Science... sort of

00:00:00 - Joe begins the show by explaining how we all just nearly died last month but didn't as an asteroid had the closest flyby of Earth ever detected thanks to some pretty cool new observation tech at the Zwicky Transient Facility in CA paired with machine learning.

00:23:08 - After a near-miss of an asteroid impact, it's only natural to want a drink. Ryan begins with some Still Hollow Spirits unaged corn whiskey, aka moonshine. Joe corrects the record on his White Russian recipe by making another White Russian according to the recipe posted from the last time he had a White Russian. Abe enjoys some Triple Space Diamonds from Other Half Brewing Co.

00:37:15 - Winter is coming, so have a nap. A new analysis of the Therapsid Lystrosaurus comparing African specimens to those from Antarctica suggests that the more southerly critters may have hibernated much as their mammalian relatives do today. Torpor for the win!

01:00:42 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like torpor, sometimes it's the best way to survive. Ryan reads a castigation from Zoll S. regarding improperly categorized literature in episode 117. An e-mail from Jeff S. prompts a discussion of whether or not it was aliens aka the origin of the gray alien mythos. And we team up to bestow a BSso on Patreon supporter Josh R. who has written up a thesis entitled: Underneath Falling Objects (UFO): A Novel Method for Surviving Extraterrestrial impactors via a state of torpor modeled after Antarctic Lystrosaurs. Thanks, Josh!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Audio Production by Rob Heath and Ryan Haupt Music credit: Between Stones - Blue Dot Sessions

00:00:00 - Phosphine has been detected in the atmosphere of Venus, where it shouldn't exist. How could it have formed in detectable quantities? One explanation could be microbes living in a habitable zone high in the Venusian atmosphere, so that's neat.

00:25:00 - Drinks would not exist for long on Venus due to the extreme heat, but here on Earth they go down just fine. Ben has a horchata-flavored drink which sounds delightful. Charlie has some coffee roasted by a buddy of his who is now selling his beans online at The Deer and the Bear, check it out! And Ryan has The Great Return IPA from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery which helps support restorations efforts of the James River in Richmond, VA, so that's good.

00:32:53 - Our moon is a notably dry place with no oxygen, but an Indian probe recently detected hematite, aka rust, at the lunar poles. How could rust form in such an environment? Orbital dynamics and Earth's magnetotail may provide the answer.

00:46:29 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like rust on the moon, you're surprised to find it and not sure what to do with it now that you have it. First, Ryan thanks Rocky LaDuque for reposting Episode 77 to his own SoundCloud page, didn't even know that was a thing but very grateful for it! Next, Charlie reads an e-mail from Stephanie from Travelcraft Journal who found us because we used her photo (with credit) when talking about the science behind spilled lattes. Finally, we come up with a BSso thesis for longtime supporter and homebrewer Richard P. who has earned his fake degree with a thesis entitled: Random Underdeveloped Simulation Test (RUST): Density and Temperature Gradient Stratification of S. cerevisiae during the fermentation of beer as an analog model for Phosine-generating microbial life in the atmosphere of Venus. Thanks, Richard!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Tentative Cloud - Podington Bear

00:00:00 - Charlie, Abe, and Ryan are joined by Sommelier Kristy Wenz because we're talking about wine! Why wine? Stay tuned to the drinks segment to find out! But first up, they discuss the effects of geology, soil pH, and precipitation on the quality of wines from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

00:20:04 - This episode What Are We Drinking is sponsored by Glasses Up Social, a service that sends wine to you and your friends and sets up a group chat for you all to enjoy the wines together! It solves the issue of ending every call with "We should do this more often!" but never actually doing it. Plus you get try boutique wines from wineries you probably can't currently visit. Our listeners get 20% off their first month, just use the coupon code SCIENCESORTOF at checkout. This episode, Kristy talks the boys through a dry riesling from Three Brothers Wineries & Estates in New Yorks Finger Lakes Wine Country.

00:42:45 - 66 million years ago the earth was hit by a giant rock going faster than a bullet. So what happened next, exactly? A new model has simulated how all the soot that would have been created by the impact and the subsequent fires would have had long term climatic impacts and it's… not great.

