Best PBS Digital Studios Podcasts (2024)

1
What Happened To The Neandertals? 17:16

2y ago17:16

17:16

Studies have found Neandertal DNA in people living in - and descended from - populations in Europe, Asia, and, most recently, Africa. So, in a way, these ancient relatives of ours are somehow both here and gone. We know we shared the planet with them in the not-so-distant past… But what happened to them? Eons: Mysteries of Deep Time is produced by …

1
Who Were The Denisovans? 20:44

2y ago20:44

20:44

The Denisovans are a human relative discovered just over a decade ago. The DNA from the very small number of fossils found suggest they were around as long as the Neanderthals. Yet anthropologists have gathered way more evidence for Neanderthals. Where are the Denisovans hiding? Eons: Mysteries of Deep Time is produced by Complexly for PBS. © 2022 …

1
What Did The Past Sound Like? 17:13

2y ago17:13

17:13

How do we start to reconstruct the soundscapes of the past? Using modern environments, living representatives of ancient groups, and fossil anatomy, paleontologists have attempted to figure out what the past sounded like. And so far we’ve found the lead singers change, but the backup singers remain familiar. Eons: Mysteries of Deep Time is produced…

1
The Lost Human Fossils of World War II 18:11

2y ago18:11

18:11

Between 1927 and 1937, paleontologists excavated fossils from about 40 members of the species that today we call Homo erectus from a site in China known as Dragon Bone Hill. And then World War II broke out and the fossils were lost. In this episode, we trace their path as far as the historical record will take us and explore what might’ve happened …

1
Why Do We Care About What Happened Millions Of Years Ago? (Mailbag Episode with Hank Green) 40:03

2y ago40:03

40:03

Former host of Eons and our current boss Hank Green joins Kallie, Michelle, and Blake for a Q&A episode where we discuss everything from why all this matters to what specifically did sauropods taste like? Eons: Mysteries of Deep Time is produced by Complexly for PBS. © 2022 PBS. All rights reserved.By PBS

1
The Strange Graveyard At The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry 19:05

2+ y ago19:05

19:05

There's something strange about the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry. The fossils found there date back to the Late Jurassic Period and one species accounts for roughly two-thirds of all the bones: Allosaurus fragilis. But what killed all these big predators? Was the site itself a deadly trap, like the La Brea Tar Pits? Or was it a poisoned spring? …

1
The Extinct Human Species Discovered Deep Within A Cave System 22:21

2+ y ago22:21

22:21

Deep in the Rising Star Cave system lies a mystery of paleoanthropology: a chamber filled with the bones of Homo naledi. How this species evolved, how it’s related to us and other human relatives, and how it got so deep in the caves are among the many open questions researchers are trying to answer, and what they’re starting to uncover might mean c…

1
What Was The First Dinosaur? 18:57

2+ y ago18:57

18:57

Exactly where and when dinosaurs first evolved are still open questions in paleontology; it’s hard to even say what the first dinosaur was. In this episode, we dig into the evidence for dinosaur origins in the Triassic Period (between 252 and 201 million years ago) and try to understand the world they lived in. Being able to point to the first dino…

1
The Case of the Most Famous Fake Human Fossil 19:22

2+ y ago19:22

19:22

This episode is a mystery in the most classic literary sense of the word. It’s a whodunit detective story that spans more than a century - the saga of the Piltdown Man Hoax. From a gravel pit in Sussex, we follow the faked fossils through history, to what’s now the Natural History Museum in London, where scientists are using new technologies to try…

1
The Only Human In The La Brea Tar Pits 16:52

2+ y ago16:52

16:52

While the famous La Brea Tar Pits are well-known for charismatic Ice Age megafauna, like sabertooth cats and dire wolves, a lesser-known discovery from the Pits is the partial skeleton of a human woman. In this episode, we walk through what the Tar Pits can tell us about the ecosystem of Los Angeles over the last 50,000 years and why La Brea Woman …

1
Introducing Eons: Mysteries of Deep Time 0:47

2+ y ago0:47

0:47

Dig into the past and explore the greatest mysteries of natural history with the team behind the hit YouTube series PBS Eons. From the dawn of the dinosaurs to downtown Los Angeles, we’re covering what we know — and what we still don’t know — about the history of life on Earth. Eons: Mysteries of Deep Time is produced by Complexly for PBS. © 2022 P…

1
Bonus: From our friends at MASTERPIECE Studio 56:16

2+ y ago56:16

56:16

We wanted to share this first episode of a thrilling three-part documentary miniseries from our friends at MASTERPIECE: Making MASTERPIECE, which tells the whole story of how a scrappy group of public media producers in Boston created THE home for British drama on American TV. You can hear episodes of Making MASTERPIECE — including interviews with …

