Podcast appearances and mentions of emma munger

US crude prices fell below $80 for much of the day Monday as oil traders factored in a potential deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But even as reports of imminent peace deals or attacks jolt oil markets, fuel prices at US gas stations have remained high. Late last week, US oil companies Exxon and Chevron reported their biggest profits in years. On today’s Big Take podcast, oil reporter Mitchell Ferman joins host Sarah Holder to explain why oil companies are built for global conflict. Read more: Big Oil Set to Reap Profit Bonanza From Soaring Fuel Prices Exxon, Chevron Steer Windfall Profits Into Paying Down Debt We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Laura Newcombe; Reported by Mitchell Ferman; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

As President Trump paused strikes on Iran over the weekend, he ratcheted up pressure on another front: his renewed trade war. On Friday, the US president imposed levies of 10 or 12.5% on 60 economies, the first in many steps to rebuild the tariff wall destroyed when the Supreme Court overturned Trump’s IEEPA tariffs in February. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s global trade editor Brendan Murray sits down with host David Gura to break down the latest tariffs, what they reveal about the administration’s new strategy and whether they’ll hold up in court. Read more: Trump Rebuilds Tariffs With New Levies on 60 Economies How Trump’s Section 301 Tariffs Are Being Challenged in Court Watch more: US Trade Rep. Greer on China Relations and Section 301 Tariffs We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Brendan Murray; Edited by Nicole Beemsterboer. Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Emma Munger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Tether — the largest stablecoin issuer in the world — go from fighting stablecoin regulation to supporting the Genius Act? That’s the subject of a new Bloomberg News investigation into how Trump insiders helped to loosen safeguards and shape the process that led to the law in ways that benefitted the company. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Anthony Cormier and David Kocieniewski detail their reporting for host Sarah Holder, including how US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to court filings, ‘managed to kill’ less favorable legislation before taking office, and how former White House aide Bo Hines defended a provision Tether wanted – before going to work for the company. Read more: How Tether Benefited as Trump Insiders Shaped First US Crypto Law Further listening: Meet Tether, The Most Powerful Crypto Firm You’ve Never Heard Of We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by David Fox; Reported by Anthony Cormier, David Kocieniewski and Annie Massa; Edited by Aaron Edwards, Tracey Samuelson. Fact-checking by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Emma Munger, Alex Sugiura. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a 1,000-year-old Cambodian statue came up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York, it sparked off an investigation that uncovered one of the world’s most extensive art trafficking networks. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Matthew Campbell and American lawyer Bradley Gordon on how Cambodia’s looted treasures ended up scattered around the world and what it takes to bring them home. Read more: Chasing the Man Who Stole the Gods Watch, from Originals: Cambodia to Museums: We Want Our Statues Back We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng; Reported by Matthew Campbell; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Yang Yang; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa and Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer. Photo by Agnes Dherbeys/The New York Times/ReduxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a 1,000-year-old Cambodian statue came up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York, it sparked off an investigation that uncovered one of the world’s most extensive art trafficking networks. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Matthew Campbell and American lawyer Bradley Gordon on how Cambodia’s looted treasures ended up scattered around the world and what it takes to bring them home. Read more: Chasing the Man Who Stole the Gods Watch, from Originals: Cambodia to Museums: We Want Our Statues Back We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng; Reported by Matthew Campbell; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Yang Yang; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa and Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer. Photo by Agnes Dherbeys/The New York Times/ReduxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From celebrity wedding details to the timing of military strikes, prediction markets have opened the door to gambling on almost anything. They’ve also created a new class of insider trader that platforms and US regulators are racing to stop. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Denitsa Tsekova and Leonardo Nicoletti join host Sarah Holder to break down a $200 million surge in unusual bets on Polymarket — and explore what it will take for regulators to rein them in. Read more: Prediction Markets Are Minting a New Type of Insider Trader We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Victor Swezey; Reported by Denitsa Tsekova and Leonardo Nicoletti; Edited by Aaron Edwards and Julia Weaver. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey, Laura Newcombe and David Fox; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ScienceVsTeam@gmail.com 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

