Ask Us Anything by Popular Science

How did airplane seats get SO small? Jul 22, 2026 1100 Welcome back to our show! PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ had a little time off, but they return to figure out just how passengers ended up with barely enough room on airplanes for bodies to fit, and what it might mean for passenger safety. Read the Popular Science story that inspired the episode: ⁠h

Why are most people right handed? Jun 25, 2026 989 We're talking hands, and that's no jive, as PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ gesture wildly through a conversation about why roughly 90% of humans have right-hand dominance. Also a special conversation with archaeologist Dr. Anna Goldfield about right and left-handedness in humanity's ancient ancestors. Rea

What makes childhood summers last forever? Jun 10, 2026 1061 It's summer and the days are just packed, as PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dig deep through their memories to figure out why summers stretched seemingly forever as kids, but go by in a flash as adults. Read the Popular Science story that inspired the episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/why-childhood-summers

Is real-life storm chasing like the movies? May 28, 2026 1283 You've seen Twister AND Twisters, now let PopSci Editors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Laura Baisas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ clue you into what storm chasing is life in the real world, through an eye-opening conversation with meteorologist, storm chaser and author Cyrena Arnold, who's also host of the Storm Front Freaks Podcast. Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science

How do airplane toilets work? May 13, 2026 938 There's more than a little bathroom talk in this episode, as PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and News Editor Laura Baisas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ laugh and learn all the ins, outs, and ugly secrets of airplane toilets. Read the Popular Science story that inspired the episode: ⁠https://www.popsci.com/science/how-do-airplane-toilets-work/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a question for a future

How come some birds talk like people? Apr 30, 2026 920 So many shouting and singing birds in this episode, as PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ flap their way to an explanation for why birds learn to mimic human speech. Read the Popular Science story that inspired the episode: ⁠https://www.popsci.com/environment/why-birds-talk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about how parrots use names

Why can't we remember being babies? Apr 16, 2026 1103 Plumbing the depths of their childhood memories, PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ explain why almost no humans remember infancy or early childhood. Read the Popular Science story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/why-dont-i-remember-being-a-baby-study/⁠⁠ If you have a question for a future episode, g

How come only modern humans need braces? Mar 31, 2026 1044 Chomping right through the history of orthodontics and human bone development, PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ investigate why human ancestors never needed braces, but so many modern humans do. Read the Popular Science story that inspired this episode: ⁠https://www.popsci.com/science/why-need-braces/⁠ And make sure you check out

Did any dinosaurs actually spit venom? Mar 18, 2026 1118 Digging deep into the fossil record, PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ investigate whether there really were venomous dinosaurs, like the Dilophosaurus depicted in the first Jurassic Park movie. Read the Popular Science story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/venomous-dinosaurs/ And make sure you check out the

What's the most eco-friendly burial option? Mar 4, 2026 960 After a lifetime of trying to put things in the right bin, we all eventually arrive at the ultimate recycling dilemma: what to do with our bodies after we die? PopSci Editors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠Laura Baisas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ go on exploration to find out what is the most environmentally friendly option for handling human remains? Despite all the new technology, experts say there’s one clear answe

Why do (most) cats hate water? Feb 18, 2026 953 From ancient deserts to kittenhood lessons, PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (PLUS SPECIAL FELINE GUESTS) dive into why most cats are so averse to water. Read Sarah's story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/why-cats-hate-water/ And make sure you read all about Simon the cat, heroic member of the British Navy: http

Surviving freezing temperatures: How low can humans go? Feb 5, 2026 855 Humans are homeotherms, meaning that our core body temperature stays roughly constant, but what happens when conditions drive that body temp down? PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ bundle up to get to the bottom of just how cold humans can get and still survive. Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/coldest-t

Decoding wintery precipitation: What causes snow, sleet and freezing rain? Jan 21, 2026 869 Are you as tired as we are of winter weather? Well, at least it helps to know how it works! PopSci Editors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Laura Baisas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ go on a wintry expedition through all our least favorite types of precipitation. Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/environment/chance-of-precipitation-explained/ If you have a question for a future episode, g

