Got Science?

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Get your science on with the new podcast from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Our hosts take on technology, attacks on science, climate change, and more, as they channel the power of science to make the world a better place.

Union of Concerned Scientists


    • Jan 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 234 EPISODES

    4.6 from 201 ratings Listeners of Got Science? that love the show mention: scientists, efforts, facts, political, dr, fascinating, useful, important, future, issues, great job, love this podcast, always, topics, interesting, thanks, fun, work, show, got science.


    Ivy Insights

    The Got Science? podcast is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in staying informed about current scientific research and issues. Hosted by scientists and experts from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), this podcast delivers straightforward and insightful discussions on a wide range of topics in the world of science. With episodes that are not excessively long, it is easy to listen to and absorb important information without feeling overwhelmed. The podcast provides a refreshing approach by presenting facts in a factual context, which is often lacking in today's media landscape.

    One of the best aspects of The Got Science? podcast is its ability to cover important and interesting topics in science with clarity and depth. The hosts do an excellent job of breaking down complex concepts into easily understandable language, making science accessible to all listeners. Each episode presents a different scientific topic, ranging from climate change to endangered species, providing listeners with a diverse array of knowledge and insights.

    Another positive aspect of this podcast is its ability to shed light on lesser-known issues within the scientific community. For example, in one episode, Dr. Liska shares his experiences at the USDA and highlights the challenges he faced while conducting research on carbon emissions and rice. This kind of firsthand account adds depth and credibility to the discussions, giving listeners a unique perspective on important scientific topics.

    While The Got Science? podcast has many strengths, one potential downside is its relatively short episode length. While this makes it easy to fit into a busy schedule, some listeners may find themselves wanting more content or more in-depth discussions on certain topics. However, the hosts do an impressive job of providing sufficient information within each episode's timeframe without sacrificing quality or accuracy.

    In conclusion, The Got Science? podcast is an outstanding resource for those looking to stay informed about current scientific issues. With its straightforward approach, spot-on facts, and interesting topics, this podcast proves that you can indeed have it all when it comes to informative and engaging content. Whether you're a scientist, a non-scientist, or just a curious human being, The Got Science? podcast is definitely worth a listen.



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    Latest episodes from Got Science?

    The Age of Unreason

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 29:00


    UCS Center for Science and Democracy Director Dr. Jennifer Jones joins Jess to discuss what the second Trump presidency means for science, and what you can do to defend science.

    Greening Our Growing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 29:00


    Ever wonder if agriculture and green energy can work together? The answer is yes, and Jess talks with UCS experts Dr. Angel Fernandez-Bou and Vivian Yang about farming and the future of energy in the United States.

    Road Rave

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 29:00


    Jess hits the road to visit the Los Angeles Auto Show and talk with UCS electric vehicle expert Dr. Dave Reichmuth about what's hot in green vehicles.

    Science Will Not Be Silent

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 29:00


    The 2024 election results are sending shockwaves through the scientific community, but we haven't been caught flat-footed. Jess talks with Dr. Christopher Williams, political scientist with the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists about what we might see in the coming months, and more importantly: what we're going to do to make sure science keeps saving lives.

    xkcd

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 29:00


    As a post-election palate cleanser, Jess talks with webcomic artist, author, and cultural phenomenon creator Randall Munroe. They discus stick figure science cartoons and endless curiosity, delve into science mysteries, and even workshop lava moats.

    Spooky, Scary Skeletons

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 29:00


    We all know dinosaurs are extinct, but their demise is definitely a scary story with implications for us all during this spooky season. Jess gives out treats as she talks with Dr. Ken Lacovara, renowned paleontologist and discoverer of the world's largest dinosaur about the fate of the dinos, the fate of our planet, and a revolutionary new museum in New Jersey where the two collide.

    Move It, Move It

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 29:00


    Everyone needs to get from point A to point B, and Jess talks with urban planner and UCS Director of Clean Transportation Steven Higashide about the latest and greenest in what moves us.

    Re-release: Wet, Hot American Summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 29:00


    Hurricanes pounding the southeast, heatwaves and smoke from fires across the country, and temperature records falling left and right…Jess talks with UCLA climate scientist and Weather West blogger Dr. Daniel Swain about this summer of extremes.

    Mosses and Matriculation

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 29:00


    Jess talks with California State University, Los Angeles Biology Department Chair Dr. Kirsten Fisher about desert mosses, climate change, and the changing state of science in higher education.

    A Democracy, If You Can Keep It

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 29:00


    A new report using voting precinct-level data uncovers key information about who is actually voting in our elections, and who our current democratic process is leaving behind. Jess talks with UCS scientist and report author Dr. Liza Gordon-Rogers about what this means for the 2024 elections.

