Science... sort of

299 - Phone a Friend

00:00:00 - This episode we’re joined by Sarah McAnulty (@SarahMackAttack), a Ph.D. candidate studying the immune system of the bobtail squid, which is delightfully cute and glows in the dark to avoid detection. You can see some of her research in action in this video: Bobtails + Bacteria = BFF. Finally, according to Sarah and Alton Brown, EAT ALL THE SQUIDS THAT YOU CAN, THE OCEAN DEPENDS ON IT. 00:24:15 - Squids live in the drink and Abe stops by for one. He’s enjoying, as best he can, a Native Species from Blue Mountain Brewery. Ryan thinks the call is coming from inside the house with his Inside Job IPA from Henhouse Brewing, which is mercifully west coast in styling. 00:29:20 - We’re back with Sarah chatting about her ongoing outreach effort, Skype a Scientist, which works to connect researchers with classrooms and other venues that want to have a conversation with a real live scientist. Ryan is a participant and a big fan. If you or someone you know could be a participant on either side of the equation, consider signing up! You can also support the project on Patreon. 00:53:23 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like squids, or are they? First up, Tyler D. is deserving of a Patreon thesis, and based on some assumptions of his location and interests, he gets: Potential pharmacological effects of Cephalopod spaghettification in the preparation of Cincinnati-style chili: do oodles of noodles decrease oodles of squids in the world’s oceans? Thanks, Tyler! Next, Gary K. went to GSA 2018 and sent us some notes, which prompts a brief discussion of conference attendance strategies. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music for this episode: Afterglow - Chvrches Bubbles In My Beer - Willie Nelson Call Me - Blondie

298 - The Whale Identity

00:00:00 - A quick intro to let everyone know that this episode features an interview with former guest of the show (episode 97) Dr. Nick Pyenson recorded live at Room 11 in D.C. Thanks for Room 11 for having us! 00:01:49 - Nick Pyenson joins us to talk about his new book Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures with illustrations by Alex Boersma. A free-wheeling discussion ensues over a couple of burnt sugar old-fashioned cocktails. We talk a lot about whales and their portrayal in the book, but also mention some other things to check out which you can find here: Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth by Adam Frank Contact by Carl Sagan You can follow Nick and his future adventures online via Twitter (@PyensonLab) and Instagram (@pyensonlab) 01:12:59 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like new year celebrations, noisy but with a sense of finality. This week we thank Ian C. for his time as a recurring donor to the show. Thanks, Ian! Here’s to another year of science with all you lovely people. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music for this episode: Humpback whalesong I Spy - Guster

297 - Unintentional Turtle Soup

00:00:00 - We start the show the somber story of humanity's continued impact on global climate as recently re-outlined in the Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States. We talk about what the report says, how it maybe says it in a new way (hint: it's the economy), and what we can maybe do next to help mitigate it. 00:31:41 - But a hot earth doesn’t necessarily mean hot drinks. Patrick has a Proper Job, and he’s drinking one too. Ryan bought a beer based on art alone because the Hazy by Jailbreak Brewing Company can has an image of a sloth on it, even if the beer is yet another New England IPA. And Charlie keeps it on the level with some regionally-specific-ish kombucha from his local Kombucha Town. 00:40:34 - To lighten things up in the second segment, we double the number of stories so we can talk about how a new fossil turtle clears up some mysteries about their sudden appearance (turns out it's about the shoulders, not the shell), and a global database of animal urine which you can access if you have any great ideas about how to put that work. 00:58:14 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like turtles, they can be hard to get out of their shells. This episode we owe Patreon supporter Liz the thesis title for her BSSo and we come up with: Chelonial anal breathing colon effects of urine balance in lacustrine carbon sequestration. Thanks, Liz! Patrick also has thanks to give because we were featured on a list of the top science podcasts! And finally, Charlie has iTunes reviews both critical and praising from Wompajack and metalhardcoreguy, respectively. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music:Too hot - The KinksGinger - HooverphonicTurtle Rhapsody - Orchestra On The Half Shell

