Science Rules! with Bill Nye

A leader of NASA's Mars Perseverance rover team explains what we've learned about the red planet since the rover landed and lays out the mission to find — and return — evidence of life. Plus, acronyms galore!

Dr. Igor Koralnik explains his research on the neurological impacts of Covid-19, especially with non-severe cases.

Harold McGee changed the culinary world in the ’80s with his book on the science of cooking. His new book moves up the face to the nose, breaking down the molecules that make up all the smells around us. He explains why some scents echo each other, how dogs can sniff out cancer, and what happens when a coronavirus takes away your sense of smell.

The chemicals we rely on for practically everything are slowly threatening our health, happiness, and the future of our species. Dr. Shanna Swan walks us through the evidence.

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee takes us through his investigation into why low-income countries seem to have largely escaped the pandemic’s wrath — and why they still need to get vaccines.

* But didn't know to ask. Rebecca Wragg Sykes will also tell us about the art, language, and mysterious extinction of our brawny cousins.

As the first National Climate Advisor, Gina McCarthy may have the most important — and toughest — unelected job in America. So ... how’s that going?

Sociologist Zeynep Tufekci takes news outlets to task for how our coverage has hindered the response to COVID-19 and explains why no matter what variant is going around your community, you should still get a vaccine — any of them — as soon as you are eligible.

Gillian Jacobs (Community, Love) and Diona Reasonover (NCIS) get back in touch with their science roots and turn the tables on us in a new segment, Grill Bill and Query Corey! Check out Gillian and Diona's new podcast Periodic Talks and subscribe here: https://link.chtbl.com/PeriodicTalks

How does exercise work? Should all runners go barefoot? And is sitting really the new smoking? Daniel Lieberman shines some science on common exercise myths.

We grade the new White House administration's pandemic response thus far with New York Times science and global health reporter Apoorva Mandavilli.

Pia Sorensen has a kitchen laboratory where she demonstrates how pans of denatured proteins and hot fats can create a delicious meal — or a big ol’ mess.

Former NFL lineman (and current math whiz) John Urschel and materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez highlight all the science you can see on display at the Super Bowl, from the mechanics of blocking to the psychology of play-calling.

It’s a highly controversial and unlikely hypothesis. But, as Dr. David Relman explains, we can't rule it out, because we still don't know the original source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

When it comes to things that give us the heebie-jeebies, parasites reign supreme. But according to this week's guest, ecosystems couldn't exist without them. Chelsea Wood explains what makes them so creepy, how to prevent them from killing us, and why she keeps digging around in decades-old cans of salmon.

We talk to master watchmaker Rebecca Struthers about how people learned to measure time and the twisted way that clocks came to control the way we eat, sleep, work, and relax (if we relax at all).

Dr. Celine Gounder — a member of President-Elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board — answers all of your questions about the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and details an ambitious plan to vaccinate a third of America.

If humans want to explore the solar system (and beyond), we'll have to learn to do something inconceivable for most of us pre-pandemic — exist with each other in tiny quarters for months. Kim Binsted's HI-SEAS program is trying to teach us how to do just that.

The star of The Big Bang Theory, Blossom, and the new show Call Me Kat explains how she balances her love of science with her career in acting, and we put her neuroscience Ph.D. to use answering your questions about cognitive disabilities and disorders.

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?”

Every year, another 11 million tons of plastic trash ends up in the ocean. Winnie Lau, senior manager of the “Preventing Ocean Plastics” project, explains why recycling isn't helping — and what we should be doing instead.

Who better to answer your science-swimming questions than gold-medalist Simone Manuel?

Trevor Cox leads us through a wonderland of sound featuring sonic booms, Stonehenge, and pseudoscientific phenomena.

Francis Collins is the director of the National Institutes of Health. He gives us a prognosis for the next few months and diagnoses the future of health research in the U.S.

Dr. Priyamvada Natarajan is an expert on the strangest things in physics: warped space, dark matter, dark energy, and even questions from our listeners.

Neil Shubin reveals how he discovered Tiktaalik — a long-sought fossil link between swimming fish and walking land animals — and shares other remarkable tales about life's evolution.

Atul Gawande is a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID task force. He helps us dig through the latest coronavirus news including vaccine trial results, mask mandates, and how to manage risks over the holidays.