In the 2026 elections, artificial intelligence is the backdrop for just about everything. The US and Anthropic reached a truce in recent days that lets the company roll out its powerful models to some users, the sort of on-the-fly decision-making that has candidates jockeying to shape how AI is regulated. Big AI companies are pouring money into 2026 state and federal races, dwarfing the cryptocurrency industry’s spending in 2024. And even as AI is fueling Americans’ anxiety about jobs and energy prices, it’s feeding them the ads and information that will shape their votes: According to one survey, 55% of US voters under the age of 45 are likely to use chatbots to learn about candidates and elections. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Michael Shepard, a senior editor focusing on AI, joins David Gura to discuss what the first AI election means for our current moment. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Michael Shepard; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey, Julia Press and David Fox; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s efforts to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook for now, delivering the Fed a victory in the grueling fight over its independence. But the decision arrived alongside another ruling that allows the president to fire a top official at the Federal Trade Commission—a move widely seen as a boon to executive power over independent agencies. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Fed Editor Amara Omeokwe and Senior Legal Reporter Zoe Tillman join Sarah Holder to unpack what these twin rulings mean for the Trump administration's push to assert power over long-independent government regulators, how the court singled out the Fed in its decision and what this means for the central bank and Lisa Cook’s future. Read more: Supreme Court Expands Trump’s Power to Fire Federal Bureaucrats We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Amara Omeokwe and Zoe Tillman; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 1, 2025, the US effectively ended operations of the United States Agency for International Development, the global aid organization founded in 1961, cutting most staff and moving it into the US State Department. Samantha Power, who led the agency under President Biden until early 2025, joins David Gura on the Big Take podcast to look back at what was lost, internationally and at home. You can watch their conversation — on Ebola, Iran, Israel and Gaza — on Bloomberg.com. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott and Aaron Edwards. Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Nearly four months after the war in Iran began, US and Iranian negotiators are trying to turn their cease-fire into lasting peace. But critics of the latest memorandum of understanding say it mostly leaves President Donald Trump where he was before the war started, with many key issues unresolved. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marc Champion on the latest negotiations between the two countries and what foreign powers – from the Gulf to China – will be watching for in a proposed settlement. Read more: Trump’s Iran Truce Has the Hallmarks of Defeat Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Marc Champion; Edited by Julia Weaver and Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a growing number of older workers, retirement is no longer feeling so achievable—or appealing. But staying in the workforce or going back to work in your 60s and 70s comes with challenges, for workers and companies. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Stacey Vanek Smith talks to the World Economic Forum’s Haleh Nazeri about the factors driving the rise in so-called ‘unretirement.’ And we hear from David Lloyd, a radio presenter who’s trying to give other Boomers a later-in-life career boost. Read more: When the Best Retirement Is No Retirement at All We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Stacey Vanek Smith; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Stacey Vanek Smith; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation Monday after less than two years in office. Starmer is the sixth Prime Minister to resign in the decade since the Brexit vote, raising major questions about where the country’s fractured political system goes from here. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Executive Editor Edward Evans joins guest host Wendy Benjaminson from London to discuss the turmoil at 10 Downing Street. They explore what led to Starmer’s resignation, how soon the man poised to replace him, Labour Party frontrunner Andy Burnham, could call a general election and how the UK’s other political parties might take advantage of the power vacuum. Read more: Burnham Poised for Power in UK After Starmer Steps Aside We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Wendy Benjaminson; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Edward Evans; Edited by Tracey Samuelson. Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

New Yorkers turned out by the thousands on Thursday to celebrate the Knicks’ first NBA Finals victory in 53 years. But Jalen Brunson and co. weren’t the only big winners. On today’s Big Take podcast, Jason Kelly – host of Bloomberg’s The Deal With Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly – and business of sports reporter Randall Williams tell Sarah Holder about the business side of the most-watched NBA finals since 1998, and how the series bolstered the fortunes of everyone from merch sellers and New York bars to, of course, the NBA itself. Read more: NY Knicks Fans Pay $950 to Hold Spots at Free Parade We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky with assistance from Victor Swezey; Reported by Jason Kelly and Randall Williams; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of scientists meet a very unusual woman. A key part of her brain isn't working: the amygdala. This is the part of the brain that we think is responsible for feeling fear. And in fact, this woman does seem pretty fearless. Researchers test her fear response using some very unconventional methods, but she takes everything in stride. Then, finally, they stumble onto the one thing that makes the woman who can't feel fear absolutely panic. We scare up some science with neuropsychologist Dr. Justin Feinstein. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsWomanWhoFeltNoFear In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Meet the Woman Who Felt No Fear  (04:38) Fear and the Amygdala (10:27) Scientists Start Running Experiments With the Woman Who Felt No Fear (11:48) Scientists Try to Scare SM (12:59) Scientists Try to Scare Her With Snakes (16:08) Scientists Try to Scare Her with a Haunted House (19:58) The Risks of Feeling No Fear (25:46) Scientists Try a New Approach (34:20) How Breathing Too Much Carbon Dioxide Causes Fear This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang, and Meryl Horn. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wiley, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thank you to all the scientists we spoke to for this episode including, Special thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

The 2026 World Cup kicks off today in Mexico City. It’ll be the largest in FIFA’s history, spanning three host countries and 48 competing teams and is expected to generate between $11 and $13 billion. But the tournament’s expansion comes at the expense of fans navigating a new dynamic pricing model and cities shouldering overhead costs. On today’s Big Take, host David Gura, Bloomberg’s Vanessa Perdomo and economist Andrew Zimbalist track who stands to profit the most from the people’s game. Read more: The Hidden Cost of the Most Expensive World Cup Ever Listen more: The "Americanization" of the World Cup - The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox with help from Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Victor Swezey; Reported by Vanessa Perdomo; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Emma Munger. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peptides are huge right now. Influencers are telling us they can work wonders for all sorts of stuff. Struggling with an annoying injury that won't heal?? Belly fat that's pissing you off? Low energy? Gut issues?? There's a peptide out there for you. People are buying peptides off the internet and injecting themselves with them, saying it's life changing. But away from the internet hype, there is actually a potential revolution happening in medicine around peptides. So we're finding out what scientists are excited about here, and we look deeply at the science behind two massive peptides: BPC-157 and MOTS-c. And we'll also look at the risks: Could peptides give you cancer? On this episode we talk to Dr. Hassy Cohen, Dr. Keith Baar, Dr. Dhruv Khullar and Dr. Cory Mayfield to get to the bottom of this. Find us on Youtube! We're at https://www.youtube.com/@ScienceVsPodcast  Find our transcript here:https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsPeptides In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Peptides are everywhere right now (03:56 ) What are peptides? (04:39 ) The peptide revolution in medicine (09:56) MOTS-c: Should you take it? (15:56 ) BPC-157: Can it heal you? (26:33) What are the risks? This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from, Rose Rimler, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Meryl Horn and Michelle Dang. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. 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. Dana Lis, Dr. Pouya Faridi and Dr. Timothy Piatkowski, as well as the Australian Science Media Centre. A big thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

