There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then thereβs SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show from Spotify Studios that finds out whatβs fact, whatβs not, and whatβs somewhere in between. We do the hard work of sifting through all the science so you don't have to and cover everything from 5G and ADHD, to Fluoride and Fasting Diets.
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Our brains go completely WILD when we go through our teenage years. Itβs a time where it feels like every disagreement with our parents turns into World War III, and every idea that could get us killed sounds like the most fun we could ever have. In this episode, we get into the science of what the brain is doing during the teenage years with clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour. Lisa co-wrote the college textbook βAbnormal Psychologyβ and was a consultant on Disney's βInside Out 2.β She takes us deep into the developing brain to explain what makes teens tick. Plus, we talk about mental health, how boys and girls are struggling in different ways, and tips for anyone who has big feelings.Β Β
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsTeens
Check out Lisa Damourβs podcast, Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, here:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2GIh790via4L7oGAJ2mz1bΒ
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Meet Lisa Damour
(05:33) The teenage brain
(11:20) Big feelings, what they mean, and how to respondΒ
(19:56) The teenage brain and abstract thinking
(22:34) Teenagers and risk-taking
(29:18) How long does adolescence really last??Β
(33:47) The different kinds of popularity
(41:58) Should we be worried about kids these days?
(46:57) How boys are struggling and how can we help
(51:49) Oddball questions
Credits:
This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang and Meryl Horn. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Video editing and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. You can join us for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stress: The Science of Chilling Out
Thursday, September 24, 2026 β’ Duration 40:22
Stress! Weβre all feeling it. And besides just feeling crappy, weβre also told that stress can wreak havoc on our bodies. The internet has a million solutions: vagus nerve stimulators, deep breaths, or a hot sauna! If that doesnβt work, maybe a cold plunge? But what does the science say about all this β what works to lower our stress? And is it really THAT bad to be stressed out? We dive into the research to find out, with psychology Professor Mark Seery, psychology Professor Jeremy Jamieson, and anatomist Dr. Theresa Larkin.Β
Β
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsStressΒ
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Weβre all stressed out!Β
(02:37) Is stress that bad for us?
(13:55) A healthier stress response
(22:32) How our vagus nerves are involved in stress
(25:57) Can we βhackβ our vagus nerves?Β
(30:42) What else can relieve stress?Β
This episode was produced by Meryl Horn, with help from Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode including Professor Julie VaΕ‘kΕ―, Dr. Christopher Austelle, Professor Daryl O'Connor, and Dr. Jennifer Wild, as well as Humdinger Studios in Melbourne. And thanks as well to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne.
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Could AI Really Kill Us All?
Thursday, September 17, 2026 β’ Duration 44:57
Could artificial intelligence really wipe out humanity? Claims that AI poses an existential threat are going gangbusters. AI agents from OpenAI recently hacked into another company, Hugging Face, which has people talking about whether AI can go βrogue.β And some current and former AI company employees are raising the alarm. CEOs have called for a slowdown, and one Anthropic employee just quit, saying that the companies creating this tech are putting us all at risk β and adding that βthe people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.β So β are we really creating a monster? Could AI escape human control and take us all out? If so β¦ how?! And are these scary claims just a distraction from the stuff that AI is already being used for out in the world? We talk to cyber security expert Professor David Parry, philosopher Dr. Nick Bostrom, and scientist Dr. Michael Vermeer to find out.
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsAIApocalypseΒ
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) AI is scaring the crap out of people
(03:43) The Hugging Face hack
(13:20) The paperclip maximizer
(19:22) How would superintelligent AI take us out?
(22:54) Could AI unleash nuclear war?
(27:19) Could AI unleash biological weapons?
(34:22) How worried should we be about AI??
This episode was produced by Meryl Horn, with help from Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Erika Akiko Howard. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode including Dr. Cameron Domenico Kirk-Giannini, Dr. Jascha Bareis, Dr. Leonard Aaron Dung, and Professor Niusha Shafiabady. And thanks as well to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne and Wolff Island Studios in NYC. Special thanks to Christopher Suter.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Where Have The Insects Gone?? With Dr. Jessica Ware
Thursday, September 10, 2026 β’ Duration 45:53
Bugs are disappearing at alarming rates, scientists are telling us. Bees, butterflies, beetles: all of them have been dropping like flies. And scientists say there are a bunch of reasons to care about this β for example, fewer bugs means less pollination, which means less pasta in your pantry. But recently, some have suggested that all these scientists crying out about the insect apocalypse might just be crying wolf. They say that the math isnβt math-ing and that the insects are doing all right. And this has been bugging us! So we called up Dr. Jessica Ware, an entomologist and a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, to find out whatβs going on here. And Jessica also specializes in dragonfly lovemaking, so of course, we had to ask about that too.Β
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/SVInsectApocalypseΒ
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Meet entomologist Dr. Jessica WareΒ
(03:27) Dragonflies: Origins and sex livesΒ
(08:55) The insect apocalypse: How bad is it?
