Big Picture Science

GroupAccount image

Big Picture Science is a one-hour radio show and podcast that connects ideas in surprising and humorous ways to illuminate the origins, the behavior, and the future of life—and  technology—on Earth.

What came before the Big Bang?  How does the brain work? Will our descendents be human or machine?  What’s the origin of humor?  We ponder these questions daily... and expound on them weekly.

But, wait!  There’s more!

Are you a doubting Thomas?  Good.  Join us as we separate science from pseudoscience—and facts from the phony—in Skeptic Check, our monthly episode devoted to critical thinking.

Whether it’s astrology, Bigfoot, or just the incessant onslaught of UFOs, we take it all on, wielding the skeptical scalpel of solid science.

It’s Skeptic Check... but don’t take our word for it!

 

 

 

Series

Series image
332 Pieces

Big Picture Science is a weekly one-hour science magazine that connects ideas in surprising and humorous ways to illuminate the origins and evolution of life and technology on this planet… and beyond.


Pieces

Caption: The Play's the Thing, Credit: Seth Shostak
Has children’s play become too safe? Research suggests that efforts to prioritize safety harms children’s mental and physical development during pl...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer and KICI Iowa City


  • Added: May 13, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Nuts and Bolts, Credit: Seth Shostak
How frequently do you think about fasteners like screws and bolts? Probably not very often. But some of them a storied history, dating back to Egyp...

Bought by CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KZUM, WRGY, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: May 06, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: Phreaky Physics, Credit: Seth Shostak
It was a radical idea a century ago, when Einstein said space and time can be bent, and gravity was really geometry. We hear how his theories inspi...

Bought by CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WRGY, WMUU-LP, KBBI Alaska and more


  • Added: Apr 29, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: De-Permafrosting, Credit: Seth Shostak
Above the Arctic Circle, much of the land is underlaid by permafrost. But climate change is causing it to thaw. This is not good news for the plane...

Bought by CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KZUM, WRGY, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Apr 22, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: For the Birds, Credit: Seth Shostak
Birds have it going on. Many of these winged dinosaurs delight us with their song and brilliant plumage. Migratory birds travel thousands of miles ...

Bought by CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KBBI Alaska, WRGY, KZUM and more


  • Added: Apr 15, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: Fungi Fear, Credit: Seth Shostak
The zombie eco-thriller “The Last of Us” has alerted us to the threats posed by fungi. But the show is not entirely science fiction. Our vulnerabi...

Bought by KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KBBI Alaska, WRGY and more


  • Added: Apr 08, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: Coffee of the Future, Credit: Shannon Rose Geary
Drinking a cup of coffee is how billions of people wake up every morning. But climate change is threatening this popular beverage. Over 60% of the ...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WRGY, KBBI Alaska and more


  • Added: Apr 01, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 13
Caption: When the Moon Hits Your Eye, Credit: Seth Shostak
The Great North American Solar Eclipse will trace a path of shadow across Mexico and 13 U.S. States on April 8th. Phil Plait, also known as The Bad...

Bought by CHSR-FM 97.9, KUNM, KMUN, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KBBI Alaska and more


  • Added: Mar 25, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 15
Caption: Asteroid Mining, Credit: Seth Shostak
Asteroids are rich in precious metals and other valuable resources. But mining them presents considerable challenges. We discuss these, and conside...

Bought by WVTF, CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KBBI Alaska, WRGY and more


  • Added: Mar 18, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 15
Piece image
Standing on your own two feet isn’t easy. While many animals can momentarily balance on their hind legs, we’re the only critters, besides birds, fo...

Bought by CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KBBI Alaska, WMUU-LP, WRGY and more


  • Added: Mar 11, 2024
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 14