The Trump administration is rolling back restrictions on air pollution in the U.S., and some experts say this could affect the health of millions of people. And what makes air pollution especially dangerous is that we often can't see it at all.  So today, we're going back to the story of Ella Kissi-Debrah, a little girl who suddenly got sick and landed in the hospital. In this episode, her mom, Rosamund, takes on the fight to find out what exactly happened to Ella. And the answer has BIG implications — for us all. We'll hear from Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah and Professor Stephen Holgate. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsAirPollution In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Ella's story  (13:02) The campaign and investigation (21:01) Why air pollution is so dangerous (25:39) Accountability and change This episode was produced by Ekedi Fausther-Keeys with help from Rose Rimler, Wendy Zukerman, Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, and Courtney Gilbert. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the Executive Producer. Extra help by Saidu Tejan-Thomas, Nicole Beemsterboer, Kendra Pierre-Louis, and Alex Blumberg. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger, Bobby Lord and SoWylie. Thanks to all of the researchers and experts we got in touch with for this episode, including Jocelyn Cockburn, Professor Vernon Morris, Dr. George Thurston, Dr. Lauren Zajac, Dr. Jennifer Burney, Dr. Sacoby Wilson, Dr. Melissa Burroughs, Dr Wei Peng, Professor Barbara Hoffman, Dr Michael Craig, and Dr Wes Austin. Special thanks to Rachel Humphreys, BBC Motion Gallery / Getty Images, Jonah Delso, Jackie Llanos, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.  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

Ibogaine. Fans say this psychedelic is a game changer for treating a bunch of mental health conditions — that even a single trip to your friendly ibogaine clinic could cure you of lifelong struggles with addiction. And recently President Trump signed an executive order fast-tracking research into this psychedelic drug. But how well does it really work? And is it safe?? To find out, we talk to clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Davis and psychiatrist Prof. Paul Glue.  Some resources for help with substance use and domestic violence: Substance use and mental health concerns (U.S.): SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.): 800.799.7233 or www.thehotline.org Find international resources and more at spotify.com/resources Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsIbogaine  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) The hot new psychedelic on the block  (07:25) Can ibogaine help with opioid addiction?  (18:31) How does ibogaine help people? (20:50) How long do the benefits last? (26:10) What are the risks? (29:31) Is there a safe dose that can help people? 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 Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to about this, including Dr. Rafael Santos, and a special thanks to those who talked to us about their ibogaine 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A weird virus has popped up on a cruise ship, and it's making a bunch of us nervous. It's a type of hantavirus called Andes virus, and scientists think that it's infected almost a dozen people so far — three of them have died. And now people are getting off the boat, some of them going into government quarantine, but some of them traveling home. And people are like, wait … this all sounds VERY familiar … from the early days of Covid. So — how scary is this? Could this hantavirus be the next pandemic?? We talk to Prof. Michelle Harkins, Prof. Ann Sheehy and Dr. Neil Vora to find out. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsHantavirus   In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Hantavirus shows up on a cruise ship (03:11) What happens if you get sick with hantavirus? (09:32) How does hantavirus spread?  (14:05) How good is this hantavirus at spreading? (26:08) Is this hantavirus going to cause the next pandemic? This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Blythe Terrell, Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys and Wendy Zukerman. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. 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. Special thanks to the other researchers we spoke to about this, including Prof. Glenn Marsh.  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

Tons of us are inked — one in three American adults has a tattoo — but lately, we've been hearing that tattoos are actually bad for us. We're told that they mess with our immune system and could even lead to cancer. Can that be true?! Plus, are there any upsides to having a tattoo? We talk to immunologist Dr. Santiago González, epidemiologist Dr. Christel Nielsen, and psychologist Prof. Viren Swami.  Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsTattoos  (00:00) Tattoos Under Attack (02:03) Getting Under Our Skin (11:38) Do Tattoos Cause Cancer? (18:50) Should You Get Them Lasered Off? (20:53) The Benefits of Tattoos This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Blythe Terrell, 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 Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Special thanks to all the experts we spoke with for this episode, including Dr. Signe Clemmensen, Prof. David Kriebel, Dr. John Swierk, Natacha Cingotti, Dr. Sandrine Henri, Prof. Chris Lynn, and Tricia Allen.  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

We keep hearing that we need to be BORED more, with people online swearing that boredom can work magic — restoring your mind, and even supercharging your creativity. So, is boredom secretly good for us? We talk to cognitive neuroscientist Prof. James Danckert and organizational psychologist Prof. Guihyun Park to find out.  Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsBoredom In this episode, we cover: (00:00) They say we need more boredom (02:06) This is your brain on boredom (12:30) Does boredom push us into creativity?  (22:08) Should you try to be more bored?  (23:53) When you give your brain time to rest This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard.  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

Headlines have been screaming about a new study suggesting that vaping could cause cancer — and that vaping could be just as dangerous as cigarettes. And if this were true, it would be a HUGE deal. We've been hearing for years that vaping is a safer option — and can help you quit ciggies. But the new paper has run up against angry criticisms from other scientists, with some calling the paper "misleading" and "problematic." So what's going on?? Do scientists still think vaping is safer than cigarettes? How well do vapes actually help people quit smoking? And could Big Tobacco be behind the scenes, clouding the truth about all of this?? We get help sorting it out from Professor Bernard Stewart, Professor Lion Shahab and Professor Becky Freeman. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsVapingCancer In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Vaping world set alight by new study (02:50) Why Some Scientists Have Linked Vaping to Cancer (07:45) Why Some Scientists Pushed Back Against Vaping-Cancer Claims (17:51) Is Vaping as Dangerous as Smoking? (25:15) Do Vapes Help People Quit Smoking? (30:52) Big Tobacco Is Funding Vaping Research This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman and Rose Rimler, with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Meryl Horn and Michelle Dang. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Additional music from Parry Music Library / BMGPM. Thanks so much to the Australian science media centre and all the scientists who responded to our emails on this — we asked a lot of you!. A big thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

