Best Big Data Beard Podcasts (2026)

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The Community Group Rethinking LA's Approach To Wildfires 14:18

Play Pause

12h ago14:18

14:18

A year ago this week, the Eaton and Palisades fires broke out in Los Angeles, and ultimately became one of the most destructive urban fire events in recent history. Today we’ll hear about a community brigade that is taking firefighting into its own hands through a technique called “home hardening.” Journalist Adriana Cargill, host of the new podcas…

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What Should Astronauts Do First When They Reach Mars? 17:55

1d ago17:55

17:55

When humans finally land on Mars, what should they do? A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine lays out the science objectives for a crewed Mars mission. Planetary scientist Lindy Elkins-Tanton, who co-chaired the report committee, joins Host Flora Lichtman to talk about the plans to send people to Mars. We’l…

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Can The Rise In Solar Power Balance Out Clean Energy Cuts? 17:13

3d ago17:13

17:13

Since President Trump returned to office, his administration has been aggressive in rolling back clean energy initiatives. Trump’s “big beautiful bill” ended tax credits for solar panels and electric vehicles. And the EPA is moving to cancel $7 billion dollars in federal grants that were intended to help low- and middle-income families install sola…

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Are Ultramarathoners Just Built Different? 17:31

6d ago17:31

17:31

‘Tis the season for exercise resolutions. For a select few, an ultramarathon—a race of 50, 100, or even more miles—may be on the table for 2026. But is there a limit to what our bodies can endure? And what makes ultramarathoners capable of these tremendous feats? Joining Host Flora Lichtman are sports medicine expert Brandee Waite and biological an…

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Your Cells Are Always Building A Whole New You 18:04

6d ago18:04

18:04

In the last year, you’ve basically replaced your body weight in new cells. So yes, it’s a new year, new you. To ring in 2026, we’re talking about starting anew, and drawing inspiration from tiny worms that embody the ultimate growth mindset—they can regrow a whole body from just a tiny piece of their tail. In this festive episode, Host Flora Lichtm…

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A Look Back At 2025 In Science, From Federal Cuts To Space Junk 15:51

8d ago15:51

15:51

This has been a busy year in science, from government budget cuts and policy changes affecting research, to the record rise of renewables, to the surge in AI, and everything in between. Science journalists Sophie Bushwick and Maggie Koerth join Host Ira Flatow to unpack some of the year’s top stories, and some you might have missed. Guests: Sophie …

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How Death Metal Singers Make Their Extreme Vocalizations 13:42

8d ago13:42

13:42

Being able to belt out a tune like Adele or Pavarotti is not just about raw talent. The best singers in the world have to work on their technique—like how to control their breath and develop the stamina to hit note after note for a two-hour concert. But pop stars and opera singers aren’t the only vocalists who have figured out how to harness their …

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What The Sigma Is Algospeak? 18:48

10d ago18:48

18:48

Gen Alpha slang can seem unintelligible to adults, but linguist and TikToker Adam Aleksic argues language development in the internet age is worth legitimate study. In a conversation from July, Adam talks to Host Flora Lichtman about how algorithms and social media are changing the way we speak, and discusses his new book, Algospeak: How Social Med…

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Tangling With Entanglement And Other Big Ideas In Physics 35:55

13d ago35:55

35:55

What have we learned in recent years about black holes? Can entangled quantum particles really communicate faster than light? What’s the story behind Schrödinger’s Cat? And, in this weird liminal space between the holidays, what even IS time, really? Physicist Sean Carroll and Host Ira Flatow tackled those big questions and more at a recent event a…

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The Science Of Thriving In Winter—By Embracing It 17:34

14d ago17:34

17:34

Health psychologist Dr. Kari Leibowitz traveled to some of the coldest, darkest places on earth to learn how people there don’t just survive, but thrive in winter. She says that one of the key ingredients is adopting a positive wintertime mindset by focusing on and celebrating the good parts of winter. In a conversation from January, Flora Lichtman…

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A Neurologist Investigates His Own Musical Hallucinations 10:50

15d ago10:50

10:50

Imagine sitting at home and then all of a sudden you hear a men’s choir belting out “The Star Spangled Banner.” You check your phone, computer, radio. Nothing’s playing. You look outside, no one’s there. That’s what happened to neurologist Bruce Dobkin after he received a cochlear implant. He set out to learn everything he could about the condition…

