Piqued Podcast

Content warning for this episode - some language may not be suitable for young children. There are also some descriptions of bird mating rituals (18:00-20:45), along with describing the hyoid bone in humans that detours in a small segment regarding strangulation (11:40-13:10). Listener discretion is advised.

Have you ever wondered why woodpeckers hammer on your chimney? Or why they aren't suffering from permanent brain damage from all the banging? Join Trini and Monica as they explore these fascinating birds and maybe go on a tangent or three.

Sources:

https://ornithology.com/why-do-woodpeckers-peck/

https://lyricbirdfood.com/birding-hub/behavior/what-do-woodpeckers-eat/

https://avianreport.com/woodpecker-bill/#:~:text=Multi%2Dlayered%20Design%3A%20Woodpecker%20beaks,and%20dissipate%20impact%20forces%20effectively.

https://earthlife.net/woodpecker-breeding/

Merlin App

https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Have you ever seen pictures of the Aurora Borealis and wondered what causes them? Join Monica and Trini as they explore the northern (and southern!) lights, what causes them, and some beautiful traditional folklore surrounding one of the Earth's most magical natural phenomenon.

Sources:

https://www.space.com/aurora-colors-explained

https://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sdcmp.html

https://www.space.com/aurora-northern-lights-myths-legends-misconceptions

https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/legends-of-the-northern-lights/

https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/sun-space-weather/aurora

https://earthsky.org/sun/aurora-season-auroras-equinox-connection/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-the-northern-lights-are-being-seen-further-south

https://aurorasaurus.org/

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast⁠

This week, Monica and Trini do a deep dive into aliens. Where did the common tropes about aliens originate and what are some of the more famous sightings? Come join us as we learn about the history of aliens and what scientists actually expect to find while looking for life on other planets.

Sources: 

https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/education/alp/what-is-a-biosignature/

https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2019/09/why-is-the-stereotypical-image-of-aliens-green-grey-bald-humanoids/

https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/microbiome/intro/

https://www.livescience.com/55370-why-are-aliens-little-green-men.html

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/long-fuse-big-bang/202311/the-surprising-psychology-of-ufo-reporting

https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos/the-10-most-legitimate-cases-of-u-f-o-sightings.htm

https://www.journalofscientificexploration.org/index.php/jse/article/view/3153

https://www.britannica.com/science/extraterrestrial-life/Searching-for-technical-civilizations

https://www.planetary.org/articles/are-aliens-real

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/what-does-extraterrestrial-mean-and-why-are-experts-looking-for-it

https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/extraterrestrials-aliens

https://gizmodo.com/why-would-aliens-come-all-this-way-just-to-invade-earth-487437089

https://slate.com/technology/2020/02/response-it-came-from-cruden-farm.html

https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/the-ufos-that-scientists-think-are-real-but-cant-explain

https://www.uapcaucus.com/guides/theories

Science Fiction You May Enjoy Based on this Topic: 

Quarantine by Greg Egan

The Embedding by Ian Watson

Evergence Trilogy by Shane Dix and Sean Williams

It Came from Cruden Farm by Max Berry

On the surface, fish seem pretty easy to distinguish - they live in the water, breathe through gills, lay eggs. But, what if all of that is conditional? Join Trini and Monica as they discover all the ways fish defy expectations, and how fish are really classified more by a process of elimination rather than by what they have.

Sources:

Lungfish - American Lung Association

Defining a Fish

Labyrinth Fish

Great White Intrauterine Secretions

https://enviroliteracy.org/animals/where-do-bony-fish-live/

Have you ever wondered about curiosity? In the introductory episode, Monica and Trini explore the history and implications of being curious. We'll also dive into the science behind curiosity and why it can be so beneficial in modern society.

If you like the show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review! If you have any questions or a suggestion for a future episode or maybe a question about something you're curious about, please email us at [email protected]

Sources:

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_surprising_benefits_of_curiosity