Lots of us love — or love to hate — running. And we do it because it's supposed to be healthy, right?! But then we hear tons of stories about runners getting hurt — sometimes so badly that they have to hang up their sneakers. And there are people on social media going even further, claiming it's one of the worst things we can do for our bodies. So IS running secretly bad for us? And could too much of it actually bring you closer to a heart attack? We'll explore the science on all of that, and we'll also dig into runner's high: What is going on in the brain to cause this feeling? With help from Dr. Rasmus Østergaard Nielsen, Professor Duck-Chul Lee, and Dr. Michael Siebers, we look at the science to find out if running is the key to a healthy life or if there are peer-reviewed reasons to be a hater.  Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/sciencevsrunning  In this episode, we cover: (01:48) What's the deal with running injuries? (10:51) How to get hurt less (15:03) The secret to a longer life (19:34) What is the runner's high?  (28:58) How to get runner's high This episode was produced by Ekedi Fausther-Keeys with help from Blythe Terrell, Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, Meryl Horn and Wendy Zukerman. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. Fact checking by Taylor White. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we got in touch with for this episode, including Dr. Anita Eberl, Dr. Johannes Fuss, Professor Robert Otto, Dr. Hirofumi Tanaka, Dr. Peter Kokkinos, Dr. Marilyn Moffat, and Director Brian Farr. A big thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

The moon race is back! NASA's Artemis II mission just sent four astronauts around the moon. And other countries — and billionaires — are lining up to take a crack at returning to the moon too. But why are we really going? Some say this is a lunar gold rush, that countries want to mine the moon for resources. Others are saying the real reason to go to the moon today is that it'll help us get to Mars. To find out, we talk to engineer Dr. Angel Abbud-Madrid, physicist Prof. Nicolle Zellner, and astronomer Prof. Gregg Hallinan.  [REBROADCAST] Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsGoingBackToMoon  UPDATE 4/9/26: We updated this episode with information about more recent efforts to mine Helium-3 from the moon. This episode was produced by Meryl Horn and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Rose Rimler, Meryl Horn, and Michelle Dang. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we got in touch with for this episode, including Dr. Tom Simko, Professor Jack Burns, Dr. Paul Byrne, Dr. Martin Elvis, Dr. John Mather, Dr. Jennifer Whitten, Dr. Ian Crawford, Dr. Simon J Lock, and Dr. Greg De Temmerman. Special thanks to Chris Suter, Jack Weinstein, the Zukerman family, the Fausther-Keeys family, and Joseph Lavelle Wilson. 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.  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) We're going back to the moon! (06:23) Should we dig up rare earth elements on the moon? (10:05) Should we go back to the moon for Helium-3?(14:54) The moon as a training ground for Mars (19:55) The FARSIDE telescope: a portal into the universe's history (27:12) So is it worth returning to the moon? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The apps on our phones do an amazing job of sucking us in. In fact, a big court case just found that some of these companies should be held responsible for basically designing products to be addictive. And that might not be shocking for lots of us, who feel the pull of these algorithms every day. So, is there anything we can do to help us put down our phones?? Tons of solutions are bandied about: Buy this special device to stay off your phone! What we really need to do is up the friction! Or go hardcore — just get a flip phone! But what actually works to stop scrolling? We dive into the science to find out, with help from computer science and engineering researcher Dr. Jaejeung Kim and psychologist Dr. Lea-Christin Wickord. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsStopScrolling  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) The Apps Got Us Trapped (04:21) Yes, it's the scrolling that's to blame (06:18) The Hardcore Approach (11:45) The Gentle Nudge (14:09) What if we up the friction? (19:59) Is greyscale the solution? (28:50) If we stop scrolling, do we feel better? (30:37) Final tips to stop scrolling This episode was produced by Meryl Horn, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Erica Akiko-Howard. 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 the researchers we spoke to, including Dr. Kai Lukoff, Hyunsung Cho, Dr. Alex Holte, Dr. Jan Ole Rixen, Dr. Jay Olson, and Dr. Noah Castelo. A big thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

Today, best-selling author and nerd Mary Roach joins us to talk all about sex. We'll uncover the secrets of the female orgasm (does “upsuck” exist?), detail the bizarre methods of pioneering sex researchers like Masters and Johnson (including a famous penis camera), and get into the nitty-gritty of how to sexually stimulate a pig in Denmark. Plus, Mary tells us what it's like to have sex while getting an ultrasound — all in the name of science. Mary's new book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy, is out now. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsMaryRoach In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Meet Mary Roach, one of our favorite nerds (22:31) The masturbating fetus (27:53) Mary bonks in the lab  (47:31) Oddball questions This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Meryl Horn, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Michelle Dang, and Rose Rimler. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Video editing and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Skyline Studios and Humdinger Studios. 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

Colorectal cancer has long been thought of as a disease of older folks. But that's changing — fast. Rates in older people are actually going down, and more and more people under 50 are getting this disease. And a surprising number of them are dying from it. So what's going on here? We dig into why young people are getting hit harder. Plus, we often hear that you should watch out for changes in your poo. But what changes?? We'll find out. We talk to gastrointestinal medical oncologist Dr. Michael Foote and cancer biologist Prof. Ludmil Alexandrov. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsColonCancer In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Becca's story (05:52) What the rise looks like (09:06) Is there something different about this cancer? (14:13) What symptoms to look out for (17:41) Why is this happening? (21:34) The hunt for explanations This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Rose Rimler, Meryl Horn and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Erica Akiko-Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord and Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. And thank you to Prof. Caitlin Murphy. 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

