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PODCAST

Science Quickly

Scientific American

Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.

science

All Episodes

22:04

Can Vaccines Help Defeat Cancer?

Science Quickly ·

2025/11/14

Host Kendra Pierre-Louis speaks with reporter Rowan Moore Gerety about how mRNA vaccines, first successfully developed to protect against COVID, are now being tested to treat cancers such as pancreatic cancer. Together, Pierre-Louis and Moore Gerety explore the science behind these therapeutic vaccines and share the story of a survivor whose remission underscores their potential to transform cancer care.Recommended Reading New Cancer Vaccines Could Treat Some Types of Pancreatic, Colorectal and

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13:10

Can AI Ease the Pain of Loss?

Science Quickly ·

2025/11/12

Griefbots—artificial-intelligence-powered chat tools that simulate conversations with the deceased—are helping some people navigate loss in unexpected ways. Science writer David Berreby shares his firsthand experience with these digital companions and explores what they reveal about mourning, memory and the limits of technology. Recommended Reading David Berreby’s substack E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should

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12:43

Why Some Foods Gross Us Out

Science Quickly ·

2025/11/10

In this episode of Science Quickly, Rachel Feltman introduces interim host Kendra Pierre-Louis, a climate journalist with a strong aversion to mayonnaise—and a knack for turning that disgust into fascinating science reporting. Pierre-Louis shares insights into the psychology of taste, the cultural language of food textures and the way that categories of such textures, including creamy foods such as mayo, can trigger visceral reactions. Recommended Reading “Mayonnaise Is Disgusting, and Science

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15:06

The Science of Headaches

Science Quickly ·

2025/11/07

Headaches are among the most common human experiences—yet science still struggles to explain them. Journalist Tom Zeller, Jr., joins host Rachel Feltman to explore the cultural, gender-related and scientific blind spots that have stalled research into migraine, cluster and tension-type headaches.Recommended Reading Tom Zeller, Jr’s website The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction––And a Search for Relief, by Tom Zeller, Jr. Mariner Books, 2025 E-mail us at

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16:41

Why Defiance Can Be a Virtue

Science Quickly ·

2025/11/05

Many of us are taught from a young age that being “good” means being obedient—but that conditioning can make it hard to speak up when it counts. In this episode, Cornell University professor Sunita Sah explains how defiance can be a powerful tool for challenging injustice, asserting boundaries and reclaiming our voice. Recommended Reading Sunita Sah’s website Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes, by Sunita Sah. One World, 2025 E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have

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12:15

How Hurricane Melissa Became a Meteorologic Outlier

Science Quickly ·

2025/11/03

Hurricane Melissa stunned meteorologists with its rare intensity, reaching wind speeds that are more typical of Pacific supertyphoons and maintaining Category 5 strength for more than 24 hours. Scientific American senior editor Andrea Thompson breaks down what made the storm so unusual, how it impacted Jamaica and Haiti and what it might signal about the future of hurricanes. Plus, we discuss quick updates on viral infections and heart health, black hole collisions and chimpanzee

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8:56

How to Trick-or-Treat Your Gut

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/31

Halloween might be a treat for your taste buds, but what about the trillions of microbes in your gut? Gastroenterologist Chris Damman joins host Rachel Feltman to explore how different candies affect your gut microbiome—and why moderation and whole foods matter even after a sugar binge.Recommended Reading “Halloween Candy Binges Can Overload Your Gut Microbiome—A Gut Doctor Explains How to Minimize Spooking Your Helpful Bacteria,” by Christopher Damman, in the Conversation. Published online

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14:35

How TikTok’s Algorithm Could Shift with a U.S. Spin-off

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/29

TikTok’s algorithm has become a cultural force, shaping what more than a billion users see and share, but its future may be shifting. As the platform prepares for a U.S.-only spin-off, Kelley Cotter, an assistant professor in the department of human-centered computing and social informatics at Pennsylvania State University, joins Science Quickly to explore how changes in ownership could affect the algorithm’s influence and transparency and the kinds of content we consume. Recommended

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10:04

Mosquitoes Invade Iceland, Earth Darkens, and Bird...

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/27

Mosquitoes settle in Iceland for the first time as climate change reshapes the Arctic, and Earth’s darkening albedo may be accelerating global warming. Host Rachel Feltman also dives into rising bird flu cases, foodborne urinary tract infections linked to contaminated meat and a potential shift in mpox transmission. Plus, we discuss some hopeful news: peanut allergies are declining in toddlers, and North Atlantic right whales show signs of recovery.Recommended Reading Bird Flu Is Back. Here’s

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12:29

Why Medication Safety in Pregnancy Is Still a Mystery

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/24

When the U.S. president claimed that acetaminophen use during pregnancy could cause autism in a person’s offspring, it reignited a deeper conversation about how little we know about medication safety for pregnant people. In this episode, Scientific American senior health editor Tanya Lewis explains why pregnant individuals are routinely excluded from clinical trials—and how that gap in research puts millions at risk. Recommended Reading Nobody Knows How Tylenol Really Works Is Tylenol Safe for

