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Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. Join our editors as they explain it all, with new episodes every other Wednesday. Submit a question for a future episode at https://popsci.com/ask
Episodes
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhy does candy taste different now?
Just in time for Halloween, PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and News Editor Laura Baisas unwrap the…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhy don't humans have tails?
So many mammals have useful, interesting, or just plain CUTE tails–so why not humans? PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhat’s the best sleep position?
Everyone knows that getting good sleep is the best thing you can do for your body, but... does it matter how you lay your head (and body)? PopSci Editor…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhat's the most eco-friendly burial option? (ENCORE)
Note: Our show has grown a LOT recently and a ton of new listeners have joined us, so we decided it’d be fun to share one of our favorite episodes since we…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhy do dogs tilt their heads?
Dog behavior exploration incoming! PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceHow scary is Yellowstone's supervolcano?
It's volcano time, as PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert dig deep…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhat are the most common sunscreen myths
It's time to separate facts from fiction about sunscreen, as PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and News Editor Laura…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceHow did airplane seats get SO small?
Welcome back to our show! PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert had…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhy are most people right handed?
We're talking hands, and that's no jive, as PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhat makes childhood summers last forever?
It's summer and the days are just packed, as PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceIs real-life storm chasing like the movies?
You've seen Twister AND Twisters, now let PopSci Editors Sarah Durn and Laura Baisas clue you into what storm chasing is life in…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceHow do airplane toilets work?
There's more than a little bathroom talk in this episode, as PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and News Editor Laura…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceHow come some birds talk like people?
So many shouting and singing birds in this episode, as PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhy can't we remember being babies?
Plumbing the depths of their childhood memories, PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceHow come only modern humans need braces?
Chomping right through the history of orthodontics and human bone development, PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceDid any dinosaurs actually spit venom?
Digging deep into the fossil record, PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert investigate whether there…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhat's the most eco-friendly burial option?
After a lifetime of trying to put things in the right bin, we all eventually arrive at the ultimate recycling dilemma: what to do with our bodies after we die?…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhy do (most) cats hate water?
From ancient deserts to kittenhood lessons, PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert (PLUS SPECIAL FELINE GUESTS)…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceSurviving freezing temperatures: How low can humans go?
Humans are homeotherms, meaning that our core body temperature stays roughly constant, but what happens when conditions drive that body temp down? PopSci…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceDecoding wintery precipitation: What causes snow, sleet and freezing rain?
Are you as tired as we are of winter weather? Well, at least it helps to know how it works! PopSci Editors Sarah Durn and Laura Baisas go on a…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceHow fast would NYC crumble without people? Featuring 'Survivorman' Les Stroud
In a world without people, how fast would NYC fall apart and nature take over? PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert go…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceHow do squirrels find their buried nuts in winter?
Every fall, squirrels hide thousands of acorns—but how do they find them again in the winter? PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhat happens to your bag after you check it in?
Each year, roughly 500 MILLION bags are checked at U.S airports, with only 0.4% getting lost - so how DO airlines move your bags around and keep track of them…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhat is human composting?
A growing number of Americans are choosing to return to earth after death—literally. Green burials, and specifically human composting, is an environmentally…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceWhy do we get goosebumps? Plus: RL Stine!
Goosebumps are a valuable tool for many animals. They keep mammals with thick fur warm by trapping air near their skin, or help make them look bigger when…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Welcome back to Ask Us Anything from Popular Science
Join us as we dive into your weirdest, most mind-burning questions–from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
How do chatbots work?
If you remember chatting with SmarterChild back on AOL Instant Messenger back in the day, you know how far ChatGPT and Google Bard have come. But how do these…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
How is Voyager's vintage technology still flying?
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 launched back in 1977 with only a five-year mission to take a gander at Jupiter and Saturn’s rings and moons. Obviously, the Voyager…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Can you become a morning person?
There's plenty of good reasons to be a morning lark. So is it possible, or is biology totally against us wannabe early birds? -- Follow us on Twitter…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Where’s the best place to sit in a movie theater?
We all have our preferred seats at the movies. But is there scientifically a best place to sit? Stan Horaczek has the answer. -- Follow us on Twitter…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Are the bees still dying?
Five or ten years ago, all we heard was "save the bees." Well, are they still dying? PopSci's Philip Kiefer has the answers—and they're surprisingly…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Why do we like pimple popping?
It's super gross, but you can't look away—why are pimple popping videos so magnetic? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
How do planes fly?
Airplanes are massive, heavy, gigantic hunks of metal. So how do their engines keep them aloft? PopSci's Rob Verger has the details. -- Follow us on Twitter…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
What’s the best way to reheat pizza?
