Send us a text

We explore fascinating examples of mutualism in nature and therapeutic relationships between humans and animals through two distinct scientific studies.

• Squamillaria plants in Fiji function as apartment buildings for up to five different ant species
• These plants have internal chambers with separate entrances preventing deadly conflicts between rival ant colonies
• When chamber walls are broken, ants engage in fatal battles lasting only 30 minutes
• The plant benefits from ant waste providing nutrients while ants receive safe housing
• Some ant species even plant seeds in nearby bark, acting as farmers for their future homes
• Facility dogs in physical therapy settings help patients persist 2.6 minutes longer in rehabilitation tasks
• Participants without dogs at home showed even greater improvement with a facility dog present
• Dogs may improve therapy outcomes through positive distraction and emotional support
• First tasks with dogs present showed lower pain and heart rate measurements
• Our own pets Bunsen, Beaker, and Bernoulli would need training before becoming therapy animals

Our all links to social media and more!

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

On this episode we look at the tsunamis that weren't from the Russian megaquake, and which dog breeds are super super hungry all the time.

• Earthquake occurred in the Kural Kamchatka subduction zone where the Pacific plate slides under the Okhotsk plate at 75mm per year
• Logarithmic earthquake scales mean each magnitude increase represents 10x more energy
• Despite the earthquake's strength, the rupture didn't reach the seafloor, limiting tsunami development
• Hawaiian and California coasts saw modest waves of 1-1.5 meters, far less than feared
• Historical tsunamis like the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster (227,000+ deaths) demonstrate the potential danger
• Texas A&M study of 15,000 dog owners reveals which breeds have highest "food motivation scores"
• Sporting breeds like Labs and Golden Retrievers are 10% more likely to overeat than mixed breeds
• Hound breeds (beagles, dachshunds) follow at 5.3% higher likelihood
• City dogs and those in multi-dog households more prone to weight issues
• Maintaining healthy dog weight reduces risks of diabetes, arthritis, and skin disease

If you enjoy our content, consider joining our Patreon community at the Top Dogs level to support the Science Podcast.

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

Pet Chat today has a special guest: Wildlife rehabilitator Janie Girardin who shares her experiences caring for orphaned and injured animals at Spicy Paws Wildlife Sanctuary, explaining the delicate process of rehabilitation and eventual release back to nature.

• Specializes in rehabilitating squirrels, rabbits, songbirds, and fawns
• Currently caring for eight baby squirrels, five rabbits, and six fawns
• Animals typically come into care when orphaned, injured, or showing distress signals
• Uses a "soft release" approach, allowing animals to transition gradually back to the wild
• Minimizes human contact to ensure animals retain their wild instincts
• Explains how to tell when wildlife truly needs human assistance
• Debunks myth that touching baby birds causes mother rejection
• Advises keeping distressed wildlife "warm, dark and quiet" until professional help arrives
• Warns against feeding baby animals without professional guidance
• Becoming a rehabilitator requires specific training, testing, and licensing

If you'd like to support Spicy Paws Wildlife Sanctuary, visit their Facebook page.

Our links:

Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.com

Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!

Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:

Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

In this episode we explore scientific findings about optimal daily step counts, genetic predispositions for having children of the same sex, and how dogs perceive and interact with television.

• Research shows 7,000 steps per day is the health "sweet spot," not the commonly cited 10,000
• At 7,000 steps, studies found 25% reduced cardiovascular disease risk, 37% lower cancer risk, and 38% decreased dementia-related deaths
• Even modest increases from baseline (2,000 steps) show significant health benefits
• Genetic study reveals some families may be predisposed to having children of primarily one sex
• Older mothers showed strongest patterns of same-sex children, possibly due to biological mechanisms
• Two gene variants identified that correlate with having all male or all female children
• Modern LED TVs allow dogs to see continuous motion unlike older TVs
• Dogs primarily see blue and yellow colors and 45% react to other dogs on screen
• A dog's personality, not breed or age, determines their interest in television
• Anxious dogs may find TV overstimulating rather than enriching

Our links:

Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.com

Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!

Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:

Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

Johnny Heim, pet artist extraordinaire, shares his journey from childhood drawings of Snoopy to creating art that has raised thousands of dollars for animal rescues worldwide.

• Started drawing as a child in Winnipeg, perfecting his Snoopy technique during long winters
• Won a shrine circus poster contest in grade six, realizing art could bring tangible rewards
• Drew attention with his "Shark Attack" clothing line while in university
• Used drawing skills in advertising career to help visualize concepts for clients
• Reconnected with art during COVID and began focusing on pet portraits
• Raised over $10,000 with his "We're All Made of Stars" portrait series in memory of Kuno
• Creates all artwork traditionally with ink and paper, no digital tools
• Lives by the motto "I draw because they can't" as motivation for his work
• Collaborates with rescue organizations to raise funds through his artwork
• Helps tell the stories of rescue animals through projects like "Unleashing Tales" books
• Currently lives with Olive, his 8-year-old French Bulldog who "lets him live in her house"
• Finds the most joy when people connect emotionally with his portraits of their pets

Email [email protected] to inquire about commissions. Find his work on X @JohnHeim or Instagram @art_by_heim.

Our links:

Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.com

Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!

Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:

Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

We dive into the environmental impact of AI technologies and explore the science behind how pet touch affects human well-being.

• Generative AI consumes significant energy with a ChatGPT query using approximately 10 times more energy than a Google search
• By 2028, data centers could account for 12% of US energy use, up from 4.4% currently
• Companies rarely disclose the true energy costs of training and running AI models
• Smaller AI models can achieve similar results with dramatically lower carbon footprints
• Practical solutions include choosing efficient models, using AI during off-peak hours, and minimizing unnecessary words in prompts

• Recent study of 443 pet owners shows both giving and receiving touch contributes to owner well-being
• Stroking pets shows stronger positive effects on well-being than hugging or holding
• Pet leaning behavior (like when dogs press against their owners) is particularly beneficial for emotional health
• The act of giving touch to pets may be more beneficial than receiving touch from them
• The physical mechanisms of touch involve specialized nerve fibers that respond differently in hairy versus non-hairy skin

Our links:

Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.com

Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!

Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:

Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

We explore groundbreaking science developments from space discovery to environmental innovation and canine intuition. The James Webb Space Telescope has directly imaged an exoplanet for the first time, marking a pivotal moment in our quest to understand distant worlds.

• JWST captures first direct image of an exoplanet orbiting star TWA7, 111 light-years away
• The Saturn-sized planet orbits 52 astronomical units from its star within a gap in the star's dusty debris disk
• Scientists used a coronagraph to block the star's light, enabling them to see the much dimmer planet
• Researchers genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to convert plastic waste into acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol
• The bacteria achieved 92% conversion efficiency in 48 hours, offering potential solutions for plastic pollution and sustainable pharmaceutical production
• Though promising, this process is not yet scalable for industrial applications
• Study reveals 65% of participants noticed behavior changes in their dogs during pregnancy
• 27% reported these changes occurred before they knew they were pregnant
• Dogs showed increased attention-seeking, guarding behavior, and anxiety around other dogs
• Canines can detect changes in human biochemistry, emotions, and scent during pregnancy

If your dog detected your pregnancy before you knew, we'd love to hear your story! Check out our Patreon at the link in show notes to support the podcast and join our Paw Pack community.

Our links:

Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.com

Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!

Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:

Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

Jason an Kris share updates on their dogs Bunsen, Beaker, and Bernoulli, as well as cat Ginger, covering health updates, socialization progress, and hilarious escape stories.

• Bunsen has recovered better than expected from his health issues but remains on-leash for safety
• Ginger was a rescue whose name felt perfect without needing a science-themed replacement
• Beaker has overcome socialization challenges through regular visits to doggy daycare
• Bernoulli has discovered an unexpected friendship with miniature horses at a new care facility
• Ginger has mastered multiple escape techniques, including using Bernoulli as an unwitting accomplice
• Beaker provided comfort to students during final exams, showing her progress with strangers
• The Fun Facts with Bernoulli book is completed and will soon be available in the store
• The Bernoulli pre-sale stuffy opportunity remains open until the end of June

Pet Chat will be on hiatus for the next two weeks, returning July 19th with special guest artist John Heim.

Our links:

Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.com

Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!

Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:

Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

We celebrate a milestone of 200,000 Instagram followers, reflecting on how their platform has grown from a "ghost town" into a thriving community where cute dogs help deliver science education.

• The hosts share updates about their dogs, including Bunsen's recovery progress
• Jason shares exciting wildlife footage captured on their trail cam, featuring a great horned owl
• Community member Holly recounts the story of her cat Toby escaping through an unlatched door
• Paula shares her experience rescuing a robin fledgling and connecting with a wildlife rehabilitator
•Kris tells the story of rescuing a great horned owl that was later rehabilitated and released
• The hosts and community members discuss the importance of proper wildlife rescue protocols
• Bunsen and Ginger's "Operation Beauty and the Beast" team-up to raid the cat food

Join us next Saturday for another episode of Pet Chat, and Paw Pack members can catch us tomorrow for our special community chat.

Our links:

Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.com

Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!

Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:

Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd

Send us a text

Innovations in science are making daily life better through passive cooling paint and insights into pet interactions. 

In the Science News section we explore technologies that could transform how we maintain comfortable living spaces and manage our emotions at work.

• Cement-based cooling paint from Nyang Technological University uses three cooling strategies: radiative cooling, evaporative cooling, and solar reflection
• The specialized paint maintains effectiveness after two years of testing, reflecting 88-92% of sunlight while conventional paints yellow and lose performance
• Buildings using this paint required 30-40% less electricity for air conditioning, potentially reducing urban heat islands
• Research shows looking at photos of your own dog (not random dogs or cats) significantly reduces anger and aggressive intent

The Guest in Ask an Expert...

• Dr. Lori Palen discusses how data communication bridges the gap between scientific discovery and real-world impact
• Data Soapbox helps scientists translate complex findings into accessible, engaging content that drives positive change
• Science communication needs to be planned from the outset rather than treated as an afterthought

Dr. Palen's links

Data Soap Box: https://datasoapbox.com/

Dr. Palen on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/loripalen.bsky.social

Our links:

Our Website!  www.bunsenbernerbmd.com

Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!

Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:

Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok

Support the show

For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
https://twitter.com/bunsenbernerbmd