
Advertise on podcast: Ask Us Anything by Popular Science
Rating
4.7from
This podcast has
49 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Popular ScienceExplicit
No
Date created
2021/03/04
Latest episode
2026/02/05
Average duration
16 min.
Release period
93 days
Description
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 starting November 12th. Submit a question for a future episode at https://popsci.com/ask
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Check latest episodes from Ask Us Anything by Popular Science podcast
Surviving freezing temperatures: How low can humans go?
2026/02/05
Humans are homeotherms, meaning that our core body temperature stays roughly constant, but what happens when conditions drive that body temp down? PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert bundle up to get to the bottom of just how cold humans can get and still survive.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/coldest-temperature-humans-can-survive/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Decoding wintery precipitation: What causes snow, sleet and freezing rain?
2026/01/21
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 wintry expedition through all our least favorite types of precipitation.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/environment/chance-of-precipitation-explained/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How fast would NYC crumble without people? Featuring 'Survivorman' Les Stroud
2026/01/08
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 through the timeline for re-wilding America's densest city.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/environment/abandoned-nyc-what-would-happen/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How do squirrels find their buried nuts in winter?
2025/12/17
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 Colbert get a little nutty to find the answer.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/how-squirrels-find-nuts/
To learn more about Tommy Tucker, visit: https://www.popsci.com/environment/famous-ww2-squirrel-tommy-tucker/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens to your bag after you check it in?
2025/11/26
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. PopSci Editors Sarah Durn and Laura Baisas go on a journey to explain it all.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/technology/what-happens-to-your-checked-bag/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What is human composting?
2025/11/12
A growing number of Americans are choosing to return to earth after death—literally. Green burials, and specifically human composting, is an environmentally conscious, life-sustaining option that’s now legal in 14 states. But how does a human composting vessel work? And what exactly happens to Grandpa’s hip replacement once he’s been “recycled?” PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert dig deep to explain it all.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/how-human-composting-works/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why do we get goosebumps? Plus: RL Stine!
2025/11/12
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 facing off against a rival.
However, in humans a wide range of emotions can also induce goosebumps. BUT WHY? Join PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert as they explain the science AND chat with Goosebumps legend, RL Stine.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/why-goosebumps-happen/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
00:00 Exploring Personal Goosebump Triggers and Their Ancient Animal Roots
04:43 Unpacking the Autonomic Nervous System's Role in Cold and Fear Responses
07:38 Distinguishing Chills from Goosebumps in Response to Music, Art, and Awe
10:29 Goosebumps Author R.L. Stine Shares Origin of the Book Series' Name
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Welcome back to Ask Us Anything from Popular Science
2025/10/29
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. This is… Ask Us Anything. New episodes drop every other Wednesday starting November 12, with more AUA questions and answers here: https://www.popsci.com/category/ask-us-anything/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How do chatbots work?
2023/11/10
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 so-called chatbots work—and what’s the best way to use them to our advantage?
--
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How is Voyager's vintage technology still flying?
2023/04/25
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 spacecrafts have persisted a lot longer than five years: 46 years, to be exact. They’re still careening through space at a distance between 12 and 14 billion miles from Earth. So how have they lasted four decades longer than expected?
--
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Can you become a morning person?
2022/07/28
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: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod
Hosted by Lauren Young: https://twitter.com/laurenjyoung617
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Where’s the best place to sit in a movie theater?
2022/07/26
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: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod
Hosted by Stan Horaczek: https://twitter.com/stanhoraczek
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are the bees still dying?
2022/07/21
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 complicated.
--
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod
Hosted by Philip Kiefer: https://twitter.com/PhilipJKiefer
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why do we like pimple popping?
2022/07/19
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 Chelsey B. Coombs: https://twitter.com/chelseybcoombs
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How do planes fly?
2022/07/14
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: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod
Hosted by Rob Verger: https://twitter.com/robverger
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Podcast reviews
Read Ask Us Anything by Popular Science podcast reviews
chabonic 2025/11/12
Loving the new hosts!
Sarah and Annie are awesome, and love that the episodes are short and fun
Jess Boddy 2022/07/22
Great podcast for a quick commute!
This podcast is the perfect length for my under 15 minute commute to work. The hosts are always positive and upbeat while teaching me a little tidbit ...
NikomiBlue 2023/10/14
Short Science Snippets
Cool little podcast to listen to for answers to random questions (some simple, some more complicated). Short and sweet, so you won’t have to dedicate...
PK Shep 2022/10/11
Reading answers
Love the content, but editors need to try to have natural conversations, not read answers aloud. Take the chance, guys. Could be a great show, but put...
Mims_13 2022/01/02
Great podcast!!
I found this podcast because of Weirdest thing and love it! Even though it has short episodes, (which I don’t mind) they still fit tons of info into t...
Fluffin-A 2022/04/18
Childish
Really simple questions with dumbed down answers. The main host has a valley girl voice with an upward inflection at the end of every sentence so stat...
MABritt 2021/05/06
Bite-sized info! Good stuff!
Sometimes you don’t feel like diving into a long-winded podcast episode. These are fun and short!
JKMSJS 2021/06/20
Sounds like a Jr. High class assignment.
Interesting succinct snippets of science. The up talk/ Valley Girl speech pattern can grate on a listener; along with the little girl giggling over em...
Randomfandombadger 2021/04/20
Love you guys!
I love popular science’s podcasts! Can’t wait for a bunch to build up so I can binge!
ccusty 2021/04/09
Where are you?
I realized there have been no episodes since April 1st. Hope everyone is OK.
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