The Deep-Sea Podcast

It’s the October episode and that means it’s our Halloween Spooktacular, what better time to turn the spotlight on ourselves and wonder why humanity seems to have an intrinsic fear of the deep sea. Glenn Singleman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Singleman) joins us to give a psychological explanation for why we feel differently about the deep sea and seem to have an aversion to it. Even some of the best documentaries seem to change their wording when talking about the deep sea.

We give Don a quick call to get his thoughts on fear, as that’s something he’s always asked when talking about the first dive to the deepest point. Finally, we have a Tails from the High Seas from Heather Stewart who, after running from some bad weather, found herself in the middle of a military exercise.

Theme – Hadal Zone Express by Märvel (http://marvel.nu/)

Additional music by Harvey Jones (http://www.harvjones.com/)

Links

Blackest black: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28363-super-dark-chameleon-material-shifts-colour-to-boost-solar-power/

Guinness Book of World Records

Deepest fish: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/deepest-fish

Deepest octopus: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/83167-deepest-octopus

Deepest eel: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/626705-deepest-eel

Deepest decapod: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/626036-deepest-decapod

First new species contaminated with plastic: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/626040-first-new-species-contaminated-with-plastic

Thanks to the people who recorded monsters in their native tongue:

Rusalka (Slavic) - Christina Nikolova

Afanc (Welsh) - Thomas Hughes

Iku-Turso (Finnish) - Anni Mäkelä

Kappa (Japan) - Kazumasa Oguri

Uile-Bheist Doimhneachd na Mara (Scottish Gaelic) - Andrew Henderson

Cetus, Charybdis, Scylla and Hydra (Greek) - Georgios Kazanidis

Can we use art to help people engage with the deep sea? We stop trying to explain things and let artist Alex Gould (alexandragould.co.uk) help us see deep-sea animals for the first time all over again.

We talk about the aesthetic of deep-sea fish, is it shaped by our expectations? Can we save the blobfish from bullying? Can art help us with the horror of tongue eating parasites and fish absorbing their boyfriends?

Sponsor Armatus Oceanic

On January 23, 1960 Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard were the first people to dive to the deepest point in the ocean, Challenger Deep. Would you believe that Don's full of other stories at least as interesting as that?

We talk science communication and exploration with Don, realise that actually we do know a lot about the Mariana Trench, and we cross the equator.

[email protected]

Music by Harvey Jones

 ‘We know more about the moon than the deep sea’ isn't just a bad analogy, it’s wrong. We talk scientific writing and Alan confesses why, after becoming the world’s deepest Brit, he was hunched emerging from the sub.

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Absence of sharks

Music Harvey Jones

Just a quick hello to introduce the podcast (and check I know how to do this). Official episode 1 coming soon.

Dr Thom

https://twitter.com/AllLittleFishes