01:19:24 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like asteroid impacts; hard to see coming but you know they'll happen eventually. Ryan reads a YouTube comment by Sal L. who wants up to keep it. Will do, Sal! Abe fields a question from Tara F. about how to get a book donated to the library at McMurdo in Antarctica. Abe gives some tips and tricks. And a BSso is granted to patron Steve A. who has written a thesis entitled: Fires and Eruptive Reactivity Metrics Evaluation of Novel Terroirs (FERMENT): Optimizing Resiliency of wine yields via a comparative study of soil pH in the aftermath of volcanic or impactor induced soot-filled atmospheres. Thanks, Steve!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Dust In Sunlight - Podington Bear

00:00:00 - We're doing another Anchor-themed clip show! Following up on episodes 266 and 282, we have another round of short audio clips that Ryan created for the podcast startup Anchor under the banner of Organized Curiosity (explanation of the name here). Before we dive in, two things: the correction and the drink. The correction is an explanation of a misspelling. The drink is a Mystic Mamma IPA from Jackie O's, it's especially good while cooking a spicy dinner. On to the show!

00:05:01 - A flight with a window seat prompts a promotion of the Flyover Country App.

00:07:31 - It's the Ides of March and the thought of a historic stabbing makes Ryan want to discuss the science of human blood.

00:12:56 - Better know a root: haemo-

00:15:11 - Bio bios: Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus)

00:20:46 - Bio bios: Mangrove Finch (Camarhynchus heliobates)

00:26:12 - Abby from Let Me Google That calls in to share her love of all things blood. It prompts a discussion of blood types.

00:32:29 - In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, so Ryan discusses the myth of the saint banishing snakes from the Emerald Isle.

00:36:09 - Bio bios: Brewer's/Baker's Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

00:41:40 - And it's been featured on the show before, but it never hurts to remind people of Adam Cole's excellent (A Biologist's) St. Patrick's Day Song

00:44:15 - News you probably cannot use: Humpback whales are forming supergroups, but why?

00:49:30 - To unwind, some whalesong.

00:50:33 -Q&A: Ryan rants about supposedly "chemical-free" products, like bananas

00:56:00 - News you probably cannot use: an octopus fossil, enjoy.

01:01:31 - Q&A: Chris called in to tell us about how much he loves a Riemann surface, which Ryan cannot explain.

01:05:20 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like Ryan's Anchor show, it's just him alone reading out loud. This episode it's an e-mail from Adam S. who has rediscovered the show after having not listened in a long time. Glad to have you back, Adam!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Music credit: Feel Good (Instrumental) - Broke For Free

00:00:00 - First up, we discuss the evolution of thalattoscuhians, or crocodilians who evolved to live life in the seas, based on CAT scans of their skulls and what that means for their convergent evolution with whales.

00:20:39 - Crocs have returned to the drink and so have we. It's an older joke, but it checks out. Patrick has what feels like an inappropriately named Goram IPA from Butcombe Brewing Co. Following by Ryan's double buzz-inducing PBR Hard Coffee. And finishing out with Joe's homemade mocha latte.

00:26:48 - Based on his recent reading about cities discovered in the Honduran rain forest, Patrick stumbled across a story that made him wonder: Did the Mayan culture make it to Georgia? One researcher claims yes, others claim no. An excellent case study regarding the sort of side of science ensues.

00:43:49 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like debates in science; people get fired up, but the stakes are kind of low. Joe fields a comment from someone who identifies as Angry on Podbean who left a comment on episode 316 regarding our reenactment of the Wishbone Pitch Meeting. Patrick has an e-mail from Dylan S. about the book Proof by Adam Rogers, which may have helped Patrick and Ryan out on a recent episode. Finally, Ryan compels the Paleopals to come up with a BSso thesis for Patreon supporter Diego Z., who we know is kind. In several moments of brilliance, they derive the study: Crocodile Tiers: Potential Inclusion of Archosaurian Fossil Remains in Mayan Farming Sites from San Diego? Thanks, Diego!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Audio Production by Rob Heath Music credit: Dance of Felt - Blue Dot Sessions

00:00:00 - Ryan is joined by Lisa Lundgren and Gabriel Santos, two of the heads of Cosplay for Science, an organization that uses elaborating costuming (called cosplay) to advocate for science! But first, we talk about the science. Lisa is a social scientist who studies informal science learning and Gabe is a paleontologist and outreach coordinator who has studied marine mammals including the excellent group Desmostylians.

