Science... sort of

00:00:00 - Researchers have determined that if you want one big skip instead of many little skips you should select a potato-shaped rock instead of a flat one. 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 Guinness. Charlie is legally enjoying a Rogue Ginger Yuzu CBD Seltzer. And Ryan is recovering with some maximum-strength cold medicine. 00:31:45 - In the war between astronomers and lightning, the astronomers are now fighting back by using lasers to steer lightning across the sky! 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: American Solar Challenge Inside the First Solar-Powered Flight Around the World US Navy synthesizes jet fuel solely out of seawater; costs $3-6 gallon Missing Link to a Livable Climate: How Hydrogen-Enabled Synthetic Fuels Can Help Deliver the Paris Goals ​​​​​​​​​​​​Fission Battery Initiative​​ Workshop 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 Patreon! Music credit: Smooth Stone - Blue Dot Sessions Audio Production: Ryan Haupt

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2023

00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by cookbook author and YouTuber J. Kenji López-Alt to discuss his latest book The Wok: Recipes and Techniques, available wherever fine books are sold including our own page on Bookshop.org. 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 Worka Sakaro beans roasted by Night Swim Coffee 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 Tom V., Shawn G., and Mike B., respectively. Thanks, guys! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Juparo - Broke for Free Audio Production: Ryan Haupt

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2023

00:00:00 - Manly Ryan North (@ryanqnorth) returns to the show to talk to Ben and Handsome Ryan (not a self-selected nickname) to talk about his new book, How to Take Over the World: Practical Schemes and Scientific Solutions for the Aspiring Supervillain, 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 burdock tea, which comes from the roots of a bush. Ryan is having the debatably thematic Thespian Espionage by Weathered Ground Brewing. 00:44:59 - The discussion with Ryan North continues. Learn more at supervillainbook.com or snag your own copy via our Bookshop.org affiliate page! 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 Apple Podcasts review from RJM544. Thanks, RJM544! Finally, Patron 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 Patreon! Music credit: Villano - Blue Dot Sessions Audio Production: Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2023

00:00:00 - Kelly and Ryan are thrilled to be joined by her friend and colleague, Dr. Andrew Forbes! 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 Jorge Raul Rivera Pacamara Honey #96 beans from Chalatenango, El Salvador via Black & White Roasters, which is delicious. Kelly doesn’t have a beer so is settling for a lactose-free White Salamander after wrapping up season 1 of her new project D.O.R.K.S. Andrew is enjoying some aged beer to celebrate the birth of his son in the form of a 2008-vintage Bigfoot Barleywine 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: Quantifying the unquantifiable: why Hymenoptera, not Coleoptera, is the most speciose animal order Ormyrus labotus (Hymenoptera: Ormyridae): Another Generalist That Should not be a Generalist is not a Generalist For more parasitic insects in your life, you can follow Andrew on Twitter @Lord_Forbinton 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 hyperparasitoids on Finnish islands (if you believe that Finland even exists) 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 Patreon! Music credit: Flutterbee - Podington Bear Audio Production: Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2022

00:00:00 - Time for a special edition Science… sort of Book Club! Ryan, Joe, and Tim all read Andy Weir’s new novel Project Hail Mary. 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 bookshop.org/shop/sciencesortof, 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 Patreon! Music credit: Ave Maria - Podington Bear Audio Production: Ryan Haupt

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2022

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… the James Webb Space Telescope! What can it do? Where can it do it? And did we name it after a not so great dude? 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 even fancier tea. Ryan waxes poetic about a Herkenrode Abbey Vesper (typical). Charlie is double fisting some red wine and a Rogue CBD seltzer, balancing the blend perfectly. 00:47:26 - Trailer Trash Talk returns again to discuss the much-maligned but fun-looking Moonfall. 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 folks as far back as the 1800s were figuring out the connection between carbon dioxide and atmospheric warming 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 The Witness. Elizabeth D. wins a copy of Life’s Edge by Carl Zimmer for submitting her pick for weirdest life from (see episode 337), the sea salp! And Patron 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 Patreon! Music credit: The Green Room - Blue Dot Sessions Audio Production: Ryan Haupt

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2022

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 “The Revolution is Here” which is all about the future of non-fossil fuel transportation. Craig wrote the article “The future of driving is here–and it’s electric” and Sam wrote the article “How green can we make air travel? And how soon?”. 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 Class III Whitewater IPA from Screech Owl Brewing, which leads to a discussion about the many uses for spent beer grain, but mostly pizza dough. 00:51:03 - Part two of our conversation with Craig and Sam! Craig is on Twitter @CraigAWelch and you can find more of Sam’s work on his website jetagebook.com. 01:06:49 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like the future of transportation; they’re both going places! Ryan begins with a Facebook comment from Mike B. praising the book featured in episode 338. And we bestow a BSso upon patron 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 Patreon! Music credit: Airliner - Podington Bear Audio Production: Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2022

00:00:00 - Joe and Ryan are joined by their friend Dr. Antonio “Tony” Munoz, 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: Free energy calculation of modified base-pair formation in explicit solvent: A predictive model Active yeast ribosome preparation using monolithic anion exchange chromatography Structural Changes Enable Start Codon Recognition by the Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Complex Conserved residues in yeast initiator tRNA calibrate initiation accuracy by regulating preinitiation complex stability at the start codon Coordinated Movements of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factors eIF1, eIF1A, and eIF5 Trigger Phosphate Release from eIF2 in Response to Start Codon Recognition by the Ribosomal Preinitiation Complex 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 Snakeden Saison 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 myth that electric cars are actually worse for the environment than internal combustion (spoiler: they’re not) , but also some of the challenges that come with an electric future and the impact that our need for certain minerals can have on the health of the planet. 01:56:48 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like roads, you should look both ways before crossing them. Joe has a tweet lauding him for comparing the UK to TX, but what we’re really here from is to hand out a BSso thesis for Patron 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 Patreon! Music credit: Electric Car - Podington Bear Audio Production: Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2022

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 episodes 266, 282, 326, and 332.) 00:05:23 - Zootopia and Disney Lemming Myths 00:10:51 - Bio bios: Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) 00:16:06 - The Drake Equation tries to answer "Are we along?” 00:21:23 - Drake Equation "results" hint at a crowded galaxy 00:22:30 - Then where is everybody? Fermi's Paradox weighs in 00:27:03 - To prove the show hasn’t lost a step, Ryan has a Knotty Pine double IPA from Country Boy Brewing. Predictable, but delicious. 00:28:56 - Night Hag: The Inception 00:32:31 - My experience with the Night Hag 00:34:55 - Science of the Night Hag 00:40:08 - Wait, how is the Night Hag aliens? 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 Soundcloud, with more updates to come). More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Solitude - Broke For Free

