Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.
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
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
The Hidden Voices of Monk Seals
Researchers uncover 20 new underwater calls from Hawaii’s endangered monk seals.
19 min
7
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.
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
9
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
10
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.
Vaccines coming under fire, satellites crowding the skies, and dogs boosting teen mental health.
8 min
12
New Hope for Treating Postpartum Depression?
This Two-Week Treatment May Reset the Brain
13 min
13
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
14
Thanksgiving’s Iconic Bird Is Thriving Again in...
Wild turkeys once nearly disappeared, but today they’re thriving.
14 min
15
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
16
The Hidden Worlds of ‘Nanocosmos’
Witness the Hidden Beauty of Snowflakes, Radiolarians and Lunar Rocks
23 min
17
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
18
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
19
Can Vaccines Help Defeat Cancer?
From COVID shots to cancer therapy, mRNA is changing medicine.
20 min
20
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
21
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
22
The Science of Headaches
Migraine and cluster headaches affect millions—yet research remains surprisingly thin.
13 min
23
Why Defiance Can Be a Virtue
Why saying no is harder than it should be.
15 min
24
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
25
How to Trick-or-Treat Your Gut
This Halloween discover how your candy choices can trick—or treat—the microbes in your gut.