Best Geophysics Podcasts (2025)

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The Role of Drones in Modern Geophysical Exploration 16:58

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2h ago16:58

16:58

"The applications of drones in geophysics have increased dramatically in the last 10 years. Drones can be said to be an established platform for geophysical measurement methods."Drones have quickly moved from experimental tools to essential platforms in geophysics. Johannes Stoll explains how advances in sensor miniaturization, AI navigation, and r…

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‘Malicious use is already happening’: machine-learning pioneer on making AI safer 15:06

13m ago15:06

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Yoshua Bengio, considered by many to be one of the godfathers of AI, has long been at the forefront of machine-learning research . However, his opinions on the technology have shifted in recent years — he joins us to talk about ways to address the risks posed by AI, and his efforts to develop an AI with safety built in from the start. Nature: ‘It k…

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Huge eruption on a distant star confirmed at last 33:51

3h ago33:51

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00:45 A coronal mass ejection from a distant star Researchers have detected what they say is the strongest evidence yet of a coronal mass ejection (CME) coming from a star other than our Sun. CMEs are massive bursts of fast-moving plasma that can be detected thanks to the characteristic radio signal they produce. However, despite decades of searchi…

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Probing the die-off of Pacific oysters 10:09

24m ago10:09

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A giant virus associated with oyster aquaculture mortality Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNA…

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Episode 422 - "Melissa" 46:02

6d ago46:02

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We're still here - it has just been a very difficult time, but this week we're talking about Hurricane Melissa and Halloween Candy! Hurricane Melissa Video Inside the Hurricane Fun Paper Friday Trick or Treat! Maybe it should be Treat or Toy? Find out in this week's Fun Paper! Schwartz, Marlene B., Eunice Y. Chen, and Kelly D. Brownell. "Trick, tre…

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Adapt or Be Left Behind: Lessons for the Next Generation of Geophysicists 28:47

3h ago28:47

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"Geophysics plays a central role in this energy transition because it provides the tools and insights needed to understand, manage, and optimize subsurface resources. These resources are critical for both traditional and renewable energy systems."Geophysics is essential for geothermal energy, carbon storage, hydrogen storage, and critical minerals.…

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Meet the ‘Wee-rex’. Tiny tyrannosaur is its own species 28:48

8d ago28:48

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00:45 The debate around Nanotyrannus A hotly debated species of dinosaur, assumed by many to be a juvenile T. rex, is actually a separate species, according to new research. Nanotyrannus was a dinosaur anatomically similar to T. rex, but about a tenth of the size, leading many to argue it was a young version of the iconic species. However, examinat…

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Bowhead whales can live for more than 200 years – this protein might be why 22:50

15d ago22:50

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00:47 How bowhead whales live so long Researchers have uncovered a protein that enhances DNA repair and may explain how bowhead whales can live more than 200 years. The protein, cold-induced RNA-binding protein, was shown to enhance repair of double stranded DNA breaks, a particularly troublesome kind of damage. The team showed that this protein co…

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Swamp lights and bat sight 10:26

12d ago10:26

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Swamp lights and bat sight Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scient…

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Audio long read: How to get the best night’s sleep — what the science says 15:33

21d ago15:33

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Advice on how to get good sleep is everywhere, with the market for sleep aids worth more than US$100 billion annually. However, scientists warn that online hacks and pricey tools aren’t always effective, and suggest that lessons learnt about the workings of a network of biological clocks found in the human body could ultimately lead to improved sle…

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Digital Twins and Generative AI in Subsurface Geophysics 23:25

14d ago23:25

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"Generative modeling is a game-changer. We can now capture high-dimensional statistics that we could never have captured in the past."Felix Herrmann explains how digital twins and generative AI are reshaping subsurface geophysics. He highlights the importance of open-source tools, multimodal data, and uncertainty-aware models for better decision-ma…

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Honey, I ate the kids: how hunger and hormones make mice aggressive 34:22

15d ago34:22

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00:48 How hunger, hormones and aggression interact in mouse brains Researchers have uncovered the neural mechanisms that underlie an aggressive behaviour in mice prompted by hunger and hormonal state. Virgin female mice can become aggressive towards mouse pups when they are food deprived, but it seems that the relevant amounts of pregnancy hormones…

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New bird flu vaccine could tackle multiple variants with one shot 22:30

22d ago22:30

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00:46 A multi-variant avian flu vaccine that could enhance pandemic preparedness A vaccine capable of protecting against multiple strains of avian influenza virus might be a step closer, according to new research. The H5 subtype of avian influenza viruses has spilled over into mammals and is particularly concerning to researchers because of the ris…

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Enzyme linked with brain evolution 10:42

1M ago10:42

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Implications of a mutation in modern humans Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broa…

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The Next Decade of AI in Seismic Imaging 26:33

