Big Brains: All Episodes

Translating groundbreaking research into digestible brain food. Big Brains, little bites. Produced out at the University of Chicago. Winner of CASE "Grand Gold" award in 2022, Gold award in 2021, and named Adweek's "Best Branded Podcast" in 2020.

Big Brains podcst

Episode List

The ‘legendary’ discovery of black holes: The Day Tomorrow Began (Ep. 101)

Explore the surprising history of these cosmic monsters—and the future of research from leaders in the field

Celebrating our 100th episode

 

A behind-the-scenes look at world-changing ideas at UChicago and beyond

Does Welfare Reduce Crime? with Manasi Deshpande (Ep. 99)

Groundbreaking study examines one program’s impact on employment and incarceration

The Crucial Race to Build a Better Battery with Shirley Meng (Ep. 98)

One scientist’s quest to improve technology as we transition to green energy

Do Animals Dream? with David M. Peña-Guzmán (Ep. 97)

Scholar explores the science behind animal consciousness

Extreme Heat Waves: Why Are They Surging? with Noboru Nakamura (Ep. 96)

Research examines—and could help predict—extreme weather events around the world 

Why Air Pollution Is Cutting Years Off Our Lives, with Christa Hasenkopf and Anant Sudarshan (Ep. 95)

Scholars behind Air Quality Life Index report warn of threat to our global health

How tax dodging and corporate secrecy found a home in Delaware, with Hal Weitzman (Ep. 94)

Scholar examines how the wealthy, global corporations exploit tax loopholes in the tiny U.S. state

Why Countries Choose War Over Peace, with Chris Blattman (Ep. 93)

Studying gangs and political enemies, scholar tries to understand why we fight—and how to stop conflict

From green burials to DIY funerals, how death in America is changing with Shannon Lee Dawdy (Ep. 92)

Anthropologist examines what our rituals reveal about society, especially after 9/11