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2022

00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by Megan Johnson (@mmjohnso), Becca Van Hoeck (@becca_vanhoeck), and Caitlin Bergstrom (@caityydid). 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 Left Hand (Chai) Milk Stout. 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 Juicify IPA by Lakefront Brewery from WI, where she went to school and was surprised to find in DC. Ryan goes big with a Megalodon Imperial Coffee Porter, 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 AGU Voices for Science (Policy Track) 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 PayPal donation and their continued support over the years. Thanks, Terry! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on Bookshop.org and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Do Better - Podington Bear Audio Production by Rob Heath and Ryan Haupt

Transcribed - Published: 25 May 2021

00:00:00 - Dr. Arik Kershenbaum (@arikkershenbaum) stops by to talk about his new book, The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals on Earth Reveal about Aliens—And Ourselves, 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 Punk AF from BrewDog, Ryan is also having a non-alcoholic Upside Dawn Golden Ale 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 Apple Podcasts 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 Stellaris, but of course Ryan can’t help but bring up The Expanse. Discussion ensues. You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on Bookshop.org and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Alien Language - Podington Bear Audio Production by Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2021

00:00:00 - Carl Zimmer (@CarlZimmer) has returned to the show to talk to us about his new book, Life’s Edge: The Search For What It Means To Be Alive. 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 Hoplark HopTea with Spruce Tips which is surprisingly refreshing. After a digression, Patrick gets to reveal that he is also enjoying the nearly non-alcoholic Nanny State 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 referred to in a previous episode. The best resource we know of is the Tree of Life Project, but please get in touch if you know of others! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on Bookshop.org and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: A Beautiful Life - Broke For Free Audio Production by Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2021

00:00:00 - Returning guest Jen Gallagher (@yeastychic) 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 sake yeast hybridization and how yeast respond toxic metallic nanoparticles. 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 Suss It Out 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 Baby Cakes stout from Tribus Beer Co. Ryan had a different beer lined up but is instead going with a Hop Farmin Miner from Weathered Ground Brewery in WV. 00:37:26 - Next we chat with Apoorva about her research on exactly how yeast responds to glyphosate-based herbicides, 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 recurring PayPal donor 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 episode 331. Always good to get extra clarification from an expert! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on Bookshop.org and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Budding - Broke For Free Audio Production by Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2021

00:00:00 - Kelly and Ryan are psyched to be joined by Gina Zwicky (@GinaGoesOutside) 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 major histocompatibility complexes of the Saban’s anole using the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI) awesome genetic database. And Ryan transitions the group to the next segment but half remembering a cool project on the island of Dominica 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 LaCroix 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 Black Rock Milk Stout 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 super taster 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 Frog Watch, 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 PayPal donor (again!). Thanks, Amanda! And another round of our thanks goes out to @z_dieg for tweeting about how much he liked our AGU episode helmed by our very own Tim Dobbs. Great job, Tim! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on Bookshop.org and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Frogs in Tuxes - Podington Bear Audio Production by Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2021

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 potentially new extinction that happened during the Triassic, and another team has uncovered more evidence of what cased the extinction we already knew about at the end of the Triassic. The culprit in both cases? 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 Science Is Crushable IPA by Benchtop Brewing Company. Charlie features a beer sent by a buddy as part of a winter beer exchange, a Tired But Wired by Anchorage Brewing Company featuring some excellent label art by Woflskulljack. And Ryan is excited to try a Kitty Claw clarified cafe milk punch from Mercy Me in D.C. 00:37:31 - Ryan already had the chance to talk about this story once before on the Undisciplined: November Science News Roundup, but he’s too excited to not bring it up again because researchers have found that female mongooses start turf wars on purpose for access to males outside their main group to prevent inbreeding. The paper is open access, 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 episode 320, which prompts Charlie to offer to take Ryan glacier camping. Abe has a Patreon comment regarding using comics to explain science as discussed in episode 308, including letting students answer questions with a drawing instead of text. Finally, we bestow a BSso thesis to Patreon 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 Bookshop.org and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Looking For Trouble - Podington Bear Audio Production by Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2021

00:00:00 - Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the AGU Fall Meeting 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 Amato Evan about his work looking at how dust clouds from the Sahara in Africa have climatic affects as far away as the other side of the Atlantic 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 Kyoto Bakushu Matcha IPA (seriously, clickthrough on the link to see it). Whereas Tim is trying to figure out what to do with his bottle of BarMatt Equatorial Ceylon Tea Liqueur. Ryan provides suggestions. 00:42:33 - Tim’s next chat is with Joshua Bregy, 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 Github. 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 their own poster that they presented in a session about helping scientists get better at communicating. Go figure. Ryan also mentions AGU’s Voices for Science 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 PayPal 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 area of active research believe it or not. Lastly, go check out Tim’s BioArtBot project! You can support us and local bookstores by shopping at our store on Bookshop.org and even more cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Dust In Sunlight - Podington Bear Audio Production by Tim Dobbs (@TimSDobbs)

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2021

00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by Jesse B. Grove V to discuss the highly anticipated sci-fi action thriller, Christopher Nolan’s TENET. Jesse is drinking an Outer Realm from Original Pattern Brewing Company and Ryan is drinking The Magic Touch by American Solera and they are both IPAs because that’s the kind of guys they are. Be sure to check out the Sator Square 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 (@haupt) and Jesse (@LintonFellows) on Letterboxd.com to keep up with their movie-watching habits. And apologies to Doughboys for riffing on their format. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Audio Production by Rob Heath

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2021

00:00:00- We're doing another Anchor-themed clip show! Following up on episodes 266, 282, and 326 we have another round of short audio clips that Ryan created for the podcast startup Anchor under the banner of Organized Curiosity (explanation of the name here). 00:01:43 - Ryan explains the ‘Up-Goer Five’ challenge, reads an abstract he wrote using the Up-Goer Five Text Editor, 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 unfortunately still might do more harm than good. 00:23:22 - It’s the holidays so Ryan is drinking glögg and eating raisins. It’s tradition. Make your own glögg 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 humpback, which was amazing but smelly. 00:31:20 - A new study suggests a pretty fundamental shakeup of the dinosaur family tree. First, he explains how dinosaur diversity was previously organized. Then he explains what the new study actually found. 00:40:40 - Bio bios: dog (Canis lupus familiaris) 00:45:44 - Q&A: Tachi calls in to leave some comments about the “Up Goer Five” challenge, Ryan responds. Also, go read The Elements of Style, 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 PayPal. Thanks, Zachary! Ryan also appeared on the podcast MonsterTalk to talk about the Loveland Frog 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 Patreon! Music credit: Golden Hour - Broke For Free

