Best Science Podcasts 2026: Ranked by Real Chart Data
Updated September 2026 · Based on CastFox data covering 26 Apple Podcasts chart snapshots in 78 countries (2026-02-24 to 2026-09-25) and 5M+ indexed podcasts
Search best science podcasts 2026 and most of what comes back is a list somebody wrote three years ago and reposted. This one is rebuilt from chart data every month. The 20 shows below held a place in the US Science top 100 in all 26 Apple Podcasts chart snapshots CastFox took between February 24 and September 25, 2026, and they are ranked by how consistently they charted, how high they averaged, and how many of the 78 countries we track they reached on the latest scrape.
The category has settled into a handful of recognizable shapes, and knowing which one you want is most of the work. Psychology shows that explain your own behavior back to you (Hidden Brain, Making Sense, Something You Should Know). Narrative science journalism with real sound design (Radiolab, Unexplainable, Science Vs, Short Wave, Science Friday). Physics and cosmology from working scientists (StarTalk, Mindscape, Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe). Curiosity shows that make a subject you never cared about riveting (Ologies, The Rest Is Science, Tooth & Claw). Biology and the human body, from pathogens to hormones (This Podcast Will Kill You, Live Like a Girl). A sleep show that keeps charting in the top 10 (Boring History for Sleep). And a cluster of shows about the edges of the explainable (DarkHorse, Blurry Creatures, Sasquatch Chronicles) that Apple files under science whether scientists like it or not.
Two things moved in this refresh. Live Like a Girl with Dr. Mindy Pelz enters the top 20 for the first time, the clearest sign that women’s health has become a chart force inside the Science category rather than only inside Health. Big Ideas Lab, which was on the previous edition of this list, is now just outside the cut. Each card below shows the real cover art, the host, what the show is, why it earned its place, who it is best for, and the chart record behind the ranking: how many of the 26 snapshots it appeared in, its average US rank, its best rank, and how many countries it charted in on the latest scrape. Click through to CastFox for the full profile with chart history in every country, reviews, and contact details.
The 20 best science podcasts of 2026 at a glance
| # | Podcast | Hosted by | Avg US rank | Best rank | Countries charting | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hidden Brain | Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam | 1.7 | #1 | 78 | 625 |
| 2 | Radiolab | WNYC Studios | 3.1 | #1 | 76 | 669 |
| 3 | StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson | Neil deGrasse Tyson | 4.7 | #3 | 74 | 1,000 |
| 4 | Ologies with Alie Ward | Alie Ward | 4.3 | #3 | 72 | 531 |
| 5 | Science Vs | Spotify Studios | 12.6 | #6 | 74 | 343 |
| 6 | Boring History for Sleep | Velvet | 9.6 | #6 | 69 | 494 |
| 7 | Unexplainable | Vox | 16.2 | #11 | 72 | 308 |
| 8 | The Rest Is Science | Goalhanger | 19.3 | #14 | 76 | 86 |
| 9 | Short Wave | NPR | 10.3 | #6 | 62 | 1,000 |
| 10 | Making Sense with Sam Harris | Sam Harris | 16.7 | #7 | 68 | 508 |
| 11 | Something You Should Know | Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media | 1.6 | #1 | 41 | 1,000 |
| 12 | Science Friday | Science Friday and WNYC Studios | 8 | #6 | 48 | 1,000 |
| 13 | Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas | Sean Carroll | 21.1 | #15 | 59 | 443 |
| 14 | This Podcast Will Kill You | Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts | 18 | #5 | 49 | 301 |
| 15 | Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe | iHeartPodcasts | 29.3 | #24 | 48 | 843 |
| 16 | DarkHorse Podcast | Bret Weinstein & Heather Heying | 21.5 | #5 | 21 | 491 |
| 17 | Blurry Creatures | Blurry Creatures | 14.1 | #8 | 12 | 465 |
| 18 | Sasquatch Chronicles | Sasquatch Chronicles - Bigfoot Encounters | 12.9 | #6 | 10 | 731 |
| 19 | Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks | Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media | 16.9 | #11 | 14 | 212 |
| 20 | Live Like a Girl with Dr. Mindy Pelz | Dr. Mindy Pelz | 31.5 | #20 | 30 | 362 |
Jump to a Show
- #1. Hidden Brain
- #2. Radiolab
- #3. StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
- #4. Ologies with Alie Ward
- #5. Science Vs
- #6. Boring History for Sleep
- #7. Unexplainable
- #8. The Rest Is Science
- #9. Short Wave
- #10. Making Sense with Sam Harris
- #11. Something You Should Know
- #12. Science Friday
- #13. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
- #14. This Podcast Will Kill You
- #15. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe
- #16. DarkHorse Podcast
- #17. Blurry Creatures
- #18. Sasquatch Chronicles
- #19. Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
- #20. Live Like a Girl with Dr. Mindy Pelz
Rising this month · How we ranked these · How to pick the right show · FAQ
The 20 Best Science Podcasts to Listen To in 2026
Psychology and the Mind
#10. Making Sense with Sam Harris
Hosted by Sam Harris
About this show: Neuroscientist, philosopher, and author Sam Harris hosts long conversations about the mind, consciousness, morality, rationality, and current events, often with scientists and philosophers and often with the intention of changing the listener’s mind.
