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Science Weekly

The Guardian
Climate Change
Mental Health
Coral Bleaching
Gut Microbiome
Hen Harrier
Chatgpt
Artificial Intelligence
Australia
Climate Commission
Vaginal Microbiome
Wildlife Crime
Great Barrier Reef
Tony Abbott
Doomscrolling
Diet and Nutrition
Chronic Diseases
Birds Of Prey
Consciousness
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Greenhouse Gases

Twice a week, the Guardian brings you the latest science and environment news

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes465Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Science Weekly

Latest Episodes

Over the weekend, news emerged of an outbreak of meningitis among university and school students in Kent in south-east England. The outbreak has killed two young people and left several others seriously ill. Health officials confirmed that the mening... more

Grey-market injectable peptides – a category of substances with obscure, alphanumeric names such as BPC-157, GHK-Cu, or TB-500 – have developed a devoted following among biohackers and health optimisers. To understand how these unregulated substances... more

The Guardian’s science editor, Ian Sample, talks to Madeleine Finlay about three eye-catching science stories from the week, including a study that explores the link between exercise and brain health. Also on the agenda: the discovery that hedgehogs ... more

Among the many justifications Donald Trump has presented for the US and Israel attacking Iran has been the supposedly imminent threat posed by its nuclear weapons programme. But how close was the country really to developing an atomic weapon? Ian Sam... 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.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Amy Hawkins
Senior China Correspondent for The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: Will China own the green energy future?
Professor Declan O'Regan
British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular AI, a medical research council investigator and consultant radiologist.
Episode: The truth about fat, and its complex role in our health
Professor Katherine Tucker
Distinguished university professor and director emeritus and founder of the Center for Population Health
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Episode: Should we really all be taking magnesium supplements?
Dan Vergano
Senior editor at Scientific American
Scientific American
Episode: Jeffrey Epstein and the scientists
Kevin Hall
Leading expert on nutrition known for his research at the US National Institutes of Health and author of 'Food Intelligence'
US National Institutes of Health
Episode: Revisited: the real science of weight loss
Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock
A prominent space scientist and educator, involved in the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.
Royal Institution
Episode: Life beyond Earth? Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock on the mysteries of space
Havovi Chichger
Biomedical scientist at Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University
Episode: What’s worse for us, sugar or sweeteners?
Jim Krieger
Public health researcher and epidemiologist at the University of Washington School of Public Health
University of Washington
Episode: What’s worse for us, sugar or sweeteners?
Nicole Garrison
A woman who gave birth alone without medical assistance and faced critical health complications afterwards.
Episode: The Birth Keepers: I choose this, episode one

Hosts

Madeleine Finlay
Host of Science Weekly; affiliated with The Guardian
Ian Sample
Science Editor and co-host; provides editorial context

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2.6k ratings
  • Awww

    Love

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Exlibris.
    Germanya month ago
  • I really appreciate the short episodes with as much science and credibility as can be squeezed in.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Aurorespera
    3 months ago
  • Thankful for this Podcast

    Thank you for this informative and well researched Podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maggihr
    Austria3 months ago
  • Wiggy woggy

    Get a life

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tru Voordwire
    Canada4 months ago
  • Terrible decision to use a fame-seeker’s name in episode title

    Generally Science Weekly is held in the highest regard but someone messed up massively by including the name of a notorious fame-seeker (KK) in the episode title. Everyone responsible should be sacked or held accountable for the egregious breach of trust.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    etherdog
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticisms mention episode crusts or promotional plugs affecting pacing.
Listeners praise the show for balanced, informed science coverage and clear host-guest dynamics.
Many cite accessibility and practical takeaways, even on complex topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#73
United States/Science
Spotify
#6
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#236
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#6
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#23
Canada/Science
Spotify
#25
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to sleep well in 2026
Q: What is sleep paralysis and how does it occur?
Sleep paralysis is when the brain is awake but the body remains paralyzed during REM sleep, sometimes accompanied by hallucinations.
How to sleep well in 2026
Q: What impact does menopause have on sleep?
Menopause can lead to sleep disturbances due to hormonal changes and factors like hot flashes; cognitive behavioral therapy and hormonal treatments can help.
How to sleep well in 2026
Q: What are the main factors in controlling your circadian rhythm?
Light is the most significant factor affecting our sleep-wake cycles, along with individual routines and chronotypes.
Crude appeal: why Trump wants Venezuela’s oil
Q: What challenges will US companies face if they decide to play a role in Venezuela's oil industry?
US companies will face enormous challenges due to decades of neglect in Venezuela's oil infrastructure and the need for significant investment to increase production.
Crude appeal: why Trump wants Venezuela’s oil
Q: What do we need to know about Venezuela's oil?
Venezuela produces heavy crude oil that is muddy and high in sulfur, making it difficult to extract and process, although it possesses the world's largest oil reserves.

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 Weekly

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

The show offers concise, journalist-led explorations of contemporary science, technology, health, and the environment. Recent episodes foreground global energy geopolitics, AI and warfare, and cutting-edge health and biology topics, often featuring expert guests and researchers who break down complex science for a wide audience. Across topics, the tone remains accessible, aiming to connect policy, research, and real-world impacts without overloading listeners with jargon. A few episodes stand out for tackling controversial funding in science, the societal implications of new technologies, and health questions with practical takeaways for everyday readers and professionals alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Science Weekly?

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

How many listeners does Science Weekly get?

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What are the audience demographics for Science Weekly?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Science Weekly, 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 Weekly have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Science Weekly 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 Weekly?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Science Weekly:

1. The Audio Long Read
2. Today in Focus
3. BBC Inside Science
4. CrowdScience
5. More or Less

How many episodes of Science Weekly are there?

Science Weekly launched 20 years ago and published 465 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 Weekly?

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 Weekly?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Science Weekly 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 Weekly?

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What guests have appeared on Science Weekly?

Recent guests on Science Weekly include:

1. Amy Hawkins
2. Professor Declan O'Regan
3. Professor Katherine Tucker
4. Dan Vergano
5. Kevin Hall
6. Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock
7. Havovi Chichger
8. Jim Krieger

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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