Best Sciencepodcast Podcasts (2026)

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Rethinking Laundry for the Planet With Dr Holly Kaye Smith (430) [REPEAT] 21:44

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3h ago21:44

21:44

Most of us throw our clothes in the wash without a second thought, but what if that habit is doing more harm than good? In this episode, Dr. Holly Kaye-Smith, social change expert and communications specialist, challenges the way we think about cleanliness, climate action, and everyday laundry. From surprising stats (over 90% of washed clothes aren…

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Galaxy Collision Secrets — Champagne Cluster, Dark Matter Smash 8:01

3h ago8:01

8:01

Galaxy collision secrets in the Champagne Cluster and dark matter galaxy cluster smash explainedSpace podcast breakdown of a rare cluster collision, new galaxy discovery, and cosmic crash physicsUnderstand how this stunning galaxy collision shapes dark matter theories—and how to remember what you learn What You'll Learn: Discover what makes the Cha…

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Alcohol and Cancer Risk — Light Drinking, Big Mouth Cancer Study 7:42

4h ago7:42

7:42

Alcohol and cancer risk: how even light drinking raises mouth cancer riskNew oral cancer study from India links one drink a day, locally brewed alcohol, and chewing tobacco to dramatically higher cancer ratesUnderstand your real risk from light drinking and learn practical steps to protect your mouth, throat, and long‑term health What You'll Learn:…

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EV Battery Life & Safety — Hidden Flaw in Single-Crystal Cells 5:41

4h ago5:41

5:41

EV battery breakthrough: the hidden flaw inside single crystal lithium-ion batteriesWhy next generation EV batteries crack, fail, and fall short despite promising battery safety researchUnderstand why EV batteries fail and what this discovery means for EV battery life, safety, and the future of electric vehicle battery science What You'll Learn: Wh…

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Autism Treatments Evidence — Science vs Alternative Therapies 7:26

9h ago7:26

7:26

Autism treatments evidence — what a massive review really says about alternative autism therapies. This episode breaks down the science of autism interventions, exposing autism treatment myths and misleading “cures.” Learn how to spot pseudoscience in autism and choose safer, evidence based autism support for yourself or your family.What You'll Lea…

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Black Holes & Quasars — New Clues from X‑Ray Astronomy 6:47

2h ago6:47

6:47

Black holes & quasars in X-ray astronomy: are supermassive black holes changing over cosmic time?New X-ray astronomy results reveal a shifting link between UV and X-ray light in quasars, reshaping how we think about evolving black holes and a changing universe.Discover what this means for cosmology, why a decades-old assumption may be wrong, and ho…

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Climate Overshoot: The World Beyond 1.5 Degrees with Dr. Andy Reisinger (458) 30:01

3d ago30:01

30:01

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Andy Reisinger, an internationally recognised expert in climate change science and policy, with a focus on mitigation and agricultural emissions. Together, we unpack the concept of climate overshoot - why the world is set to exceed the 1.5°C warming limit within the next five years, and what that means for people …

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A surprising brain cleanup reduced epileptic seizures and restored memory - Ep. 1 5:53

6h ago5:53

5:53

Epilepsy breakthrough and brain cleanup therapy: how senolytic drugs may reduce seizures and restore memory. This episode unpacks a surprising brain cleanup approach in temporal lobe epilepsy, exploring hippocampus memory, aging brain cells, and emerging senolytic treatments. Understand what this early research could mean for epileptic seizures, ho…

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Dementia and Diet — Full-Fat Cheese Study Explained 6:21

1d ago6:21

6:21

Dementia and diet: what a new full-fat cheese and cream study really means for your brain. This episode breaks down a Swedish dementia study on high fat dairy and brain health, saturated fat, and foods that may reduce dementia risk. Understand how nutrition affects Alzheimer’s risk and cognitive decline—without falling for misleading headlines.What…

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Black Holes Explained — New Einstein-Accurate Simulation Reveals All 6:58

