Science... sort of

00:00:00 – Dr. Phil Currie, Professor of Paleontology at the University of Alberta and President of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, comes on to alert the Paleopals and more importantly the PaleoPosse about the dangers of bad legislation in Tennessee and elsewhere.

00:10:33 – As an addendum to that discussion the Paleopals talk about the fact that even though Creationism loses in the courtroom it still has a strong foothold in the classroom.

00:21:17 - Ryan has a Monster in his branded mug, Patrick whines from a usual place and Charlie seeks redemption. All to answer the simple question, "What are we drinking?"

00:25:23 – Once Patrick figures out what to watch this segment gets marvelously alliterative when Trailer Trash Talk tackles Thor! Ryan will be writing some pieces on Thor Science for Marvel in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for those links as they happen.

00:39:14 – According to a new study when you think of death you’re more likely to accept Intelligent Design (as opposed to dour Dawkins). The cure for this is finding existential meaning in science or enjoying some of the writing of Carl Sagan. None of the Paleopals are really all that shocked.

00:52:36 – PalePOWs are a lot like vampires. They can be utterly hypnotic and usually live for too long. This week Patrick helps Susan save her marriage via a trip down Seasame Street when she asks the taxonomy of Big Bird. Charlie thanks Dennis M. of BVI for a most generous donation. Next week we’ll be recording from the Carribean with Dennis to show our gratitude. Finally, Ryan has a voicemail from Cameron of MN who just wants to say that he digs the show and found us when Ryan ran his mouth on The Nerd List.

Thanks for Listening! Sometimes we blog, and that happens at Paleocave.com.

Music for this week's show:

Tennessee Pusher – Old Crow Medicine Show

Redemption Song – Bob Marley

How You Like Me Now – The Heavy

The Thoughts That Give Me The Creeps - Hellogoodbye

00:00:00 - Your logo may say more about you than you'd like, so spring for the nicer shirt, because sometimes you just can't fight evolution as a new study shows that name brand can make the difference.

00:12:18 - What are we drinking? Charlie talks labels and a different kind of taste. Ben goes back to a brand he trusts. And Ryan tries to stick with the theme with a very convoluted connection.

00:17:41 - Trailer Trash Talk gets both high and deep as the Paleopals break down the trailer for Werner Herzog's new 3D documentary The Cave of Forgotten Dreams

• Special thanks to Andrew Mayne, of theWeird Things Podcast, for his help figuring out the dark details of Chauvet Cave!
• Also, special thanks to Ryan forthinking so hard about Centaurs all of the time.

00:33:08 - Science... sort of gets topical with a story about how language affects culture, politics and so much more when a video from RSA about linguistics gets the Paleopals thinking about current events in the Arab world.

00:49:52 - Paleopows are like uprisings, they show up when you least expect it and make you feel much less powerful. But this week we have a few doozies. First off, Ricky sends us a cryptic donation which helps explain last week's sign off. Then Ryan has some followup from the NCAA tournament via Sam A. And finally, Charlie has e-mail from a young whipper-snapper Doug who has been thinking long and hard about dark matter.

Thanks for listening, we have a blog, sometimes we even us it. It's called The Paleocave.

Music for this week's show:

Change Clothes - Jay-Z

A Beautiful Mine - Aceyalone & RJD2

The Cave - Mumford and Sons

That was a crazy game of poker - OAR

00:00:00 - Dr. Christie Rowe had a problem with an article Simon Winchester published about recent earthquakes and bogus predictions. She let him know about her problems and he wasn't exactly a gentlemen or a good journalist about her critiques. We talk to Christie about her experiences trying to bully the bully pulpit into present honest science to the public instead of fear mongering for higher hit counts.

• Read about the entire interaction on the Paleocave Blog.
• Also read Dr. Rowe's followup post to the entire debacle at Scientific American's Guest Blog.

00:34:22 - What are we drinking? Christie also sticks around to counter misconceptions about boxed wine. Patrick concurs and is feeling mighty red and cheap himself. On the other hand, Charlie and Ryan compete to see who can be more bitter. Surprisingly (or maybe not), Ryan pulls out a win.

00:39:21 - Trailer Trash Talk, doubling up as Patrick's PaleoPOW via Jeff Sykes, ventures into potential ramble territory this week as the Paleopals discuss the upcoming documentary The People vs. George Lucas.

