Podcasts are perfect for busy, but intellectually curious people. It’s like reading, but instead of fixing your eyes to a page or screen, you can run or cook or simply relax while the podcast delivers fascinating, funny, new information straight to your brain. It’s basically like learning by osmosis! Whether you’re working in lab or you have these few months off to relax, I curated a list of science podcasts to keep you company both bench-side and poolside.

Take a listen! It’s not too late to learn something new this summer.

Flash Forward

Flash forward is the perfect podcast for those who like to let their imagination run wild. Every week, award-winning science journalist, Rose Eveleth, takes you to an imaginary future scenario and invites experts to explain how that future might actually work. Each episode begins with a little audio drama to set the scene, followed by a break-down of why that future might or might not be possible. (This might be my favorite on this list.)

Average Length: ~50 min

Where to start?

• Snip, snip, snip
• What to Expect When You’re Expecting in Space
  

Science Vs.

Every day we encounter a ton of new information and it’s hard to know off the bat what to believe or not believe. Luckily, Science Vs sifts through all the news, fads, and opinions to deliver you the facts. Science Vs is the show from Gimlet Media that investigates topics from fasting diets, DNA tests, transgender identity, to ancient aliens – all from a scientific perspective.

Average Length: ~35 min

Where to start?

• Race: Can We See It In Our DNA?
• Serial Killers: Science of the Lambs
  

The Infinite Monkey Cage

English physicist, Brian Cox, and comedian, Robin Ince, come together to provide this humorous BBC podcast, tackling big concepts in science like the future of humanity, human evolution, the teenage brain, and more. A fantastic selection of scientists, comedians, and innovators are brought on for each episode, making the show as entertaining and funny as it is eye-opening.

Average Length: ~45 min

Where to start?

• Are humans still evolving?
• When Two Stars Collide

Science Friday

For those looking for something a little more serious, Science Friday is the perfect podcast to catch up on all the latest science news. Each episode offers a review of the week in science, covering  the headlines and other fun stories. While there's no made-up future scenarios or comedians, Ira Flatow's enthusiasm keeps it conversational and engaging.

Average Length: ~50 min

Where to start?

• Synthetic Genomes, Climate Panel, Local Recycling

Undiscovered

Undiscovered tells all the untold stories of science, taking their listeners to some weird and wonderful places. The hosts, Elah Feder and Annie Minoff, expertly guide the podcasts with their endearing enthusiasm and storytelling. Each episode dives deep into the backstories, strange encounters, and serendipitous mistakes that accompany scientific research and its discoveries. When did dolphins and whales gain popularity? What really killed the dinosaurs?

Average Length: ~35 min

Where to start?

• The Long Loneliness
• The Magic Machine: bringing back the recently dead

Invisibilia

The human mind, how we behave, and why we do what we do will never cease to fascinate me. Invisiblia is the NPR podcast that examines all the underlying forces that influence human behavior. The hosts dig deep into human psychology as they explore topics like stereotypes, people who can't feel fear, and the concept of the future self. It's definitely worth a listen if you enjoy thinking about how people, well, think.

Average length: ~40 min

Where to start?

• The Culture Inside
• Emotions