Bugs are disappearing at alarming rates, scientists are telling us. Bees, butterflies, beetles: all of them have been dropping like flies. And scientists say there are a bunch of reasons to care about this — for example, fewer bugs means less pollination, which means less pasta in your pantry. But recently, some have suggested that all these scientists crying out about the insect apocalypse might just be crying wolf. They say that the math isn’t math-ing and that the insects are doing all right. And this has been bugging us! So we called up Dr. Jessica Ware, an entomologist and a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, to find out what’s going on here. And Jessica also specializes in dragonfly lovemaking, so of course, we had to ask about that too. 

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/SVInsectApocalypse 

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Meet entomologist Dr. Jessica Ware 

(03:27) Dragonflies: Origins and sex lives 

(08:55) The insect apocalypse: How bad is it?

(19:02) What’s causing the decline in insects

(22:24) Bees and pollinator gardens

(27:16) Invasive species: Lanternflies and murder hornets 

(33:46) How to milk a cockroach

(39:07) Is it beeswax?

This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, with help from Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Meryl Horn. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne, and Wolff Island Studios in New York City. 

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. 

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/SVInsectApocalypse

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Meet Entomologist Dr. Jessica Ware

(03:27) Dragonflies: Origins and sex lives

(08:55) The Insect Apocalypse: How bad is it?

(19:02) What’s causing the decline in insects

(22:24) Bees and pollinator gardens

(27:16) Invasive species: Lanternflies, murderhornets,

(33:46) Cockroaches and cockroach milk

(39:07) Is it beeswax?

This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, with help from Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Meryl Horn. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne, and Wolff Island Studios in New York City.

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Protein is everywhere — tons of us are trying to cram more of it into our diets, and it's showing up in our lattes, our snack bars, even our popcorn. But just as we’re getting on board with protein-maxxing, a bunch of headlines have started saying the opposite: that eating LESS protein could actually help you live longer. So what's going on here?? Should we be piling on the protein — or pulling back? And could going too low actually be dangerous? We talk to biologist Prof. Dudley Lamming and exercise physiologist Prof. Stuart Phillips to find out.

Note: This episode mentions calorie restriction. Please take care when listening, and here are some resources:

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) helpline: 1(888)-375-7767

Crisis support:

United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); https://www.crisistextline.org/text-us/ Text “HOME” to 741741

Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available)

Canada: Call or text 988

United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI)

Full list of international hotlines here 

Other help available: spotify.com/resources

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsProteinMaxxing

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Protein-Maxxing or Protein-Minning?

(02:15) Restricting Protein Makes You Live Longer??!?

(09:20) A Tale of Brown Fat and mTOR

(13:45) What Could Go Wrong?

(21:20) So What the Hell Should We Be Eating?

This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Fact checking by Marlowe Starling. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode including Prof. Edward Giovannucci, Prof. Holly Brown-Borg, Prof. John Speakman, Dr. Mingyang Song, and Dr. Jessica Biesiekierski. And thanks as well to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne and Wolff Island Studios in New York City. 

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sunscreen is supposed to protect us from dangerous stuff like cancer, but all over social media, people are saying that we’ve been getting it all wrong. We’re being told that our sunscreen is full of toxic chemicals, that wearing it could mess with our vitamin D levels — even that sunscreen itself actually increases our risk of skin cancer. So, what can the science tell us here? Should we toss our SPF-filled creams and sprays in the bin?? And could the answer here be different depending on your skin tone? We talk to researchers Dr. Brandon Adler, Prof. Rachel Neale, and Dr. Adewole Adamson to find out.

 Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsSunscreen

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) The internet freak-out over sunscreen

(05:06) Is sunscreen toxic?

(20:46) Does sunscreen mess with vitamin D?

(29:29) Does sunscreen work to prevent skin cancer?

(34:40) Do people with darker skin need sunscreen?

(44:38) How to wear sunscreen correctly

This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Thanks to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne and Wolff Island Studios in New York City. 

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hank Green is one of the most beloved science creators on the interwebs. He’s been making videos for almost 20 years, spanning LOTS of eras of the Internet, from YouTube prank videos to TikTok dance challenges to AI slop. In this episode, Wendy sits down with Hank to talk about this wild ride. They reminisce about his path to YouTube stardom, and they’ll pull back the curtain on social media algorithms — how they’ve changed, and the sneaky ways they draw us in. And while Hank has been publicly fighting off internet trolls, he’s also been dealing with his own personal battle with cancer. He takes us through what’s changed for him since he got diagnosed, and the science he learned about pee and chemotherapy along the way. 

