Rabbit Hole of Research

By Jotham Austin, II PhD, Nick Elizalde, and Georgia Geis

Our goal is to have fun learning science through the lens of science fiction, fantasy, and pop-culture. We will start in one place and let the conversation lead us down the winding scenic road explori... more

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How many episodes does Rabbit Hole of Research have?

The podcast currently has 126 episodes available.

Rabbit Hole of Research episodes:

September 02, 2026 Data Centers
In Episode 82 of Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe, Nick, Georgia, and Mary welcome back three-time returning guest (previously on Episodes 13 and 39) and “Friend of the Pod”, David Pincus, PhD, cell biologist at the University of Chicago, to the Basement Studio to talk data centers.
We dig into the water costs, why your electric bill is going up, whether space-based cooling is science or Handwavium, what cellular stress can teach us about AI resource allocation, should we use human values or cell behavior to guide AI training, and is there anything good that will come out of these Data Centers. And it wouldn’t be an episode with David if we didn’t go down all the unexpected rabbit holes, we talk lobster farms, “data furnace”, olympic swimming pools, and of course, Extremophiles!
Jim and Georgia's Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar —
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; orders open now, with mailing expected in September
It’s Science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.
We discussed these questions on the episode and now want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
Would you want a data center in your neighborhood? What would they have to offer to make it worth it?
Should we train AI with human values or cellular values?
What would you like to see AI used for? Are you optimistic that we will get there?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. We read them all, and your ideas often shape future episodes.
Future Episodes
Episode 84: ET
Guest: Chris Guzman (@theboxinggloveartist)
Episode 86: Disability in Horror
Guest: Grace Daly (Bram Stoker nominee)
Episode 88: Crazies
Recorded at Reed’s Local with Melissa and Luc
Episode 90: Witch Please
Guest: Bill Halliar (@skeletongue)
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
RHR Crew on This Podcast Will Change Your Life with Ben Tanzer
Events & Conventions to hang with the Crew:
Events & Conventions:
Joe:
Dragon Con — Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as a Professional on seven panels and Georgia will be around also!!
Maud’s READINGS at Printer’s Row Wine on Sep 19th 2-4pm
Art show Ultrastructure: Science is Fun, with Carol Estes at Promise You Art House in Highland IN, October 10th, 10-3pm
Family Day: Seeing the Invisible World to Build a New One; in conjunction with the fall exhibition: teamLab: Everything Exists in Infinite Continuity, at the Smart Museum of Art In Hyde Park, IL, Nov 14th, 11-3pm
Art and Science lecture about Zombies: Dec 10th
Georgia:
The inaugural 4th Street Print Fest at Chesterton Art Center, Saturday, October 3, from 1–4 PM
For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!
Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFV
Don’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
1h 19min
August 26, 2026 The Mini: Magic
In Episode 81: The Mini: Joe, Nick, and Georgia recap Episode 80: Magic — Power and Its Costs with author B.L. Mostyn, talk about the storm that swept through Chicagoland causing a 10-day power outage, and Joe fanboying at Fan Expo Chicago — where John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, and Keith David were all in the building for a The Thing reunion.
In Science Holes, the power outage sent Nick down a rabbit hole about the US electrical grid, and could the whole country go dark. Joe talks about the complex and ethical challenges of studying octopus neuroscience, and the science of 3D bioprinted skin for burn trauma victims.
In the Media Holes, Joe is reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, Georgia just finished the graphic novel My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris, Nick rewatched some classics and started the Marvel RPG Midnight Suns, and Joe and Georgia dive into the Handwavium of The Last House.
Upcoming events: Joe has a live Zoom reading event on release day: free link in the show notes. And Dragon Con is right around the corner: Joe’s full panel schedule below.
Subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter for more updates and awesomeness.
Order the Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar by Jim and Georgia—
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; pre-orders open now, with mailing expected in September
Words // Friends Aug 26th at 7pm CST:
Joe will be reading with four other authors on a Zoom hangout. Register now!