Transcribed - Published: 26 December 2020

00:00:00 - Abe and Ryan are joined by paleontologists Lindsey Yann and Advait Jukar (@amjukar) to talk about all manner of proboscideans! First up, hundreds of mammoth fossils have been found underneath the construction site for a new airport outside Mexico City. An amazing find with some similarities to the Waco Mammoth National Monument where Lindsey was just hired as the park’s first in-house paleontologist. And as the park’s paleontologist, she is actively soliciting new research projects 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 Old Monk Very Old Vatted XXX Rum, which has expanded Ryan’s view of the diversity of beverages available from the subcontinent. Advait himself is enjoying a pilsner from East Rock Brewing Company from his new hometown of New Haven, CT. Whereas the only paleontologically-themed beer in Abe’s fridge was a Tyrannosaurus Flex from New Real Brewing Company. And in exploring Waco’s brewing scene, Lindsey scored the perfectly appropriate Hidden Herd from Brothwell Brewing. 00:38:14 - Next, Advait explains some of the key differences between the sometimes-confused mammoths and mastodons. A new study of the latter looking at the mitochondrial genomes of different groups of mastodons suggesting they migrated with the ice. 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 PayPal donation (a much-appreciated holdover from the pre-Patreon days). Thanks, Jesse! And Ryan thanks former guest of the show Alex Hastings for a shoutout in the Star Tribune. Thanks, Alex! Alex also has his own podcast now called Squabbling Squibs, check it out! Ryan has also recently appeared on the iFanboy Pick of the Week Podcast #754 talking about comics (obviously) and AGU’s Third Pob From The Sun talking sasquatch and ground sloths, because why not? More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Lakeside Path - Blue Dot Sessions

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2020

00:00:00 - Researcher Daniel Katz and journalist Lucas Joel (@LucasVanWykJoel) join Ryan to talk about Dan’s research into Detroit’s pollen problem. 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 Pollen Tracker! 00:41:26 - After the allergy-inducing first segment, a drink is enjoyed by all. Ryan Escapes with the help of Offshoot Beer Co. Lucas is having his very favorite South African rooibos tea. And Dan is having Electric Jellyfish from Pinthouse PIzza which isn’t thematic but “oh well”. 00:54:14 - Some recent fossil finds in Burmese amber have been making the news, but unfortunately, it’s unclear if the amber is being ethically sourced and it may even be funding the genocide of Myanmar’s Kachin Christian minority. Is it ok to be publishing on specimens obtained this way? What does it mean when the studies get quickly retracted? And how are scientific societies addressing the issue? A sobering but important topic. 01:37:31 - A quick PaleoPOW to thank Dan K. for his continuing support via PayPal. Thanks, Dan! And if you’re in the US, go VOTE! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Detroit - Podington Bear

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2020

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 closest flyby of Earth ever detected 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 Still Hollow Spirits unaged corn whiskey, aka moonshine. Joe corrects the record on his White Russian recipe by making another White Russian according to the recipe posted from the last time he had a White Russian. Abe enjoys some Triple Space Diamonds from Other Half Brewing Co. 00:37:15 - Winter is coming, so have a nap. A new analysis of the Therapsid Lystrosaurus comparing African specimens to those from Antarctica suggests that the more southerly critters may have hibernated 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 episode 117. 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 Patreon 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 Patreon! Audio Production by Rob Heath and Ryan Haupt Music credit: Between Stones - Blue Dot Sessions

Transcribed - Published: 9 October 2020

00:00:00 - Phosphine has been detected in the atmosphere of Venus, where it shouldn’t exist. How could it have formed in detectable quantities? One explanation could be microbes living in a habitable zone high in the Venusian atmosphere, 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 horchata-flavored drink which sounds delightful. Charlie has some coffee roasted by a buddy of his who is now selling his beans online at The Deer and the Bear, check it out! And Ryan has The Great Return IPA 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 an Indian probe recently detected hematite, aka rust, at the lunar poles. How could rust form in such an environment? Orbital dynamics and Earth’s magnetotail 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 Rocky LaDuque for reposting Episode 77 to his own SoundCloud page, 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) when talking about the science behind spilled lattes. 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 Patreon! Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Tentative Cloud - Podington Bear

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2020

00:00:00 - Charlie, Abe, and Ryan are joined by Sommelier Kristy Wenz because we’re talking about wine! Why wine? Stay tuned to the drinks segment to find out! But first up, they discuss the effects of geology, soil pH, and precipitation on the quality of wines from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. 00:20:04 - This episode What Are We Drinking is sponsored by Glasses Up Social, 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 Three Brothers Wineries & Estates 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? A new model has simulated how all the soot that would have been created by the impact and the subsequent fires would have had long term climatic impacts 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 YouTube comment by Sal L. who wants up to keep it. Will do, Sal! Abe fields a question from Tara F. about how to get a book 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 Patreon! Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Dust In Sunlight - Podington Bear

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2020

00:00:00 - We're doing another Anchor-themed clip show! Following up on episodes 266 and 282, we have another round of short audio clips that Ryan created for the podcast startup Anchor under the banner of Organized Curiosity (explanation of the name here). Before we dive in, two things: the correction and the drink. The correction is an explanation of a misspelling. The drink is a Mystic Mamma IPA 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 Flyover Country App. 00:07:31 - It’s the Ides of March and the thought of a historic stabbing makes Ryan want to discuss the science of human blood. 00:12:56 - Better know a root: haemo- 00:15:11 - Bio bios: Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) 00:20:46 - Bio bios: Mangrove Finch (Camarhynchus heliobates) 00:26:12 - Abby from Let Me Google That calls in to share her love of all things blood. It prompts a discussion of blood types. 00:32:29 - In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, so Ryan discusses the myth of the saint banishing snakes from the Emerald Isle. 00:36:09 - Bio bios: Brewer’s/Baker’s Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) 00:41:40 - And it’s been featured on the show before, but it never hurts to remind people of Adam Cole’s excellent (A Biologist's) St. Patrick's Day Song 00:44:15 - News you probably cannot use: Humpback whales are forming supergroups, but why? 00:49:30 - To unwind, some whalesong. 00:50:33 -Q&A: Ryan rants about supposedly “chemical-free” products, like bananas 00:56:00 - News you probably cannot use: an octopus fossil, enjoy. 01:01:31 - Q&A: Chris called in to tell us about how much he loves a Riemann surface, 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 Patreon! Music credit: Feel Good (Instrumental) - Broke For Free