2d ago6:58

6:58

Black holes explained using a groundbreaking Einstein-accurate black hole simulation. Discover what really happens near a black hole with realistic light, matter, and black hole accretion disk physics. Understand how black holes work, from event horizons to jets and outflows, in clear, science-based language you can actually follow. What You'll Lea…

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Parkinson’s Disease Breakthrough — Dopamine Discovery Explained 6:58

3d ago6:58

6:58

Parkinson’s disease breakthrough: dopamine discovery explained and what it means for new Parkinson’s treatment. A surprising new brain science study shows dopamine isn’t the movement “gas pedal” we thought, reshaping Parkinson’s disease explained and future Parkinson’s research 2025. Understand what dopamine really does, how it affects movement, an…

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Deaths of Despair — Beyond the Opioid Crisis 7:08

4d ago7:08

7:08

Deaths of despair and the opioid crisis: how suicide, overdose, and alcohol-related deaths were rising long before opioids took center stage.A data-driven look at opioid epidemic origins, mental health and religion, and how declining church attendance and community ties shaped overdose and suicide trends among middle aged white Americans.Understand…

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More Everyday Consumer Good Facts Part 2 with Ashley Iredale (457) 17:40

5d ago17:40

17:40

Consumer technology expert Ashley Iredale returns for part two, bringing more surprising facts about everyday household appliances. We break down why your fridge actually contains more heaters than coolers, demystify the Energy Star rating system, and settle the debate on whether front-loading or top-loading washers are more efficient at cleaning c…

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RNA and Immune System — Extracellular Signals in Cancer Defense 5:42

5d ago5:42

5:42

RNA and immune system: how extracellular RNA helps immune cells recognize cancer targetsUnique new Utrecht University research on RNA outside the cell, immune response explained, and cancer immunology basicsUnderstand how this emerging science could shape future cancer defenses—and what it means for your own health decisions What You'll Learn: Unde…

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Black Hole Discovery — Spacetime Twisted by Spinning Giant 7:31

6d ago7:31

7:31

Black hole discovery: spacetime twisted by a spinning giant black holeEinstein prediction confirmed as astronomers watch a spinning black hole drag spacetime and power black hole jetsUnderstand how black holes work, how gravity and spacetime interact, and what this frame dragging black hole means for you What You'll Learn: What frame dragging is an…

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Cooking Dinner In Your Dishwasher?! & Other Fun Facts with Ashley Iredale (456) 18:35

12d ago18:35

18:35

This episode i'm joined by Ashley Iredale, a consumer technologist and content producer whose winding career through industrial design has armed him with a trove of quirky tips and practical wisdom. Ashley breaks down the real efficiency of hand-washing versus dishwashers, explains how a dishwasher can double as an oven, and settles the age-old que…

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Chronic Pain Relief Breakthrough — New Non-Opioid Stem Cell Therapy 7:52

13d ago7:52

7:52

Chronic pain relief breakthrough with non opioid pain treatment and stem cell therapy for painNew non-opioid ‘pain sponge’ iPSC stem cell therapy offers alternative to opioids and cartilage regeneration therapyDiscover how this new chronic pain therapy could protect your joints, reduce pain, and transform your long-term health What You'll Learn: Un…

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Youth Mental Health UK — New British Journal of Psychiatry Study 8:35

16d ago8:35

8:35

Youth mental health UK crisis and new British Journal of Psychiatry studyDramatic rise in young people using teen mental health services and children and adolescent mental health UK (CAMHS) supportUnderstand the latest mental health statistics UK teenagers and what one in five young people needing care means for you, your family, or your work What …

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Substance Use Disorder Costs — $93B Lost Productivity in America 5:18

17d ago5:18

5:18

Substance use disorder costs and the $93B lost productivity in America explained through addiction science. This episode uncovers the hidden economic impact of drugs and alcohol, connecting the cost of addiction to real-world workplace and public health challenges. Listen to understand the true financial toll of substance use, so you can make bette…

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Origin of Life in Supernovas — XRISM Cassiopeia A Findings 5:58

