Science Quickly

Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.

Science
26
ENCORE: Algorithmic Social Media Is Driving New...
Linguist Adam Aleksic explains how viral slang and algorithm-driven speech aren’t destroying language––they’re accelerating its natural evolution.
25 min
27
ENCORE: Understanding the Science of ‘Squirting’
A mysterious and often debated aspect of human sexuality colloquially known as “squirting” sparks controversy. This episode explores what research reveals.
16 min
28
ENCORE: Science’s Greatest 180s
In honor of SciAm’s 180th birthday, we’re spotlighting the biggest “wait, what?” moments in science history.
5 min
29
The Quest for Climate-Ready Christmas Trees
As Christmas trees face mounting challenges from climate change, researchers explore solutions to help ensure that a beloved holiday tradition endures in a warming world.
12 min
30
2025: The Year Science Was Shaken
A look back at 2025’s biggest science stories—from federal upheaval and public health setbacks to climate policy reversals and groundbreaking discoveries in space.
17 min
31
The Hidden Voices of Monk Seals
Researchers uncover 20 new underwater calls from Hawaii’s endangered monk seals.
19 min
32
Inside the Struggle to Save an Orca Community
A scientist, a journalist and a remarkable scent‑detecting dog race to learn what’s endangering the last southern resident orcas.
10 min
33
Hobbit Disappearance Explained, Second-Hottest ...
This week’s science roundup covers 2025’s near-record heat, a new mpox strain and fresh clues about why hobbits vanished 50,000 years ago.
8 min
34
Karen Hao on Why AI Is Reshaping Society
Journalist Karen Hao unpacks the rise of AI “empires,” their ideological roots, and the hidden environmental and societal costs of OpenAI’s quest for artificial general intelligence.
26 min
35
Can NASA Deliver on Perseverance’s Promise to R...
NASA’s Perseverance rover has gathered groundbreaking Mars samples, but the mission to bring them home is facing serious challenges.
15 min
36
CDC Vaccine Panel, Satellite Light Pollution, P...
Vaccines coming under fire, satellites crowding the skies, and dogs boosting teen mental health.
8 min
37
New Hope for Treating Postpartum Depression?
This Two-Week Treatment May Reset the Brain
13 min
38
Scientific American Picks the Best Reads of the...
Scientific American unveils its first-ever best fiction and nonfiction books of the year, spotlighting stories that blend science, imagination and unforgettable voices.
10 min
39
Thanksgiving’s Iconic Bird Is Thriving Again in...
Wild turkeys once nearly disappeared, but today they’re thriving.
14 min
40
Tamer Raccoons, COP30 Recap, New Fluoride Research
A new study finds that fluoride is safe for kids’ brain—and linked to slightly better test scores.
8 min
41
The Hidden Worlds of ‘Nanocosmos’
Witness the Hidden Beauty of Snowflakes, Radiolarians and Lunar Rocks
23 min
42
Gut Health Tips for the Holidays
As holiday feasts and stress approach, an expert explains how to keep your gut healthy without skipping the stuffing.
15 min
43
The Digital Time Capsule That Survived Two Decades
Scientific American’s editor in chief David M. Ewalt reflects on a 20-year experiment in e-mailing the future.
12 min
44
Can Vaccines Help Defeat Cancer?
From COVID shots to cancer therapy, mRNA is changing medicine.
20 min
45
Can AI Ease the Pain of Loss?
Science writer David Berreby shares his personal journey with griefbots and discusses how they can offer unexpected comfort, insight and connection in the wake of loss.
11 min
46
Why Some Foods Gross Us Out
Kendra Pierre-Louis steps in as interim host and dives into the science behind why some foods—especially mayonnaise—can gross us out.
11 min
47
The Science of Headaches
Migraine and cluster headaches affect millions—yet research remains surprisingly thin.
13 min
48
Why Defiance Can Be a Virtue
Why saying no is harder than it should be.
15 min
49
How Hurricane Melissa Became a Meteorologic Out...
Hurricane Melissa’s rare intensity and lasting impact reveal how storms are evolving in a warming world.
11 min
50
How to Trick-or-Treat Your Gut
This Halloween discover how your candy choices can trick—or treat—the microbes in your gut.
7 min