Science unscripted

The science stories that will actually change your day — and maybe make you laugh. Science unscripted is a podcast, radio show & YouTube channel driven by listeners. Hello from Germany :)

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20 episodes
Updated June 25

Episodes20

Newest first

June 25 · 30 min
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
If you could put on VR goggles and talk to your future self... would that help you become who you want to be? Or would it harm you?
June 18 · 30 min
SpaceX & a low-g baby?
When Elon Musk talks about a human 'civilization' on Mars, he's suggesting we'll have babies there. Should we?
June 11 · 30 min
The 'Google maps' inside a pigeon's liver
A new experiment shows pigeons use immune cells to navigate our planet. The discovery redefines our understanding of how an animal can 'feel' Earth's magnetic field.
May 28 · 30 min
Do you want to have kids?
There are plenty of reasons NOT to have kids. But a new paper suggests having them may be the only way to protect gender equality over the long term.
May 21 · 30 min
The testosterone age (or Honey, I shrunk my testes)
Influencers, billionaires, even the US health secretary. Proponents of testosterone — as a hormonal therapy or barometer of "masculinity" — are causing men to self-medicate. With nasty consequences.
May 13 · 30 min
Hantavirus: What to expect from here
This ship phase is over. But the nature of this virus means cases may rise — even as officials contain it.
May 7 · 30 min
Is the hantavirus the next pandemic?
If you want to understand why the Andes variant of the hantavirus is different than COVID-19, this episode's for you.
April 30 · 30 min
The ad that makes you drink more
We know advertising works. (It's why the industry exists.) But a new study on beer ads in Germany shows how. Causally.
April 24 · 30 min
How can I tell if someone's smart?
Some people seem to know if others are intelligent. Others... don't. A new study suggests why.
April 16 · 30 min
There's almost no way to make us like AI art. Why?
A new study tried just about everything to get people to have a more positive reaction to AI poetry and prose. It failed. Almost always. And it's worth talking about why. (NOTE: A human wrote this.)
March 26 · 30 min
Deepfake nudes & why men make them
Lust? Humiliation? Control? If you think you know why men and boys make fake AI nudes of women and girls... first-of-its-kind research suggests a motivation that's almost more troubling. (Note: If you or anyone you know is the victim of non-consensual intimate imagery, the global non-profit StopNCII.org provides step-by-step support in 38 languages.)
March 19 · 30 min
When do you think the world will end?
A shockingly high number of people believe a global calamity will happen in their lifetime. Are you one of them?
March 12 · 30 min
The war on phone blasting
A viral TikTok of a woman kicked off a plane is a good time to talk about how to (productively) confront loud people.
March 5 · 30 min
Why do I get goosebumps when I listen to music?
Some of us get chills from music, movies or art. And others... never do. Why is that?
February 26 · 30 min
Wait — who's friendzoning who here?!
It's usually guys who complain about being 'friendzoned.' But new research says it definitely happens to women, too — sometimes.
February 19 · 30 min
How different are the brains of boys and girls?
A new study shows a sex difference in the early growth of the human brain. Does it matter?
February 12 · 29 min
When a pet’s death really hurts
The loss of a pet can affect you more than losing a loved one, a new study shows. With one exception.
January 29 · 30 min
Why do humans have (relatively) large penises?
Compared to chimps or gorillas, human males are unusually well endowed. A new study suggests it's partly because men 'size each other up' before a fight.
January 22 · 30 min
How casual hookups are good (and healthy) for singles
You really do benefit from 'friends with benefits,' a new study suggests. Also, a forgotten birthday can tank employee morale and a look at how the Autobahn lead to more support for the Nazi party.
January 15 · 30 min
The anomie within
When it feels like society's breaking down right before your eyes, it's called anomie. And it can lead to an even a darker place.

Science unscripted

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

SpaceX & a low-g baby?

The 'Google maps' inside a pigeon's liver

Do you want to have kids?

The testosterone age (or Honey, I shrunk my testes)

Hantavirus: What to expect from here

Is the hantavirus the next pandemic?

The ad that makes you drink more

How can I tell if someone's smart?

There's almost no way to make us like AI art. Why?

Deepfake nudes & why men make them

When do you think the world will end?

The war on phone blasting

Why do I get goosebumps when I listen to music?

Wait — who's friendzoning who here?!

How different are the brains of boys and girls?

When a pet’s death really hurts

Why do humans have (relatively) large penises?

How casual hookups are good (and healthy) for singles

The anomie within