Best Upworthy Science Podcasts (2024)

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Forum From the Archives: Caitlin Dickerson on the Darién Gap’s Humanitarian Catastrophe 57:40

1h ago57:40

57:40

The Darién Gap, the perilous mountain region connecting Central and South America, was thought for centuries to be all but impossible to cross. But now, hundreds of thousands of migrants are doing just that to reach the U.S. Pulitzer Prize-winning immigration reporter Caitlin Dickerson took three trips to the Darién Gap over five months, following …

1
Small and Big Acts of Kindness Shine in New Book from Upworthy 57:48

35m ago57:48

57:48

The son who traveled 2,500 miles to save his parents’ dog. The stranger who picked up the tab for a girl who was trying to buy a prom dress at Goodwill. The airport janitor who stopped to feed and comfort a stranded passenger. These are some of the small and big acts of kindness website Upworthy compiled into a new book, “Good People: Stories from …

1
Nancy Pelosi Explains 'The Art of Power' 57:46

1h ago57:46

57:46

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi says that she’s won nearly all the legislative battles that she started — and she characterizes those she hasn’t won simply as “not yet achieved.” Pelosi has exerted her powers of persuasion and negotiation for 37 years as San Francisco’s congressional representative, pushing forward the Affordable Care Act and th…

1
California Legislature Passes Controversial AI Bill 57:50

1h ago57:50

57:50

California lawmakers approved a landmark bill regulating artificial intelligence on Wednesday. SB 1047, co-authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), aims to curb potential dangers of AI such as misinformation, cyberattacks and the creation of novel biological weapons. It would mandate safety testing for advanced AI models that cost mor…

1
Evan Friss on the Enduring Power of ‘The Bookshop’ 57:47

2h ago57:47

57:47

The smell of ink on paper. The handwritten staff recommendations. The plan to only buy one book, and the inevitable exit with five. Visiting a brick-and-mortar bookstore is not just a serotonin-releasing individual experience. Bookstores build community among the aspiring writer employee, the bookworm regular and everyone else who has “an attachmen…

1
San Francisco Superintendent Matt Wayne Talks About Solving the School District’s Budget Crisis 57:51

17m ago57:51

57:51

As a new school year kicks off, San Francisco Unified School District faces several big challenges including pending school closures set to be announced later this month. The district, with a budget of $1.3 billion for this fiscal year, has been overspending for years as enrollment has declined. With its financial reserves running dry, district lea…

1
‘Feeding the Machine’ Spotlights the Human Laborers Behind AI 57:42

34m ago57:42

57:42

Tech companies often portray their AI products as self-sufficient systems that learn from large datasets. However, AI development in reality relies heavily on a global workforce of undervalued workers, including data annotators, content moderators and machine learning engineers, who endure long hours for low pay while performing repetitive tasks. A…

1
Sudan’s ‘Forgotten War’ Places Nation on Brink of ‘Catastrophic’ Famine 57:45

1h ago57:45

57:45

The crisis in Sudan, now in its second year, has been called the “Forgotten War.” While in the early 2000s, ethnic cleansing in Darfur, a region of Sudan, attracted the attention of politicians, journalists and celebrities, the current conflict – which pits two military factions against each other and the civilian population –rarely makes the front…

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What Science Says About Ketamine’s Risks and Benefits 57:42

3h ago57:42

57:42

Ketamine is perhaps best known as a party drug, and it has long been used in hospitals as an anesthetic. In recent years, it has also been touted as a promising, experimental psychiatric treatment. But when Friends actor Matthew Perry overdosed on ketamine last year, it exposed a network of unregulated clinics and unscrupulous doctors distributing …

1
Will Nevada and Arizona Pick the Next President? 57:44

3h ago57:44

57:44

California’s neighbors, Arizona and Nevada, stand out as pivotal swing states in this year’s presidential election, each with a large bloc of independent voters. Arizona’s shifting demographics and growing urban centers like Phoenix and Tucson, and Nevada’s blend of urban and rural populations, particularly in Clark County, make both states critica…

