Rephonic
Artwork for The Science Show

The Science Show

ABC Australia
Climate Change
Australia
Artificial Intelligence
Biodiversity
Astronomy
CRISPR
Archaeology
NASA
Dark Matter
Ecology
Gene Editing
H5N1 Bird Flu
Mary Somerville
Black Holes
Conservation
Mental Health
Palau
Microplastics
Dark Energy
Public Health

The Science Show gives Australians unique insights into the latest scientific research and debate, from the physics of cricket to prime ministerial biorhythms.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes396Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Science Show

Latest Episodes

And palm oil producers in South-East Asia have changed their ways, considering the environment more than they did. Brendan May is turning his attention now to nickel mines in tropical countries.

In March 2018, a South African astronomer looking into the distant universe "discovered" a bright red spot in the sky that hadn't been there previously; it felt like an exciting potential discovery. A message was sent to other astronomers, asking the... more

* 2026 Nobel prizes in science * Air fryer vs deep fryer: Which produces more indoor air pollution? * First major biography of Francis Crick

If you reach for the old tea towel in the cupboard, this episode is for you.

It's time to talk textiles: why older towels seem to be better at drying, and when it may be time to throw out your more well-worn towels.

Jonathan follows the thread wit... 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.

Health Report
Health ReportABC Australia
What The Duck?!
What The Duck?!ABC Australia
What's That Rash?
What's That Rash?ABC Australia
Big Ideas
Big IdeasABC Australia
Science Friction
Science FrictionABC Australia

Recent Guests

Dr Kate Caldwell
Research fellow at Oxford (implied, microbiome focus)
Oxford University
Episode: 72 per cent of UK trees threatened by changing climate, plus the simple spud’s complex genetics
Brendan May
Forestry expert, former chair of Roberts Bridge Group
Industry/NGO circles focused on orangutans, forests
Episode: 72 per cent of UK trees threatened by changing climate, plus the simple spud’s complex genetics
Kevin Martin
Head of tree collections at Kew Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Episode: 72 per cent of UK trees threatened by changing climate, plus the simple spud’s complex genetics
Ingo Hein
Potato geneticist, head of potato genetics
James Hutton Institute / University of Dundee
Episode: 72 per cent of UK trees threatened by changing climate, plus the simple spud’s complex genetics
Dr Kenya Fernandez
Bee researcher and microbiologist
University of Sydney
Episode: 72 per cent of UK trees threatened by changing climate, plus the simple spud’s complex genetics
Matthew Cobb
Author of Crick, A Mind in Motion
University of Manchester
Episode: Nobel Prizes, kitchen fumes and a biography of Francis Crick
Paul Nurse
Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel Laureate, President of the Royal Society
Francis Crick Institute, Royal Society
Episode: Paul Nurse and assessing the health of Australian trees
Neeraj Sharma
Professor, School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
Episode: Lab Notes: Why you shouldn't leave your phone charging
Theresa Fruth
Astroparticle physicist from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: Lab Notes: Have we found dark matter?

Hosts

Jonathan Webb
Host with a focus on exploring scientific topics through investigative conversation; affiliated with ABC Radio National in multiple roles.
Robyn Williams
Senior science broadcaster and long-time host, known for broad-ranging science coverage and interviews with researchers around the world.
Belinda Smith
Co-host bringing contemporary science communication and a background in presenting and co-hosting science programs.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Does not reflect scientific ideals

    I think that the regular episodes are pretentious and I tune out. The host seems focused on prestigiousity within science, which is not exclusively based on merit. Success in science, and academia in general, is often down to luck and who you know. So, I choose not to lesson to a bulk of the episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Froggy-001
    Australia6 months ago
  • Not just Australia’s treasure

    I live on the opposite side of the world (Pacific Northwest) and have been a faithful listener for more than 20 years. It certainly gives a little taste of life and science in Australia, but it’s important to note that science is absolutely first-rate. Belinda Smith has recently come on as co-host and is a very capable addition to Robyn’s formidable skill set.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michael Carnes
    United States9 months ago
  • Great show! And thanks!