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Named by the Guild Literary Complex as one of the 35 Writers to Watch!
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:
Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
The RHR crew on Ben Tanzer's This podcast will change your life: episode three hundred seventy-nine
Events & Conventions:
Words // Friends Aug 26th at 7pm CST:
Joe will be reading with four other authors on a Zoom hangout. Register now!
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
Upcoming Episodes
*The Mini is every other episode!
Episode 82: Climate Change and Data Centers
Guest David Pincus PhD
Episode 84: ET
Guest: Chris Guzman (@theboxinggloveartist)
Episode 86: Disability in Horror
Guest: Grace Daly (Bram Stoker nominee)
It’s science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. And to see all the content (studio images and artwork) subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter!
Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next Rabbit Hole. Love Y'all!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
40min
August 19, 2026 Magic: Power and Its Costs
In Episode 80 of Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe, Nick, Georgia, and Mary welcome author B.L. Mostyn (Heroes of Another Age) to the Basement Studio to discuss the costs of magical systems.
We discuss the physics, biology, politics, and ecology behind magic systems, fantastical creatures, and the power structures that sustain them. We ask the questions worldbuilders sometimes skip: How does your magical system really work (is it consistent), how many Big Macs to make fire balls and shape shift, and who’s controlling access and should they?
Special Note: The episode is being released during a rough week in NWI and Chicagoland, and the show notes may be shorter than normal. On August 11th, tornadoes and a derecho tore through the area causing major damage. At the Basement Studio: two maple trees were ripped out of the ground in the front parkway, and the cottonwood’s canopy in the back garden was shredded (luckily everything missed the house) but we did lose power.
As of this episode's release, the power is still out: latest restoration estimates is between tomorrow and the end of August. The Rabbit Hole family is safe. We appreciate your check-ins, patience and your support, and will keep you updated. Stay safe, stay curious, and we love y'all!
Nick, Georgia, and Joe
Check out more from B.L. Mostyn:
website: blmostyn.com
newsletter signup: blmostyn.com/newsletter-signup
Heroes of Another Age — Amazon link: a.co/d/0323LFhh (paperback, audiobook & kindle)
Jim and Georgia's Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar —
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; orders open now, with mailing expected in September
It’s Science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.
We discussed these questions on the episode and now want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
If you could have one magical power, what would it be, and what would you be willing to pay for it?
Hard magic or soft magic (Hard: systems with strict rules and consequences, or Soft: a little extra splash of Handwavium in your magic?
What’s your favorite magic system or creature?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. We read them all, and your ideas often shape future episodes.
Future Episodes
Episode 82: Climate Change and Data Centers
Guest: David Pincus, PhD
Episode 84: ET
Guest: Chris Guzman (@theboxinggloveartist)
Episode 86: Disability in Horror
Guest: Grace Daly (Bram Stoker nominee)
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
RHR Crew on This Podcast Will Change Your Life with Ben Tanzer
Events & Conventions to hang with the Crew:
Events & Conventions:
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
Joe will be reading on Zoom: Words // Friends Aug 26th @7pm CST / 8pm EST
Register for free zoom link here: http://tinyurl.com/wordsfriendsummer
For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!
Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFV
Don’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
1h 14min
August 12, 2026 The Mini: Save Trees so Spidey can Swing
In Episode 79: The Mini, Joe, Nick, and Georgia recap Episode 78: Briar East Woods and Urban Deforestation, featuring guests Anne and TJ of the Save Briar East Woods organization. The crew ties up a few loose ends mentioned on the episode: where does Indiana Dunes rank among national parks, a listener comment about daylighting a buried creek in the Dunes, Alex’s 101-word story, and the ‘70s animal horror environmental movies.
Joe quickly covers three Science Holes that caught his eye: a game that lets you try your hand at terraform Mars, sperm whales that have accents (I see you Dory), and what’s a rock. And Nick gets serious with a PSA on science funding.