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsHankGreen

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Hank Green’s journey to YouTube

(06:26) How ‘going viral’ has completely changed

(11:58) How social media captures your attention 

(23:47) What Hank is and isn’t worried about with AI

(29:33) Hank’s cancer diagnosis

(37:45) The fracturing of communication

(40:46) Oddball questions

Credits

This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, with help from Michelle Dang,  Rose Rimler, and Meryl Horn. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Video editing and sound mix by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the Humdinger Studios in Melbourne, and Wolf Island Studios in New York City. 

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. You can also find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is an electrical substation contributing to injuries on the San Francisco 49ers?? A bunch of people on the internet seem to think so, claiming that electromagnetic field waves could be to blame for players getting hurt. We partner with the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists at Pablo Torre Finds Out to get to the bottom of it. We talk to Peter Cowan, Dr. Ken Karipidis, and Dr. Zachary Binney.

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/SVPTFO49ERSEMF

Watch and subscribe to Pablo Torre Finds Out here: https://www.youtube.com/@PabloTorreFindsOut

This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, Wendy Zukerman, Chris Tumminello and Bradley Campbell, with help from the rest of the Pablo Torre Finds Out team and the Science Vs team: Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Meryl Horn, and Michelle Dang. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Marlowe Starling. Video editing and sound mix by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode including Dr. Joachim Schüz, Dr. Alexandra von Meier, Nekane Sandoval Diez, Prof. Eva Monsma, Dr. Dan Baaken, Professor Frank de Vocht, Professor David Carpenter, Professor Beatrice Golomb, Professor Rodney Croft, Dr. Mitchell Newberry, Professor Tony Blazevich, and Dr. Andrew Ross. Special thanks to Srishti Prabha, the San Jose Public Library, as well as Humdinger Studios in Melbourne, and Wolff Island Studios in New York City. 

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Find us on YouTube at ScienceVsPodcast, TikTok at @wendyzuk and Instagram at Science_Vs.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have ever tried to lose weight only to find the weight crept back on, you’re not alone. In fact, for tons of people, this happens over and over again. This is called “weight cycling,” and a bunch of influencers are saying that this is terrible for us. They say that it can ruin your metabolism forever and that it can lead to stuff like diabetes and scary muscle loss. So could that be true?? And why does this happen at all? We find out with nutritionist Prof. Faidon Magkos, immunologist Prof. Alyssa Hasty, and health policy researcher Dr. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce. 

Note: In this episode we discuss weight and weight loss. Please take care when listening, and here are some resources:

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) helpline: 1(888)-375-7767

Crisis support:

United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); https://www.crisistextline.org/text-us/ Text “HOME” to 741741

Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available)

Canada: Call or text 988

United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI)

Full list of international hotlines here 

Other help available: spotify.com/resources

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsWeightCycling 

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) What we’re hearing about weight cycling

(07:14) Why is it so hard to keep the weight off?

(12:45) Does weight cycling break your metabolism?

(18:58) Will you gain fat and lose muscle?

(23:17) Weight cycling and inflammation?

(28:35) Will weight cycling make you sick?

This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Meryl Horn, and Michelle Dang. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Thanks so much to all the experts we spoke with for this episode, including Dr. Heidi Silver and Dr. Andrea Rossi. Special thanks to Jennifer C. Wolfe and Sasha Borissenko. And big big thanks to all the folks who called in to tell us about their weight cycling experiences. 

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.

Follow Wendy on TikTok @wendyzuk

Science Vs on Youtube @ScienceVsPodcast

Science Vs on Instagram @science_vs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will you hit play on this episode?? It feels like that decision is totally within your control — but what if it’s not? What if free will is just an illusion? Lots of people are using science to say that free will is a trick of the mind, that whether or not you listen to this episode, or eat a taco, or do a silly dance right now — it’s all predestined. But do we really have science receipts for that? We find out by talking to neuroscientist Prof. John-Dylan Haynes and theoretical physicist Prof. Sean Carroll. 

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsFreeWill 

Check out Sean Carroll’s podcast, Mindscape, here: https://preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/ 

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) When you remember you have free will 

(02:21) What is free will?

(04:26) The argument against free will(18:07) The argument for free will 

This episode was produced by Meryl Horn with help from Rose Rimler, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Michelle Dang and Wendy Zukerman. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and video editing by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Nicolas Rouleau and Dr. Andrea Lavazza. And special thanks to Chris Suter and Humdinger Studios. 

