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The Science Show

ABC Australia
Climate Change
Australia
Biodiversity
Artificial Intelligence
Astronomy
CRISPR
Ecology
NASA
Mental Health
Covid-19
Microplastics
Paleontology
Gene Editing
Archaeology
Black Holes
Mary Somerville
Quantum Mechanics
Astrophysics
Conservation
Palau

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

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Artwork for The Science Show

Latest Episodes

Ever wondered how your sweater became bright orange, or how your leather shoes were made? Chances are, at some point in the process, hazardous chemicals like lead or azo dyes were used.

Jonathan Webb speaks to Ellen Phiddian, science reporter with ... more

The IOC will test athletes for a sex gene. But as Jenny Graves explains, human genomics is diverse. Some athletes may be genetic exceptions and will need to be handled with care and sensitivity.

A new giant dinosaur has been uncovered in Thailand: the largest ever found in South-East Asia.

More than 100 million years ago, Nagatitan towered over the Earth — and has now been described by a team of researchers from the UK and Thailand.

Jonat... more

Belinda Smith reports on the winners and losers in science following the federal budget brought down this week by treasurer Jim Chalmers.

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Recent Guests

Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul
PhD student, University College London; first author on the Nagatitan Chayapumensis paper
University College London
Episode: Lab Notes: Giant dino discovery fulfils a childhood dream
Chantelle Doyle
Dr. Chantelle Doyle, ABC Science Top Fiver segment, botanist
University of New South Wales and Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Episode: Science and the budget, bird flu closer to Australia and a guide to pollination
Jeremy Phan
Director of Conservation
Chicago Botanic Gardens
Episode: Science and the budget, bird flu closer to Australia and a guide to pollination
Megan Dewar
Researcher, wildlife disease surveillance
Federation University
Episode: Science and the budget, bird flu closer to Australia and a guide to pollination
Karen Lorry
Director, Multipathogen Surveillance
CSL Securis, Melbourne
Episode: Science and the budget, bird flu closer to Australia and a guide to pollination
Ingrid Scheffer
Neurologist, epilepsy genetics
University of Melbourne
Episode: Science and the budget, bird flu closer to Australia and a guide to pollination
James Purtill
Tech reporter in the Radio National Science Unit
ABC Science/Radio National
Episode: Lab Notes: Can AI chatbots make you delusional?
Chris Larkins
Head of Operations at CSL Securus
CSL Securus
Episode: Celebrating David Attenborough’s 100th birthday and a new way of making vaccines
Chelsea Huang
Astronomer, University of Southern Queensland
University of Southern Queensland
Episode: Celebrating David Attenborough’s 100th birthday and a new way of making vaccines

Hosts

Jonathan Webb
Host of Lab Notes
Robyn Williams
Host of The Science Show
Belinda Smith
Co-host

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
    Australia2 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 States4 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
    Australia10 months 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.

The host asks tough, timely questions and keeps science accessible.
High production quality with strong storytelling around complex topics.
Some listeners wish for more global perspective and fewer off-topic interviews.
Guests consistently bring breadth across STEM and policy.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Science and the budget, bird flu closer to Australia and a guide to pollination
Q: How do scientists decide when to pull the trigger on creating H5N1 vaccines for human use?
Decision criteria include cross-species transmission patterns, signs of mammal-to-mammal spread, and clear signals of potential human-to-human transmission, with regulatory bodies declaring a pandemic as the key switch point.
Science and the budget, bird flu closer to Australia and a guide to pollination
Q: What signals would prompt a switch in vaccine manufacturing from seasonal vaccines to a pandemic formulation?
A transition would be triggered by evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission and a WHO pandemic declaration, which would prompt regulators and manufacturers to switch to a pandemic-specific vaccine campaign.
Australian science under strain
Q: What is the current state of funding for Australian science and how has it changed over time?
Funding success rates have fallen dramatically, competition has surged, and investment as a share of GDP has declined, leading to concerns about pipeline and long-term capability.
Lab Notes: Aussies loved Artemis II — and they want more
Q: Tell me where this idea started. Why did you decide to survey Australians about Artemis II?
Brooke explains that the research began before Artemis II launched to capture contemporary, representative sentiment toward space exploration, and the YouGov team surveyed over 1,000 Australian adults to understand engagement with the launch and broader beliefs about space.
Lab Notes: Can we replace lab animals?
Q: Can you give us a sense of how long animals have played a role in scientific research and some of the progress we've made that we wouldn't have otherwise?
Saunders explains that animal research goes back to early understandings of biology, with animals contributing across anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and behavior. He notes that while animals remain important, new approaches like cell-based models, organoids, and organs-on-a-chip are reducing animal use, and a shift toward biobanks and AI-driven toxicology could further replace animals in many contexts.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Science Show

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

A broad, evidence-driven science program that covers everything from planetary atmospheres and climate science to biology, public health and technology. Episodes pair outside-the-lab reporting with expert interviews to explain complex phenomena—polination biology, ocean currents, AI folklore, vaccine manufacturing, and space exploration—in accessible terms. Notable strengths include a consistent emphasis on real-world implications, strong cross-disciplinary guests, and a knack for tying big ideas to local Australian context, policy, and everyday life. The show often blends foundational science with policy, ethics, and practical applications, making it a versatile pick for listeners who want both depth and breadth in science storytelling.

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?

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What are the audience demographics for The Science Show?

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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. What The Duck?!
2. Health Report
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.

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What guests have appeared on The Science Show?

Recent guests on The Science Show include:

1. Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul
2. Chantelle Doyle
3. Jeremy Phan
4. Megan Dewar
5. Karen Lorry
6. Ingrid Scheffer
7. James Purtill
8. Chris Larkins

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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