Science Vs

Is Sitting All Day Really That Bad for You?

3.4K views · 1d ago · 30:16

Lots of us spend HOURS a day sitting on our bums. And we’re often told that this is terrible for us — even that it could be as bad for our health as smoking. But how bad is it really? And can exercise or standing desks help make up for all those hours on the couch?? We dig into what happens inside our bodies when we sit all day — with sedentary behavior researchers Prof. David Dunstan and Prof. Bethany Barone Gibbs.

Topics: How sitting became so scary · What is sitting doing to us? · Can standing help? · What we can do

Testosterone: Do We All Need a Boost?

4.7K views · 1w ago · 37:28

We’re hearing a ton about the marvels of testosterone from influencers, celebrities, and even government officials. They say we should be thinking about our T levels, topping them off with extra if they’re too low. And we’re told that the benefits of testosterone are HUGE: that we’ll be stronger, sexier, and more energized. So is that true??

Topics: We’re obsessed with testosterone · Will T make you bigger and stronger? · ‘Roid rage · Will T turn you into a horndog? · Will T put pep in your step? · The risks of taking T

No one is talking about Bigorexia (and we need to)

22K views · 1w ago · 24:28

Men are looking more and more muscular online, and we're told this is healthy. But what if what we're seeing is an emerging eating disorder, called Bigorexia or Muscle Dysphoria? Science educators Mitch Moffit and Greg Brown from the YouTube juggernaut AsapSCIENCE have been looking into this for their podcast Sidenote by AsapSCIENCE.

Fiber Maxxing And Poo Maxxing: How To Do It Right

7.4K views · 2w ago · 56:35

Have you been puzzled by your poos or felt down about your dumps?? You’re not alone! So many of us are struggling with gut issues, which is why fiber is having a major moment. But even though we’re secretly guzzling psyllium husk, tons of us are too embarrassed to talk about our poo problems. No more! We’re putting an end to the silence on stool with Dr. Trisha Pasricha.

Topics: What does it mean to reach “poophoria”?? · Living in a poo-forward household · Stomach lie detector · That sinking feeling in your stomach · The gut-brain connection · Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's

Collagen Peptides Aren't (Completely) a Scam

8.1K views · 3w ago · 32:59

Collagen peptides!! Can they make you look younger and be healthier? It feels like everyone wants to be bursting with collagen, and apparently the way to do it is by scooping up that white powder of collagen peptides and guzzling it down. Do that, and — according to the wellfluencers — not only will your skin be as bouncy as a baby's bottom, but you'll also be stronger and you'll heal from injuries faster. But of course, not everyone is on the collagen train.

Topics: Collagen peptides are EVERYWHERE · Why is collagen important? · What are collagen "peptides"? · Do collagen peptides in creams or injections work? · Can eating collagen improve your skin? · What happens to collagen after you eat it?

Why We Never Forget Our Teen Years

4.4K views · 4w ago · 56:09

Our brains go completely WILD when we go through our teenage years. It’s a time where it feels like every disagreement with our parents turns into World War III, and every idea that could get us killed sounds like the most fun we could ever have. In this episode, we get into the science of what the brain is doing during the teenage years with clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour.

Topics: Meet Lisa Damour · The teenage brain · Big feelings, what they mean, and how to respond · The teenage brain and abstract thinking · Teenagers and risk-taking · How long does adolescence really last??

How To Go To Sleep Earlier

6.5K views · 1mo ago · 19:10

Everyone says - if you want to sleep better, stop scrolling before bed! But why is it so hard to do? Wendy chats with sleep researcher and longtime Youtuber Dr. Vanessa Hill about why a lot of the sleep advice we hear just doesn’t work — and what actually helps. We dig into bedtime procrastination, why our tired brains like to fall back on old habits, and Vanessa’s research into how to actually cut-down the late-night scrolling.

What Really Works to Reduce Your Stress

14K views · 1mo ago · 37:53

Stress! We’re all feeling it. And besides just feeling crappy, we’re also told that stress can wreak havoc on our bodies. The internet has a million solutions: vagus nerve stimulators, deep breaths, or a hot sauna! If that doesn’t work, maybe a cold plunge? But what does the science say about all this — what works to lower our stress? And is it really THAT bad to be stressed out?

