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samsplaining science episodes
- ep 59. IUDs
On this episode, sam-splains intrauterine devices and trauma dumps! fun!
Sources:
1. Friedman, J., Oluronbi, R.A. (2019). Types of IUDs and Mechanism of Action. In: Coles, M., Mays, A. (eds) Optimizing IUD Delivery for Adolescents and Young Adults. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17816-1_3
2. UCSF School of Medicine Bixby Center and Bedsider.org. How well does birth control work? [Internet]. Available: https://beyondthepill.ucsf.edu/sites/beyondthepill.ucsf.edu/files/Tiers_Chart_ENGLISH.pdf.
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34 min - ep 58. fiber? I hardly know ‘er!
On this episode, sam-splains fiber and the role it plays in digestion! Promises of a short episode were broken as she talks about stool for FORTY MINUTES (my bad lol!!!!!)! Enjoy and eat your veggies!
Sources:
1. Mayo Clinic (2025). Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet. Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983
2. McRorie JW and McKeown NM. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2017;117:251-264. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2016.09.021
3. Solanki C. (13 Apr 2026). “The Tiny Purple Fruit That Secretly Heals Your Gut: Here’s What Plums Really Do to Your Digestion”. The Quiet Nutrition. Link: https://thequietnutrition.com/the-tiny-purple-fruit-that-secretly-heals-your-gut-heres-what-plums-really-do-to-your-digestion/
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40 min - ep 57. red light masks
On this episode, sam-splains red light masks and the science behind why red light may help reduce signs of aging on the skin!
Sources:
1. Center for Disease Control. (2024). The Electromagnetic Spectrum. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-health/about/electromagnetic-spectrum.html
2. Couturaud V, Le Fur M, Pelletier M, Granotier F. Reverse skin aging signs by red light photobiomodulation. Skin Res Technol. 2023;29:e13391. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13391
3. Bargato EF, Paisano AF, Pavani C, Motta LJ et al, Role of photobiomodulation application frequency in facial rejuvenation: randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial. Lasers in Medical Science. 2025;40:170. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-025-04383-1
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1 hr 5 min - ep 56. Black History Month part 2!
Happy Black History Month! In Part 2 of this Month’s series, sam-splains scientific contributions of Drs. Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Clark and Dr. Percy Julian!
Sources:
1. American Psychological Association. (Created 2012). “Featured Psychologists: Mamie Phipps Clark, PhD, and Kenneth Clark, PhD.” Link: https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/psychologists/clark#:~:text=Mamie%20Phipps%20Clark%20and%20Kenneth%20Clark%20were,expert%20witnesses%20in%20several%20school%20desegregation%20cases.
2. City University of New York Academic Commons. (Accessed 2026). “The Doll Study - The Legacy of Dr. Kenneth Clark.” Link: https://kennethclark.commons.gc.cuny.edu/the-doll-study/#:~:text=Black%20is%20Beautiful:%20The%20Doll%20Study%20and,the%20Court's%20decision%20to%20end%20school%20segregation.
3. NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (Accessed 2026). “Brown v. Board: The Significance of the Doll Test.” Link: https://www.naacpldf.org/brown-vs-board/significance-doll-test/
4. DePauw University. (Last updated Aug 2023). “Percy L. Julian, Class of 1920: Biography.” Link: https://libguides.depauw.edu/percyjulian
5. Science History Institute: Museum & Library (Accessed 2026). “Percy Lavon Julian”. Link: https://www.sciencehistory.org/education/scientific-biographies/percy-lavon-julian/
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43 min - ep 55. Black History Month pt 1!
Happy Black History Month! In Part 1 of this Month’s series, sam-splains scientific contributions of Granville T. Woods and Dr. Patricia Bath!
Sources:
1. Biography | Granville T. Woods, Inventor, Induction Telegraph. (Updated 2021). Link: https://www.biography.com/inventors/granville-t-woods
2. Advancing Physics: APS News. (2023). “November 29, 1887: Granville Woods Patents the Induction Telegraph”. Link: https://www.aps.org/apsnews/2023/10/granville-woods-patents-induction-telegraph
3. Wilson, TV. How Subways Work. (Accessed 2026). Link: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/civil/subway3.htm
4. Black Women Physicians: Dr. Patricia Era Bath Inventors Hall of Fame Nomination (Image) Link: https://www.blackwomenphysicians.org/dr-patricia-era-bath
5. U.S. National Library of Medicine - Changing the fact of Medicine | Patricia E. Bath (Accessed 2026). Link: https://cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/biography_26.html
6. Ignotofsky, R. (2016). Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World. Link: https://rachelignotofskydesign.com/women-in-science
7. Cataracts | National Eye Institute. National Institutes of Health. (Accessed 2026). Link: https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts
8. Cataract Surgery | American Academy of Ophthalmology. (Accessed 2026). Link: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-cataract-surgery
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33 min - ep 54. i smell snow!
