Science Rules! with Bill Nye

Stitcher & Bill Nye

Bill Nye is on a mission to change the world — one voicemail at a time. Bill and science writer Corey S. Powell take your burning questions and put them to the world's leading experts on just about every topic in the universe. Should you stop eating cheeseburgers to combat climate change? Could alien life be swimming inside the moons of Jupiter and Saturn? Does your pet parakeet learn to sing the way that you learned to speak? Bill, Corey, and their special guests will answer those questions and convince you that... science rules!

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151 episodes
Updated Nov 1, 2023

Episodes151

Newest first

Dec 19, 2019 · 46 min
Why Space Should Be Explored
This week on Science Rules! Bill and Corey talk through why exploring space has created so much progress for many fields of science and for humanity at large. Plus, they take listener calls about, you guessed it...SPACE! You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com [stitcherpremium.com] and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’
Dec 12, 2019 · 45 min
Do Vitamins Even Do Anything?
When it comes to vitamins and health supplements, we’re often told that the more we take, the healthier we’ll be, but journalists Elah Feder & Annie Minoff find that the research tells a different story. This week, they join us to answer questions from callers like Olivia who asks, “Does hair, skin, and nail vitamins such as biotin actually do anything to make your hair, skin and nails healthier?” You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month
Dec 5, 2019 · 43 min
The Secret To Your Diet
We’re constantly being sold the "latest" and "best" when it comes to food, but Dr. Marion Nestle doesn’t believe much has changed when it comes to what we need in our diets. She joins us to talk food production and public health, plus she answers some phone calls like this one from Samuel in Indianapolis who asks, “Is it more important to be cutting out the bad things, or introducing healthier things into my diet?”. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premiu
Nov 28, 2019 · 47 min
Energy & You
We use energy in its various forms everyday. But what is it? This week, it’s back to basics. Bill and Corey teach us about the fundamentals of energy and answer caller questions including one from Renee from Kansas, who asks, "How much energy is being wasted when my kids leave the lights on?"You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’
Nov 21, 2019 · 47 min
OMG, GMOs!
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) often gets a bad rap, but farmers have been using them for decades to feed the world. Former CTO of Monsanto Dr. Robb Fraley who helped develop the very first genetically modified seeds joins us to discuss the science behind GMOs and he answers questions from listeners, including one from Emma who asks, “Do GMOs have the ability to alter the DNA of the organisms that consume them?”. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher P
Nov 14, 2019 · 47 min
How To Be Happy
It turns out being happy, or becoming happier is possible with a bit of effort. We’re joined by happiness expert and host of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos to talk about her research into human happiness and to take your calls, including one from Mike from Colorado who asks, “Is there a genetic component to happiness?”. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com [stitcherpremium.com] an
Nov 7, 2019 · 45 min
Underwater Clues About Aliens
There are teeny-tiny organisms living at the depths of our oceans, which can tell us a lot about the possibility of life beyond Earth. Real life deep sea explorer Dr. Julie Huber from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution joins us to talk about the clues the deep water gives us about alien life. And as usual, we go to the phones to answer your questions, like one from Patrick, who asks, "how close to an alien environment are our oceans near the underwater volcanic vents?" You can listen to a
Oct 31, 2019 · 38 min
The End of the World
It’s Halloween and the perfect time to get apocalyptic. Eschatology expert and Science Rules! co-host Corey S. Powell brings us his insights this week on all the scientifically plausible and not-so-plausible ways the world could end. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.' This episode is sponsored by The Great Courses (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIE
Oct 24, 2019 · 49 min
What’s Clean, Green and Combats Climate Change?
Fusion Power! CEO of TAE Technologies Michl Binderbauer believes he can bring safe and sustainable fusion power to the market in a couple short decades. He, Bill, and Corey take your calls, including one from Anne who asks Bill why he’s opposed to nuclear energy. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.' This episode is sponsored by Quality Logo Products
Oct 17, 2019 · 34 min
Why There's Nothing Odd About Queer
There’s a lot to human sexuality. That’s why we’re joined by comedian & actress Margaret Cho and by Dr. Lisa Rubin, associate professor of psychology at the New School for Social Research. They’ll help us piece together what makes up a person’s sexuality. Plus, Margaret Cho takes a couple listener phone calls and conquers the lightning round. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and us