00:53:22 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like debates, frustrating, unconvincing and ultimately futile, but boy are they fun! Charlie has a well-thought out question from Jesus S. of Oregon about terraforming Mars in a very dramatic way. Ryan has a much shorter piece of feedback by far in the form of a tweet from @Edib0y regarding an essay inspired by the show. Here's hoping he doesn't get an F!

Thanks for listening! Be sure to check out the Paleocave Blog for occasional updates from you favorite podcasters.

Music for this week's show:

This Is Why We Fight - The Decemberists

Bitter End - Dixie Chicks

Duel of the Fates - John Williams

Duel of the Fates - John Williams

00:00:00 - The show starts this week with a hardy helping of pterosaur ptime when the Paleopals sit down to discuss past errors with David Hone and Ross Eglin. Be sure to scope out all the other projects they're involved in at: pterosaur.net, Archosaur Musings and Ask A Biologist.

00:37:29 – In which potent potables are consumed.

00:42:50 – It's a trip down found footage lane when the Paleopals set their sights skyward with a mission for fear in the new trailer for Apollo 18.

00:59:46 – Ben Goldacre, author of the book Bad Science, had some things to say on hissecondary blog about the idea that science journalists should have science degrees. The Paleopals discuss with a bit of added insight from friend of the show Marissa!

01:14:28 – PaleoPOWs are like trivia, plural and interesting. This week Patrick delights that he has some actual snail mail, Charlie laments the state of our iTunes rating while praising Laura W. for saying something nice and Ryan has a rocking e-mail from Cori L.

Thanks for listening, if you need even more of the Paleopals in your life head over to the Paleocave Blog!

Music from this week's show:

Wrong Thing Right Then – Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Do Wrong Right – The Devil Makes Three

Moons and Horror Shoes – The Zutons

Hard to Explain – The Strokes

00:00:00 – Ben takes a moment to ask the Paleoposse to consider helping the people of Japan recover from recent catastrophe. If you'd like to donate we've provided some links:

• Doctors without Borders
• American Red Cross

00:00:40 - Ben also tells us the scientific cautionary tale of LIGO, which has something to do with lasers and gravity waves. Straight out of sci-fi and into a mysterious envelope that holds the key to potential publication!

00:19:01 – What are we drinking? Charlie has trouble with a top. Ben has a brew from south of the border and south of the ground (i.e. made from a root). Ryan supports the Japanese brewery Kiuchi, which even though hit hard by the tsunami has stopped brewing but started bottling water for people displaced from their homes.

00:27:44 – Trailer Trash Talk is a 15-year-old boy's fever dream as the Paleopals discuss Zak Snyder's latest offering: Sucker Punch!

00:39:31 – Economics and alcohol combine in the world of bubbles and brewing. A team hired by Diageo (owners of Guinness) find that it's not the scratches in the glass but the particles in the potion that give you the froth you crave.

00:53:36 – PaleoPOWs are a lot like the Irish. Hard to understand and easily burned. The Paleopals start with their favorite kind of feedback: a donation from Wayne B. in Brooklyn. Thanks, Wayne! Next up is a voicemail from Mike (also from Brooklyn) asking ben for some follow up on zombies based on Episode 66, but only after lavishing praise on Ryan for his Marvel Science of Iron Man articles of last year. Finally, Ryan reads an e-mail from Seth about how we are literally saving his life and lungs as he braves LA traffic. You're welcome!

Need more life saving tips? Try our blog at http://paleocave.sciencesortof.com/

Also don't forget to check out Ryan's debut on the iFanboy Pick of the Week podcast which came out this very Sunday. Enjoy!

Music from this week's show:

• Fake It - Brad Sucks
• If I Ever Leave This World Alive - Flogging Molly
• Great Escape - Guster
• Pour Me Another - Atmosphere

00:00:00 – Ryan is riding shotgun with Justin Wood from New Orleans, Louisiana this week but Patrick and Charlie are in their usual places and are more than ready to talk about the dangers of biology research, mainly in the form of violent opposition to experimentation.

00:20:29 – What are we drinking? Charlie has gone coconuts while Patrick returns to a seasonal favorite. Justin and Ryan enjoy a charitable pilsner from Abita which is trying to help fisherman recover from the BP oil spill. You can learn more or help too by clicking here.

00:24:28 – Trailer Trash Talk this week is dedicated to justice, awkwardness and increasing Kevin Bacon's degree-ed-ness as the Paleopals break down Super.

