Science... sort of
Conversations about things that are science, things that are sort of science, and things that wish they were science. A member of the Brachiolope Media Network.
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347 - Skipping Strikes
04/29/2023
347 - Skipping Strikes
00:00:00 - that if you want one big skip instead of many little skips . If that’s what you’re into… 00:23:00 - Another way to enjoy a day on the river is with a beverage. Patrick is back to basics with a . Charlie is legally enjoying a Rogue . And Ryan is recovering with some maximum-strength cold medicine. 00:31:45 - In the , the astronomers are now fighting back by ! 00:51:25 - The PaleoPOWs are a lot like lightning, we’re never sure where it’s going to hit but we can hope to guide it. First up, Patrick provides a Canadian Apple Podcasts Review from Peachy🍑Jess, who was kind enough to give us 5 stars! Next up, Charlie has an e-mail from Gerrit B. who provides some neat updates after listening to episode 342 and provides the following links: And finally, Patron Adrian K. has earned their BSso by submitting for our consideration a thesis entitled: Ballistics and Skip-tistics: Laser-guided manufacture of fulgurite skipping stones. Thanks, Adrian! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Blue Dot Sessions Audio Production:
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346 - Kenji and the Indestructible, Functional, No Fooling, Very Versatile Wok
02/04/2023
346 - Kenji and the Indestructible, Functional, No Fooling, Very Versatile Wok
00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by cookbook author and J. Kenji López-Alt to discuss his latest book , available wherever fine books are sold including our . Can you ruin your wok your first time using it? Is carbon steel superior to cast iron? Can you poison your guests with hot peppers? Tune in to find out! 00:26:40 - Ryan enjoys an Americano made using in Charlotte, NC. 00:30:15 - Part two of Ryan’s hard-hitting no-holds-barred discussion of the wok with Kenji continues! 00:58:30 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like cooking with woks: if you get all your ingredients together beforehand you’re done before you know it. This episode features three comments from the world of Facebook by , , and , respectively. Thanks, guys! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Broke for Free Audio Production:
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345 - Evil Prevails
01/07/2023
345 - Evil Prevails
00:00:00 - Manly Ryan North () returns to the show to talk to Ben and Handsome Ryan (not a self-selected nickname) to talk about his new book, , available now wherever fine books are sold! 00:36:00 - Taking over the world is thirst work. Fortunately, we came prepared. Ben is enjoying some , which comes from the roots of a bush. Ryan is having the debatably thematic by Weathered Ground Brewing. 00:44:59 - The discussion with Ryan North continues. Learn more at or snag your own copy via our ! 01:25:56 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like supervillains, you want to trust them, but should you? Ben starts off with an e-mail from Brandon who enjoyed the live show where everyone met Ben in person, or were they only meeting a satellite android body of an AI still hanging out on a computer in a garage? Ben claims quantum computer-hood in response. Ryan then presents a 5-star from RJM544. Thanks, RJM544! Finally, Rj M. has earned a BSso by writing a thesis entitled: Applications of N.E.M.O. (Northern Ermergent Monstrous Occurrences) and their use in acquiring federal funding to topple city-states: A case study in training a Chessai (Chesapeakus monstorius) to commit villainy on behalf of coercive doctoral research. Thanks, Rj M.! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Blue Dot Sessions Audio Production:
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344 - Stung by the Truth
08/12/2022
344 - Stung by the Truth
00:00:00 - Kelly and Ryan are thrilled to be joined by her friend and colleague, ! He’s a parasitic insect kind of guy (not meant as an insult!) and we discuss his journey a bit before diving into some recent and exciting research! 00:35:37 - It could be argued that parasites drink the lifeforce of others, but hopefully that’s not the case with us. Ryan doubles down with an Americano using , which is delicious. Kelly doesn’t have a beer so is settling for a lactose-free after wrapping up season 1 of her new project Andrew is enjoying some aged beer to celebrate the birth of his son in the form of a from Sierra Nevada. And Ryan comes back around to finish the segment with bourbon-barrel aged elderberry infused cider from Hawk Knob 00:46:46 - We continue our conversation with Andrew, including a discussion of these two (open access!) papers: For more parasitic insects in your life, you can follow Andrew on Twitter 01:19:15 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like wasps; they can sting more than once and still survive. First up, Ryan and Kelly tackle a question from Brett H. about (if you ) and then they come up with a BSso for patron Roberta A. R. who has impressively completed a study entitled: VESPA (Variability of ectoparasites on species of pollinating Apoidea): A study of a very cool wasps that infect bees then manipulate bee behavior to bury themselves underground so the temperature is better or something see the rest of the thesis for the details. Thanks, Roberta! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Podington Bear Audio Production:
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Special Edition 16 - Project Hail Mary
04/25/2022
Special Edition 16 - Project Hail Mary