Transcribed - Published: 28 August 2020

00:00:00 - First up, we discuss the evolution of thalattoscuhians, or crocodilians who evolved to live life in the seas, based on CAT scans of their skulls 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 Goram IPA from Butcombe Brewing Co. Following by Ryan’s double buzz-inducing PBR Hard Coffee. And finishing out with Joe’s homemade mocha latte.   00:26:48 - Based on his recent reading about cities discovered in the Honduran rain forest, Patrick stumbled across a story that made him wonder: Did the Mayan culture make it to Georgia? One researcher claims yes, others claim no. 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 episode 316 regarding our reenactment of the Wishbone Pitch Meeting. Patrick has an e-mail from Dylan S. about the book Proof by Adam Rogers, 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 Patreon 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 Patreon!   Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Dance of Felt - Blue Dot Sessions

Transcribed - Published: 13 August 2020

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

Transcribed - Published: 31 July 2020

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

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2020

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

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2020

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

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2020

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

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2020

00:00:00 - We welcome back our old buddy Jacob Stump as he joins to discuss the evolution of the human big toe, which is more interesting than you might think because it showed up sort of lake to the walking around on two feet party. 00:30:21 - Using circular logic we have reason to celebrate with a drink because Joe is having a drink! A White Russian, to be precise. Jacob extols the virtues of Aldi, including their version of a Blue Moon. And Ryan is having a beer for charity in the form of Lifesaver from Solace Brewing Company, and a portion of the proceeds are going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 00:42:26 - and how Elon Musk is single-handedly ruining the night sky for astronomers (sounds absurd, but it's true). That plus the usual segments coming your way soon! 01:23:18 - PaleoPOWs mix it up by putting the Patron thesis last, for reasons. So instead, Jacob reminisces about Science… sort of Theater with an e-mail from Cameron L. M. about how much those episodes made him laugh. Joe then reads a followup e-mail from Andrew S. some of the dark decisions that might have to be made regarding interstellar generation ships. Finally, we award Benajmin K. a BSso with a thesis entitled: Transmitted Olfactory Emissions (TOE): Using Satellite Uplinks to Distribute Smellular Data. Thanks, Benjamin! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Sneaker Chase - Podington Bear

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2020

00:00:00 - Asher Elbein (@asher_elbein) is still back but this time he and Ryan get really nerdy (if you believe that’s even possible after the last episode). The first half of super nerd talk begins with a brief remembrance of Tom Spurgeon, who passed away last year. But it is mostly about the new status quo regarding the X-Men, which kicked off with Johnathan Hickman’s House of X and Powers of X. Ryan has also discussed this topic over on iFanboy. 00:30:28 - Time is a flat circle so Ryan is still having the Thai spice teas from Running Byrd Tea Co. Tweet about your first tea with hashtag #firsttimeteatime, for some reason. 00:31:47 - In the second half of their chat (or really, the fourth quarter if you think about it), Asher and Ryan dig deep on some Star Wars (this was recorded just prior to the release of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker). It gets real, feelings are felt. 01:04:03 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like wars in the stars, they can sometimes end in disappointment. But no disappointment today because we have a lovely 5-star iTunes review from Crue Taylor. Thanks, Crue! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Not The Droid - Podington Bear

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2020

00:00:00 - Asher Elbein (@asher_elbein) is back to talk about feral hogs! If you listen to Reply All you may have already heard some of his reporting on the issue, but we were able to dig deep and really get it into. 00:14:54 - Drinking alone means making healthy choices (sometimes), like this nice bottle of Thai spice tea Ryan has from Running Byrd Tea Co. Free ad for some fine tea. 00:16:40 - We keep it invasive in part two of my chat with Asher where we talk about ‘invasive’ donkeys on public lands. Are they really invasive? Who decides and then who decides what to do about it? 00:48:21 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like interviews, they can go on longer than you expect. But not this episode, this time because we just have a quick iTunes review from isisddog. Thanks and tune in soon for part two of my chat with Asher. Also, Flowers in the Gutter, the book by former guest Kristina Gaddy, is now available for purchase. Check it out! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music Credit: Sage the Hunter - Blue Dot Sessions

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2020

00:00:00 - Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson returns to the show to talk about his new book, Letters from an Astrophysicist. In addition to book chat, he and Ryan also touch on the culture growth of pseudoscience such as people who believe the earth is flat, and 1960s sci-fi films like 2001 and Planet of the Apes. 00:26:46 - We have a segment for drinks. This is that segment. Abraham keeps it on topic with an Orbital Tilt IPA (Citra) from Captain Lawrence Brewing Company. Joe is back onto the Rocket Fizz with a Gene Autry Root Beer, which leads to a discussion of root beer rankings. Ryan philosophizes about west coast IPAs thanks to a gift from Abe in the form of Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing. 00:36:57 - In part two of their chat, Ryan and Dr. Tyson talk about his philosophy regarding Twitter, and how he learns from making online mistakes. As well as why an espoused liberal scientist might work for a conservative presidential administration. And, finally, how science has and hasn’t progressed in terms of recruiting and retaining underrepresented minorities and women. In addition to the new book, you can find Dr. Tyson on Twitter, his podcast, and his website. 01:00:59 - PaleoPOWs are delightful. ‘Nuff said. We begin with a voicemail from Alex K. about veganism, which leads to a discussion about yards and archery. It follows, we promise. Ryan reads an e-mail about Robin Hood cameos in literature from Rose E. And we double down on Patreon theses for Jerm (because we failed to remember that they got a thesis last episode) so Jerm’s extra major was completed with a thesis entitled: Pierced with rejection: Archery Implemented Relays (AIR) Mail as a low-carbon method for feedback delivery in the scientific peer-review process. Thanks again, Jerm! Thanks for a great year, looking forward to next year where you’ll get a whole lot more SCIENCE… you know the rest. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2020

