The 10 best science and technology podcasts from Radiolab and Ologies on the NASA show

There are so many science podcasts that choosing one can seem overwhelming. We’ve scoured the internet for classics and little-known gems covering a wide range of topics from space to food to cybercrime. Here are our top picks.

Should you switch to a gluten-free diet? Is artificial intelligence really out of control? This podcast explores current trends and hot topics to expose the science behind them, separating fact from fiction. In a typical episode, science journalist Wendy Zukerman, the creator and host, speaks with scientists and experts and cites research in the field in an upbeat and engaging style. The idea for the series originated in 2015 when actress Gwenyth Paltrow suggested that women should spray their vaginas to get an energy boost, rebalance their hormones and stay clean. Zukerman felt compelled to bust the myth and has been fact-checking on her show ever since.

You’ve probably heard of RadioLab. Launched in 2002, the award-winning podcast, currently co-hosted by science journalists Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser, tells a different science or technology-related story each week, often exploring different angles. The show integrates expert interviews and first-person accounts from guests into compelling narratives. Recent episodes have delved into a strange internet law that allows tech companies to free themselves from what happens on their platforms, the cause of the mysterious Tunguska impact which hit Siberia in 1908 and whether people with disabilities could actually be the ideal astronauts. Highly recommended for curious people with diverse interests.

It might be the best podcast name ever. With weekly episodes, the official podcast from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, features in-depth conversations with astronauts, scientists and engineers about the latest developments in human spaceflight. The show has just celebrated its 300th anniversary^th episode with special guests talking about what the future holds for humans visiting low Earth orbit, recorded in front of a live audience. Previously, the show discussed NASA’s near-term goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the surface of the Moon. He often focuses on different aspects of this plan, such as new lunar spacesuits and the first Moon-orbiting space station being developed by NASA, called Gateway, which aims to support human visits to long term as well as deep space exploration. Each episode is usually around an hour long, allowing for topics to be covered in detail.

Want to take a deep dive into a specific branch of science? The podcast’s name comes from the suffix “ology” – the study of something – and consists of lengthy discussions between host Alie Ward and experts from diverse and often obscure disciplines, from sciuridology (the study of squirrels) to diabetology (the research and treatment of diabetes). Ward asks questions that bring out little-known aspects of each field while also touching on personal aspects, like how guests choose their major, which often leads to interesting stories. The idea for the podcast came from the word curiology – writing with pictures. Ward recently dedicated two episodes to this area, delving into emoji, from the origin of the smiley face to behind-the-scenes drama and statistics on usage and trends. I give a thumbs up.

A generation of young people is now grappling with the climate crisis – often considered the most pressing problem facing humanity today. This podcast, which is in its third season, is produced by and for young people and aims to highlight their stories. While early episodes focused on the experiences of young climate activists, the show now has a broader scope. In the latest episode, storyteller Reece Whatmore imagines a world in which buildings are designed in collaboration with nature, rather than letting man-made materials dominate urban landscapes, and speaks with biomaterial designers, scientists and engineers working to achieve this goal. By being solution-focused, Inherited addresses a daunting subject with hope.

Food collides with science and history in this biweekly podcast co-hosted by journalist Cynthia Graber and author Nicola Twilley. In the last episode, they study the origin of fungi and bacteria present in sourdough by participating in an experiment in Belgium with microbiologists and bakers. The show also delves into agriculture, examining for example how human excrement could save agriculture and the planet, as well as new developments, such as lab-grown meat, which debuted in an American restaurant in July. The show is often inspired by listener requests and is sure to fascinate curious foodies.

Efforts to repair human-caused damage to wildlife by allowing nature to take over, called rewilding, have taken off in recent years. In this podcast hosted by James Shooter, photographer and filmmaker, listeners are taken behind the scenes of various rewilding initiatives across Europe as he visits them during a year-long journey. Monthly episodes tell the stories of people trying to reclaim nature, for example experts from the Great Côa Valley in Portugal, who are trying to improve the coexistence of animal species such as rabbits, Iberian wolves and dung beetles. The host’s passion for conservation makes the show both informative and engaging.

Throughout the ages, people have often tried to treat medical problems in weird, disgusting, or just plain ineffective ways. So hosts Sydnee and Justin McElroy, a doctor and actor respectively, were inspired to create a podcast that uncovered some of these proposed treatments by delving into the annals of medical history. With new episodes airing every Friday, the series also looks at the latest therapy trends, like a pungent plant resin called asafoetida, which some say has many medical benefits, and a sound therapy chamber shaped like a egg called Harmonic. Egg. The final installment examines the recent sudden increase in leprosy cases in Florida, examining the history of the disease and current treatments. May not be suitable for delicate people.

A true crime show for tech geeks. Hosted by Jack Rhysider, a former network security engineer, the podcast features stories about the dark side of the Internet told by hackers and those who have been hacked. In a recent episode, a member of the Dominican Republic’s cybersecurity incident response team explains the process he followed when investigating a major cyberattack targeting his country’s government. Another episode follows a man who breaks into buildings for a living to check whether they are secure or not. The show is compelling and binge-worthy.

This is shameless self-promotion, but you can also enjoy our podcasts. New Weekly Scientist, our flagship show hosted by Timothy Revell and Christie Taylor, takes a closer look at the week’s most fascinating science news. If you’re looking for something a little more offbeat, Dead Planet Society explores crazy ideas such as how we could punch a hole in a planet or whether we could destroy the sun – from a physics perspective, of course. And we also have Cultural Laboratory, a podcast that might consist of interviewing the world’s most exciting authors about fascinating books one week and delving into the science behind a movie or TV show another. All available on the main New Scientist podcast feed.