Improbable Research

By Marc Abrahams

Research that makes people LAUGH, then THINK — research about anything and everything, from everywhere —research that's good or bad, important or trivial, valuable or worthless. Presented by Marc Abra... more

· Science

4.8

88 ratings

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FAQs about Improbable Research:

How many episodes does Improbable Research have?

The podcast currently has 109 episodes available.

Improbable Research episodes:

November 14, 2021Episode #1085: "Mindful Dishwashing"
In Podcast Episode #1085, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to psycholinguist Jean Berko Gleason. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public. You can also like Improbable Research on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Jean Berko Gleason encounters:
"Washing Dishes to Wash the Dishes: Brief Instruction in an Informal Mindfulness Practice," Adam W. Hanley, Alia R. Warner, Vincent M. Dehili, Angela I. Canto, and Eric L. Garland, Mindfulness, October 2015, vol. 6, no. 5, pp 1095-1103.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
...more
10min
October 31, 2021Episode #1084: “Chalk and Mathematicians”
In Podcast Episode #1084, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to biologist Dany Adams. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Dany Adams encounters:
"Chalk: Materials and concepts in mathematics research," Michael J. Barany Donald MacKenzie, in: C. Coopmans, M. Lynch, J. Vertesi and S. Woolgar (Eds) Representation in Scientific Practice Revisited, 2014, pp. 107–130 (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press).

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
...more
12min
October 17, 2021Episode #1083: “Faces and Smoked Ham”
In Podcast Episode #1083, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to biomedical researcher Chris Cotsapas. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Chris Cotsapas encounters:
"Consumer Facial Expression in Relation to Smoked Ham With the Use of Face Reading Technology. The Methodological Aspects and Informative Value of Research Results," Eliza Kostyra, Bożena Waszkiewicz-Robak, Wacław Laskowski, Tadeusz Blicharski, and Ewa Poławska, Meat Science, vol. 119, September 2016, pp. 22–31.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
...more
15min
October 03, 2021Episode #1082: "The Man in the Black Bag"
In Podcast Episode #1082, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to psycholinguist Jean Berko Gleason. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Jean Berko Gleason encounters:
"Attitudinal effects of mere exposure," Robert B. Zajonc, Journal of personality and social psychology, vol. 9, no. 2, part 2, 1968.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
...more
11min
September 19, 2021 Episode #1081: “Ear Bigness Through the Years”
In Podcast Episode #1081, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to biologist Dany Adams. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Dany Adams encounters:
"Ear size as a predictor of chronological age," R. Tan , V. Osman, and G. Tan, Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, vol. 25, 1997, pp. 187–191.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
...more
16min
September 05, 2021 Episode #1080: “Pleasurability of Scratching an Itch”
In Podcast Episode #1080, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to biomedical researcher Chris Cotsapas. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Chris Cotsapas encounters:
"The Pleasurability of Scratching an Itch: A Psychophysical and Topographical Assessment," G.A. bin Saif, A.D.P. Papoiu, L. Banari, F. McGlone, S.G. Kwatra, Y.-H. Chan and G. Yosipovitch, British Journal of Dermatology 166, no. 5 (2012): 981-985.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
...more
16min
August 22, 2021 Episode #1079: "Cats and Appropriate Music”
In Podcast Episode #1079, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to psycholinguist Jean Berko Gleason. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Jean Berko Gleason encounters:
"Cats Prefer Species-Appropriate Music," Charles T. Snowdon, David Teie, and Megan Savage, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol. 166, 2015, pp. 106-111.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
...more
11min
August 08, 2021 Episode #1078: “Are People Happier on Weekends?”
In Podcast Episode #1078, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to biologist Dany Adams. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Dany Adams encounters:
"Weekends, work, and well-being: Psychological need satisfactions and day of the week effects on mood, vitality, and physical symptoms," Richard M. Ryan, Jessey H. Bernstein, and Kirk Warren Brown, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, vol. 29, no. 1 (2010): 95-122.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Google Podcasts, AntennaPod, BeyondPod and elsewhere!
...more
8min
July 25, 2021 Episode #1077: "Danger Assessment of Holy Water"
In Podcast Episode #1077, Marc Abrahams shows an unfamiliar research study to biomedical researcher Chris Cotsapas. Dramatic readings and reactions ensue.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Chris Cotsapas encounters:
“Holy Water—A Risk Factor for Hospital-Acquired Infection,” J.C. Rees and K.D. Allen, Journal of Hospital Infection, vol. 32, no. 1, January 1996, pp. 51–5.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Google Podcasts, AntennaPod, BeyondPod and elsewhere!
...more
12min
July 11, 2021 Episode #1076: "Adventure of the Random Million Digits"
In Podcast Episode #1076, Robin Abrahams dramatically reads aloud selected highlights from a treasured collection of a million random digits.
Remember, our Patreon donors, on most levels, get access to each podcast episode before it is made public.

Seth Gliksman, Production Assistant
Bruce Petschek, Producer (Original Recording)
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Google Podcasts, AntennaPod, BeyondPod and elsewhere!
...more
6min

FAQs about Improbable Research:

How many episodes does Improbable Research have?

The podcast currently has 109 episodes available.