28d ago26:33

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"Physics-based approaches are like solving a puzzle with a set of rules. Data-driven geophysics is more like giving the puzzle to a computer that can learn the rules itself."Amine Ourabah shares how data-driven geophysics is transforming our understanding of the subsurface by combining physics with the power of machine learning. He explains how new…

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How stereotypes shape AI – and what that means for the future of hiring 35:31

1M ago35:31

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00:48 The stereotypes hidden in Internet images Stereotyped assumptions about women’s ages and their perceived job suitability are enhanced by Internet imagery, according to new research. A study of hundreds of thousands of online images shows that women appear younger than men. This stereotype extends to the jobs that people perceive women do, wit…

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Ancient viral DNA helps human embryos develop 33:43

1M ago33:43

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00:50 How ancient viruses drive modern human development Research suggests that ancient viral-DNA embedded in the human genome is playing a key role in early embryo development. Around 8% of our genome consists of endogenous retrovirus DNA — the remnants of ancient infections, but knowledge of their activity is limited. Now, a team show that these …

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Where primates evolved 10:48

1M ago10:48

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Where primates evolved Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific…

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Audio long read: Autism is on the rise — what’s really behind the increase? 25:36

1M ago25:36

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In April, Robert F. Kennedy Jr held a press conference about rising diagnoses of autism, and said he would soon be announcing a study to find the responsible agent. Although Kennedy said that environmental factors are the main cause of autism, research has shown that genetics plays a bigger part. Also, the rise in prevalence, many researchers say, …

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How Distributed Chemical Sensing Could Rewrite the Rules of Risk Management 26:46

1M ago26:46

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“Distributed chemical sensing really is the next frontier in fiber-optic monitoring. It adds a new dimension by directly connecting chemical changes in the environment to signals we can read.”Distributed chemical sensing (DCS) is an emerging technology that utilizes fiber optics to measure chemical changes over long distances in real-time. Authors …

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How a dangerous tick-borne virus sneaks into the brain 32:42

1M ago32:42

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00:48 New insights into tick-borne encephalitis Researchers have identified a key protein that helps tick-borne encephalitis virus enter the brain. In rare cases an infection can lead to serious neurological symptoms, but little was known about how the virus interacts with human cells. Now, a team show that a protein found on the outside of cells p…

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Apocalypse then: how cataclysms shaped human societies 27:39

2M ago27:39

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Science journalist Lizzie Wade’s first book, Apocalypse: A Transformative Exploration of Humanity's Resilience Through Cataclysmic Events explores some of the cataclysmic events that humans have faced through history. Lizzie joined us to discuss what modern archaeology has revealed about these events, and the role these they’ve have played in shapi…

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Episode 421 - "Come work for you" 1:06:26

2M ago1:06:26

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This week, we chat about our GEARS workshop that recently wrapped up, how it has evolved, and how it went! GEARS Workshop Fun Paper Friday Hejnol, Andreas, and Mark Q. Martindale. "The mouth, the anus, and the blastopore—open questions about questionable openings." Animal Evolution: Genomes, Fossils, and Trees (2009): 33-40. Contact us: Show Suppor…

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The Low-Cost Seismic Revolution Already Buried in Your City 20:27

2M ago20:27

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"By mapping fiber optic cables accurately, we can transform them into dense seismic arrays. This opens the door to city-scale imaging and monitoring."Haipeng Li explains how distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) can turn existing urban fiber optic cables into powerful seismic arrays for near-surface imaging and monitoring. By using everyday traffic an…

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This AI tool predicts your risk of 1,000 diseases — by looking at your medical records 35:31

2M ago35:31

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00:50 The AI tool that predicts disease risk Researchers have developed an AI tool that can calculate a person’s risk of developing over 1,000 different diseases, sometimes years in advance. The system, called Delphi-2M, was trained to identify patterns of disease progression using 400,000 people's health records from data repository the UK Biobank…

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How climate change alters lake oxygen levels 10:06

2M ago10:06

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Climate change and lake oxygenation Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range …

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Detecting gravitational waves 10:21

2M ago10:21

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In 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) facilities in the US directly detected ripples in space-time, known as gravitational waves. These waves were produced by the final spiral of two orbiting black holes that smashed into each other, sending ripples across the Universe. In this podcast, Benjamin Thompson speaks to …

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The Missing Tool Every Geoscientist Needs for the Next Decade 28:34

2M ago28:34

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"The glossary will bridge two complex worlds, geoscience and sustainability, and make them easier to understand."Maria Angela Capello shares her vision for a new glossary that connects geoscience to sustainability in clear, practical terms. She explains how a shared vocabulary can help scientists, educators, and policymakers better understand the p…

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Feeling the heat: fossil-fuel producers linked to dozens of heatwaves 36:39