    Ann makes learning fun. I’m a new immigrant (3 years now) and enjoy listening to the show. It’s informative with enough humour so you look forward to new episodes. Good on ya Doc!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mike_mcmullen
    Australiaa year ago
  • Wonderful

    The mixing of arts and politics only serves to underline the presenter’s skill and the central place science occupies in our broader world. Doesn’t treat you like an idiot. Wonderful broad science show with great pieces on wildlife, physics, and advances in medical technology. Outstanding presenter is one of the best interviewers on all radio.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DavidCecil
    Australia2 years ago
  • Congratulations Robin Williams and staff.

    Yesterday’s Science Show was even more brilliant than usual especially Prof Tom Griffiths. A million thanks.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    POL!!!!
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans highlight high-quality science storytelling and practical takeaways.
Some criticism mentions occasional off-topic or politics-forward tangents.
Many appreciate the host's interview skills and the broad range of guests.
Listeners praise depth, breadth, and accessibility of complex topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nobel Prizes, kitchen fumes and a biography of Francis Crick
Q: Why is Crick's work on consciousness significant in the history of neuroscience?
Crick's pursuit of a material, scientific explanation for consciousness helped establish neuroscience as a rigorous field and inspired new experimental approaches to understanding how the brain computes and experiences mind and perception.
Nobel Prizes, kitchen fumes and a biography of Francis Crick
Q: What role did collaboration play in Crick's discoveries?
Crick's most important work emerged from collaboration and dialogue with others, including Watson and Perutz, illustrating that teamwork and cross-disciplinary exchange were central to his scientific achievements.
Nobel Prizes, kitchen fumes and a biography of Francis Crick
Q: How did Crick's background in physics influence his approach to biology?
Crick's physics training gave him a rigorous, quantitative mindset and a willingness to apply physical principles to biological questions, which helped him tackle complex problems like the structure of DNA and later the neural basis of consciousness.
Lab Notes: When is it time to throw in the towel?
Q: What about end of life for these things? What do we do when we are calling it on the life of a towel?
End-of-life decisions for towels are nuanced: if a towel just smells after washing, a thorough hot wash can reclaim it, but if the textile is worn or blends are hard to separate, it's often best to consider landfill or donation; meanwhile, research is pushing toward recycling and upcycling pathways that could extend the life of the materials.
Lab Notes: Have we found dark matter?
Q: Why do scientists believe dark matter exists if it can't be seen directly?
Because its gravitational effects influence galaxy rotation and the formation of large-scale structures, indicating mass that we can't detect via light.

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 Science Show

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

A science-focused, multidisciplinary program that covers biology, physics, astronomy, ecology, and technology through accessible explanations and cross-disciplinary conversations. Episodes frequently pair deep-dive science with real-world applications, policy implications, and historical context, often featuring researchers, historians, and occasionally artists or writers to illuminate complex topics. Unique strengths include high-quality interview dynamics, cross-continental collaborations, and a habit of weaving hands-on demonstrations or visualizable concepts (like flowering cues, neural processes, or space data) into engaging narratives. The show tends to attract curious, educated listeners who enjoy thoughtful debate, practical science... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Science Show?

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

How many listeners does The Science Show get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Science Show, 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 Science Show?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Science Show, 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 Science Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Science Show 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 Science Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Science Show:

1. Health Report
2. What The Duck?!
3. What's That Rash?
4. Big Ideas
5. Science Friction

How many episodes of The Science Show are there?

The Science Show launched 21 years ago and published 396 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 Science Show?

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 Science Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Science Show 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 Science Show?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Science Show. 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 Science Show?

Recent guests on The Science Show include:

1. Dr Kate Caldwell
2. Brendan May
3. Kevin Martin
4. Ingo Hein
5. Dr Kenya Fernandez
6. Matthew Cobb
7. Paul Nurse
8. Neeraj Sharma

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