00:00:00 - For our first topic, Ryan, Ben, and Joe explore the theory that the oddly-shaped space rock Oumumua is actually an alien reconnaissance ship. Seriously. 00:23:38 - If the threat of alien invasion doesn’t make you want a drink, then we applaud your restraint. But it makes Ben want to hydrate and have sugar, so he’s having some homemade sports drink. Which causes things to go more off the rails then one might expect. Ryan is finally getting around to the Beyond Resin IPA from Upland Brewing Company, which leads to a much more expected discussion on hop varietals. A brief cut later and Joe tells us that he’s having a Butterbeer from Ozark Mountain Bottleworks. Which is “very butterbeer-y”, according to Joe. 00:35:51 - Next, we talk about how busting apart asteroids, a la Armageddon, is actually a tougher job than we thought because of a pesky little thing called gravity but we’re going to test some other asteroid deflection techniques with the upcoming DART mission, so don’t despair yet! 00:55:22 - Finally, the PaleoPOW where we get feedback and give it back to you! First up is a thesis for the enigmatic Patreon supporter jerm, but that doesn’t stop us from coming up with: Nascent Insterstellar Hyperbolic Aloha Orbits (NIHAO): DART-ing bye to say hello. Thanks, jerm! Next, Ben reads a Canadian iTunes review from Hawkbox which makes us feel good, so that’s nice. And finally, Ryan has an e-mail from Rober Z. about gaming, because games are fun. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Ben Tippett and his ukulele

Transcribed - Published: 7 December 2019

00:00:00 - For this episode, we’re joined by Peter Brannen (@PeterBrannen1), author of the book The Ends of the World: Supervolcanoes, Lethal Oceans, and the Search for Past Apocalypses, which explains all the times when life has nearly been wiped out on our pale blue dot. Discussion ensues. 00:27:47 - In what may be the shortest drinks segment in the history of the show, we get right to it. Peter is having his favorite beer on planet earth, a Mexican Chocolate Stout from copper kettle brewing company in Aurora, CO. Ryan is also having a chocolatey beer from Off Color Brewing called Dino S’mores! 00:29:01 - Part 2 with Peter Brannen continues the chat about the worst days earth has ever had. No big deal. Probably not gonna happen again, except it probably will. Prepare. 01:03:39 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like mass extinctions; few get out alive. Ryan goes first with an e-mail from Joel S., who gives us an update on Tasmanian eucalyptus and their invasion of California as discussed in episode 296 and other forgotten comments, and then Ryan and Joe talk about Australia and other nonsense for a while. Joe has some feedback about Chessie from episode 312, left as a comment on Soundcloud by Taylor H. Ryan looks forward to the day where he can just type the show into existence, maybe coming soon? And we wrap up with a Patreon thesis for Charles L., who wants a t-shirt. Based on that and our discussion with Peter, his thesis is: Keep your shirt on: could smaller carbon footprints due to reduced fabric needs of deep v t-shirts significantly alter textile-based climatic impacts? And we’re happy to send Patrons shirts if we have them. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2019

00:00:00 - Paleontologist Adam Pritchard (@PTPritchard), post-doc at NMNH and future Assistant Collections Manager at VNMN, joins Ryan to talk about all things reptiles! Diapsids, crown versus stem, mass extinctions; this segment has something for everyone (who likes reptiles)! 00:32:59 - A brief drinks interlude to keep everyone (especially Ryan) awake. He’s sipping on an Americano made with Ethiopian Mordecofe beans from Stumptown Coffee Roasters, so put that in your hopper and drink it! 00:36:06 - Adam and Ryan keep talking about reptiles, including best individual reptile (spoiler), and which reptile group is best overall (spoiler). Adam also does his own podcast Past Time, and it’s past time you checked it out while you wait for your next fix of Science… sort of. 01:04:48 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like reptiles, more diverse than you may have originally thought. Dan W. writes in with some kind words but also to tell us about some sloth-y shoes he saw online, but instead of promoting those shoes directly, here’s a clip on why for-profit shoe charities maybe aren’t always that helpful to those in need. We also want to thank Doug S. for being a recurring donor after already donating twice before even if it confused our thanking system. Thanks, Doug! Finally, Caryne H. wishes she’d listened to episode 309 earlier while she was working on grad school essays, but better late than never!

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2019

00:00:00 - Joe brings his friend and historian Kristina Gaddy (@kgadz) onto the show to talk about Chessie, the supposed sea monster of the Chesapeake Bay (bay monster?). She wrote a piece about the history and cultural perception of this cryptid. 00:35:39 - It may not be surprising to hear that as a bona fide icon, Chessie is featured by some local breweries. Kristina is having a beer from RAR brewing that features a little Chessie on every can. Joe argues that his King Kong Cola is an appropriate choice given the theme. And Ryan enjoys a Grampus Smoked Nut Brown Ale from Hellbender Brewing to celebrate a beloved amphibian. 00:42:50 - Kristina also has a new book coming out about the true story of French teenagers resisting the Nazi occupation titled Flowers in the Gutter, available for pre-order now! 00:51:31 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like livestreams; we’re not really sure how they work. This particular PaleoPOW was actually recorded during a Patreon livestream hangout where Ryan began by reading an e-mail from Tommy M. thanking us for his thesis, and then they brought in Patron Sam to help answer a question from RJ about how to decide what science to study when they go back to school. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2019

00:00:00 - The boys are back and they’re talking about meat. Specifically, how the idea that neanderthals ate mostly meat is being challenged by the idea that the chemistry can be tricked if the meat is already rotten when it’s eaten. Yum. But also, healthier diets are actually better for your carbon footprint, so put that moldy steak down and eat a vegetable already. 00:38:11 - And then wash it down with something. For example: Charlie is having some fancy juice. Ryan finally embraces an Old Pal with some Far North Spirit. And Patrick eschews the mixers for some wallet-friendly blended Scotch whisky. 00:44:38 - 3D scans are all the rage these days, but for paleontologists, they present a bit of a conundrum. When you scan a fossil, who owns the scan? The spread, or lack thereof, of this new kind of data, and what the future holds for the field is discussed. 01:06:42 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like scanned fossils; everyone is willing to fight over them. Patrick begins by giving an overdue thanks to recurring PayPal donor Richard P. Thanks, Richard! Creepy Jeff has been catching up via the SoundCloud archive and has a perplexing martian question for Charlie. And Ryan fields a voicemail from Sean about how to sign up to be a part of this whole Patreon thing.