00:00:00 - Time for a special edition Science… sort of Book Club! Ryan, Joe, and Tim all read Andy Weir’s new novel . What did they think of it? How was the science? Should Andy Weir design escape rooms? All this, and more, is discussed! To buy the book, we recommend using our affiliate program with , we get a small percent for sending you there and the book will be sent to you by a local bookshop. Win win! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: Ave Maria - Podington Bear Audio Production:
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343 - Webb's in the Greenhouse
03/24/2022
343 - Webb's in the Greenhouse
00:00:00 - There’s a new telescope in town to look out of town and see exactly what’s going on in this here galaxy. Introducing… ! What can it do? Where can it do it? And did we ? All this and more are discussed! 00:36:36 - Drinks are any beverage that are consumed. Here, we talk about them. Joe is having tea with lemon and honey to help with a cough. Ryan recommends . Ryan waxes poetic about a (typical). Charlie is double fisting and a , balancing the blend perfectly. 00:47:26 - Trailer Trash Talk returns again to discuss the much-maligned but fun-looking . 01:00:57 - Climate Change is definitely a thing that is happening, we’ve known about it for awhile, but just how long? Turns out some and we just haven’t been listening. 01:23:15 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like… something. Listener feedback, probably. Teemu A. wants to know what we think about the geology/biology of the video game . Elizabeth D. wins a copy of by Carl Zimmer for submitting her pick for weirdest life from (see episode 337), ! And Bruce Haupt gets a BSso thesis for the second time, and that thesis is: SCRUB: SCUBA Carbon Removal Underwater Bioremediation - Using Sea Salps to sequester carbon in oceanic basins using a human propelled delivery mechanism. Thanks, Bruce! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Blue Dot Sessions Audio Production:
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342 - The Extinction of Fossil Fuels
01/31/2022
342 - The Extinction of Fossil Fuels
00:00:00 - Joe and Ryan are excited to be joined by Craig Welch and Sam Howe Verhovek who each have articles in the October 2021 issue of National Geographic “” which is all about the future of non-fossil fuel transportation. Craig wrote the article “” and Sam wrote the article “”. Discussion ensues. 00:40:41 - Discussion pauses so Joe and Ryan can have a drink. Can’t let oneself get too parched. Joe was having a latte during our initial conversation, but is now enjoying some eggnog with brandy. Ryan is having a from Screech Owl Brewing, which leads to a discussion about the many uses for spent beer grain, but mostly . 00:51:03 - Part two of our conversation with Craig and Sam! Craig is on Twitter and you can find more of Sam’s work on his website . 01:06:49 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like the future of transportation; they’re both going places! Ryan begins with a praising the book featured in episode 338. And we bestow a BSso upon Bounce B. who has turned in a tome entitled: Hop To It: A Novel Implementation of a Jump-based method for transitioning from terrestrial to aerial transportation using a methanogenic bladder derived from fungal fermentation of organic biofuels. Thanks, Bounce! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Podington Bear Audio Production:
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341 - Highway to the Science Zone
01/14/2022
341 - Highway to the Science Zone
00:00:00 - Joe and Ryan are joined by their friend , who tells us about his work as a scientist and his journey from the world of research to the world of consulting. Tony’s open access papers for those who want to learn more: 00:36:38 - Joe managed to bring drinks for everyone, but now they’re not in the same place so that’s odd. Joe is having some homemade mead from a friend, and its first mead experience which incurs the cost of viking toast. And Tony and Ryan are enjoying the from 7 Locks Brewing as provided by Joe. 01:10:59 - In our second segment we talk about cars. A sort of “Car Talk”, if you will, which we’re pretty sure is a completely original idea to the audio format. We tackle the , but also some of the c and the . 01:56:48 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like roads, you should look both ways before crossing them. Joe has a lauding him for comparing the UK to TX, but what we’re really here from is to hand out a BSso thesis for Eric P. He has a thesis titled: Swinging for the electric fences: An electric vehicle charging solution utilizing molecular biophysical properties of Electrophorus fish in an in situ aquatic reservoir. Thanks, Eric! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Podington Bear Audio Production:
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340 - Anchor's Away Part 5: The Final Anchoring
01/01/2022
340 - Anchor's Away Part 5: The Final Anchoring
00:00:00 - In which Ryan introduces the concept of this type of episode… for the last time. (But which can be previously heard in , , , and .) 00:05:23 - and 00:10:51 - Bio bios: 00:16:06 - The tries to answer "Are we along?” 00:21:23 - Drake Equation "" hint at a crowded galaxy 00:22:30 - Then where is everybody? weighs in 00:27:03 - To prove the show hasn’t lost a step, Ryan has a double IPA from Country Boy Brewing. Predictable, but delicious. 00:28:56 - : 00:32:31 - My experience with the Night Hag 00:34:55 - 00:40:08 - Wait, how is the Night Hag ? Culture and Sleep Paralysis 00:43:16 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like the end of the year, they lead us to something new. This episode we have an e-mail from Brandon M. asking how to get access to the whole back catalog of Brachiolope Media shows (and the answer is , with more updates to come). More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Broke For Free
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339 - Voices Assemble!