People are reporting a very strange phenomenon: They say that when their nipples get touched, they feel this weird sinking feeling. People describe it like being homesick, or hung over. Some feel anguish and despair, others call it dread. The condition has a name: "Sad Nipple Syndrome." But how could just touching a nipple set off all of these feelings?? To get to the bottom of this booby baffler, we go deep into the mysteries of anatomy and through a world of hormones and nipple erections. You might never look at your nipples the same way again! Distinguished Professor Barry Komisurak and Lactation Specialist Alia Macrina Heise join us. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsSadNippleSyndrome In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Meet Sad Nipple Syndrome (05:14) Why is Nipple Play Arousing? (09:58) Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER) (15:14) How Milk Ejects From a Booby (17:33) Is Oxytocin to blame?  (19:36) Suspect Number 2: Dopamine (20:52) What might help This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wiley, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. A special thanks to the researchers we reached out to including Dr. Christina Raimondi, Professor Caroline Pukall, Professor Craig Richard, and Prof. Dr. Inga D. Neumann. and a big thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

It's 1988 in Lesotho, and doctors at a hospital see something they thought was impossible. A 15-year-old girl shows up pregnant and in labor, but she's missing something pretty crucial to her delivery: a vagina. So — how did this happen?? We go on a roller-coaster ride through the reproductive system with Dr. Neel Shah to find out. Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/sciencevsnovagina  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) A small war  (04:12) How do you get pregnant without a vagina? (14:37) The final unbelievable chapter This episode was produced by Ekedi Fausther-Keeys with help from Wendy Zukerman, Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Meryl Horn. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wiley, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thank you to all the scientists we spoke to for this episode including, Dr. Sarah Ackroyd, Dr. Sarah Collins, Professor Adam Taylor, and Dr. Cathy Flood. Special thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

Forget the questionable relationship advice from internet influencers. Today, we're diving into the science of lasting love, fighting, and "red flags” to find out what really matters for a healthy relationship. We'll find out what it means to fight well with your partner. And we'll also look at the signs that a relationship might become dangerous or abusive. For all this, we speak with Professor Ben Karney, Dr. Megan Haselschwerdt, Dr. Elizabeth McLindon and Matt Brown. U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.7233 or www.thehotline.org Find international resources and more at spotify.com/resources Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsIsYourRelationshipOK  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Influencers love giving advice (02:36) How to have a ‘healthy fight'  (09:44) If you fight badly, will you get divorced?  (13:55) What are ‘red flags'?  (21:01) Red flags you should watch for (28:23) Approaches to try to change abusive partners (34:00) Why do people try to control their partners?  (37:57) Can an abusive partner change?  This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to our consultants Maya Serelis and Jess Hill. A special thanks to the researchers and folks working in the space of domestic violence that we spoke to including, Dr Áine Travers, Claire Marshall, Professor Sharon Dawe, Professor Kelsey Hegarty, Dr Franscesca Righetti, Dr Andrea Meltzer, Professor Amy Rauer, and Dr Amie Zarling. A big thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

Federal agents have descended on Minneapolis in the U.S., and things have gotten chaotic — and deadly. The Trump administration says the agents are there to enforce immigration law, but officers have shot three people so far, killing two, and are using tear gas and smoke on protesters. So today, we're looking at the potential health impacts of tear gas. We'll talk about what we do — and don't — know about potential long-term effects of this stuff. And we're also looking into research on the mental health effects of immigration raids. We speak to Dr. Jennifer Brown, Dr. Carlee Toddes, and Dr. William Lopez. This episode does mention mental health issues. Find resources here: spotify.com/resources  For more on William Lopez's research on ICE raids, check out his new book, Raiding the Heartland https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53706/raiding-heartland?srsltid=AfmBOoperKoqv48ZYzaHfQ87nM2xI3QiAbI7lo2wLqt5BykNo-47cHxS Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/3MbC1Py In this episode, we cover: (00:00) What's going on in Minneapolis? (05:40) Tear gas is banned in war  (08:34) What tear gas does to the body (16:44) The possible long-term effects of tear gas (22:44) Can you protect yourself from tear gas? (24:36) How immigration raids affect people's health (34:10) Do ICE raids make communities safer? This episode was produced by Blythe Terrell, Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys and Rose Rimler. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Michelle Dang and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard.   Special thanks to all the Minnesotans who took the time to speak to us about what's going on there, including photographer Matt Gundrum. Thanks also to the other researchers we spoke to, including Dr. Margot Moinester, Professor Joanna Dreby. Thanks to Paul Schreiber, Nimra Azmi, Whitney Potter 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's claims out there that all kinds of things can make us happy in life, from making money to having kids to buying your dream home. But what actually works?? What does it take to have a happy life??  Professor Bob Waldinger is a psychiatrist at Harvard who has spent more than two decades as the director of this amazing study. It has tracked hundreds of people for decades and is the world's longest scientific study into happiness. So we're gonna find out what a lot of us get wrong in searching for the good life. Where we should be putting our time and attention. And we'll get this huge insight into how we can all be happier — and healthier. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsHappiness In this episode, we cover: (00:00) What makes us happy? (01:48) The world's longest study into happiness  (07:25) The biggest finding of the study (13:18) How do you build good relationships? (18:26) How did Bob get happier?? (21:53) How childhood adversity changes us (24:12) Does having kids make you happy?  (25:22) Does making money make us happy?  (27:55) The Happiest Person (29:40) Looking back on our lives Don't forget to text a friend you haven't seen in a while! Let us know what they say. Send us a photo if you end up catching up!! You can email us at ScienceVsTeam@gmail.com or tag us in an instagram post — we're at @science_vs. And come say hello to Wendy on tiktok, I'm @wendyzukerman This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Rose Rimler, Meryl Horn, and Michelle Dang. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking help by Ekedi Fauster-Keeys. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wiley, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. An extra thanks to the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson. 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

