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PODCAST

Tiny Matters

Science shapes every part of our lives, but so much of its influence is overlooked or buried in the past. Tiny Matters is an award-winning podcast about tiny things — from molecules to microbes — that have a big and often surprising impact on society. From deadly diseases to forensic toxicology to the search for extraterrestrial life, hosts and former scientists Sam Jones and Deboki Chakravarti embrace the awe and messiness of science and its place in history and today, and how it could

science life sciences

All Episodes

00:12:35

[BONUS] Time limits for anesthesia and stunning...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/05/07

What limits on anesthesia could mean for doctors and patients and how to spot sparkly bioluminescence.

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00:34:57

The placenta: A disposable organ we can’t live without

Tiny Matters ·

2025/04/30

The placenta is essential for life, but so much of its function is unknown.

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00:14:38

[BONUS]: An inspiring pharmacist grandma and orcas...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/04/23

We hear about an incredible pharmacist grandma and orcas wearing dead salmon as hats.

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00:29:16

How glaciers safeguard Earth’s future and hold clues...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/04/16

Glaciers are not just important because they impact sea level rise — they hold clues to our ancient past.

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00:12:58

[BONUS] Evolutionary adaptations to high altitudes...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/04/09

What is the difference between an e-cigarette and dry herb vaporizer, and how have populations at high altitudes evolved?

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00:27:55

How 18th and 19th century 'race science' still has...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/04/02

The hidden history of how race science, dating back centuries, still influences how patients are diagnosed and treated today.

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00:12:51

[BONUS] Crocheted wasp nests and sewage in reefs:...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/03/26

We cover the science of crocheted wasp nests and how sewage is impacting coral reefs.

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00:31:17

The rape kit: From controversial 1970s invention to...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/03/19

For decades, the rape kit has stood for the idea that every survivor has the right to a forensic exam and to have their evidence taken seriously.

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00:10:51

[BONUS] Double rainbows and mysterious chromosomes:...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/03/12

We cover the science of rainbows and mysterious chromosomes that have a significant impact on human health.

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00:33:59

Not just a ‘royal disease’: Hemophilia’s devastating...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/03/05

Today, people with hemophilia can live generally long, healthy lives, but in previous generations, the future wasn’t so bright.

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00:15:22

[BONUS] Fungus farming ants and disappointing orange...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/02/26

The incredible world of fungus farming ants and what makes fresh squeeze juice taste so much better than the processed stuff.

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00:27:53

How plants shaped our world: Rising oxygen, blocky...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/02/19

In 2011, paleontologist Riley Black was on the lookout for a T. rex, but she found a fossilized leaf instead, which ended up being more valuable.

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16:01

[BONUS] 'Night soil' recycling and could viruses be...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/02/12

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we consider if bacteriophages could become our biggest allies in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Then we cover the historical role of "night soil men" and how some sewage treatment systems today are setting the standard for sustainable management of human excrement while also making sure we don't get sick. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org *or fill out this form* with...

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30:23

Can evolution go backwards?

Tiny Matters ·

2025/02/05

In 1893, Belgian paleontologist Louis Dollo suggested that evolution can’t go backwards in the exact same way that it proceeded. This became known as “Dollo’s Law,” and came under a lot of scrutiny. But, more recently, Dollo’s Law was co-opted into the idea that traits, once they gain a certain amount of complexity, can’t return to a simpler state. In this episode of Tiny Matters, we explore two exciting examples where scientists have found that not to be the case. Send us your science ...

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15:35

[BONUS] Four armadillos in a trenchcoat and does...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/01/29

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover a species of armadillo that, as it turns out, is actually four species. Then we discuss what researchers know about if pregnant people have a better sense of smell.We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org *or fill out this form* with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured.A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tin...

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26:39

'A cage of ovulating females': The development and...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/01/22

The 1940s were a pivotal time for the world. In the United States, as men went to fight in World War II, women became essential additions to the US workforce. And when the war ended, many of those women wanted to continue working. But having more children than they wanted or could care for was a huge barrier to making that a reality. When the oral birth control pill became available in 1960, it was a massive deal because it gave women control over when and if they wanted to have children. Tod...

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1:50

Submit a Tiny Show and Tell Us — first 40 people get...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/01/17

We’re always on the lookout for Tiny Show and Tell Us submissions and we thought, why not provide a little incentive? The first 40 listeners within the United States who send us their science facts or some cool news they’ve come across or even a fun science story from their childhood will be sent a Tiny Matters coffee mug with our original logo! You can submit at this link or email tinymatters@acs.org. Ready, set, go!

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12:49

[BONUS] A hedgehog doppelgänger and STEVE lighting up...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/01/15

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover an aurora-like phenomenon — STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) — and how citizen science led to its discovery and unforgettable name. Then we talk about convergent evolution in tenrecs, a fascinating family of animals endemic to Madagascar. Some look identical to hedgehogs, some are similar to opossums, and others look like moles. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters...

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28:26

Nearly 40 years after the Chornobyl nuclear disaster,...

Tiny Matters ·

2025/01/08

On April 26, 1986, the Soviet Union’s Chornobyl Power Complex nuclear reactor 4 exploded, releasing a massive amount of highly radioactive material. People living near the power plant were forced to evacuate, and the area was deemed uninhabitable. But today, many animals — some the descendants of pets left behind — have made this region their home. In this episode, we chat with researchers who have spent a lot of time in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone studying the animals that live there, tryin...

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17:41

Happy New Year! Bring on 2025

Tiny Matters ·

2025/01/01

Happy 2025! Join us as we reflect back on 2024 and share exciting episode topics and podcast plans for 2025.Send us your science stories/factoids/news for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us bonus episode and to be entered to win a Tiny Matters coffee mug! And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter at bit.ly/tinymattersnewsletter.All Tiny Matters transcripts and references are available here.

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137 results

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