In this episode, Chris explains the basic concepts behind heredity and genetics. We delve into the question of what it means to be dominant or recessive and throw in some combinatorics just for fun.

In this episode, Chris and Mike discuss the process in which cells in our bodies develop into vastly different cell types (skin, blood, liver, etc) despite all having the exact same DNA sequences. Instead, environmental cues determine which of these genes are expressed for any given cell.

In this episode, Chris and Mike argue about the age-old question: If a tree falls in the woods while no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

We disagree on the answer, so Mike and Chris discuss sound and how our ears are able to perceive it. Then, Chris, incorrectly, continues to argue his perspective. Incorrectly.

In this episode, Mike and Chris tackle the strange universe of subatomic particles, particularly talking about antimatter. What is antimatter? How do we know it exists? Will it actually annihilate with matter? We will do our best to make sense of these weird observed behaviors.

In this special episode, Chris and Mike invite David Altman into the studio to discuss his research into different forms of a protein called myosin. In cells, there are chains of molecules called actin that crisscross throughout the cell. Myosin is able to grab onto the actin and pull, causing different forms of work to happen. For instance, bundles of myosin are the cause for muscles to contract. In other examples, myosin can carry cargo through the cell. We will discuss these uses and also how David is able to study the properties of myosin.

In this episode we answer another listener's question by considering how early life could have formed on Earth.  This episode touches on several previous topics, so remember that you can always pause this episode and re-listen to previous ones if you would like a refresher.  In particular, we will be discussing the Central Dogma of Biology (Episode III) as well as what Earth was like shortly after it formed (Episode II: Oceans).

In this episode, Chris and Mike discuss the evidence behind the expanding universe and our understandings of it.  We also discuss how Einstein built a flawed component into his Theory of General Relativity in order to match the data that people understood at the time.  Although he called this addition his 'greatest blunder', parts of it are being re-incorporated now as we learn more about the universe.

In this episode, we invite Chad Tillberg into the studios to discuss eusocial animals.  We learn about bees; ants; termites; and, of course, Naked Mole Rats.  Each of these animal groups live in a nest, and have distinct classes of individuals from workers to Queens.

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Note: this episode discusses the mating rituals of various animals.

In this episode, Chris and Mike discuss the differences between AC and DC voltage, as well as the historical 'debate' about which is better to use.  This debate involved Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse on Team AC against Team DC with Thomas Edison and a bunch of dead dogs and cats.

In today's episode, Mike and Chris discuss the role of cyanobacteria in the process of photosynthesis in plants.  Cyanobacteria are bacteria that are able to convert solar energy into chemical energy.  Plants have subsumed some cyanobacteria into their cells, which now allows plants to do the same.  We get deep into the weeds, as it were, to learn more about plants and photosynthesis.