The U.S. just made a big change to its vaccine recommendations, cutting back on the number of shots it will routinely recommend for kids. The government says it wants to "better align" with countries like Denmark. But is following Denmark's lead a fairy tale come true — or a nightmare in slow motion? Plus, we find out what this new schedule could mean for kids' vaccines in the U.S. We hear from Professor Jens Lundgren and pediatrician and researcher David Higgins. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsVaccineSchedules  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) The growing turmoil around vaccines in the U.S. (02:20) Why did the CDC change its vaccine recommendations? (07:29) Vaccines, the Danish way (16:20) Should the U.S. copy Denmark's vaccine schedule? (20:22) How bad is this? (22:03) RSV: A case study in confusion (28:27) What should parents do now? This episode was produced by Blythe Terrell and Meryl Horn with help from Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Additional research help from Erica Akiko Howard. Our executive producer is Wendy Zukerman. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks very much to the Unbiased Science network, who connected us with David Higgins. They've been doing some amazing work on trying to explain what's going on with the U.S. and vaccines. Unbiased Science — check out their podcast and their socials. Thanks very much to all the scientists we spoke to and emailed with about these changes. And special thanks to Bernadette Sciandra and Laurence Horn.  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

AI tools like ChatGPT have taken the world by storm, with tons of people saying they use them regularly. This is especially true for students, many of whom say they use AI to get their schoolwork done. And this is freaking some of us out — we're hearing that jumping on the AI train could be a terrible idea, partly because of claims that these tools could be bad for our brains. So — are we outsourcing too much of our thinking to the bots?? Will our brains turn to mush? Or can we use AI to boost our brainpower? To find out, we talk to Dr. Shiri Melumad, expert in the psychology of technology, and Dr. Aaron French, expert in information systems. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsAIStupid  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Is AI ruining or boosting our brains? (02:45) How often are LLMs like ChatGPT wrong? (05:01) Do LLMs mess with our ability to learn? (19:26) Does using AI make us more productive? (24:33) Another example of a technology that freaked a bunch of people out (27:40) Can using AI help us learn? This episode was produced by Meryl Horn with help from Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Michelle Dang, and Rose Rimler. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Our executive producer is Wendy Zukerman. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to all the researchers we spoke with including Daniela Fernandes, Dr. Marcin Romanczyk, Professor Michael Henderson, Dr. Tim Zindulka, and Professor Vitomir Kovanovicent. Special thanks also to Sebastian Peleato, Chris Suter, Elise, Dylan, Jack Weinstein and Hunter. 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

Influencers are out in full force, telling us how we can “manifest” anything we want using only the power of our thoughts. Want that dream car, dream boyfriend, or dream house? Act as if you already have it, and the universe will respond. And we know our thoughts can be powerful … so, could this be legit? We go on the hunt for a manifestation method that has the science stamp of approval. We talk to psychologists Prof. Laura King and Prof. Gabriele Oettingen.  Find our transcript here:  https://bit.ly/ScienceVsManifestation Chapters: (00:00) The Promise of Manifesting (04:54) The Best Possible Self Exercise (09:40) Wendy and Rose Give it a Go (12:23) The Fantasy Fiasco (17:19) How To Get Your Dream Life (science approved!) (20:44) Just a Bit of Magic Check out Gabriele's science-backed manifesting method here: https://woopmylife.org/en/science This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Michelle Dang, and Meryl Horn. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to all the researchers we reached out to, including Dr. Lucas Dixon. Special thanks also to Mark Johnson.  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

Today, we're celebrating 10 years of Science Vs with … science! We'll tell you all about the so-called orgasm gap, the incorrect idea that vaccines are linked to autism, and the incorrect idea that ivermectin helps with Covid-19. We'll also cover the Paleo Diet — this was the first EVER episode of Science Vs. And you'll hear one of the greatest moments in Science Vs history. THANK YOU for listening! Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVs10 (00:00) We're celebrating 10 years of Science Vs! (04:10) Our peer-reviewed paper on the “orgasm gap” (10:13) Vaccines don't cause autism (14:20) Ivermectin doesn't help with Covid (20:54) Should you go on the paleo diet? (34:01) One of the greatest Science Vs moments of all time This episode was produced by Blythe Terrell, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Hannah Harris Green helped produce our Orgasm Gap episode. Heather Rogers was our lead producer on the Vaccines episode. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger, So Wylie, and Bobby Lord. Thank you so much to all the folks who have helped make Science Vs over the years, including Caitlin Kenney, Alex Blumberg, Matt Lieber, Kaitlyn Sawrey, Angela Stengel, Ben Watts, Nick DelRose, Diane Wu, Austin Mitchell, Annie-Rose Strasser, Martin Peralta, Heather Rogers, Shruti Ravindran, Joel Werner, Sinduja Srinivasan, Odelia Rubin, Disha Bhagat, RE Natowicz, Courtney Gilbert, Rose Reid, Taylor White, Rasha Aridi, Romila Karnick, Lexi Krupp, Emma Munger, Peter Leonard, Catherine Anderson, Sam Bair, Bumi Hidaka, Lauren Silverman, Lily Kim, and so so many more!!!    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

