Hey, weird fam! It is the Year of the Rat, and this week's episode is all about these long-tailed rodents that tend to be looked down upon within our society. Rats, however, are intelligent, clean, social, and resourceful animals that can survive almost anywhere.

During our current-ish news section, we discuss the CDC's new guidelines on masks and how Trump is a big, fat liar (though, what else is new in that regard). 

Then we delve into the history of rats. What makes a rat, a rat? How are rats used in scientific research? (Spoiler alert, rats are used for a lot of research that impacts your daily life without you probably even realizing it.) How are rats perceived in culture? Listen to our latest episode to find out more.


Note: The movie Jennifer referenced is Sinister 2. The website of the zodiac origin that Amber mentioned can be found at the following link:
https://depts.washington.edu/triolive/quest/2007/TTQ07030/mythology.html


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On this week's episode of Better Than Human, Jennifer and Amber are probably even MORE amusing when they're PMSing and arguing with each other over an Invader Zim lunchbox. During our current-ish news section, we discuss how Tucker Carlson and Fox News think being 'woke' is a bad thing. The opposite would be asleep, I guess? Because going through life 'asleep' sounds awesome! (#sarcasm) And are Civil War Monuments participation trophies? Sorry racists (not sorry), yes they are.  

This week's topic is Dryococelus australis, known more familiarly as the Lord Howe Island Stick Bug. The large insect, topping out at over 8 inches in average length, lived solely on Lord Howe Island (hence the name) and were thought to have gone extinct in 1920 when rats black invaded their ecosystem via a ship run aground. Listen to the amazing story of how dedicated scientists, David Pridell and Nicholas Carlile, rediscovered a population of just 24 Lord Howe Island Stick Bugs living under one single bush on a nearby islet almost 80 years after they were thought to have gone extinct. 

For reference, the article Jennifer and Amber reference in the episode is called: "Six-Legged Giant Finds Secret Hideaway, Hides For 80 Years by Robert Krulwich," which can be read at NPR by following the link below:

https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2012/02/24/147367644/six-legged-giant-finds-secret-hideaway-hides-for-80-years 

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The number thirteen is the natural number following twelve and preceding fourteen (in case you didn't know ;p) and is just a number like any other number, so why do we consider the number thirteen unlucky? Where did the myth surrounding Friday the 13th come from?

Did the slaughter of the Knights Templars on Friday, 13 October 1307 start the myth of Friday the 13th?

Did a Loki myth make 13 an unlucky number?

Did women's uterus cause the 13 to be cursed?

Is thirteen actually a lucky number?

Is it some sinister superstition, or is it because some men in history had tiny, fragile egos? Find out in this week's episode of Better Than Human.

In current events this week we talk about how bad Americans are at geography, and Trump is bad at his job.

This is the podcast Jennifer was talking about -- History of the Crusades by Sharyn Eastaugh https://historyofthecrusades.podomatic.com/ 

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We wanted to do an update on the Covid-19 pandemic, because when we first did an episode about the virus about a month ago, I don't think anyone could have predicted the huge impact it would have on all our lives.  We'll update you on new myths around the virus, why you should self quarantine, and how we know China did not make the virus.

Don't be a Karen, and be nice to people working right now.

We want everyone to Be Safe, but Don't Panic. And remember, Keep Calm and Carry a Towel.

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Here is the link to the LiveScience article Jennifer talked about https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-not-human-made-in-lab.html

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P.S: Wash your hands. 

Have you ever seen a movie trailer, or an item for sale on tv, or just pass by something in the store, and thought to yourself, "Wow, someone along the line during creation of this thing really should have said no to the idea and put a stop to it?" I know I have!  (The movie "Monster Trucks, am I right?) The same applies to weapons. You won't believe the kind of weapons that have actually been made by humans. This week, we discuss just two of them, bat bombs and the Davy Crockett, in this first part of an intermittent series of dumb decisions by humans. If you've ever played Fallout and have heard of the nuka-nuka, then you may or may not know it's a digital recreation of the Davy Crockett. Great for video games, not so much for real world application. 

