Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Are you tired of hearing about coronavirus? Has lockdown left you worn out? Then perhaps it’s time to escape. Join Rowan Hooper and the team at New Scientist in this covid-free space, as they discuss all that’s right with the world - the stories that remind us of how wonderful this planet really is. Find out more at newscientist.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Bite-sized science themes • physics and cosmology (light, mass, dark matter, neutrinos, infinity) • space exploration and moons • biology and animal behaviour • perception and sound/music • chemistry and elements • psychology of flow and metacognition • scientific biographiesThis podcast is a covid-free science escape from the team at *New Scientist*, built around short, themed explorations of what makes the natural world, human ingenuity and the universe intriguing. Each instalment takes a broad concept—often something fundamental like sound, warmth, mass, speed, scale, perception or “flow”—and approaches it from several angles, mixing physics, biology, psychology, mathematics and technology.
Across the series, listeners are guided through phenomena that range from everyday experiences (how we hear, why certain chords feel emotionally different, why some sounds trigger ASMR, or how meditation and expertise relate to being “in the zone”) to extremes of nature and the cosmos (spider-silk strength, deep diving, planetary heat, dark matter, neutrinos, and thought experiments about infinity). Space and planetary science also feature, with attention to notable bodies in the solar system and what they might reveal about habitability.
The show frequently highlights clever methods scientists use to measure, translate or reveal hidden aspects of reality—such as converting bat echolocation into audible sound, using sonification to turn data into music, or explaining emerging materials that could function like invisibility cloaks. It also makes room for the human side of discovery by revisiting overlooked contributors to major breakthroughs and celebrating collaboration in science and mathematics. Overall, the content emphasizes curiosity-driven explanations, surprising examples, and sensory or conceptual “wow” moments drawn from across modern science.
