Shots of Science Vs
Shots of Science Vs is a podcast that delivers quick, bite-sized episodes from the popular Science Vs show. It takes on fads, trends, and popular opinions to separate fact from fiction. The podcast aims to provide clear, evidence-based answers to common questions and debates. It is produced by Spotify Studios and is available in English.
Episodes
Ozempic: Does It Cause Muscle Loss?
We’re hearing that weight loss drugs comes with worrisome loss of muscle. Is that true?? We talk to endocrinologist Dr. Vibha Singhal.
Shots of Science Vs will be going on pause, but come find us over at Science Vs - where you can listen to our brand new episodes! Just search for Science Vs in Spotify. See you over there!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Anti-Aging: Does Young Blood Work?
Today we look at an anti-aging hack that's been buzzing around the internet: the potential powers of young blood. We talk to researcher Dr. Jim White.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MDMA: Can It Kill You?
MDMA is a party drug that some say should be seen as a legitimate medicine. But at the same time – there are stories of people taking this drug… and dying. So what's going on here? We talk to former DEA special agent James Hunt and public health researcher Prof. Joseph Palamar.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Personality Tests: Can Science Tell Us Who We Are?
Today on the show – what can science actually tell us about our personalities?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Caffeine: How Addictive Is It?
Today on the show we find out – Will your cappuccino leave you needing more and more? How addictive is caffeine?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MDMA: Is It Dangerous?
There's new research suggesting that this party drug could be a promising treatment for things like PTSD… but some people say MDMA has a dark side… So let's find out – how dangerous is MDMA? We talk to neuroscientist Prof. Harriet de Witt.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
DMT: A Wonder Drug for Depression?
DMT might be the weirdest drug in the already weird world of psychedelics. It’s the active ingredient in ayahuasca, but on its own, DMT can give you what’s nicknamed “the businessman’s trip” — a psychedelic journey that can be done and dusted inside 15 minutes. So what is this drug doing to our brains? And could it help people with depression? We catch up with Dr Graham Campbell, Michelle Baker Jo
Personality Tests: Do You Have a Type?
Personality tests like the MBTI are all over the internet, the workplace, and dating apps — but some say it’s all a bunch of baloney. So are any of these personality tests legit? We talk to psychologists Dr. Alexander Swan and Dr. Emorie Beck.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Caffeine: How Bad Is It for Your Sleep?
Caffeine is a drug that tons of us take every day. How badly does that cup of coffee affect your sleep? We talk to Prof. Gregory Marcus.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MDMA: What’s It Doing in the Brain?
Molly, ecstasy, MDMA: whatever you call it, this drug is blowing up. Some say MDMA can be a legitimate medicine to treat conditions like PTSD. But what's it actually doing inside our brains? We talk to public health researcher Prof. Joseph Palamar and neuroscientist Prof. Harriet de Witt.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Is Your Brain on Gossip
We all know gossip can be bad — but some of us still can’t seem to get enough of it. So what's happening in our brains when someone spills the tea? We talk to neuroscientist Professor Josep Marco-Pallarés.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Big Lemming Lie
Today on the show – we're talking about when our eyes see lies – about how when we want to believe something... we can be so easily deceived… And this tale involves a creature who has a tail!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ayahuasca: The Science of DMT
DMT might be the weirdest drug in the already weird world of psychedelics. It’s the active ingredient in ayahuasca, but on its own, DMT can give you what’s nicknamed “the businessman’s trip” — a psychedelic journey that can be done and dusted inside 15 minutes. So what is this drug doing to our brains?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Living in Miniature
A terrifying syndrome where everything around you appears in miniature ... Joel tells a story about when you really can't believe your own eyes, recorded live at the Beaker Street Festival in Tasmania.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Caffeine: How Does It Work?
Caffeine is a drug that tons of us take every day. How does it work? What's it actually doing inside our brains and bodies? We talk to Dr. Astrid Nehlig.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Birth of MDMA
Molly, ecstasy, MDMA: whatever you call it, this drug is blowing up. Some say MDMA can be a legitimate medicine to treat conditions like PTSD. But where did it come from? We talk to psychiatrist George Greer.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Who's Guilty of Gossip?
