Big Picture Science

Last updated

Big Picture Science
BigPictureScienceTitleLogo.png
Big Picture Science Logo
GenreScience
Running time1 hour
Country of originUnited States
Language(s) English
Syndicatesself-distributed via the Public Radio Satellite System
Hosted bySeth Shostak, Molly Bentley
Executive producer(s)Molly Bentley
Edited byMolly Bentley, Seth Shostak, Gary Niederhoff
Recording studio Mountain View, California
Original release2002
Audio formatmp3, wav
Website bigpicturescience.org
Podcast bigpicturescience.org/listening_options

Big Picture Science is the national science radio program and podcast, produced at the SETI Institute and hosted by Senior Astronomer Seth Shostak and journalist Molly Bentley, the executive producer of the show. [1]

The program uses innovative storytelling to connect trends in contemporary research and technology. Episodes are thematic, providing in-depth discussion of particular developments in science. Topics covered include the latest developments in science. Guests include researchers from academic, public and private spheres (including NASA), popular science writers, cultural critics, engineers, and ethicists focused on science. Once a month an episode, "Skeptic Check," is devoted to critical thinking and takes on topics in junk science and the paranormal. [2] [3]

The show is broadcast on approximately 155 radio stations, many of them NPR affiliates. These include KALW in San Francisco, WCMU-FM in Michigan, WVPE in Indiana, WHRV in Virginia, WIEC in Wisconsin, and WNYE in New York City, as well as World FM in Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand, and American Forces Network. The show is also available for download via podcast and direct download from podcast networks as well as the show's website where archived shows from 2006 on can also be found. Episodes are cut to an NPR clock.

Big Picture Science was formerly titled Are We Alone?, and functioned as a commercially-supported radio call-in show before transitioning to distribution through the Public Radio Satellite System and Public Radio Exchange. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Science Friday</i> American radio program

Science Friday is a weekly call-in talk show that broadcasts each Friday on public radio stations, distributed by WNYC Studios, and carried on over 470 public radio stations. SciFri is hosted by science journalist Ira Flatow and was created and is produced by the Science Friday Initiative. The program is divided into two one-hour programs, with each hour ending with a complete sign-off. The focus of each program is news and information on science, nature, medicine, and technology. The show originated as the Friday episode of the daily call-in talk show Talk of the Nation, but was spun off as a series in its own right when Talk of the Nation was canceled in June 2013.

<i>This American Life</i> Short stories radio program and podcast

This American Life (TAL) is an American weekly hour-long radio program produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media and hosted by Ira Glass. It is broadcast on numerous public radio stations in the United States and internationally, and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays, memoirs, field recordings, short fiction, and found footage. The first episode aired on November 17, 1995, under the show's original title, Your Radio Playhouse. The series was distributed by Public Radio International until June 2014, when the program became self-distributed with Public Radio Exchange delivering new episodes to public radio stations.

<i>All Things Considered</i> American news program on National Public Radio (NPR)

All Things Considered (ATC) is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio (NPR). It was the first news program on NPR, premiering on May 3, 1971. It is broadcast live on NPR affiliated stations in the United States, and worldwide through several different outlets, formerly including the NPR Berlin station in Germany. All Things Considered and Morning Edition were the highest rated public radio programs in the United States in 2002 and 2005. The show combines news, analysis, commentary, interviews, and special features, and its segments vary in length and style. ATC airs weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (live) or Pacific Time or from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. A weekend version of ATC, Weekend All Things Considered, airs on Saturdays and Sundays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michio Kaku</span> American theoretical physicist, futurist and author

Michio Kaku is an American theoretical physicist, activist, futurologist, and popular-science writer. He is a professor of theoretical physics in the City College of New York and CUNY Graduate Center. Kaku is the author of several books about physics and related topics and has made frequent appearances on radio, television, and film. He is also a regular contributor to his own blog, as well as other popular media outlets. For his efforts to bridge science and science fiction, he is a 2021 Sir Arthur Clarke Lifetime Achievement Awardee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Public Broadcasting</span> PBS and NPR member networks in Oregon

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is the primary television and radio public broadcasting network for most of the U.S. state of Oregon as well as southern Washington. OPB consists of five full-power television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, and over 20 radio stations and frequencies. Broadcasts include local and regional programming as well as television programs from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and American Public Television (APT), and radio programs from National Public Radio (NPR), American Public Media (APM), Public Radio Exchange (PRX), and the BBC World Service, among other distributors. Its headquarters and television studios are located in Portland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SETI Institute</span> Not-for-profit research organization

The SETI Institute is a not-for-profit research organization incorporated in 1984 whose mission is to explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe, and to use this knowledge to inspire and guide present and future generations, sharing knowledge with the public, the press, and the government. SETI stands for the "search for extraterrestrial intelligence".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seth Shostak</span> American astronomer and author (born 1943)

Seth Shostak is an American astronomer and author, and is currently the senior astronomer for the SETI Institute.

