a little about a lot
Back with new episodes soon

a little abouta lot

A science podcast that takes one topic at a time and gives you just enough to get it, explain it, and want more.

Watch the trailer Explore the scale of things

Pick a practice slide to put it under the microscope.

1 mm
Pick a slide from the practice box or the episode rack
Objective 4×, field of view 4.5 mm

Turn the fine focus until the sample is sharp.

Everything starts as one pixel

The trailer for the new season: 51 seconds on who we are and what the show is about. Play it with the sound on, or turn on captions below the video.

Read the transcript

Everything starts small. A dot. A cell. A question? Nicky went from studying microbes, to working in some of the busiest trauma E.R.s in New England, and now, builds tools to help hospitals hunt dangerous pathogens. Andrew spent 4 years researching the brains of patients with complex neurological issues, now, he's studying what makes the most advanced AI systems tick. Different fields, same curiosity. So... they hit record. Up close, far out, and everything, in between. A little, about a lot. New episodes, soon!

On the slide rack

The new season is being recorded, and each episode gets its own slide here as it's ready. Click a slide to load it into the microscope. Try Bird Brains, from the original series.

    From atoms to everything

    "A lot" covers a lot of ground. Step through 37 orders of magnitude, from a single atom to the edge of the observable universe. Every stop has its own little animation and its own sound.

    About the show

    Science is huge. Nobody has time to learn all of it, and you don't need to.

    Each episode of a little about a lot picks one corner of science, from the microbes on a hospital doorknob to the light from a dying star, and gives you a little about it: enough to understand what's going on, explain it to a friend, and decide whether you want to go deeper.

    The show is coming back with a new look and new episodes. Follow along and you'll know when the first one lands.

    A little about… the hosts!

    Two scientists who like explaining things a little more than is strictly necessary.

    • Andrew Guthrie, smiling in a white cap, on an ATV in the sand dunes
      Host

      Andrew Guthrie

      Neuroscience to machine learning

      Andrew studied biochemistry and neuroscience at UMass Amherst, then spent four years at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School using brain imaging to study complex neurological disorders. Now earning a master's in computer science at Northeastern, he's carrying what he learned about real brains into machine learning and AI that acts in the physical world.

      Off the mic: traveling, watching sports, and sci-comm, of course.

    • Nicolas Gnaman in a light blue shirt, leaning on a railing in a library
      Host

      Nicolas Gnaman

      From the ER to biotech

      Nicky studied microbiology at UMass Amherst, then went into healthcare as an EMT and ER tech in Level I trauma centers across Massachusetts, including Baystate Medical Center, before moving into infection prevention research at Boston Medical Center. Now a Research Associate and Applications Scientist in biotech, he builds tools to help hospitals fight dangerous pathogens like C. difficile.

      Off the mic: cooking, playing the cello, and sci-comm, of course.

    Listen

    Links go live with the first new episode.

    SpotifyComing soon
    Apple PodcastsComing soon
    YouTubeComing soon
    RSS feedComing soon

    The shop

    Tees, hoodies and a few things for the curious. The shop opens alongside the new season.

    Coming soon
    • Big Questions, Little Answers tee: naturalComing soon

      Big Questions, Little Answers tee

      Natural. Orbit diagram on the back.

    • Field Notes tee: naturalComing soon

      Field Notes tee

      Natural. Wave interference grid on the back.

    • Ask why. baby tee: light blueComing soon

      Ask why. baby tee

      Light blue. Small front print.

    • a little / about a lot zip hoodie: washed blackComing soon

      a little / about a lot zip hoodie

      Washed black. Wordmark split across the zip, microscope on the cuff.

    • Stay Curious crewneck: heather greyComing soon

      Stay Curious crewneck

      Heather grey. Microscope stitched on the hem.

    • Always Wondering hoodie: sageComing soon

      Always Wondering hoodie

      Sage. Big back print.

    • a little beanie: brown rib knit with a woven microscope labelComing soon

      a little beanie

      Brown rib knit with a woven microscope label.

    • Good Questions tote: natural canvasComing soon

      Good Questions tote

      Natural canvas.