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2019

00:00:00 - After seeing a twitter thread about a recent publication, Ryan invited Jesse Alston (@IntegratEcology) on the show to talk about that paper and his scientific journey. They met up in Laramie and started with the latter, which is this segment. 00:33:30 - A brief interlude wherein Ryan is joined by Joe to discuss beverages. Joe is having leftover apple juice, and Ryan is having a cocktail in a can that he gussied up with some fancy homemade ice. 00:42:05 - Since Ryan and Jesse were chatting at Coal Creek Tap in Laramie, they’re also having a drink. Ryan is having a Wyoming Toad Rye IPA, which prompts a discussion of a very rare montane amphibian. Jesse is having the Molly Blond Belgian Blonde, which seems to involve a dog. The rest of the segment is spent discussing Jesse et al.’s new paper which challenges some of the things we’ve talked about before regarding carnivore reintroduction and its knock-on effects. And be sure to check out Jesse’s podcast Field Surveys. 01:10:04 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like reintroducing a species, you never quite know if it’ll work out. After a quick reading of a twitter exchange with Kendal T., Joe reads an e-mail from Karl M. about the fraught topic of our increasing use of robots for war (Joe recommends the movie Good Kill for further exploration of the topic). We get to lighten things up a little with another e-mail from Zoe S. and also by granting a Patreon thesis to Patron Tom D. who has written a tome titled: Monitoring the sociological impacts of zombie reintroduction to the sustainability school walking routes for students of the New California Republic (NCR) via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Thanks, Tom! If you need a good summer read, Ryan wrote a review of Underland for Science Magazine, which you can purchase via our Amazon Affiliate link. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Lamb And Wolf - Poddington Bear  

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2019

00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by Utah State University journalism professor Matthew LaPlante (@mdlaplante), who teaches science graduate students how to communicate better all while doing #SciComm himself. They chat about Matthew's approach to helping scientists find the type of outreach that works best for them, amongst many other tangents. 00:23:53 - Impassioned conversation can lead to a powerful thirst, and this episode Ryan is staying hydrated with his trusty new water bottle. Get your own and show the dehydration haters who’s boss! 00:27:04 - The conversation continues. Matthew has a new book out, Superlative: The Biology of the Extremes, but instead he and Ryan mostly talk about his Utah Public Radio show UnDisciplined, which is also released as a podcast. Ryan was even on their April Science News Roundup which you can listen to now. 00:50:37 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like journalism; an important facet of society that we must protect. Ryan riding solo this episode so cranking through a few things like an e-mail from Julie S. harkening back to the long-forgotten episode 115 and a message from Bob M. about the more recent STEAM-focused episode 303. Worth noting that to celebrate the paperback edition of Soonish, The Weekly Weinersmith has returned with 10 new interviews for you to enjoy. Go check it out! And finally, a voicemail from Holly S. confirming that the voicemail line is indeed still active. Thanks for calling in, Holly! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Comma - Blue Dot Sessions

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2019

00:00:00 - Recorded live at the annual meeting of AAAS, Ryan is joined by Jason McDermott (@BioDataGanache) and Matteo Farinella (@matteofarinella), two comic creating scientists who ran a session titled: Scientists Who Draw Comics: The Double Life of Visual Science Communicators, which you know Ryan would be all about. 00:28:23 - Ryan’s wife Juliana joins him for a drink to break up the segments. They share an Astral Weeks by Right Proper Brewing in DC and its fine. For this episode, we also declare the drinks segment to be unofficially sponsored by James and his wonderful Isotope - The Comic Book Lounge. 00:33:26 - In the second half of Ryan’s conversation with Jason and Matteo they continue to talk about crafting comics centered around science. They’re both written about the topic before so you can read either or both pieces, Drawing Connections by Jason and Science Comics' Super Powers by Matteo. And if you want to support their work further, Jason does a webcomic called Red Pen/Black Pen and Matteo has been involved in a number of graphic novels you can buy via our affiliate link on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2VuiuJW  00:52:58 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like comics; people think they outgrow them, but they’re wrong. We begin with Juli recommending a few comics like Wicked + Divine, Paper Girls, and some artsy European comics by Jean-Pierre Gibrat. Next, Ryan has an e-mail from former guest of the show Martín trying to reassure Ryan about getting trapped in a water bubble in space, as mentioned during a recent iFanboy appearance. And Ryan shows Juli some dinosaur and comic themed drawings sent in by Sheli H. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music for this episode: Charcoal Lines - Blue Dot Sessions 

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2019

00:00:00 - This episode we’re thrilled to be joined by comedian Shane Mauss (@shanecomedy), currently touring his Stand Up Science show around the county and happy enough to sit down and chat with Ryan about it. In the first segment they talk about the way Shane thinks about comedy mathematically, growing up, and sloth poop because Ryan can’t help himself. 00:21:59 - Patrick and Charlie stop by to have a drink. Charlie is being refreshed by a Starbucks Refresher whereas Patrick is powering through some Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve in his quest to find a Scotch whisky he likes. Ryan tests out a Bittermilk No. 1 Handcrafted Cocktail Mixer which is… fine. 00:28:18 - In part two of our conversation with Shane we talk about what it’s like to do comedy about evolution in rural parts of the US and what scientists can learn from comedians about getting a message out to a sometimes hostile audience. You can hear the rest of their conversation on the “Sloths + Fossils” episode of Shane’s Here We Are podcast out now! Shane is touring with his comedy and has a new documentary out on streaming, Pyschonautics. Check it all out! 00:55:05 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like comedy; laughable. Ryan has an e-mail from Jon O. who appreciates the careful distinction between Creationists and other Christians. Patrick has an e-mail from a less irate Graeme N. about naked apes and potential shared beers. Charlie opines on molten salt reactors for Patron Matt R. who also doesn’t want a BSso thesis and since we can’t force a degree on someone that’ll just have to be that. Let us know if you’re ever read to submit and wrap up, Matt but for now: [file not found, degree requirements incomplete, BSso not awarded]. Charlie also wants folks to know that his department has a new degree if they’re thinking about going to school and not sure what to study. Ryan recently appeared on the UnDisciplined podcast for their April Science News Roundup and the Retro Movie Roundtable to discuss Disney’s live action early 90s The Three Musketeers. Plus he was featured in a AAAS piece about volunteering at his local high school. And to top it all off, Ryan and Abe are doing the first ever Patreon hangout this Sunday (May 5th) from 7—8PM EDT. If you’re a patron, we hope to see you there! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music for this episode: Good Times - Poddington Bear

