13 Best Science Podcasts of All Time

1. Startalk Radio

Ever want to get lost in the stars and the deep space? This best physics podcast by astrophysicists and planetarium director, Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down astronomical concepts in a hilarious and fun way. With the help of guests from the likes of Elon Musk, Anthony Bourdain, comedians, and scientific exports, his podcast explores all aspects of our vast universe.

2. Invisibilia

Invisibilia is a podcast that reveals the hidden forces influencing our behaviour. This is one of the best psychology podcasts that explores abstract themes like emotions, ideas, and beliefs. It’s deeply engrossing nature will make you ponder life’s greatest questions and the undefined phenomena of the world.

3. Ologies

Ologies breaks down the science behind biology, ecology, psychology—and all the other ologies! Hear funny and obscure science stories that will make you want to break out your lab coat and science goggles. From scatology (the study of poop), psilocybin (magic mushrooms) to slug sex, it’s a hyper informative podcast that will get you nerding out for all things weird science! This best biology podcast will make you wish you learned this in high school biology class.

4. Twenty Thousand Hertz

Interested in sound engineering? Check out Twenty Thousand hertz—a fascinating and technical top science podcast about the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds. You’ll learn everything from spooky sound design, plants making music to how Netflix created their iconic sound logo.

5. Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

Sawbones is the best medical podcast that investigates medical history in a gross, funny, and educational way. If you’re looking to learn about medical practices, diseases, viruses and the COVID-19 pandemic, this medicine podcast will be your cure!

6. Gastropod

What do you discover in the intersection of food science and history? Gastropod! This podcast fills you up with bite-sized food facts spanning topics from ancient feasts, farming in space and CRISPR (a technology that can be used to edit genes). This food science podcast will guarantee to make you one smart cookie.

7. Science VS

From the award-winning Gimlet Media, Science Vs is hosted by the science journalist, Wendy Zuckerman. Her enthusiasm and smarts will inject you with a dose of science fun in your day. The rigorously fact-checked episodes sift through the actual science behind news-worthy topics, fads, and opinions from DNA kits and effects of 5G to probiotic foods and anti-vaxxers.

8. The Infinite Monkey Cage

The Infinite Monkey Theorem says a monkey can write a Shakespeare play if you give it a typewriter and enough time. But what if you put two scientists and a comedian in a cage for 45 minutes for a decade? You’ll get a funny science podcast called The Infinite Monkey Cage that will answer life's greatest mysteries like “Are humans still evolving?” and “What is life?”. If you enjoy a splash of British humor with your scientific mysteries, then this top science podcast from the BBC will be your cup of tea.

9. Flash Forward

Flash forward to potential tomorrows with this top futurist podcast hosted by award-winning science journalist Rose Eveleth. This pod first helps you imagine what the future looks like with an immersive fictional sketch at the beginning of each episode. Then dive deep into forward-looking topics from sex robot warranties to fecal transplant black markets to the future of crime on the moon. Sounds ridiculous? Just listen to this podcast, because you’ll find that the future is closer than you think.

10. Science Rules! with Bill Nye

Bill Nye the Science Guy is back—this time in your ears! TV’s favorite scientist is joined by different field experts and famous guests to answer questions from curious listeners. Get answers to burning everyday questions like "How often should I really be washing my pillowcase?”, find out how we can fix racism in science, and hear how supermodel Karlie Kloss is inspiring girls to code.

11. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Straight from the editorial room of Popular Science magazine, their science editors get together to share the creepiest and weirdest things they’ve learned that week while writing their articles. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how science journalists do their work and what scientific curiosities are on the top of their minds.

12. The Episodic Table of Elements

If each element in the periodic table can tell its story, what would they say? Meet The Episodic Table of Elements where “history class visits the chemistry lab”. Each episode of this chemistry podcast is dedicated to tracing the history and stories of a different element on the periodic table. Find out how erbium makes the internet work and how cobalt in beers was making Canadian sick. Get ready for a 118-episode journey exploring the chemical building blocks of life.

13. Tai Asks Why

Tai Poole may be a mere 11 years old, but he asks and finds answers to life's biggest questions in his cult science podcast. Follow Tai as he speaks to experts and friends to get to the bottom of the science of questions like why some people fall in love and why others bully. Ponder the vast world through the curious mind of a child with this Webby award-winning family-friendly podcast.