Best SciPod Podcasts (2025)

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When Lithium Slows the Heart, and How an unlikely Asthma Drug Offered a Way Out 10:10

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15h ago10:10

10:10

For more than half a century, lithium has been one of the most reliable treatments for bipolar disorder. It has given countless people the ability to stabilize their moods and reclaim lives otherwise disrupted by cycles of mania and depression. But lithium comes with inherent risk: its therapeutic range is narrow, which means that the difference be…

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Time-Space: Exploring How Humans Navigate Cosmic Existence 14:56

1d ago14:56

14:56

Penelope J. Corfield’s groundbreaking book, entitled Time-Space: We Are All in It Together, presents a multidimensional framework for understanding how humans exist within the cosmic continuum of time and space. Corfield agrees with the modern scientific consensus post-Einstein, where time is understood not as a separate dimension but as being inte…

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How Social Work Functions as Living Memory of Society's Deepest Conflicts 9:10

4d ago9:10

9:10

Research from Professor Dr Susanne Maria Maurer, former chair of social pedagogy at the Philipps-Universität Marburg, reveals how social work institutions and practices serve as repositories of knowledge about historical struggles over class, gender, and race. She conceptualizes social work as both a "memory of conflicts" and an "open archive" that…

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The Daily Aztec Debrief -- Ep. 6 -- The Snapdragon attendance problem w/ Connor Larson 19:48

4d ago19:48

19:48

Earlier this month, Daily Aztec contributor Connor Larson produced a story that garnered a lot of attention. The story was about the low attendance at Snapdragon Stadium for SDSU football games. Larson talks about his experience after the story gained a large viewership, discusses the making of it all and talks about what didn't make the cut.…

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Securing the Soil Beneath Our Feet: Mapping and Managing Australia's Hidden Asset 14:56

7d ago14:56

14:56

Soil is one of the most important resources on the planet. It grows our food, regulates water, supports ecosystems, and stores vast amounts of carbon. But it’s also incredibly complex, and surprisingly poorly understood. In Australia, Prof. Alex McBratney of the University of Sydney and his colleagues are changing that. By working with the Soil Sec…

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Soil security starts here: a framework for the future 13:31

7d ago13:31

13:31

Soil sits at the heart of nearly every major challenge humanity faces, from food, water and energy security to climate change, biodiversity loss, human health, and the delivery of vital ecosystem services. But, soil itself is increasingly under threat. As these pressures intensify, soil security has become a global priority in its own right. Yet de…

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Speaking Science Across Languages: Rethinking Scientific Publishing in the Asia-Pacific 8:29

8d ago8:29

8:29

When we think about science, we often imagine a universal language of knowledge in the form of a shared code of numbers, graphs, and precise words that transcend borders. But what happens when the language of science is not the language of the scientist? This is the challenge explored in a recent study by a group of publication professionals from t…

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AI-Powered Prediction of Antimicrobial Peptides in Human Serum: A New Strategy Against Resistant Bacteria 11:20

9d ago11:20

11:20

In the 20th century, antibiotics transformed medicine. Infections that once killed millions could be cured with a pill or injection. Surgeries became safer, cancer treatments more effective, and advanced medical interventions, such as organ transplants, became possible, all because doctors could rely on these drugs to control infections. Unfortunat…

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When Fighting Fire Backfires: How Cutting Trees Can Raise Fire Risk 9:22

10d ago9:22

9:22

Across North America, the phrase “fuel management” is used almost as often as “climate change” when people talk about wildfires. The idea is simple: forests burn because they are full of fuel, including trees, shrubs, branches, and dried leaves. If you remove some of that material, you make it harder for a wildfire to spread. Provincial governments…

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The Daily Aztec Debrief -- Ep. 5 -- Witchcraft, rare books and the Malleus Maleficarum with Anna Culbertson 33:54

