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Science Quickly

Scientific American

300 episodes

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

Episodes page 4 of 6

  1. Why Medication Safety in Pregnancy Is Still a Mystery

    · 12 min

    When the U.S. president claimed that acetaminophen use during pregnancy could cause autism in a person’s offspring, it reignited a deeper conversation about how little we know about medication safety for pregnant…

  2. The Science of a Convincing Sorry

    · 11 min

    What makes an apology sound sincere? Psychologist Shiri Lev-Ari joins host Rachel Feltman to explore how the effort we put into our words—especially through longer, easier-to-understand language—can signal genuine…

  3. Global Superbugs Surge, Chikungunya Hits Long Island, and Satellites Leak Data

    · 8:52

    This week on Science Quickly, we cover the global rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a rare U.S. case of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus and new research on anti-inflammatory supplements. Plus, scientists…

  4. The Meteorite That Vanished: El Ali’s Strange Journey

    · 18 min

    A massive iron meteorite sat undisturbed in the Somali desert for generations—until armed men stole it in 2020. The El Ali meteorite contains at least three minerals never before seen on Earth, making it scientifically…

  5. Why Is Lung Cancer Surging among Young Women?

    · 16 min

    Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women, surpassing breast and ovarian cancer combined. Thoracic surgeon Jonathan Villena explains why younger nonsmoking women are increasingly affected—and…

  6. Nobel Prizes, COVID Vaccine Updates and Malnutrition in Gaza

    · 8:40

    This week on Science Quickly, we break down the 2025 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Physics and Chemistry. We also unpack the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s shifting COVID vaccine guidance, a…

  7. The Doctor behind the Commander in Chief

    · 20 min

    Presidential physicians operate at the intersection of medicine, politics and national security. Former White House physician Jeffrey Kuhlman joins Scientific American associate editor Lauren Young to discuss the…

  8. Chris Hadfield’s Fictional Universe Is Rooted in Real Space History

    · 11 min

    What happens when a real-life astronaut turns to fiction? In this episode, Chris Hadfield shares how decades of spaceflight and global diplomacy inspired his latest novel, Final Orbit, a cold war thriller packed with…

  9. Enceladus’s Alien Ocean, Ancient Fungi and the Flavor of Influenza

    · 9:47

    Saturn’s moon Enceladus reveals complex organic molecules that could hint at extraterrestrial life. Researchers also uncover fungi’s ancient reign over Earth and warn that second COVID infections may pose greater risks…

  10. Enter One of the World’s Quietest Rooms

    · 20 min

    Inside one of the quietest rooms in the world, host Rachel Feltman meets artist-in-residence Seth Cluett at the historic anechoic chamber at Bell Labs to explore the science of silence and sound perception. From…

  11. What’s Driving Experts Away from the CDC?

    · 16 min

    Several top public health experts have resigned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing a troubling shift away from science-based decision-making. Former director of the CDC's National Center for…

  12. Tylenol and Autism, a Shark Threesome and a Typhoon

    · 12 min

    This week’s roundup breaks down the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to revise the safety label for acetaminophen (Tylenol) following the Trump administration’s misleading claims about a link between use of the…

  13. The Dead Composer Whose ‘Brain’ Still Makes Music

    · 25 min

    In a hauntingly innovative exhibit, brain cells grown from the late composer Alvin Lucier’s blood generate sound. Set in a museum in Perth, Australia, the installation blurs the line between art and neuroscience. Host…

  14. Mary Roach on the Science of Swapping Human Parts

    · 11 min

    In this episode of Science Quickly, host Rachel Feltman explores the age-old quest to replace failing human body parts with science writer Mary Roach. From ancient surgery to modern medical marvels, Roach shares…

  15. Vaccine Shakeups, Brain Injury Warnings and Boozy Chimps

    · 11 min

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee has been reshaped, with new recommendations on the horizon. Meanwhile studies reveal subtle brain changes in contact sports players and…

  16. Algorithmic Social Media Is Driving New Slang

    · 27 min

    From viral slang such as “skibidi” to the rise of so-called brain rot, linguist and content creator Adam Aleksic, aka the “Etymology Nerd,” and associate editor Allison Parshall, who covers the mind and brain, unpack…

  17. The Role Our Microbiome Plays In Our ‘Gut Feelings’

    · 13 min

    Scientists are tuning in to a surprising conversation happening inside us—between our gut and our brain. Host Rachel Feltman chats with Maya Kaelberer, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona’s department…