1
After Ukraine Invades Russia, Analysts Assess Risks 57:41

44m ago57:41

57:41

Ukraine has brought the war to Russia. Its incursion on Aug. 6 into the Kursk region marks the largest invasion of Russia since World War II. It also marks a shift in strategy for Ukraine and carries significant risks. We’ll talk about what Ukraine’s incursion signals at this point in the war – and how Moscow and the US are responding – two and a h…

1
Xochitl Gonzalez Struggles to Understand a Mother that Chose Activism Over Her 57:44

1h ago57:44

57:44

Novelist and Atlantic staff writer Xochitl Gonzalez joins us to talk about her recent essay, a personal history about growing up with a mother who was largely absent from her life. Her mother, Andrea Gonzalez, joined the Socialist Workers Party as a young woman from Brooklyn, and devoted decades of her life to the cause and running for various poli…

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Can California's Universal Transitional Kindergarten Plan Make the Grade? 57:49

1h ago57:49

57:49

California set an ambitious goal of making transitional kindergarten universal by fall of 2025. TK was originally created for kids born in the fall who were too young to enroll in kindergarten. Now, state leaders want to make it accessible to any 4-year-old. That means adding a whole new grade to all of the state’s elementary schools within a five …

1
Democratic National Convention Puts Bay Area in the Spotlight 57:52

1h ago57:52

57:52

On Thursday night the Bay Area’s own Kamala Harris will accept the nomination as the Democratic party’s presidential candidate after days of full throated embraces of her candidacy at the Democratic National Convention. KQED’s politics team joins us from the convention in Chicago to analyze notable moments from the convention and whether the party …

1
Athletes and Fans Prepare for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games 57:46

3h ago57:46

57:46

The Paralympic Games open in Paris next week, showcasing the talent of elite athletes in 22 adaptive sports. Some, like Boccia and Goalball, are unique to the Paralympics while others, like sitting volleyball and wheelchair fencing, parallel Olympic events – with a twist. We’ll check in with members of Team USA, learn more about the athletes and ev…

1
Nate Silver on the Art of Risking Everything 57:51

4h ago57:51

57:51

What can we learn from professional risk-takers—poker players, hedge fund managers, crypto true believers and blue-chip art collectors— about how to navigate the uncertainty of the twenty first century? Nate Silver, the founder of FiveThirtyEight, seeks to answer that question in his new book “On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything.” In Silver’…

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Stand-Up Mathematician Matt Parker on Why Triangles are the Best Shape 57:24

10d ago57:24

57:24

Stand-up comic and mathematician Matt Parker loves triangles, and he wants everyone to appreciate them. Triangles help us calculate distances, the angle of an NBA 3-pointer and a winning billiards shot. They help us plan cities, cut sandwiches optimally and tell us the angle of impact of the asteroid that wiped out Earth’s dinosaurs. “Triangles are…

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What Should the Next President Do to Ease the Housing Crisis? 57:44

10d ago57:44

57:44

Vice President Kamala Harris has released a set of proposals she says will make housing more affordable if she’s elected president in November. Her ideas include tax incentives to encourage more home construction, down payment assistance for homebuyers, and rules to make it harder for corporate investors to buy up single family houses. We’ll examin…

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Democratic National Convention Opens 57:42

40m ago57:42

57:42

The 2024 Democratic National Convention kicks off on Monday, capping a warp speed nomination process for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz. We’ll preview the four-day event in Chicago, where democrats are expected to try to build on momentum that’s brought record contributions and favorable poll numbers.…

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Will the Government Break Up Google? 57:44

42m ago57:44

57:44

The US Department of Justice is considering breaking up tech giant Google, according to media reports. That news comes after a court ruling earlier this month that the company, which controls 90 percent of the search engine market, violated antitrust laws. “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” U.S. District Jud…

