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Artwork for The Rest Is Science

The Rest Is Science

Goalhanger
Cancer Research
Cancer Research UK
Mathematics
Fluid Dynamics
Naked Mole Rats
Infinity
Curiosity
Goal Hanger
Crying
Psychology
Black Holes
Water
Emotional Tears
Magnetism
Chocolate
Animal Deception
Mechanical Pencils
Artificial Intelligence
Quantum Computing
Dark Matter

Join mathematician Professor Hannah Fry and science creator Michael Stevens (Vsauce) as they dig into the weird scientific questions that often go unexplored. Welcome to The Rest Is Science, a show that sits in the fascinating space between what we think we know, and what we actually know. Why do we assume we understand things like time, randomness, or even gravity? Once you start questioning thes... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes95Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhysicsMathematicsScience

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Artwork for The Rest Is Science

Latest Episodes

Hannah surprises Michael with a mammoth bone from Doggerland, the lost Ice Age land that once joined Britain to mainland Europe, and now lies beneath the North Sea. Who lived there, what roamed it, and how did an entire landscape disappear under the ... more

Why do we turn on innocent people? A convincing story, a suspicious glance and suddenly everyone’s an armchair detective. But what happens when the crowd gets it completely wrong?

Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens explore the psychology of false accusa... more

Michael hands Hannah a kendama, the Japanese cup-and-ball toy, and asks her to land a single catch. Then he brings out one built for him by Adam Savage of MythBusters and explains why a heavier kendama is a completely different physics problem.

A ke... more

What is fire, and why does watching it hold our attention in a different way from scrolling on your phone?

Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens start with the science of a flame: why it glows, what its different colours reveal, and why fire is a series of... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Christian Roberto Lopez Rodriguez
Stair-climbing endurance athlete from Spain, Guinness World Record holder for staircase ascent
Spain
Episode: Space Elevators, Skyhooks, and Space Fountains
Steven Pete
Person with congenital insensitivity to pain; discussed by the hosts
Independent subject discussed in episode
Episode: Your Brain Invents Pain. Here's Why.
Gordon Carrera
National security journalist, guest host on The Rest Is Classified
The Rest Is Classified
Episode: Polymetalic Nodules Are Weird
David McCloskey
Author and former CIA analyst, guest host on The Rest Is Classified
The Rest Is Classified
Episode: Polymetalic Nodules Are Weird
Dominic Sanbrook
Rest Is History host and The Book Club organizer
Rest Is History
Episode: Introducing: The Book Club - Never Let Me Go

Hosts

Hannah Fry
Co-host and mathematician; frequent collaborator with Michael Stevens on science communication.
Michael Stevens
Co-host, science creator; founder of Vsauce; central figure in science communication.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 6.3k ratings
  • The rest is great

    One of my current favourite podcasts: great chemistry between two hosts, a balance between entertainment and education and great variety of topics.

    It would be lovely to see adding video to Podcasts app too as the show often relies on visual elements, though I understand why producers may push users towards YouTube instead.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dmitry.bovet
    United Kingdom25 days ago
  • High noise to signal ratio

    There’s some interesting content in here, buried in amongst all the diversions, exclamations & “banter” that swallows up half the run time. It feels like the hosts have turned their PRESENTING UP TO ELEVEN to ram it home that, “Science is cool!” & “Scientists can have personality!” If the subject matter is good every line doesn’t need to be delivered with “jazz hands” - a dollop of personality is great, not a bin-full. I had to unsubscribe as I got fed up having to keep skipping through all the ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Atzan
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Fantastic podcast!

    This podcast feels so much like all the sciencey ‘what-if’ conversations you want to have with your informed, curious, sciencey friends. Hannah and Michael are so knowledgeable about so many things and, importantly, are equally willing to admit where their knowledge ends—and that’s where it gets so good because their curiosity leads to funny hypotheses and goofy experiment ideas. Really adore this podcast and the way these two bounce off each other.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    parakeet_1997
    United Statesa month ago
  • Who knew!

    Really interesting podcast that covers the less obvious questions . Insightful and addictive.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    po99cm
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Hypocrisy at its finest

    I used to think Hannah Fry was alright, on top of being super smart. Now however, she can go in the bin along with the absolute cretin that is Michael Stevens. You’ll listen to this show with what seems like a never ending supply of adverts for cancer research (great charity, great cause) but then what you’ll get in what feels like an ever increasing amount of episodes are both presenters talking none stop about eating meat, specifically red meat - which is a known and proven carcinogenic food, ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jamesymcleish
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note strong chemistry but occasional sarcasm or humor may not land for every listener.
A subset wishes for more guest variety or fewer sponsor reads.
Audience appreciates deep dives into underexplored science questions and real-world implications.
Listeners praise the accessible but rigorous explanations and the engaging chemistry between hosts.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hacking The Kendama With Physics
Q: Which books would you recommend for an adult getting back into maths, stats and statistics?
Recommended texts balance fundamental clarity with practical examples; favored books include Spivic Calculus for approachable intuition, Ian Diamond and Julie Jefferies Beginning Statistics for social science contexts, and Stroud's Engineering Mathematics for practical applications in building and engineering.
Hacking The Kendama With Physics
Q: Through Jupiter's interior, what would happen if you flew through the middle?
There is no solid surface in Jupiter's interior; it likely has a fuzzy core with increasing density, and any object would be crushed and undergo drastic phase changes long before reaching a solid-core scenario, making a straight-through traversal impossible.
Hacking The Kendama With Physics
Q: Are there any mathematical advantages that can be used when swimming? Is it possible to swim faster with the power of math?
Math suggests that the optimal hand shape for pushing water, like a wide paddle, increases effective area and reduces drag; resting hand position is also important for leverage and efficiency, leading to ideas like 'aquatic ape' theories and swimwear design as practical extensions.
What Is Collagen All About?
Q: Who is your favorite Ig Nobel Prize winner?
We discuss a few contenders, highlighting how some studies are delightfully quirky yet scientifically informative, like research on why teapots drip or why wombats' poop is cube-shaped, which can be both funny and enlightening.
Bizarre Watches and How They Work
Q: Is mathematical ability mainly about number sense or self-belief?
While number sense helps, self-efficacy—belief in one's ability to do math—significantly influences performance, with cultural and educational contexts shaping how confident people feel about solving problems.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Rest Is Science

What is The Rest Is Science about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-focused show hosted by Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens explores curious, often overlooked questions at the intersection of physics, mathematics, and everyday life. Episodes blend accessible explanations of complex ideas with playful banter, real-world experiments, and thoughtful context about how science shapes our understanding of reality. Listeners can expect deep dives into topics like perception, energy storage, curiosity, and the social dynamics of science communication, all delivered with a mix of rigor, humor, and accessibility. The format often includes quick practical demonstrations, audience questions, and sponsor segments, making dense concepts feel tangible and relevant. Notably, the duo emphasizes the human side of sci... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Rest Is Science?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rest Is Science:

1. The Rest Is Entertainment
2. The Rest Is Politics
3. More or Less
4. The Rest Is Classified
5. The Rest Is History

How many episodes of The Rest Is Science are there?

The Rest Is Science launched a year ago and published 95 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Rest Is Science?

Recent guests on The Rest Is Science include:

1. Christian Roberto Lopez Rodriguez
2. Steven Pete
3. Gordon Carrera
4. David McCloskey
5. Dominic Sanbrook

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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