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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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We explore the physics behind making the biggest splash in pool jumping and examine a promising new non-opioid painkiller that could revolutionize pain management without addiction risks. 

Our investigation into canine health reveals which dog breeds are most prone to diarrhea—with some surprising findings for particular designer breeds.

• The science of Manu jumping reveals a precise 45-degree entry angle with V-shaped body posture creates the biggest pool splash
• Underwater backward roll and leg extension forms an air pocket that collapses to create maximum splash height
• New experimental drug SBI-810 targets pain pathways without causing addiction or euphoria
• This non-opioid painkiller outperformed newer opioids in animal testing and could reduce reliance on addictive pain medications
• Study of 2.25 million dogs shows breeds with names ending in "poo" have highest diarrhea rates
• Cavapoos (14.95%), Maltese (14.6%), and Miniature Poodles (14.26%) top the list for diarrhea incidence
• Most canine diarrhea cases (92%) involve only one event per year and resolve with a single vet visit
• Common treatments include probiotics, dietary management, and sometimes antibiotics for more severe cases

Here's a link of Manu jumping! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogkRgkf4YAo

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The cosmic dance of our solar system is more precarious than we realize, with rogue stars potentially disrupting Earth's orbit and sending us hurling into space—though the probability is a reassuring 0.2% over 5 billion years. 

Recent research reveals singing to babies significantly improves their overall mood, highlighting the universal evolutionary importance of lullabies as emotional regulation tools across cultures.

Oh and Cockatoos have taught themselves how to drink from fountains.

• Computer simulations show passing stars could disrupt our solar system with catastrophic consequences
• Mercury would likely be the first planet affected, potentially creating a domino effect of planetary collisions
• Earth has a 0.2% chance of being ejected from our solar system in the next 5 billion years
• Parents who sing to babies under four months old observe significantly improved infant moods
• Singing to babies appears to be a universal human behavior with evolutionary advantages
• Sydney's cockatoos demonstrate remarkable intelligence by operating public drinking fountains
• Around 70% of local cockatoos attempt to use fountains with 50% succeeding
• Birds coordinate complex movements and wait in line, suggesting possible social bonding behavior

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We dive into the fascinating world of extinct giant sloths, explore how dogs are inspiring better swimming robots, and discuss the alarming resurgence of measles with immunologist Dr. Elisabeth Marnick.

• Ancient sloths evolved wide body size diversity based primarily on their habitat preference
• Tree-dwelling sloths evolved to be smaller while ground-dwelling species became massive
• The largest ground sloths were predated by enormous short-faced bears and likely hunted by humans
• Engineers created an amphibious robot that mimics dogs' swimming motion rather than reptiles or insects
• The dog-inspired robot achieves better transition between land and water with superior stability

And our guest: 

• Dr. Elizabeth Marnick explains that measles causes "immune amnesia," erasing the body's memory of other infections
• The MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles infection with two doses
• One in four measles cases requires hospitalization, with potentially severe complications
• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis can appear 7-10 years after measles infection and is 100% fatal
• Science communicators face significant challenges combating misinformation on social media

Dr. Marnick's Links

Instagram

Substack

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We explore the science behind HBO's "The Last of Us," investigating whether a fungal apocalypse could happen in real life and if a vaccine for fungal infections is possible. The Royal Tyrrell Museum's new "Breakthroughs" exhibit showcases five groundbreaking fossil discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of prehistoric life.  Lastly we look at the cause of the orange color in orange cats!

• Fungal infections like cordyceps jumping to humans is extremely unlikely, though climate change impacts fungal evolution
• Scientists have no approved fungal vaccines available, with only four new antifungal drugs approved in the last decade
• The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta showcases world-class dinosaur specimens including Canada's best-preserved nodosaur
• Five breakthrough fossils include a Mosasaurus with preserved cartilage, feathered Ornithomimus, and exceptionally preserved Borealopelta
• Recent studies reveal orange cats share a single genetic mutation near the RH-GAP36 gene that originated 900 years ago
• Female orange cats are rare because they need the mutation on both X chromosomes, while males only need one copy

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