1
The Big Bang: started from inflation, now we’re here 33:01

2+ y ago33:01

33:01

For tens of thousands of years, humans have pondered eternal questions like “How does our world even exist?” and “Where did we come from?” Now, more than ever, scientists are finding answers within the Big Bang theory. About 13.8 billion years ago, in a fraction of a fraction of a second, the universe expanded into being. The event, astronomers bel…

1
Black holes: to the event horizon and beyond 31:03

2+ y ago31:03

31:03

Black holes: they’re dense, elusive, light-absorbing pockets of spacetime that are critical to our understanding of the universe. But black holes are difficult to peer into, so there’s a lot scientists still don’t know. This leaves some room for science fiction to take over. Tall tales of galactic adventure may pair well with popcorn, but they also…

1
The hitchhiker’s guide to exoplanets and alien life 30:44

2+ y ago30:44

30:44

If television shows and movies are any indication, we humans spend a lot of our time subconsciously preparing for UFOs carrying maleficent aliens to descend on Earth. But should we rush to create an intergalactic battle plan? In actuality, finding otherworldly life won’t be so easy (or, hopefully, so dangerous). Already, astronomers and other scien…

1
How to make a Milky Way: the ultimate galactic recipe 25:38

3y ago25:38

25:38

When our ancestors looked up into the night sky, they too saw a great, glimmering band of light splitting the darkness. In Southeast Asia, people called it “the Silver River.” In Southern Africa, “the Backbone of the Night.” And in the West, around 2,500 years ago, it earned the name “the Milky Way.” Across the globe, civilizations had theories of …

1
Fusion: Can we recreate the renewable power of stars down on Earth? 27:02

3y ago27:02

27:02

The process that powers our sun was still a mystery about 100 years ago. Bit by bit, scientists have worked out that the fusion of hydrogen at a star’s core can generate enough power to keep it shining for billions of years. Now, armed with this knowledge, researchers around the world are trying to figure out if we can recreate that fusion process …

1
This is NOVA Now Universe Revealed 2:30

3y ago2:30

2:30

This is NOVA Now Universe Revealed, hosted by Alok Patel, a physician, science communicator, and somewhat of a space nerd. In this special 5-part podcast series, blast off with us to explore alien worlds, galaxies, stars, black holes, and the start of the universe itself, the Big Bang. NOVA Now Universe Revealed drops on Thursday, November 4th. Thi…

1
Would you eat insects to help the planet? 29:38

3y ago29:38

29:38

You may think of insects as creepy-crawly pests. But for at least 2 billion people on the planet, they’re a source of nourishment. Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, has been around for thousands of years. But it isn’t a global practice today; cuisine in Europe and the U.S. tends to exclude insects. Could that change? The culinary case fo…

1
Cryptocurrency: the future of money in a digital world? 31:33

3y ago31:33

31:33

The internet revolutionized how we communicate and exchange information. Now, it’s causing the ways in which we invest and spend money to change, laying the foundation for cryptocurrency. How this digital currency functions—much like the inner workings of the internet itself—is invisible to most. But the ongoing explosion of interest and investment…

1
Cannabis: Discovering its effects on the body and brain 31:58

3y ago31:58

31:58

The cannabis industry has flowered into a billion-dollar industry in the last decade. Now, cannabis is easier than ever to legally access for medical or recreational use in the majority of U.S. states. But does legalization mean that cannabis is actually safe to use? After all, cannabis is still federally classified as a Schedule 1 controlled subst…

1
The case of hurricanes and climate change 19:52

3y ago19:52

19:52

The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is half-way through and, like 2020, is expected to be another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season as estimated by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. As of September 14, 2021, there have been over a dozen named storms, including three major hurricanes, Grace, Ida, and Larry, that reached Category 3 status or high…

1
Back to school during a pandemic: experts weigh in 35:00

3y ago35:00

35:00

Back-to-school jitters are in the air as many schools across the U.S. welcome students back to in-person learning for the 2021 to 2022 school year. But, after more than a year of pandemic-related disruption and the more recent emergence of the highly infectious delta variant, excitement to get back into the classroom is met by significant concern f…

1
Electric vehicles: infrastructural needs and environmental effects 21:50

3y ago21:50

21:50

Gasoline-powered passenger cars account for about 17% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Earlier this month, President Biden signed an executive order setting a goal that by 2030, half of all cars sold in the U.S. would be hybrid or electric. And major automakers have joined in support to make this a reality. But will a widespread switch to batter…

1
Covid Vaccines & Variants: What will it take to get out of this pandemic? 28:17

3y ago28:17

28:17

With the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus, including Delta, COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly across much of the world. In most U.S. states, a surge in cases is reigniting conversations about the country’s response to the pandemic. Dr. Alok Patel speaks with a leading epidemiologist and a specialist in infectious diseases to gain p…