And we skip the Media Holes and jump right into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the story, the team-ups, the Handwavium, why it might be the most Spider-Man comic movie yet and the top 5 MCU movie. (We give a warning before we chat, so we don’t accidentally spoil anything).
Check out and support: Save Briar East Woods
Subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter for more updates and awesomeness.
Order the Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar by Jim and Georgia—
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; pre-orders open now, with mailing expected in September
Words // Friends Aug 26th at 7pm CST:
Joe will be reading with four other authors on a Zoom hangout. Register now!
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Named by the Guild Literary Complex as one of the 35 Writers to Watch!
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:
Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
The RHR crew on Ben Tanzer's This podcast will change your life: episode three hundred seventy-nine
Events & Conventions:
Words // Friends Aug 26th at 7pm CST:
Joe will be reading with four other authors on a Zoom hangout. Register now!
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
Upcoming Episodes
*The Mini is every other episode!
Episode 78 - Briar East Woods - Urban Deforestation
Guest: Anne Sedlacek
Episode 80: Magic: the Power and Cost of Magic Systems
Guest: B.L.Mostyn
Episode 82: Climate Change and Data Centers
Returning Guest David Pincus PhD (episode 13 climate change and episode 39 on Johnny Storm)
It’s science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. And to see all the content (studio images and artwork) subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter!
Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next Rabbit Hole. Love Y'all!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
31min
August 05, 2026 Briar East Woods and Urban Deforestation
In Episode 78 of Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe, Nick, Georgia, and Mary welcome guests Anne Sedlacek and TJ Gaertig of Save Briar East Woods to explore the 32-acre dune forest in Hammond, Indiana.
Briar East is the last sliver of a 4,700-year-old sand ridge, an urban forest sitting just south of steel mills and oil refineries, and it's doing the work of soaking up the stormwater that would otherwise be in somebody's basement.
The crew talks about how UChicago's Henry Cowles invented ecology on these very dunes, what Marc Berman's walk-in-the-park research says about nature and your brain, why fiction keeps casting tree defenders like Poison Ivy as the villain, and what the forest might actually say if we could learn to speak tree.
Jim and Georgia's Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar —
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; orders open now, with mailing expected in September
It’s Science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.
We discussed these questions on the episode and now want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
What’s a movie, show, or comic that villainizes nature, and did you catch it while watching?
Is there a patch of woods, a park, or a green space that anchors you to where you live? What would you lose if it were gone?
When’s the last time you were really out in nature, phone away? Did you feel the difference?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. We read them all, and your ideas often shape future episodes.
Future Episodes
Episode 80: Magic: the Power and Cost of Magic Systems
Guest: B.L.Mostyn
Episode 82: Climate Change and Data Centers
Guest: David Pincus, PhD
Episode 84: ET
Guest: Chris Guzman (@theboxinggloveartist)
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
RHR Crew on This Podcast Will Change Your Life with Ben Tanzer
Events & Conventions to hang with the Crew:
Events & Conventions:
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!
Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFV
Don’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
1h 10min
July 29, 2026 The Mini: Spider-man Villains
In Episode 77: The Mini, Joe, Nick, and Georgia recap Episode 76: Spider-Man: What His Villains Reveal About Him— the third and final part of their Spider-Man villain series featuring guest Alex Hanes of the YouTube channel Hanes for Heroes (@Hanes4Heros).
The crew briefly revisits the episode, speculates about which villains might show up in the new MCU Spider-Man: Brand New Day film, and Joe adds a thought that Captain America might have the closest hero origin story and moral struggles to Spider-Man’s. Georgia gives her opinion about Spider-Man’s most memorable moment is the Iron Man embrace in Infinity War.
In the Science Holes, Joe talks about:
A NYTimes report about ChatGPT near-fatal health advice lawsuit.
The idea of prediction betting on drug trial results and FDA decisions.
Connecting Doc Ock’s tentacle arms to real brain-machine interface research and a new study revealing how individual neurons build sentences one word at a time.
