The 9 Best Science Podcasts in 2026

Last updated: October, 2026

Quick answer: The best science podcasts in 2026 are Radiolab for storytelling, Hidden Brain for the science of human behavior, and StarTalk for space and physics. For something new, The Rest Is Science won a 2026 Webby for Best New Podcast. Every show below is free and still publishing in 2026.

Good science podcasts make hard ideas feel like great stories. This list covers every style, from 10-minute daily explainers to long, deep dives, and includes a pick for kids.

We checked every show for new episodes in 2026. For each one you’ll find the host, the format, who it’s best for and where to listen. Want more? See our full list of the best educational podcasts.

Quick Picks: Science Podcasts At a Glance

Podcast	Host(s)	Best for	Typical length	New episodes
Radiolab	Lulu Miller & Latif Nasser	Science storytelling	30–60 min	Weekly
Hidden Brain	Shankar Vedantam	The science of human behavior	About 45–60 min	Weekly
StarTalk	Neil deGrasse Tyson	Space, physics and pop culture	About 50–75 min	Weekly+
Science Vs	Wendy Zukerman	Fact-checking health and science fads	About 30–45 min	Weekly
Ologies	Alie Ward	Meeting experts in every field	About 1 hour+	Weekly
The Rest Is Science	Hannah Fry & Michael Stevens	Big, weird questions	About 30–45 min	2x a week
Short Wave	Emily Kwong & Regina Barber	Quick daily science	Under 15 min	4x a week
Unexplainable	Noam Hassenfeld	Unsolved scientific mysteries	About 20–35 min	Weekly
Brains On!	Molly Bloom & kid co-hosts	Kids and families	About 25–35 min	Weekly

The Best Science Podcasts, Reviewed

1. Radiolab

Hosts: Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser (WNYC Studios)

Best for: science told as gripping stories

Radiolab has run since 2002 and won Peabody Awards in 2011 and 2015. Each episode chases a big question through science, history and real people’s lives, with some of the best sound design in podcasting. Fans of rich storytelling should also see our best documentary podcasts.

Listen Now

2. Hidden Brain

Host: Shankar Vedantam

Best for: the science of why people do what they do

Veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam explores the unconscious patterns behind our choices, habits and relationships. The show turned 10 in 2025 and describes itself as routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the U.S. Topics like depression, disgust and group thinking make it useful as well as interesting; see our podcasts for mental health for more.

Listen Now

3. StarTalk

Host: Neil deGrasse Tyson, with comic co-hosts like Chuck Nice

Best for: space, physics and big-picture science

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson mixes science with comedy and pop culture, answering fan questions about black holes, dark matter and life in the universe. The show has more than 1,100 episodes. Space fans will also enjoy our best sci-fi podcasts.

Start with: “Is the Universe a Math Problem? With Terence Tao” (February 2026).

Listen Now

4. Science Vs

Host: Wendy Zukerman (Spotify Studios)

Best for: separating fact from hype

Science Vs takes on health fads, viral claims and hot topics, and checks what the research actually says. Every episode is carefully fact-checked, but the tone stays funny. For more health-focused listening, see our best healthcare podcasts.

Start with: “Hantavirus: How Scary Is It??” (May 2026).

Listen Now

5. Ologies with Alie Ward

Host: Alie Ward

Best for: meeting experts in every field imaginable

Each week Alie Ward interviews an “ologist,” from sea slug experts to sleep scientists, and asks the questions you’d be too shy to ask. It won the Webby People’s Voice award in 2026. It’s also one of the most fun interview podcasts out there.

Start with: “Nudibranchology (GLAMOROUS SEA SLUGS)” (April 2026).

Listen Now

6. The Rest Is Science

Hosts: Prof. Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens (Vsauce)

Best for: strange questions about time, chance and reality

Mathematician Hannah Fry and YouTube’s Vsauce creator Michael Stevens launched this show in November 2025. Twice a week they dig into questions like why brains see patterns in randomness. It won the 2026 Webby Award for Best New Podcast in its category.

Listen Now

7. Short Wave

Hosts: Emily Kwong and Regina Barber (NPR)

Best for: a quick daily dose of science

Short Wave covers new discoveries and the science behind the headlines in under 15 minutes, four days a week. It won the 2021 Ambie Award for Best Knowledge, Science or Tech Podcast. It’s ideal for a commute; see our podcasts for your commute for more.

Listen Now

8. Unexplainable

Host: Noam Hassenfeld (Vox)

Best for: mysteries science still can’t solve

Unexplainable goes to the edge of what we know, from synthetic life to coral reefs surviving hot oceans. Episodes are reported like investigative journalism; our best investigative journalism podcasts have more in that style.

Start with: the three-part series “Life from Scratch” (August 2026).

Listen Now

9. Brains On! (for kids)

Host: Molly Bloom with a different kid co-host each week

Best for: curious kids and their families

Kids send in questions, like why feet stink, and Molly Bloom and a kid co-host find the answers with real scientists. Every episode has a Mystery Sound game, and the show toured live in 2026. For more family listening, see our best podcasts for kids.

Listen Now

Best Science Podcasts for Kids

If your child…	Listen to
Asks "why?" all day	Brains On!
Loves animals, nature and weird facts	Smologies, the short, swear-free versions of Ologies made for classrooms
Loves space	StarTalk (best for teens, as it's aimed at adults)

For more family-friendly shows, see our list of podcasts for teachers.

Best Science Podcasts For Beginners

Start short and story-driven. Short Wave explains one idea in under 15 minutes. Radiolab and Hidden Brain turn science into stories anyone can follow. Once you’re hooked, move on to longer deep dives like Ologies or StarTalk.

Best Science Podcasts on Spotify

Every show on this list is free on Spotify. Science Vs is a Spotify Studios original, so it’s a natural first pick there. The Rest Is Science is made video-first, so it’s a good pick if you like to watch as well as listen.

How We Picked These Podcasts

We started with the science charts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, recent award winners and the shows recommended most by listeners. Every show had to meet three tests:

Still active: new episodes in 2026. We checked each feed in September 2026.
Accurate: hosts who are scientists or experienced science journalists, with experts on the show.
Engaging: clear, entertaining episodes that someone without a science background can follow.

We also balanced formats, from short daily shows to long interviews, and included a pick for kids.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best science podcasts in 2026?

Radiolab, Hidden Brain and StarTalk are the most established. The Rest Is Science, which won a 2026 Webby for Best New Podcast, is the best newcomer. Science Vs, Ologies, Short Wave and Unexplainable round out the list.

What is the best science podcast for beginners?

Short Wave, because episodes are under 15 minutes and explain one idea at a time. Radiolab is the best longer pick for newcomers because it tells science as stories.

What is the best science podcast for kids?

Brains On! Each week a kid co-host helps answer listeners’ questions with real scientists, plus games and a Mystery Sound.

What are the top science podcasts on Spotify?

Science Vs is a Spotify original, and Hidden Brain, StarTalk, Radiolab and The Rest Is Science are all popular there. Every show on this list is free on Spotify.