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2019

00:00:00 - Thanks to the wonders of isotopic geochemistry, scientists have a found a link between the genocide of the native peoples of the Americas and a carbon drawdown that temporarily cooled global temperatures (Open access paper here: Koch et al. 2019). Doesn’t seem like a great option for thwarting climate change, but good to know regardless. 00:21:45 - Ben wanted something interesting and managed to find Grace Brand Peanut Punch, which he loves. Patrick returns to his roots with a little Gentleman Jack, which gives Ryan a chance to expound on bourbon vs. TN whiskey. Yay. Ryan is also in need of some True Respite, which happens to be the name of the brewery that made the beer Alpin Haus, which he is enjoying. 00:30:08 - For decades there have been concerns about growing human populations, but a recent book, Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline, explores the idea that as the developing world continues to develop population growth might stall or even reverse. What happens if we actually run out of people? Many sci-fi scenarios and references are discussed. 00:50:52 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like population trends, they both require a minimum replacement rate to be stable. First, we have a BSso thesis to confer to Patron Bradley S. who has done the work and submitted: It’s the end of the world as we know, but do you feel fine? Meta-analysis of happiness indices regarding impending climate-mediated anti-Malthusian events. Thanks, Bradley! Next, Ben has an update from Drake H. on his (slightly erroneous) claims regarding coyote pack dynamics and the role of carnivore conservation and hunting. Last, Kyle W. wants to know what’s up with t-shirts and other merch? Listen in and find out! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! P.S. We didn’t realize when we picked this theme that it was already the title of a book. If you’re interested in that you can get the book here: The World Without Us by Alan Weisman Music for this episode: Sage the Hunter - Blue Dot Sessions

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2019

00:00:00 - In our final AGU episode, Abe and Ryan host a roundtable discussion with some of the researchers who took the train from Scripps Oceanographic Institute (@scripps_ocean) in San Diego all the way to DC as part of their #trAinGU initiative that they've been doing for several years now. You may have gotten a glimpse of this chat if you follow us or Scripps on twitter. In no particular order we chatted with:  Wesley Neely (@SIOHydrogeodesy), Adrian Doran, Dara Goldberg (@dara_berg_), and Margaret Lindeman (@maaahge). We begin with their science, each of there abstracts can be read here (they're in the same order as listed above): The Ups and Downs of California’s Central Valley from GPS-enhanced InSAR  Lateral heterogeneity of the upper oceanic lithosphere surrounding Hawaii  Multi-Sensor Natural Hazard Structural Monitoring at the UC San Diego Geisel Library  Ocean Warming Drives Increased Mass Loss at 79 North Glacier, Northeast Greenland  00:37:40 - Joe enjoys another drink from his local poke place, this time a ume juice drink. Ryan and Abe are sharing a Partner Ship collaboration beer from Heavy Seas and Maine Brewing Co., who contribute a portion of the proceeds to the Clean Water Fund, and that seems like a no brainer as a good thing. 00:43:50- And then we talk about why taking the train to scientific meetings can send an important message about how we each manage our own personal carbon footprint as well as how much fun a multi-day train trip sounds. You can see tweets from past trips and follow along the next time they embark with the hashtag #trAinGU. 01:02:07 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like train journeys, they’re best when they stay on the rails. We begin with the immense pleasure of grating a BSSO, this time to Patron Leah A. The title of her thesis is: Testing the efficacy of supersonic nuclear-powered mag-lev trains as high-capacity rapid evacuation vectors during massive tectonic events: derailing the strike-slip damage of the San Andreas. Thanks, Leah! Next, Abe has an e-mail from IRL friend of the show Morgan Marshall, who has questions about a certain city-wide destruction movie starring Dwayne Johnson, which doesn’t narrow things down as much as one might think. And Joe reads an impromptu tweet about the show from artist Kat MacDonald (@macdokat) which just gives us all the warm and fuzzies. Finally, a brief reminder that the back catalog of Joe’s show Technically Speaking is still available on Soundcloud here. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Take a Tiny Train - Blue Dot Sessions

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2019

00:00:00 - Dr. Heather Ford (@hl_ford), who was featured alongside a certain Paleopal for National Fossil Day, meets up with Ryan at Atlas Brew Works with her pup Sammy to talk about her work as a paleocenagropher, which apparently involves shooting lasers at tiny fossils to take the ocean’s temperatures. 00:28:18 - Since they’re already at a brewery, why not have a drink? Heather has the Blood Orange Gose and Ryan is having the Coffee Common, both from Atlas Brew Works, obviously. And thanks to the folks at the brewery for letting us record there! 00:31:45 - Back in the studio for drinks round two! Charlie’s up first with some more Ito En unsweetened green tea to get that sweet sweet caffeinated buzz. Patrick is trying to confront past demons with some Bruichladdich Classic Laddie Scotch whisky. And Ryan mixes up an artichoke manhattan by adding in a little Cynar. 00:39:52 - In part two of our conversation with Heather, we chat about her work examining gender and racial equity in speaking opportunities at meetings such as AGU. Get a peak behind the scenes of how big meetings are organized, some thoughts on what allies can do to pull their weight more, and advice to young folks just getting started in their scientific careers. 01:11:09 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like the ocean, they say they have no memory. First up, longtime listener Edward A. has completed the requirements for a BSso in part with a thesis titled: Foremost ramifications: Sexual dimorphism in metabolic processing of ethanol versus caffeine in Scottish foraminifera. Thanks for supporting the show, Edward! Next up, Frank O. has done a deep dive into some old episodes of ours and has thoughts. This leads to a discussion of whether or not it’s worth debating science with deniers (related: Ryan’s episode for Skeptoid countering some common and less common creationist claims). We end with an e-mail from Aleesa S. who follows up on our publishing discussion in episode 295 with a thought about the publish-or-perish paradigm and the role scientific societies might play in the future of publishing. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music credit: Drop of Water In The Ocean - Broke For Free

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2019

00:00:00 - Jill Shipman and Brandon Gellis join us to talk about their AGU eLightning session titled Art and Science: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Data Exploration and Communication. We talk about this novel presentation format, one of the featured talks, and Jill’s collaboration to make music using infrasonic recordings from a volcano (which serves as the featured music for this episode!). 00:30:53 - One thing that can make folks more musical is a drink, so let’s have one! Kelly classes up the joint with a Cabernet Sauvignon from J. Lohr. Ryan, inspired by Backwards Distilling in Wyoming, attempts a Rum & Coke Old Fashioned with Mexican Coke syrup and Doctor Bird rum. It’s all a bit much. Joe doesn’t know the implications of his Faygo Rock & Rye, but Ryan has some ideas about rock candy whiskey and juggalos. 00:41:59 - We start the second segment chatting about Brandon’s work using drones with scientific sensors to make art, and about the deeper connections of what it means to be an artist that focuses on using the cutting edge of technology to push the boundaries of art. Find out more and Jill and Brandon’s projects are their websites, http://www.brandongellis.com/ and http://jillshipman.com/, respectively. 00:59:05 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like volcanoes; they occasionally decide to shake things up. We shake things up this episode by not doing our normal order of things. Kelly starts off with a kind comment from Patreon supporter J. Crichton, an individual with obvious great taste. Next, Joe has an email from Steve O. about how we would build a multi-generational starship to colonize new worlds. We get into it. If you’re interested in some good fiction on the topic, check out Seveneves and The Expanse series. And if you’re interested in how emerging technologies might make these sorts of trips possible, check out Kelly’s book Soonish, which comes out in paperback, wait for it, soon. Finally, we turn our attention to Patron Bradley S., who has earned a BSso with his thesis: All Aboard: Multi-generational transitions from mutualism to parasitism in a space-faring human meta-micro-biome: There and not back again. See ya when you get back, Brad, and thanks! Kelly is working hard on some upcoming BAHFest shows, so get your tickets soon, Joe is looking for volunteers for upcoming Baja SAE events, and Ryan has recently been on iFanboy, so check all that out while you wait for another episode from us! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music for this episode: Pele’s Fury - Trevor Adams

