Science... sort of

324 - Suit up for Science

00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by Lisa Lundgren and Gabriel Santos, two of the heads of Cosplay for Science, 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 Desmostylians. Some papers by Lisa: Social Media Interaction as Informal Science Learning: a Comparison of Message Design in Two Niches Scientific Twitter: The flow of paleontological communication across a topic network Profiles in Practice: Stories of Paleontology Within an Online, Scientific Community Some papers by Gabe: A new tuskless walrus from the Miocene of Orange County, California, with comments on the diversity and taxonomy of odobenids New data on the ontogeny and senescence of Desmostylus (Desmostylia, Mammalia) 00:31:34 - Drinks: they keep us social, so let’s have some. Ryan demonstrates proper drink segment technique with the scientifically themed MC^2 by Equilibrium Brewery sent by our very own Abe! Gabe is chilling with an IBC Root Beer, which is the kind of beer that doesn’t affect sobriety. And Lisa mysteriously enjoys a Cold Smoke Scotch Ale from KettleHouse Brewing Co in MT. 00:39:22 - In part two of our interview, we get down to costumes. How did Cosplay for Science 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! Listen to (some of) our episodes on Spotify! Thanks for the nudge, Tom!   More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!   Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Dance of Felt - Blue Dot Sessions

323 - Harnessing the Power of the Great Old Ones

00:00:00 - This episode Ben and Ryan are joined by Ph.D. student and podcaster Kathryn Cogert (@KathrynIsabel), 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 basics of why nitrogen pollution is an issue and how nitrogen is currently removed in wastewater treatment 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 cherry-wild cherry tea from Canada’s own teadesire.com. Kathryn feels judged but still enjoys her hometown’s own Olympia Beer. Ryan enjoys some cold-brew made from Perky Perky birthday coffee beans sent by his sister. 00:34:11 - In part two of our chat with Kathryn, she walks us through all the improvements she’s helping to make to the nitrogen removal process using their weird critters called Annamox and Ammonium Oxidizing Archaea. 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 promoting us on the Wild Green Memes Facebook Group. Kathryn reads aloud an e-mail from real deal nuclear engineer Gerrit B. about our discussion of water as radioactive shielding in spaceships in episode 319. 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 Encyclopedia Brunch featuring our own Tim Dobbs. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Chainlink Melody by Podington Bear Audio editing by Rob Heath Studios

322 - Drawn to Neanderthals

00:00:00 - We are joined by cartoonist Jeffrey Brown to talk about his work. First up, we discuss his Lucy & Andy Neanderthal 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 Spirit of Cambridge Islay Single Malt Scotch which prompts many questions from Ryan. And Ryan also sips some scotch in the form of Balvenie Doublewood 12, 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 Once Upon A Spacetime, which is decidedly more sci-fi than science, perfect for a show all about the “sort of’. You can learn more at Jeffrey’s website and follow him on Instagram @jeffreybrownrq. 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 e-mail 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 Patreon 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 Patreon! Music credit: The Stone Mansion - Blue Dot Sessions

321 - A Welcome Intrusion

00:00:00 - New experimental research shows that there might still be volcanoes active on Venus, 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 Volcano Sauce by Aslin Beer Company. Ryan supports a local cidery with a Nevertheless 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 Transplants Brewing, 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. New research suggests that they may actually be fulfilling the ecological niche left behind when camel-like animals such as Hemiauchenia, 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 what type of rock Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is, as prompted by a tweet from TruxStop, 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 Patreon 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 Patreon! Music credit: Jettisoned - Poddington Bear

320 - Keeping Cool On Climate

00:00:00 - Patrick puts forth proposals for less automobile-focused cities (see more on his Twitter feed @pvwheatley) 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 (COP25) and then wrote an op-ed about climate change for her local paper. 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 The WestBean Coffee Roasters for her local fix. Ryan got to go to a farm for beer, which lured him into trying the white IPA Barred Owl 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 homemade ginger beer. You’ll have to listen in for the results. Ryan has a beer mimicking a style from across the pond with a Proper Porter from Elder Pine Brewing & Blending. 00:47:51 - Enough about policy and beverages, let’s get down to some science. Maya tells us about her research, 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 (@scripps_ocean) and Instagram (@scripps_ocean) 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 inspired 5-star iTunes review from Jackdu24. Thanks, Jackdu24! And we then bestow a thesis upon patron 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 Patreon! Music credit: Ice Pack - Poddington Bear