    The Danger Season Squad

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 13:20


    This special episode takes listeners on a film noir-style journey to explore the fossil fuel crime wave that's sweeping the nation. UCS scientists Dr. Carly Phillips and Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto become part of the elite Danger Season Squad, using science to solve crimes against humanity and break the news to the unsuspecting public along with Danger Season beat reporter Jess Phoenix. Visit sciencewithjess.org to see the special graphic novel version of the show!

    Getting (Lead) Down To Earth

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 29:00


    Jess visits the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to unearth efforts by Dr. Aaron Celestian and his team to use a groundbreaking new mineral-based method to clean up lead contamination in L.A. backyards.

    The Science of Violence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 29:00


    After the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump, Jess talks with Dr. Garen Wintemute, Director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California - Davis, about the science of political violence and what we can do to stop it. This episode discusses difficult topics like gun violence and mentions suicide, so please take note.

    Water, Water Every Where

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 29:00


    A groundbreaking new report reveals the looming threats facing United States coastlines from now through 2100. Experts Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto and Shana Udvardy cover what you need to know.

    Strange New Worlds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 29:00


    Jess talks with NASA OSIRIS-REx mission lead planetary scientist and cosmochemist Dr. Dante Lauretta about collecting samples from the asteroid Bennu that are now helping us understand the very origins of the universe.

    Food Fight

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 29:00


    Food justice activist and writer Rae Gomes joins Jess to talk about what we get wrong about food in the United States, and what we can do to make things right.

    This Is Science Season 2: Science Boogaloo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 13:30


    Jess has the details on some recent UCS victories in the real world, and gives a preview of what you can expect for the second season of This Is Science.

    Season 2 Is Coming!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 0:32


    Thank you to all of our listeners for a fantastic first season of This Is Science with Jess Phoenix! We are grateful for your support, and stay tuned for the start of Season 2 in just a few weeks.

    War Of The Words

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 29:00


    Dr. Jo Lukito of the University of Texas, Austin has made using science to understand political language her life's work. She joins Jess for the third episode in our ongoing series about the science of democracy in the 2024 election cycle.

    Earth Day Two Ways

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024 29:00


    Jess hosts a conversation between climate scientist Dr. Brenda Ekwurzel and environmentalist and actor Eric Balfour about climate solutions and the future of humanity and our planet.

    Feet To The Fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 29:00


    Jess talks with California's Attorney General Rob Bonta about a historic lawsuit he filed against Big Oil to hold them accountable for the devastating effects of climate change caused by their fossil fuel products.

    What We Need to Make Democracy Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 29:00


    Longtime Washington journalist Jesse J. Holland talks with Jess about changes in journalism and communicating science in the age of social media and “alternative facts,” and what we can expect as the 2024 US election cycle swings into gear. This is the second episode in UCS' ongoing 2024 election cycle coverage.

    democracy ucs jesse j holland
    The Expanse

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 29:00


    Jess talks about space, science, and the future of humans in our universe with Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, the award-winning authors behind the hit books and critically-acclaimed TV series The Expanse.

    Near The Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 29:00


    Hydrologist Dr. Karletta Chief of the Navajo Nation talks with Jess about the unique scientific problems facing indigenous communities in the United States and what role science has in finding the solutions.

    The State of the Science

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2024 29:00


    Dr. Mindy Romero, founder of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California, talks with Jess about current election science and what we can expect to see during the 2024 election cycle.

    university science southern california inclusive democracy mindy romero
    Look For The Helpers - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2024 29:01


    In the second part of this special Clean Transportation mini-series Jess visits the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project to talk with co-founder and co-director Ms. Margaret Gordon about local health and environmental impacts of - and solutions to - living next to one of the nation's busiest shipping ports.

    Look For The Helpers - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 29:00


    In the first part of this special Clean Transportation mini-series Jess talks with Adam Browning of Forum Mobility about the future of heavy-duty electric trucks.

    Happy Holidays, Science Friends!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2023 1:20


    Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year from all of us at the Union of Concerned Scientists!

    The Highest Stakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 29:00


    With the backdrop of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), Jess catches up with lawyer and climate negotiator Hafij Khan about the critical Loss and Damage fund and this year's conference.

    Special Episode - This Is Science Thanks

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 18:00


    Need some pumpkin pi to go with that leftover turkey? Jess highlights her favorite reasons to be thankful for science in this season of gratitude.

    What's Science Fiction is Prologue

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 29:00


    Some science fiction authors have an almost uncanny ability to see what's coming down the road. Jess talks with Chuck Wendig, whose writing is both wildly creative and oftentimes extraordinarily prescient.