05/25/2021
339 - Voices Assemble!
00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by Megan Johnson (), Becca Van Hoeck (), and Caitlin Bergstrom (). Megan and Becca are Ph.D. researchers working on the environmental engineering of the atmosphere around wildfires and fish ecology using marine soundscapes, respectively and in the first segment they tell us a bit about their awesome research. 00:30:16 - Drinks are a bit like wildfires and marine ecosystems: they're wet but they burn. Megan is enjoying a . Becca is working on some chilled white wine from a subscription service she used to stock up in the early days of the pandemic. She thinks it’s a Pinot Grigio. Caitlin is drinking a by Lakefront Brewery from WI, where she went to school and was surprised to find in DC. Ryan goes big with a , gifted to him by Abe, naturally. 00:36:51 - Caitlin is a Science Policy Analyst for the American Geophysical Union, and the reason we were all chatting is because Megan, Becca, and I were an cohort. So we chat a bit about Megan and Becca's research, and then we chat about the Voices for Science program and what we were able to accomplish in what ended up being a far from traditional year of science policy advocacy and outreach! 01:20:59 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like outreach, in that I think they literally could be considered a type of outreach. For this episode, we want to thank Terry R. for a recurring and their continued support over the years. Thanks, Terry! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Podington Bear Audio Production by and Ryan Haupt
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338 - We bought a Zoo-ologist’s book
04/23/2021
338 - We bought a Zoo-ologist’s book
00:00:00 - () stops by to talk about his new book, , AKA the fastest we’ve ever said yes to an interview. 00:27:50 - Both life and beef requires water, so let’s talk about what we’re drinking. Patrick has a perfectly adequate from BrewDog, Ryan is also having a non-alcoholic from Athletic Brewing. It is also fine. 00:36:29 - Part 2 of our discussion with Arik Kershenbaum is the second part of our conversation about his book. Please enjoy! 00:58:04- PaloePOWs are a lot like alien life: is it really out there? Ryan begins with a 4-star review from Entertaining, but… who is frustrated by politics creeping into the show, which prompts a hopefully helpful discussion about what exactly this sort of criticism might mean. Patrick finishes with an e-mail from Peter C. about classifying human species as we colonize other planets based on the game , but of course Ryan can’t help but bring up . Discussion ensues. You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Podington Bear Audio Production by
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337 - Living on the Edge
04/10/2021
337 - Living on the Edge
00:00:00 - () has to talk to us about his new book, . While it may be hard to define life, we can provide definite timestamps for the first part of our conversation about the book! 00:26:16 - Having access to liquid is an essential part of life, which includes drinks. Ryan pontificates about his with Spruce Tips which is surprisingly refreshing. After a digression, Patrick gets to reveal that he is also enjoying the nearly non-alcoholic from BrewDog. 00:36:52 - Part 2 of our discussion with Carl Zimmer is the second part of our conversation about his book. Please enjoy! 00:57:42 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like life, hard to define but you know it when you see it. Ryan insists that Patrick reconciles with Jeff' S’s e-mail responding to our previous dismissal of 3D in movies by pointing out the Spy Kids franchise as a counterexample. Ryan then reads an e-mail from Bob M. about some previous confusion regarding ungulates and notoungulates . The best resource we know of is the , but please get in touch if you know of others! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Broke For Free Audio Production by
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336 - Sweet Sake and Spoiled Spores
03/27/2021
336 - Sweet Sake and Spoiled Spores
00:00:00 - Jen Gallagher () has brought along two former students to talk about their continued research into the world of yeast! We’re excited to be joined by Matt Winas, currently the lead scientist at Imperial Yeast Labs, and Postdoctoral Research Apoorva Ravishankar. First up, we chat with Matt about his work on and . 00:28:21 - Yeast make all manner of drinks so let’s talk about that. Apoorva eschews the yeast theme with a hot cup of coffee (with cream and sugar) and the gang reminisces about the coffee shop closest to their lab at WVU. Matt is enjoying a rye IPA from Level Cross Brewing Company, one of the perks of working for a yeast company. Jen is honoring her scientific progeny with a stout from Tribus Beer Co. Ryan had a different beer lined up but is instead going with a from Weathered Ground Brewery in WV. 00:37:26 - Next we chat with Apoorva about her research on exactly to , which are heavily used in agriculture and gardening and how a chemical designed to control/kill plants can have some dramatic responses on yeast. 01:05:09 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like yeast, you can wake them up with a little bit of warm water and sugar. First up, we thank George H. for being a to the show . Thanks, George! And we wrap up by letting Jen respond to her own feedback regarding the sequencing of mitochondrial DNA mentioned in . Always good to get extra clarification from an expert! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Broke For Free Audio Production by
