10 Best Science Podcasts: Shows That Spark Curiosity and Make You Smarter

In today's content-saturated digital world, finding truly valuable material feels harder than ever. The best science podcasts can make complex topics like space mysteries or brain function easy to follow. This article can help you discover the perfect program, whether you're just curious or a devoted listener looking for your next favorite show.

The best science podcasts by length and focus 

Science shows can turn even short moments into edifying experiences. This brief guide filters podcasts by their length and focus, making it easy to find what you may enjoy.

20 minutes long: 

• Short Wave – Best for daily science news.  

• Nature Podcast – Best for cutting-edge research. 

20–50 minutes long:

• Ologies with Alie Ward – Best for fun niche science. 

• New Scientist – Best for current science insights.  

50+ minutes long

• Radiolab – Best for storytelling lovers and fans of investigative journalism.

• StarTalk Radio – Best for space + pop culture (cosmic chats with humor).

The episodes are available on official websites and platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR, YouTube, Audible, BBC Radio 4, and others.

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Pro tip: If long podcasts feel overwhelming, consider shorter, engaging options like Short Wave. You can also explore the Headway app for concise summaries of bestselling and unique science nonfiction books. Get informed and inspired in minutes.

Top 10 science podcasts by theme

If you're looking for the best science podcasts — whether you're curious about visible or invisible to the human eye — this guide breaks them down by theme. These popular shows mix storytelling and scientific research to make learning enjoyable. Access them via Apple Podcasts, BBC Radio 4, WNYC Studios, and other platforms.

Investigative and in-depth science podcasts

1. Radiolab – An award-winning WNYC Studios show hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser. Known for investigative journalism, immersive sound design, and impactful storytelling, Radiolab covers everything from black holes to neuroscience.

• Episode duration: 25–60+ minutes

• Frequency: Weekly

• Who it's best for: Curious listeners who enjoy deep storytelling and big scientific questions explained with creativity.

2. The World, the Universe and Us – From New Scientist, hosted by Dr. Rowan Hooper and Dr. Penny Sarchet. This weekly podcast, backed by credible scientific research, explores intelligent life, consciousness, and climate change.

• Episode duration: ~ 40 minutes

• Frequency: Weekly

• Who it's best for: Listeners who want cutting-edge research on life, the universe, and climate change delivered by expert hosts.

3. Nature Podcast – The official Nature journal podcast, hosted by Benjamin Thompson, Shamini Bundell, and Nick Howe. This in-depth show features episodes on physics, medicine, biology, and more, plus interviews with top scientists.

• Episode duration: 13–49 minutesFrequency: Bi-weekly

• Who it's best for: Science enthusiasts who prefer authoritative, research-driven discussions from one of the world's leading journals.

Podcasts about the universe and beyond

4. StarTalk Radio – Hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice, this science show offers a behind-the-scenes look at NASA and celebrity guest perspectives. Together with listeners, they explore the impact of pop culture on science, discussing topics like black holes and the solar system.

• Episode duration: 40–75 minutes

• Frequency: Weekly

• Who it's best for: Space fans who approach science with humor.

5. Playing with Science – A StarTalk Radio spin-off promoted and funded by the National Science Foundation. Dig into sports and the science behind them.

• Episode duration: 45–60 minutes

• Frequency: Weekly (limited run)

• Who it's best for: Sports lovers who want to know more about the physics, biology, and technology that shape athletic performance.

6. The Infinite Monkey Cage – An award-winning BBC Radio 4 show hosted by physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince. Recorded live, it adds humor to big science questions, from quantum mechanics to galaxies.

• Episode duration: 30 minutes

• Frequency: Seasonal series (multiple episodes released per year)

• Who it's best for: Listeners who enjoy witty, entertaining science debates with top scientists and comedians.

Best podcasts about human behavior and social sciences

7. Hidden Brain – This NPR podcast, hosted by Shankar Vedantam, shows how social sciences, neuroscience, and storytelling can come together and enrich our knowledge of the hidden patterns shaping human behaviors and reasoning.