296 - Of Fossils and Forest Fires

00:00:00 - For the first half of the show we’re featuring an interview recorded at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s annual meeting in Albuquerque, NM! The interview features a longtime friend of the show Brandon Bourassa (@CrocGypsy) and is hosted(?!) by former guest Khai Button. It’s a free-wheeling conversation, but archosaurs are the main focus, from actual fossils to the so-called “living fossils” that are modern crocs. You can check out Khai's recent paper on Therizinosaurs (personal favorite taxa of mine) here: Incremental growth of therizinosaurian dental tissues: implications for dietary transitions in Theropoda  And you can learn more about CrocFest, which helps raise money for crocodylian conservation around the world, here: https://www.crocfest.org/  00:41:30 - New Mexico is pretty dry so fight off being parched with a drink. Both Matt and Ryan are enjoyed whiskey today, Matt’s from the Emerald Isle and Ryan’s in the form of a 5-spice cocktail leftover from Thanksgiving. 00:48:43 - For our second segment, In Defense of Plant's host Matt Candeias (@indfnsofplnts) weighs in on the issue of invasive Eucalyptus trees in northern California. They've basically been there since the gold rush, so we're all used to seeing (and smelling) them, but should we reconsider our acceptance of non-native taxa in these situations? Spoiler: probably yes. 01:04:08 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like California Eucalyptus, working out for some but a real risk for others. First up, Ryan didn’t rig the system but it turns out guest from the first segment Brandon Bourassa is due for a Patron thesis. With Matt’s help they devise: Gastrolith wear and tear in the gizzard based on fragmentary Eucalyptus leaf material of the paleofloras of Isla Nublar: Did these animals all die as recently as 1994? Thanks, Brandon! Matt then reads a flattering message from John B. about fossil hunting, mountain biking, and beer; some of our favorite topics for sure! Matt also has a book out if you're interested in learning about plants in convenient text form! You can get it here: Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants  And Ryan will be recording interviews for the show at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting in D.C., and hosting a podcasting workshop as well as performing a story at the Story Collider show on December 13th! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music:Albuquerque, Nm - Great American TaxiGan Ainm / The Humours Of Whiskey / Leslie's March - SolasDown Under [New Recording] - Colin Hay

295 - War of the Words

00:00:00 - Patrick and Charlie return to discuss Martian colonization, but not just whether or not we could, but whether or not we should. Technical concerns aside, what do we risk ethically if we decide to make Mars a haven for wayward humans? And are we already too late to even worry about it? (Also, be sure to check out some of the work done by Charlie’s old acquaintance Margarita Marinova) 00:22:24 - Mars may not have much water but we do. Charlie, in the earliest time zone, goes first with his Kombucha Town Cascadian Hop Ceylon Tea. Ryan follows up with a slightly misidentified Hop Overboard from Supreme Core Cider. Patrick ledes with a big life announcement, then explains the beer scene of his new home, and his choice of the Fursty Ferret from Badger Beers for this week’s show. 00:35:42 - For our second second, we tackle an old favorite: the inequities of scientific published. It may sound dry, but the stakes are high. Namely, how did a group of highly educated and motivated people find themselves over a barrel for getting their work out in there in the age of the internet? In a word: capitalism. Any ideas how to fix it? Let us know! 00:59:36 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like publishing; it goes smoother with an editor. Ryan begins with a BSso for superfan and patron Caryne H. For her degree, she wrote When Planets Fight Back: The Unintended Consequences of Hominid Parasitism on the Aresian Atmosphere and the Homicides It Led To. Thanks, Caryne! Charlie reads an excellent 5-star iTunes review from Matt449, and Patrick has some overdue ‘Summer of Love’ feedback from Zach G. Lastly, if you’re in the DC area, check out the DMV AWG, an org Ryan’s been helping out with, and other than that, just keep being your scientifical best! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music for this episode: Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long Long Time) - Elton John This Is England - The Clash Money Maker - The Black Keys