Can any part of the long-running film franchise stand up to scientific scrutiny? Matt Gourley — co-host of the James Bonding podcast, among much else — joins to answer all your questions about the coolest gadgets, the craziest stunts, and the glaringest plot holes.

The legendary filmmaker teams up with British geoscientist Clive Oppenheimer to explain how meteorites — what they call ”visitors from darker worlds” — have shaped societies throughout history.

As different as we humans are from each other — politically and otherwise — we’re all part of the same species. We explore the history of Homo Sapiens and who (or what) might eventually replace us as kings of the forest.

This year Science has published an unprecedented series of scathing articles by editor in chief Holden Thorp criticizing President Trump's handling of the dual crises of COVID-19 and climate change. It's finally time for science to join the fight.

We get a look inside the mind of Tal Zaks, the Chief Medical Officer at Moderna, as the company develops and tests what it hopes will become the first successful vaccine against the coronavirus. For more episodes like this, subscribe to If I Don’t See You on Stitcher Premium.

Are robots coming for our jobs? (Probably not.) If we could remove cancer from our genome, should we? (Probably.) Can our codes of ethics keep pace with innovation? (Let's do our best.) Biotech entrepreneur Juan Enriquez is here to prepare us for tomorrow.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has spent four years stalking Bennu, an asteroid that could one day collide with Earth. We speak with Dante Lauretta, the mission's leader, as the probe is about to grab a pebbly sample of Bennu and bring it home.

Dr. Karl Linden explains how ultraviolet light can be used to destroy the coronavirus as if by magic — but it’s not magic, it’s science!

The founder of Kode with Klossy is trying to make fashion more sustainable and the tech industry more female.

Dr. Dorothy Roberts explains the long history of racism in science and medicine — and where we go from here.

What happens when you try to develop a vaccine for a brand new disease at “warp speed”? Where do the various trials stand today, and what are the safety concerns associated with emergency use authorizations? Dr. Eric Topol has the answers.

Ainissa Ramirez is an expert in the unheralded field that shapes so much of the modern world: the science of materials. She explains how seemingly modest inventions like glass, the pocket watch, and the telegraph have transformed us all.

Jennifer Doudna co-discovered CRISPR, a revolutionary tool for editing DNA and changing our genes. She joins us to talk about what her innovation means for health, medicine, and — for better or worse — the ability to redesign ourselves.

In the time of COVID social-distancing, loneliness is all around us. Julianne Holt-Lunstad explains how isolation can make the pandemic worse, and how good relationships can protect our health.

The famed actress and activist says she’s learned a lot from getting arrested at her own climate rallies in D.C. last year. She fills us in on the need to address injustice while we fight global warming, how the COVID pandemic has changed her activism, and how individuals can step up when governments fail them.

Jacqueline Faherty from the American Museum of Natural History explains the mysteries of brown dwarfs — bigger than planets, smaller than stars — and reveals how she's improving STEM by making it more diverse.

What type of test should you get, and when? How much can you trust the results? And could rapid screening tests really help us reopen businesses and schools?

Eric Haseltine reveals how he used neuroscience to create best-selling toys and to protect U.S. troops from roadside explosives. He also shares some tips to help you (yes, you!) fix your suboptimal behaviors.

You'd never fall for a conspiracy theory, right? Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Psychologist Rob Brotherton explores the history of conspiracy theories — including a famous fake-news scare that was itself fake news — and explains why it's so hard to avoid them.

More than 99 percent of people who get COVID-19 recover. But many unknown chronic effects may await those people all the same.

It’s the most famous mass extinction of all time, but we’re only just starting to understand the impact that killed the (ancient) dinosaurs. Geophysicist Joanna Morgan takes us to the crater to imagine the day the asteroid hit and the nightmarish aftermath.

She’s famous for her science fiction movies (the “Star Wars” prequels, Thor, Annihilation), but hard science runs through Natalie Portman’s veins. We discuss her early research in chemistry and psychology, her environmental activism, and her strategies to keep her kids’ curiosity alive during the pandemic.

Arne Duncan — former Secretary of Education under President Obama — walks us through what needs to be done for schools to reopen safely in the fall.

For decades, William McDonough has been leading the movement toward sustainable architecture. His goal is to create a garbage-free society through what he calls “cradle to cradle” design.

There are just eight species of bear on Earth — and when they do well, we do well, according to conservation ecologist Chris Morgan, host of The Wild.