Every day we're all doing a little bit of chemistry: when we bake potatoes, add a little salt to our pasta, or even bake a box cake. And award-winning chef Samin Nosrat just loves to nerd out over all this. She's the author of the best-selling book “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” and has a new book out called “Good Things.” Today, Samin joins us to talk all about the science and art of cooking. Plus — why you should NEVER put meatballs on spaghetti. Video available on Spotify. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsSaminNosrat  Samin's Book: https://ciaosamin.com/shop/good-things  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Welcome to Science Chats with Samin Nosrat (01:27) Samin's childhood in California (06:05) Samin's obsession with boxed cake mix (14:29) Why salt, fat, acid and heat matter (17:17) The magic of salt (21:11) Why soy sauce and cheese can bring out big feelings (32:26) Why we bake with room-temperature eggs (34:32) Why tomatoes don't belong in the fridge (37:00) The geopolitics of cinnamon (40:07) Why vanilla beans cost so much (42:15) The value of handmade food (47:10) Why you shouldn't put meatballs on spaghetti This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Meryl Horn, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, Michelle Dang, and Rose Rimler. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Video editing and sound design by Bobby Lord. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Roland Campos, Skyline Studios and Humdinger Studios. 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

The internet is abuzz with accusations that artificial intelligence is using up tons of energy and water. People are even protesting the building of new AI data centers, saying they'll put a huge strain on local resources. But some AI defenders say that this fear is overblown and that AI isn't actually that bad for the environment. So who's right? We talk to science and tech reporters Casey Crownhart and James O'Donnell, and computer scientist Prof. Shaolei Ren.  Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsAIEnvironment  Read James and Casey's article here: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1116327/ai-energy-usage-climate-footprint-big-tech/ Check out the Mythbusters GPU/CPU demonstration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmW6SD-EHVY In this episode, we cover: (0:00) Chapter One: No More AI For Dank Memes?! (3:34) Chapter Two: How Much Energy Does Your AI Query Use? (15:37) Chapter Three: How Much Energy Does AI Use Total? (21:18) Chapter Four: Is AI Drinking All Our Water? (29:29) Chapter Five: Should You Quit Using AI? This episode was produced by Rose Rimler and Blythe Terrell, with help from Meryl Horn and Michelle Dang. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to all the researchers we reached out to, including Prof. Melissa Scanlan, and special thanks to Andrew Pouliot and Jesse Rimler.  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 new episode notifications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've been told that foods like butter and bacon are bad for us — because they're packed with saturated fats. And top dogs in nutrition say that a better option is vegetable oil, like canola oil. But lots of people, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are saying hold on. They're arguing that saturated fats are actually the way to go. And they're claiming that those vegetable oils, aka “seed oils,” are incredibly dangerous. So — who's right?? To find out, we speak to author and physician Dr Cate Shanahan, professor of nutrition science Jason Wu, professor of endocrinology David Schade, and Dr David Iggman. [REBROADCAST] Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/SVSeedOils In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Seed oils are the devil (05:35) Is saturated fat killing you?  (12:25) Does cholesterol cause heart attacks?  (22:02) Do seed oils cause inflammation? (28:00) Are seed oils killing you? This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Joel Werner, Rose Rimler, Nick DelRose and Michelle Dang. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Carmen Drahl. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bobby Lord, Emma Munger, Peter Leonard, and Bumi Hidaka. Thanks to all the researchers we spoke to including Dr Lorena Pacheco, Dr Qi Sun, Dr Tetsumori Yamashima, Dr Idrees Mughal, Professor Rashika Ahmed, Dr Hatem Tallima, Dr Heidi Silver, Professor Ronald Krauss, Dr Yutang Wang, Dr David Sullivan, Professor Peter Clifton, Dr Lee Hooper and others. And a big thank you to Morgen Rockel, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson. 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

Daylight saving time is ending, and the darkness is coming for us all. And many of us dread this time of year; we think that switching up our clocks sucks. But beyond that, we hear that all this clock changing can be bad for our health, contributing to stuff like heart attacks. So, should we ditch these annoying switches altogether? And if we do that, which way should we go: daylight saving time all year, or standard time?? We look at the science and talk to wildlife ecologist Prof. Laura Prugh and sleep scientist Prof. Jamie Zeitzer.  Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsDaylightSavingTime In this episode, we cover: (02:15) Why do we have daylight saving time?   (05:25) What happens when we “fall back” (14:15) Is daylight saving time bad for our health?  (27:00) What should we do?  This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Rose Rimler, Meryl Horn, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, and Wendy Zukerman. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Our executive producer is Wendy Zukerman. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Music written by Peter Leonard, Bobby Lord, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Bumi Hidaka. And a special thanks to researcher Dr. Aiste Steponenaite, who also spoke to me for this episode.  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

With “No Nut November” right around the corner, it's time to ask: What are the benefits of saving your seed and not ejaculating? People say that it'll boost your testosterone, giving you better libido — and even making your skin glow. Some say you'll feel like a beast, your energy is gonna be insane and it'll even improve the quality of your sperm. Is all this true?? And are there any risks when it comes to leaving your nut unbusted? We speak to urologist and andrologist Dr. Justin Dubinz and reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist Dr. Brent Hanson, alongside special guest comedian Suren Jayemanne. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsSemenRetention In this episode, we cover: (00:00) The idea behind saving your seed (07:43) The idea of semen retention is huge online (09:52)  Can semen retention bump up your testosterone? (15:45) Can semen retention improve mood and athletic performance? (23:22) Can semen retention improve your sperm quality? This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. A big thanks to Joseph Lavelle Wilson 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

