Ask Science
432 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★ - 217 ratingsHow 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.
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Episodes
The History of Transplant Surgery
June 10, 2022 04:00 - 10 minutes - 9.97 MBWitty, 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 we might become. Enjoy an excerpt of this surprising history audiobook from Paul Craddock. Purchase Spare Parts at Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org, or your favorite bookstore. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Links: https://www.quickan...
Could we have domesticated a T-Rex?
April 08, 2022 04:00 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBHello, 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 violent? Haven't all the possible songs been written by now? Unexpected gems of knowledge are hidden all around us. Let’s dig them up, one offbeat question at a time. A few of the curiosities you’ll uncover in this episode: The 3 questions to ask yourself before domesticating a T-Rex How much...
Life's Last Bow
November 09, 2021 03:03 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBEpisode 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
November 02, 2021 04:34 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBEpisode 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
October 26, 2021 08:39 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBEpisode 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
October 19, 2021 13:16 - 11 minutes - 11 MBEpisode 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
October 12, 2021 06:38 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBEpisode 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
May 11, 2021 04:00 - 10 minutes - 9.89 MBToday, 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 Virgin Galactic’s campaign to build a space tourism company. It's an epic story about bravery and the fulfillment of our dreams. If you like what you hear, get your copy of Test Gods here or wherever books or audiobooks are sold. https://amzn.to/3f0rQJ9
397 - The Devastating Collapse of the Arecibo Telescope
December 15, 2020 03:00 - 10 minutes - 9.61 MBThe 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 its loss is a devastating blow to science.
238 - When Does Your Intelligence Peak?
December 08, 2020 03:46 - 5 minutes - 5.39 MBAre 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
December 01, 2020 02:50 - 7 minutes - 7.43 MBWhat is CBD oil? What does science have to say about the extract's proposed health benefits?
305 - Does CBD Oil Work?
November 30, 2020 16:30 - 7 minutes - 5.71 MBWhat is CBD oil? What does science have to say about the extract's proposed health benefits? Read the transcript. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/does-cbd-oil-work-the-science-behind-cannabidiol https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.facebook.com/qdteins...
396 - Wait a Minute! How Am I Still Getting Sick on Lockdown?
November 24, 2020 03:27 - 7 minutes - 6.62 MBYou'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)
November 17, 2020 03:49 - 8 minutes - 8.01 MBIs 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?
November 10, 2020 04:13 - 8 minutes - 8.24 MBLight 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?
394 - Can Anything Go Faster Than the Speed of Light?
November 09, 2020 17:00 - 8 minutes - 6.32 MBLight is the fastest moving thing we know of, but just how fast is it? Has science attempted to break the light speed record, and have we been successful? Read the transcript. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/faster-than-light-speed https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscrib...
393 - Is Melatonin Safe? Should You Stop Taking It?
November 03, 2020 03:27 - 7 minutes - 7.44 MBGo 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 to use? Studies say ...
392 - How We Know a Supermassive Black Hole Lurks in the Center of Our Galaxy
October 27, 2020 03:28 - 10 minutes - 9.94 MBNot 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?
October 20, 2020 02:58 - 6 minutes - 6.29 MBSpiders, 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?
October 06, 2020 02:35 - 9 minutes - 9.2 MBWhy 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?
September 29, 2020 03:05 - 6 minutes - 6.46 MBWe 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 extremes have a limit?
388 - Astronomers Found a Sign of Life on Venus—What Does It Mean?
September 22, 2020 03:09 - 6 minutes - 6.43 MBAstronomers recently made a huge discovery—there may be life on Venus. But what does it really mean when we say we've discovered the potential for life on the second rock from the Sun? Don't go searching for aliens just yet.
387 - How Do We Control Wildfires? The Surprising Facts
September 15, 2020 05:00 - 8 minutes - 8.13 MBHow many days can it take to control a large wildfire? (More than you think.) Who fights wildfires? (You may be surprised!) What tools and methods do firefighters use to control, extinguish, and prevent them?
386 - What Is a Derecho? A Meteorologist Explains
September 01, 2020 04:36 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBHurricanes and strong tornadoes make headlines, but fewer people know about the unique and destructive weather force known as a derecho. What are derechos, and why are they so devastating? Everyday Einstein talked with Midwest meteorologist Vince Condella to find out.
385 - Why Do We Need to Save the Bees?
August 25, 2020 02:53 - 7 minutes - 7.01 MBWild bee populations are at risk. Why are wild bee colonies in decline, why is it a big deal, and how can you help? First, step away from the pesticides.
384 - Did Scientists Just Unravel One Mystery of Stonehenge?
August 11, 2020 03:02 - 10 minutes - 9.42 MBRecently, a rock sample from the Neolithic structure Stonehenge made its way to a science lab after 60 years in a private collection. Here's what we learned from it.
383 - What Does Your Blood Type Mean? How Rare Is Yours?
August 04, 2020 04:41 - 10 minutes - 9.34 MBYour blood type is one of the many things you inherit from your parents. But what does it mean, and how does it affect your medical care? Do you have a rare blood type?
382 - Emotional, Irritated, Faking It—Why Do Humans Cry?
July 21, 2020 03:37 - 7 minutes - 6.67 MBHumans seem to be the only animals who produce one of three different types of tears. Can you guess what it is? Let's look at the science behind crying.
381 - Wearing a Mask During Coronavirus—Separating Myths from Facts
July 14, 2020 03:22 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBWe have scientific evidence that masks effectively and dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19, yet myths about mask-wearing abound. Let's put them to rest and mask up!