Why it made the list in 2026: A top-10 US peak in 2026 and a footprint across most of Europe and the English-speaking world, more than a decade after launch. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 16.7, best #7, charting in 68 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want rigorous, sometimes uncomfortable argument rather than consensus.
#11. Something You Should Know
Hosted by Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
About this show: Mike Carruthers interviews experts about one practical, research-backed thing per segment: how to remember names, why you procrastinate, what actually makes a first impression. Short, frequent, and relentlessly useful.
Why it made the list in 2026: The best average US rank of any show on this list, sustained across more than a thousand episodes. It ranks eleventh only because its audience is concentrated in a smaller number of countries. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 1.6, best #1, charting in 41 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: People who want applied behavioral science in a form they can use before lunch.
Narrative Science Journalism
#2. Radiolab
Hosted by WNYC Studios
About this show: WNYC’s flagship science show, hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser, asks big questions and answers them with investigative reporting and inventive sound design. A given episode can move from cell biology to legal history to a kitchen halfway across the world.
Why it made the list in 2026: The show that defined narrative science audio is still second on this list and still one of the two widest-reaching science podcasts in the world. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 3.1, best #1, charting in 76 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who care as much about how a story is told as what it is about.
#5. Science Vs
Hosted by Spotify Studios
About this show: Spotify Studios’ fact-checking show takes one contested topic per episode, sifts the research, and says what is true, what is not, and what is somewhere in between. Host Wendy Zukerman keeps it funny.
Why it made the list in 2026: A top-10 US peak and a reach close to Radiolab’s, which is unusual for a show built around argument rather than narrative. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 12.6, best #6, charting in 74 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Anyone who has lost an argument at dinner and wants better evidence for the next one.
#7. Unexplainable
Hosted by Vox
About this show: Vox’s science team picks a question science has not answered yet and follows it to the edge of what is known. Twice-weekly and carefully produced.
Why it made the list in 2026: The strongest of the newer shows in the narrative-journalism format, and one of the few on this list that gained ground on the older public-radio names this year. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 16.2, best #11, charting in 72 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who find settled science less interesting than the open questions.
#9. Short Wave
Hosted by NPR
About this show: NPR’s daily science show covers new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines in under 15 minutes.
Why it made the list in 2026: The most consistent short-form science show on the US chart, holding a top-10 average across the whole tracking window. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 10.3, best #6, charting in 62 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Commuters who want a daily science habit that fits inside a coffee.
#12. Science Friday
Hosted by Science Friday and WNYC Studios
About this show: The public-radio institution, produced with WNYC Studios, covers the week in science from deep space to the microbiome, with interviews, listener questions, and a long-running commitment to making research entertaining.
Why it made the list in 2026: More than a thousand episodes in and still holding a top-10 US average, which is the best week-by-week record of any weekly show here. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 8, best #6, charting in 48 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want breadth: a weekly survey of what happened in science rather than a deep dive on one topic.
Physics and the Cosmos
#3. StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson
About this show: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, hosts with comic co-hosts, celebrity guests, and scientists to cover astronomy, physics, and life in the universe, with the jokes very much intended.
Why it made the list in 2026: A top-five US average and the widest reach of any physics show in the world. It is listed on Apple under both science and education, which is a fair description of what it does. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 4.7, best #3, charting in 74 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Anyone who wants to learn about the universe without feeling like they are in a lecture.
