Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a podcast?

A podcast is a bit like a short radio programme that you can listen to at any time you want - in this case 30 minutes of informative but lighthearted news and discussion about the chemical sciences. But - unlike a radio show or any other online audio file - you can subscribe to a podcast. This means the programme will be automatically downloaded to your computer every time a new episode is posted, without you having to go and look for it.

And, best of all: it's completely free!

I don't have an iPod, can I still listen to the Chemistry World podcast?

Yes, you don't need an iPod or any other kind of portable mp3 player to listen to a podcast. As long as your computer is connected to the internet, and allows you to play audio files, you have all you need. If your computer operates Windows, it probably already has Microsoft Media Player installed which will play the podcast for you: just click on the downloadable podcast file. If not, players that can play mp3 files, such as iTunes or QuickTime Player can be downloaded free of charge.

If you do have a portable mp3 player you can listen to the podcast whenever and wherever you like. Just download the podcast file from your computer to your mp3 player and off you go!

How do I subscribe to the podcast?

Subscribing to the Chemistry World podcast is simple and completely free. Furthermore, you don't need to supply any personal details and you can unsubscribe at any time. 

To subscribe, your computer will need to have some software that supports podcasts, such as an RSS feed reader or iTunes. Then you just need to paste in the xml link given in the subscribe section on the Chemistry World podcast homepage.

And what exactly is an RSS feed?

RSS feeds allow you to choose the content that you like and have it delivered to you instantly. This is great for digital content that is updated regularly, such as podcasts. 

Put simply, RSS feeds are there to make your life easier. Rather than clicking on the Chemistry World podcast website every day to see if the new issue has been posted, using RSS means that it will be delivered to you automatically. To access RSS feeds your computer needs to have some software that allows you to read RSS feeds: an RSS feed reader. Most feed readers are completely free to use or download. For more information on RSS feeds, please read our What are RSS news feeds and how do I use them? webpage.

Who are the podcasters?

You can read more about the people behind the Chemistry World podcast on our About the Podcasters page.