11d ago33:54

33:54

Anna Culbertson, the director of the collections office here at SDSU, talks about the history behind one of SDSU's oldest and rarest books, the Malleus Maleficarum, a 4th edition book in its original Latin form detailing the behavior of and proper punishments for witches. Culbertson details the controversy behind both the book and the book's author…

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Predicting Polymorphs: How Collaborative Science is Shaping Safer Medicines and Better Materials 8:09

15d ago8:09

8:09

The way molecules arrange themselves into crystals can affect the stability, safety, and effectiveness of medicines and advanced materials. Dr Ivo Rietveld at the University of Rouen Normandy and his collaborators are developing new benchmark data that help scientists to accurately predict the stability of crystal structures of molecules, helping t…

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From Magic Tricks to Spycraft: What Espionage Teaches Us About the Human Mind 8:17

18d ago8:17

8:17

When we think of spies and their activities, we imagine trench coats, hidden cameras, and tense exchanges in safehouses. Hollywood has given us the daring adventures of James Bond and Jason Bourne, along with the clever trickery of films such as Argo. But behind the cinematic flair lies a quieter, more subtle reality: espionage often depends less o…

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The Daily Aztec Debrief -- Ep. 4 -- Liam Porter 26:31

18d ago26:31

26:31

Rami Alarian is solo in the studio today, talking with KCR co-events coordinator, Liam Porter. Liam and Rami talk about the new KCR venture, Turtle Talks, with the first episode debuting with Master Rapp.

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When Arteries Rebel: Preventing Radial Artery Spasm 10:04

25d ago10:04

10:04

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Challenging Traditional Economic Assumptions about Capitalism, Socialism and Enterprise Ownership 9:56

26d ago9:56

9:56

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The Daily Aztec Debrief -- Ep. 3 -- Gabriel Plascencia & Joaquin Serrato 28:36

28d ago28:36

28:36

Joaquin Serrato makes his debut on the Daily Aztec Debrief and interviews the SDSU Aztec's very own kicker, Gabriel Plascencia. Gabe talks about his Mexican-American culture, love for the bay, time at SDSU and how it all fuels his connection to football and sports in general.

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Beyond the Binary: A New Generation’s Approach to Gender 9:38

1M ago9:38

9:38

In the Autumn of 2022, hopeful college students across the United States clicked through the questions on the Common Application, the digital gateway to more than one thousand colleges and universities. For the first time, alongside their grades, essays, and extracurricular lists, applicants had the chance to provide their gender and pronouns. Thes…

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How Mentoring Enables Startup Success Through A Social Exchange Process 14:14

1M ago14:14

14:14

Research from Dr. Andrey Kostyuk at the Grenoble Ecole de Management supervised by Prof. Martina Battisti, a Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy, and Director of European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, reveals that successful startup mentoring operates as a complex social exchange where both mentors and entrepreneurs must be…

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Factors that Sustain the Gendered Pleasure Gap: Gendered Media Representations of Sexual Pleasure and Women’s Performance of Sexual Emotional Labor 11:43

1M ago11:43

11:43

Despite decades of awareness about gender equality, a persistent pleasure gap remains between women and men in sexual encounters, with women experiencing significantly fewer orgasms and less sexual pleasure. It is important to note that this gender difference exists primarily in contexts where women have sex with men, while women who have sex with …

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The Daily Aztec Debrief -- Ep. 2 -- Felicity Desuasido 41:29

1M ago41:29

41:29

Felicity Desuasido is the co-arts and culture editor of the DA. The Daily Aztec Debrief shows their dedication to the arts by speaking with Felicity about her goals for the section, her own work and what it means to run the arts and culture section of the DA. Rami, Jaylynn and Felicity also talk about arts and culture reporting and discuss their Le…

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The Daily Aztec Debrief -- Ep. 1 -- Calista Stocker & Bella Biunno 35:22

1M ago35:22

35:22

Rami and Jaylynn have their first guests of the Daily Aztec Debrief, the co-editors-in-chief of the Daily Aztec. Calista and Bella tell all about their recent interview with Adela De La Torre and discuss what was and wasn't said in the web story.

