Science... sort of

00:00:00 - This episode we're joined by Sarah McAnulty (@SarahMackAttack), a Ph.D. candidate studying the immune system of the bobtail squid, which is delightfully cute and glows in the dark to avoid detection. You can see some of her research in action in this video: Bobtails + Bacteria = BFF. Finally, according to Sarah and Alton Brown, EAT ALL THE SQUIDS THAT YOU CAN, THE OCEAN DEPENDS ON IT.

00:24:15 - Squids live in the drink and Abe stops by for one. He's enjoying, as best he can, a Native Species from Blue Mountain Brewery. Ryan thinks the call is coming from inside the house with his Inside Job IPA from Henhouse Brewing, which is mercifully west coast in styling.

00:29:20 - We're back with Sarah chatting about her ongoing outreach effort, Skype a Scientist, which works to connect researchers with classrooms and other venues that want to have a conversation with a real live scientist. Ryan is a participant and a big fan. If you or someone you know could be a participant on either side of the equation, consider signing up! You can also support the project on Patreon.

00:53:23 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like squids, or are they? First up, Tyler D. is deserving of a Patreon thesis, and based on some assumptions of his location and interests, he gets: Potential pharmacological effects of Cephalopod spaghettification in the preparation of Cincinnati-style chili: do oodles of noodles decrease oodles of squids in the world's oceans? Thanks, Tyler! Next, Gary K. went to GSA 2018 and sent us some notes, which prompts a brief discussion of conference attendance strategies.

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

Music for this episode:

• Afterglow - Chvrches

• Bubbles In My Beer - Willie Nelson

• Call Me - Blondie

00:00:00 - A quick intro to let everyone know that this episode features an interview with former guest of the show (episode 97) Dr. Nick Pyenson recorded live at Room 11 in D.C. Thanks for Room 11 for having us!

00:01:49 - Nick Pyenson joins us to talk about his new book Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures with illustrations by Alex Boersma. A free-wheeling discussion ensues over a couple of burnt sugar old-fashioned cocktails. We talk a lot about whales and their portrayal in the book, but also mention some other things to check out which you can find here:

• Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina

• Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth by Adam Frank

• Contact by Carl Sagan

You can follow Nick and his future adventures online via Twitter (@PyensonLab) and Instagram (@pyensonlab)

01:12:59 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like new year celebrations, noisy but with a sense of finality. This week we thank Ian C. for his time as a recurring donor to the show. Thanks, Ian! Here's to another year of science with all you lovely people.

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

Music for this episode:

• Humpback whalesong

• I Spy - Guster

00:00:00 - We start the show the somber story of humanity's continued impact on global climate as recently re-outlined in the Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States. We talk about what the report says, how it maybe says it in a new way (hint: it's the economy), and what we can maybe do next to help mitigate it.

00:31:41 - But a hot earth doesn't necessarily mean hot drinks. Patrick has a Proper Job, and he's drinking one too. Ryan bought a beer based on art alone because the Hazy by Jailbreak Brewing Company can has an image of a sloth on it, even if the beer is yet another New England IPA. And Charlie keeps it on the level with some regionally-specific-ish kombucha from his local Kombucha Town.

00:40:34 - To lighten things up in the second segment, we double the number of stories so we can talk about how a new fossil turtle clears up some mysteries about their sudden appearance (turns out it's about the shoulders, not the shell), and a global database of animal urine which you can access if you have any great ideas about how to put that work.

00:58:14 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like turtles, they can be hard to get out of their shells. This episode we owe Patreon supporter Liz the thesis title for her BSSo and we come up with: Chelonial anal breathing colon effects of urine balance in lacustrine carbon sequestration. Thanks, Liz! Patrick also has thanks to give because we were featured on a list of the top science podcasts! And finally, Charlie has iTunes reviews both critical and praising from Wompajack and metalhardcoreguy, respectively.

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

Music: Too hot - The Kinks Ginger - Hooverphonic Turtle Rhapsody - Orchestra On The Half Shell

00:00:00 - For the first half of the show we're featuring an interview recorded at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology's annual meeting in Albuquerque, NM! The interview features a longtime friend of the show Brandon Bourassa (@CrocGypsy) and is hosted(?!) by former guest Khai Button. It's a free-wheeling conversation, but archosaurs are the main focus, from actual fossils to the so-called "living fossils" that are modern crocs.