But first, we discuss current-ish events. Did China accidentally release the Covid-19 virus?Conspiracists certainly seem to think so, but there's no solid evidence. Then Jennifer rants about the Battle of the Alamo, and was Davy Crockett there? Neither of us remember. Do you? 

So, put on your weird hats, join our cult of weirdness, and listen to another riveting episode. You're probably in quarantine or some sort of isolation anyways (like us), so you might as well give us a listen!

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Also, Jennifer's a creep, but it's okay.

Put on your weird hat, everybody, for this week's episode on the little-known New Mexico Whiptail. Also known scientifically as the Aspidoscelis neomexicanus, the New Mexico Whiptail is a species of lizard that despite consisting of ONLY FEMALES, still like to get down and dirty with one another. 

We start the episode with our newest segment called “Kind Of Current Events" where we discuss a scientific article that states 10,000 steps a day is pointless and whether or not China purposefully bioengineered the Coronavirus and intentionally released it on their own population. Spoiler alert: both statements are crap. 

Next, learn why New Mexico Whiptails are called Lesbian Lizards and how this species maintains its population without males. Meanwhile, Jennifer and Amber, loudly debate (we TOTALLY weren't arguing and/or yelling at each other) hybridization and chromosomes in this riveting and entertaining, drama-filled episode of Better Than Human ... the podcast. 

Note: At one point Jennifer said, not a little over, but meant a little under 2000 years ago…

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Ever thought of crushing the heads of your enemy with your butt? Probably not. You know who has? That's right, wombats. That's not the only thing cool about one of Australia's iconic animals. 

Join our cult as sisters Jennifer and Amber add a new segment to their podcast where we discuss stupid, ignorant, or just plain silly current events. This week we talk about some of the myths surrounding immigrants in the US and how bleach is NOT a medicine (who knew people thought it actually was) before we dig into the strange and interesting facts of wombats. With lots of nerdy pop culture references and humor along the way, you're sure to enjoy this riveting new episode. 

Footnote: Dogs’ are not carnivores, they are omnivores, regardless of what Jennifer says.

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The media loves to create hype, even if what results from their exaggerations and lack of all the facts creates hysteria. Add in Karen from HR who thinks they know everything and 24-hour news coverage, this old phenomenon of mass hysteria has seemingly become worse in the digital new age. Take the recent hype around the Novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 virus. We are not saying Covid-19 is not dangerous, because it can be, but do you really need to be hoarding toilet paper and cans of soup? Find out more in the latest episode of Better Than Human, where  Amber and Jennifer discuss mass hysteria, if a virus is alive or not, how Covid-19 likely started, and lay out the facts thus far. We talk the facts and myths, and why quarantines and isolation are the best way to stop the virus.

Note: This podcast episode was made before Covid-19 spread wide and far outside of China, so some of our statistics are outdated. Remember, wash your hands, practice social distancing if you can, and be safe. Like I said in the podcast, the majority of us if we got coronavirus would have mild symptoms and would be just fine. However, we all know someone with an immune disorder or a weakened immune system who might have a severe reaction to the virus. Quarantines and social distancing prevent the disease from spreading, which prevents our hospitals from becoming overloaded with patients they might not have enough room for, and helps prevent the spread of infection to those in our community who have a weakened immune system and who the Covid-19 might be fatal for. But, quarantine and social distancing also does not mean start panicking. For more, check our newest episode on Covid-19 with updated information. 

Meteorites, who cares? They're just rocks, right? Actually, these shooting stars from space tell us so much about the universe, and rocky bodies around us. Listen as we talk about if all life on Earth started with a meteorite, or if a meteorite from Mars proved there is life outside of our planet, or if you can survive being hit by one. Learn what happens when a meteorite hits our planet. Find out what to do if you find one, note, it's not sell it on the internet. 

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Algae. It's one of the greatest things on the planet and it's responsible for all life on Earth, including your life. But how much do you really know about this incredible species? Is it a plant? Why is it green? Can you eat it? Can we make it into fuel? What's up with algae blooms? Learn more in our newest episode where we talk about the benefits of algae and how it is better than human. 

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