MinuteEarth - podcast cover

MinuteEarth

Minute Earthwww.minuteearth.com
From the creators of the popular science show with millions of YouTube subscribers comes the MinuteEarth podcast. Every episode of the show dives deep into a science question you might not even know you had - but once you hear the answer, you’ll want to share it with everyone you know. Our team of scientists digs into the research and breaks it down into a short, entertaining explanation jam-packed with science facts and terrible puns. We’ll tell the incredible story of how monkeys crossed the Atlantic ocean on natural rafts, and we’ll explain why it gets hotter the deeper you dig underground.
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Episodes

Are "Acts of God" Disappearing?

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Act of God: A natural disaster that is outside of human influence or control, such that no one will be held responsible for the resulting damages. Reasonable precautions: The ordinary or usual precautions that a person would take to prevent damage from a natural disaster. MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.c...

Mar 11, 20254 min

Why Pets Have Surprisingly Small Brains

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Domesticated animal: a species of animal bred by humans over generations to become nonreactive and gain characteristics suitable for life as a farm animal or pet Tame animal: an individual animal raised in a way that it has become less dangerous and frightened of people Feral animal: an animal that escapes from captivity or domestication (& regains some similar & some different characteristics compared to its pre-do...

Mar 10, 20253 min

Tongue Tanning

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 09, 20252 min

Leather Making

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 08, 20251 min

Why Do Some Animals Get Gigantic?

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Spiracles: External respiratory openings on insects Carboniferous Period: The time period from 359-299 million years ago when the Earth’s oxygen levels increased rapidly. Square-Cube Law: A mathematical principle that describes the relationship between area and volume. Buoyancy: An upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed object. Phytoplankton: Microscopic plants eaten by krill and other zoopla...

Mar 07, 20254 min

Why Bird Penises Are So Weird

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Sex chromosome: A chromosome involved in determining the sex of an individual. Cloaca: A posterior orifice that serves as the only exit for the gastrointestinal, urinary and genital tracts. Mutation: An alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene. Sexually-selected Trait: A trait based on a mutation that confers a reproductive advantage. BMP4: A protein whose presence halts the growth of bird penises in the egg. Min...

Mar 06, 20253 min

Where Do Our Drugs Come From?

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Bioprospecting: the systematic search for and development of new sources of chemical compounds, genes, micro-organisms, macro-organisms, and other valuable products from nature. MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteeart...

Mar 05, 20253 min

Why Do Female Hyenas Have Pseudo-Penises?!

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Pseudopenis: a structure that resembles a penis but is developmentally (and functionally) different Masculinization: the process by which female genitalia is made to appear more like male genitalia MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book...

Mar 04, 20254 min

Why Farming is Broken (And Always Has Been)

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Annual plant: living for a year or less, perpetuating itself by seed Perennial plant: living for several years Polyculture: the simultaneous cultivation or exploitation of several crops or kinds of animals Natural systems agriculture: cropping systems based on processes found in nature Agroforestry: land use management that combines the cultivation of trees/shrubs with crops/pasture to create more productive and sustainable...

Mar 03, 20253 min

Avoid Tannins

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 02, 20251 min

Rabbit Poop

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 01, 20251 min

Why Do India And China Have So Many People?

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 28, 20253 min

Why Is Syrup Sticky?

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 27, 20253 min

Our Definition For “Moon” Is Broken (Collab. w/ MinutePhysics)

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Moon: a natural satellite of a satellite of a star. Satellite: A celestial body orbiting a larger celestial body. Orbit: The path followed by one object revolving around another object under the influence of gravity. Barycenter: The center of mass that two or more bodies orbit around. Binary System: A system in which two similarly sized object orbit the same barycenter. Hydrostatic equilibrium: Roundness that occurs when gr...

Feb 26, 20254 min

UPSIDE-DOWN Rivers On Mars?! (Response to MinutePhysics)

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Inverted relief: a topographic feature, such as an old riverbed, that has reversed its elevation relative to other features. Duricrust: a hard mineral crust formed at or near the surface of soil in semiarid regions by the evaporation of groundwater. Geomorphology: the study of the physical features of the surface of the earth and their relation to its geological structures. Exhumed paleochannel: a remnant of an inactive riv...

Feb 25, 20253 min

TRANSPARENT Solar Panels?!