380 - Can Nukes Actually Stop a Devastating Hurricane?
July 07, 2020 04:41 - 7 minutes - 6.64 MBCongress recently introduced a bill to prohibit the President from using weapons to alter weather patterns. But can you tame a hurricane by nuking it off the map?
380 - Can Nukes Actually Stop a Devastating Hurricane?
July 06, 2020 13:15 - 7 minutes - 5.21 MBCongress recently introduced a bill to prohibit the President from using weapons to alter weather patterns. But can you tame a hurricane by nuking it off the map? Read the transcript. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/nuke-hurricane https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe...
379 - Is It Aliens? A Science Writer On UFOs and Her Visit to Area 51
June 30, 2020 04:15 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBAre aliens out there observing us? If they're not, why has the Pentagon released videos of "unidentified aerial phenomena?" What's going on at Area 51, anyhow?
243 - 8 Rules for Picking the Right Sunscreen According to Science
June 23, 2020 04:01 - 6 minutes - 6.34 MBDoes the SPF really matter? Should I go organic? What about the warnings on possible carcinogens in sunscreens? Is it better to avoid sunscreen altogether? Let's ask science!
378 - Without Plate Tectonics, Earth Might Not Support Life
June 16, 2020 04:39 - 8 minutes - 7.44 MBThe Earth's surface is made of large slabs called plates. They move faster than your fingernails grow, and life on Earth might not exist without them.
377 - Did a Virus Make Us Mammals?
June 09, 2020 03:10 - 7 minutes - 6.73 MBMany viruses are like bad party guests—they show up uninvited and wreak havoc. But some viruses are more cooperative guests. A virus may have even made us mammals!
376 - Has NASA Found a Parallel Universe?
June 02, 2020 04:06 - 8 minutes - 8.14 MBDid NASA really discover a parallel universe where time runs backward? It's not impossible! But we're still a long way from proving it.
375 - "Is Takeout Safe?" and Other Food Safety Questions
May 26, 2020 04:20 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBHow concerned should you be about transmission of the novel coronavirus through food?
374 - Subterranean Rivers—Water Flowing Underground
May 12, 2020 03:02 - 7 minutes - 7.29 MBThere's much left unexplored beneath Earth's surface, uncluding miles of underground rivers. What forms them? What lives there? And how do these subterranean waterways help science?
373 - Why Is a NASA Spacecraft Currently Orbiting an Asteroid?
May 05, 2020 03:53 - 7 minutes - 7.17 MBThe OSIRIS REx spacecraft will perform a cosmic smash-and-grab on the surface of the potentially hazardous asteroid, Bennu. What do scientists hope to learn?
372 - Can I visit just one other family while social distancing?
April 28, 2020 05:40 - 7 minutes - 6.52 MBYou're longing for connection, your child is begging for a playdate, you're stir crazy. Is it okay to visit with just one other family during the COVID-19 pandemic?
372 - Can I Visit Just One Family During the Pandemic?
April 27, 2020 14:30 - 7 minutes - 5.11 MBYou're longing for connection, your child is begging for a playdate, you're stir crazy. Is it okay to visit with just one other family during the COVID-19 pandemic? Read the transcript. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Through the end of April, Podchaser will donate 25 cents to Meals on Wheels for every review. Leave a review for Ask Science! Links: https://www.quickanddirtytip...
371 - What Is the Air Quality Like Near You?
April 21, 2020 04:26 - 6 minutes - 6.24 MBIs the air noticeably clearer where you live right now? For Earth Day, you can become a citizen scientist by using an app to track air pollution in your neighborhood.
370 - What's the Difference Between Germs, Bacteria, and Viruses?
April 14, 2020 03:10 - 8 minutes - 8.05 MBWhat’s the difference between a germ, a virus, and bacteria? Let's put these different disease-causing objects under a microscope and find out.
369 - Is Pollution Clearing While We're Staying Home?
April 07, 2020 04:14 - 5 minutes - 5.11 MBAlthough quarantine challenges us all, the reduction in human activity has meant good things for nature and our environment. Can we sustain that progress?
368 - Coronavirus Myths and Facts with Epidemics Expert Dr. Jonathan Quick
March 31, 2020 03:27 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBOne of the best things you can do to protect yourself from the threat of COVID-19 is to separate the facts from the myths. Dr. Jonathan Quick, infectious disease expert and author of The End of Epidemics, joined Everyday Einstein to tell you how.
174 - How Are Seasonal Flu Vaccines Made?
March 24, 2020 04:38 - 8 minutes - 7.77 MBEach year a new flu shot is developed to try to combat the strains of the virus expected to wreak havoc that season. But who decides which viruses make it into the vaccine? What new technologies are being used to produce that vaccine more efficiently?
367 - How Can I Sanitize My Smartphone and My House?
March 17, 2020 06:39 - 8 minutes - 7.85 MBSanitation is on everyone's minds right now. What's the best way to clean your (probably gross) phone, your home, and your own hands? Do you need antibacterial soap?
366 - What Is a Chimera? Could You Be One?
March 10, 2020 04:26 - 7 minutes - 7.05 MBWhat's a chimera, and how common is chimerism? Most cases in humans are discovered by accident, so you could be a chimera and not even know it!
365 - The Science of Composting
March 03, 2020 05:40 - 8 minutes - 7.99 MBRotting food in landfills is a major contributor to climate change. Composting works differently. Here's the science behind composting and some great reasons to get started.
364 - How Long Would It Take to Fall Through the Earth?
February 25, 2020 05:06 - 6 minutes - 6.36 MBOn the "gravity train," you'd move really, really fast.