Topics: We’re all stressed out! · Is stress that bad for us? · A healthier stress response · How our vagus nerves are involved in stress · Can we “hack” our vagus nerves? · What else can relieve stress?

Is the AI APOCALYPSE just HYPE??

13K views · 1mo ago · 42:28

Could artificial intelligence really wipe out humanity? Claims that AI poses an existential threat are going gangbusters. AI agents from OpenAI recently hacked into another company, Hugging Face, which has people talking about whether AI can go “rogue.” And some current and former AI company employees are raising the alarm.

Topics: AI is scaring the crap out of people · The Hugging Face hack · The paperclip maximizer · How would superintelligent AI take us out? · Could AI unleash nuclear war? · Could AI unleash biological weapons?

Where Have the Insects Gone??

30K views · 1mo ago · 43:24

Bugs are disappearing at alarming rates, scientists are telling us. Bees, butterflies, beetles: all of them have been dropping like flies. And scientists say there are a bunch of reasons to care about this — for example, fewer bugs means less pollination, which means less pasta in your pantry. But recently, some have suggested that all these scientists crying out about the insect apocalypse might just be crying wolf.

Topics: Meet entomologist Dr. Jessica Ware · Dragonflies: Origins and sex lives · The insect apocalypse: How bad is it? · What’s causing the decline in insects · Bees and pollinator gardens · Invasive species: Lanternflies and murder hornets

Protein-Maxxing: Is It Killing You?

4.8K views · 1mo ago · 28:42

Protein is everywhere — tons of us are trying to cram more of it into our diets, and it's showing up in our lattes, our snack bars, even our popcorn. But just as we’re getting on board with protein-maxxing, a bunch of headlines have started saying the opposite: that eating LESS protein could actually help you live longer. So what's going on here?? Should we be piling on the protein — or pulling back? And could going too low actually be dangerous? We talk to biologist Prof.

Topics: Protein-Maxxing or Protein-Minning? · Restricting Protein Makes You Live Longer??!? · A Tale of Brown Fat and mTOR · What Could Go Wrong? · So What the Hell Should We Be Eating?

Sunscreen: Is It Toxic??

9.9K views · 2mo ago · 48:23

Sunscreen is supposed to protect us from dangerous stuff like cancer, but all over social media, people are saying that we’ve been getting it all wrong. We’re being told that our sunscreen is full of toxic chemicals, that wearing it could mess with our vitamin D levels — even that sunscreen itself actually increases our risk of skin cancer. So, what can the science tell us here? Should we toss our SPF-filled creams and sprays in the bin??

Topics: The internet freak-out over sunscreen · Is sunscreen toxic? · Does sunscreen mess with vitamin D? · Does sunscreen work to prevent skin cancer? · Do people with darker skin need sunscreen? · How to wear sunscreen correctly

Hank Green: How the Algorithm Got Weird

45K views · 2mo ago · 50:15

Guest: Hank Green

Topics: Hank Green’s journey to YouTube · How ‘going viral’ has completely changed · How social media captures your attention · What Hank is and isn’t worried about with AI · Hank’s cancer diagnosis · The fracturing of communication

Weight Cycling: Is it Your Fault?

3.8K views · 2mo ago · 36:40

Guest: Weight Cycling

If you have ever tried to lose weight only to find the weight crept back on, you’re not alone. In fact, for tons of people, this happens over and over again. This is called “weight cycling,” and a bunch of influencers are saying that this is terrible for us. They say that it can ruin your metabolism forever and that it can lead to stuff like diabetes and scary muscle loss. So could that be true?? And why does this happen at all? We find out with nutritionist Prof.

Topics: What we’re hearing about weight cycling · Why is it so hard to keep the weight off? · Does weight cycling break your metabolism? · Will you gain fat and lose muscle? · Weight cycling and inflammation? · Will weight cycling make you sick?