Cold pizza is *chefs kiss.* But what if you want to heat up that leftover 'za? Our DIY editors have done the (mostly) delicious research to tell you the…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
What’s the best way to detox?
There's a lot of talk these days about the best way to "detox" your bod. But the real secret to it all was inside you all along. -- Follow us on Twitter…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Can I have a pet fox?
Foxes are cute, seemingly cuddly, and full of personality. So can we have them as pets? PopSci's Philip Kiefer explains why the answer gets complicated. --…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
How can I be more photogenic?
Without the filters, without the FaceTune—just using light, camera know-how, and posing—is there a way to be more photogenic? Photography expert and PopSci…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
What’s a haboob?
Ever heard of a haboob? Don't worry, PopSci's Chelsey B. Coombs explains it all—from their anatomy to their historical appearances. -- Follow us on Twitter…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Is the megalodon shark still alive?
Could the legendary megalodon shark still be lurking in our oceans? PopSci's Purbita Saha dishes out the details. -- Follow us on Twitter…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Why do we get wisdom teeth?
Season 3 is HERE! First up, Lauren sinks her teeth into a real head-scratcher—why do we still get wisdom teeth if they're useless? -- Follow us on Twitter…
- Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Season 3: Premiering 6/21!
Season 3 goes live on Tuesday, June 21st! We'll answer questions like why we still get wisdom teeth, are the bees still dying, and what is the scientifically…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science24. Did food taste better 50 years ago?
It's the season 2 finale! What did food taste like 50 years ago—and was it actually better than it is now? -- Follow us on Twitter…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science23. What is a super car?
There are regular cars, there are luxury cars, and then there are.... SUPER cars. But what even is a super car? As our host explains, it can often be more of a…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science22. What would happen if the sun went out?
The sun is, to put it lightly, quite important to life on Earth. What would happen if it suddenly went poof? -- Follow us on Twitter…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science21. Can stress kill you?
If you're looking for a sign to take a vacation... this might be it. -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod Hosted by Claire Maldarelli…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science20. Why can't we all touch our toes?
We finally dive into the classic question—why can't we all touch our toes? And why the heck is it such a big deal? -- Follow us on Twitter…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science19. What does space smell like?
Sure, you can't literally smell IN space. But what if you could? Just how stinky is it out there? -- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science18. Do we really need homework?
Homework—we've all done it. (Or avoided it.) But is homework truly necessary for learning and becoming a fully formed human? -- Follow us on Twitter…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science17. How much water should I drink a day?
Most people will tell you to drink 8 cups of water per day—but what if we told you that the answer is SO much more complicated than that? -- Get your tickets…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science16. What did dinosaurs taste like?
Modern dinosaurs obviously taste like chicken—because they ARE chickens. But what would dinos like stegosauruses and T. rexes have tasted like back in the day?…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science15. What'd happen if I ate my computer?
So... yes, this is a weird question. But electronics are hard to recycle, ok? Can't we just toss them down the hatch? What would they do to our bodies? -- Get…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science14. How can you safely send nude photos?
In a pandemic world, we've gotta get a little creative in order to stay intimate. But even sending a nude can be dangerous—so how can we do it safely? -- Get…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science13. Can you cure a hangover?
Let's face it—hangovers suck. But what if there was a way to cure them? -- Get your tickets to Weirdest Thing's virtual live show, which is Tuesday, 9/21…
Ask Us Anything by Popular ScienceSeason 2: Premiering 9/7!
If you liked season 1 of our show, then you are going to LOVE Season 2. We’ll hit your feeds on Tuesday, September 7th, with new hosts and new questions to…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science12. Why can't we see more colors?
The world is teeming with colors we see everyday. But humans don’t see every color on the light spectrum. There is a whole world of color that we can’t…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science11. What is an allergy?
As many of us know far too well, allergy season is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. But why do our bodies cause us such pain every spring? And why are…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science10. What's your brain doing when you daydream?
On long days, it's not unusual to conjure up scenes of lush beaches, serene mountaintops, or even a cozy blanket fort and a good movie. But what's happening in…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science9. Are there good viruses?
For the last year and a half, we've really only had one big virus on our minds—and it's a very bad one. But are there good viruses out there? And what can…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science8. Why can't we burn our trash in volcanoes?
At first glance, a volcano’s hot lava seems ideal for incinerating our trash. But, like so many things in science, it’s so much more complicated than that. ---…
Ask Us Anything by Popular Science7. Can you overdose on weed?
There aren't any recorded deaths attributed solely to marijuana—you can't really blaze yourself to death. But even so, is it possible to overdose on it? ---…