  18. Kissing Bugs, Koalas and Clues to Life on Mars

    · 9:37

    A paper published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention argues that Chagas disease is now endemic in the U.S. Koalas may finally be spared from a deadly epidemic. Meanwhile NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover…

  19. Unpacking the Brain’s Role in Inventing Your Perception

    · 16 min

    Human brains don’t just perceive reality—they invent it. In this episode of Science Quickly, cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Yon speaks with host Rachel Feltman about how perception is an active process of prediction…

  20. How a Tick Bite Can Make You Allergic to Meat

    · 14 min

    A tick bite can trigger a rare allergy to red meat and animal products, forcing major lifestyle changes. Scientist Lee Haines joins host Rachel Feltman to break down what causes alpha-gal syndrome, why it’s spreading…

  21. Marsquakes, Vaccine Politics and Mammoth Microbiomes

    · 9:45

    This week’s roundup dives into Mars’s lumpy mantle, a nasal spray that may help prevent COVID and the growing confusion around vaccine access in the U.S. Plus, researchers link phone use while on the toilet to…

  22. Inside the Turmoil at the CDC

    · 14 min

    In this episode of Science Quickly, host Rachel Feltman is joined by associate editor for health and medicine Lauren J. Young to unpack the growing unrest at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following the…

  23. Hurricane Forecasting 101

    · 13 min

    Meteorologists have made big strides in predicting hurricane paths, but many people still misinterpret the forecast maps. In this episode, senior news editor for sustainability Andrea Thompson joins host Rachel Feltman…

  24. Katrina Was Predicted: Revisiting Warning Signs 20 Years Later

    · 23 min

    Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Scientific American revisits the storm’s tragic legacy and the scientific warnings that went unheeded. Senior editor Mark Fischetti shares his experience…

  25. The Deep Sea’s Mysterious Oxygen Source

    · 18 min

    Trillions of potato-sized rocks scattered across the deep ocean floor are rich in metals such as cobalt and copper—making them a target for mining companies eager to fuel the clean-energy transition. But recent…

  26. Science’s Greatest 180s

    · 8:04

    Science doesn’t always get it right the first time—and that’s part of the journey. In this anniversary episode, we explore how ideas about nerve damage, sustainable materials and alien life have done a full 180.…

  27. Could Peanut Allergies Be Cured?

    · 20 min

    Peanut allergies have surged dramatically in recent decades, and scientists are still working to understand why. In this episode, journalist Maryn Mckenna, who recently authored an article on the subject, and host…

  28. Nature’s Sexual Spectrum Breaks the Binary

    · 12 min

    Biologist Nathan Lents joins Science Quickly to explore the vast sexual diversity found across the animal kingdom. His new book, The Sexual Evolution: How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender, and Mating Shape Modern…

  29. Chikungunya Outbreak, Glacial Outbursts and a New Human Ancestor

    · 11 min

    The chikungunya virus is rapidly spreading in China. Could it make its way to the U.S.? Meanwhile in Alaska a glacial lake outburst flooded the nearby Mendenhall River to record levels. And in Ethiopia fossilized teeth…

  30. Dinner with King Tut Explores the Wild World of Experimental Archaeology

    · 15 min

    Science writer Sam Kean joins Science Quickly to explore the hands-on world of experimental archaeology—where researchers don’t just study the past; they rebuild it. From launching medieval catapults to performing…

  31. Living Longer, Aging Smarter [Sponsored]

    · 8:32

    Life expectancy has risen dramatically since 1900, reshaping how we understand aging. Scientists now view skin not just as a surface indicator, but as a biological marker of systemic health. In this podcast episode,…

  32. Condoms and Vasectomies Aren’t Enough—Is a Male Birth Control Pill Next?

    · 9:53

    In this episode, host Rachel Feltman speaks with freelance science journalist Hannah Seo about a promising new development in male contraception: a hormone-free birth control pill that reversibly stops sperm production…

  33. Cosmic Discoveries Soar as Earthly Health Decisions Stir Alarm

    · 9:20

    Rogue planets drifting through space might be forming their own planetary systems. NASA’s Europa Clipper mission has completed a key radar test ahead of its journey to study Jupiter’s icy moon. Plus, a major shift in…

  34. Climate Science Gets a Seat in Congress with Eric Sorensen

    · 18 min

    Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois brings his background as a meteorologist to the halls of Congress, advocating for science-based policy amid intensifying climate threats. In this episode, he shares how personal…

