Gimlet Media launched Science Vs, a new well-produced show, hosted by Wendy Zukerman, aimed at “pitting scientific facts against people’s ‘greatest fears’.” The show’s first episode asks scientists about fracking, and if it merits the fears usually associated with it. So, do people’s fears of fracking stack up? “Maybe.” Chemicals from fracking can contaminate drinking water, but “these instances are rare” and, in high doses, the chemicals can make people sick, but amount likely to seep into the water supply is small and, so far, the reported doses present do not appear to cause harm. However, fears of fracking causing earthquakes are completely founded — with almost no debate. Less clear-cut is the impact on the environment; methane from natural gas does escape into the atmosphere from fracking and that is bad for the climate as it is a powerful greenhouse gas, but even with that, natural gas is better than coal (but worse than renewables). (Runtime 40:59)