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335 - Major Herp-o-compatability Complex
02/28/2021
335 - Major Herp-o-compatability Complex
00:00:00 - Kelly and Ryan are psyched to be joined by Gina Zwicky () to talk about all things herps (amphibians + reptiles)! We begin with a discussion about Gina’s work the immune system of Caribbeans lizards, specifically the of the using the . And Ryan transitions the group to the next segment but half remembering a that will be a joint rum distiller and sea turtle conservation hub. Neat! 00:27:08 - Amphibians need to stay near water, and much like them we also enjoy a drink. First, Gina shares her habit, lime at the moment but ranking of flavors is involved. Kelly takes a break from red wine with a warm, relaxing cup of chamomile tea. And even though nobody asked, Ryan is having a from Devil’s Backbone Brewing in Kelly’s neck of the wood AKA East Virginia. We also talk a bit about what it means to be a and how to test yourself to see if you are one too. 00:37:39 - In the second segment, we talk about Gina’s work with , an AZA accredited program to get folks outside in their area to monitor frog populations. Gina runs tours in her neck of the woods in souther Louisiana, but if you’re in the US there may be a similar program nearby so go and check it out where you live and see if you can go listen to some cool frogs! 01:02:21 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like frog watching, they’re both mostly about listening. First, we thank Amanda B. for becoming a recurring donor (again!). Thanks, Amanda! And another round of our thanks goes out to about how much he liked helmed by our very own Tim Dobbs. Great job, Tim! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Podington Bear Audio Production by
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334 - Destruction Breeds Creation
02/13/2021
334 - Destruction Breeds Creation
00:00:00 - The Triassic Period was clearly a tough time to be alive, since a lot of things kept dying. Researchers have recently uncovered a that happened during the Triassic, and another team has uncovered The culprit in ? Volcanoes! Abe and Ryan try to co-explain. 00:29:05 - Like volcanoes, beers also release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Abe is eager to go first with by Benchtop Brewing Company. Charlie features a beer sent by a buddy as part of a winter beer exchange, a by Anchorage Brewing Company featuring some excellent label art by . And Ryan is excited to try a Kitty Claw clarified cafe milk punch from in D.C. 00:37:31 - Ryan already had the chance to talk about this story once before on the , but he’s too excited to not bring it up again because researchers have found that for access to males outside their main group to prevent inbreeding. The , please go and watch the videos, they’re quite a thing to see. 00:51:45 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like mongoose battles; they both have an ulterior motive. Charlie has a comment from Travis about enjoying and learning from our interview with Maya Becker in , which prompts Charlie to offer to take Ryan glacier camping. Abe has a comment regarding using comics to explain science as discussed in , including letting students answer questions with a drawing instead of text. Finally, we bestow a BSso thesis to supporter Tyson G., and that thesis title is: Finding new berth in old miseries by outrunning magma: Novel habitats provided by Large Igneous Provinces induces turf wars in genetically drifted expanding mongoose populations. Thanks, Tyson! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Podington Bear Audio Production by
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333 - AGU Brought To You
01/29/2021
333 - AGU Brought To You
00:00:00 - Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the had to go all online, but that didn’t showing up and recording some interviews. But plot twist! This year we sent Producer Tim Dobbs to do the interviewing and Ryan is just along for the ride. In his first interview, Tim talks to about his work looking at how AKA Godzilla Dust Storms! 00:33:18 - A little dust in the throat goes away with a quick drink. This episode, Ryan is amazed by the color of his (seriously, clickthrough on the link to see it). Whereas Tim is trying to figure out what to do with his bottle of . Ryan provides suggestions. 00:42:33 - Tim’s next chat is with , who, no joke, uses wood from old coffins to asses past climate. It’s as cool as it sounds. What more even needs to be said here? Just go and listen already. You can check out Josh’s data on . Tim and Ryan wrap up by discussing some of the ins and outs of a year of all online meetings. As well as talking briefly about that they presented in a session about helping scientists get better at communicating. Go figure. Ryan also mentions program, which he’s been participating in the last year and they’re accepting applications for next year’s cohort. If you’re an earth scientist interested in communicating science or science policy, go apply! 01:19:06 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like dust storms; they get everywhere. First, we thank Rohit R. for being a recurring donor. Thanks, Rohit! Then we have a voicemail from Richard P. who has an excellent question about why rodents are so nibbly? You’ll have to listen to find out the answer, but it is an believe it or not. Lastly, go check out Tim’s ! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Podington Bear Audio Production by