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The Daily Aztec Debrief -- Ep. 0 -- The Introduction 4:43

1M ago4:43

4:43

Welcome to the introductory episode of the Daily Aztec's first podcast, The Daily Aztec Debrief. Hosts Rami Alarian and Jaylynn Vega introduce themselves and explain what the newest podcast at SDSU looks like. Catch weekly episodes every Sunday morning at 10 am.

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Gut-Targeted Antibiotic Boosts Lung Cancer Radiation Therapy: A New Frontier in Microbiome-Based Treatment 7:25

1M ago7:25

7:25

Imagine a future where treating cancer doesn't just depend on high-tech machines or potent drugs, but also on something as simple, and as complex, as the bacteria living in your gut. This future might be closer than we think, thanks to groundbreaking research led by Professor Andrea Facciabene at the University of Pennsylvania. In a randomized pilo…

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How Political Identity Trumps Racial Identity in Cross-Race Conversations About Sensitive Topics 11:22

1M ago11:22

11:22

Research from communication scholars at The Ohio State University reveals fascinating new insights about the dynamics of conversations about race-related issues in the USA. Two complementary studies show that White participants expected more negative outcomes and were more likely to avoid conversations with fellow White people from different politi…

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Improving compliant mechanism designs with fuzzy logic 8:55

1M ago8:55

8:55

When they design mechanical systems, engineers first need to understand how they will behave using mathematical modelling tools that can simulate their movements. In recent years, they have increasingly explored the possibilities of ‘compliant’ mechanisms: highly flexible systems which are now being applied across numerous leading fields of technol…

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Restoring Connection: Understanding Suicide Through Human Stories 10:09

1M ago10:09

10:09

Loneliness is often described as the invisible epidemic of our time. It creeps quietly into lives, eroding confidence, weakening social bonds, and, at its most dangerous, pushing individuals toward the edge of despair. Stigma can prevent the lonely from seeking help and as loneliness is largely experienced through the prism of isolation, those in n…

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Rethinking the costs of highway rest areas 8:37

1M ago8:37

8:37

Operating and maintaining highway rest areas across the United States has long posed a costly challenge for state transportation departments, especially amid tightening budgets and rising demand. In a new study, Dr. Kishor Shrestha, associate professor at Washington State University finds that one outsourcing method known as method-based contractin…

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Revisiting Mount Wilson: How corrected solar data revealed a groundbreaking discovery 10:25

1M ago10:25

10:25

Between 1982 and 2012, the 150-foot solar tower at Mount Wilson Observatory collected a vast archive of observations of the Sun’s surface. In a series of recent studies, Professor Roger Ulrich, together with colleagues Dr. Tham Tran and Dr. John Boyden at UCLA, have revisited these data, running a thorough recalibration of the findings. Their resul…

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The allure and pitfalls of flavored tobacco and nicotine products. Interview with Professor Mary Rezk-Hanna 25:53

1M ago25:53

25:53

In this episode, Professor Mary Rezk-Hanna of UCLA explores how flavored tobacco and nicotine products hook young people, challenge regulation, and blur the line between risk and appeal. Tune in to understand what's really at stake for public health.

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When Science Meets Real-world Barriers: Lessons from the Frontlines of Mental Health 10:02

1M ago10:02

10:02

By all measures, America’s mental health system is stretched too thin. Families are in crisis, community mental health providers are overworked, and groundbreaking research often struggles to find its way into real-world practice. But thanks to researchers such as Professor Ukamaka Oruche of the University of South Florida, and colleagues, we’re le…

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How a Thin Film Could Transform the Future of Particle Accelerators 8:02

2M ago8:02

8:02

Building the next generation of particle accelerators depends on solving surprisingly small but stubborn material-related problems. Dr Jerzy Lorkiewicz and his collaborators of the National Centre for Nuclear Research in Poland tackled one of the toughest challenges: how to make lead films stick firmly to niobium, to realise his vision of a fully s…

