Science... sort of

By Ryan HauptScience Natural Sciences

Science... sort of episodes

February 23, 2010 Ep 24: Science... sort of - Hilarity Ensues
This week's theme: Hilarity Ensues

You never know what you're gonna get with Science... sort of and this week it's no exception. Somehow we lost segments and wound up with a longer than usual show, ain't it whacky!?

00:00:00 Apologies instead of intros, but you get enough info to keep listening.

00:01:36 We talk to science comedian Brian Malow. What more do you need to know? Isn't that enough? It's funny, I promise.

00:31:08 Trailer Trash Talk takes a trip... through time! The Paleopals ponder Hot Tub Time Machine.

00:42:26 Why do we laugh? Sounds philosophical but we try to tackle it from the psychological. Mallow provides most valuable insights.

01:04:02 Turns out a bee could pick your face out of a lineup. Is this an accident of evolution, or an intelligently designed plot to sting you on the nose?

Music this week provided by:

The Final Countdown - Europe

One More Time - Daft Punk

Help, I'm Alive - Metric

Queen Bee - Taj Mahal

1 hr 26 min
February 15, 2010 Ep 23: Science... sort of - SHARK WEEK!!
15 February 2010 - We're sticking tight to a theme this week. CHANNEL your DISCOVERY of this week's show with episode 23 - SHARK WEEK!!

00:00:00 - The gang's all here plus one extra-Sharky, but never too snarky, Sora Kim! Beers are both thematic and provided.

00:05:47 - The Paleopals grill Sora on her underwater research. Patrick makes up species, Sora sets us all straight.

00:24:28 - It's insanity in the PaleoCave with this week's Trailer: The Crazies! Can you handle not-so-zombie zombies?

00:35:06 - Would you want to be headbutted by something called a shark but isn't a shark with something called genitalia but isn't actually genitalia? Yeah, us neither. But the science reporting is what it is, so that may be our fate.

00:47:48 - And you thought Great White Sharks were bad? How would you like to get chomped by a Megalodon? Chris from NJ asks the important questions.

01:05:06 - Then we bring it all home with a lengthy PaleoPOW segment. It's finally safe to go back in the mailbox.
1 hr 37 min
February 08, 2010Ep 22: Science... sort of - Robot, all too Robot
00:00:00 – Ryan, Patrick, and Charlie are settling into their roles as the standard Paleopal permutation, recording once again in the same tower (err… empty classroom). NASA scientist Shawn Hart is our special guest this week and he complements the entire show. Ryan struggles with the drink... in a funny way not the 'affecting friends and family' sort of way. Patrick supports earthquake prone Eureka, CA with his brew selection. Charlie gets creeped out by his beer label. Shawn's not much of a beer drinker but represents with a classic microbrew favorite.

00:06:36 – This week starts off science heavy with Shawn telling us all about the benevolent robot camera HiRISE. HiRISE, onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, circles Mars 300 km above the surface and takes pictures at submeter per pixel resolution. It makes one wonder what spy satellites can see on Earth. Find out why HiRISE is the people's camera and how you can choose where on Mars it should look next.

00:28:08 – Trailer Trash Talk – Think incessant phone calls from credit card collection agencies are bad? Try missing a payment on your cybernetically enhanced organs. Forest Whitaker and a beefy Jude Law will track you down and kill you. Is Repo Men good Scifi? Is any Scifi good? We hash it all out and more.

00:40:20 – Next we tread deep into the 'Uncanny Valley' – The Uncanny Valley is a pseudo-scientific concept that explains our repulsion to robots that look almost human but not quite. In a 1970 paper in the journal Energy, roboticist Masahiro Mori proposed that a robot that's too human-like can veer into unsettling territory, tripping the same psychological alarms associated with a dead or unhealthy human. Does it really exist or are we being robot bigots? What is with all this anti-robot propaganda anyway? The Paleopals get over their initial prejudices and greet creepy robots with open arms. Disclaimer: We still do not like zombies.

00:54:15 – Shawn's one of those rare scientists with extensive right brain aptitude. His website, onehundredthmonkey, reveals his eye for aesthetics, art, and culture. In his words, 'this site is an outlet of rad stuff from around the world, and various diatribes and impassioned calls to action (generally not the serious kind). Hope you enjoy it. ...oh and if you're wondering about the name one hundredth monkey, it's some pseudoscience theory about crazy brainwaves communicating ideas across the ether. Ya, don't even worry about it.' We Paleopals frequent this site and we think the Paleoposse would love it.

01:05:10 – Listener Feedback – We were featured on iTunes! It ruled. We have a ton of new listeners and a ton of new feedback. Charlie fails at reading a bad review; Patrick succeeds. As it turns out, trailer trash is a whole lot like anchovies, Radiolab is a good podcast, and, well, Charlie, Ryan, and Patrick are hicks. Ryan reads off a list of the Paleoposse elite – they have special prizes coming their way.