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Special Edition 15 - TENET
01/14/2021
Special Edition 15 - TENET
00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by Jesse B. Grove V to discuss the highly anticipated sci-fi action thriller, Christopher Nolan’s . Jesse is drinking an from Original Pattern Brewing Company and Ryan is drinking by American Solera and they are both IPAs because that’s the kind of guys they are. Be sure to check out the and here is a link to the graphic timeline mentioned towards the end of the episode. Tune in to find out just how much they did, or didn’t, or did like the film! You can also follow Ryan () and Jesse () on to keep up with their movie-watching habits. And apologies to for riffing on their format. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Audio Production by
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332 - Anchor's Away Part 4
12/26/2020
332 - Anchor's Away Part 4
00:00:00- We're doing another Anchor-themed clip show! Following up on , , and we have another round of short audio clips that Ryan created for the podcast startup under the banner of Organized Curiosity (explanation of the name ). 00:01:43 - Ryan explains the , reads using the , tries to explain what the abstract actually means, and then shares some thoughts on whether or not this exercise is effective. 00:17:57 - News you probably cannot use: Cheerios included some seeds in their cereal boxes to help folks grow flowers for the bees. A nice idea, but . 00:23:22 - It’s the holidays so Ryan is drinking and eating raisins. It’s tradition. Make your own AND make your own raisins so you can enjoy some too. 00:24:50 - Q&A: Paul from Cork, Ireland calls in to talk about how he hopes his daughter takes an interest in science (us to!) and to talk about whales. Ryan then tells the tale of the time he met a wild , which was amazing but smelly. 00:31:20 - A new study suggests a pretty fundamental shakeup of the dinosaur family tree. First, he explains . Then he explains what actually found. 00:40:40 - Bio bios: 00:45:44 - Q&A: Tachi calls in to leave some comments about the “Up Goer Five” challenge, Ryan responds. Also, go read , it’s great. 00:47:10 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like clip shows; they comfort you in dark times. In this episode, we thank Zachary G. for his recurring donation via . Thanks, Zachary! Ryan also appeared on the podcast so go check that out. Thanks for getting through 2020 with us, see you on the other side. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Broke For Free
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331 - Just Another Mammoth Monday
11/08/2020
331 - Just Another Mammoth Monday
00:00:00 - Abe and Ryan are joined by paleontologists Lindsey Yann and () to talk about all manner of proboscideans! First up, An amazing find with some similarities to the Waco Mammoth National Monument where Lindsey was . And as the park’s paleontologist, so if you have ideas get in touch! 00:26:05 - We may not have built-in straws but we can still enjoy a beverage. Ryan heeds Advait’s advice and grabs a bottle of , which has expanded Ryan’s view of the diversity of beverages available from the subcontinent. Advait himself is enjoying a from his new hometown of New Haven, CT. Whereas the only paleontologically-themed beer in Abe’s fridge was a . And in exploring Waco’s brewing scene, Lindsey scored the perfectly appropriate . 00:38:14 - Next, Advait explains some of the key differences between the sometimes-confused mammoths and mastodons. A of the latter looking at the . It’s a very cool way to determine how these massive animals moved around their environment. 01:08:15 - PaleoPOWs also move in herds. First up, Abe thanks Jesse O. for a recurring donation (a much-appreciated holdover from the pre-Patreon days). Thanks, Jesse! And Ryan thanks of the show Alex Hastings for a shoutout in the . Thanks, Alex! Alex also has his own podcast now called , check it out! Ryan has also recently appeared on the talking about comics (obviously) and talking sasquatch and ground sloths, because why not? More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Audio Production by Music credit: - Blue Dot Sessions
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330 - Amber Waves of Sap and Problems of Pollen Prairies
10/24/2020
330 - Amber Waves of Sap and Problems of Pollen Prairies
00:00:00 - Researcher Daniel Katz and journalist Lucas Joel () join Ryan to talk about Dan’s research into . Too many vacant lots means a lot more ragweed for the residents of the city to deal with. Want to get involved with Dan’s research? Check out his citizen science project ! 00:41:26 - After the allergy-inducing first segment, a drink is enjoyed by all. Ryan with the help of Offshoot Beer Co. Lucas is having his very favorite South African tea. And Dan is having from Pinthouse PIzza which isn’t thematic but “oh well”. 00:54:14 - Some recent fossil finds in Burmese amber , but unfortunately, it’s unclear if the amber is being ethically sourced and it may even be . Is it ok to be publishing on specimens obtained this way? What does it mean when ? And how are the issue? A sobering but important topic. 01:37:31 - A quick PaleoPOW to thank Dan K. for his continuing support via . Thanks, Dan! And if you’re in the US, go ! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Audio Production by Music credit: - Podington Bear