00:34:10 – Pterosaurs had wings, but since skin doesn't usually preserve in the fossil record we don't know what those wings looked like. A new paper breaks down the options and the Paleopals break that down further still. Here's a diagram from the paper that might aid in your understanding.

00:39:09 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like Mardis Gras, they're fun but hard to remember. Sam A. wants to know about mirror molecules, hopefully he didn't want quantum. Deep S. from Brazil has an Alaskan explanation. And finally Dana (sp?) wonders why no one cares about the elephant ethics of impregnation with mammoths. Patrick wants to know why nobody is trying to clone mastodons.

Music for this week's show:

Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins

Coconut Skins - Damien Rice

Holding Out for a Hero - Bonnie Tyler

I’ll Fly Away - Gillian Welch

00:00:00 – Fungus and ants have a complex relationship, sometimes the ants are farming the fungus, other times the fungi are infecting the ants in the brain and reprogramming their behavior for their own nefarious needs. Tit for tat, right? The Paleopals bring on Kelly Weinersmith to talk cordyceps and other parasitic "pests" in our great weird world.

00:30:43 – After the horrors of infestation we all could use a good drink. Jacob tries to impress, Patrick has a present from the wife and Ryan talks about his own infected beer much to Patrick's envy.

00:38:39 - You know things are bad when LA is your only hope, but that's the situation in this week's Trailer Trash Talk where the guys are chatting Battle: Los Angeles

• For those who are curious Brian Dunning did an episode of Skeptoid about the Battle of Los Angeles which is well worth your time once you're done with all the back episodes of Science... sort of.
• Ryan, on the other hand, compares this movie to some comic he read called Irredeemable, where the Superman-esque character decides to take us out, and we all lose.

00:53:47 – The guys think because they're scientists they can figure out how a movie will do at the box office, their HSX league seems to show that not to be the case. However, there are a group of people who claim they can do just that given only scripts. Skepticism abounds.

01:18:53 – PaleoPOWs are a lot like the weather; hard to predict in advance. Jacob reads an iTunes review from Dr. RickLoftus (maybe one word?) which seems to be a prescription for enjoyment. Patrick brings us a missive from Guy D. who has created some really cool broken art of a Brachiolope vs. a Ninja on his Facebook page, if you want to see it you can try being friends with The Guy but there's always the Brachiolope Gallery or on his website Inside the Atheist Studio. Thanks, Guy! And finally Ryan reads a poem from Chris which you can either listen to or read yourself on the Paleocave blog!

Music for this week's show:

• That Bug Bit Me - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
• Los Angeles is Burning - Bad Religion
• Movies - Alien Ant Farm

00:00:00 – According to a new article in The Economist, people used to think alchemy was awesome. Than chymists came along and acted all high and mighty with their beakers and their goggles! But were the alchemists really so wrong? A parable about the progress of science. (Just don't start think there's anything to homeopathy, ok? Literally sugar pills and water, people.)

00:19:32 – What are we drinking? Well even though it's the morning the Paleopals are packing heat (it's not really morning, we all have real jobs, y'know?). Patrick warms up with a pint of the black stuff. Charlie says some words in French. And Ryan reaches into the Dank Tank.

00:24:09 – Trailer Trash Talk this week deals with human enhancement, mental misinterpretations and wondering if anyone can ever achieve the level of functioning of Bradley Cooper all by discussing the trailer for Limitless

00:38:36 – In this week's installment of "Science Story-time" Patrick tells the tale of the evolvingpine cone in it's quest to hurt the throats of hungry hungry dinosaurs. This naturally leads to a discussion of other ecological ghosts in which Ryan promotes coprophagia and Charlie goes BANANAS! Speaking of which, Charlie made some errors in his banana talk and sent in this correction:

Paleoposse,I totally confused my words last night. The 'better' banana that is no longer mass produced due to blight is the Gros Michel not the Baba Ganoush. Baba Ganoush is eggplant hummus. WTF was I thinking. The Gros Michel's nicknames were Big Mike or Big Papa and Baba is kinda like baby talk for banana. But damn. Sorry for sounding stupid.-Charlie

00:51:16 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like raindrops; they're shaped differently than most people think. Patrick tells us about the generosity of Wendy M. from Colorado, who chose to donate to the show! No joke, her contribution is literally keeping the lights on for this tiny podcast. We adore our donors. Charlie fields a voicemail from Tom in North Carolina (apparently it's the peak of good living?) about detected others places for good living using the peaks and troughs of stellar output. And lastly, Ryan reads an e-mail from Betsy about being annoyed at the media for shoddy science.