How fast would NYC crumble without people? Featuring 'Survivorman' Les Stroud Jan 8, 2026 1246 In a world without people, how fast would NYC fall apart and nature take over? PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠⁠⁠⁠ go through the timeline for re-wilding America's densest city. Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/environment/abandoned-nyc-what-would-happen/ If you have a question for a future episode, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://p

How do squirrels find their buried nuts in winter? Dec 17, 2025 1014 Every fall, squirrels hide thousands of acorns—but how do they find them again in the winter? PopSci Editor ⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠⁠Annie Colbert⁠ get a little nutty to find the answer. Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/how-squirrels-find-nuts/ To learn more about Tommy Tucker, visit: https://www.popsci.com/environment/famous-ww2-squi

What happens to your bag after you check it in? Nov 26, 2025 962 Each year, roughly 500 MILLION bags are checked at U.S airports, with only 0.4% getting lost - so how DO airlines move your bags around and keep track of them. PopSci Editors ⁠⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Laura Baisas go on a journey to explain it all. Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/technology/what-happens-to-your-checked-bag/ If you have a question for a future

What is human composting? Nov 12, 2025 912 A growing number of Americans are choosing to return to earth after death—literally. Green burials, and specifically human composting, is an environmentally conscious, life-sustaining option that’s now legal in 14 states. But how does a human composting vessel work? And what exactly happens to Grandpa’s hip replacement once he’s been “recycled?” PopSci Editor ⁠⁠Sarah Durn⁠⁠ and Editor-in-Chief ⁠⁠A

Why do we get goosebumps? Plus: RL Stine! Nov 12, 2025 855 Goosebumps are a valuable tool for many animals. They keep mammals with thick fur warm by trapping air near their skin, or help make them look bigger when facing off against a rival. However, in humans a wide range of emotions can also induce goosebumps. BUT WHY? Join PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert as they explain the science AND chat with Goosebumps legend, RL Stine.

Welcome back to Ask Us Anything from Popular Science Oct 29, 2025 68 Join us as we dive into your weirdest, most mind-burning questions–from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. This is… Ask Us Anything. New episodes drop every other Wednesday starting November 12, with more AUA questions and answers here: https://www.popsci.com/category/ask-us-anything/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc

How do chatbots work? Nov 10, 2023 755 If you remember chatting with SmarterChild back on AOL Instant Messenger back in the day, you know how far ChatGPT and Google Bard have come. But how do these so-called chatbots work—and what’s the best way to use them to our advantage? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/

How is Voyager's vintage technology still flying? Apr 25, 2023 706 Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 launched back in 1977 with only a five-year mission to take a gander at Jupiter and Saturn’s rings and moons. Obviously, the Voyager spacecrafts have persisted a lot longer than five years: 46 years, to be exact. They’re still careening through space at a distance between 12 and 14 billion miles from Earth. So how have they lasted four decades longer than expected? -- Follo

Can you become a morning person? Jul 28, 2022 1427 There's plenty of good reasons to be a morning lark. So is it possible, or is biology totally against us wannabe early birds? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Lauren Young: https://twitter.com/laurenjyoung617 Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff:

Where’s the best place to sit in a movie theater? Jul 26, 2022 854 We all have our preferred seats at the movies. But is there scientifically a best place to sit? Stan Horaczek has the answer. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Stan Horaczek: https://twitter.com/stanhoraczek Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: h

Are the bees still dying? Jul 21, 2022 1840 Five or ten years ago, all we heard was "save the bees." Well, are they still dying? PopSci's Philip Kiefer has the answers—and they're surprisingly complicated. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Philip Kiefer: https://twitter.com/PhilipJKiefer Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuA

Why do we like pimple popping? Jul 19, 2022 739 It's super gross, but you can't look away—why are pimple popping videos so magnetic? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Chelsey B. Coombs: https://twitter.com/chelseybcoombs Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz Lear

How do planes fly? Jul 14, 2022 819 Airplanes are massive, heavy, gigantic hunks of metal. So how do their engines keep them aloft? PopSci's Rob Verger has the details. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Rob Verger: https://twitter.com/robverger Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff:

What’s the best way to reheat pizza? Jul 12, 2022 693 Cold pizza is *chefs kiss.* But what if you want to heat up that leftover 'za? Our DIY editors have done the (mostly) delicious research to tell you the scientifically best way to reheat pizza. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Sandra Gutiérrez and John Kennedy: https://twitter.com/SandyGuti https://twitter.com/JBKnotJFK Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com