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329 - Long Naps and Near Misses
10/09/2020
329 - Long Naps and Near Misses
00:00:00 - Joe begins the show by explaining how we all just nearly died last month but didn’t as an asteroid had the thanks to some pretty cool new observation tech at the Zwicky Transient Facility in CA paired with machine learning. 00:23:08 - After a near-miss of an asteroid impact, it’s only natural to want a drink. Ryan begins with some unaged corn whiskey, aka moonshine. Joe corrects the record on his White Russian recipe by making another White Russian according to the . Abe enjoys some from Other Half Brewing Co. 00:37:15 - Winter is coming, so have a nap. A of the Therapsid Lystrosaurus comparing African specimens to those from Antarctica much as their mammalian relatives do today. Torpor for the win! 01:00:42 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like torpor, sometimes it’s the best way to survive. Ryan reads a castigation from Zoll S. regarding improperly categorized literature in . An e-mail from Jeff S. prompts a discussion of whether or not it was aliens aka the origin of the gray alien mythos. And we team up to bestow a BSso on supporter Josh R. who has written up a thesis entitled: Underneath Falling Objects (UFO): A Novel Method for Surviving Extraterrestrial impactors via a state of torpor modeled after Antarctic Lystrosaurs. Thanks, Josh! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Audio Production by and Music credit: - Blue Dot Sessions
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328 - Redox Violations
09/24/2020
328 - Redox Violations
00:00:00 - in the atmosphere of Venus, . How could it have formed in detectable quantities? One explanation could be , so that’s neat. 00:25:00 - Drinks would not exist for long on Venus due to the extreme heat, but here on Earth they go down just fine. Ben has a which sounds delightful. Charlie has some coffee roasted by a buddy of his who is now selling his beans online at , check it out! And Ryan has from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery which helps support restorations efforts of the James River in Richmond, VA, so that’s good. 00:32:53 - Our moon is a notably dry place with no oxygen, but . How could form in such an environment? Orbital dynamics and may provide the answer. 00:46:29 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like rust on the moon, you’re surprised to find it and not sure what to do with it now that you have it. First, Ryan thanks , didn’t even know that was a thing but very grateful for it! Next, Charlie reads an e-mail from Stephanie from Travelcraft Journal who found us because we used her photo (with credit) . Finally, we come up with a BSso thesis for longtime supporter and homebrewer Richard P. who has earned his fake degree with a thesis entitled: Random Underdeveloped Simulation Test (RUST): Density and Temperature Gradient Stratification of S. cerevisiae during the fermentation of beer as an analog model for Phosine-generating microbial life in the atmosphere of Venus. Thanks, Richard! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Audio Production by Music credit: - Podington Bear
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327 - Soils and Soot
09/10/2020
327 - Soils and Soot
00:00:00 - Charlie, Abe, and Ryan are joined by Sommelier because we’re talking about wine! Why wine? Stay tuned to the drinks segment to find out! But first up, they discuss from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. 00:20:04 - This episode What Are We Drinking is sponsored by , a service that sends wine to you and your friends and sets up a group chat for you all to enjoy the wines together! It solves the issue of ending every call with “We should do this more often!” but never actually doing it. Plus you get try boutique wines from wineries you probably can’t currently visit. Our listeners get 20% off their first month, just use the coupon code SCIENCESORTOF at checkout. This episode, Kristy talks the boys through a dry riesling from in New Yorks Finger Lakes Wine Country. 00:42:45 - 66 million years ago the earth was hit by a giant rock going faster than a bullet. So what happened next, exactly? and it’s… not great. 01:19:24 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like asteroid impacts; hard to see coming but you know they’ll happen eventually. Ryan reads a who wants up to keep it. Will do, Sal! Abe fields a question from Tara F. about how to get donated to the library at McMurdo in Antarctica. Abe gives some tips and tricks. And a BSso is granted to patron Steve A. who has written a thesis entitled: Fires and Eruptive Reactivity Metrics Evaluation of Novel Terroirs (FERMENT): Optimizing Resiliency of wine yields via a comparative study of soil pH in the aftermath of volcanic or impactor induced soot-filled atmospheres. Thanks, Steve! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Audio Production by Music credit: - Podington Bear
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326 - Anchor's Away Part 3
08/28/2020
326 - Anchor's Away Part 3