• Episode duration: 30–60 minutes

• Frequency: Weekly

• Who it's best for: Anyone interested in psychology, decision-making, and the hidden forces that drive human behavior.

8. Ologies with Alie Ward – Narrated by Alie Ward, this award-winning series explores quirky "ologies" through expert interviews. Recognized by Time Magazine as one of the "50 Best Podcasts," it's both entertaining and educational. Includes short Smologies episodes for classrooms.

• Episode duration: 30–90 minutes (Smologies 10–20 minutes)

• Frequency: Weekly

• Who it's best for: Curious learners of all ages who enjoy funny, approachable, and surprisingly deep dives into niche sciences.

Top podcasts about skepticism and critical thinking

9. Science Vs – Hosted by Wendy Zukerman, this Spotify exclusive clears up myths and pseudoscience, covering a variety of topics, including peculiar ones like Sasquatch, with research based on facts. Voted Spotify's #1 Science Podcast in the US.

• Episode duration: 30–45 minutes

• Frequency: Weekly

• Who it's best for: Critical thinkers who want entertaining, myth-busting explanations grounded in real science.

10. The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe – In this show, prepared by Dr. Steven Novella and his team, the listeners are offered simplified versions of complex scientific concepts and conspiracy theories to challenge their critical thinking.

• Episode duration: 60–80 minutes

• Frequency: Weekly

• Who it's best for: Science fans who want in-depth skepticism, humor, and a rational look at everything from medicine to conspiracy theories.

Pro tip: Advance your learning by pairing the best science podcasts with the Headway app. Access quick 15-minute summaries of top nonfiction and science books to gain valuable insights on the go – anytime, anywhere. 

If you only have 10 minutes: Short podcasts for busy minds

In a capitalist economy, every minute of our day has a price. These short-form science podcasts and book summaries from Headway create a dynamic learning combination:

1. Short Wave Podcast and 'Scientific Advertising'

Listen to Short Wave for a quick look at science mysteries and explore Headway's summary of Claude C. Hopkins's'Scientific Advertising' to learn how communication shapes decisions.

"Ads are planned and written with some utterly wrong conception… One can never sell goods profitably, in person or in print, when that attitude exists."

This combined approach — listening, reading, and reflecting — turns every session with the best science podcasts into a personal growth move. Whether you are into profound research or eccentric and outlandish science, this method will keep your curiosity alive.

2. StarTalk Radio and 'What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions' 

After an episode of StarTalk Radio discussing the solar system, NASA missions, or pop culture in space, check out the Headway summary of Randall Munroe's'What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions' — even a neuroscientist would enjoy its witty but scientifically grounded scenarios!

"I've never seen the Icarus story as a lesson about the limitations of humans… I see it as a lesson about the limitations of wax as an adhesive."

3. Hidden Brain Podcast and 'The Science of Getting Rich' 

Pair the Hidden Brain podcast with Wallace D. Wattles's'The Science of Getting Rich' to explore mindset, wealth, and the psychology behind success.

"Go on in the certain way… the seeming failure was really a great success."

Why does this work? By blending award-winning shows with expert summaries, you can cover topics from neuroscience to quantum physics — and enjoy them. Even 10 minutes becomes a gateway to understanding the world around you and keeping your brain engaged, no matter how busy life gets.

Find your perfect science podcast: A quick quiz

Feeling unsure about where to start in the world of science podcasts? This quiz can help you choose the podcast that will resonate with your current goals and priorities.  

Learn on the go about the perplexities of the human mind and the science behind our choices with Headway's "18 Outstanding Podcasts About Mental Health."

Pursue your passion for science with Headway 

The best science podcasts ignite our curiosity and deepen our understanding of challenging topics. For example, Radiolab shares intriguing investigative stories, while Science Vs addresses and debunks common myths. 

StarTalk Radio takes us on cosmic adventures, and The Infinite Monkey Cage brings laughter to science. Esteemed shows like New Scientist present groundbreaking research to the general audience. 

Each episode offers a rich and rewarding learning journey.

Want more science insights? Try complementing your favorite podcast with the Headway app for brief audio summaries of top science books — combining the curiosity sparked by podcasts with actionable ideas in one app.