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. You can join us for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The internet tells us that narcissists are everywhere — and that the problem is only getting worse. It’s like narcissism is oozing out of our celebrities, politicians, partners, parents, maybe even ourselves?? So today, we’re taking a long look in the mirror to find out: are we all a bunch of narcissists? And what should we do if we think someone in our life is a narcissist? We find out by talking to a real narcissist, Lee Hammock of the social media platform “The Self Aware Narcissist” as well as psychologists Prof. W. Keith Campbell, Prof. Kali Trzesniewski, and Dr. Craig Malkin. [REBROADCAST]

Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsNarcissistsRerun

We want to hear your ideas for new episodes of Science Vs! Tell us via:

Instagram at science_vs

X at @sciencevs 

Bluesky at sciencevs

Email at [email protected]

Voicemail at +1 774-481-1238‬ 

This episode does mention depression. Here are some crisis hotlines: 

United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); US Crisis Text Line Text “HOME” to 741741

Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available)

Canada: Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (See link for phone numbers listed by province)

United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI)

Full list of international hotlines here 

Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsNarcissism 

In this episode, we cover:

(00:57) Lee’s Ratatouille Moment

(07:31) The Narcissism Test

(16:17) Are We In a Narcissism Epidemic?

(23:21) It Kind of Sucks to be a Narcissist 

(29:36) Narcissists in Therapy

(32:51) How to Deal With a Narcissist in Your Life

This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Mix and sound design by Sam Bair. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Music written by Peter Leonard, Emma Munger, So Wylie, Bumi Hidaka, and Bobby Lord.Thanks to all the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Igor Weinberg,  Dr. April Ilkmen, Dr. Jennifer Gerlach, Dr. Betsy Edershile, Prof. Brad Bushman, Prof. Brent Donnellan, Prof. Chris Barry,  Dr. Glenn Geher, and Winkie Ma. Special thanks to Rachel Humphries for editing help. And big thanks to everyone who helped us this season! Jack Weinstein, Hunter, Chris Suter, Oscar, Elise, Dylan, the Zukerman family and Joseph Lavelle Willson.

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raw milk is having a major moment, with fans claiming it’s a gut-healing superfood that can prevent everything from asthma to allergies. But others are like HOLD ON — we pasteurize milk to make it safe! Drinking raw milk can kill you. So, who’s right? Could there be some benefits to guzzling milk straight from the teat? Or is it a terrible idea? We talk to food science Prof. John Lucey and pediatric allergist and immunologist Prof. Christine Seroogy to find out.

Find us on YouTube at ScienceVsPodcast! You can also find the show on Instagram at science_vs and Wendy on TikTok at @wendyzuk.

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsRawMilk 

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Some people online claim raw milk is GREAT for you

(05:36) What is pasteurization??

(07:15) Is raw milk good for your microbiome?

(11:06) Can raw milk help prevent allergies and asthma?

(24:31) What are the risks of drinking raw milk?

This episode was produced by Blythe Terrell, with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang and Wendy Zukerman. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Research help from Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Professor Markus Ege, thanks so much for your time. Thanks to Elsevier for sharing your raw milk book. 

Thanks to Elsevier for sharing your raw milk book with us. Thanks to the Zukerman family, Joseph Lavelle Wilson, and Jack Weinstein.

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.

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Today we’re revisiting caffeine. It’s a drug that tons of us take every day. So, is that a bad thing?? What is it really doing to our bodies and our brains? Plus — if we get it in the form of energy drinks, is that super dangerous? We talk to Dr. Astrid Nehlig, Prof. Gregory Marcus, and Prof. Sachin Shah. [REBROADCAST]

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsCaffeine

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Our love/hate relationship with caffeine

(04:40) How coffee affects our gut

(07:29) How coffee affects our brain

(12:59) How coffee affects our sleep

(17:58) Coffee makes us go vroom vroom vroom!

(20:45) Are we caffeine addicts?? 

(28:15) Are energy drinks dangerous?

This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Wendy Zukerman, as well as Nick DelRose, Joel Werner, and Michelle Dang. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Sarah Baum. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Special thanks to all the researchers we spoke to for this episode – including Dr. Bryan Saunders, Dr. Sergi Ferré, Prof. Andreas Heinz, Prof. Christine Curran, Dr. Erikka Loftfield, Dr. Felix Oberhoffer, Dr. Alan Wayne Jones, and Dr. Vijay Yadav. Extra special thanks to Jason Vytlacil and the Zukerman family.

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices