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):
➤ Science explainer themes • Physics and astronomy: neutrinos, dark matter, speed of light, moons, infinity • Biology and animal behavior • Human perception, sound, music, ASMR • Psychology of flow • Chemistry and element discoveries • Scientific history and unsung scientists • Engineering tech: supercomputers, invisibility cloaks, robotics, geothermal energyThis podcast is a covid-free science escape series from the New Scientist team, built around themed conversations that highlight intriguing and often uplifting aspects of the natural world, human capability, and scientific discovery. Across the episodes, the hosts use a wide lens that moves comfortably between biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, psychology, space science, and technology, connecting everyday experience with deeper scientific ideas.
A recurring focus is how we sense and interpret reality: hearing and audio perception (including unusual animal communications, auditory illusions, and binaural effects), the psychology of being “in the zone,” and metacognition—how we understand our own thinking. The show also explores big scientific concepts through accessible hooks, such as mass and measurement, the speed of light, infinity as a mathematical thought experiment, and elusive phenomena like dark matter and neutrinos. Space and planetary science appear through journeys beyond Earth, while engineering and computation surface in discussions of supercomputers and emerging materials such as invisibility-cloak technologies.
Nature and evolution are frequent touchstones, from insects and bats to spiders, bees, dolphins, and whales, often emphasizing remarkable adaptations and behaviors. The podcast also weaves in the human side of science: overlooked contributors to major breakthroughs, the places where chemical elements were discovered, and stories that illustrate collaboration and creativity in research.
Overall, listeners can expect short, theme-driven science storytelling that mixes facts, history, and occasional sound-rich segments to make abstract topics feel tangible.