#13. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
Hosted by Sean Carroll
About this show: Theoretical physicist and cosmologist Sean Carroll interviews leading thinkers across physics, philosophy, biology, and the arts for 90 minutes or more, plus solo episodes on the biggest ideas in his own field.
Why it made the list in 2026: A steady top-25 US charter with reach across most of Europe, an unusual footprint for a show this demanding of its listener. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 21.1, best #15, charting in 59 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want a working scientist asking other experts the questions a working scientist would ask.
#15. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts
About this show: Particle physicist Daniel Whiteson and biologist Kelly Weinersmith explain one topic in science per episode, from black holes to parasites to moon colonies, in a way that assumes curiosity and nothing else.
Why it made the list in 2026: More than 800 episodes in and still holding a top-30 US position in every snapshot this year, which is the longest unbroken run of any show in the physics group. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 29.3, best #24, charting in 48 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want explanations pitched for a smart teenager, delivered by two scientists who obviously like each other.
Curiosity and Comedy
#4. Ologies with Alie Ward
Hosted by Alie Ward
About this show: Science correspondent and humorist Alie Ward interviews one -ologist per episode, from volcanologists to thanatologists, and asks the smart questions everyone is embarrassed to ask. Charming, bizarre, and rigorous underneath.
Why it made the list in 2026: The most consistent independent science show on the chart, and the only independent production in the top five. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 4.3, best #3, charting in 72 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: People who have never cared about a subject until Alie Ward interviewed someone who does.
#8. The Rest Is Science
Hosted by Goalhanger
About this show: Mathematician Hannah Fry and science creator Michael Stevens, better known as Vsauce, dig into the weird questions that sit between what we think we know and what we actually know. Goalhanger’s science title, launched in 2025.
Why it made the list in 2026: By far the youngest show on this list by episode count, and already reaching more countries than any other newcomer in the category. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 19.3, best #14, charting in 76 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Fans of either host, and anyone who wants a smart two-hander rather than a solo lecture.
#19. Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
Hosted by Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media
About this show: Wildlife biologist Wes Larson, his brother Jeff, and their friend Mike retell documented wild animal attacks and explain the biology and behavior behind them, and how to avoid becoming a story.
Why it made the list in 2026: Proof that animal behavior can carry a science show on its own: a top-15 US peak and a place in every snapshot this year. CastFox lists teens among its top audience segments, which is rare in this category. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 16.9, best #11, charting in 14 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Hikers, campers, and anyone who likes their zoology with a pulse.
Biology and the Human Body
#14. This Podcast Will Kill You
Hosted by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
About this show: Disease ecologists Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke take one disease or medical mystery per episode and cover its biology, history, and epidemiology, cocktail recipe included.
Why it made the list in 2026: A top-five US peak this year and an audience that has kept it charting across a third of the countries we track since 2017. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 18, best #5, charting in 49 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who find pathogens fascinating and want the history alongside the science.
#20. Live Like a Girl with Dr. Mindy Pelz
Hosted by Dr. Mindy Pelz
About this show: Dr. Mindy Pelz talks with researchers and practitioners about women’s physiology: how the body works through cycling, perimenopause, and the years after. Weekly interview episodes, filed by Apple under science as well as health and fitness.
Why it made the list in 2026: New to this list in the September refresh. It held a US top-100 place in every snapshot this year, and it is the clearest sign that women’s health has become a chart force inside the Science category rather than only inside Health. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 31.5, best #20, charting in 30 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want women’s physiology covered at length rather than in a segment. It is a wellness interview show, not a clinical one, so treat it as a starting point for questions to take to your own clinician.
Science for Sleep
#6. Boring History for Sleep
Hosted by Velvet
About this show: Velvet narrates deliberately uneventful strolls through the dullest corners of the past, treaties nobody remembers and kings who ruled for three weeks, engineered so that falling asleep halfway is the goal.
Why it made the list in 2026: Improbably, a top-10 US science charter with reach across most of Europe and the Americas. Sleep audio is now one of the most consistent formats on any chart. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 9.6, best #6, charting in 69 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Insomniacs with a curious mind who find story-based sleep shows too engaging.
The Unexplained and the Contrarian
#16. DarkHorse Podcast
Hosted by Bret Weinstein & Heather Heying
About this show: Evolutionary biologists Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying apply their evolutionary toolkit to science, society, and current events, frequently in disagreement with institutional consensus.