(19:02) Whatβs causing the decline in insects
(22:24) Bees and pollinator gardens
(27:16) Invasive species: Lanternflies and murder hornetsΒ
(33:46) How to milk a cockroach
(39:07) Is it beeswax?
This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, with help from Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Meryl Horn. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne, and Wolff Island Studios in New York City.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.Β
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/SVInsectApocalypse
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Meet Entomologist Dr. Jessica Ware
(03:27) Dragonflies: Origins and sex lives
(08:55) The Insect Apocalypse: How bad is it?
(19:02) Whatβs causing the decline in insects
(22:24) Bees and pollinator gardens
(27:16) Invasive species: Lanternflies, murderhornets,
(33:46) Cockroaches and cockroach milk
(39:07) Is it beeswax?
This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, with help from Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Meryl Horn. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne, and Wolff Island Studios in New York City.
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Protein-Maxxing: Is It Actually Bad For Us?
Thursday, September 3, 2026 β’ Duration 31:11
Protein is everywhere β tons of us are trying to cram more of it into our diets, and it's showing up in our lattes, our snack bars, even our popcorn. But just as weβre getting on board with protein-maxxing, a bunch of headlines have started saying the opposite: that eating LESS protein could actually help you live longer. So what's going on here?? Should we be piling on the protein β or pulling back? And could going too low actually be dangerous? We talk to biologist Prof. Dudley Lamming and exercise physiologist Prof. Stuart Phillips to find out.
Note: This episode mentions calorie restriction. Please take care when listening, and here are some resources:
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) helpline: 1(888)-375-7767
Crisis support:
United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); https://www.crisistextline.org/text-us/ Text βHOMEβ to 741741
Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available)
Canada: Call or text 988
United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI)
Full list of international hotlines hereΒ
Other help available: spotify.com/resources
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsProteinMaxxing
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Protein-Maxxing or Protein-Minning?
(02:15) Restricting Protein Makes You Live Longer??!?
(09:20) A Tale of Brown Fat and mTOR
(13:45) What Could Go Wrong?
(21:20) So What the Hell Should We Be Eating?
This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Fact checking by Marlowe Starling. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode including Prof. Edward Giovannucci, Prof. Holly Brown-Borg, Prof. John Speakman, Dr. Mingyang Song, and Dr. Jessica Biesiekierski. And thanks as well to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne and Wolff Island Studios in New York City.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sunscreen: Could It Be Toxic??
Thursday, August 27, 2026 β’ Duration 50:52
Sunscreen is supposed to protect us from dangerous stuff like cancer, but all over social media, people are saying that weβve been getting it all wrong. Weβre being told that our sunscreen is full of toxic chemicals, that wearing it could mess with our vitamin D levels β even that sunscreen itself actually increases our risk of skin cancer. So, what can the science tell us here? Should we toss our SPF-filled creams and sprays in the bin?? And could the answer here be different depending on your skin tone? We talk to researchers Dr. Brandon Adler, Prof. Rachel Neale, and Dr. Adewole Adamson to find out.
Β Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsSunscreen
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) The internet freak-out over sunscreen
(05:06) Is sunscreen toxic?
(20:46) Does sunscreen mess with vitamin D?
(29:29) Does sunscreen work to prevent skin cancer?
(34:40) Do people with darker skin need sunscreen?
(44:38) How to wear sunscreen correctly
This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard.Β Thanks to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne and Wolff Island Studios in New York City.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hank Green: What No One Tells You About the Algorithm
Thursday, August 20, 2026 β’ Duration 52:44
Hank Green is one of the most beloved science creators on the interwebs. Heβs been making videos for almost 20 years, spanning LOTS of eras of the Internet, from YouTube prank videos to TikTok dance challenges to AI slop. In this episode, Wendy sits down with Hank to talk about this wild ride. They reminisce about his path to YouTube stardom, and theyβll pull back the curtain on social media algorithms β how theyβve changed, and the sneaky ways they draw us in. And while Hank has been publicly fighting off internet trolls, heβs also been dealing with his own personal battle with cancer. He takes us through whatβs changed for him since he got diagnosed, and the science he learned about pee and chemotherapy along the way.Β
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsHankGreen
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Hank Greenβs journey to YouTube
(06:26) How βgoing viralβ has completely changed
(11:58) How social media captures your attentionΒ
(23:47) What Hank is and isnβt worried about with AI
(29:33) Hankβs cancer diagnosis
(37:45) The fracturing of communication
(40:46) Oddball questions
Credits
This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, with help from Michelle Dang,Β Rose Rimler, and Meryl Horn. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Video editing and sound mix by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the Humdinger Studios in Melbourne, and Wolf Island Studios in New York City.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. You can also find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We Solve the 49ers Viral Conspiracy Theory
Thursday, August 13, 2026 β’ Duration 01:01:15
Is an electrical substation contributing to injuries on the San Francisco 49ers?? A bunch of people on the internet seem to think so, claiming that electromagnetic field waves could be to blame for players getting hurt. We partner with the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists at Pablo Torre Finds Out to get to the bottom of it. We talk to Peter Cowan, Dr. Ken Karipidis, and Dr. Zachary Binney.