18d ago5:58

5:58

Supernova discovery: XRISM Cassiopeia A and the origin of life’s elements in a violent stellar explosion. How the XRISM X-ray telescope revealed hidden chlorine and potassium in the Cassiopeia A supernova, reshaping what we thought we knew about how stars create life. Understand how an extreme stellar explosion could “cook” key ingredients for plan…

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The Discovery That Changed Astrophysics with Prof. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (455) 32:01

22d ago32:01

32:01

In this episode, I'm joined by the legendary Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell - the pioneering astrophysicist who discovered pulsars, launching an entirely new field of astrophysics. She began her PhD searching for quasars, but soon noticed a strange, repetitive signal appearing night after night - so peculiar she jokingly labelled it LGM ("Little G…

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State abortion bans increase emergency care violations, research finds - Ep. 11 10:52

20d ago10:52

10:52

**Episode Overview** Recent research suggests that U.S. states with total or near-total abortion bans are experiencing a rise in violations of federal emergency care law (EMTALA) and related patient safety incidents. In this episode, we unpack what the evidence shows, why these violations are happening, and how they affect care for pregnancy-relate…

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One experiment, two insights: Sequencing method reveals both genome proteins and their positions - Ep. 10 9:59

21d ago9:59

9:59

**Episode Overview** This episode explores a cutting-edge method from CABIMER called **PLAMseq** (proximity-labeled affinity-purified mass spectrometry plus sequencing). PLAMseq allows researchers, in one integrated experiment, to identify which proteins are bound to chromatin and map their precise positions along the genome. We break down what thi…

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Survey reveals nearly all Americans not aware midwives provide care beyond pregnancy and birth - Ep. 9 10:58

22d ago10:58

10:58

**Episode Overview** This episode explores new survey research revealing that nearly all Americans are unaware that midwives provide care far beyond pregnancy and birth. We break down what certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are trained to do, why the public gets this so wrong, and how this misunderstanding affects access to safe, cost‑effective reprod…

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Researchers reveal complex interactions between heart disease and cancer - Ep. 8 6:53

22d ago6:53

6:53

**Episode Overview** In this episode, we explore groundbreaking research revealing complex interactions between heart disease and cancer. Drawing on work from Prof. Ami Aronheim’s group at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, we unpack how tumors can send signals throughout the body and, under very specific conditions in mouse models, may a…

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Study reveals silent mental health crisis among new parents - Ep. 1 6:59

23d ago6:59

6:59

**Episode Overview** In this episode, we unpack a groundbreaking study from the University of East Anglia, published in the *Community Mental Health Journal*, that shines a light on a silent mental health crisis among new parents. The research shows that intrusive thoughts and psychotic-like experiences are far more common in the postnatal period t…

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Study reveals silent mental health crisis among new parents - Ep. 1 6:45

23d ago6:45

6:45

**Episode Overview** New research from the University of East Anglia, published in the *Community Mental Health Journal*, suggests that intrusive thoughts and psychotic‑like experiences (PLEs) in the first year after childbirth are far more common than previously assumed—and they affect both mothers and fathers. In this episode, we break down what …

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Cell nucleus shape may influence cancer treatment success - Ep. 7 12:43

23d ago12:43

12:43

**Episode Overview** This episode explores groundbreaking research from Linköping University, published in *Nature Communications*, revealing that the **mechanical properties and shape of a cancer cell’s nucleus** may play a crucial role in determining how effectively DNA‑damaging cancer drugs work. We break down how nuclear stiffness, nuclear enve…

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Study compares immune responses from three major COVID-19 vaccine types - Ep. 6 6:24

25d ago6:24

6:24

**Episode Overview** In this episode, we unpack a recent JCI Insight analysis that compares immune responses from three major COVID-19 vaccine platforms: mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna), adenoviral vector (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, AstraZeneca), and protein subunit vaccines (Novavax). We explore how each type engages different parts of your immune…

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Sunscreen Safety in Australia with John Staton (454) 24:29