Why it made the list in 2026: A top-five US peak this year and a place in every snapshot. The most contested show on this list, and one of the most listened to in the category. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 21.5, best #5, charting in 21 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who want heterodox scientific argument and are prepared to check the claims themselves.
#17. Blurry Creatures
Hosted by Blurry Creatures
About this show: Nate Henry and Luke Rodgers investigate cryptids, ancient giants, and forbidden history at the intersection of science, folklore, and faith, with researchers and witnesses as guests.
Why it made the list in 2026: A top-10 US peak and a place in every snapshot this year, built almost entirely on a domestic audience. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 14.1, best #8, charting in 12 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Listeners who enjoy the strange edges of the map and do not need every question answered.
#18. Sasquatch Chronicles
Hosted by Sasquatch Chronicles - Bigfoot Encounters
About this show: A weekly show of Bigfoot eyewitness accounts, researcher interviews, and sighting reports, running since 2013 with more than 700 episodes.
Why it made the list in 2026: A top-10 US peak across 2026, sustained by one of the most loyal audiences in the category and almost no international reach. Chart record: 26 of 26 US snapshots, average US rank 12.9, best #6, charting in 10 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Believers, skeptics who enjoy a campfire story, and anyone curious why so many people report the same thing.
Rising This Month: Science Podcasts Climbing the Charts (September 2026)
These are the science shows moving up fastest in CastFox rankings. We compare each show's average US chart position across the 3 most recent snapshots (2026-09-08 to 2026-09-25) with the 3 snapshots before that. A show that was outside the top 100 in the prior window is marked as new to the top 100. This section is refreshed every month; the main list above changes more slowly because it rewards consistency.
The Human Experiment New to the top 100
Hosted by Ethan Reed. The Human Experiment new to the US top 100, now averaging #50, with a best US rank of #45 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 1 country on the latest snapshot.
Science Quickly
Hosted by Scientific American. Science Quickly moved from an average of #70 to #34 (up 36 places), with a best US rank of #28 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 27 countries on the latest snapshot. Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.
The VPZD Show New to the top 100
Hosted by Drs. Vinay Prasad & Zubin Damania. The VPZD Show new to the US top 100, now averaging #67.5, with a best US rank of #62 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 0 countries on the latest snapshot. Two doctors, one podcast, Alt-Middle as heck. Featuring Dr. Vinay Prasad (host of Plenary Session) and Dr. Zubin Damania (host of The ZDoggMD Show).
The Nature Of with Willow Defebaugh
Hosted by Atmos. The Nature Of with Willow Defebaugh moved from an average of #89 to #57 (up 32 places), with a best US rank of #35 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 22 countries on the latest snapshot. Transform your life with nature as your guide. As the editor-in-chief of Atmos, Willow Defebaugh has dedicated her life to illuminating the wisdom of the natural world. In The Nature Of, she sits down with artists,...
ScienceSphere
Hosted by Stephania Mills. ScienceSphere moved from an average of #74.5 to #47.7 (up 26.8 places), with a best US rank of #43 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 3 countries on the latest snapshot. ScienceSphere is your weekly gateway into the wonders, breakthroughs, and mysteries of science. From the tiniest particles shaping our universe to the cutting-edge innovations redefining the future, this podcast...
How We Ranked These: CastFox Methodology
CastFox scrapes the Apple Podcasts charts every day in 78 countries and stores every position in the top 200 of every genre. For this list we took the 26 2026 snapshots of the US Science chart between 2026-02-24 and 2026-09-25, and scored every show that appeared in the top 100 of any of them.
- Consistency (50% of the score): the number of snapshots in which the show appeared in the US top 100. Every show on this list scored 26 out of 26, which is the filter that removes one-week spikes.
- Average US rank (30%): the mean of the show's US chart positions across those snapshots. Lower is better.
- Global reach (20%): the number of tracked countries in which the show was in the genre top 100 on the most recent snapshot. This is what separates a show with a large US following from a show with a global one.
There are no paid placements and no editorial overrides. A few shows on this list would not be our personal picks; they are here because the chart data put them here, and we would rather show you what people are actually listening to than what we think they should be. Chart position is not the same as audience size, so treat the ranking as a measure of sustained popularity rather than a download count. For a deeper look at what chart data can and cannot tell you, read how podcast audience demographics are calculated.
