Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and more: 10 science podcasts to answer all of your burning questions

If learning more about the universe and listening to scientific podcasts are on your New Year’s resolutions list, you’ve found the right round-up. On our list, we’ve included topical podcasts answering questions about the world. Hear from scientists, NASA, researchers, experts, and more.

There are shows hosted by favorites like Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Allie Ward. There’s a science podcast with episodes under 20 minutes long if you’re looking short, daily doses of science. Tune into our complete list below:

Stuff to Blow Your Mind

Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick answer science questions and examine the universe on iHeartPodcasts’ “Stuff To Blow Your Mind.” In daily episodes, hear about geographic features like sinkholes, sci-fi films like Robot Jox, time travel fiction, rocks, minerals, and more in episodes averaging an hour long.

Short Wave

NPR and Short Wave Plus’ “Short Wave” releases daily, bite-sized science episodes hosted by Maddie Sofia and Emily Kwong. Learn about topics like vaccines, service dogs, dermatology, and the James Webb Space Telescope, just to name a few. Check out the show’s archive housing over 560 episodes under 20 minutes long.

Ologies with Alie Ward

“Ologies with Alie Ward” delves into science-based topics and interviews experts about their professional obsessions. Tune in for episodes averaging an hour long on subjects like neuropathology (concussions), cats, forensic ecology, UFOlogy, and dorology (pain). Since 2017, the podcast has released over 240 episodes to stream in any order. If you’re looking for a particular -ology, chances are that Alie has covered it.

Science Rules! with Bill Nye

Stitcher & Bill Nye present “Science Rules! with Bill Nye.” Bill co-hosts with Corey S. Powell to chat with experts and celebrity guests and answer science questions. Hear about topics like immunity, string theory, Mars, underwater exploration, the science of smell, and more. Over 145 episodes are now streaming, with the average episode length under an hour.

This Podcast Will Kill You

Exactly Right presents “This Podcast will Kill You.” But not to worry about the scary title – topics in episodes under two hours long include typhus, alcohol, West Nile virus, diabetes, anthrax. The show has released over 100 episodes since 2017 and is hosted by epidemiologists and ecologists Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke.

Life Kit: Health

NPR’s “Life Kit: Health” shares tips for your science knowledge toolbox. Hear from experts on omicron, what happens to our brain when we grieve, divesting from diet culture, and mindfulness in episodes. Since 2019, the show has released over 105 episodes under 30 minutes long.

StarTalk Radio

Astrophysicist and Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson co-hosts “StarTalk Radio” with comedian Chuck Nice to combine science chats, pop culture, and comedy with guests in episodes. They’ll delve into physics, astronomy, and more with topics such as extending life, simulation theory, the James Webb Space Telescope, and more. Neil and guests often open the podcast’s mailbag to answer fans’ questions. In December, Ted Lasso’s creators Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt stopped by with neuroscientists Heather Berlin to unpack the science of kindness. Tune in for new, weekly episodes under an hour in length, and check out the 720+ episode archive of “StarTalk Radio.”

Hidden Brain

“Hidden Brain” investigates behavioral patterns in the natural world on weekly episodes. Host Shankar Vedantam brings listeners through science, research, stories, and conversations that draw connections between the science of humans’ brains, behavior, and outer world. Listen to Shankar’s interviews with interesting guests ranging from scientists to magicians. Check over 370 episodes, each under an hour long.

NASA’s Curious Universe

“NASA’s Curious Universe” explores our wondrous universe in episodes with scientists, engineers, and astronauts who lived and worked in space. There was a recent, four-episode mini-series about the James Webb Space Telescope discussing how it was created, interviewing its engineers, explaining the Ariane 5 rocket, and more. Check out new, weekly episodes running around an hour each.

Bret Weinstein | DarkHorse Podcast

“Bret Weinstein | DarkHorse Podcast” investigates science-based questions to tackle topics like Omicron, “humanity unmasked,” “what science does for meaning,” and more. Heather Heying co-hosts “The Evolutionary Lens” episodes about human nature, looking at the world’s patterns. Since 2019, this series has released over 140 episodes, running 90 minutes on average.