You can check out Khai's recent paper on Therizinosaurs (personal favorite taxa of mine) here: Incremental growth of therizinosaurian dental tissues: implications for dietary transitions in Theropoda

And you can learn more about CrocFest, which helps raise money for crocodylian conservation around the world, here: https://www.crocfest.org/

00:41:30 - New Mexico is pretty dry so fight off being parched with a drink. Both Matt and Ryan are enjoyed whiskey today, Matt's from the Emerald Isle and Ryan's in the form of a 5-spice cocktail leftover from Thanksgiving.

00:48:43 - For our second segment, In Defense of Plant's host Matt Candeias (@indfnsofplnts) weighs in on the issue of invasive Eucalyptus trees in northern California. They've basically been there since the gold rush, so we're all used to seeing (and smelling) them, but should we reconsider our acceptance of non-native taxa in these situations? Spoiler: probably yes.

01:04:08 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like California Eucalyptus, working out for some but a real risk for others. First up, Ryan didn't rig the system but it turns out guest from the first segment Brandon Bourassa is due for a Patron thesis. With Matt's help they devise: Gastrolith wear and tear in the gizzard based on fragmentary Eucalyptus leaf material of the paleofloras of Isla Nublar: Did these animals all die as recently as 1994? Thanks, Brandon! Matt then reads a flattering message from John B. about fossil hunting, mountain biking, and beer; some of our favorite topics for sure!

Matt also has a book out if you're interested in learning about plants in convenient text form! You can get it here: Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants

And Ryan will be recording interviews for the show at the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting in D.C., and hosting a podcasting workshop as well as performing a story at the Story Collider show on December 13th!

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

Music: Albuquerque, Nm - Great American Taxi Gan Ainm / The Humours Of Whiskey / Leslie's March - Solas Down Under [New Recording] - Colin Hay

00:00:00 - Patrick and Charlie return to discuss Martian colonization, but not just whether or not we could, but whether or not we should. Technical concerns aside, what do we risk ethically if we decide to make Mars a haven for wayward humans? And are we already too late to even worry about it? (Also, be sure to check out some of the work done by Charlie's old acquaintance Margarita Marinova)

00:22:24 - Mars may not have much water but we do. Charlie, in the earliest time zone, goes first with his Kombucha Town Cascadian Hop Ceylon Tea. Ryan follows up with a slightly misidentified Hop Overboard from Supreme Core Cider. Patrick ledes with a big life announcement, then explains the beer scene of his new home, and his choice of the Fursty Ferret from Badger Beers for this week's show.

00:35:42 - For our second second, we tackle an old favorite: the inequities of scientific published. It may sound dry, but the stakes are high. Namely, how did a group of highly educated and motivated people find themselves over a barrel for getting their work out in there in the age of the internet? In a word: capitalism. Any ideas how to fix it? Let us know!

00:59:36 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like publishing; it goes smoother with an editor. Ryan begins with a BSso for superfan and patron Caryne H. For her degree, she wrote When Planets Fight Back: The Unintended Consequences of Hominid Parasitism on the Aresian Atmosphere and the Homicides It Led To. Thanks, Caryne! Charlie reads an excellent 5-star iTunes review from Matt449, and Patrick has some overdue 'Summer of Love' feedback from Zach G. Lastly, if you're in the DC area, check out the DMV AWG, an org Ryan's been helping out with, and other than that, just keep being your scientifical best!

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

Music for this episode:

• Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long Long Time) - Elton John

• This Is England - The Clash

• Money Maker - The Black Keys

FIRST OFF: GO VOTE

00:00:00 - Asher Elbein (@asher_elbein) is here to chat with Ryan about his journey to becoming a science journalist. Topics include: being a Bitter Southerner, snake handling, a new Odyssey translation, how great the show Justified was, and more!