We all know gossip can be bad — but some of us still can’t seem to get enough of it. So today we’re digging into the science of gossip to answer questions like: who really gossips? And why do we love it so much? We spill the tea with sociologist Dr. Stacy Torres.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Case of the Missing Penis
The story of a dead man with a bitten penis and perplexing DNA... recorded live at the Beaker Street Festival in Tasmania!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
UFOs: Are the Space Tic-Tacs Real?
A whistleblower claims that the U.S. government is covering up what it knows about aliens on Earth, and several military pilots recently testified to seeing strange objects in the sky. It kinda feels like the tide is turning on UFOs — even NASA is taking these sightings seriously. So what’s going on here? Have aliens visited? And will we ever find alien life somewhere … out there? We speak to astr
Seed Oils: Should You Ditch Them?
We’ve been told that foods like butter and bacon are bad for us — because they're packed with saturated fats. And top dogs in nutrition say that a better option is vegetable oil, like canola oil. But there’s a trend popping off claiming that these top dogs are barking up the wrong tree. They say that butter is better and that those vegetable oils, aka “seed oils,” are incredibly dangerous. So — wh
The Massive Fight Over A Cave of Bones
The smash hit Netflix documentary “Unknown: Cave of Bones” has kicked off an all-out science brawl. The film makes extraordinary claims about a strange ape-like creature that lived hundreds of thousands of years ago — claims that rewrite what it means to be human. But some scientists are pushing back, saying that at this point, these extraordinary claims aren’t backed up by extraordinary evidence.
Andrew Huberman: Skate Punk Turned Neuroscientist
Andrew Huberman is a skate punk turned neuroscientist, and he hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the U.S.: The Huberman Lab. Today, we talk to him about his unlikely path to becoming a scientist and his fascinating research into regrowing neurons.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Self-Care: Ice Baths ... Do They Work?
Can plunging into an ice bath make us feel happier? We’re digging into some of the quirkiest self-care hacks around the internet to find out what the science says — and whether you should add them to your routine. We talk to environmental physiologist Dr. Heather Massey.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Secret World of Plants
Plants aren’t just sitting around looking cute; they’re doing all sorts of stuff, like defending themselves, and even warning other plants about danger. Today, we’re talking all about the weird and wily world of plants with Professor Beronda Montgomery from Michigan State University. She has a new book out called “Lessons From Plants.”
Transcript: https://bit.ly/3kQ2bHg
This episode was produced
Vaping: What's It Doing to Our Lungs?
More and more people are puffing on vapes — but some governments are making moves to ban them. So how dangerous is vaping, really? To find out what vapes might be doing to our lungs, we talk with tobacco researcher Dr. Michael Chaiton.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Breathwork: Can It Help You De-stress?
The latest hot new trend is: breathing. Yeah, that’s right — there are claims that so-called breathwork can cure depression and supercharge your brain. Breathfluencers reckon that we're breathing all wrong but that with the right kind of breathing, you could be living a happier, healthier life. So what's the deal here? To find out, we talk to psychiatrists Professor David Spiegel and Dr. Patricia
Therapy: Dive Into The Unconscious
Our mental health has taken a turn for the worse the past couple of years, and we keep hearing that therapy can help— but how does it work? We explore the origins of therapy with psychologist Dr. Jonathan Shedler.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Immune Boosting: Do Echinacea and Elderberry Work?
Internet influencers have been pushing “immune boosters” during the pandemic — especially plants like echinacea and elderberry. But can these herbal supplements truly work as a shield against colds and viruses? We speak to immunologist Shiv Pillai.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cosmic Vampires
All stars are destined to die... but there's a special kind of star that can come back from the dead! We talk to astrophysicist Dr. Moiya McTier about this cosmic phenomenon.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Can Melatonin Help You Sleep?
Not sleeping enough turning you into a monster? Can taking melatonin help? We speak with circadian scientist Prof. Russell Foster.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Astrology: The Path to Your Star-Crossed Lover?
For centuries, people have been looking to the stars to tell us all kinds of things — what our future holds, who we should date. So... can astrology help find you true love? We speak to Prof. Dave Henningsen.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Can Exercise Boost Your Immune System?