on this episode, sam-splains snow, ice, and why we use rock salt to keep from slipping on sidewalks! (and fair warning - she is sleep deprived and gets spicy lol)
Women's Foundation of Minnesota - Immigrant Rapid Response Fund Link: https://www.wfmn.org/funds/immigrant-rapid-response/
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota - Link: https://www.ilcm.org/donate/
Sources:
1. Climate Science Investigations. Temperature Over Time: Water’s Influence on Temperature. Link: https://www.ces.fau.edu/nasa/module-3/why-does-temperature-vary/land-and-water.php
2. Exploring our Fluid Earth: Macroscopic Changes in Liquid Water Volume. Link: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/density-effects/density-temperature-and-salinity/weird-science-macroscopic-changes-liquid-water-volume
3. Libbrecht, K. (2007). “The Formation of Snow Crystals”: American Scientist. 95(1):52. Link: https://www.americanscientist.org/article/the-formation-of-snow-crystals
4. Sehgal T and Wright C. “Breaking the Ice: A Scientific Take on the Ice Melting Abilities of Household Salts” (2017). Journal of Emerging Investigators.. Link: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4dbc/f8d607e223c7b48f0e4edebef9984486e5f2.pdf.
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50 min - ep 53. wtf is ai?
On this episode, sam-splains AI! What even is AI? What can it do, and what can’t it do? Is it good or evil? Let’s discuss! Leave your thoughts in the comments or share them on socials @samsplainingsci !!
Sources:
1. Ng, A. Coursera: AI for Everyone. Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ai-for-everyone
2. Commonly Asked Questions about ChatGPT. OpenAI. Updated: 4 months ago. Link: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6783457-what-is-chatgpt
3. Wen J, Wang W. The future of ChatGPT in academic research and publishing: A commentary for clinical and translational medicine. Clin Transl Med. 2023 Mar;13(3):e1207. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.1207. PMID: 36941774; PMCID: PMC10028016.
4. United Nations Environment Programme. “AI has an environmental problem. Here’s what the world can do about that.” 2025 Nov 13. Link: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-can-do-about
5. Kosmyna, N. et al., (2025). ”Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task. ” Arxiv. Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872 [PRE-PRINT; NOT PEER REVIEWED]
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1 hr 5 min - ep 52. the most wonderful time of the year!
On this episode, sam-splains the winter solstice and how it happens!
Source:
National Weather Service. The Seasons, The Equinox, and The Solstices. Link: https://www.weather.gov/cle/seasons
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28 min - ep 51. cheers!
On this episode, sam-splains alcohol! We talk about alcohol fermentation and how it is used in beer brewing and winemaking! Cheers, friends! 🍻
Sources:
Alba-Lois L and Segal-Kischinevsky C. Yeast Fermentation and the Making of Beer and Wine (2010). Nature Education. 3(9):17. Link: https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/yeast-fermentation-and-the-making-of-beer-14372813/
Bokulich NA and Bamforth CW. The microbiology of malting and brewing (2013). Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3668669/
Sablayrolles, J.M. Control of Alcoholic fermentation in winemaking: Current situation and prospect. (2009). Food Research International. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996908002524
If you or someone you love is in need of assistance with a substance abuse or alcohol addition, you can go to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at:
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline or call 1-800-662-4357.
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58 min - ep 50. move well, feel well, think well
In this episode, sam-splains why exercise is good for your brain! Tl;dr - exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make people happy, and happy people don’t kill their husbands!
Sources:
1. Basso JC and Suzuki WA. The Effects of Acute Exercise on Mood, Cognition, Neurophysiology, and Neurochemical Pathways: A Review. Brain Plasticity. 2016;2(2):127-152. doi:10.3233/BPL-160040
2. Macpherson H, Teo W-P, Schneider LA and Smith AE (2017) A Life-Long Approach to Physical Activity for Brain Health. Front. Aging Neurosci. 9:147. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00147
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1 hr
About samsplaining science
From the publisher's feed
Hey! Welcome to Samsplaining Science - a podcast where a chick named Sam tries to explain some science! Science affects our lives every day, more than any of us realize. That's where this podcast…
comes in! Join Sam as she explores and explains the wonders of science that are all around us - hopefully learning a little bit and laughing a little bit along the way!