Dr. Arturo Casadevall has been promoting “convalescent plasma” as a treatment for disease since before the pandemic took hold in the U.S. He explains what it is, how it helps with COVID-19, and why we need much, much more.

Nathan Myhrvold, the company's former Chief Technology Officer, has a plan to rebuild the electrical grid, re-engineer the climate, and ... make a scientifically perfect pizza.

Psychologist Angela Duckworth studies the ways some people muster grit — passion and perseverance — to overcome adversity. She joins Bill and Corey to answer your questions about how the same psychological techniques could change your own behavior ... for good.

Dr. Celine Gounder returns with wisdom gained from four months behind her personal protective equipment.

Randall Munroe, creator of the sciency webcomic, offers ridiculously complex ways to do simple things and indulges all our scientific “what-ifs.”

Erich Jarvis studies songbirds to understand how humans evolved speech. Along the way, he’s made discoveries about why we stutter, which animals can dance, and how to thrive as an underrepresented minority scientist. His research can be seen in the Netflix docuseries Babies.

It seems like every day brings a different prediction for how bad this pandemic will get. We set out to find what the data really say.

How we can help bring about the best-case scenario for the future of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci.

In most cases, the danger of transmitting COVID-19 makes avoiding large gatherings a no-brainer. Could the social changes the protestors are demanding lead to long-term health benefits that are worth the short-term risks?

If we want to achieve herd immunity to COVID-19, is the shortcut just to mingle without wearing masks, get a lot of us sick — and let a lot of people die?

The world is going to need billions and billions of vaccines. Who will make them, and where will they come from?

A key to staying safe from COVID-19 is contact tracing — breaking the chain of transmission from person to person. Kelly Driscoll, head of the Community Tracing Collaborative in Massachusetts, explains how contact tracing works and what it can do to block the spread of the virus.

We are definitely not out of the woods yet with COVID-19, but communities across the world have either eased their lockdowns already or are planning to do so within the next few weeks. Michael Osterholm, a professor of public health advising the state of New York on its reopening plan, explains how this pandemic will play out.

This isn’t the first pandemic humanity has faced. From the black death to Spanish flu, from AIDS to Ebola; we’ve been here before. But historian Mark Honigsbaum, author of The Pandemic Century, says that the complacency and hubris of scientific experts keep preventing us from learning from the past.

Researchers are moving at unprecedented speed, but they’re still struggling to understand this pandemic. What does the novel coronavirus do to our bodies? Virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen answers questions about what happens when we get COVID-19, the role immunity and how small scientific discoveries will be the key to understanding this disease.

The hunt to find antiviral drugs has pressed on as we await a vaccine. Remdesivier is the latest treatment that has been touted to help patients suffering from COVID-19. But does this and other antiviral drugs really help cure patients? Scientist Derek Angus helps answer this and understand what role Antiviral drugs play in our community.

David Wallace-Wells has rung the alarm about climate change in the pages of New York Magazine and his book, The Uninhabitable Earth. Now he’s trained his sights on our latest all-encompassing challenge, covid19. Wallace-Wells tells us why climate change and pandemics are related, and he’ll examine humanity’s ability to solve existential crises.

There are billions and billions of planets out there. What could they be like? Could any of them be alive? Exoplanet-hunter and undergraduate MIT student Charlotte Minsky is helping to vet discoveries of possible planets outside our solar system. She tells us what she finds, and how she finds them.

It feels like we’re in a transitional moment. As some states begin to relax their social distancing measures, how do you know who to believe? Science Journalist for The New York Times Apoorva Mandavilli joins to talk about communicating risk responsibly, what happens if schools reopen and how to sift through conflicting information.

Tennessee is one of several states turning away from efforts to keep people at home. But is it happening too soon? Dr. James Hildreth, President/CEO of Meharry Medical College is in the group of medical professionals advising the mayor of Nashville on covid19 response. He'll describe the process of opening Tennessee and the consequences of moving too soon.

How do you measure immunity with the novel coronavirus? Antibody tests are supposed to tackle this question- but it seems they might have fallen short of expectation. James Hamblin is a journalist who joins to talk about the false promise of these tests, why some people get sick and why.