And at the buzzer, Joe sneaks in the SpudCell — the first fully synthetic artificial cell that can feed, grow, and divide. And Georgia thinks conspiracy.
Georgia discusses the axolotl, whose skin mucus shows early promise against drug-resistant bacteria and cancer cells.
Nick backs up his campfire claims with actual research showing fire lowers blood pressure and reduces stress — a teaser for Episode 78’s dive into the science of nature.
In the Media Holes:
The crew discusses the media they have been digging: Maximum Pleasure, Trying, Obsession, My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris, Pimp My Airship by Maurice Broaddus, and Palworld’s 1.0 update. Joe and Georgia also talks about the author event at Bucket O’Blood in Avondale with eight horror authors.
Order the Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar by Jim and Georgia—
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; pre-orders open now, with mailing expected in September
Words // Friends Aug 26th at 7pm CST:
Joe will be reading with four other authors on a Zoom hangout. Register now!
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Named by the Guild Literary Complex as one of the 35 Writers to Watch!
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:
Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
The RHR crew on Ben Tanzer's This podcast will change your life: episode three hundred seventy-nine
Events & Conventions:
Words // Friends Aug 26th at 7pm CST:
Joe will be reading with four other authors on a Zoom hangout. Register now!
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
Upcoming Episodes
*The Mini is every other episode!
Episode 78 - Briar East Woods - Urban Deforestation
Guest: Anne Sedlacek
Episode 80: Magic: the Power and Cost of Magic Systems
Guest: B.L.Mostyn
Episode 82: Climate Change and Data Centers
Returning Guest David Pincus PhD (episode 13 climate change and episode 39 on Johnny Storm)
It’s science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. And to see all the content (studio images and artwork) subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter!
Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next Rabbit Hole. Love Y'all!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
37min
July 22, 2026 Spider-Man villains part 3: What His Villains Reveal About Him
In the 76th episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, from the Basement Studio, Joe and Nick are joined by Alex Hanes of the YouTube channel Hanes for Heroes (@Hanes4Heros) for the conclusion of their three-part Spider-Man villain series, and this one gets personal. Bring some tissues!
The crew digs into what it actually means to be a hero/villain, neurologically, philosophically, and biologically. They explore moral injury and the difference between guilt and shame. Why Spider-Sense might be anxiety on overdrive, and how Peter’s pattern of seeking father figures keeps leading him straight to his greatest enemies, and the crew speculates on what might be coming with Dr. Doom in the MCU.
They debate whether Spider-Man could ever cross the line into villainy, examine Venom and Carnage as the darkest possible mirrors of Peter Parker, and ponder the question Alan Moore spent his career answering: would unchecked power produce heroes?
Plus Joe wows the crew with the science of spider silk, spider-goat milk, and how many calories it would actually take to be Spider-Man. The crew ends discussing which version of Spidey walks out of a cage match.
Check out Alex's Youtube Chanel: @Hanes4Heroes
Jim and Georgia's Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar —
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; orders open now, with mailing expected in September
It’s Science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.
We discussed these questions on the episode and now want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
If you woke up tomorrow with Spider-Man’s powers, what would you actually do: hero, villain, or something in between?
Peter Parker is one bad day away from most of his villains. Do you buy that, or is there something in his character that would always pull him back?
Who is your favorite Spider-Man villain, and what does that say about what you find most compelling in a good antagonist?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. We read them all, and your ideas often shape future episodes.
Future Episodes
Episode 78 - Briar East Woods - Urban Deforestation
Guest: Anne Sedlacek
Episode 80: Magic: the Power and Cost of Magic Systems
Guest: B.L.Mostyn
Episode 82: Climate Change and Data Centers
Guest: David Pincus, PhD
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
RHR Crew on This Podcast Will Change Your Life with Ben Tanzer
Events & Conventions to hang with the Crew:
Events & Conventions:
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!
Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFV
Don’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
1h 15min
July 15, 2026 The Mini: Chimeras
In Episode 75: The Mini, Joe, Nick, and Georgia recap Episode 74: Scorpion and the Other Chimeras — part two of their Spider-Man villain series featuring guest Erin C. Anthony, evolutionary ecologist and middle school science teacher — and dig into a few things that didn’t make it into the full episode.
Joe explain what organoids are, tiny, self-organizing 3D tissue cultures grown from stem cells that can mimic actual human organs, and why they are important in biomedical research. Including what happened when they sent some into space on the Artemis II mission.
Georgia wants to know more about the explosive diarrhea outbreak, caused by the microorganism Cyclospora cayetanensis, spreading across 31 states. What you should know about the parasite, and how to avoid catching it.
Joe goes down the science hole of CRISPR and epigenetics. Scientists are now targeting the chemical markers that sit on top of DNA, turning genes on and off without editing the genetic sequence directly. Plus: gut bacteria have a population-level survival trick that might change how we think about evolution.
The episode wraps with the crew going down the Media hole. Kirk Douglas in the 1951 noir Ace in the Hole, T. Kingfisher’s parasitic horror novel Wolf Worm, Maurice Broaddus’s steampunk Afro-SF Pimp My Airship, Beronda L. Montgomery’s When Trees Testify, Watch Dogs 2, Widows Bay, and Return to Silent Hill. Joe talks about his time at Shore Leave 46, and a shoutout from Friends of the Podcast, Alex with a GTA III trench coat wiki, and Liorean Doodles art work.
July 15th is the last day: Pre-Order: Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar —
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; pre-orders open now, with mailing expected in September
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Named by the Guild Literary Complex as one of the 35 Writers to Watch!
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:
Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
The RHR crew on Ben Tanzer's This podcast will change your life: episode three hundred seventy-nine
Events & Conventions:
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
Upcoming Episodes
*The Mini is every other episode!
Episode 76 – Spider-Man Villains Part 3: What His Villains Reveal About Him
Guest: Comic YouTuber, Alex Hanes (@Hanes4Heroes)
Episode 78 - Briar East Woods - Urban Deforestation
Guest: Anne Sedlacek
Episode 80: Magic: the Power and Cost of Magic Systems
Guest: B.L.Mostyn
It’s science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. And to see all the content (studio images and artwork) subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter!
Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next Rabbit Hole. Love Y'all!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
53min
July 08, 2026 Spider-Man villains part 2: Scorpion and the other Chimeras
In the 74th episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe, Nick, and Georgia are joined by guest Erin C. Anthony, an evolutionary ecologist and science communicator, to continue their Spider-Man villain series with a deep dive into chimeras: part myth, part Handwavium, and recently part reality.
The crew kicks off explaining what a chimera is? And is Spider-Man one? They explore the science behind why you can’t just inject someone with scorpion DNA and call it a day, looking at you waving those hands J. Jonah Jameson.
Along the way they get into CRISPR, epigenetics, xenotransplants, and the very real, and ethically complicated, efforts to grow human organs inside animals. They also talk about the axolotl and salamander research behind limb regeneration, debate whether Frankenstein’s monster would have survived immune rejection?
They also touch on the ethics of brain chimeras, clones as organ banks, and the comic run Flowers for Rhino, a riff on Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon that asks what happens when a supervillain gets too smart for his own good.
The episode closes with the crew’s answers to the most important question of the night: if you could splice your DNA with one animal, what would it be?
Pre-Order: Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar —
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; pre-orders open now, with mailing expected in September
Joe will be at Shore Leave 46 — Lancaster, PA (July 10-12, 2026)
Lancaster Wyndham Resort and Convention Center
It’s Science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. Leave a Comment. And for email alerts sign-up for the Substack newsletter and never miss an episode, exciting updates or the bonus images we talk about on the episodes.
We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
If you could splice your DNA with one animal, what would it be and why?
