Big Picture Science

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

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

But, wait!  There’s more!

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

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

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

 

 

 

Series

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329 Pieces

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


Pieces

Caption: Rethinking Chernobyl, Credit: Seth Shostak
The catastrophic explosion at Chernobyl triggered a full-scale destruction of the reactor in the worst nuclear reactor accident in history. But res...

Bought by WMUU-LP, WMUU-LP, CHSR-FM 97.9, New Hampshire Public Radio, WMRA and more


  • Added: May 06, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 23
Caption: Free Range Dinosaurs, Credit: Seth Shostak
Dinosaurs are once again stomping their way across the silver screen. But these colossal beasts stole the show long before CGI brought them roarin...

Bought by WMUU-LP, CHSR-FM 97.9, WMRA, Gallatin Valley Community Radio, WRST-FM Oshkosh and more


  • Added: Apr 15, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 13
Caption: Skeptic Check: Political Scientist, Credit: Seth Shostak
Many scientists Marched for Science; now some are diving deeper into political engagement: challenging public policy and even running for office th...

Bought by KMUN, WMUU-LP, RadioFreePalmer, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WHCP-LP Cambridge and more


  • Added: Mar 18, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Hawkingravity, Credit: Seth Shostak
Stephen Hawking felt gravity’s pull. His quest to understand this feeble force spanned his career, and he was the first to realize that black hole...

Bought by WMUU-LP, WHCP-LP Cambridge, CHSR-FM 97.9, WRST-FM Oshkosh, Royalton Community Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 11, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: High Moon, Credit: Seth Shostak
“The moon or bust” is now officially bust. No private company was able to meet the Lunar X Prize challenge and arrange a launch by the 2018 deadli...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WHCP-LP Cambridge, KBBI Alaska, Royalton Community Radio, WRGY and more


  • Added: Mar 04, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: We Are VR, Credit: Seth Shostak
Will virtual reality make you a better person? Seth puts on a VR headset for an immersive experience of a man who’s evicted from his apartment. F...

Bought by WMUU-LP, WPCA-LP, WMUU-LP, CHSR-FM 97.9, RadioFreePalmer and more


  • Added: Feb 25, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Skeptic Check: Astrology Ascending, Credit: Seth Shostak
Mars may be in retrograde, but interest in astrology is rising. People are increasingly drawn to this ancient practice for insight and guidance. T...

Bought by WMUU-LP, WRST-FM Oshkosh, CHSR-FM 97.9, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, Royalton Community Radio and more


  • Added: Feb 04, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Meet Your Robot Barista, Credit: Seth Shostak
We sip lattes in a robot café and contemplate the future of work. Our mechanical barista is just a start as robots and A.I. train to do a variety o...

Bought by WMUU-LP, WHCP-LP Cambridge, CHSR-FM 97.9, WRST-FM Oshkosh, Royalton Community Radio and more


  • Added: Jan 28, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Bacteria to the Future, Credit: Seth Shostak
Why did the chicken take antibiotics? To fatten it up and prevent bacterial infection. But farms have become superbug factories, threatening our l...

Bought by WMUU-LP, WMUU-LP, KFOI Radio, Royalton Community Radio, CHSR-FM 97.9 and more


  • Added: Nov 26, 2018
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 10
Caption: Space Rocks!, Credit: Seth Shostak
Some astronomers have proposed that an oddly-shaped object that recently passed through our solar system could be an alien artifact, and not an ast...

Bought by WMUU-LP, CHSR-FM 97.9, KCSB-FM, WUFT, KFOI Radio and more


  • Added: Nov 19, 2018
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 12