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2019

00:00:00 - In part two of our AGU shows we begin with dunes! Ryan chats with Tom Ashley (@ThomasCAshley) and Rob Mahon (@RobertCMahon) about their work looking at how dunes form and move in a variety of conditions on, and off, Earth! And students, Robert is looking for grad students, so check out his website if you’re interested. The topic reminds Charlie of this old book a guy wrote about dunes because he was bored at war. 00:37:44 - All this talk of particle hops gives one a powerful thirst. Patrick returns to an old favorite to see if he still like it and it’s Port! It’s sweet, but which definition of that word you use is up to you. Charlie is in his office so pops the tab on a Tangerine La Croix. Fancy. Ryan keeps it cryptic with a Skrrt! Skrrt! from Braven Brewing Company and their potentially Brachiolope inspired logo. 00:45:46 - Next up, Mike O’Connor tells us about his work poking holes in the ground in the Arctic Circle and what that might mean for future carbon emissions. Plus, Mike spent some time on the policy side of science and tells us about his experience working with lawmakers and how scientists can be better lobbyists for our cause. 01:16:13 -PaleoPOWs are a lot like congress; constantly needing to be reminded what to do. Brachiolope artist and patron supporter Sonya A. has earned herself a thesis. After some deliberation, we land on: The aeolian effects of sandy and tundra environments on the sexual dimorphism of the nares of Brachiolope podcastensis: Implications for sexual selection and mating vocalization across climatic extremes. Our first thesis featuring a Brachiolope, congrats, Sonya! Next up, Charlie reads an e-mail from Tom S. letting us know an important fact about Blade Runner, which leads to a brief discussion of the original and sequel films. Finally, Chen R. L. wants Ryan to finally learn Git and/or GitHub, and provides a video with some instructions. Nice try, Chen. More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music for this episode: River Below - Billy Talent Tangerine - Led Zeppelin Beneath the Ice - Jeremy Soule

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2019

00:00:00 - Photographer, filmmaker, and lapsed geomorphologist James Balog (@james_balog) joins Ryan and Abe to talk about his new film The Human Element, which screened at AGU and is available to stream now! After quizzing him about his Masters’ research, we spend some time learning about the inspiration for his new film and the challenges that come with trying to tell the stories of real people affected by climate change. 00:39:54 - A spicy, salty, bubbly, beverage would incorporate all four elements, but would you drink it? Joe goes the sour route with a Choya Yuzu place, to make up for Ben recent lack of Asian beverages. Thanks for stepping up, Joe. Ryan and Abe are sharing a crowler of Creek Life (Denali) from Attaboy Beer picked up during a recent PA/MD adventure. 00:47:25 - Because Ryan is bad at saying no to things, he wound up running a podcasting workshop at AGU with Abe and Jackson Watkins (@ProbablyJackson) of the Humanizing Science podcast. Ryan chatted with Jackson briefly prior to the workshop at the meeting, then he and Abe talk a bit about the aftermath of teaching scientists to podcast. 01:04:20 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like humans, messy but loveable. First up, Joe asks us to come up with a thesis for former freeloading but now Patron Tommy M. Based on a supposed love of plants, Tommy’s thesis is: Freeloading in the plant word: Anthropogenic carbon surplus pushes vegetation to the extremes… are we heading from Anthropocene to a new Plantacene? Thanks for supporting the show, Tommy! Abe is up next with an e-mail about Czech pronunciation (as developed by Jan Hus) from our old friend Robert Š. Did we get it right? Who knows! (Robert, that’s who.) Finally, Ryan gets corrected by Will S. regarding stream law! That’s right, you now know your legal rights regarding naturally-occurring rivulets of water. Enjoy! More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon! Music for this episode: You Better Believe It - Vintage Trouble Beech Creek Dirge - Old Crow Medicine Show Human - Big City Rock

Transcribed - Published: 9 February 2019

00:00:00 - To celebrate our 300th episode and make up for skipping Thanksgiving this year we’re doing an all feedback segment! Patrick starts off with an e-mail from Stephen H. who has spotted a potential relative of the Brachiolope (see below) and wants our take on its potential evolutionary pathway. Ryan comes next with an e-mail from Prof. Ken C. trying to help settle a long-standing debate about the appropriate prefix for supervillains versus superheroes. Charlie follows up on the pigeonhole debate with many facts from potential etymologist Ascii Aardvark, even if Charlie can’t remember why said facts are relevant. And finally, Abe prefers Icelandic to Spanish when it comes to describing the ice features found on Europa as reported by Emma G. Thanks, everyone! 00:41:54 - Drinks are better with friends, and thankfully we have some. Patrick keeps it popular with a gin and tonic, hailing back to the early days of the show without even realizing it, made using Explorer’s Gin and Fever Tree tonic. Lime type remains unspecified. Charlie has Ito En Oi Ocha green tea from Japan to help him keep his wits about him. Ryan reflects that with a Mirror Mirror that’s been aging since before the show began, no joke. And Abe relies on some Rocket Science to get him through to the next segment. 00:50:05 - Abe surprises the others with a round of SCIENCE… IN… JEOPARDY!! Patrick, Charlie, and Ryan face off against each other in a game designed for 5th graders (play along here). Who will prevail? You’ll have to listen to find out… 01:33:02 - No need for a traditional PaleoPOW segment this week since we covered it at the beginning of the show, instead Ryan has a quick conversation with Tim Dobbs, audio engineer and host of Encyclopedia Brunch, about his history with the show and various other nonsense, as well as asking the others what the show means to them and ending everything with a melodious (or cacophonous) “sort of” chorus submitted by y’all. Thanks to everyone who sent in their “sort ofs” for the chorus, you helped make a milestone extra special! Music for this episode: Cold Forgiver - Ha Ha Tonka Trick Mirror - The Mountain Goats I Lost On Jeopardy - Weird Al Yankovic

Transcribed - Published: 25 January 2019