I’ve been meaning to compile a list of podcasts for a long time now. We’re all so used to putting in our earphones and tuning out the world. But for a change, how about we take in useful information while doing so?

Here, I’m going to list out the top 10 podcasts in the field of science that you can keep up with during 2021! Maybe we could channel our energy into learning about the cool things that the field has to offer rather than doomsday scrolling on Twitter (cue Corona!). Okay, so let’s get to it. Here are my top picks for this year.

1. Science rules! With Bill Nye

If you’re in the field of science, there’s no way you have no idea who Bill Bye is. Or at the very least, you must have heard of the phrase ‘Bill Nye, the Science Guy’? Yes, he’s the ultimate science guy who embraces his nerdiness and made an entire career out of it! This podcast talks about everything in science. If you have a question that you’d like to be answered, visit this link and you never know, you just might get an answer to it!

He discusses some of the vaguest questions that you could ever think of such as ‘Should you stop eating cheeseburgers to combat climate change?’ or ‘Does your pet parakeet learn to speak the way you learn to do so?’. What adds credibility to this great series is that he discusses them with the world’s foremost experts in their respective fields! Check out the podcast at Science rules! With Bill Nye.

Recommended episode: Science is racist. Here’s how to fix it.

2. 60-second science

You love listening to podcasts and would love to keep up with the most trending news at that point in time? This podcast would give you all the information you’d like while keeping it extremely short. These short 60 to 90-second snippets are brought to you by Scientific American, the leading science journalism website.

This podcast is literally the easiest way to keep up with current news and not necessarily limited to your field. You can check it out here 60-second science.

Recommended episode: Civil war vaccine may have lessons for COVID-19

3. Radiolab

Radiolab is one of the most well-known science podcasts out there and has managed to keep its reputation for over 18 years. The unique take of the presenter coupled with the sense of being at a live show would definitely get you hooked! It’s an award-winning show and is very well deserved.

These hour long episodes would definitely give you your time’s worth of information on the most relevant topics. You can check out the podcast here: Radiolab

Recommended episode: G: Unnatural Selection

4. Houston, we have a podcast

I really wouldn’t recommend the best podcasts to you unless they included something to do with space. Yes, my inherent obsession with space is evident here. The official podcast of NASA has everything you’ve wanted to know about space. Honestly. This goes above and beyond in informing you about the most basic things such as ‘How to train to be an astronaut’ and the like.

What better source of information than the one that does all the research anyway? Check them out here: Houston we have a podcast.

Recommended episode: Students and spacesuits

5. StarTalk Radio

Neil deGrasse Tyson has been known to simplify extremely complicated astronomical concepts for the layman in the most efficient way possible. His take on science with comical satire is unique in its own sense and this is why you’d absolutely love this!

You get a lot of bonus stuff on his website in addition to the podcast, so I’m not sure what you’re waiting for? Go ahead and listen to this legend over here at Startalk Radio Show with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Recommended episode: Cosmic queries: Black hole survival guide

6. Gastropod

This podcast is the perfect information desk for people who love food. Have you ever wondered what the history of food is like? How is food processed and what the end-to-end process is like? What the farm to table approach is? Tune into this great podcast by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley and understand the intricacies of the food that you eat every day.

Get your favorite bag of chips, a cup of coffee, and listen to all of this expert-backed information at Gastropod.

Recommended episode: The Brightest Bulb

7. The Curious Case of Rutherford & Fry

Do you love mysteries and have some questions of your own that you want to be answered? Worry not, because the Curious case of Rutherford & Fry is here. This BBC-produced podcast is one of the most distinguished ones out there. I mean it is being produced by one of the biggest journalism production companies out there and has been known for its great podcasts.

They take a spin on some of the questions that their own viewers send in and they also use a detective-style in doing so which makes it even more intriguing! You can check them out here at The Curious Case of Rutherford & Fry.

Recommended episode: The Martian Mission

8. Science Vs

This brilliant podcast has garnered so much attention given the current misinformation that we see in the world. Yes, thanks to COVID-19, we’ve seen an excess of it out there and these folks at Gimlet Media are fighting exactly that. If there is a new fad or new piece of obscure text that you’ve seen, it’s highly likely they’ve debunked it already with the team of experts that they consult.

This show is perfect for those who love debunking myths and proving others wrong (guilty!). You can check them out at Science Vs.

Recommended episode: Supervolcanoes: Is Yellowstone gonna blow?

9. Invisibilia

Do you love listening to the most abstract concepts on this planet? If you’d like to explore science but from the perspective of ideas, beliefs, and assumptions, then this is something you should definitely look at. It’s a differentiator in its own sense and will continue to be.

Since they focus on specific stories as well, I’d definitely recommend them to you and you can find them at Invisibilia.

Recommended episode: The Reluctant Immortalist

10. Nature Podcast

Yes, the Nature group has its own podcast, and who better to listen to it from than the ones who publish the information themselves! I’ll admit that this series is definitely for the ones who are the most attracted to science o you could give it a skip if you’re casually browsing through the list.

You can always trust them to have the most up to date information from the best in the field and this is why it is a definite listen! You can check them out here Nature Podcast.

Recommended episode: ‘Stick to the Science’: When Science gets Political (3-part series).

Link: https://tinyurl.com/4sdntdnc

If you’ve liked the list, definitely let me know in the comments section down below! Which podcast do you like to listen to? Maybe I could do another feature section like this. Let me know!

P.S.: These podcasts are not ordered in term of being the best, but rather in terms of preference. I've enjoyed listening to these in the past few months and thought I should share them with you! :)