1
Writing Odes to the Everyday with James Parker 57:44

1h ago57:44

57:44

A squirrel in the street. Actors running in movies. A misplaced cup of tea. Naps. These topics are but a few that Atlantic staff writer James Parker has honored with an ode. To Parker, an ode isn’t just untempered praise — a healthy dose of complaining is essential. We talk to Parker about his favorite odes and why he thinks composing them can help…

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Dungeons and Dragons Celebrates 50 Years of 'Critical Hits’ 57:45

14d ago57:45

57:45

You are walking down a dark dungeon hallway lit by torches and covered in cobwebs. You hear ominous squelching sounds. Wait! It’s the GIBBERING MOUTHER. Do you pull out a sword or cast a spell? If this is a scenario you have faced, it’s likely you have been playing Dungeons & Dragons, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The goal of the…

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Post-Grants Pass, How Are California Cities Approaching Homelessness? 57:46

4m ago57:46

57:46

In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities can dismantle homeless encampments on sidewalks and other public places and make people move without running afoul of the constitution. The ruling by the Republican-appointed majority was cheered by many Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom who issued an executive order calling on cities to r…

1
What’s Next for California Forever’s Proposal to Build a New City in Solano County 57:50

15d ago57:50

57:50

Amid the Bay Area’s dire need for more housing, California Forever has set out a bold vision for a new city in east Solano County on 17,500 acres of mostly farmland. But the company, backed by various Silicon Valley billionaires, has so far struggled to garner enough local support. In July, California Forever scrapped plans to ask for voter approva…

1
Caitlin Dickerson on the Darién Gap’s Humanitarian Catastrophe 57:46

16d ago57:46

57:46

The Darién Gap, the perilous mountain region connecting Central and South America, was thought for centuries to be all but impossible to cross. But now, hundreds of thousands of migrants are doing just that to reach the U.S. Pulitzer Prize-winning immigration reporter Caitlin Dickerson took three trips to the Darién Gap over five months, following …

1
The Grocery Stores Going Beyond the ‘International Food Aisle’ to Expand Palates 57:53

10d ago57:53

57:53

If you are a fan of kimchee like your grandmother made or are looking for the freshest curry leaf, you’re probably well acquainted with stores like H Mart, Patel Brothers, and 99 Ranch. These outlets go beyond the international food sections that you’ll find in conventional chains like Safeway and Whole Foods. Instead they offer aisle upon aisle of…

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Endless Parenting: How Our Definition of Child-Rearing Is Changing 57:43

11d ago57:43

57:43

More adults are now relying on their parents for financial support, career advice and emotional regulation well into their 30s — challenging the notion that a parent is only responsible for their child until age 18. One poll found that about 45% of adults under 30 are living with their parents — “the most common living arrangement for that age grou…

1
How Local Developers Plan to Transform the Oakland Coliseum Site 57:46

17d ago57:46

57:46

As the A’s wrap up their final season in Oakland, the future of the Coliseum – the team’s home for 56 years– may finally be coming into focus. The African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), a local Black-led development company, is set to purchase the site from the A’s and the City of Oakland for over two hundred million dollars. The …

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Roxane Gay on Owning a Gun and Standing Her Ground 57:42

18d ago57:42

57:42

Feminist scholar Roxane Gay has no fondness for guns, no interest in gun culture and rarely thinks about guns unless, as she says, “the news cycle demands it.” But she’s a gun owner, having bought one after she and her family became targets of online death threats. “When I aim and pull the trigger and absorb the recoil,” Gay writes in a new essay, …

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Ray Suarez ’s ‘We Are Home’ Centers Voices of Recent Immigrants 57:45

18d ago57:45

57:45

In the debate about immigration, the voices of immigrants are often left out of the conversation. For his new book, “We Are Home,” veteran journalist Ray Suarez collected a series of oral histories from people who have recently arrived in America. He centers immigrants like Samir, who was born in Kenya of Yemini descent and moved to suburban Maryla…

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‘American Diva’ Celebrates the Powerful, Strong and Always Fabulous Diva 57:37