Is it true that exercise can boost our immune system? We speak to immune aging researcher Niharika Duggal.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oppenheimer: When Science Meets Hollywood
Today we're going behind the scenes of Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film “Oppenheimer.” Professor David Saltzberg, one of the scientists who consulted on the movie (also “The Big Bang Theory”), joins us to chat about the science behind the movie.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Bats Break Science
Many bats can live a bizarrely long time, and brush off viruses that kill people. How do they do it and what can we learn from them? Zoology Professor Emma Teeling and bat researcher and clinician Matae Ahn fly through the science.
Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsBats
This episode was produced by Flora Lichtman with help from Wendy Zukerman, Joel Werner, R.E. Natowicz, and Mi
Immortal Jellyfish: Forever and Ever and Ever?
Today we're diving into the mysteries of the immortal jellyfish. We speak to Prof. Ferdinando Boero and Prof. Shin Kubota.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Probiotics: Can They Cure Depression?
Probiotic-crammed foods and pills are marketed as charmers of the human microbiome — and the key to immune, gut and brain health. But can they really boost your mood and help with things like depression? We talk to psychiatry professor Ted Dinan.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sex Drive: Can You Boost Your Libido?
Tons of people struggle to get revved up about sex. It can mess with their relationships and how they feel about themselves. So enter the multimillion-dollar supplement industry with miracle solutions. Even Big Pharma has joined the battle for our libido, with drugs that claim to work wonders. But what if our ideas about sex drive are completely wrong? What if a pill (or testosterone injection) is
Does AirBnB Make Rents Go Up?
Many people point their finger at AirBnB for contributing to the affordable housing crisis. They say that short-term rentals like AirBnB take housing off the market and cause rents and house prices to go up. Is that true? We talk to University of Sydney prof. Nicole Gurran.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Gluten: Does It Cause Weight Gain?
Going gluten-free is all the rage — we hear it’s the secret hack to weight loss. Is it true? We talk to nutrition epidemiologist Dr. Natalie Riediger.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
AI: Should We Be Worried?
We dig into one of the biggest problems that scientists are worried about: The ability of AI to trick us. We talk to Dr. Professor Seth Lazar about the science.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Blue Balls: Are They Real?
We join forces with Sarah Marshall from You’re Wrong About to dive into a question for the ages: Blue balls — are they real? And we’ve got some BIG blue balls news in this episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Dentist: Is It All a Lie?
The dentist tells us to floss, brush, avoid certain food and drinks ... but what actually matters when it comes to having healthy teeth? We talk to epidemiologist and dentist Professor Philippe Hujoel.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Skin Care: Does Anything Wipe Out Wrinkles?
When it comes to keeping our skin looking younger, what works? Retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C? This simple question has become confused by the billion-dollar skin-care industry, which floods us with scientific-sounding claims about the chemicals they say we should put on our face. We find out the real science on what you need for healthy skin with Dr Natalia Spierings and Dr Szu Wong.
Learn m
The Icy Grip of Death
When a snowstorm hits, a remote hike in the Pyrenees mountains turns deadly. Rohan Schoeman and Audrey Mash take us along their treacherous trails, and we speak to Dr. Eduard Argudo.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Beavers Are Sticking It to Climate Change
Today, we give a dam about beavers. These busy rodents don’t just chill and go with the flow — it turns out their grabby paws are actually helping hands in the fight against climate change. We dive into how this works with ecologists Dr. Emily Fairfax and Dr. Ben Dittbrenner.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ketamine: Enter a K-Hole of Science
For years, ketamine has been thought of mostly as a horse tranquilizer — or a street drug that puts you in a scary-sounding K-hole. But now, we’re hearing reports that it could be almost a miracle medicine, treating stubborn depression and other mental illnesses. So how good is it, really? And could using a drug like this for depression actually be dangerous? We talk to researchers Dr. Rebecca Pri
Pit Bulls: Are Some Dogs Born Bad?
Pit bulls have a dark reputation. And some people say the science backs this up: that they bite people more often and do more damage when they chomp down. But other people say, no way — these dogs don’t deserve their bad rap. And if a dog has a problem, it’s really the owner’s fault. So who’s right? To find out, we talk to animal behavior expert Anna MacNeil.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visi
Superbugs: The End of Modern Medicine?
