Rephonic
Artwork for Science Weekly

Science Weekly

The Guardian
Climate Change
Donald Trump
Aging
Artificial Intelligence
Amazon Rainforest
Mars
Diabetes
Obesity
Public Health
Mental Health
Alcohol
Elon Musk
The Guardian
Weight Loss
Psychology
Covid-19
Nutrition
Microplastics
Memory Formation
Health Risks

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes465Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Science Weekly

Latest Episodes

The first person has been treated with a highly anticipated new gene therapy that aims to turn back the clock on ageing cells. The trial is aimed at retinal cells, with the hope that encouraging them to behave as if they were young again could improv... more

Scientists often talk about the importance of flora and fauna to the health of our planet, but Dr Toby Kiers, an evolutionary biologist and founder of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, wants us to consider another force: fungi. ... more

Men’s average testosterone levels have halved over the past 50 years, according to scientists who say society is facing a male fertility crisis. Rising levels of obesity and diabetes are expected to play a part, but the team behind the work suggest t... more

In the last 50 years, Britain has lost an astonishing 73 million wild birds from its landscape, according to the British Trust for Ornithology. Habitat loss, pesticides, disease, cats and the climate crisis mean there are fewer birds than ever before... 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

Kathryn Paige Harden
Behavioral geneticist at a university in Texas
University of Texas
Episode: Nature or nurture: can genes make us behave ‘badly’?
Ajit Niranjan
Europe environment correspondent for The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: Extreme heat: is the UK becoming a 40C country?
Naureen Starling
Consultant medical oncologist and director of the Royal Marsden Clinical Trials Unit
Royal Marsden
Episode: ‘The undruggable became druggable’: a gamechanging treatment for the world’s deadliest cancer
Steve Brusatte
Paleontologist and evolutionary biologist at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
Episode: The dinosaurs who survived the asteroid
Oliver Gibson
Doctor, academic at Brunel University London; signatory on heat/health letter to FIFA
Brunel University London
Episode: Heatstroke, sports washing and VAR psychology: the science of the World Cup
Maiken Nedergaard
Professor of neuroscience
Rochester Medical School; University of Copenhagen
Episode: The incredible science of the sleeping brain
Nathan Lepora
Professor of Robotics and AI, University of Bristol
University of Bristol
Episode: Are robots nearing their ChatGPT moment?
Jonathan Kentley
Consultant dermatologist who works for the NHS and in private practice
NHS and private practice
Episode: Red-light masks: can they really slow ageing?
Dr. Angel Foster
Abortion provider who mails abortion pills nationwide
MAP - Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project
Episode: Stateside with Kai and Carter: why the fight over abortion pills is only just beginning

Hosts

Kai Wright
Co-host and commentator.
Madeleine Finlay
Host of Science Weekly; Guardian science journalist.
Ian Sample
Guardian Science Editor; science journalist.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2.6k ratings
  • Not science

    I thought this was supposed to be a science podcast not a political podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Annz000
    United States2 months ago
  • stuff "0ff Duty"

    I am not interested in listening to "Off Duty"

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    amcqu
    Australia4 months ago
  • Awww

    Love

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Exlibris.
    Germany5 months ago
  • I really appreciate the short episodes with as much science and credibility as can be squeezed in.

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

    Thank you for this informative and well researched Podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maggihr
    Austria7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality guests and credible discussions are common positives.
Listeners appreciate concise, well-researched science coverage.
Some criticisms note occasional pacing or plugs for other Guardian shows.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#115
United States/Science
Spotify
#5
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#12
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#41
Canada/Science
Spotify
#21
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#24
Italy/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

‘The undruggable became druggable’: a gamechanging treatment for the world’s deadliest cancer
Q: So what kind of treatment options are available right now for pancreatic cancer, and how effective are they?
The current options are mainly chemotherapy for advanced disease, which can extend life and improve symptoms but are not curative. Surgery helps only a minority with operable disease, and relapse is common; overall survival for advanced pancreatic cancer remains limited.
Nature or nurture: can genes make us behave ‘badly’?
Q: What were you looking at in the research and what did you find?
The study examined externalizing spectrum behaviors and found that many genetic variants collectively contribute to a higher probability of engaging in behaviors society often disapproves of, with small effects per gene but larger effects when combined across the genome.
Red-light masks: can they really slow ageing?
Q: Should people rush out to buy red light therapy masks for anti-ageing?
Not necessarily; there may be small, inconsistent benefits for some users, but evidence is limited, trials are heterogeneous, and there's no standardized dosing, so it's unlikely to produce dramatic or guaranteed results.
Red-light masks: can they really slow ageing?
Q: So what is red light therapy, and how is it supposed to work?
Red light therapy is the idea that shining red light on the skin can trigger cellular processes through chromophores like cytochrome C oxidase, increasing ATP production and potentially stimulating collagen and reducing inflammation, but the exact benefits for aesthetic outcomes are unproven and doses vary widely.
Ebola: how does it spread and can the outbreak be contained?
Q: Daniela, what exactly is Ebola and what happens if you're infected?
Ebola is a severe viral infection with a progression from fever and fatigue to diarrhea, vomiting, and possible multi-organ failure; transmission is primarily through direct contact with body fluids, not through the air, and outcomes depend on early identification and supportive care.

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 typically features conversations with leading scientists, journalists, and policy experts, covering current science, health, environment, and technology topics. Episodes balance in-depth explanations of complex topics with practical takeaways, often bringing in frontline researchers, investigative reporters, and influential thinkers to illuminate how science and policy intersect in everyday life. A few episodes stand out for tracing the human impact of policy shifts, evaluating emerging technologies, or unpacking global health and climate issues with credibility and clear storytelling. This mix makes it useful for listeners who want reliable, well-sourced science analysis and context for ongoing debates, from health policy to energ... more

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?

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

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?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Science Weekly. 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 Weekly?

Recent guests on Science Weekly include:

1. Kathryn Paige Harden
2. Ajit Niranjan
3. Naureen Starling
4. Steve Brusatte
5. Oliver Gibson
6. Maiken Nedergaard
7. Nathan Lepora
8. Jonathan Kentley

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