How to Pick the Right Science Podcast for You
What are the best science podcasts for beginners?
Start with Short Wave if you want a daily habit that fits in under 15 minutes, Hidden Brain if you want one idea explained properly across a full episode, and Ologies if you want a host who asks the questions you are embarrassed to ask. None of the three assume you remember anything from school, and all three are among the highest ranked shows on this list.
What are the best space and astronomy podcasts?
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson is the widest reaching, charting in 74 countries on the latest scrape. Sean Carroll’s Mindscape is the one to pick if you want a working theoretical physicist interviewing other physicists at length, and Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe sits in the friendly middle, with a particle physicist and a biologist taking one question per episode.
What are the best biology and nature podcasts?
This Podcast Will Kill You covers one disease per episode from two disease ecologists, and Tooth & Claw uses documented wild animal attacks to teach animal behavior. Ologies is the best general entry point, since a large share of its episodes are with field biologists. For plant, bird, and ecology shows specifically, the Science chart is thinner than the full CastFox Science list suggests, so search by topic rather than by category.
What are the best science podcasts for kids and teens?
The Apple Science chart is an adult chart, so treat this as a shortlist of the shows on it that work for a younger listener rather than a children’s list. Ologies has a family-friendly Smologies feed, Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe pitches its explanations at a curious teenager, and CastFox lists teens among the top audience segments for Tooth & Claw. For younger children, start from the Kids & Family chart instead.
What are the best science news podcasts weekly listeners can stick with?
Science Friday is the weekly survey of what actually happened in research, and it has held a US top-10 average all year. Science Vs is the one to use when a claim is contested and you want the evidence weighed. If a week feels too long between episodes, Short Wave publishes daily and Unexplainable twice a week.
What is the best science podcast to fall asleep to?
Boring History for Sleep, which is engineered so that losing the thread halfway through is the point. It is not a novelty result: it appeared in all 26 US Science snapshots in 2026 and charts in 69 countries, which makes sleep audio one of the most durable formats in the category.
Want the next 180 science podcasts?
This list is the top 20. The CastFox Science chart page shows the top 50 updated daily, and PodcastGPT can find shows on any specific topic across 5M+ podcasts.
See the daily top 50 → Search by topic →Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Science Podcasts
What is the most popular science podcast in 2026?
Hidden Brain. It appeared in all 26 US Science chart snapshots CastFox took between February and September 2026, averaged a US rank of 1.7, and charts in all 78 countries we track, which is the widest footprint in the category. Radiolab and StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson are second and third. Something You Should Know actually has the best average US rank on the list at 1.6, but it charts in 41 countries rather than 78, so it ranks lower once global reach is counted.
How is this list ranked?
Each show’s score combines three things from CastFox’s daily Apple Podcasts chart data: how many of the 26 US Science chart snapshots taken in 2026 it appeared in the top 100 of (50% of the score), its average US rank across those snapshots (30%), and how many of 78 tracked countries it charted in on the latest scrape (20%). Every show here scored 26 out of 26 on consistency, so the ranking is decided by average rank and reach. There are no paid placements and no editorial overrides.
Why are Bigfoot and cryptid podcasts on a science list?
Because Apple Podcasts files them under Science, and this list is built from the Apple Science chart rather than from our own opinion of what counts as science. Sasquatch Chronicles, Blurry Creatures, and DarkHorse each held a US top-100 place in all 26 snapshots, with top-10 peaks. We describe them for what they are rather than leaving them out, and we say plainly that chart position is a measure of listening, not of scientific standing.
Are these science podcasts free?
Yes. Every show on this list is free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the other major apps. Several also sell ad-free or early-access tiers, and a few run members-only bonus feeds, but the main feed in each case is free.
How do I find science podcasts on a specific topic?
Use PodcastGPT Podcast Finder and describe the topic in plain English, for example podcasts about CRISPR and gene editing or astronomy podcasts for beginners. It searches 5M+ shows by subject rather than by category name, and topic search finds the individual episodes. You can also browse the daily top 50 on the CastFox Science chart.
I am a scientist or science communicator. How do I get booked on these shows?
Most of the interview shows here book outside experts, and the ones that do are easy to spot from their episode history. CastFox Guest Finder matches your expertise to active, guest-booking science podcasts with verified host contacts, and the complete guesting playbook covers the pitch itself.