Science... sort of

270 - Montani Semper Docere

00:00:00 - This episode Ryan is joined by returning guest Daphne Pringle and first-time guest Dr. Jen Gallagher, a listener who wrote in to let us know about some of the positive changes that have happened at WVU's Department of Biology. We spend the first segment talking about Jen's research using yeast and genomics to study drug and pesticide resistance. One of her students has a paper coming out in PLoS One soon, so stay tuned! 00:25:08 - While we wait for the new paper to drop, why not enjoy a drink? Jen keeps it local with a Halleck Pale Ale from Chestnut Brew Works, a brewery that eventually hopes to make a beer with all West Virginian ingredients. Daphne keeps things Old Fashioned, literally, using the Yippee Ki-Yay blend from High West Distillery. Ryan rounds things out with Revival Sorghum Whiskey from Charleston (South Carolina), mostly so he can finish off the bottle and play a nice song in the transition to the next segment... 00:33:38 - Since Jen first wrote in to tell us about teaching biology at WVU, we spend the second segment talking about teaching. We discuss how her courses are structured to maximize student engagement (and engagement with Wikipedia) by focusing on sometimes horrifying genetic diseases as a teaching tool. We also discuss her efforts to engage the people of WV in her citizen science initiative "I Ask Why", which helps the community better understand the microbes living all around them. For updates, you can follow Jen on twitter @yeastychic. 01:13:54 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like yeast, you can find them anywhere and they're hard to kill. Ryan starts off with a big THANK YOU to Patron Erich E. This means Erich gets a thesis, and his is: Teaching Outcomes of Yeast-inebriated Individuals Upon Exposure To -omics Data. Daphne wants to keep talking about evolution, so her contribution today is an old Facebook message from Andy S., who works construction but wants to talk about dinosaurs. Specifically, why weren't there any quadrupedal carnivorous dinosaurs? Discussion ensues, including some talk about a paper from earlier this year that has shaken the dinosaur family tree at its base. Be sure to follow Daphne on Twitter (@drpingleetal), and if you need more podcasts to listen, why not hear Ryan talk about his journey to becoming a paleontologist on HumaNature Episode 23 - Between a Rock and a Holy Place. Cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on Patreon! Music for this week's show:Rise To Me - The DecemberistsIt Ain't Me - Kygo & Selena GomezUnderstanding - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

269 - Tragedy of the Commons

00:00:00 - A team at CalTech has figured out a new way to increase the rate that the ocean might be able to suck down carbon from our atmosphere. The overall plan is still missing a few steps, but it's an exciting step forward in how might get ourselves out of this climate mess. 00:20:45 - Drinks are another way we've figured out how to infuse carbon dioxide into liquid, but we let it out again once we drink it. Whoops. Charlie really enjoys his Bodhizafa IPA from Georgetown Brewing, which of course prompts a discussion of the themes of the 1991 classic film Point Break. Joe references another film franchise with his Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer, but we'll let you put the pieces together yourself. And Ryan wraps it all up with a La Cumbre Elevation IPA sent to him by Matty J. 00:31:45 - Because we're all happy to launch stuff into orbit but no one wants to bring it back down ever, space junk is becoming a big problem. A joint research team at JPL and Stanford have looked towards the ultra-sticky feet of the gecko as a potential solution, but do the boys agree that this is the best solution? The answer may surprise you...here). A joint research team at JPL and Stanford have looked towards the ultra-sticky feet of the gecko as a potential solution, but do the boys agree that this is the best solution? The answer may surprise you... 00:55:01 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like space junk, there's a lot of them and the problem is only getting worse. Joe complains about getting the best kind of feedback, a new Patreon subscriber from longtime supporter Andrew H. Thanks, Andrew! As part of his rewards, he gets a thesis title, and his is: Particulate Elimination Procedure in Trans-Orbital Space (PEPTO) as a function of decreasing carbonic acid degradation of calcitic systems in the surface ocean. Next up, Ryan reads a 5-star iTunes review that comes in hot with some criticism. Hopefully, we can all come together again over the greatness of orangutans. And Charlie has a question about a bet we made on various energy technologies back in the halcyon days of episode 88. Charlie has an update: we all lost. But Charlie is also looking for new grad students, so if you're interested in energy work, check out the Western Washington University Institute for Energy Studies website and get in touch. Ryan was interviewed about his journey from Creationist to Scientist on the Human Nature podcast, so check that out if that sounds interesting to you.  Cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on Patreon! Music for this week's show:Bound - Matt CostaMeet The Bodhisattva - Mark IshamBeautiful Mess - Miranda Cosgrove Neo Zen - Ketsa Recorded using Zencastr. For 20% off your first year of Zencastr, use coupon code SCIENCE.