This weeks music can be found here:

House Party – Chomp Chomp

High Roller – The Crystal Method

Guns of Brixton – Nouvelle Vague

Deceptacon – Le Tigre

Where It's At – Beck
1 hr 20 min
February 01, 2010 Ep 21: Science... sort of - Red Devils
00:00:00 - The Paleopals are together again for the first time. We explore the art of podcasting from the same time and space. Also, we explore what we are drinking. Finally, Ryan disappoints us… sort of!

00:03:42 - We kick off the science this week with a story of a stranded red (planet) rover. The spirit has finally left the little robot in a pile of sand. Spirit still works, she just doesn't get out as much as she used to.

00:13:30 - Trailer Trash Talk - This week we go down the rabbit hole to discuss the Disney/Tim Burton live-action Alice in Wonderland. Apparently, this is an extension of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Best we can tell Tim Burton just put the band back together. Is that a good or a bad thing? The Paleopals will set you straight.

00:21:56 - Dinosaurs were a colorful lot, at least according to this story. Science finds evidence of coloration on dinosaur feathers. Naturally, this news makes Ryan want a pet Velociraptor even more than he did. We discuss melanosomes and whether pet theropods are a good idea or not.

00:36:34 - Tasmanian devils have cancer, so's their face. Wait it gets worse, it's contagious (amongst the devils, not to humans). As if Australia wasn't deadly enough already. The future doesn't look bright for these guys. Probably the best thing they can do have lots of sex with partners they aren't likely to encounter in the first place. That or quit biting each other.

00:41:33 - PaleoPOW. We give the Paleoposse their props and close out the show with some poll results on the ethical treatment of steak, I mean cows.
52 min
January 25, 2010 Ep 20: Science... sort of - Skepticism... sort of
Ep. 20 - Skepticism... sort of 00:00:00 - Just in case you don't remember who the Paleopals are they introduce themselves and introduce their drinks too! Patrick claims to have found a hard to find beer, Ryan has over-thought things again, Ben represents the non-alcoholics and Charlie's drink is a surprise! 00:05:28 - Dr. Steve Novella of the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe stops by for a chat. A long chat. But it's all golden as Steve walks the Paleopals down the short road between SCIENCE and skepticism. 00:54:13 - Terribly Happy is a movie not many will likely be able to see or even want to see but it ties in to a later segment of the show and it's all done in foreign talk. Has anyone even been to Dane-land? What's so Great about Danes anyway? Why would you name both a dog and a pastry after them? 01:03:00 - To be prepared for the future you'll need to know how to battle in space, the Paleopals break down the basics and help you decide what to watch to best give you the specifics. Physics ensues. 01:25:48 - The Odd-Man Out segment makes it's glorious return wherein Ben hasn't done his homework, nor was he supposed to. Charlie and Ryan talk lovingly about the trade paperback of Fell, and Ben does his part playing catch-up. Charlie uses the PaleoWOW: Occidental, it may not be scientific, but it's a good one to know. 01:39:41 - The Paleoposse represents in this installment of the PaleoPOW! Reviews are read, questions are answered, goodbyes are said. Music this week provided by: Mr. Jones (live) - Counting Crows Science is Real - They Might Be Giants Whiskey and Lemonade - Sourgrass Battlestar Scralatchtica - Incubus The Fallen Interlude - blink-182
1 hr 56 min
January 18, 2010 Ep 19: Science... sort of - Nuclear Giants and Ethical Infants
00:00:00 - Intro: Alcohol is a double-edged sword, but is that a redundant statement? Probably, unless you're in Japan. And our guest, Ryan Lipscomb, keeps up with beer talk, so you know he can be trusted.

00:08:54 What happens if you get shot in the gonads with a high dose of radiation? Should you listen to "Science... sort of" with you laptop on your lap? More serious questions, like the health of children, are also addressed.

00:23:10 More derailment as we find out what happens when you go through the scanners at the airport. Is it better to wear leather chaps or nothing at all? And the age-old question: Are spies more susceptible to radiation? 00:32:30 Darwin creates romance in the upcoming film "Creation." Provocative title, but will it be worth the hype? Look us up on hsx.com and find out. Or just listen, that works too.

41:20 Planning a trip? Try Chernobyl: Now with 100% more radiotrophic fungus! In all the world this is the closest living thing to the Incredible Hulk.