00:00:00 - We're doing another Anchor-themed clip show! Following up on and , we have another round of short audio clips that Ryan created for the podcast startup under the banner of Organized Curiosity (explanation of the name ). Before we dive in, two things: the correction and the drink. The correction is an . The drink is a from Jackie O’s, it’s especially good while cooking a spicy dinner. On to the show! 00:05:01 - A flight with a window seat prompts a promotion of the . 00:07:31 - It’s the makes Ryan want to discuss the . 00:12:56 - Better know a root: 00:15:11 - Bio bios: 00:20:46 - Bio bios: 00:26:12 - Abby from calls in to share her love of all things blood. It prompts a discussion of . 00:32:29 - In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, so Ryan discusses from the Emerald Isle. 00:36:09 - Bio bios: 00:41:40 - And it’s been featured on the show before, but it never hurts to remind people of Adam Cole’s excellent 00:44:15 - News you probably cannot use: 00:49:30 - To unwind, . 00:50:33 -Q&A: Ryan rants about supposedly “chemical-free” products, like 00:56:00 - News you probably cannot use: , enjoy. 01:01:31 - Q&A: Chris called in to tell us about how much he loves a , which Ryan cannot explain. 01:05:20 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like Ryan’s Anchor show, it’s just him alone reading out loud. This episode it’s an e-mail from Adam S. who has rediscovered the show after having not listened in a long time. Glad to have you back, Adam! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Broke For Free
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325 - Arch: -osaurs and -eology
08/13/2020
325 - Arch: -osaurs and -eology
00:00:00 - First up, we discuss the and what that means for their convergent evolution with whales. 00:20:39 - Crocs have returned to the drink and so have we. It’s an older joke, but it checks out. Patrick has what feels like an inappropriately named from Butcombe Brewing Co. Following by Ryan’s double buzz-inducing . And finishing out with Joe’s homemade mocha latte. 00:26:48 - Based on his recent reading about , Patrick stumbled across a story that made him wonder: Did the Mayan culture make it to Georgia? , others . An excellent case study regarding the sort of side of science ensues. 00:43:49 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like debates in science; people get fired up, but the stakes are kind of low. Joe fields a comment from someone who identifies as Angry on Podbean who left a comment on . Patrick has an e-mail from Dylan S. about the book , which may have helped Patrick and Ryan out on a recent episode. Finally, Ryan compels the Paleopals to come up with a BSso thesis for supporter Diego Z., who we know is kind. In several moments of brilliance, they derive the study: Crocodile Tiers: Potential Inclusion of Archosaurian Fossil Remains in Mayan Farming Sites from San Diego? Thanks, Diego! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Audio Production by Music credit: - Blue Dot Sessions
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324 - Suit up for Science
07/31/2020
324 - Suit up for Science
00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by and , two of the heads of , an organization that uses elaborating costuming (called cosplay) to advocate for science! But first, we talk about the science. Lisa is a social scientist who studies informal science learning and Gabe is a paleontologist and outreach coordinator who has studied marine mammals including the excellent group . Some papers by Lisa: Some papers by Gabe: 00:31:34 - Drinks: they keep us social, so let’s have some. Ryan demonstrates proper drink segment technique with the scientifically themed Brewery sent by our very own ! Gabe is chilling with an IBC Root Beer, which is the kind of beer that doesn’t affect sobriety. And Lisa mysteriously enjoys a from KettleHouse Brewing Co in MT. 00:39:22 - In part two of our interview, we get down to costumes. How did get started? How does dressing up as fictional characters help communicate science? Will Ryan be dressing up the next time we’re able to actually go to a convention? Tune in and find out! 01:24:03 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like costuming, they hide their true nature to get in your heart. Ryan reads an e-mail from Tom C. asking us about getting on Spotify. Well thanks to his gentle nudging, we now are! Thanks for the nudge, Tom! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Audio Production by Music credit: - Blue Dot Sessions
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323 - Harnessing the Power of the Great Old Ones
07/09/2020
323 - Harnessing the Power of the Great Old Ones
00:00:00 - This episode Ben and Ryan are joined by and podcaster , who specializes in mimicking the microbial nitrogen cycling as seen in Oxygen Minimum Zones of the ocean with the aim of improving wastewater treatment. We begin with the and why it’s sort of a hot mess. 00:21:42 - Nothing like talking about wastewater to build up a thirst. Ben, self-described sleepy fella, sneaks in an ad for from Canada’s own . Kathryn feels judged but still enjoys her hometown’s own . Ryan enjoys some cold-brew made from sent by his sister. 00:34:11 - In part two of our chat with Kathryn, she walks us through to the nitrogen removal process using their . Saving money, saving energy, cleaning up water. Win-win-win. 00:56:16 - PaleoPOWs are a bit like Archeae, we don’t know where they came from but they sure are odd. Ryan begins by thanking Joshua C. for . Kathryn reads aloud an e-mail from real deal nuclear engineer Gerrit B. about our discussion of water as radioactive shielding in spaceships in And patron Will Q. has earned his BSso degree by completing a thesis titled:: Canid we find some new methanogens? Novel discovery of a methane-producing archaea in the GI tract of a Canis lupus familiaris: barking up the right tree. Thanks, Will! And of course, we have to mention that Kathryn is the co-host of the wonderful podcast featuring Tim Dobbs. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: by Podington Bear Audio editing by