21d ago57:37

57:37

Tina. Aretha. Serena and Venus. In one word you know who these women are. And that word is DIVA. In her new book “American Diva,” Deborah Paredez argues we need to take a fresh look at what it means to be a diva. She traces the evolution of the word, using the stories of powerhouse female performers, musicians and athletes to examine how we can rec…

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'Bird of Four Hundred Voices' Chronicles Los Cenzontles' Mission to Empower Young People Through Mexican Folk Music 57:44

21d ago57:44

57:44

In the 1990s, Eugene Rodriguez wanted to help his teenage students learn Son Jarocho, a regional folk music style from Mexico. So he organized a weeks-long road trip from the Bay Area to Veracruz where that genre of music originates. That is one of the memorable experiences Rodriguez has had as founder of Los Cenzontles, a music group and nonprofit…

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California Regulators Roll Out Plan to Stabilize Home Insurance Market 57:48

22d ago57:48

57:48

California’s home insurance market is a mess. Across the state, major insurers are canceling policies or leaving the market altogether – citing disaster risks that outpace their ability to set rates and cover potential losses. Meanwhile, the state’s FAIR plan, conceived as a temporary policy of last resort for homeowners, has seen an enrollment spi…

1
Journalist Evan Ratliff Voice Cloned Himself. The Results Were Not What He Expected. 57:51

22d ago57:51

57:51

Busy and frazzled people often say, “I wish I could clone myself!” Journalist Evan Ratliff did just that. Using easily available technology and artificial intelligence, he created a voice clone that could answer calls, carry on conversations, and literally do his job. The brave new world he created spawned all sorts of weird and unsettling moments,…

1
How Climate Change is Changing the Olympics 57:47

23d ago57:47

57:47

If global temperatures continue to increase, new research suggests that by 2050 past Winter Olympics host cities — like Oslo, Vancouver and Lake Tahoe — likely won’t be cold enough for the Games. And some summer events may be in jeopardy too. In her new book “Warming Up,” sport ecology expert Madeleine Orr explains why “climate change is threatenin…

1
How Will Chevron Headquarters' Move to Texas Impact California's Energy Future? 57:50

23d ago57:50

57:50

After more than a century in the Bay Area, Chevron announced it is moving its headquarters from San Ramon to Houston, but the company’s refineries in Richmond and El Segundo remain for now. California was once a leading producer of oil, and today remains the nation’s seventh largest oil producer. But Governor Gavin Newsom has vowed to phase out the…

1
Kamala Harris Selects Tim Walz as Her Running Mate 57:44

24d ago57:44

57:44

Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 presidential election. Walz is a former school teacher and veteran of the Army National Guard. Under his leadership as Governor, Minnesota enshrined access to abortion in the state constitution, expanded universal meals in school, legalized marijuana, an…

1
Why “No Contact” Family Estrangement Is On the Rise 57:44

24d ago57:44

57:44

Across social media, people are posting about their experiences ending contact with family members, which experts say is a growing trend. Studies have found that about a quarter of adults in America are estranged from a relative with parent-child estrangements as the most common. Becoming estranged from family can provide an escape from abuse or pr…

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When Elderly Loved Ones Need Extra Help 57:44

25d ago57:44

57:44

When an elderly loved one starts to show signs they’re having trouble living independently, initiating conversations about elder care can be challenging. We talk to gerontologist Dr. Louise Aronson about how to broach sensitive topics like giving up driving, accepting in-home assistance or transitioning to a care facility. And we’ll hear from you: …

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Zooming in with “Deep Look,” KQED’s Award Winning Wildlife Video Series 57:45

25d ago57:45

57:45

Why is the ocean full of moon jellies? How do snails use fishing nets made of slime? What’s actually happening when a mosquito sucks your blood? These are just some of the questions that the producers and scientists behind “Deep Look,” KQED’s Emmy-award winning video series, take on. Now in its 11th season, “Deep Look,” uses ultra-high definition v…

1
Multiple Wildfires Threaten Communities Throughout California 57:40

28d ago57:40

57:40

Firefighters are battling the massive Park Fire near Chico which has already burned an area larger than the city of Los Angeles – making it the fifth largest wildfire in state history. Meanwhile, the Borel fire, which last weekend destroyed the town of Havilah, continues to burn in Kern County, and parts of Riverside county remain under evacuation …