Oct 10, 2019 · 47 min
Complete World Knowledge
Everyone you’ll ever meet knows something you don’t. Especially if you meet John Hodgman— he’s an expert in expertise. John, Bill and Corey give expert advice to callers, including Kevin, who wants to know how he should propose to his girlfriend, and to Laurel calling from Ms. Cann’s 10th grade class, who wants an idea for her science project. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com an
Oct 3, 2019 · 48 min
The Story of Skin Color
Ever wonder why your skin is the color it is? Decades ago, Dr. Nina Jablonski wondered the same thing. She’s here to tell us the science behind the story of our skin and to break down some of the deeply entrenched myths about race and color. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.' This episode is sponsored by Ministry of Supply (www.ministryofsupply.com
Sep 27, 2019 · 6 min
Introducing Lost at the Smithsonian with Aasif Mandvi
Check out Lost at the Smithsonian, a new podcast from Stitcher! Comedian and pop culture fanatic Aasif Mandvi gets up close and personal with the most iconic artifacts at the National Museum of American History. Join Aasif and his guests as they explore how vintage clothing, ratty furniture, and mismatched shoes transformed into Fonzie's leather jacket, Archie Bunker's chair, and Dorothy's ruby slippers and became defining symbols of American culture along the way. Lost at the Smithsonian is out
Sep 26, 2019 · 52 min
Big Problems, Tiny Solutions
The world population is approaching 8 billion people and it's not stopping there. So how will we address the needs of everyone on earth? Our guest this week Dr. Susan Hockfield says we out to look to biology for answers. You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.'
Sep 19, 2019 · 51 min
What's a Psychopath?
The word “psychopath" can be thrown around rather flippantly— but what does it really mean to be a psychopath? Psychopathy expert Dr. Arielle Baskin-Sommers of Yale University joins us to explain this anti-social trait a little more clearly. And answers some caller questions, including one from Nora who calls in to ask, “Can psychopaths have real relationships?” Plus, Arielle gets “dorky” science on us with a deep dive into the role of empathy in psychopathy. You can listen to ad-free new epis
Aug 22, 2019 · 44 min
How to Survive Another Chernobyl
If we're going to embrace nuclear energy, we want to understand the effects of radiation and how to handle them. And that’s just the sort of work Dr. Lauren Jackson does! She joins us to talk about how radiation affects people, and what steps are being taken to protect the public in the event of a nuclear incident. Plus, she answers some caller questions, including one from Tiffany in Detroit who wonders: Should I be as scared of nuclear radiation as I am!? You can listen to ad-free new episod
Aug 15, 2019 · 45 min
Machine Smarts
What's intelligence? Ashley Llorens, Chief of the Intelligent Systems Center at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, has a good idea. He joins us to talk about intelligence of the human-type and the machine-type, and what it will take for machines to get up to speed. We'll take some caller questions, including one from Ahmed, who wants to know: will AI eventually take away our motivation to learn? Plus, Ashley talks about the connection between being a hip hop artist and a machine learning enginee
Aug 8, 2019 · 46 min
Are We Living in a Simulation?
Combining consciousness and technology leaves us with some big questions. Questions that philosopher and cognitive scientist Dr. David Chalmers thinks about (someone's got to!). Caller Keith wants to know if consciousness can be manufactured, and Elizabeth asks if we will ever garner true emotion from AI? Chalmers gives his thoughts on those big questions, and experiments on Bill and Corey by kicking them in the shin! You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Pre
Aug 1, 2019 · 34 min
What Evolution Wants
Evolution doesn't want anything. You just have to be good enough to survive! Geologist, paleontologist, and author Dr. Don Prothero joins us to talk evolution, creationism and Big Foot! Plus, he gives listener Jacob some tactics to respectfully talk with creationists about evolution, and he answers Stephanie's burning question: Could mermaids have ever existed? You can listen to ad-free new episodes of Science Rules! only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcher
Jul 25, 2019 · 47 min
Your Climate Change Reality Check
To solve any problem, you must be optimistic that you can find a solution. The problem of climate change is no different. We're joined by Dr. Michael Mann of Penn State, who's been studying climate science for decades, to talk the climate reality we're dealing with and to answer some calls. Mann gives caller Jacob some strategies for conversing with climate change skeptics, and he answers Emma's critical question: What is the single most important thing we can do right now to alleviate the press