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11:16

The Science of a Convincing Sorry

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/22

What makes an apology sound sincere? Psychologist Shiri Lev-Ari joins host Rachel Feltman to explore how the effort we put into our words—especially through longer, easier-to-understand language—can signal genuine remorse. New research reveals that even subtle linguistic choices shape how apologies are received and judged. Recommended Reading “Sorries Seem to Have the Harder Words,” by Shiri Lev-Ari, in British Journal of Psychology, Vol. 116; published online May 7, 2025 E-mail us at

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8:52

Global Superbugs Surge, Chikungunya Hits Long Island,...

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/20

This week on Science Quickly, we cover the global rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a rare U.S. case of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus and new research on anti-inflammatory supplements. Plus, scientists warn of satellite vulnerabilities—from Earth’s weakening magnetic shield to unencrypted data leaks—and uncover a surprising fungal nursery hidden in stink bug legs. Recommended Reading Which Anti-Inflammatory Supplements Actually Work? How the New Chikungunya Virus Outbreak in China

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17:53

The Meteorite That Vanished: El Ali’s Strange Journey

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/17

A massive iron meteorite sat undisturbed in the Somali desert for generations—until armed men stole it in 2020. The El Ali meteorite contains at least three minerals never before seen on Earth, making it scientifically priceless. But its journey from landmark to black market raises thorny questions about the role of researchers in legitimizing stolen artifacts.Recommended Reading The Sordid Mystery of a Somalian Meteorite Smuggled into China E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any

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16:17

Why Is Lung Cancer Surging among Young Women?

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/15

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women, surpassing breast and ovarian cancer combined. Thoracic surgeon Jonathan Villena explains why younger nonsmoking women are increasingly affected—and how early screening could save lives. Recommended Reading Most People at Risk for Lung Cancer Never Get Screened: Here’s How to Fix That Jonathan Villena’s profile at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any

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8:40

Nobel Prizes, COVID Vaccine Updates and Malnutrition...

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/13

This week on Science Quickly, we break down the 2025 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Physics and Chemistry. We also unpack the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s shifting COVID vaccine guidance, a controversial call to split the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot and a new study on child malnutrition in Gaza.Recommended Reading 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Awarded for Discoveries of How the Body Puts the Brakes on the Immune System 2025 Chemistry Nobel Goes

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20:01

The Doctor behind the Commander in Chief

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/10

Presidential physicians operate at the intersection of medicine, politics and national security. Former White House physician Jeffrey Kuhlman joins Scientific American associate editor Lauren Young to discuss the unique medical demands of presidential care—from preparing for emergencies such as gunshot wounds to navigating the delicate balance between transparency and privacy. His insights offer a rare glimpse into the high-stakes world of White House health care.Recommended

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10:52

Chris Hadfield’s Fictional Universe Is Rooted in Real...

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/08

What happens when a real-life astronaut turns to fiction? In this episode, Chris Hadfield shares how decades of spaceflight and global diplomacy inspired his latest novel, Final Orbit, a cold war thriller packed with historical intrigue and technical precision. Host Rachel Feltman dives into Hadfield’s creative process and the eerie parallels between past and present geopolitics.Recommended Reading Final Orbit, by Chris Hadfield. Mulholland Books, 2025 Science Quickly is a Signal Awards

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9:47

Enceladus’s Alien Ocean, Ancient Fungi and the Flavor...

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/06

Saturn’s moon Enceladus reveals complex organic molecules that could hint at extraterrestrial life. Researchers also uncover fungi’s ancient reign over Earth and warn that second COVID infections may pose greater risks to young people. Plus, ants ferment yogurt, and flu detection might soon come with a burst of herbal flavor.Recommended Reading Saturn’s Moon Enceladus Has Complex, Life-Friendly Chemistry Science Quickly is a Signal Awards finalist! Support us by casting your vote before October

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20:05

Enter One of the World’s Quietest Rooms

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/03

Inside one of the quietest rooms in the world, host Rachel Feltman meets artist-in-residence Seth Cluett at the historic anechoic chamber at Bell Labs to explore the science of silence and sound perception. From popping balloons in total silence to hearing your own nervous system, we dive into psychoacoustics, audio innovation and the emotional impact of sound design. Along the way, we uncover how Bell Labs shaped everything from stereo audio to the voice of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey.Science

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16:28

What’s Driving Experts Away from the CDC?

Science Quickly ·

2025/10/01

Several top public health experts have resigned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing a troubling shift away from science-based decision-making. Former director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Demetre Daskalakis joins host Rachel Feltman to explain how political ideology is reshaping vaccine policy, threatening essential health programs and endangering trust in the nation’s leading health agency. He also shares what outside organizations

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346 results

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