    Ep014 SkinDeep Final

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 29:00


    Happy Halloween! Jess talks with UCLA librarian Megan Rosenbloom about the spooky science of uncovering what makes some old books extra rare.

    Dust To Eat

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2023 28:49


    Jess digs into the science of soils and farming in the century of climate change with Dr. Rick Cruse of Iowa State University.

    Science Fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2023 29:00


    Science fictions are widely held dangerous beliefs that are not supported by science. Jess explores a few of these in anticipation of the continued propagation of science myths during the next US election cycle.

    Ungulates, Overlords, and Uprisings: Artificial Intelligence Unleashed

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 58:00


    Jess talks with artificial intelligence experts Chris Mattmann of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Meriem Bekka of vmWare about the technological, social, and environmental aspects of our A.I. future.

    Wet Hot American Summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 29:00


    Hurricanes pounding both coasts, heatwaves and smoke from fires across the country, and temperature records falling left and right…Jess talks with UCLA climate scientist and Weather West blogger Dr. Daniel Swain about this summer of extremes.

    Bad Neighbors

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 29:01


    Jess tells the stories of three invisible threats harming residents of major US cities with help from Julie McNamara and Darya Minovi of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

    The New Dark Ages

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 29:00


    Jess speaks with Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse about the influence of fossil fuel dark money in politics today.

    Destroyer of Worlds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 29:00


    Jess speaks with Oppenheimer biographer Kai Bird about one of Earth's most influential humans and his scientific and political legacies.

    Special Episode - Under Pressure

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 19:00


    Jess speaks from her experience conducting deep ocean research to answer questions raised by UCS scientists and staff about the recent disasters of the migrant ship sunk in Greek waters and the implosion of the Titan submersible.

    Fear in a Handful of Dust

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 29:00


    Exciting new research allows UCS scientists to gain insight into North Korea's shadowy nuclear weapons program. Jess talks with UCS researchers Dr. Sulgi Park and Dr. Laura Grego about this work, and the current state of worldwide nuclear affairs.

    Going Green? Better Call Ed!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 29:00


    Jess visits actor and environmental champion Ed Begley, Jr. at his LEED Platinum-certified home to talk all things green.

    We Didn't Start The Fire (But We Know Who Did)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 29:00


    UCS scientists have linked fossil fuel companies to the explosion of wildfires in the west. Jess talks with lead study author Kristy Dahl and climate law attorney Jessica Wentz about what this information means for holding corporations accountable for climate destruction.

    Ep003 ToHellAndBack AllTracks Mixdown3

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 58:00


    Jess investigates what connects giant salamanders, community organizing, and fracking via a conversation with journalist Annie Roth and biologist Justin Grubb, creators of the documentary film "Hellbent." Rights of nature provides a unique legal framework for communities to protect vulnerable environments, and it's being tested in the courts right now.

    Making Waves

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 29:00


    Jess is joined by Amani Webber-Schultz and Jaida Elcock, shark scientists and co-founders of the nonprofit organization Minorities In Shark Sciences. The conversation ranges from hammerhead shark anatomy to the UN High Seas Treaty, and the importance of diversity for innovation in science.

    Curiosity is the Cure

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2023 29:00


    In our inaugural episode, host Jess Phoenix talks with Alie Ward, science communicator and host of the podcast Ologies.

    Ep. 25: ¿Quién quiere un auto eléctrico? Por lo visto, tú

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 29:00


    Yazmín Alfonso de EVNoir y Andrea Marpillero-Colomina de GreenLatinos hablaron con Got Science sobre los resultados de una encuesta que mide el interés de la gente latina por los autos eléctricos y nos dan sus impresiones e ideas para ampliar el acceso equitativo.

    Ep. 157: Lean, Clean, Green Machines

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 29:01


    Community organizer Bridget Vial and energy analyst Paula Garcia discuss how some states can reach an equitable transition to 100% clean energy by 2035.

    Ep. 156: Combatting Disinformation Danger

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 29:00


    Social media analyst Erin McAweeney pulls back the curtain on how disinformation spreads across Facebook and Twitter.

    Ep. 24: Ep. 23: ¿Qúe hace el resto del mundo ante la amenaza nuclear? 2a Parte

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 29:00


    Diplomática Mexicana Tonie Jáquez, una figura clave en el desarme nuclear, discute las implicaciones globales de los peligros nucleares que enfrentamos con la invasión Rusa de Ucrania.

    Ep. 24: ¿Qúe hace el resto del mundo ante la amenaza nuclear? 2a Parte

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 29:00


    Diplomática Mexicana Tonie Jáquez, una figura clave en el desarme nuclear, discute las implicaciones globales de los peligros nucleares que enfrentamos con la invasión Rusa de Ucrania.

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