Changing the world requires breaking down the persistent barriers between researchers and the public. Science communicator and beloved television personality Alan Alda shares his advice and experiences on reaching people to connect science to everyday life, and challenge mindsets. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com [stitcherpremium.com] and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’

African Americans are dying at higher rates despite only being a segment of the population. There’s a constellation of factors that can lead to increased risk, but what makes COVID-19 unique reaches far beyond the current moment. Dr. Lisa Cooper joins to discuss what these contributing factors are and how some disproportionate effects continue to exist.

Misinformation about COVID-19 is spreading as fast as the virus itself. NYU’s Dr. Celine Gounder is back on the show, this time to dispel the most virulent myths that threaten society’s efforts to flatten the curve.

WHO's Myth Busting document: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

The world’s greatest observatory has not just delivered jaw-dropping images of distant galaxies and nebulas. It has deepened our intimate relationship to the universe. On the telescope's 30th birthday this week, NASA's senior project scientist for Hubble, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, shares the Hubble's secrets with Science Rules. 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.’

Last week on SR! Coronavirus Edition we talked about what it takes to end a pandemic on a global scale. In the second half of this series, we look inward. When could the economy potentially reopen and what does the U.S. look like afterward?

For more on the report we reference: https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/national-coronavirus-response-a-road-map-to-reopening/

When there's a deadly virus to worry about, how do you also look after your mental health? Queensland University of Technology mental health researcher Dr Olivia Fisher explains what's really driving the anxiety we're feeling through the pandemic, and how to respond to it.

What do gerrymandering and autism have in common? Neuroscientist Sam Wang is using giant datasets to help understand the way we think, the way we vote, and the way we focus our efforts to change the world. 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.’

Ending a pandemic is no small feat. In part one of our series, Leading epidemiologist Larry Brilliant, who helped eradicate smallpox, talks about what it takes to put an end to disease. Time is of the essence, but so is patience: There’s a long road ahead before we can conquer COVID-19.

With the CDC recommending all Americans wear face masks, scientists are in a race to understand how COVID-19 travels through the air. As an expert on the fluid dynamics of disease, MIT associate professor Lydia Bourouiba discusses the implications of airborne transmission.

Octopuses are clever, playful and full of surprises. They're also endangered in many places. Biodiversity scientist Dr Samantha Cheng explains why these creatures – often depicted in mythology and popular culture – are such a source of fascination. And, why they're worth protecting. 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.’

It's not just the development of a COVID-19 vaccine that the world needs. There are also huge manufacturing and delivery challenges to plan for. Until we can immunize against it, we need alternatives to fight the virus: drugs and therapies. President of global immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Dr Bruce Gellin, walks us through it all.

Shopping for food is one of the few reasons we can leave the house these days. But advice has been swirling online about the risks of shopping and bringing items back into your home. Associate Professor of Global Health at Boston University Christopher Gill helps us assess the real risks when shopping and bringing food home.

Are we in a recession? What does this stimulus package actually mean? Annie Lowrey, who writes about politics and economics for The Atlantic, talks about the government's response to this pandemic and what financial recovery could look like.

By reprogramming your body’s cells, medical engineers may soon be able to heal a diseased heart or kidney. Biologist and pioneer in the science of aging, Dr. Michael West, discusses the potential for regrowing lost limbs, and even reversing the aging process.

For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’

Who should wear masks? Do they even work? Epidemiologist Dr Celine Gounder returns to Science Rules to take questions from Bill Nye's listener mailbox, and to share her experience from the frontline at Bellevue Hospital in New York.

Hospitalization rates, exponential growth and flattening the curve – all these concepts are now part of our daily vocabulary. But understanding them properly takes some expertise. Bio-statistician Adam Kucharski joins Bill Nye to make sense of the data on COVID-19, and what to watch out for.

How we distinguish between real risks and fake fears is a complicated, but universal human challenge. Author David Ropeik gives listeners the tools to assess their own fears, and the risks they face. 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.’

In the first Coronavirus Edition of Science Rules, Bill Nye takes on the topic of testing: the barriers, the breakthroughs and the big picture, with Harvard epidemiologist Dr Michael J Mina. Send Bill a voicemail about your experience in the pandemic, at (201) 472-0785.

This year's unprecedented Australian bushfires are barely out, but the news has moved on. Now is the time to take a serious look at how fires are related to climate change, and the warning they carry for California, and beyond.

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.’

Science Rules explains where coronavirus came from, how it is spreading, who it will affect most, and what you can do about it. Infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist Dr Celine Gounder takes calls from listeners across the US who are trying to navigate conflicting advice and information on the pandemic.