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322 - Drawn to Neanderthals
06/25/2020
322 - Drawn to Neanderthals
00:00:00 - We are joined by cartoonist to talk about his work. First up, we discuss his series about a Homo neanderthalensis family that’s just trying to get by in the Stone Age. 00:32:11 - drinks But the Homo sapiens are here now and we have learned to distill. Patrick takes advantage of distillation with the which prompts many questions from Ryan. And Ryan also sips some scotch in the form of , which may be why he was so eager to learn more from Patrick. 00:39:01 - For the second half of our chat with Jeffrey, we talk about his new series , which is decidedly more sci-fi than science, perfect for a show all about the “sort of’. You can learn more at and follow him on . 01:13:05 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like Neanderthals, we know they existed but aren’t totally sure where they went. First up, Ryan reads an from Crue T. who needs help deciding which field of science to pursue. Tune in to find out what we recommend. And then we bestow a BSso on supporter Amy H. who has completed a thesis entitled: Spotting Sparkles: First evidence of glitter use in familial paleolithic art from Brown’s Gorge, Germany. Thanks, Amy! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit: - Blue Dot Sessions
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321 - A Welcome Intrusion
06/11/2020
321 - A Welcome Intrusion
00:00:00 - , which is a big deal since it has long been thought that Venus didn’t have active plate tectonics. Abe breaks down how the hottest planet in the solar system may have just gotten a bit hotter. 00:22:00 - Drinks would evaporate quickly on Venus, so we better drink them fast before they’re gone! Abe has the thematically appropriate by Aslin Beer Company. Ryan supports a local cidery with a by ANXO. Joe eschews juice with his Pepsi Zero Wild Cherry, but even though he’s not a beer drinker he advocates supporting his local trivia spot , who are doing take out and delivery if you’re in the area. 00:31:23 - When you think of invasive species, you probably don’t think of hippos, yet that’s exactly what happened in Colombia when the hippopotamus pod that was part of Pablo Escobar’s menagerie went native. , so maybe its not so bad to have them around after all? 00:47:40 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like hippos, cute, but dangerous. We begin with an overdue discussion of , as prompted by but you’ll have to tune in for the results. Next up we get a little love from Montana via Joshua C. Thanks, Joshua! And we wrap things up by granting a BSso to supporter Ben K. who has completed a thesis entitled: Whatever Floats Your Hippo: Use of Hippopotamus-Hide Lighter-Than-Air Craft for Surface Exploration from the Venereal Atmosphere. Thanks again, Ben! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit:
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320 - Keeping Cool On Climate
05/27/2020
320 - Keeping Cool On Climate
00:00:00 - Patrick puts forth proposals for less automobile-focused cities (see more on his Twitter feed ) before we dive into part 1 of Ryan’s interview with UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography Ph.D. Student Maya Becker. She attended the UN’s climate change conference last year () and then wrote an We talk about how scientists can find advocacy that works for them. 00:28:52 - Getting a lot done can be aided by the right beverage. Maya is a coffee fiend and enjoys for her local fix. Ryan got to go to a farm for beer, which lured him into trying the white IPA from the Brookeville Beer Farm. 00:35:12 - Since Patrick hasn’t been around for a minute we double down on the drinks segment. You’re welcome. Patrick walks Ryan through his home fermentation experiment trying to make some . You’ll have to listen in for the results. Ryan has a beer mimicking a style from across the pond with a from Elder Pine Brewing & Blending. 00:47:51 - Enough about policy and beverages, let’s get down to some science. Maya tells us about , which involves the dynamics of ice along the underside of the Ross Ice Shelf in a rapidly warming Antarctica using satellites. You can follow along generally by checking out Scripps’ Twitter () and Instagram () feeds. 01:17:41 - PaleoPOWs can also sit on a shelf if they’re physical and sent to us in such a way that they can be displayed. We begin with an from Jackdu24. Thanks, Jackdu24! And we then bestow a thesis upon Lindsay M. who has successfully defended: Paedomorphosis of Penguins: Exploring the environmental biology of childlike chicks on Antarctica’s Ross Sea. Thanks, Lindsay! If you write an op-ed or make some ginger beer, let us know so we can feature you on a future segment! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our ! Music credit:
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