ScienceLife SciencesNatural Sciences

Tiny Matters

Multitude

Science shapes every facet of our lives, but so much of its influence is overlooked or buried in the past. Tiny Matters is an award-winning science podcast about the small science of big things. From the microbes behind deadly diseases to the molecules informing our search for extraterrestrial life, hosts and former scientists Sam Jones and Deboki Chakravarti embrace the awe and messiness of science and its significance both today and in the past, asking questions like, "Can you de-extinct a species?," "Will we ever live on Mars?," and "After decades, why don't we have a cure for HIV?"

Tiny Matters is created by the American Chemical Society, a non-profit scientific organization based in Washington, D.C., and is produced by Multitude. New episodes every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Today · 27 min
Introducing Going Wild: Soil Science with the (Jordon) King of the Everglades
This week we’re sharing a special episode from the brand-new fifth season of Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, the multi-award-winning podcast from our our friends at PBS’ Nature. In this new season, host and acclaimed wildlife ecologist, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, heads out into the field to bring you closer to the people, the animals, the sounds and the stories that make these wild spaces so magical and so worth protecting. Like in today’s episode, featuring soil ecologist and social media sensation, Jordon King, who gives Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant a proper initiation into the Florida Everglades, where even the dirt has a story to tell. But with drought transforming the wetlands in one of the region's driest seasons, they're discovering that what's missing can be just as fascinating as what's beneath their feet. For more episodes like this, be sure to follow Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today · 2 min
Introducing It Turns Out
We’d like to recommend a podcast called It Turns Out, hosted by award-winning journalist Kara Miller. The idea behind the show is that things we assume to be true are often far more complicated and surprising once you look at the research and talk to the experts who study them. We think you'll love it!
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Wednesday · 38 min
Cannibalism in nature: Brutal, but evolutionarily useful?
In nature, cannibalism is surprisingly common. Fish eat their offspring, insects consume their siblings, and some tadpoles transform into specialized cannibals with stronger jaws and a tooth. In this episode, we explore how cannibalism can shape entire ecosystems, influencing everything from fish populations to nutrient cycles, and why so many species are cannibalistic despite its costs. We discuss selfishness in nature, filial and sexual cannibalism, and the role of developmental plasticity in evolution. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Monday · 40 min
[CHAIN REACTION] Beyond the Pill: The Drugs That Shape Us, Episode 2
The discovery of sex hormones in the 1930s led to the development of female birth control, a widely used class of drugs that reshaped cultural norms surrounding fertility and bodily autonomy. But contraception remains largely the responsibility of women. On today’s episode: the evolution of birth control and the future of male contraception. Listen to Chain Reaction by ACS wherever you get podcasts and at acs.org/chainreaction. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
November 4 · 15 min
[BONUS] Colorful blood in nature and how a tick bite causes a meat allergy: Tiny Show and Tell Us #59
Why do humans have red blood, while other animals have green, purple, or even yellow blood? In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we explore the surprisingly colorful world of animal blood, from Antarctic ice fish with nearly transparent blood to green-blooded skinks and purple-blooded peanut worms. Then we enter tick territory and investigate how a tick bite leaves some people unable to eat red meat and other animal products. The answer involves a condition known as alpha-gal syndrome, where a tick bite can trigger an immune response to the alpha-gal sugar found in many mammals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
November 2 · 50 min
[CHAIN REACTION] The Antibiotics Boom, Bust, and Search for What's Next: The Drugs That Shape Us, Episode 1
Through a few serendipitous discoveries, antibiotics changed the course of history by turning deadly infections into manageable sicknesses. But it didn’t take long for bacteria to begin outsmarting these wonder drugs. On today’s episode: The fascinating world of antibiotics and the efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance, including using AI to come up with new drugs that will only become more essential. Listen to Chain Reaction by ACS wherever you get podcasts and at acs.org/chainreaction. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
October 30 · 1 min
A lil' extra on the feed: 'The Drugs That Shape Us,' from Chain Reaction
We'll be publishing a 4-episode miniseries from our sister podcast Chain Reaction over the course of the next 4 weeks! Where Tiny Matters episode span all the scientific fields, Chain Reaction has more of a chemistry focus — but it’s also packed with fascinating history and societal relevance that we know will appeal to our listeners. So we wanted to bring over a recent miniseries about the drugs that have shaped humanity. You’ve likely relied on a drug at one point or another, whether it be a prescribed medication or something over the counter. So this miniseries explores the history, impact, and future of major drug classes. The first episode is on including antibiotics, followed by birth control, then antidepressants including SSRI and we bring it all home with the very trendy highly impactful, and GLP-1s. You’ll hear from experts about the scientific breakthroughs behind these medicines and the ongoing research that could shape the next generation of drugs. Be sure to tune in! You can get all of Chain Reaction's episodes wherever you listen to podcasts and at acs.org/chainreaction See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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October 28 · 35 min
