • Amazing

    This podcast is an interesting and entertaining way to learn more about science topics across the board.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ptierra
    United States3 years ago
  • Peter G

    Consistently excellent. Essential listening. Thank you for your efforts

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peter the Poet
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the depth of knowledge and engaging conversations with experts, finding the discussions both enlightening and enjoyable.
Reviews highlight a broad range of topics, showcasing a mix of historical analysis and contemporary relevance in science.
Critiques occasionally mention political biases but generally emphasize the quality of guest selections and the thoroughness of interviews.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 93. Attacks on University Research: Claudia Polsky
Q: Can you discuss the constitutionality or lack thereof of these grant cancellations?
Claudia explains that the cancellations violate the separation of powers, as the executive branch has overstepped its boundaries by canceling funds that Congress has already approved.
Episode 93. Attacks on University Research: Claudia Polsky
Q: How did you get into the field of environmental law?
Claudia shares that her interest began as a child with a Greenpeace presentation about whales, leading her to engage in various environmental science and advocacy efforts before choosing law as her path.
Episode 90. Physicists as Biologists: William Lanouette
Q: Can you talk about Bohr's influence on the natural sciences?
Bohr was instrumental in defining atomic structure and inspired other physicists to work on biological problems, establishing a significant laboratory in Copenhagen.
Episode 90. Physicists as Biologists: William Lanouette
Q: What were some of the contributions that Szilard made to biology?
Szilard is credited with developing the chemostat for bacterial growth and contributed to the understanding of genetic damage as a cause of aging.
Episode 90. Physicists as Biologists: William Lanouette
Q: Could you tell us a little bit about Schrödinger's foray into biology?
Schrödinger's book, 'What is Life', displayed that he knew very little about biology, but he felt comfortable writing an entire book on the subject.

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 Science History Podcast

What is Science History Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on significant milestones and figures in the history of science, this podcast provides in-depth discussions with experts from various fields. Episodes typically feature interviews with eminent scientists, authors, and academics, exploring historical events that have shaped current scientific understanding and practices. Topics range from historical breakthroughs in nuclear science and genetics to the intersection of politics and academia, emphasizing the rich tapestry of influences that have guided scientific progress.

Unique for its expert guest selection and detailed narratives, the podcast aims to present complex scientific history in an engaging manner, catering to an audience both new to science and those seeking deeper insigh... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Science History Podcast?

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

How many listeners does Science History Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Science History Podcast, 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 Science History Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Science History Podcast, 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 Science History Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Science History Podcast 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 Science History Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Science History Podcast:

1. Nature Podcast
2. Philosophize This!
3. The Quanta Podcast
4. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
5. Science Magazine Podcast

How many episodes of Science History Podcast are there?

Science History Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 94 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 Science History Podcast?

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 Science History Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Science History Podcast 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 Science History Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Science History Podcast. 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 Science History Podcast?

Recent guests on Science History Podcast include:

1. Claudia Polsky
2. Jaimi Dowdell
3. Henry Erlich
4. Marissa Moss
5. Jim Baggott
6. Bret Stephens
7. Shalom Goldman
8. Jodi Magness

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