Ask us Anything by Popular Science

How do chatbots work? Nov 10, 2023

If you remember chatting with SmarterChild back on AOL Instant Messenger back in the day, you know how far ChatGPT and Google Bard have come. But how do these so-called chatbots work—and what’s the best way to use them to our advantage?

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How is Voyager's vintage technology still flying? Apr 25, 2023

Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 launched back in 1977 with only a five-year mission to take a gander at Jupiter and Saturn’s rings and moons. Obviously, the Voyager spacecrafts have persisted a lot longer than five years: 46 years, to be exact. They’re still careening through space at a distance between 12 and 14 billion miles from Earth. So how have they lasted four decades longer than expected?

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Can you become a morning person? Jul 28, 2022

There's plenty of good reasons to be a morning lark. So is it possible, or is biology totally against us wannabe early birds?

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Where’s the best place to sit in a movie theater? Jul 26, 2022

We all have our preferred seats at the movies. But is there scientifically a best place to sit? Stan Horaczek has the answer.

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Are the bees still dying? Jul 21, 2022

Five or ten years ago, all we heard was "save the bees." Well, are they still dying? PopSci's Philip Kiefer has the answers—and they're surprisingly complicated.

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Why do we like pimple popping? Jul 19, 2022

It's super gross, but you can't look away—why are pimple popping videos so magnetic?

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How do planes fly? Jul 14, 2022

Airplanes are massive, heavy, gigantic hunks of metal. So how do their engines keep them aloft? PopSci's Rob Verger has the details.

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What’s the best way to reheat pizza? Jul 12, 2022

Cold pizza is *chefs kiss.* But what if you want to heat up that leftover 'za? Our DIY editors have done the (mostly) delicious research to tell you the scientifically best way to reheat pizza.

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What’s the best way to detox? Jul 07, 2022

There's a lot of talk these days about the best way to "detox" your bod. But the real secret to it all was inside you all along.

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Can I have a pet fox? Jul 05, 2022

Foxes are cute, seemingly cuddly, and full of personality. So can we have them as pets? PopSci's Philip Kiefer explains why the answer gets complicated.

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How can I be more photogenic? Jun 30, 2022

Without the filters, without the FaceTune—just using light, camera know-how, and posing—is there a way to be more photogenic? Photography expert and PopSci editor Stan Horaczek will have you looking your best (using science!) in no time.

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What’s a haboob? Jun 28, 2022

Ever heard of a haboob? Don't worry, PopSci's Chelsey B. Coombs explains it all—from their anatomy to their historical appearances.

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Is the megalodon shark still alive? Jun 23, 2022

Could the legendary megalodon shark still be lurking in our oceans? PopSci's Purbita Saha dishes out the details.

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Why do we get wisdom teeth? Jun 21, 2022

Season 3 is HERE! First up, Lauren sinks her teeth into a real head-scratcher—why do we still get wisdom teeth if they're useless?

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Season 3: Premiering 6/21! Jun 16, 2022

Season 3 goes live on Tuesday, June 21st! We'll answer questions like why we still get wisdom teeth, are the bees still dying, and what is the scientifically best way to reheat pizza—all with a brand new group of hosts. Episodes publish twice a week. See you soon!

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24. Did food taste better 50 years ago? Oct 14, 2021

It's the season 2 finale! What did food taste like 50 years ago—and was it actually better than it is now?

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23. What is a super car? Oct 12, 2021

There are regular cars, there are luxury cars, and then there are.... SUPER cars. But what even is a super car? As our host explains, it can often be more of a vibe than anything else—but there are some specific criteria to hit.

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22. What would happen if the sun went out? Oct 07, 2021

The sun is, to put it lightly, quite important to life on Earth. What would happen if it suddenly went poof?

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21. Can stress kill you? Oct 05, 2021

If you're looking for a sign to take a vacation... this might be it.

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20. Why can't we all touch our toes? Sep 30, 2021

We finally dive into the classic question—why can't we all touch our toes? And why the heck is it such a big deal?

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19. What does space smell like? Sep 28, 2021

Sure, you can't literally smell IN space. But what if you could? Just how stinky is it out there?

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18. Do we really need homework? Sep 23, 2021

Homework—we've all done it. (Or avoided it.) But is homework truly necessary for learning and becoming a fully formed human?

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17. How much water should I drink a day? Sep 21, 2021

Most people will tell you to drink 8 cups of water per day—but what if we told you that the answer is SO much more complicated than that?