00:27:26 - Speaking of milking snakes, let's have a drink. Asher works through some water purchased when the Texas taps couldn't be trusted. Ryan explains and enjoys a crowler of the Main Drag Double from Molly Pitcher Brewing Company in PA.

00:35:28 - In part two we shift to more bird-focused topics… sort of. We were going to talk about some fossil bird lungs, but it's fall and the siren song of the now Midwestern mothman (also known as: an owl) calls out to Ryan, so they mostly talk about that and all the weird folkloric goodness therein. If you're into spooky Appalachian tales and have already read The Mothman Prophecies, consider supporting Asher's Kickstarter Anna O'Brien: Ghost days Anthology.

01:17:27 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like owls: scary when encountered in an unexpected place. We give our long overdue thanks to Denise C. for being a recurring donor in the old Paypal days. Thanks, Denise!

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

Music:

• You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive - The Ruby Friedman Orchestra

• Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard

• To the Ghosts Who Write History Books - The Low Anthem

00:00:00 - We begin with some very old beer (or slightly alcoholic porridge, if you prefer) before moving on to one of the latest advances in brewing technology (e.g., making yeast mimic hops), so covering the entirety of all beer in one segment. No big deal.

00:31:53 - We were talking about beer so let's have some! Tim has a Tropic Plunder IPA from TW Pitchers Brewing Company. Abe then takes his time telling us about an exotic Pale Ale procured from Gæðingur Öl Brugghús in Iceland. And Ryan literally rolls the dice to decide upon some Gray Wolf Timber Sassafras finished gin, a plant relevant to some recent adventures.

00:43:24 - When the earth quakes, sometimes the real damage isn't done by the seismic waves themselves but by the liquefaction they induce. Abe explains and also gives some non-legally-binding advice for how to escape quicksand. Some more resources:

• Liquefaction did more damage than shaking in Christchurch, NZ

• When Earthquakes Liquefy Soil, Devastation Can Follow

• Good animation of how liquefaction happens

• Mexico City's geology and earthquakes

• Make your own non-Newtonian fluid

• USGS Earthquake preparedness

• CDC Zombie preparedness

• How to escape quicksand (probably, but just try to avoid it in the first place)

01:18:16 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like seismic events, very difficult to predict. First up, former guest of the show and patron Robert "Doc Sloth" McAfee has earned a BSso in addition to his Ph.D. Robert's less legitimate thesis title is: Liquefaction-based agitated fermentation of H. lupulus derived beverages: fermenting beyond the barrel with shaken, not stirred, yeast strains. Thanks, Robert! Next, audiophile Tim presents a voicemail from Karen in Austin, TX who uses science to solve crimes and wanted to tell us how she got started on that path. Finally, Ryan has an e-mail from Lucas H. who thanks us for some continuing education inspiration for which he is very welcome. Our pleasure *hat tip*. Be sure to check out Tim's podcast Encyclopedia Brunch or if you're in the Bay Area meetup with him to make a robot. Ryan recently appeared on These Are Not The Nerds You're Looking For to talk about Star Wars: Clone Wars and is giving a talk at the Geological Society of Washington if you're in D.C. and are into that sort of thing.

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

Music: When Bitter Met Sweet - Honeycutters Sassafras Roots - Green Day Shakey Ground - The Temptations

00:00:00 - We are thrilled to be joined by Kelly's collaborator Scott Egan, whose lab at Rice University recently found an example of parasitism on a parasite. No matter how much we've talked about it before, we still have a lot of questions of the complexities of these interactions and some harsh judgments for the leeching lifestyle.

00:35:59 - Nothing like a drink after you've been drained. Kelly claims to enjoy a Potter's cider with added hops and guava. Ryan continues to lament the sorry state of East Coast IPAs but still likes his Juiced In Time. And Abe gets weird with Wicked Weed's Freak of Nature.

00:42:47 - You may have heard that the Katla volcano in Iceland is about to erupt, but those reports have the author of the paper that got it all started shaking her head. Abe explains why some CO2 emissions aren't the same thing as an impending eruption. And if you think that it seems like volcanoes are going off more than usual, turns out that psychology more so than geology. Fortunately the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program is happy to keep you up to speed on all the magma that's about to spew.