Secrets in the peat: Ghost lights, bog bodies, and life built on death
For centuries, ghostly lights floating over bogs have appeared in folklore. Known by names including will-o'-the-wisp, corpse candles, and ‘Lantern Jack,’ they’ve inspired stories of supernatural tricksters leading travelers astray, sometimes to their doom. But in 2024, scientists finally uncovered the chemistry behind the phenomenon. From there, we travel deep into the strange world of bogs. These waterlogged landscapes help cool the planet and have preserved ancient artifacts — including human bodies — for thousands of years, helping teach us about what life was like many millennia ago, but also providing insight into some of the diseases that plague humanity today, including Alzheimer's. Related episodes you may enjoy: Biofilms: The sticky, slimy communities behind some of medicine's toughest infections Foraminifera: The one-celled predators that shaped our planet (and kept the receipts) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
October 21 · 32 min
[BONUS] The ‘Tyrant Lizard Queen’ and how evolution shaped our anxious brains: Tiny Show and Tell Us #58
Why does your brain sometimes react to a stressful meeting or traffic jam like you’re being hunted by a lion on the savannah? In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we explore the evolutionary roots of anxiety, why our internal alarm system sometimes misfires, and how treatments can help some people. Then paleontologist and author Riley Black joins the show to talk about her new book Tyrant Lizard Queen: The Love, Life, and Terror of Earth’s Greatest Carnivore. She shares why T. rex is a much more complicated dinosaur than the movie monster we’re used to seeing. We hear about how T. rex grew, hunted, weathered dramatic environmental changes, and fit into her ecosystem. Related episodes you may enjoy: Decoding dinosaur colors and the failure of postpartum care: Tiny Show and Tell Us #57 Treating Depression: Then versus now and the SSRI debate See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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October 14 · 31 min
The canaries in the coal mine: How sentinel species monitor our world
For decades, coal miners relied on canaries to warn them about deadly carbon monoxide underground. Canaries were retired from that work at the end of the 20th century, but today scientists still rely on certain organisms, referred to as sentinels, to reveal hidden environmental threats. In this episode, we trace the history of the canary in the coal mine to today and explore how researchers use songbirds, mussels, and oysters to monitor mercury, industrial pollution, and other contaminants that can linger in ecosystems for generations. NOAA's Mussel Watch program is celebrating 40 years! Learn more here: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/a-legacy-of-coastal-health-celebrating-40-years-of-noaas-national-mussel-watch-program/ Related episodes you may enjoy: How do you save a species?: Breakthroughs from cheetahs, red wolves, and 'spicy' toads Deep sea mining: Environmental uncertainty, ‘Law of the Sea,’ and shark potatoes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
October 7 · 19 min
[BONUS] Decoding dinosaur colors and the failure of postpartum care: Tiny Show and Tell Us #57
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, a listener asks why maternal mortality rates in countries like the U.S. and Canada have risen while many other wealthy nations have seen them plateau or even decrease. We talk about postpartum health, racial disparities, access to care, and why support after birth can be just as important as care during pregnancy and delivery. Then we switch gears and discuss how we know the colors of some dinosaurs. The answer lies in tiny fossilized structures called melanosomes, which allowed researchers to reconstruct some of the colors of dinosaurs. Related episodes you may enjoy: The Mothers of Gynecology: The centuries that led to today’s Black maternal mortality crisis Dinosaur Fossils: Inspiring Jurassic Park and helping us predict Earth's future See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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September 30 · 41 min
How do you save a species?: Breakthroughs from cheetahs, red wolves, and 'spicy' toads
Cheetahs carry the genetic scars of an Ice Age bottleneck, red wolves are so rare that every egg matters, and harlequin frogs need their natural toxins restored before they can thrive in the wild again. But avoiding extinction requires far more than protecting habitat alone. In this episode, we talk with scientists at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to explore cutting-edge science helping these animals not just survive but thrive, including innovative reproductive technologies like ‘ovary-on-a-chip.’ Similar episodes you may enjoy: Extinction: Rethinking the dodo's demise, and could a supervolcano threaten humanity's future? What is de-extinction, really? Conservation, genetics, and lessons from 'dire wolves' See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
September 30 · 2 min
Introducing It Turns Out
We’d like to recommend a podcast called It Turns Out, hosted by award-winning journalist Kara Miller. The idea behind the show is that things we assume to be true are often far more complicated and surprising once you look at the research and talk to the experts who study them. We think you'll love it!