2M ago36:39

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00:45 Attributing extreme heat events to major energy producers Major energy producers increased the likelihood and intensity of heatwaves, according to research published in Nature. Using data from an international disaster database, a team developed a methodology to investigate how much anthropogenic climate change had influenced heatwaves. They …

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Research misconduct: how the scientific community is fighting back 52:13

2M ago52:13

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In 2016, Brian Wansink wrote a blog post that prompted scientific sleuths to investigate his work. They found evidence of data manipulation, and, after several news articles and two investigations by his institution, he would found to have committed misconduct, as defined by Cornell University. His work had been used to inform US policy around food…

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Episode 420 - "Tourist Destination" Kamchatka Earthquake 46:03

2M ago46:03

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This week we are back and discussing the recent large earthquake in Russia! Fun Paper Friday Is that viral video of a fault rupture form a security camera real? This paper checks it out. Kearse, Jesse, and Yoshihiro Kaneko. "Curved Fault Slip Captured by CCTV Video During the 2025 M w 7.7 Myanmar Earthquake." The Seismic Record 5.3 (2025): 281-288.…

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Nature goes inside the world’s largest ‘mosquito factory’ — here’s the buzz 10:57

2M ago10:57

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Raising mosquitoes to tackle disease might sound like an odd concept, but that’s what a facility in Brazil is aiming to do. Millions of mosquitoes are produced there every week, but these insects carry harmless Wolbachia bacteria that curbs their ability to spread deadly human viruses. Nature reporter Mariana Lenharo visited the facility and told u…

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Searching for Water in Kakuma: A GWB Story (Re-Release) 43:25

2M ago43:25

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For this episode, we’re re‑releasing one of the most powerful stories we’ve ever told - a complete listening experience that transports you to one of the most remote and challenging places on Earth.Searching for Water in Kakuma takes you inside the second‑largest refugee camp in the world, home to more than 185,000 people and still growing. There, …

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Two ants, two species, one mother 27:06

2M ago27:06

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00:45 The ant queen that can produce two different species Researchers have made an unusual observation that appears at odds with biology: an ant, known as the Iberian Harvester Ant can produce offspring of two completely different species. Many ants need to mate with other species to produce workers that are a genetic mix of the two, known as hybr…

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Unpacking the unreturnable squash nick shot 10:07

2M ago10:07

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The physics of the squash nick shot Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range …

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Audio long read: How to detect consciousness in people, animals and maybe even AI 19:57

2M ago19:57

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The search for signs of consciousness has expanded, thanks to advanced neuroimaging techniques. These tools allow researchers to detect consciousness in unresponsive humans, and now researchers are looking to develop tests that work in animals and perhaps even artificial intelligence systems of the future. This is an audio version of our Feature: H…

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Karelia La Marca - Geophysicist at bp (Inside IMAGE) 16:46

2M ago16:46

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Karelia La Marca shares how her passion for geophysics has taken her from the classroom to exciting fieldwork around the world. She offers an encouraging tip for first-timers while explaining the skills and teamwork that make science stronger.Get a front-row seat to the conversations shaping the geosciences.Inside IMAGE is a special series from Sei…

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Bill Langin - Exploration and Development Leader (Inside IMAGE) 8:54

2M ago8:54

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Bill shares how reconnecting with colleagues fuels collaboration and why sustainable energy means balancing oil, gas, and new sources to meet global needs. He discusses progress in reducing carbon impact, the urgent need to attract top talent, and takes pride in contributing to technologies that shape everyday life.Get a front-row seat to the conve…

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Adriana Citlali Ramírez - SEG Second Vice President (Inside IMAGE) 21:19

2M ago21:19

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Adriana reflects on the power of connection across science, industry, and academia, as well as the importance of listening to the needs of its members. She explores how geoscientists can expand into new energy solutions, support students’ career paths, and use storytelling to engage the public and strengthen the community’s impact.Get a front-row s…

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Viral spread: how rumours surged in revolutionary France 24:44

2M ago24:44

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00:48 How the 18th-Century 'Great Fear’ spread across rural France In the late 1700s, rural France was beset with rapidly spreading rumours of aristocratic plots to suppress revolutionary ideas. But how, and why, these rumours were able to spread so quickly has puzzled historians. Now, using modern epidemiological modelling, a team suggests that a …

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Lars Koehn - SEG EVOLVE, Young Professional (Inside IMAGE) 18:40

3M ago18:40

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Get a front-row seat to the conversations shaping the geosciences.Inside IMAGE is a special series from Seismic Soundoff, SEG’s flagship podcast hosted by Andrew Geary, now in its 10th year. This limited-edition series takes you behind the scenes of IMAGE, the premier geoscience event, with exclusive interviews and in-depth discussions.Geoscientist…