01:11:39 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like volcanoes; they're both closely monitored, but why? After a brief announcement we get back to the fun stuff, and first up is a BSso thesis for Patron Julie S. Julie studied Heat-seeking Haemosporidians: Parasitic Drivers of Human Inhabitation of Thermally-regulated Volcanic Ice Caves. Thanks, Julie! Kelly has an e-mail from Travis about how great former guest Abby Howard and her book Dinosaur Empire are. We agree, obviously. Finally, Abe has an iTunes review from a pretty august author questioning our topic priorities.

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

Music for this episode:

• We Intertwined - The Hush Sound

• Weeds - Marina and the Diamonds

• Prove the World Wrong - Ha Ha Tonka

00:00:00 - Matt from In Defense of Plants joins Joe and Ryan to talk about F.R.E.D., which is an acronym for a root-database that just reached version 2.0! Why does having a bunch of root data available matter? What's the point of databases in general? Listen and find out!

00:22:43 - Roots drink, we drink. It's all the same. Ryan has a typically convoluted thing in the form of a Papes Off the Crust Appalachian-style kvass ale brewed with pumpernickel bread, apples, fig leaves, and coconuts. Juli weighs in with her thoughts and the dog gets excited. Joe can't really answer our questions about his Reading Draft Creamy Red Birch Beer. Sap extraction discussion ensues. Matt keeps things sharp with a Baileys-spiked Caribou coffee.

00:34:23 - Just when you think you know how to measure a thing, the standard may change. As whimsical as we get about THE kilogram over in France (aka Big K), the International System (SI) may be ready to move on to something more fundamental for a few of our favorite units.

00:46:55 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like precise instrumentation; easy to use improperly. First up, Patron Magnus C. has earned a fake degree by writing the fake thesis: A Mole of Nutrition: Modeling Soil Aeration of Fine Root Web Systems via a fossorial mammal. Thanks, Magnus! Next up, Joe reads an iTunes review from TheBoomstick! And Ryan wraps it all up with a tweet from @MountainVole recommending the show to a friend on Twitter, which is just the best.

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

Music in the episode:

• Fred Jones, Pt. 2 - Ben Folds

• Cold Bread - Johnny Flynn

• Who's Gonna Take The Weight? - Gang Starr

00:00:00 - Sometimes life finds a way, to get in the way, so instead of the show we were supposed to record, here's another from the archives. This time, we're rolling back the clock to October 2014, mere moments after the live show you heard in episode 214. After our show, Kyle Hill (@Sci_Phile) took the stage to do a Because Science live panel discussion lead by him featuring Patrick House (@drmisterpatrick), Zach Weiner (@ZachWeiner), and our own Ryan Haupt. Topics in part one include:

• Jurassic World's lack of feathered dinosaurs

• Asimov's Laws of Robotics

• Star Trek communicators

• Cordyceps parasites in the video game The Last of Us

• Toxoplasma

• Ulcers and personality

• Disease attenuation

• 'Mutated' neutrinos from the film 2012

• and just what is going on with the Hulk

00:33:15 - Ryan breaks in for a moment to insert a drinks segment and he's having some sherry, which sounds like something fancy from a Poe story, but he mostly just uses it for cooking.

00:34:10 - Part 2 of the panel begins with a discussion of more realistic science fiction, including the books Blindsight, Solaris, and the Space Odyssey series, and movies like Upstream Color, Deranged, Interstellar, and even Iron Man. Plus how organizations like the Science and Entertainment Exchange (see episode 40) can help steer Hollywood in the right scientific direction. We end with a discussion of the media's role in make people afraid of things like diseases, and also what's really scary from a scientific perspective.

Thanks again to Kyle for putting together the panel, make sure to check out his Youtube series Because Science from the Nerdist.com!

01:02:34 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like panels, it's good to have some diversity. Only one this week and it comes from Thomas K., who has kindly contributed some money via Paypal and has some feedback regarding the evolution of the show, and our recent attempts to do other types of content like fossil hunting!

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

Music for this episode:

• Don't Look Back In Anger - Oasis

• Sherry - Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

• First Step - Hans Zimmer