51:30 A new way of doing listener feedback starts here! Also Ryan explains his hairbrained contest ideas. The prizes are real. Believe in the prizes. Music for the show provided by: The Maldives -- Tequila Sunday Blakroc -- Ain't Nothing Like You Eels -- Your Lucky Day In Hell
1 hr 2 min
January 12, 2010 Ep 18: Science... sort of - Comfortable Mammals
It's a bit late and it's a bit long but it's all Science... sort of! 00:00:00 Imbibing is part of the show. Charlie has a thing for numbers, Patrick needs a pick-me-up and Ryan over explains things. 00:07:00 Charlie wonders why sea lions follow him up and down the coast. The other Paleopals learn some shocking secrets about his past as a lawbreaker. And a wild theory turns out to have some merit. 00:25:54 Would Cujo have been as scary if you were suspended above the mean dog? The guys try to suss out survival by trailer trash-talking the movie Frozen! 00:40:40 Patrick talks to Dr. Blaine Schubert, he's literally titularly excellent! 01:05:55 Cows have feelings too (for now), but humans eat cows: that's a fact according to Charlie. Patrick may throw him a curve ball. And Ryan tries not to confuse the issue, but it'll probably happen anyway. 01:21:15 Listeners also feed… back! But we think listeners are sacred and therefore should never be eaten. Music this week provided by: I've got your number – Passion Pit The Runaway - Something Corporate In The Cold, Cold Night - White Stripes Tennessee - The Wreckers Pain - Jimmy Eat World
1 hr 31 min
January 04, 2010 Ep 17: Sceince... sort of - Lengthening Our Listeners
Welcome to the post-Solstice Science… sort of Special: All New for a New Decade… sort of. 00:00:00 – An unusual lineup leads to unusual drinks. Who are these people and just what are they drinking? Here's a hint but tune in to find out! 00:03:35 – An interview with Dr. Bruce Haupt who lengthens bones for a living. Get your mind out of the gutter and pay attention to the science. 00:25:07 – Tools are fun. Octopi are fun. Why not put them together? A new video shows just that, but only the Paleopals can tell you what this means for humanity and our potentially threatened future. 00:39:38 – Sam Neil keeps screwing things up as the Paleopals discuss this week's trailer: Daybreakers. Fortunately silly sounding scientists (our favorite!) and Willem Defoe (another favorite!) are there to save us (us being all of humanity). 00:47:00 – Feedback Frenzy! The Paleopals have fallen behind on their email and the iTunes reviews keep rolling. Hold on as they race you through the updates. Bonus feature: LAZORS!! 01:05:48 – The end, in which puppies are discussed. Awwwww. Music provided by: The New Year – Death Cab for Cutie My Bones Are Gonna Rise Again (Rev C) – Old Crow Medicine Show Beyond the Sea – UC Berkley Men's Octet (8, like an Octopus) Sunny Day – Abandoned Pools As A Fan (Bonus) – Greydon Square (<- Seriously, you know you don't have this, and you want it, go buy it.)
1 hr 10 min
December 22, 2009 Ep 16: Science... sort of - Warm Light on a Winter's Day
Ep. 16: Science... sort of - Warm Light on a Winter's Day 00:00:00 - Your Paleopals bring the Heat this Winter's Solstice. Charlie and Ryan question the theoretical limits of the International Bitter Unit (I.B.U.) and discover a very 'science... sort of' I.P.A. (India Pale Ale), while Patrick, the ever-composed southern gentleman, calmly sips a Texan staple. 00:04:48 - We humans have been playing the global warming game so well, the Earth has decided to generously comp us a greenhouse gas bonus -- methane. Patrick takes us to the ocean depths where methane hydrates, a sherbet-like substance made of methane molecules trapped inside frozen water molecules resides. 00:21:50 - Trailer Trash Talks with Ryan nearly falling from the rarefied pedestal of comic geekhood. But with an impressive recovery his status shall not be questioned again. we discuss the disturbing iterative trend in the number of villains in superhero movie sequels -- Iron Man 2 plots right on the line unless you count the bottle as a villain (we do not btw). 00:30:30 - Ryan continues to bring the endothermy with a discussion of warm-blooded dinos. Yes dinos, our listeners wanted more dinos and we delievered. 00:47:33 - Listener Feedback Time: Listener Rob loves endorphins and will run great lengths in search of a fix. The paleopals pushers do what they can to enhance Rob's experience but do not, STRICTLY DO NOT, condone the use of Heroin, especially while running 20+ miles. Bump Music: Pink Bullets - The Shins Iron Man - Black Sabbath Dan Black - Pump my Pumps Foreigner - Hot Blooded
1 hr 3 min
December 14, 2009 Ep 15: Science... sort of - Fire and Ice
Ep 15: Science… sort of - Fire and Ice. The paleopals begin as they always begin, with chilled savory refreshments. Ryan and Patrick come up with a new meaning for an old label, while Justin samples from a vintage year for Trader Joes. 00:04:42 After discussing their iced beverages, Patrick delves into a study that explores a hotspot below our favorite island state. Justin ponders whether or not magma still glows if no one can see it. 00:26:51 Trailer Trash Talk opens with a discussion of 'The Book of Eli'. All wonder what the book could possibly be- maybe this is a marketing ploy from Amazon to sell Kindles? 00:26:51 Ryan returns to the deep to discuss life under the ice on Europa, a moon of Jupiter, with Richard Greenberg, Professor of Planetary Sciences at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona. 00:52:31 What would a Science… sort of Episode be like without a quick trip to our favorite continent Africa? Ryan leads the way on a journey through the strange world of mole-rats- animals that don't feel pain, don't need oxygen, don't get cancer, and are apparently immortal for up to 30 years. Of course, every superpower comes with a superweakness.
1 hr 11 min