American Public Media (APM) is an American company that produces and distributes public radio programs in the United States, the second largest company of its type after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota and California. Its station brands include Minnesota Public Radio and Southern California Public Radio. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, APM is best known for distribution of the national financial news program Marketplace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Podcast</span> Type of audio digital media

A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosing. Podcasts are primarily an audio medium, with some programs offering a supplemental video component. Streaming applications and podcasting services provide a convenient and integrated way to manage a personal consumption queue across many podcast sources and playback devices. There are also podcast search engines, which help users find and share podcast episodes.

<i>Bullseye with Jesse Thorn</i> American radio program and podcast

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn is a public radio program and podcast based in Los Angeles, California, and distributed by National Public Radio (NPR). The weekly show is currently heard on over 150 public radio stations. The program features host Jesse Thorn interviewing personalities in arts and culture, with a special focus on comedy.

The Public Radio Exchange (PRX) is a non-profit web-based platform for digital distribution, review, and licensing of radio programs. The organization is the largest on-demand catalogue of public radio programs available for broadcast and internet use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Pesca</span> American journalist

Mike Pesca is an American radio journalist and podcaster based in New York City. He is the host of the daily podcast, The Gist, and the editor of Upon Further Review: The Greatest What-Ifs in Sports History.

<i>Radiolab</i> American radio program

Radiolab is a radio program produced by WNYC, a public radio station based in New York City, and broadcast on public radio stations in the United States. The show is nationally syndicated and is available as a podcast. Live shows were first offered in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NPR</span> American nonprofit media organization

National Public Radio is an American nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national syndicator to a network of over 1,000 public radio stations in the United States. It differs from other non-profit membership media organizations such as the Associated Press, in that it was established by an act of Congress.

<i>99% Invisible</i> Radio program and podcast on design

99% Invisible is a radio show and podcast produced and created by Roman Mars that focuses on design. It began as a collaborative project between San Francisco public radio station KALW and the American Institute of Architects in San Francisco. PRX has distributed the show for broadcasting on a number of radio stations and as a podcast on the Radiotopia network. On April 28, 2021, Roman Mars announced in an introduction of a re-released episode that 99% Invisible had been purchased by Sirius XM and marketed as part of its Stitcher Radio brand.

Rendered was an independently produced American radio program based in Portland, Oregon.

<i>Invisibilia</i> Radio program and audio podcast

Invisibilia was a radio program and podcast from National Public Radio, which debuted in early 2015 and "explores the intangible forces that shape human behavior—things like ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions." The program's title comes from Latin, meaning "the invisible things." The Guardian ranked Invisibilia among "the 10 best new podcasts of 2015." As of their seventh season, the program is hosted by Kia Miakka Natisse and Yowei Shaw; previous seasons were also hosted by Lulu Miller, Alix Spiegel and Hanna Rosin.

WNYC Studios is a producer and distributor of podcasts and on-demand and broadcast audio. WNYC Studios is a subsidiary of New York Public Radio and is headquartered in New York City.

Rico Gagliano is an American journalist, podcaster and radio host. He is best known as the co-host, with Brendan Francis Newnam, of American Public Media’s arts-and-culture radio show and podcast “The Dinner Party Download”, and as a reporter for the public radio business show “Marketplace". He has also written for television and for print media, including the New York Times. He is currently Head of Audio at the cinephile streaming service and film distributor MUBI.

<i>Consider This</i> (podcast) American news podcast

Consider This is a daily afternoon news podcast by the American media organization NPR, which typically releases new episodes Sunday through Friday around 5 p.m. ET.

References

  1. "About Big Picture Science". SETI Institute. 2014. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  2. Blakemore, Erin (June 23, 2018). "Selling science, and debunking pseudoscience, through great stories". Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. "Geomedia: Radio: "Big Picture Science" aptly named". www.earthmagazine.org. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  4. "About The Show". August 13, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.