27d ago24:29

24:29

This week I'm joined by John Staton, one of Australia's leading sunscreen-testing experts, to unpack the big headlines surrounding sunscreen safety. A recent Choice report revealed that 16 out of the 20 tested sunscreen products failed to meet their advertised SPF rating by a significant figure. John helps us to understand what is really going on. …

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What are Time Crystals? with Prof. Geraint Lewis (453) 28:59

1M ago28:59

28:59

In this episode, friend of the show and astrophysicist Professor Geraint Lewis returns to help me wrap my head around one of the strangest ideas in modern physics: Time Crystals. After stumbling across a Nature article that left my brain pleasantly scrambled, I called up Geraint for a deep-dive into what time crystals are and why physicists are so …

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Science in Oz: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly with Dr. Catherine Ball (452) 31:08

2M ago31:08

31:08

In this episode, futurist and award-winning scientist Dr Catherine Ball dives into the state of science in Australia, uncovering the good, the bad, and the overlooked. From humanoid robotics and wearable exoskeletons transforming healthcare, to Australia's lagging space economy, Ball offers an unflinching look at where we stand. She also highlights…

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Food Additives: What's Safe, What's Not? with Prof. Clare Collins (451) 28:27

2M ago28:27

28:27

In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Clare Collins, Australian dietitian and Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Newcastle. Clare is my go-to expert when it comes to all things nutrition, and today she's here to unpack the often confusing world of processed and ultra-processed foods. We dive into what really separates the …

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The Temperature Law Governing All Life: Universal Biological Rhythms Explained - Ep. 5 3:39

2M ago3:39

3:39

Universal Biological Rhythms Explained Explore the fascinating discovery of a universal temperature law that governs all living organisms on Earth. The Daily Science Digest - Making science accessible to everyone.By dailysciencedigest

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Your Body Clock Shields Your Brain: Circadian Rhythms and Alzheimer’s Prevention - Ep. 4 3:40

2M ago3:40

3:40

Circadian Rhythms and Alzheimer's Prevention Uncover the surprising connection between your circadian rhythms and brain health. The Daily Science Digest - Making science accessible to everyone.By dailysciencedigest

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Exercise Makes Your Heart Stronger: The Science Behind Cardiovascular Fitness - Ep. 3 3:01

2M ago3:01

3:01

The Science Behind Cardiovascular Fitness Explore the fascinating science of how exercise strengthens your heart rather than wearing it out. The Daily Science Digest - Making science accessible to everyone.By dailysciencedigest

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AI Revolutionizes Fertility Treatment: Breakthrough in Sperm Recovery Technology - Ep. 2 3:54

2M ago3:54

3:54

Breakthrough in Sperm Recovery Technology Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming fertility treatment with groundbreaking advances in sperm recovery techniques. The Daily Science Digest - Making science accessible to everyone.By dailysciencedigest

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Innovative Nanotechnology for Cancer Detection with Dr. Renee Goreham (450) 25:41

2M ago25:41

25:41

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Renee Goreham, a physicist and nanotechnologist at the University of Newcastle, and passionate science communicator. Renee is an experimental physicist exploring how our breath could hold the key to detecting lung cancer early—by identifying specific proteins as biomarkers. We also delve into her PhD student's exci…

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The Third Law of Thermodynamics: Understanding Absolute Zero - Ep. 1 3:39

2M ago3:39

3:39

Welcome to The Daily Science Digest!Today we explore the Third Law of Thermodynamics and why absolute zero is the ultimate limit of cold. Learn how this fundamental law shapes everything from quantum computers to the efficiency of your refrigerator.Topics covered:• What the Third Law really means• Why -273.15°C is impossible to reach• Quantum effec…

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Gene Therapy & Rare Diseases with Assoc. Prof Leszek Lisowski (449) 33:16

2M ago33:16

33:16

In this episode, we speak with Associate Professor Leszek Lisowski, Head of the Translational Vectorology Unit at the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI), about the cutting-edge world of gene therapy. He explains how viral vectors are engineered to deliver life-saving treatments for rare genetic diseases - many of which are so uncommon, th…