September 30 · 2 min
Introducing What Could Go Right?
We'd like to recommend a podcast called What Could Go Right, from the Progress Network. It's a refreshingly different perspective on the news and issues like sustainability, geopolitics or the future of work. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
September 23 · 32 min
[BONUS] Milking spiders and why this scientist’s grave is covered in gifts: Tiny Show and Tell Us #56
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we first discuss funnel-web spiders, who are among the most venomous spiders on Earth. Maybe somewhat paradoxically, their toxins are being studied to treat human disease and chronic pain. Then we talk with historian Claire Aubin about J. Willard Gibbs’ grave at Yale, where she’s a professor. Gibbs was a quiet scientific genius whose work transformed chemistry. He was also seemingly a very cool dude, and today his gravesite is decorated by students seeking good luck before exams. Check out This Guy Sucked wherever you get podcasts! We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org or fill out this form with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#118
September 16 · 37 min
Biofilms: The sticky, slimy communities behind some of medicine's toughest infections
Biofilms are everywhere: your teeth, your kitchen sponge, and even medical implants. Scientists are uncovering how these highly organized microbial communities protect bacteria from antibiotics and the immune system, and how understanding their hidden lives could help us fight some of the scariest infections, particularly those that disproportionately impact people with cystic fibrosis. Learn more about CALM here. Check out Wow If True wherever you listen to podcasts! A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
September 9 · 23 min
[BONUS] ‘Drinking Grandma,’ digital cadavers and debunking a grave robbing myth: Tiny Show and Tell Us #55
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we explore the fascinating history of embalming, from ancient mummies to arsenic-laced funeral practices (that weren’t all that long ago!). Then we chat about cadaver dissection, the importance of Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings, and whether virtual reality could someday replace anatomy labs. Plus, what's the real story behind those creepy iron cages found above burial plots in old cemeteries? Learn more about CALM here. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org or fill out this form with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
September 3 · 1 hr 6 min
The Shroud of Turin: American Medieval x Tiny Matters crossover episode
In this special bonus episode, we join American Medieval with host Matthew Gabriele, a professor of medieval studies and who knows about a LOT of history that we don’t. We're there to chat with Matt about some new science research surrounding the Turin Shroud — a cloth that many Christians believe was used to wrap Jesus after he was killed. The debates over this artifact are fascinating and the science only adds to it! So if you like science, history, and a little controversy, you’re going to love this episode. American Medieval is a podcast about the Middle Ages, but with an American twist. Each week, Professor Matthew Gabriele is joined by expert guests to explore either some fascinating part of the medieval world, or some way Americans have used this period to help them understand themselves. Matthew Gabriele is a professor of Medieval History and an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (UK). In addition to hosting the podcast "American Medieval," he’s the co-author of the books The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe (Harper Books, 2021), and Oathbreakers: The War of Brothers that Shattered an Empire and Made Medieval Europe (Harper Books, 2024). His new book, Violence: A Christian History, will be out with WW Norton in late 2027/ early 2028. Learn more about CALM here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#117
September 2 · 37 min
Foraminifera: The one-celled predators that shaped our planet (and kept the receipts)
Single-celled marine organisms called foraminifera may be microscopic, but they've had a massive impact on life on Earth. They also leave behind intricate shells that have become part of a fossil record stretching back more than 500 million years. Today, they're one of the most powerful tools scientists have for reconstructing Earth's past climates, helping us put the current (alarming) state of our warming planet into context. Learn more about CALM here. Check out Pale Blue pod here or wherever you listen to podcasts! A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
August 26 · 25 min
[BONUS] Dangerously tiny frequencies, endometriosis tests, and cookies made from ... plastic?: Tiny Show and Tell Us #54
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we discuss new blood tests and research into blood biomarkers that could make diagnosing endometriosis faster and less invasive. Next, we unpack subsynchronous resonance, a phenomenon that can damage power infrastructure, and is gaining new attention with so many AI data centers being built across the country. Then we hear from guest Emily Schneider who shares some delicious (maybe? You be the judge!) new research where scientists have engineered yeast to convert plastic waste and agricultural leftovers into cookies. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org or fill out this form with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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