Would you accept a lab-grown organ grown inside a pig using your own stem cells if it meant saving your life?
Scientists have drawn a hard line at brain chimeras. Do you think that line is in the right place?
Future Episodes
Three Part Spider-Man Series continues to get ready for the new MCU Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Episode 76 – Spider-Man Villain Series 3: What His Villains Reveal About Him
Guest: Comic YouTuber, Alex Hanes (@Hanes4Heroes)
Episode 78 - Briar East Woods - Urban Deforestation
Guest: Anne Sedlacek
Episode 80: Magic: the Power and Cost of Magic Systems
Guest: B.L.Mostyn
Episode 82: Climate Change and Data Centers
Guest: David Pincus, PhD
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
RHR Crew on This Podcast Will Change Your Life with Ben Tanzer
Events & Conventions to hang with the Crew:
Events & Conventions:
Shore Leave 46 - Lancaster, PA (July 10-12, 2026)
Lancaster Wyndham Resort and Convention Center
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
For more stuff (Images, Episode Highlights, Notes and Fun Facts, events, etc), subscribe to our Substack newsletter!
Join Rabbit Hole of Research on Discord: https://discord.gg/2nnmKgguFV
Don’t forget to give us 5 stars or a like!

Get full access to The Rabbit Hole of Research at jothamaustin.substack.com/subscribe
...more
1h 12min
July 01, 2026 The Mini: Lab Safety
Joe, Nick, and Georgia are back in the Basement Studio — well, sort of. Georgia is remoting in from the American Library Association conference in Chicago, and Nick is in his office. Joe is holding down the Basement Studio solo. The band is together in spirit.
In Episode 73: The Mini: the RHR crew recaps Part 1 of the Spider-Man villains series: Lab Safety (EP 72) episode featuring Tera Lavoie, PhD, and the ongoing debate over whether Nick should be allowed anywhere near a rock alone.
Past guest Lorena checks in with some unfortunate news from Peru, and in Science Holes, Joe brings three stories. A NYTimes story about self experimentation, rewriting what we thought we knew about the human genome, and can we turn back the clock on aging cells.
The crew closes out with what they have been watching, reading, and playing, a few upcoming announcements, and Season 4 is officially happening (was there any doubt).
Stay curious. But don’t lick rocks or sand (come on Nick!)
Pre-Order: Touch of Noir 2027 Wall Calendar —
12 months of all-original art by Jim and Georgia; pre-orders open now, with mailing expected in September
Joe will be at Shore Leave 46
Lancaster, PA (July 10-12, 2026): Lancaster Wyndham Resort and Convention Center
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Named by the Guild Literary Complex as one of the 35 Writers to Watch!
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:
Podcast Cross-Appearances
Joe on GoIndieNow: 21grams with Joe Compton
The RHR crew on Ben Tanzer's This podcast will change your life: episode three hundred seventy-nine
Events & Conventions:
Shore Leave 46 - Lancaster, PA (July 10-12, 2026)
Lancaster Wyndham Resort and Convention Center
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
Upcoming Episodes
*The Mini is every other episode!
Episode 74 – Spider-Man Villains Part 2: Scorpion and the Other Chimeras
Guest: Erin C. Anthony
Episode 76 – Spider-Man Villains Part 3: What His Villains Reveal About Him
Guest: Comic YouTuber, Alex Hanes (@Hanes4Heroes)
Episode 78 - Briar East Woods - Urban Deforestation
Guest: Anne Sedlacek
Episode 80: Magic: the Power and Cost of Magic Systems
Guest: B.L.Mostyn
It’s science for Weirdos
Want to support the show? Tell your friends. Follow us on social media, Discord, share the podcast, and let us know what topics you are excited about. And to see all the content (studio images and artwork) subscribe to the Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter!
Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next Rabbit Hole. Love Y'all!

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FAQs about Rabbit Hole of Research:

How many episodes does Rabbit Hole of Research have?

The podcast currently has 126 episodes available.