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16. What did dinosaurs taste like? Sep 16, 2021

Modern dinosaurs obviously taste like chicken—because they ARE chickens. But what would dinos like stegosauruses and T. rexes have tasted like back in the day?

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15. What'd happen if I ate my computer? Sep 14, 2021

So... yes, this is a weird question. But electronics are hard to recycle, ok? Can't we just toss them down the hatch? What would they do to our bodies?

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14. How can you safely send nude photos? Sep 09, 2021

In a pandemic world, we've gotta get a little creative in order to stay intimate. But even sending a nude can be dangerous—so how can we do it safely?

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13. Can you cure a hangover? Sep 07, 2021

Let's face it—hangovers suck. But what if there was a way to cure them?

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Season 2: Premiering 9/7! Aug 31, 2021

If you liked season 1 of our show, then you are going to LOVE Season 2. We’ll hit your feeds on Tuesday, September 7th, with new hosts and new questions to tackle—including how to safely send nude photos, what would a dinosaur taste like, how to cure a hangover, and so much more. So tune in on September 7th wherever you get podcasts for twice-a-week episodes. For more updates, you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @askpopscipod. Thanks for listening, and see you soon!

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12. Why can't we see more colors? May 06, 2021

The world is teeming with colors we see everyday. But humans don’t see every color on the light spectrum. There is a whole world of color that we can’t recognize.

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11. What is an allergy? May 04, 2021

As many of us know far too well, allergy season is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. But why do our bodies cause us such pain every spring? And why are people allergic to certain foods or animals?

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10. What's your brain doing when you daydream? Apr 29, 2021

On long days, it's not unusual to conjure up scenes of lush beaches, serene mountaintops, or even a cozy blanket fort and a good movie. But what's happening in our brains when we do that? And is it healthy to do this so often?

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9. Are there good viruses? Apr 27, 2021

For the last year and a half, we've really only had one big virus on our minds—and it's a very bad one. But are there good viruses out there? And what can viruses do for us?

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8. Why can't we burn our trash in volcanoes? Apr 22, 2021

At first glance, a volcano’s hot lava seems ideal for incinerating our trash. But, like so many things in science, it’s so much more complicated than that.

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7. Can you overdose on weed? Apr 20, 2021

There aren't any recorded deaths attributed solely to marijuana—you can't really blaze yourself to death. But even so, is it possible to overdose on it?

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6. What causes side stitches? Apr 01, 2021

If you know, you know—that jabbing, stabbing pain in your side just when you hit your groove in a work out. So what's actually going on in your body when you get a side stitch?

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5. How much sleep do you actually need? Mar 30, 2021

We all lead busy lives, so it's easy to skimp out on catching all of those Zs. But the question is, how much sleep can you get without sacrificing any cognitive function?

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4. What would happen if you fell into a black hole? Mar 25, 2021

Black holes—humungous, dense, celestial objects—suck in everything that cross their jaws (also known as their event horizons). But what if one sucked YOU in?! Two words: lethal spaghetti.

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3. Can you survive on a single food forever? Mar 23, 2021

Grocery shopping can be a chore. But what if, even hypothetically, you could survive by only consuming one food for the rest of your life? There's a way to do it—but it involves a whole buttload of potatoes.

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2. Why don't we all grow to be 10 feet tall? Mar 18, 2021

Claire is 5'4", and Jess is 6'1", and most of the world is somewhere in between. But why is it that we don't just all end up being 10 feet tall? What's stopping us from growing sky-high?

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Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod

Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli

Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy

Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq

Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz

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1. Can you boost your immune system? Mar 16, 2021

Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the classic flu season, many of us often wonder: is it possible to boost our immune systems so they can vanquish any threat?

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Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod

Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli

Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy

Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq

Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/askusanythingbypopsci/support

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Trailer: Ask Us Anything by Popular Science Mar 03, 2021

Premiering Tuesday, March 16th, Ask Us Anything is a brand new podcast from the editors of Popular Science. It’s a bite-sized show that answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from what the universe is made of to why not everyone can touch their toes. If you like The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week, we promise you’ll love Ask Us Anything—and you’ll hear a few familiar voices on it, too! Check out new episodes of Ask Us Anything every Tuesday and Thursday wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Claire Maldarelli: https://twitter.com/camaldarelli

Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy

Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq

Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/askusanythingbypopsci/support

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