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A Smart Solution for Detecting Hidden Pesticides in Food 7:41

2M ago7:41

7:41

Highly polar pesticides such as glyphosate are notoriously difficult to detect in food due to their chemical properties and interference from natural food compounds. A new method developed by Dr Michelangelo Anastassiades and Ann‑Kathrin Schäfer of CVUA Stuttgart, and their colleagues, offers a more accurate and practical way to identify residues o…

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McDonaldization in Healthcare: Opportunities and Pitfalls for Patients and Providers 9:24

2M ago9:24

9:24

If you stroll into a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in Paris, Tokyo, or New York, you’ll notice that the Big Mac tastes the same, the menu looks familiar, and the process is quick and efficient. You order your food, wait a short while, and you get exactly what you expect. In the 1990s, American sociologist George Ritzer gave a name to this phenome…

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Biobehavioral Approaches to HIV Prevention and Treatment in Sexual Minority Men Who Use Stimulants 16:48

2M ago16:48

16:48

Research from Dr. Adam W. Carrico at the Florida International University, and his colleagues, explores innovative approaches to address HIV prevention and treatment challenges among sexual minority men who use stimulants. Three interconnected studies examine how behavioral interventions can reduce HIV viral load, alter gene expression in immune ce…

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Threats in the medicine cabinet? What Jordan's struggle with fake medicines reveals about a global crisis 7:33

2M ago7:33

7:33

When we reach into a medicine cabinet we aim to find something to relieve our symptoms and treat our ailments. This could be a painkiller for a headache, an antibiotic for an infection, or insulin for diabetes. Typically, we assume that what's inside that blister pack, bottle or vial is real, safe, and effective. But what if it’s not, and not only …

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How Deliberate Ambiguity Built One of the World's Most Successful Worker Safety Initiatives 11:13

2M ago11:13

11:13

Research from Professor Juliane Reinecke at the University of Oxford and Professor Jimmy Donaghey at the University of South Australia reveals how strategic ambiguity in international agreements can paradoxically strengthen rather than weaken collective action. Their eight-year study of the Bangladesh Accord for Fire and Building Safety demonstrate…

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How Human Rights Laws and Economic Competitiveness Can Co-Exist 13:59

2M ago13:59

13:59

Research from Dr. Bernhard Reinsberg at the University of Glasgow and Dr. Christoph Valentin Steinert at the University of Zurich reveals how France's groundbreaking mandatory due diligence law defied business predictions of economic harm. Through analysis of 11,504 French companies over fifteen years, their study demonstrates that requiring firms …

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The unintended impacts of training walls and groynes 7:15

2M ago7:15

7:15

Training walls and entrance breakwaters have long been used to keep estuary entrances clear of shoals that threaten boat navigation and increase flood risks for nearby communities. But new research by Alexander Nielsen of Worley Consulting and coastal engineer Angus Gordon reveals that these structures may be causing long-term damage. Their study u…

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Solving the Logical Conundrum of Inductive Inferences 9:00

2M ago9:00

9:00

In the 18th century, Scottish philosopher David Hume posed a confounding question about the nature of the scientific method. By questioning the logic behind making predictions based on past observations, he exposed a fundamental problem that has vexed logicians to this day. But now, through a new analysis, philosophers Prof. Gerhard Schurz and Dr. …

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Universal conformal symmetry: Solution of the mysteries of cosmology? 10:47

3M ago10:47

10:47

For over a century, Einstein’s theory of general relativity has underpinned our understanding of gravity. However, it still hasn’t been able to explain some of the most enduring mysteries in cosmology, including the need for vast quantities of dark matter, which has gone undetected for decades. Today, this need has been explained by Conformal Gravi…

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The Self-Organizing Bone Wave Underlying Skull Growth 7:09