Birth rates are falling all over the world, and some people are freaking out, saying this could tank our society — and even spell the end of humans. In the U.S., so-called pronatalism is having a major moment, with lots of people making the case for more babies — President Trump has called for a “baby boom” and has pledged to be “the fertilization president.” So today, we're going to find out: Is humanity really hurtling toward population disaster? And if this IS a problem — is it even possible to flip the switch from baby bust to baby boom? To find out, we speak with economists Prof. Jisoo Hwang and economics lecturer Dr. Neha Deopa. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsFertilityRates In this episode, we cover: (00:00) People are freaking out about the birth rate (02:51) Are fertility rates really declining? (07:42) Why South Korea's fertility rate is so low (14:51) How low fertility rates can mess up society (20:24) Can influencers bump up fertility rates?? (28:17) Which government policies could bump up fertility rates? (35:43) What SHOULD we do if we want people to have more babies? This episode was produced by Blythe Terrell, with help from Rose Rimler, Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Our executive producer is Wendy Zukerman. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Research help from Erica Akiko Howard. Music written by Peter Leonard, Bobby Lord, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Bumi Hidaka. A very special thanks to all the researchers who spoke to me for this episode, including Professor Rannveig Kaldager Hart, Dr. Janna Bergsvik, Professor Amy Tsui, Dr. Gretchen Donehower, Dr. Emily Klancher Merchant and Professor Landon Schnabel. 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

Sugar is getting tons of hate these days, from TikTok influencers telling us to cut added sugar out of our diets to RFK Jr. declaring that sugar is “poison.” But is sugar really that bad? And are certain kinds worse — or better — than others? We'll find out by diving into the wild world of cane sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, honey and maple syrup. We talk to nutritionist Professor Jim Mann and research nutritional biologist Dr. Kimber Stanhope.  Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsSugar  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Sugar: The villain in our diets (02:22) The good side of sugar (04:51) How sugar is bad for us (12:19) Is high fructose corn syrup that bad? (23:44) Agave Syrup, Maple Syrup, and Honey (30:15) How much sugar is too much? This episode was produced by Meryl Horn, with help from Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Our executive producer is Wendy Zukerman. Fact checking by Sam Lemonick. Music written by Peter Leonard, Bobby Lord, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Bumi Hidaka. Thanks to all the researchers we spoke to including Professor Barry Popkin, Dr. John White, Dr. Nick Fuller, Professor Paul Breslin, Dr. Richard Johnson, and Dr. Vasanti Malik.  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

People swear that weird stuff goes down on a full moon. In fact, even SERIOUS folks like the nerds who work in ERs will tell you that something is off about those nights. And what's amazing is that science has actually looked at this. And … there is some weird stuff here! From animals to ERs to our circadian rhythms to our menstrual cycles, we'll find out — is something afoot during a full moon? We talk to Emeritus Prof. of emergency medicine Dr. Wendy Coates and circadian rhythm researchers Prof. Horacio de la Iglesia, Prof. Kristin Teßmar-Raible, and Prof. Charlotte Helfrich-Förster.  Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsFullMoon  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) What do people think the full moon is doing to us? (03:54) How the moon influences animals (07:47) Does the full moon make ERs busier? (15:09) Does the full moon affect our sleep? (22:11) HOW is the full moon messing with us? (31:05) Does the full moon affect our menstrual cycles? This episode was produced by Meryl Horn, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Fact checking by Marlowe Starling. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Bobby Lord, Emma Munger, So Wylie, and Peter Leonard. Thanks to all the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Ron Flick, Dr. Michael Smolensky, Michael Bevington, Dr. Laurel Symes, Professor Laura Prugh, and Dr. Maarten Nijsten. Special thanks to Kevin Walsh and all the folks who chatted with me about the full moon.  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

Ever wonder why your dog just loves to sniff your junk? Well, it turns out it's because other animals perceive the world in wild ways that we're just beginning to understand. So today, we're immersing ourselves in their world, talking about the cutting-edge science of how animals perceive with Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer Ed Yong. He's spinning yarns from his latest book: “An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us.” After this journey, you'll look at your dog in a totally different light, you'll appreciate how eyes have literally painted the world — and you might even feel sorry for the humble cockroach. Video available on Spotify. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVs_EdYong In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Ed Yong's amazing book on animal perception (03:58) Magnificent sniffers (11:20) Every possible degree of eye (18:15) Hearing in different ways (25:11) Touch and vibrations (33:05) Science under threat in the U.S. (41:10) Oddball questions This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, and Rose Rimler. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Video editing and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Skyline Studios and Stupid Old Studios. 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

RFK Jr.'s big report on autism is scheduled to come out this month, and we're hearing that it might point the finger at Tylenol as a possible cause. And the science on this gets confusing fast. Because some studies do suggest that taking acetaminophen while you're pregnant could increase your kid's chance of being autistic or having ADHD. But other research doesn't find a clear connection — and scientists think there could be a whole other explanation here. So, what's going on?? We sort it out, with help from epidemiologist Prof. Brian Lee.  Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsTylenolAutism  In this episode, we cover: (00:00) The fears around acetaminophen and autism (02:18) Could acetaminophen be an endocrine disruptor? (06:25) Could acetaminophen affect brain development? (10:44) What if something else is going on? (20:26) Is there a link between acetaminophen and autism — or not?? This episode was produced by Meryl Horn, with help from Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang, and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Our executive producer is Wendy Zukerman. Fact checking and consulting by Erica Akiko Howard. Music written by Peter Leonard, Bobby Lord, So Wiley, Emma Munger and Bumi Hidaka. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode and our other episode on autism.  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