Imagine getting an infection, going to the doctor, and having no little pill to make you better. Welcome to a world of SUPERBUGS. For years we've been hearing that our antibiotics aren't working as well as they used to. But recently, it feels like things have really gotten out of hand — we’re told that these super scary antibiotic-resistant bugs are EVERYWHERE. In today’s episode, Wendy visits a f
Hangovers: Can Science Save Us?
What actually cures a hangover? Water? Crushed up Advil? Maybe a burger, fries and a Diet Coke? We wanted to know what the science says about how to bounce back when we’ve had a few too many. We talk to psychopharmacologist Andrew Scholey to find out.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Alcohol: The Latest on the War on Booze
For decades we’ve been yanked around over alcohol: one day it’s actually good for us, the next day it’s a killer. And recently there’ve been reports that even a little bit of booze is bad for you overall. We first looked into this back in 2019, and since then the research has evolved faster than a nanobrewery’s tap list. So today we’re diving back into the science to find out: is just a bit of alc
Weight Loss Meds: How Does Ozempic Work?
People say drugs like Ozempic are helping them lose tons of weight. But are these drugs really all they’re cracked up to be? We talk to endocrinologist Prof. Tricia Tan.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Pet Food: Is Kibble Full of Crap?
Is the stuff in your standard kibble full of crap? Should your dog or cat be eating it... or should you shell out for the fancier stuff? We talk to Prof. Marion Nestle.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Snake Bite Cures: Weasels, Pigeons, Pee
Venomous snakes entranced medieval Europe. And although bites were rare, this didn't stop 14th century doctors from using everything but the kitchen sink to make snake bite treatments.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ssseriously Deadly Venom
Why the heck is snake venom so deadly? We speak to Captain Pete Bethune and snake venom researcher Dr. Christina Zdenek.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Talking Squids?
Way down in the deep Pacific ocean... Red Devil squids have been quite chatty with one another!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Vampire Demon Anchovy
Scientists took a closer look at some ancient anchovy fossils and realized that these little fishies were a lot scarier than we thought.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Meat-Eating Sponges?
Scientists discovered some VERY unique deep-sea critters off the coast of eastern Australia.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
An A.I. Pop Song (ft. Koalas)
Scientists taught a computer algorithm how to create pop songs on its own – They threw in a dash of koala sounds... and here's how it turned out!
Listen to the full song here: https://bit.ly/3lH37ve
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Frogs: A Date... with Death?
This week we bring you a ribbiting story about the pug-nosed tree frog.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Do Rainy Days Smell?
Ever wonder what that earthy smell is after a rainstorm? We go on a little science adventure to find out.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Supervolcanoes: Is Yellowstone Overdue?
We keep hearing that a Yellowstone supervolcano could blow at any moment — and possibly wipe us all out. So is Yellowstone overdue for the BIG ONE, and if it happens, how bad could it be? To find out, we talk to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Dr. Mike Poland.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Orgasms: Pleasure in the Brain
There’s this idea that the female orgasm is a complicated riddle, but for a man with a penis, getting off is easy peasy. Is there really an orgasm gap? And if so — can what's happening in our brains during an orgasm help explain it? To learn more, we talk to neuroscientist Dr. Nan Wise.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Vitamin D: Should You Be Popping It?
Some say there's a global epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency. So should we taking Vitamin D supplements? We talk to nutritional epidemiologist Prof. Katherine Tucker.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Astrology: Is It Lying Taurus All?
For centuries, people have been looking to the stars to tell us all kinds of things — what our future holds, who we should date. But where did it come from? And is your sign REALLY your sign? We speak to astronomer Prof. Caty Pilachowski to find out.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Birth Control: Does 'Pulling Out' Work?
Everyone’s got a myth or two about birth control they want cleared up. We take a closer look into 'pulling out' AKA the withdrawal method with gynecologist Dr. Amita Murthy.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Adderall: How Does It Work?