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.’

If you don't believe the government can prevent climate change, then maybe you hope the market can. Columbia economics professor and architect of the Kyoto Protocol's carbon market Dr Graciela Chichilnisky is working on a tech-based solution for climate change. Can her carbon capture and resale scheme save us all? 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.’

Even geniuses have blind spots. This week, author of Proving Einstein Right, Dr Jim Gates, joins Bill and Corey to wrestle with Einstein’s work and legacy. Plus, the next frontier in understanding the mechanics of the universe: string theory.

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.’

We may think of ourselves as outside of nature, but humans are evolving just like everything else. Genetics and evolution expert Dr. Molly Przeworkski fields questions on whether humans are influencing our own evolution, and if the study of genetics might help reduce disease. 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.’

Microbial ecologist Peg Riley of University of Massachusetts Amherst returns to Science Rules to counsel listeners on their relationship with their microbiome. 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.’

Memory expert and Professor of Psychology at Penn, Dr. Michael Kahana doesn’t think we forget anything. He thinks there are just some memories we can’t access. He joins us to talk about his memory research and take your questions about the mysteries of remembering. 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.’

Planetary Scientist Dr. Zibi Turtle is leading NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan! She joins us to discuss how by 2034 the Dragonfly dual-quadcopter will explore Titan, and what clues the mission might give us about how life on our own planet came about. Plus, she takes your calls about space exploration! 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.’

As the world changes, we've got some big things to consider. But, where do we begin as individuals? Bioethicist Travis Rieder is confronting some big questions himself, including whether we should procreate in the age of climate change. He joins us to talk about that and takes your phone calls! Listen to ad-free 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 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.’

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 of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’

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 Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com [stitcherpremium.com] and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’

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.’

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 Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’

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] and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.’

This episode is sponsored by The Great Courses (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIENCERULES) and Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: SCIENCERULES).

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 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 Bayer, KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES), Invitae (www.invitae.com), and HelloFresh (www.hellofresh.com/SCIENCERULES9 code: SCIENCERULES9).

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/SCIENCERULES), DoorDash (promo code: SCIENCERULES), and Proactiv (www.proactiv.com/science).

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 (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES), KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES), and The Great Courses (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIENCERULES).

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 use promo code ‘SCIENCE.'

This episode is sponsored by Airbnb (www.airbnb.com/animals), Ministry of Supply (www.ministryofsupply.com code: SCIENCERULES), Helix Sleep (www.helixsleep.com/SCIENCERULES), Quality Logo Products (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES), and Bayer.

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 and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.'

This episode is sponsored by Invitae (www.invitae.com), AirBnB (www.airbnb.com/animals), Proactiv (www.proactiv.com/science), DoorDash (code: SCIENCERULES), and Quality Logo Products (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES).

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 code: SCIENCERULES), HelloFresh (www.hellofresh.com/sciencerules80 code: SCIENCERULES80), KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES), and Quality Logo Products (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES).

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 NOW - listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Lost at the Smithsonian in Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-at-the-smithsonian-with-aasif-mandvi/id1478968631

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.'

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 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 American Dental Association (www.ADA.org/sciencerules), Invitae (www.invitae.com), Quality Logo Products (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES), KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES), and DoorDash (code: SCIENCERULES).

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 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 American Dental Association (ADA.org/sciencerules), Credo Mobile (www.credo.com/science), DoorDash (code: SCIENCERULES), MagellanTV (www.magellantv.com/sciencerules), and Quality Logo Products (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES).

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 engineer.

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 Credo Mobile (www.credo.com/science), KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES), Quality Logo Products (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES), and Honeybook (www.honeybook.com code: SCIENCERULES).

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 Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.'

This episode is sponsored by Starbucks, Credo Mobile (www.credo.com/science), The Great Courses (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIENCERULES), Quality Logo Products (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES), and Progressive Insurance (www.progressive.com).

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 stitcherpremium.com and use promo code ‘SCIENCE.'

This episode is sponsored by Credo Mobile (www.credo.com/science), Starbucks, KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES), Progressive Insurance (www.progressive.com), and Quality Logo Products (www.qualitylogo.com code: SCIENCERULES).

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 pressures from climate change?

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 Progressive Insurance (www.progressive.com), The Great Courses (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIENCERULES), WGU (www.wgu.edu/sciencerules), and KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES).