Some papers by Lisa:

• Social Media Interaction as Informal Science Learning: a Comparison of Message Design in Two Niches

• Scientific Twitter: The flow of paleontological communication across a topic network

• Profiles in Practice: Stories of Paleontology Within an Online, Scientific Community

Some papers by Gabe:

• A new tuskless walrus from the Miocene of Orange County, California, with comments on the diversity and taxonomy of odobenids

• New data on the ontogeny and senescence of Desmostylus (Desmostylia, Mammalia)

00:31:34 - Drinks: they keep us social, so let's have some. Ryan demonstrates proper drink segment technique with the scientifically themed MC^2 by Equilibrium Brewery sent by our very own Abe! Gabe is chilling with an IBC Root Beer, which is the kind of beer that doesn't affect sobriety. And Lisa mysteriously enjoys a Cold Smoke Scotch Ale from KettleHouse Brewing Co in MT.

00:39:22 - In part two of our interview, we get down to costumes. How did Cosplay for Science get started? How does dressing up as fictional characters help communicate science? Will Ryan be dressing up the next time we're able to actually go to a convention? Tune in and find out!

01:24:03 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like costuming, they hide their true nature to get in your heart. Ryan reads an e-mail from Tom C. asking us about getting on Spotify. Well thanks to his gentle nudging, we now are! Listen to (some of) our episodes on Spotify! Thanks for the nudge, Tom!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Audio Production by Rob Heath

Music credit: Dance of Felt - Blue Dot Sessions

00:00:00 - This episode Ben and Ryan are joined by Ph.D. student and podcaster Kathryn Cogert (@KathrynIsabel), who specializes in mimicking the microbial nitrogen cycling as seen in Oxygen Minimum Zones of the ocean with the aim of improving wastewater treatment. We begin with the basics of why nitrogen pollution is an issue and how nitrogen is currently removed in wastewater treatment and why it's sort of a hot mess.

00:21:42 - Nothing like talking about wastewater to build up a thirst. Ben, self-described sleepy fella, sneaks in an ad for cherry-wild cherry tea from Canada's own teadesire.com. Kathryn feels judged but still enjoys her hometown's own Olympia Beer. Ryan enjoys some cold-brew made from Perky Perky birthday coffee beans sent by his sister.

00:34:11 - In part two of our chat with Kathryn, she walks us through all the improvements she's helping to make to the nitrogen removal process using their weird critters called Annamox and Ammonium Oxidizing Archaea. Saving money, saving energy, cleaning up water. Win-win-win.

00:56:16 - PaleoPOWs are a bit like Archeae, we don't know where they came from but they sure are odd. Ryan begins by thanking Joshua C. for promoting us on the Wild Green Memes Facebook Group. Kathryn reads aloud an e-mail from real deal nuclear engineer Gerrit B. about our discussion of water as radioactive shielding in spaceships in episode 319. And patron Will Q. has earned his BSso degree by completing a thesis titled:: Canid we find some new methanogens? Novel discovery of a methane-producing archaea in the GI tract of a Canis lupus familiaris: barking up the right tree. Thanks, Will! And of course, we have to mention that Kathryn is the co-host of the wonderful podcast Encyclopedia Brunch featuring our own Tim Dobbs.

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Music credit: Chainlink Melody by Podington Bear

Audio editing by Rob Heath Studios

00:00:00 - We are joined by cartoonist Jeffrey Brown to talk about his work. First up, we discuss his Lucy & Andy Neanderthal series about a Homo neanderthalensis family that's just trying to get by in the Stone Age.

00:32:11 - drinks But the Homo sapiens are here now and we have learned to distill. Patrick takes advantage of distillation with the Spirit of Cambridge Islay Single Malt Scotch which prompts many questions from Ryan. And Ryan also sips some scotch in the form of Balvenie Doublewood 12, which may be why he was so eager to learn more from Patrick.

