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
1
What is consciousness, really?
A dive into how scientists are trying to understand what consciousness is and where it comes from
15 min
2
EPA weakens air pollution rules, cancer surviva...
Why the EPA’s air pollution rule change could make the air dirtier, how cancer survival hit a record-high, and what we know about the first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station
9 min
3
How Venezuela’s Heavy Crude Shapes Climate Risks
A break down of why Venezuela’s oil boom is clashing with a hotter, more fragile planet
17 min
4
The Great Seed Oil Panic
A food scientist debunks the vilification of seed oils on social media and explains what research says about them.
16 min
5
Woodpeckers Rock the Lab, AI Steps Out of the C...
Why flu cases are spiking, how AI predicts disease from your sleep, and what surprising biomechanics lie behind woodpeckers’ powerful pecks.
9 min
6
Weighing the Good and Bad of Weight-Loss Drugs
Behind the hype of GLP-1 medications lies complex science, serious side effects and a pharmaceutical arms race.
21 min
7
America’s Children Face a New Era of Health Risk
A look at how evolving national health policies could reshape the future of kids’ care, from vaccines to essential treatments.
13 min
8
How to Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick
Behavioral economist Katy Milkman explains why most New Year’s resolutions fail and shares how science-backed strategies can build habits that last.
15 min
9
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
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
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
14
The Hidden Voices of Monk Seals
Researchers uncover 20 new underwater calls from Hawaii’s endangered monk seals.
19 min
15
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
16
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
17
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
18
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
19
CDC Vaccine Panel, Satellite Light Pollution, P...
Vaccines coming under fire, satellites crowding the skies, and dogs boosting teen mental health.
8 min
20
New Hope for Treating Postpartum Depression?
This Two-Week Treatment May Reset the Brain
13 min
21
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
22
Thanksgiving’s Iconic Bird Is Thriving Again in...
Wild turkeys once nearly disappeared, but today they’re thriving.
14 min
23
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
24
The Hidden Worlds of ‘Nanocosmos’
Witness the Hidden Beauty of Snowflakes, Radiolarians and Lunar Rocks
23 min
25
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