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The Beard and the Dome Talk Crime Fiction, Podcasts, TV, and Movies 48:54

13d ago48:54

48:54

After a long hiatus, Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") are back to catch up on PI work, wins, and losses, and to share what they love to read, watch, and listen to when they’re not uncovering malfeasance or defending clients. Most of these books, shows, movies, and podcasts are related to crime and investigations. Some only…

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‘Prehistoric Planet’ Defrosts Strange Animals Of The Ice Age 17:56

16d ago17:56

17:56

Koalas with the bodies of lions. Elephants the size of your dog. Gigantic, 8-foot-tall sloths. These aren’t creatures found in science fiction: They walked our planet a million years ago, during the Ice Age. That’s the focus of the third season of the Apple TV series “Prehistoric Planet,” which uses the latest paleontology research and photorealist…

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How Did Vaccine Policies Actually Change In 2025? 12:21

17d ago12:21

12:21

Since 1955, when Congress passed the Polio Vaccination Assistance Act, the federal government has been in the business of expanding access to vaccines. That is, until this year. 2025 has been filled with almost daily news stories about federal agencies, under the direction of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., casting doubts about vaccine safe…

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Why Astronomers Are Excited About Comet 3I/ATLAS’ Close Approach 18:33

20d ago18:33

18:33

This year, comet 3I/Atlas broke into our solar system, but also the zeitgeist. This dirty snowball is a visitor from another solar system, and it’s only the third interstellar object we’ve ever spotted. And today, it's closer to us than ever before—just 170 million miles away. Astronomy experts Stefanie Milam and Hakeem Oluseyi join Host Flora Lich…

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‘Fire Amoeba’ Likes It Hot, And A Faraway Lava Planet 18:08

21d ago18:08

18:08

While on a sampling trip in California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park, researchers stopped to sample a rather boring stream on their hike to Boiling Springs Lake. But when they incubated that water sample back in the lab, they discovered an amoeba that could still move and divide at 145 F, a new record for a eukaryotic cell. Microbiologist Angela …

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What’s The Reality Behind The Humanoid Robot Hype? 12:19

22d ago12:19

12:19

Videos of humanoid robots dancing, doing cartwheels, putting clothes in a washing machine, and serving drinks are all over social media. And tech CEOs are telling us to prepare for the forthcoming humanoid army that’s going to totally change our lives for the better. But what’s real? Where are we with this technology? Are these humanoids robots rea…

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'Just' A Blue Jay? Don't Overlook These Magnificent Common Birds 17:55

23d ago17:55

17:55

It’s that time of year: the Christmas Bird Count, when birders go out in flocks to record all the birds they see in a single day. The data collected during this annual tradition gets compiled by the National Audubon Society, and helps scientists understand bird population trends across the Americas. If you participate in the bird count, chances are…

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Can We Just Throw Our Plastic Garbage Into A Volcano? 17:16

24d ago17:16

17:16

It’s winter, and the SciFri team is already dreaming of warmer weather. How about a mind vacation to one of the hottest places on earth, an erupting volcano? Tamsin Mather has trekked to volcanoes in Chile, Guatemala, Italy, and beyond to learn their secrets. She joins Host Flora Lichtman to field your burning volcano questions, like what’s the dea…

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How Did Ancient Humans Use The Acoustics Of Spaces Like Caves? 18:55

27d ago18:55

18:55

The sound of a choir performing in a cathedral is iconic for a reason. It’s this beautiful human experience: being side-by-side with other people, feeling the sound vibrate through you, reverberating around the space. But how long has that been a part of our culture? And what role did sound play in the lives of people who lived during the Ice Age o…

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What The Sounds Of Melting Glaciers Can Tell Us 18:26

28d ago18:26

18:26

As the planet warms, the world’s glaciers are melting faster than snow can replenish the ice. That has implications for sea level rise, ocean currents, and global weather patterns. But collecting data at the edge of a melting glacier can be risky. Glaciologist Erin Pettit and her colleagues are listening to the sounds melting glaciers make—from the…