00:39:01 - For the second half of our chat with Jeffrey, we talk about his new series Once Upon A Spacetime, which is decidedly more sci-fi than science, perfect for a show all about the "sort of'. You can learn more at Jeffrey's website and follow him on Instagram @jeffreybrownrq.

01:13:05 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like Neanderthals, we know they existed but aren't totally sure where they went. First up, Ryan reads an e-mail from Crue T. who needs help deciding which field of science to pursue. Tune in to find out what we recommend. And then we bestow a BSso on Patreon supporter Amy H. who has completed a thesis entitled: Spotting Sparkles: First evidence of glitter use in familial paleolithic art from Brown's Gorge, Germany. Thanks, Amy!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Music credit: The Stone Mansion - Blue Dot Sessions

00:00:00 - New experimental research shows that there might still be volcanoes active on Venus, which is a big deal since it has long been thought that Venus didn't have active plate tectonics. Abe breaks down how the hottest planet in the solar system may have just gotten a bit hotter.

00:22:00 - Drinks would evaporate quickly on Venus, so we better drink them fast before they're gone! Abe has the thematically appropriate Volcano Sauce by Aslin Beer Company. Ryan supports a local cidery with a Nevertheless by ANXO. Joe eschews juice with his Pepsi Zero Wild Cherry, but even though he's not a beer drinker he advocates supporting his local trivia spot Transplants Brewing, who are doing take out and delivery if you're in the area.

00:31:23 - When you think of invasive species, you probably don't think of hippos, yet that's exactly what happened in Colombia when the hippopotamus pod that was part of Pablo Escobar's menagerie went native. New research suggests that they may actually be fulfilling the ecological niche left behind when camel-like animals such as Hemiauchenia, so maybe its not so bad to have them around after all?

00:47:40 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like hippos, cute, but dangerous. We begin with an overdue discussion of what type of rock Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is, as prompted by a tweet from TruxStop, but you'll have to tune in for the results. Next up we get a little love from Montana via Joshua C. Thanks, Joshua! And we wrap things up by granting a BSso to Patreon supporter Ben K. who has completed a thesis entitled: Whatever Floats Your Hippo: Use of Hippopotamus-Hide Lighter-Than-Air Craft for Surface Exploration from the Venereal Atmosphere. Thanks again, Ben!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Music credit: Jettisoned - Poddington Bear

00:00:00 - Patrick puts forth proposals for less automobile-focused cities (see more on his Twitter feed @pvwheatley) before we dive into part 1 of Ryan's interview with UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography Ph.D. Student Maya Becker. She attended the UN's climate change conference last year (COP25) and then wrote an op-ed about climate change for her local paper. We talk about how scientists can find advocacy that works for them.

00:28:52 - Getting a lot done can be aided by the right beverage. Maya is a coffee fiend and enjoys The WestBean Coffee Roasters for her local fix. Ryan got to go to a farm for beer, which lured him into trying the white IPA Barred Owl from the Brookeville Beer Farm.

00:35:12 - Since Patrick hasn't been around for a minute we double down on the drinks segment. You're welcome. Patrick walks Ryan through his home fermentation experiment trying to make some homemade ginger beer. You'll have to listen in for the results. Ryan has a beer mimicking a style from across the pond with a Proper Porter from Elder Pine Brewing & Blending.

00:47:51 - Enough about policy and beverages, let's get down to some science. Maya tells us about her research, which involves the dynamics of ice along the underside of the Ross Ice Shelf in a rapidly warming Antarctica using satellites. You can follow along generally by checking out Scripps' Twitter (@scripps_ocean) and Instagram (@scripps_ocean) feeds.

01:17:41 - PaleoPOWs can also sit on a shelf if they're physical and sent to us in such a way that they can be displayed. We begin with an inspired 5-star iTunes review from Jackdu24. Thanks, Jackdu24! And we then bestow a thesis upon patron Lindsay M. who has successfully defended: Paedomorphosis of Penguins: Exploring the environmental biology of childlike chicks on Antarctica's Ross Sea. Thanks, Lindsay! If you write an op-ed or make some ginger beer, let us know so we can feature you on a future segment!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on our Patreon!

Music credit: Ice Pack - Poddington Bear