268 - Mole Caliente

00:00:00 - Studying volcanoes is hard because they're really hot and acidic and just generally sort of deadly to we frail humans. But what about robots? OK, also sort of deadly to robots, but a team is still using an autonomous boat to map out a volcanic lake in Costa Rica, and that's pretty neat. To see Abe's diagram of how volcanic arcs form, click here. 00:31: 35 - Volcanic lakes can bubble up carbon dioxide, as can carbonated beverages. Joe goes first with a Death Valley cola since volcanoes are also hot and deadly? Ryan risks injury and sickness by drinking some homemade fermented pineapple drink known as tepache. Click here to watch a video on how to make it yourself. You'll need some jars, lids, and stones too. Abe surprises Ryan with some Mezcal Matra in his continuing quest to try every type of distilled agave beverage that Mexico has to offer. Smooth and smokey. 00:50:52 - And now, an update on our show's mascot, the always weird but always interesting naked mole rat! A new study has shown that naked mole rats don't mind if you take away their oxygen. That's usually a deal breaker for most animals, but naked mole rats just switch to metabolizing fructose like a plant. When will the weirdness end? Probably never. 01:11:14 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like volcanos, they can go off without warning and you could end up in an Italian prison. Ryan goes first to thank Tom S. from the peak of good living for his recurring donation through Paypal. Thanks, Tom! Joe's up next with a thesis title for Patron Gretchen L. It takes some doing, but the boys figured it out: Implementation of Autonomous Subterranean Vehicles for Sonar Mapping of Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber) Colonies in the Volcanic Soils of Ol Doinyo Lengai. Finally, Abe is excited about a new 5-star iTunes review from RachaelRidiculous, which is always a treat. To hear Ryan try to be serious, you can listen to his audio essay from the Out There podcast, The Reluctant Outdoorsman. Cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on Patreon! Music for this week's show:Steamboat - The WeeksDeath Valley Queen - Flogging MollyEvery Breath You Take - The Police

267 - From Russia with Parasites

00:00:00 - Ryan and Kelly are joined by Mikhail "Misha" Gopko to talk about his latest paper exploring parasites controlling their fish host from inside their eye. Brain-infecting is one thing, but when you can see your parasite inside your own eyeball? That's just creepy. 00:24:44 - Kelly considers fibbing but opts for honesty as she drinks her water. Ryan has a Grolsch because he needs a resealable bottle for some home fermentation projects, and why buy empty beer bottles when you can just empty them yourself? 00:31:42 - Part 2 of our interview with Misha chats about the importance of parasite research, and what future projects Misha has in store. 00:49:51 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like parasites in bird guts, they always come out at the end. First up, we thank Terry R. for being a Patron of the show, which earns them a thesis title. There's is A Bird in the Hand: Mechanisms of manipulation of avian defecation by Diplostomum pseudospathaceum. Thanks, Terry! Kelly has a Facebook message from D Rex who ran half a marathon while enjoying hearing about Kelly's research in episode 259. Way to go! Don't forget to pre-order Kelly's upcoming book Soonish, and check out Ryan's episode of the Out There podcast called "The Reluctant Outdoorsman". Cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on Patreon! Music for this week's show: Something in my eye! - Jay and the AmericansIn De Hemel Is Geen Bier - De StamgastenPlus Profound - Hooverphonic

266 - Anchor's Away, Part 1

00:00:00 - Something a little different this week as Ryan presents some audio from a project he did with the startup Anchor.fm earlier this year producing some science segments for a channel called Organized Curiosity. He's drinking a Manta Ray from Ballast Point Brewing Company, which will become relevant later, but for now, here are the topics that get covered: 00:03:40 - First up, an explanation of the station and why I chose the name Organized Curiosity. (Spoiler: It's from a quote in Zora Neale Hurston's autobiography) 00:07:14 - Better know a root: astro- 00:09:33 - News you probably cannot use: Monkeys pass the mirror self-recognition test 00:12:41 - Bio bios: Mexican blindcat (Prietella phreatophila)00:15:48 - Q&A: What is a theory? 00:18:37 - Falsifiability response from Ian Shapiro00:19:43 - My response on falsifiability 00:24:46 - Bio bios: Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) 00:29:56 - News you probably cannot use: NASA announces new exoplanets 00:35:08 - Better know a root: osteo- 00:37:58 - Bio bios: Pygmy devilray (Mobula eregoodootenkee) 00:42:53 - News you probably cannot use: What the deep ocean sounds like 00:47:01 - Bio bios: Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) 00:50:19 - Q&A: How do animals know what to do?  00:56:03 - Finally, we end with a quick PaleoPOW thanking Billy Nitro for his recurring PayPal donation and his sweet sweet radio voice. Thanks, Billy! Cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on Patreon! Music for this week's show:Add And - Broke For Free