Thanks for listening! Check out the blog for more: Paleocave Blog. And make sure you don't buy the Sketpoid book. Can't stress that enough.

Ryan also did podcast with Jon & Shawn from the Nerd List (debating Spider-Man vs. Batman) and a Special Edition iFanboy show about the new DC animated feature All Star Superman. Enjoy!

Music in this week's show:

Gold To Me – Ben Harper

Push it to the Limit (Scarface) – Paul Engemann

Poison Tree – The Devil Makes Thre

00:00:00 – This week on the show: The Paleopals featuring the Yeti! Sounds like a good band, right? A band of knuckleheads!

00:01:40 – Turns out some animals are stealing the limelight, literally. An oriental wasp is found to be solar charging it's yellowed-butt and a slug is eating, incorporating and reproducing stolen photosynthetic genes!

00:22:01 – What are you drinking? Taking a back seat to science but never a backseat to flavor. The Paleopals have nothing too surprising save Patrick who rolls in a PaleoPOW from Craig L. that is definitely NOT spam but can definitely be seen in the new gallery Art... sort of!

00:27:36 – Trailer Trash Talk this week is the story of something you might actually find on a trailer or in a trash heap... a tire! A tire named Robert, who has some issues with humanity in the new horror/comedy Rubber. (which was actually suggested by listener Jeff Sykes!)

00:39:09 – Eusociality is a tricky thing, so we waited for Justin to come back on and explain it to us. This new controversial paper in Nature uses math, and that's even trickier. Can't we all just agree not to breed and get along?!

00:57:35 – One group that definitely knows a thing or two about being social is the Paleoposse and this week is no exception as the Paleopals wade through the Feedback Stack! Justin has questions from Pang about self-serving science promotion. Charlie sifts out the art from the words and updates the guys on the latests offerings to the Brachiolope Gallery from SonyaB, who brings the love, Eli, who has his eye on the sky, and Adam who knows how to put a pencil to paper. Thanks guys! Finally, Ryan has an e-mail from Catherine who's upset about a kids book promoting Creationism by co-opting the awesomeness of dinosaurs. The guys discuss the vexing conundrum of science vs. nonsense.

Want more? Need more? Just looking to click something? Try the Paleocave Blog!

Music for this week's show:

The Circle of Life - Elton John

Sunshine - Ray Charles

Wheel of Misfortune - Dropkick Murphys

Queen Bee - Freakwater

00:00:00 – This week the Paleopals skip the usual intro because they're just so excited to talk to author Dr. Sheril Kirshenbaum author of The Science of Kissing!

00:52: 29 – In keeping with the oral fixation the guys let Sheril off the line then talk about getting a "kiss from sweet lady hop." That Charlie really is such a poet. Also Ben seems to have some issues with how beer is produced.

00:58:18 – This week Trailer Trash Talk is going on a field trip for the very first time with Ed Helms and John C. Reily in the new Sundance comedy movie Cedar Rapids!

01:08:31 - PaleoPOW is a time to reflect, and this week the Paleopals might as well be surrounded by mirrors.

• Charlie et al. are taken to task by[blank] for panning the trailer for The Last Mountain in Episode 70. Charlie explains our position in depth and refers listeners to Episode 51 where we break down the problems facing alternative energy development.
• Ben helps budding young scientist Cam nail down the specs for his experimental hot fusion reactor, which he only learned about through Ryan's articles for Marvel. If Santa Cruz is a crater next week you'll all know who to blame.
• Ryan and the guys geek out over a crocheted baby Brachiolope made and photographed by superfan Sarah. Go check it out yourself in the Brachiolope Gallery! She's asking for a name so they all throw out their ideas. Winner gets the prize!
• And finally, Kate wants to know why we don't have more women on the show. Patrick deals with her concerns with his typical well-reasoned and thoughtful style.

Thanks for listening, check out all the links in the show notes at http://sciencesortof.com!

You can get more content all week at the Paleocave Blog!

Music on this week's show:

The Denial Twist – The White Stripes

Kiss you all over – Exile

Kiss the Bottle – Lucero

Rock and Roll All Nite – K.I.S.S.