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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
ScienceNatural Sciences

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Science Show

Latest Episodes

The largest, deepest and oldest whale graveyard has been found off the coast of Western Australia: teeming with life.

Jonathan Webb takes a deep dive with environment reporter, Peter de Kruijff, into the science behind whale falls and their importa... more

What might be the biggest threat to tropical forests? Climate change? Illegal loggers? Invasive species? None of the above. It’s roads. Bill Laurance explains.

On an island full of trees, there can only be one that is the tallest. How did researchers in Taiwan manage to find the tallest tree in East Asia?

This week, Jonathan Webb finds this out by speaking to Dr Rebecca Hsu, the lead researcher behind the ... more

Evidence is mounting that Indigenous people were in Australia early than the 65,000 date most now know. And there are suggestions the continent supported a population of at least 2 million people. Authors Sean Ulm, Billy Griffiths and Larissa Behrend... 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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Recent Guests

Catherine Ball
Futurist, associate professor, cybernetics expert
University or affiliations discussed in episode (UNSW AI Institute mentioned)
Episode: AI tools in ocean research and a tribute to Dame Bridget Ogilvie
Vanessa Perotta
Wildlife biologist, science communicator
Taronga Zoo
Episode: AI tools in ocean research and a tribute to Dame Bridget Ogilvie
Matt O'Keen
Comedian, author, actor, radio presenter
Episode: AI tools in ocean research and a tribute to Dame Bridget Ogilvie
Ellen Phiddian
Science reporter discussing lead contamination in textiles
ABC Radio National, Science Unit
Episode: Lab Notes: Lead may be hiding in your clothing
Jenny Graves
Professor of Genetics, La Trobe University
La Trobe University
Episode: Sex testing at the Olympics: beware the exceptions
Noel Pearson
Indigenous leader, commentator
Not specified
Episode: Sex testing at the Olympics: beware the exceptions
Arianna Lambridis
Archaeologist
University/Cairns context
Episode: Sex testing at the Olympics: beware the exceptions
Pamela Yeh
Ecologist, UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
Episode: Sex testing at the Olympics: beware the exceptions
George Musser
Science writer
Independent/News outlets
Episode: Sex testing at the Olympics: beware the exceptions

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 States5 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.

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.

Lab Notes: Plants can hear you
Q: But how do we know that plants perceive sound in a way that's meaningful to them, rather than just being physically shaken by vibrations?
Evidence shows that plants not only respond physiologically to sound exposure but also exhibit specific molecular changes, such as altered production of defense compounds when exposed to herbivore-related sounds, indicating a meaningful perception rather than a simple physical reaction.
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.

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 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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three 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. All In The Mind

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. Catherine Ball
2. Vanessa Perotta
3. Matt O'Keen
4. Ellen Phiddian
5. Jenny Graves
6. Noel Pearson
7. Arianna Lambridis
8. Pamela Yeh

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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