3M ago7:09

7:09

We typically take our skulls for granted, beyond their basic function in keeping our brain safe and sound within our head. When you look in the mirror, the shape of your skull, which forms the very structure beneath your face, is something you may not have considered in much detail. However, the story of how your skull came to be, and how bone spre…

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How Municipal Communication Failures Perpetuate Systemic Racism 11:46

3M ago11:46

11:46

Communication research from Texas Christian University reveals how the killing of Atatiana Jefferson in Fort Worth exposed fundamental failures in how cities listen to Black residents. Through in-depth interviews and a national survey, Dr. Ashley English, Dr. Jacqueline Lambiase and Dr. Julie O’Neil demonstrate that meaningful organizational listen…

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Shaping the Future: How a Tiny Screw Is Changing Children’s Lives 8:44

3M ago8:44

8:44

When a baby is born, the bones of the skull are meant to behave like the slats of a wooden barrel, flexible enough to slide into the correct orientation as the brain beneath them doubles in size during the first year of life. However, in about seven of every 100,000 births one of those seams between the bones of the skull (called a suture) closes t…

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A Global Classroom for Dental Residents: How Virtual Education is Reshaping Dental Training Worldwide 8:33

3M ago8:33

8:33

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived as an unexpected and unwelcome presence in our lives, it didn’t just disrupt our daily routines, it drastically changed how we learn, teach, and connect. For many healthcare professionals, including those in dentistry, this meant abandoning lecture halls and clinical classrooms for an unfamiliar and potentially da…

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Feathered Casualties and Digital Clues: How Citizen Science is Helping Save Birds from Deadly Collisions 10:10

3M ago10:10

10:10

By now, most of us are familiar with stories of wildlife interacting with the modern world, often with unfortunate consequences. Examples include urban foxes struck by vehicles, bears rummaging through trash, and sea turtles entangled in plastic. But there’s a quieter, often unseen danger that claims hundreds of millions of bird lives each year. Th…

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From Classroom to Conference: How a New Teaching Model Lets Students Step Inside the Scientific Community 8:13

3M ago8:13

8:13

When you imagine a scientific conference, you may picture rows of poster boards, bustling coffee breaks, and seasoned researchers discussing the latest data and research approaches. It can feel like a world reserved for insiders. Yet a recent study led by Dr Malgorzata Trela and Dr Sophie Rutschmann at Imperial College London argues that this livel…

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A Breakthrough in Reconstructive Surgery: Expanding Scalp Skin to Repair Large Facial Defects in Children 8:23

3M ago8:23

8:23

Facial reconstruction is one of the most challenging fields in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. When patients undergo skin transplants to address large facial defects, the surgeon’s goal is to restore both the function and appearance of the face in a way that integrates seamlessly with their natural features. Dr Xusong Luo, Dr Lin Lu and their …

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A Discussion of Multiple Studies on the Perspectives of Underrepresented Populations on Gang Membership and Campus Gun Policies 15:11

3M ago15:11

15:11

Research from Professor Justin J. Joseph at the University of North Alabama examines the influences that impact the behaviour of underrepresented populations. In one study, he explores potential sex differences in the relationship between psychopathy traits, executive functioning, and youth gang membership. In a separate study, Joseph and colleague…

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Listening to Our Cats’ Kidneys: How a Handful of Mirror-Image Molecules Could Reveal Feline Health 7:36

4M ago7:36

7:36

Amino acids are a fundamental building block for fur, muscle, and every other living tissue on Earth. These molecules come in “left-handed” (L) and “right-handed” (D) forms, a bit like gloves that fit different hands or mirror images. Life largely runs on the left-handed set, so biologists once assumed the right-handed versions were irrelevant. Yet…

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The patient will see you all now: redesigning clinical learning for better outcomes 7:28

4M ago7:28

7:28

If you picture doctors making their daily rounds through hospital floors, you might imagine a single doctor standing by a bedside, examining a patient’s chart, or perhaps a group of doctors discussing a case right outside a patient’s room. However, the future of hospital care may well look more like a well-choreographed team effort, with doctors, n…