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How Eight Sci-Fi Movies from 1982 Changed Filmmaking 57:44

28d ago57:44

57:44

The summer of 1982 was a blockbuster for sci-fi movies. Over the course of six consecutive weekends, eight movies in that genre premiered: E.T. Poltergeist. Tron. Blade Runner. Mad Max: Road Warrior. Conan the Barbarian. The Thing. Some were hits. Others were bombs. But all changed the course of filmmaking according to film critic Chris Nashawaty. …

1
Feminist Bookstores, Queer Run Clubs and Lesbian Bars: The Power of Third Spaces for Queer Women 57:47

29d ago57:47

57:47

“My own life has been defined by a search for lesbian spaces.” So says journalist June Thomas, whose new book “A Place of Our Own” explores third spaces for queer women, places that are not work or home. Tracing the history of lesbian bars, coffee shops, bookstores, communes, sex stores, vacations and softball teams, Thomas argues for their importa…

1
JD Vance Comments on Childless Americans Spark Outrage 57:48

29d ago57:48

57:48

After a video of republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance resurfaced that features him mocking “childless cat ladies,” child-free Americans erupted with outrage. A growing percentage of Americans under 50 — 47%, according to a new study from Pew — say they are unlikely to have kids because they simply don’t want them. Vance’s comments also…

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Nathan Thrall Lays Bare Everyday Reality of Life Under Occupation 57:44

30d ago57:44

57:44

Nathan Thrall won a 2024 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction for “A Day in the Life of Abed Salama.” It tells the story of a school bus crash in 2012 outside of Jerusalem; the bus was carrying a group of Palestinian kindergartners when it collided with a truck, killing 6 children and their teacher. Thrall follows the accident’s aftermath and one …

1
Kamala Harris’s Candidacy Puts a Spotlight on Mixed-Raced Identity 57:49

1M ago57:49

57:49

Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial and ethnic identity is either an asset or a liability on the campaign trail — it depends on whom you ask. Many voters say they’re ready to elect the nation’s first Black and Asian female president, while some worry that racist backlash will impede her chances. Still others claim she’s “not Black enough.” But, a…

1
Sean Wang and Joan Chen Reflect on 'Dìdi (弟弟)' Their Coming-of-Age Film Set in Fremont 57:48

1M ago57:48

57:48

Sean Wang’s semi-autobiographical new film “Dìdi (弟弟)” follows a 13-year-old skater in 2008 Fremont, California, the summer before he starts high school. Called “Dìdi” by his family, “WangWang” by his Fremont friends and crush, and “Chris” by the skaters he wants to befriend, the protagonist blunders through an adolescence set among real-life Fremo…

1
Can Biden Get Supreme Court Reforms Passed Before End of Term? 57:46

1M ago57:46

57:46

In keeping with his vow to reform the Supreme Court, President Joe Biden issued a plan calling for term limits for justices, a constitutional amendment to limit presidential immunity, and a “binding code of conduct” to replace the voluntary ethics guidelines established last year by the court. Biden assailed recent Supreme Court decisions and ethic…

1
To Solve the Climate Crisis, Focus on Methane 57:46

1M ago57:46

57:46

Most climate action today focuses on zeroing out carbon emissions, but Stanford climate scientist Rob Jackson wants us to take a hard look at methane. It’s a byproduct of animal agriculture and fossil fuel extraction, and pound for pound it’s a greenhouse gas 80 to 90 times more potent than carbon dioxide. That means the upside of reducing methane …

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How to Know When It’s Time to Go: Retiring on Your Own Terms 57:48

1M ago57:48

57:48

President Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race put a spotlight on a vexing question: when is the right time to call it quits and retire? Whether or not you’re president of the United States, stepping away from a job you love – or just sort of like – can be a terrifying decision. The transition can be filled with unknowns and unexpe…

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