What’s the best way to detox? Jul 7, 2022 971 There's a lot of talk these days about the best way to "detox" your bod. But the real secret to it all was inside you all along. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Rachel Feltman: https://twitter.com/RachelFeltman Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Bello

Can I have a pet fox? Jul 5, 2022 1407 Foxes are cute, seemingly cuddly, and full of personality. So can we have them as pets? PopSci's Philip Kiefer explains why the answer gets complicated. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Philip Kiefer: https://twitter.com/PhilipJKiefer Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlN

How can I be more photogenic? Jun 30, 2022 1170 Without the filters, without the FaceTune—just using light, camera know-how, and posing—is there a way to be more photogenic? Photography expert and PopSci editor Stan Horaczek will have you looking your best (using science!) in no time. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Stan Horaczek: https://twitter.com/stanhoraczek Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/Je

What’s a haboob? Jun 28, 2022 773 Ever heard of a haboob? Don't worry, PopSci's Chelsey B. Coombs explains it all—from their anatomy to their historical appearances. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Chelsey B. Coombs: https://twitter.com/chelseybcoombs Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Kati

Is the megalodon shark still alive? Jun 23, 2022 896 Could the legendary megalodon shark still be lurking in our oceans? PopSci's Purbita Saha dishes out the details. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Purbita Saha: https://twitter.com/hahabita Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.co

Why do we get wisdom teeth? Jun 21, 2022 1025 Season 3 is HERE! First up, Lauren sinks her teeth into a real head-scratcher—why do we still get wisdom teeth if they're useless? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Lauren Young: https://twitter.com/laurenjyoung617 Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Bel

Season 3: Premiering 6/21! Jun 16, 2022 96 Season 3 goes live on Tuesday, June 21st! We'll answer questions like why we still get wisdom teeth, are the bees still dying, and what is the scientifically best way to reheat pizza—all with a brand new group of hosts. Episodes publish twice a week. See you soon! Ask Us Anything Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Ask Us Anything Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askpopscipod/ Produced

24. Did food taste better 50 years ago? Oct 14, 2021 769 It's the season 2 finale! What did food taste like 50 years ago—and was it actually better than it is now? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter

23. What is a super car? Oct 12, 2021 771 There are regular cars, there are luxury cars, and then there are.... SUPER cars. But what even is a super car? As our host explains, it can often be more of a vibe than anything else—but there are some specific criteria to hit. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Rob Verger: https://twitter.com/robverger Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Mus

22. What would happen if the sun went out? Oct 7, 2021 582 The sun is, to put it lightly, quite important to life on Earth. What would happen if it suddenly went poof? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Sara Kiley Watson: https://twitter.com/SaraKileyWatson Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: https://twi

21. Can stress kill you? Oct 5, 2021 668 If you're looking for a sign to take a vacation... this might be it. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz --- Support this podca

20. Why can't we all touch our toes? Sep 30, 2021 846 We finally dive into the classic question—why can't we all touch our toes? And why the heck is it such a big deal? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: https://

19. What does space smell like? Sep 28, 2021 693 Sure, you can't literally smell IN space. But what if you could? Just how stinky is it out there? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Rachel Feltman: https://twitter.com/RachelFeltman Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_B

18. Do we really need homework? Sep 23, 2021 815 Homework—we've all done it. (Or avoided it.) But is homework truly necessary for learning and becoming a fully formed human? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Stan Horaczek: https://twitter.com/stanhoraczek Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq Art by Katie Belloff: ht

17. How much water should I drink a day? Sep 21, 2021 687 Most people will tell you to drink 8 cups of water per day—but what if we told you that the answer is SO much more complicated than that? -- Get your tickets to Weirdest Thing's virtual live show, which is Tuesday, 9/21, right here! Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/Jessic

16. What did dinosaurs taste like? Sep 16, 2021 701 Modern dinosaurs obviously taste like chicken—because they ARE chickens. But what would dinos like stegosauruses and T. rexes have tasted like back in the day? -- Get your tickets to Weirdest Thing's virtual live show, which is Tuesday, 9/21, right here! Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: http