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How A Fringe Idea Led To Lifesaving Cancer Treatments 30:08

29d ago30:08

30:08

In cancer research, the “seed and soil” hypothesis posits that the tumor is like a seed of misbehaving cells taking root in the body. Whether it grows—and where it grows—depends on the conditions, or soil. Since this hypothesis was proposed more than 100 years ago, most research and treatments have focused on the seed, or tumor. For nearly 50 years…

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Why Is Bubonic Plague Still With Us? 12:24

30d ago12:24

12:24

For many people, bubonic plague is an illness that seems squarely situated in medieval times. But each year, a handful of human cases pop up in the western United States. Plague can be treated successfully with modern medicine. But why does it still exist, and how should we think about it both locally and globally? Plague researcher Viveka Vadyvalo…

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Don’t Let Their Name Fool You—Sea Slugs Are Awesome 23:31

1M ago23:31

23:31

Today we’re spotlighting an underappreciated group of marine creatures: sea slugs. Don’t let their humble name fool you. They come in vivid neon colors, with patterns that rival the most beautiful butterflies and feather-like external gills and tentacles. There are an estimated 10,000 species of sea slugs and they are incredibly diverse. Some are s…

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As Companies Build Data Centers For AI, Communities Push Back 11:48

1M ago11:48

11:48

There’s an enormous buildout of data centers underway across the country to fuel the AI boom. Hundreds of billions of dollars have already been spent on data centers, with talk of spending trillions more. And these data centers use a lot of power: According to the Times Picuayune, Meta’s new data center under construction in Louisiana will require …

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A Toast To Bats That Pollinate Agave, And Tracking Monarchs 18:28

1M ago18:28

18:28

You might think about bats as flitting around in the dark and hunting insects, but some species feed on fruits or flowers—and play an important role as pollinators. One place that role is crucial is in the relationship between bats and agave plants. Bat conservationist Kristen Lear joins Host Ira Flatow to describe efforts to restore agaves in the …

Big Data Beard Podcasts

1
Big Data Beard

Big Data Beard

1
Science Friday

Science Friday and WNYC Studios

1
The Sound of Pursuit

Hal Humphreys

1
The Community Group Rethinking LA's Approach To Wildfires 14:18

1
What Should Astronauts Do First When They Reach Mars? 17:55

1
Can The Rise In Solar Power Balance Out Clean Energy Cuts? 17:13

1
Are Ultramarathoners Just Built Different? 17:31

1
Your Cells Are Always Building A Whole New You 18:04

1
A Look Back At 2025 In Science, From Federal Cuts To Space Junk 15:51

1
How Death Metal Singers Make Their Extreme Vocalizations 13:42

1
What The Sigma Is Algospeak? 18:48

1
Tangling With Entanglement And Other Big Ideas In Physics 35:55

1
The Science Of Thriving In Winter—By Embracing It 17:34

1
A Neurologist Investigates His Own Musical Hallucinations 10:50

1
The Beard and the Dome Talk Crime Fiction, Podcasts, TV, and Movies 48:54

1
‘Prehistoric Planet’ Defrosts Strange Animals Of The Ice Age 17:56

1
How Did Vaccine Policies Actually Change In 2025? 12:21

1
Why Astronomers Are Excited About Comet 3I/ATLAS’ Close Approach 18:33

1
‘Fire Amoeba’ Likes It Hot, And A Faraway Lava Planet 18:08

1
What’s The Reality Behind The Humanoid Robot Hype? 12:19

1
'Just' A Blue Jay? Don't Overlook These Magnificent Common Birds 17:55

1
Can We Just Throw Our Plastic Garbage Into A Volcano? 17:16

1
How Did Ancient Humans Use The Acoustics Of Spaces Like Caves? 18:55

1
What The Sounds Of Melting Glaciers Can Tell Us 18:26

1
How A Fringe Idea Led To Lifesaving Cancer Treatments 30:08

1
Why Is Bubonic Plague Still With Us? 12:24

1
Don’t Let Their Name Fool You—Sea Slugs Are Awesome 23:31

1
As Companies Build Data Centers For AI, Communities Push Back 11:48

1
A Toast To Bats That Pollinate Agave, And Tracking Monarchs 18:28