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 • Scienti...
Jul 03, 2025•24 min•Season 7Ep. 20
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 une...
Jun 29, 2025•35 min
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 h...
Jun 25, 2025•36 min
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 year...
Jun 21, 2025•59 min•Season 7Ep. 19
Send us a text 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 back...
Jun 13, 2025•30 min•Season 7Ep. 18
Send us a text 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 foun...
Jun 06, 2025•26 min•Season 7Ep. 17
Send us a text 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 human...
May 30, 2025•54 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Send us a text 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 c...
May 23, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 15
Send us a text We explore the cutting-edge science of extending dog lifespan through innovative drug development with Loyal founder and CEO Celine Halioua , who shares the company's groundbreaking approach to canine longevity and health. In Science News: • Cold water immersion after exercise shows no benefits for women despite its popularity among fitness influencers In Pet Science: • Brachycephalic dog and cat breeds now resemble each other more than their wild ancestors due to selective breedi...
May 16, 2025•56 min•Season 7Ep. 14
Send us a text On this show we explore the contentious debate around fluoride in municipal water, the science behind pedigree cat adoptions, and innovative approaches to teaching science to non-science majors. • Examination of the fluoride controversy using Calgary, Alberta as a case study • Discussion of how fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and prevents acid damage • Review of research showing increased tooth decay rates in children after fluoride was removed from Calgary's water • Analysis of...
May 08, 2025•52 min•Season 7Ep. 13
Send us a text This week we look to deunk myths about rising autism rates and explain the genetic and environmental factors at play, while exploring the resurrection of dire wolves through genetic engineering and how puppy cognition predicts adult dog behavior. • CDC data shows autism diagnoses increased from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 31 in 2022 • Approximately 80% of autism cases stem from inherited genetic variations with 200+ genes linked to early brain development • Better screening,...
Apr 24, 2025•30 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Send us a text In this episode we explore potential signs of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b and discuss how pets impact our sleep quality, while special guest Dr. Sabina Vorah-Miller provides expert insights on vaccine misinformation and avian flu safety. • Bunsen's recovery from a UTI and continued mobility improvements • Recent James Webb Space Telescope findings detected dimethyl sulfide on exoplanet K2-18b • Why scientists remain cautiously optimistic but skeptical about alien life evidence ...
Apr 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Send us a text On this week's episode we dive deep into nature's most shocking survival strategy exploring how the Alamendro tree has evolved to harness lightning strikes as a competitive advantage. We also examine the fascinating results of fermenting miso in space and discuss the challenges and rewards of cat fostering programs. • Lightning-resistant Alamendro trees have 100% survival rate after strikes while 56% of neighboring trees die • These trees grow wider crowns that attract lightning, ...
Apr 12, 2025•29 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Send us a text On this week's show we dive into the hidden connections between shingles vaccines and decreased dementia risk, while exploring how humans often misinterpret their pets' emotions based on environmental context rather than actual animal behavior. Our guest, Dr. Yasmin Mohseni blows us away with the inner workings of the immune system. Some highlights: • Shingles vaccine study reveals a 20% reduction in dementia risk, particularly among women • The protective effect may be linked to ...
Apr 05, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Send us a text This week on The Science Pawdcast: • MIT researchers identified a 13-degree threshold in pedestrian movement patterns, below which people naturally form orderly lanes • Angular spread exceeding 13 degrees creates chaotic, inefficient pedestrian flow in public spaces • UC Berkeley engineers developed SALTO, a one-legged jumping robot inspired by squirrel biomechanics • SALTO can land on narrow perches by mimicking how squirrels absorb 86% of landing energy with their front legs • N...
Mar 29, 2025•28 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Send us a text From groundbreaking research on seal oxygen perception to heart-stopping surgical techniques, we explore medical frontiers that sound like science fiction but save lives daily with cardiothoracic anesthesiologist Dr. Ashley Gabrielsen. • Gray seals can perceive blood oxygen levels rather than CO2, allowing them to adjust dive durations accordingly • Therapy dogs in ERs significantly reduce pediatric anxiety – dropping scores almost twice as much as standard care alone Then an amaz...
Mar 22, 2025•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 7
Send us a text The Science Podcast explores cutting-edge taste technology that lets you experience flavors in virtual reality through chemical delivery to your tongue, along with updates on private lunar missions and the genetic basis of Labrador retrievers' food obsession. • New "eTaste" technology delivers five basic taste chemicals directly to users' tongues through a flexible conduit while in virtual reality • Device successfully simulated complex flavors like lemonade, cake, fried egg, fish...