15. What'd happen if I ate my computer? Sep 14, 2021 814 So... yes, this is a weird question. But electronics are hard to recycle, ok? Can't we just toss them down the hatch? What would they do to our bodies? -- Get your tickets to Weirdest Thing's virtual live show, which is Tuesday, 9/21, right here! Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twit

14. How can you safely send nude photos? Sep 9, 2021 590 In a pandemic world, we've gotta get a little creative in order to stay intimate. But even sending a nude can be dangerous—so how can we do it safely? -- Get your tickets to Weirdest Thing's virtual live show, which is Tuesday, 9/21, right here! Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitt

13. Can you cure a hangover? Sep 7, 2021 711 Let's face it—hangovers suck. But what if there was a way to cure them? -- Get your tickets to Weirdest Thing's virtual live show, which is Tuesday, 9/21, right here! Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT

Season 2: Premiering 9/7! Aug 31, 2021 73 If you liked season 1 of our show, then you are going to LOVE Season 2. We’ll hit your feeds on Tuesday, September 7th, with new hosts and new questions to tackle—including how to safely send nude photos, what would a dinosaur taste like, how to cure a hangover, and so much more. So tune in on September 7th wherever you get podcasts for twice-a-week episodes. For more updates, you can also follow

12. Why can't we see more colors? May 6, 2021 657 The world is teeming with colors we see everyday. But humans don’t see every color on the light spectrum. There is a whole world of color that we can’t recognize. --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT

11. What is an allergy? May 4, 2021 656 As many of us know far too well, allergy season is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. But why do our bodies cause us such pain every spring? And why are people allergic to certain foods or animals? --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Ca

10. What's your brain doing when you daydream? Apr 29, 2021 662 On long days, it's not unusual to conjure up scenes of lush beaches, serene mountaintops, or even a cozy blanket fort and a good movie. But what's happening in our brains when we do that? And is it healthy to do this so often? --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaB

9. Are there good viruses? Apr 27, 2021 775 For the last year and a half, we've really only had one big virus on our minds—and it's a very bad one. But are there good viruses out there? And what can viruses do for us? --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/

8. Why can't we burn our trash in volcanoes? Apr 22, 2021 563 At first glance, a volcano’s hot lava seems ideal for incinerating our trash. But, like so many things in science, it’s so much more complicated than that. --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXl

7. Can you overdose on weed? Apr 20, 2021 688 There aren't any recorded deaths attributed solely to marijuana—you can't really blaze yourself to death. But even so, is it possible to overdose on it? --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBz

6. What causes side stitches? Apr 1, 2021 894 If you know, you know—that jabbing, stabbing pain in your side just when you hit your groove in a work out. So what's actually going on in your body when you get a side stitch? --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.

5. How much sleep do you actually need? Mar 30, 2021 777 We all lead busy lives, so it's easy to skimp out on catching all of those Zs. But the question is, how much sleep can you get without sacrificing any cognitive function? --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/ar

4. What would happen if you fell into a black hole? Mar 25, 2021 662 Black holes—humungous, dense, celestial objects—suck in everything that cross their jaws (also known as their event horizons). But what if one sucked YOU in?! Two words: lethal spaghetti. --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://op

3. Can you survive on a single food forever? Mar 23, 2021 720 Grocery shopping can be a chore. But what if, even hypothetically, you could survive by only consuming one food for the rest of your life? There's a way to do it—but it involves a whole buttload of potatoes. --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Bill

2. Why don't we all grow to be 10 feet tall? Mar 18, 2021 784 Claire is 5'4", and Jess is 6'1", and most of the world is somewhere in between. But why is it that we don't just all end up being 10 feet tall? What's stopping us from growing sky-high? --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open

1. Can you boost your immune system? Mar 16, 2021 792 Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the classic flu season, many of us often wonder: is it possible to boost our immune systems so they can vanquish any threat? --- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DC

Trailer: Ask Us Anything by Popular Science Mar 3, 2021 51 Premiering Tuesday, March 16th, Ask Us Anything is a brand new podcast from the editors of Popular Science. It’s a bite-sized show that answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from what the universe is made of to why not everyone can touch their toes. If you like The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week, we promise you’ll love Ask Us Anything—and you’ll hear a few familiar voices on it,

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