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Solar window: a window that functions like an ordinary window but also generates power like a solar panel Nanoparticle (also called nanopowder or nanocluster or nanocrystal): a microscopic particle with at least one dimension less than 100 nm. These tiny objects often have characteristics that differ from larger versions of the same material. Quantum dots (QD): tiny nanoparticles of some kind of semiconducting material, onl...

Feb 24, 20253 min

Cassowary Poop

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 23, 20251 min

Gorilla Poop

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 22, 20251 min

Why It Sucks to Be a Male Hyena

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Sex role reversed species: a species in which males and females exhibit roles other than what might be expected based on other aspects of their biology and mating systems MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/b...

Feb 21, 20253 min

Invasion Of The Earthworms!

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Invasive species: A non-native species that causes harm to the ecosystem. Biome: A large, naturally occurring community of flora and fauna. Duff layer: The moderately to highly decomposed organic material between the leaf litter and the soil. Seedling: A young plant less than one meter high. Sapling: A young tree that’s bigger than a seedling. Graminoids: Herbaceous plants and grasses. Coevolution: The process that occurs w...

Feb 20, 20253 min

Why So Many Meteorites Come From The Same Place

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Asteroid: A rocky body smaller than a planet that is orbiting the sun. Meteoroid: A smaller rocky body moving in the solar system. Meteor: A meteoroid that has entered the Earth’s atmosphere. Meteorite: A meteor that hits the Earth. Orbital resonance: A force that occurs when orbiting bodies exert a regular, periodic gravitational influence on each other, because of the length of their relative orbits. Kirkwood Gap: A dip i...

Feb 19, 20253 min

What Nuclear Bombs Taught Us About Whales

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Infrasound: sound waves too low in frequency for humans to hear. The CTBTO stations detect frequencies of 0.02 to 4Hz Hydroacoustic: having to do with underwater sounds. The CTBTO stations detect frequencies of 1-100 Hz Seismic: oscillation waves in the earth, often caused by earthquakes or other tectonic activity. The CTBTO stations detect frequencies of 0.02-16 Hz MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://nep...

Feb 18, 20253 min

Why Does Wine Make Your Mouth Feel Dry?

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Tannin: a yellow or brownish chemical present in some plant tissues, used in leather production and ink manufacture, and a contributor to the sensation of astringency Astringency: the sensation caused by the contraction of body tissues due to tannins, often called “mouthfeel” Polyphenol: a chemical compound containing more than one phenolic hydroxyl group, of which tannins are a major group Phenolic: a chemical compound wit...

Feb 17, 20253 min

Poop Composition

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 16, 20251 min

Quokka Mom

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Buy our book: https://minuteearth.com/books - Sign up to our newsletter: http://news.minuteearth.com - Share with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 15, 20251 min

Is it a bee, a wasp, a fly, or a moth?

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Mullerian mimicry: a type of mimicry in which two or more animals with defenses develop similar appearances as a shared protective device Batesian mimicry: a type of mimicry in which an animal with no defenses is protected by its resemblance to an animal capable of defense MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon....

Feb 14, 20253 min

Why Apple Pie Isn't American

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Food: a nutritious substance we eat or drink to maintain life and growth Domestication: a multi-generational process in which one group of organisms manages the reproduction and care of, and changes, another type of organism, typically to secure a more predictable supply of resources (e.g. humans with food crops and animals) Centers of origin: the locations where humans domesticated a lot of crops and animals for food, ofte...

Feb 13, 20253 min

Why Most Rain Never Reaches The Ground

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Virga: an observable shaft of precipitation falling from a cloud that evaporates before reaching the ground Rainfall interception: The fraction of rainfall that falls on leaves, branches and trunks of trees and evaporates before dripping to the ground. MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info If you like what we do, you can help us! - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Buy...

Feb 12, 20253 min

Why Don't Sled Dogs Ever Get Tired?

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Glycolysis: The process by which glycogen is broken down into energy. Anaerobic metabolism: The creation of energy through the combustion of carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. Aerobic metabolism: The creation of energy through the breakdown of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. ATP: The principal molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells. Baseline Vital Signs: A subject’s temperature, pulse, respiration, bl...

Feb 11, 20253 min

Why Don’t Sheep Shrink In The Rain?

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: Fiber: a threadlike structure forming part of the muscular, nervous, connective, or other tissue in the human or animal body Felting: the process by which wool or another textile can be agitated, often along with moisture or heat, to cause the fibers to migrate amongst themselves and mat together into a dense smooth surface Ratchet: a device consisting of a bar or wheel with a set of angled teeth that allow motion in one di...

Feb 10, 20253 min
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