  35. Former NASA Leaders Are Sounding the Alarm on Budget Cuts

    · 17 min

    The White House has proposed sharp cuts to NASA’s science budget, potentially reducing it to historic lows not seen since the early Apollo era. Beyond space exploration, NASA’s work influences daily life—from accurate…

  36. Russia’s Earthquake, Wonders of Walking and Surprising Plant Genetics

    · 11 min

    Host Rachel Feltman talks with Andrea Thompson, Scientific American’s senior sustainability editor, to discuss the massive Russian earthquake and the reason it produced such relatively minor tsunami waves. Plus, we…

  37. Is AI Conscious? Claude 4 Raises the Question

    · 22 min

    Host Rachel Feltman talks with Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American’s senior tech reporter, about his recent exchange with Claude 4, an artificial intelligence chatbot that seemed to suggest it might be conscious.…

  38. Your Guide to Summer’s Extreme Weather, from Corn Sweat to Flash Floods

    · 9:04

    The summer of 2025 has been a doozy in the U.S., with extreme weather across the country. Flash flooding caused destruction and death in Texas. Corn sweat made a heat wave in the eastern half of the U.S. worse in the…

  39. Summer Meteor Showers, Short Summer Days and Ancient Arthropods

    · 8:49

    If last Tuesday seemed to fly by, you can blame the rotation of Earth. Try to look up this week to see the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids meteor showers. Plus, we discuss FEMA cuts and ancient…

  40. Greenland’s Ice Sheet Is at Risk—And So Are We

    · 22 min

    Chief multimedia editor Jeffery DelViscio ventured to Greenland for a month to learn from the scientists studying the country’s ice sheet. He speaks with host Rachel Feltman about his time in the field and his…

  41. What to Read on the Beach This Summer

    · 11 min

    Scientific American has been reading, reviewing and recommending books for more than 100 years. These days Brianne Kane, our resident reader, is in charge of organizing our book recommendation lists to help…

  42. Time Travel to Tide Pool 101 from Our July 1925 Issue

    · 8:57

    Time travel to an introduction to tide pools, the start of commercial air travel and an intercontinental aviation museum dispute. Host Rachel Feltman is taking a look at a 1925 issue of Scientific American for this…

  43. Dungeons and Dragons’ Popularity Grows—And Science Follows

    · 22 min

    Brennan Lee Mulligan is a professional dungeon master, playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), a popular tabletop role-playing game, for audiences online and in person. In January his D&D show on Dropout.tv, Dimension 20,…

  44. The LIGO Lab Is Pushing the Boundaries of Gravitational-Wave Research

    · 18 min

    Come with Science Quickly on a field trip to the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Host Rachel Feltman is joined by Matthew Evans, MIT’s…

  45. This Surgery Can Lead to Weight Loss—But Stigma Is Harder to Shake Off

    · 16 min

    Each year more than half a million people undergo bariatric surgery, a procedure geared toward weight loss. But research shows that stigma around weight can continue to affect people’s lives even during recovery from…

  46. Why Do We Sing? Musicologists and Neuroscientists Seek an Answer

    · 25 min

    Last year Science Quickly looked across disciplines to piece apart the science of singing. To understand why humans sing, musicologists collaborated on an international study of folk music. To understand how we sing,…

  47. What Does an Ailing Coral Reef Sound Like?

    · 17 min

    Sick coral reefs are visually striking—bleached and lifeless, far from the vibrancy we’ve come to expect. But what does an unhealthy coral system sound like? In this rerun, conservation bioacoustics researcher Isla…

  48. An Astronaut Shares His Passion for Space Photography—Live, from the ISS Cupola

    · 18 min

    Ten months ago Science Quickly made space history by conducting the first-ever live interview from the cupola of the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Matthew Dominick spoke with Rachel Feltman about his…

  49. Move Over Fireworks—Drone Shows Are Taking to the Skies

    · 16 min

    Drone shows are replacing fireworks for summer celebrations. They’re safer and more environmentally friendly but complicated to program and run. A recent preprint paper proposes an algorithmic solution that can take…

  50. Talking to the Host of Drilled about the Legal Battles around Standing Rock

    · 13 min

    Protests around the construction of the now complete Dakota Access Pipeline brought national attention to Energy Transfer, the company that built and owns the pipeline and funded private security against the…

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