1
The science of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena 28:05

3y ago28:05

28:05

Ever spotted a strange object in the sky? According to a recent report released by the U.S. government, nearly 150 aerial objects observed between 2004 and 2021 remain unidentified—with the exception of one large deflated balloon. The sightings of these objects, once called UFOs and now referred to as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), can have a…

1
Using technology to cope with drought 27:58

3y ago27:58

27:58

As temperatures continue to rise this summer, the U.S. is experiencing increasingly worse drought conditions with more than 93% of land in seven Western states affected. Though this decades-long dry spell is concentrated in the Western part of the country, droughts have widespread consequences, affecting everything from our national food supply to …

1
The science of exercise—and getting back in the game 29:59

3y ago29:59

29:59

Hey folks, it’s been a minute. But now we’re back and breaking down the science behind the headlines. This week, we’re stretching it out and exploring the science of exercise and—after more than a year of unexpected interruption—getting back in the game. Dr. Alok Patel checks in with an expert in exercise physiology and an Olympic athlete, biomecha…

1
NOVA Now Returns! 2:26

3y ago2:26

2:26

NOVA Now is back! Join host Alok Patel for another season of new insights into the most pressing issues that are impacting our lives right now. From the PBS science series NOVA, this is a biweekly podcast using science to separate fact from fiction. New episodes start June 24th! Visit our website at: http://www.pbs.org/novanowpodcast…

1
Bonus! From our friends at AirSpace: Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs 27:16

3+ y ago27:16

27:16

AirSpace from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is a podcast that helps you discover news, entertainment, and inspiration in the sky. In other words, we tell aspirational stories about defying gravity. Whether you’re an avid aviation geek, space cadet, or just somebody who loves great stories about smart topics, join hosts Emily, Matt…

1
The science of positive motivation for the New Year 25:30

3+ y ago25:30

25:30

2020 is finally over. After the coronavirus pandemic and everything else the year's thrown our way, it's time to dust ourselves off and get ready for 2021. To do that, we need positive motivation (neurologically, that’s how our brains prepare to get things done). First, we hear from a neuroscientist on the science of becoming and staying motivated.…

1
How the future of satellites might affect life on Earth 27:08

3+ y ago27:08

27:08

In 2020, the world celebrated two decades of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station (ISS). As an orbiting laboratory that has provided astronauts with a view of Earth from outer space, the ISS may not seem very similar to other space innovations like CubeSats and NASA/USGS’s Landsat. But all of these devices are satellites…

1
Covid vaccines are coming: What’s inside, and how and when you’ll get one 27:16

3+ y ago27:16

27:16

Pending FDA approval, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines could reach the first wave of Americans in a matter of weeks. Manufacturers of leading vaccine candidates are releasing promising results from clinical trials, revealing that some experimental vaccines, including those from Pfizer and Moderna, are more than 90% effective against the coronav…

1
The future of food 30:40

3+ y ago30:40

30:40

Chew on this: Thanksgiving is around the corner and November is Native American Heritage Month. In honor of celebrating nature’s bounty, Host Alok Patel considers the past, present, and future of food. He digs into the world of food science with the resident science guy at America’s Test Kitchen, speaks with an Indigenous community cook, educator, …

1
The statistical science behind polling 21:04

4y ago21:04

21:04

With so much uncertainty on the eve of the U.S. presidential election, one place we look for clarity is in the numbers. Pollsters learned valuable lessons from the 2016 election results that they’ve applied in the current election cycle to try to yield more accurate predictions. Host Alok Patel interviews a pollster and a statistician, delving into…

1
The science of fear 31:26

4y ago31:26

31:26

In a year that’s felt like a never-ending horror movie, some might actually find relief in watching thrillers on-screen this Halloween. But why is it that some people love all things spooky on screen while others can only watch through parted fingers? What makes horror films so scary yet so alluring? And does our fascination with horror media actua…

1
Science in the courtroom 29:14

4y ago29:14

29:14

With confirmation hearings set to begin for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to join the Supreme Court, we ask the question that senators probably won’t: Do judges also need to be scientists? Science may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the U.S. court system, but everything from criminal cases’ forensic evidence to intellectual pro…

1
Rising health risks from West Coast wildfires 31:26

4y ago31:26

31:26

It's wildfire season—and something about this year is especially sinister. West Coasters experienced days of hazy orange skies in early September as a result of the burning wildfires. As COVID-19 still looms, threatening our respiratory systems, now too does the smoke in the air. What is this smoke made of, and how does breathing it in affect our l…

1
COVID meets CRISPR 27:38

4y ago27:38

27:38

Many agree that we need a fast, accurate, and easy COVID-19 test—yet none of the commonly used diagnostic technologies have been able to meet that need. Enter CRISPR, a gene-editing tool that can also be used to identify viruses. Host Alok Patel follows the story of the two scientists who first discovered this potential for battling the coronavirus…

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