The viruses keep coming, the climate is warming, and the Earth is rewilding. Our human family has no playbook to address the mayhem unfolding around us. If there is a change to reckon with, argues the renowned economic and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin, it’s that we are beginning to realize that the human race never had dominion over the Earth and that nature is far more formidable than we thought, while our species seems much smaller and less significant in the bigger picture of life on Earth, ...
Nov 01, 2022•22 min
Witty, entertaining, and illuminating, Spare Parts shows us that the history - and future - of transplant surgery is tied up with questions about not only who we are, but also what we are, and what we might become. Enjoy an excerpt of this surprising history audiobook from Paul Craddock. Purchase Spare Parts at Amazon , Audible , Bookshop.org , or your favorite bookstore. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddir...
Jun 10, 2022•11 min
Hello, Ask Science listeners! This week, we're sharing the first episode of Curious State , a brand new podcast from Quick and Dirty Tips. Could we have domesticated a T-Rex? Is the mafia really that violent? Haven't all the possible songs been written by now? Unexpected gems of knowledge are hidden all around us. Let’s dig them up, one offbeat question at a time. A few of the curiosities you’ll uncover in this episode: The 3 questions to ask yourself before domesticating a T-Rex How much it wou...
Apr 08, 2022•16 min
Episode 5 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth .
Nov 09, 2021•14 min•Ep. 402
Episode 4 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth .
Nov 02, 2021•13 min•Ep. 401
Episode 3 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth .
Oct 26, 2021•14 min•Ep. 400
Episode 2 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth .
Oct 19, 2021•12 min•Ep. 399
Episode 1 of 5 of our miniseries from author Henry Gee, based on his new book A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth .
Oct 12, 2021•17 min•Ep. 398
Today, we're sharing a special excerpt from Test Gods, an audiobook from our friends at Macmillan Audio. Test Gods tells the remarkable story of the test pilots, engineers, and visionaries behind Virgin Galactic’s campaign to build a space tourism company. It's an epic story about bravery and the fulfillment of our dreams. If you like what you hear, get your copy of Test Gods here or wherever books or audiobooks are sold. https://amzn.to/3f0rQJ9...
May 11, 2021•11 min
The Arecibo Telescope, featured in movies like "Contact" and "Goldeneye," collapsed in early December 2020 after 57 years of observing the universe. Here's what the telescope accomplished, and why its loss is a devastating blow to science.
Dec 15, 2020•10 min•Ep. 396
Are we really at our smartest in our 20s? What about the wisdom and experience that come with age? At what age do we strike the right balance between cognitive ability and expertise?
Dec 08, 2020•6 min•Ep. 238
What is CBD oil? What does science have to say about the extract's proposed health benefits?
Dec 01, 2020•8 min•Ep. 305
You've isolated at home for months because of the pandemic, so why are you suddenly sick? Here are a few scientific reasons why you can get sick even on lockdown.
Nov 24, 2020•7 min•Ep. 396
Is there a way to predetermine your baby's biological sex and conceive a girl or a boy? Here's what science has to say about things like genetics, timing, diet, and even adrenaline.
Nov 17, 2020•9 min•Ep. 395
Light is the fastest moving thing we know of, but just how fast is it? Has science attempted to break the light speed record? And does the universe have a speed limit?
Nov 10, 2020•9 min•Ep. 394
Go to the supplement aisle of almost any store in the US and you'll find melatonin, a synthetic hormone, marketed as an effective natural sleep aid, even for children! But is melatonin actually safe to use? Studies say ...
Nov 03, 2020•8 min•Ep. 393
Not even light can escape a black hole's gravitational pull, so how do we actually know they exist? And what's the deal with the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way?
Oct 27, 2020•11 min•Ep. 392
Spiders, snakes, heights, political corruption—we're afraid of a lot of things. But what's the difference between a fear and a phobia? And can either literally scare you to death?
Oct 20, 2020•7 min•Ep. 391
Why do some fish thrive in salt water and others in fresh? And what happens if you, say, drop a saltwater shark into a fresh water swimming pool? Here's the science!
Oct 06, 2020•10 min•Ep. 390
We experience extreme hot and cold temperatures on Earth, but they're nothing compared to the temperature extremes we've created in labs, not to mention the Universe at large. Do these hot and cold extremes have a limit?
Sep 29, 2020•7 min•Ep. 389
Astronomers recently made a huge discovery—there may be life on Venus. But what does it really mean when we say we've discovered the potential for life on the second rock from the Sun? Don't go searching for aliens just yet.
Sep 22, 2020•7 min•Ep. 310
How many days can it take to control a large wildfire? (More than you think.) Who fights wildfires? (You may be surprised!) What tools and methods do firefighters use to control, extinguish, and prevent them?
Sep 15, 2020•9 min•Ep. 387
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes make headlines, but fewer people know about the unique and destructive weather force known as a derecho. What are derechos, and why are they so devastating? Everyday Einstein talked with Midwest meteorologist Vince Condella to find out.
Sep 01, 2020•14 min•Ep. 386
Wild bee populations are at risk. Why are wild bee colonies in decline, why is it a big deal, and how can you help? First, step away from the pesticides.
Aug 25, 2020•8 min•Ep. 385
Recently, a rock sample from the Neolithic structure Stonehenge made its way to a science lab after 60 years in a private collection. Here's what we learned from it.
Aug 11, 2020•10 min•Ep. 384
Your blood type is one of the many things you inherit from your parents. But what does it mean, and how does it affect your medical care? Do you have a rare blood type?
Aug 04, 2020•10 min•Ep. 383
Humans seem to be the only animals who produce one of three different types of tears. Can you guess what it is? Let's look at the science behind crying.
Jul 21, 2020•7 min•Ep. 382
We have scientific evidence that masks effectively and dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19, yet myths about mask-wearing abound. Let's put them to rest and mask up!
Jul 14, 2020•12 min•Ep. 381
Congress recently introduced a bill to prohibit the President from using weapons to alter weather patterns. But can you tame a hurricane by nuking it off the map?
Jul 07, 2020•7 min•Ep. 380
Are aliens out there observing us? If they're not, why has the Pentagon released videos of "unidentified aerial phenomena?" What's going on at Area 51, anyhow?
Jun 30, 2020•12 min•Ep. 379
