Periodic Talks

Spiders have been getting a bad wrap, according to expert Hannah Wood. We talk about how they’ve evolved over hundreds of millions of years, their species diversity and... the chelicerae (a.k.a., spider jaws). Then, we share a story about an animator and special effects artist who created an iconic horror movie monster.

Plus, Gillian gets a shoutout from Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch and Benjamin Flores Jr., her co-stars from the Netflix film trilogy, Fear Street!

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Why is Hollywood obsessed with time travel? Theoretical physicist Dr. Clifford V. Johnson breaks down black holes, string theory, science consulting on Marvel flicks and how time travel to the future might not be total fiction. Then, a story about dark matter, and why actress Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Cruella, Killing Eve) thinks we’re all living on a massive made up set.

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Did you miss us? The wait is almost over! We're back with all new episodes beginning Tuesday, July 13th.

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This is literally our most fun episode yet. Listen to our full game of D&D with Felicia Day (Supernatural, Buffy), Erika Ishii (Apex Legends) and Jasmine Bhullar (Twitch). Warning: After you hit play, you may spend the next 45 minutes with a smile on your face.

What can games tell us about who we are? Game designer Mitu Khandaker sees a connection between the earliest forms of play and modern day virtual reality. It’s head spinning! Plus, we play a little unofficial Dungeons and Dragons with Felicia Day (Supernatural, Buffy), Erika Ishii (Apex Legends) and Jasmine Bhullar (Twitch)!

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Why do we put on sad songs for a good cry? Why do certain melodies give us the chills? We get the details from neuroscientist and singer Dr. Indre Viskontas, who looks at how music affects the brain. Then, we’re joined by special guests Jessie Ennis (Mythic Quest) and Brie Larson (Captain Marvel).

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Food writer J. Kenji López-Alt gets us thinking about cooking as a science. A kitchen is kind of like a lab. So, what experiments do you do? Then later, we fall down a rabbit hole on Google investigating an often misunderstood ingredient.

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How do fossil hunters know where to dig? How is it possible dinosaurs are still flying in the sky? What are feathers? Paleontologist Dr. Jingmai O'Connor talks to us about the connection between modern day birds and avian dinosaurs.Then later, actor Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Community) helps tell a story about the mysteries at the center of the Earth!

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Raven Baxter, aka Raven The Science Maven, is a rapper, YouTube personality and yes, a scientist. She answers our every question about molecular biology, and offers an unforgettable lesson in how to stay true to yourself. Later, special guest Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live, Home Economics) helps share the story of a doctor who battled a tough genetic disorder.

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It’s beyond time to think about how we live in what we wear, according to Camila Chiriboga, an emerging clothing designer from Ecuador. We talk to her about designing for people with disabilities, including people who are blind or visually impaired. Then, special guest Briana Venskus (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Sorry For Your Loss) helps share the story of a midwife who brought healthcare to an entire community.

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