What do you think about when you eat? When Bill Nye eats, he thinks about the science behind every bite. Expert eater and host of the Sporkful Dan Pashman joins us to talk about food and give his eater perspective to caller questions, including from Nicole who wants to know whether adding salt to water really makes it boiler faster, and from Derek who wonders what is it about ketchup that makes it a non-Newtonian fluid. Plus, Dan gives his hot take on Evan’s question— what will be the next food fad?

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 WGU (www.wgu.edu/sciencerules), Honeybook (www.honeybook.com code: SCIENCERULES), Progressive Insurance (www.progressive.com), and DoorDash (code: SCIENCERULES).

To be scientifically literate, you first have to be literate. That’s why loving reading is so important and why LeVar Burton is here to take your questions! Matthew calls in to ask why he can’t remember anything without a story, Karina wonders how she can make reading feel less like a chore, and Giusseppe asks if listening to audiobooks is like cheating. LeVar will answer those questions and remind us that it’s reading and stories that make us human.

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.'

To understand our role in the universe, we have to explore the cosmos. Astrophysicist and author Dr. Janna Levin guides us in exploring the origins of the cosmos, black holes, string theory, and more! Plus, Dr. Levin answers a question from Hailey, who asks how we can measure a constantly-expanding universe, and from Victoria who’s been wondering if we’re living a holographic universe.

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.'

Language, especially English, has a lot of rules. We tackle how and why those rules apply to English with Copy Chief at Random House Benjamin Dreyer, who reminds us that while rules are important, we have to change our minds about some rules. We hear from a few callers, including Allyson who wants to know why the classic "i before e" rule barely applies. Plus, two of this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee "Octochamps" tell us how they made it twenty rounds without one misspelling.

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 Progressive Insurance (www.progressive.com), Honeybook (www.honeybook.com code: SCIENCERULES), and MagellanTV (www.magellantv.com/sciencerules).

Nuclear weapons should be important to all of us because we've got to figure out how to not use them, and how to protect them. Caller Valentina wonders how a generation inundated with information can prioritize nukes as an issue, while caller Larry suggests that maybe the answer to this world problem is as simple as blasting them all into space. Science historian and nuclear weapons expert Dr. Alex Wellerstein joins us to talk history, address those concerns, and more.

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 Progressive Insurance (www.progressive.com), KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES), and Turo.

Consider this episode of Science Rules! a user manual for how you think, feel and remember, as we explore the nature of consciousness with neuroscientist Dr. Heather Berlin.

This episode is sponsored by Progressive Insurance (www.progressive.com), ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/SCIENCERULES), The Great Courses Plus (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIENCERULES). and Turo.

You've probably heard someone say, "She takes after her father." But what does that really mean? How do we inherit certain traits and characteristics? Writer Carl Zimmer joins us to answer your calls about what heredity means, how it plays out, and whether you should consider taking a DNA test. His book, She Has Her Mother's Laugh, is now available in paperback.

This episode is sponsored by Turo, KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES), and MagellanTV (www.magellantv.com/sciencerules).

Maybe you've heard drinking coffee will keep you alive longer, that antioxidants will slow down the aging process, or that jogging will add 10 years to your life. But is there really a secret to living longer? Whatever the secret is, we're talking about the latest research with Dr. Nir Barzilai. He joins us to discuss his research on human lifespan and longevity, and to take your calls about the mysteries of aging!

This episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/SCIENCERULES), MagellanTV (www.magellantv.com/sciencerules), and KiwiCo (www.kiwico.com/SCIENCERULES).

Antibiotics have changed the world and helped keep us healthy. But, the use of broad spectrum drugs have had some serious consequences. Bacteria and disease expert Dr. Peg Riley has some big ideas about bacteria and how to deal with these consequences. She's also here to set the record straight about how often you should be washing your hands and just how safe vaccines are.

In a world of fake news and real warming, Bill Nye is back to assure you science is for everyone! Along with his co-host Corey S. Powell and Ologies host, humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward, Bill takes your questions about everything from declining insect populations to how to be a dad who combats climate change.

This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/SCIENCERULES).

Bill Nye is on a mission to change the world— one phone call at a time. With a little help from his co-host Corey S. Powell, field experts, and special celebrity guests, Bill will answer your curliest science questions and convince you that science rules!

Science Rules! launches Thursday, May 16.