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/SVPTFO49ERSEMF
Watch and subscribe to Pablo Torre Finds Out here: https://www.youtube.com/@PabloTorreFindsOut
This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, Wendy Zukerman, Chris Tumminello and Bradley Campbell, with help from the rest of the Pablo Torre Finds Out team and the Science Vs team: Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Meryl Horn, and Michelle Dang. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Marlowe Starling. Video editing and sound mix by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode including Dr. Joachim SchΓΌz, Dr. Alexandra von Meier, Nekane Sandoval Diez, Prof. Eva Monsma, Dr. Dan Baaken, Professor Frank de Vocht, Professor David Carpenter, Professor Beatrice Golomb, Professor Rodney Croft, Dr. Mitchell Newberry, Professor Tony Blazevich, and Dr. Andrew Ross. Special thanks to Srishti Prabha, the San Jose Public Library, as well as Humdinger Studios in Melbourne, and Wolff Island Studios in New York City.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Find us on YouTube at ScienceVsPodcast, TikTok at @wendyzuk and Instagram at Science_Vs.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Weight Loss: Why Won't It Stick?
Thursday, August 6, 2026 β’ Duration 39:39
If you have ever tried to lose weight only to find the weight crept back on, youβre not alone. In fact, for tons of people, this happens over and over again. This is called βweight cycling,β and a bunch of influencers are saying that this is terrible for us. They say that it can ruin your metabolism forever and that it can lead to stuff like diabetes and scary muscle loss. So could that be true?? And why does this happen at all? We find out with nutritionist Prof. Faidon Magkos, immunologist Prof. Alyssa Hasty, and health policy researcher Dr. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce.Β
Note: In this episode we discuss weight and weight loss. Please take care when listening, and here are some resources:
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) helpline: 1(888)-375-7767
Crisis support:
United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); https://www.crisistextline.org/text-us/ Text βHOMEβ to 741741
Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available)
Canada: Call or text 988
United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI)
Full list of international hotlines hereΒ
Other help available: spotify.com/resources
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsWeightCyclingΒ
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) What weβre hearing about weight cycling
(07:14) Why is it so hard to keep the weight off?
(12:45) Does weight cycling break your metabolism?
(18:58) Will you gain fat and lose muscle?
(23:17) Weight cycling and inflammation?
(28:35) Will weight cycling make you sick?
This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Meryl Horn, and Michelle Dang. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Thanks so much to all the experts we spoke with for this episode, including Dr. Heidi Silver and Dr. Andrea Rossi. Special thanks to Jennifer C. Wolfe and Sasha Borissenko. And big big thanks to all the folks who called in to tell us about their weight cycling experiences.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.
Follow Wendy on TikTok @wendyzuk
Science Vs on Youtube @ScienceVsPodcast
Science Vs on Instagram @science_vs
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Free Will: Does It Exist?
Thursday, July 30, 2026 β’ Duration 31:49
Will you hit play on this episode?? It feels like that decision is totally within your control β but what if itβs not? What if free will is just an illusion? Lots of people are using science to say that free will is a trick of the mind, that whether or not you listen to this episode, or eat a taco, or do a silly dance right now β itβs all predestined. But do we really have science receipts for that? We find out by talking to neuroscientist Prof. John-Dylan Haynes and theoretical physicist Prof. Sean Carroll.Β
Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsFreeWillΒ
Check out Sean Carrollβs podcast, Mindscape, here: https://preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/Β
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) When you remember you have free willΒ
(02:21) What is free will?
(04:26) The argument against free will(18:07) The argument for free willΒ
This episode was produced by Meryl Horn with help from Rose Rimler, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Michelle Dang and Wendy Zukerman. Weβre edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and video editing by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Nicolas Rouleau and Dr. Andrea Lavazza. And special thanks to Chris Suter and Humdinger Studios.Β
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. You can join us for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.Β
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
