Ask Science
How do astronomers photograph a black hole? How often do planes get hit by lightning? What does the EPA actually do? Science is all around us and transforming our world at a rapid pace. Extragalactic astrophysicist Sabrina Stierwalt is here to guide you through it. She'll help you make sense of the everyday and the once-in-a-lifetime. Rights of Albert Einstein are used with permission of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Represented exclusively by Greenlight.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 7 minutes
- Episodes
- 414
- Years Active
- 2012 - 2022
The Age Of Resilience
The viruses keep coming, the climate is warming, and the Earth is rewilding. Our human family has no playbook to address the mayhem unfolding around us. If there is a change to reckon with, argues th…
The History of Transplant Surgery
Witty, entertaining, and illuminating, Spare Parts shows us that the history - and future - of transplant surgery is tied up with questions about not only who we are, but also what we are, and what w…
Could we have domesticated a T-Rex?
Hello, Ask Science listeners! This week, we're sharing the first episode of Curious State, a brand new podcast from Quick and Dirty Tips.
Could we have domesticated a T-Rex? Is the mafia really that v…
Life's Last Bow
Episode 5 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Standing Up for Sex
Episode 4 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Dinosaurs in Flight
Episode 3 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
The Great Permian Catastrophe
Episode 2 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
A Song of Fire and Ice
Episode 1 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth.
Bonus: Virgin Galactic and the Making of a Modern Astronaut
Today, we're sharing a special excerpt from Test Gods, an audiobook from our friends at Macmillan Audio. Test Gods tells the remarkable story of the test pilots, engineers, and visionaries behind Vir…
397 - The Devastating Collapse of the Arecibo Telescope
The Arecibo Telescope, featured in movies like "Contact" and "Goldeneye," collapsed in early December 2020 after 57 years of observing the universe. Here's what the telescope accomplished, and why it…
238 - When Does Your Intelligence Peak?
Are we really at our smartest in our 20s? What about the wisdom and experience that come with age? At what age do we strike the right balance between cognitive ability and expertise?
305 - Does CBD Oil Work? The Science Behind Cannabidiol
What is CBD oil? What does science have to say about the extract's proposed health benefits?
396 - Wait a Minute! How Am I Still Getting Sick on Lockdown?
You've isolated at home for months because of the pandemic, so why are you suddenly sick? Here are a few scientific reasons why you can get sick even on lockdown.
395 - How to Conceive a Boy or a Girl (According to Science)
Is there a way to predetermine your baby's biological sex and conceive a girl or a boy? Here's what science has to say about things like genetics, timing, diet, and even adrenaline.
394 - Can we ever go faster than the speed of light?
Light is the fastest moving thing we know of, but just how fast is it? Has science attempted to break the light speed record? And does the universe have a speed limit?
393 - Is Melatonin Safe? Should You Stop Taking It?
Go to the supplement aisle of almost any store in the US and you'll find melatonin, a synthetic hormone, marketed as an effective natural sleep aid, even for children! But is melatonin actually safe …
392 - How We Know a Supermassive Black Hole Lurks in the Center of Our Galaxy
Not even light can escape a black hole's gravitational pull, so how do we actually know they exist? And what's the deal with the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way?
391 - Phobias and Fears—Can You Literally Be Scared to Death?
Spiders, snakes, heights, political corruption—we're afraid of a lot of things. But what's the difference between a fear and a phobia? And can either literally scare you to death?
390 - What Happens to Saltwater Fish in Fresh Water?
Why do some fish thrive in salt water and others in fresh? And what happens if you, say, drop a saltwater shark into a fresh water swimming pool? Here's the science!
389 - What Are the Coldest and Hottest Temperatures Possible?
We experience extreme hot and cold temperatures on Earth, but they're nothing compared to the temperature extremes we've created in labs, not to mention the Universe at large. Do these hot and cold e…