There’s an Adderall shortage across the U.S., and it’s causing huge problems for people with ADHD. What is Adderall, exactly? What is it doing in people’s brains? We talk to psychiatrist Prof. Rachel Fargason and actor Kai Liu.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The 13-Legged Sea Monster
The eerie tale of a 13-legged sea creature. We speak to marine biologist Dr. Julian Evans.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Fasting: Can It Help You Live Longer?
Health-fluencers claim that fasting diets can help you live longer and fight cancer. So what does the science say? We speak to nutrition researchers Dr. Krista Varady and cancer researcher Professor Valter Longo.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Power of Hypnosis
What is hypnosis? Is it mind control? Are some people just faking? We explore the science of hypnosis and take Science Vs to the edge of consciousness. In the service of journalism, Wendy tries to get hypnotized at a comedy club and in a doctor’s office. We talk to comedian Jim Spinnato, Prof. Philip Muskin and Prof. Amanda Barnier.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch
Body Odor: Why Do We Stink?
Today, we’re diving into your armpits! We’ll find out why some of us are so freaking smelly. We talk to microbiologist Professor Gavin H Thomas.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Where Is the Male Pill?
A male birth control pill has been this big tease for decades. And today, with the overturning of Roe v. Wade … a male pill might matter more than ever. So we’re grabbing science by the balls to find out – where is it? Will it ever get to the shelves? We talk to physician Prof. John Amory.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Essential Oils: Brain Boosters?
Essential Oils - people say they can make you smarter. But is it all hype, or is there something special about these little brown bottles? To get to the bottom of it, we dig through the studies and speak to psychologist Prof. Mark Moss.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Mystery of the Man Who Died Twice
A dead body turns up with a stolen identity. We tell the story of how a grandmother tracked down the truth — and helped create a whole new and controversial world of crime fighting. To tell this story, we talk to U.S. Marshal Peter Elliott and Dr. Margaret Press.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mass Shootings: Should We Ban Assault Weapons?
Buffalo. Uvalde. Highland Park. These mass shootings keep happening. One side says the problem is the guns, and the other side says the problem is the people. Who’s right? And what policies might actually work to stop mass shootings? We talk to NSSF spokesperson Mark Oliva, gun control researcher Prof. Mark Gius and criminologist Dr. Jillian Peterson.
CN: This episode discusses suicide. If you or
Human Composting: We're Dead Serious
What's the greenest way to die? Some nerds are saying that our bodies should go the way of our veggie scraps — and become compost. But will people get on board with spreading Grandpa in the garden? To find out, we talk to Brie Smith, Micah Truman, Katrina Spade and Thomas Bass.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Online Dating: A Way to Find Your Soulmate?
Online dating can feel like drudgery... can science help you game the system? And do those matching algorithms actually work? To find out, we talked to psychologist Prof. Paul Eastwick.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Medical Gadget Is Failing Black Patients
The EEG is an incredibly important medical tool — and it’s been failing Black patients for decades. So today we’ll hear from two young, Black scientists who teamed up with hairdressers to do something about it. We speak to neurologist Dr. Jessie Baity, engineer Arnelle Etienne, biomedical scientist Lietsel Jones, and hairstylist Nina Woodley.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice
Should You Go Vegan?
Do vegans have a right to be so smug? We’re finding out whether it really is better for the environment, and our bodies, to go vegan. We speak to environmental researcher Joseph Poore and historian Prof. Connie Hilliard.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hydration: How Much Water Do You Need?
How much water do you need to drink… to be the best and brightest you? We speak to Professor Hollie Raynor and Professor Stavros Kavouras
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Football: How Dangerous Is It?
America's favorite pastime seems to be plagued by tragedy. Former NFL players have come forward to say they're suffering from a serious brain disease. Others have ended their lives. So we wanted to know: how risky is playing football?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Recommended
1001raah | هزار و یک راه
1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories & The Best of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1001 Songs That Make You Want To Die
100 Famous Dogs
#100MasterCoaches with Mel Leow, MCC
100% Mixtape Podcast
100 With The Hunter's
10-41: A UCSO Podcast
108.3 WGKSRADIO DEEP HOUSE PARTY
10 at a Time
10Fold Founders
10% Happier with Dan Harris