Mar 14, 2025•30 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Send us a text Through groundbreaking prosthetic hand technology and controversial genetic engineering, this episode explores where science meets the ethical boundaries of what we can versus what we should do. • Revolutionary prosthetic hand from Johns Hopkins University combines rigid 3D-printed structures with soft polymers to mimic human capabilities • New prosthetics send sensory feedback (temperature, texture, slippage) directly to users through electrical nerve stimulation • "Woolly mice" ...
Mar 07, 2025•56 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Send us a text Energized by scientific discoveries about probiotics and ancient Mars, we share insights into pet health, including urgent safety tips for pet owners. Today brings stories of microbiology—with probiotic sugars—and pet news worth reflecting on. • Discussion on probiotics and sugar cravings • Key takeaways from the Mars studies revealing ancient water sources • Heartfelt pet care tips following a dog’s medical emergency • Insights on monitoring signs of intestinal distress in pets •...
Mar 01, 2025•27 min•Season 7Ep. 4
Send us a text This week, we dive into the delightful world of our pets, sharing heartwarming anecdotes and touching on important behavioral topics. Join us as we celebrate the joy pets bring into our lives, share training insights, and engage with our listeners' experiences. • Highlights from Bernoulli's day at Waggles • The joy of sharing treats like puppuccinos • Discussing resource guarding behaviors with Beaker • Overcoming fears and encouraging training in pets • Engaging with listeners' p...
Feb 27, 2025•48 min
Send us a text This episode merges the light-hearted exploration of ear wiggling with insightful discussions on human-animal interactions and ethical considerations within archaeology. We discover how our ear muscles connect to hearing and how animal encounters, like at zoos, drive donations. The conversation also addresses the importance of repatriation in archaeology, encouraging listeners to reflect on the stories we tell and the voices we include. • Overview of ear wiggling and its evolution...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Send us a text This episode showcases the delightful chaos of pet ownership during winter, emphasizing stories about Bunsen, Beaker, Ginger, and Bernoulli. It highlights the joys and challenges pets bring to their lives, offers insights on pet care during harsh weather, and celebrates the strong sense of community among pet owners. Ginger's new friendship with Bunsen. Bunsen's recovery journey and daily care Fun stories about Bernoulli's playdates and winter challenges Valentine's Day paw-dates ...
Feb 19, 2025•53 min
Send us a text This episode highlights the urgency of planetary defense against a potentially threatening asteroid while also addressing the importance of educating children about responsible pet care and empathy towards animals. The discussion emphasizes two critical areas where science and compassion converge: the efforts to monitor and understand asteroid 2024 YR4 and the promising outcomes of the Animal Guardians intervention program for children at risk of animal harm. • Bunsen's health upd...
Feb 13, 2025•16 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Send us a text Bunsen's recent battle with a herniated disc has brought our family a rollercoaster of emotions as we navigated medical diagnostics and treatment options. This episode is filled with heartfelt stories and advice from our community, emphasizing the importance of support in pet parenthood and the joy that pets bring into our lives. • Bunsen's concerning symptoms and initial vet visit • The emotional weight of the MRI day • Diagnosis of a herniated disc and treatment plan • Emphasis ...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Send us a text The Science Podcast kicks off its seventh season by delving into the latest research on microplastics found in human brains and the stress experienced by puppy parents. The episode highlights key findings related to the accumulation of microplastics, potential health implications, and the factors that contribute to stress levels in new pet guardians, providing valuable insights and encouraging listeners to reflect on their experiences. • Discussion on rising microplastics in human...
Feb 08, 2025•57 min
Send us a text Pet Chat is a recording of our weekly live show. This episode combines heartfelt stories, veterinary insights, and fun anecdotes from our life with pets. We discuss everything from playdates and health decisions to navigating life with dogs and share the laughter and joy they bring. • Exciting stories about pet meet-ups • Discussion on surgical decisions for pets • The humor in post-surgery antics • Community sharing and listener experiences • Highlighting the joys and challenges ...
Feb 05, 2025•50 min
Send us a text Get ready for a recap of the year with our science-loving pets: Bunsen, Beaker, Bernoulli, and the fabulous feline Ginger. With a vibrant community tuning in across various platforms, expect a delightful blend of trivia, personal stories, and maybe even a moose-related surprise or two. Our journey continues with the inspiring tale of Bernoulli, the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, who’s already a level three obedience champion at just nine months. As the winter chill bites down in Albe...
Jan 19, 2025•1 hr 24 min
Send us a text Ever wondered how tiny skincare microbeads went from environmental villains to eco-friendly heroes? Discover the science behind their transformation as we unravel the journey of poly B-amino ester, a groundbreaking polymer with medical roots, now set to revolutionize the beauty industry. And just when you think it's all serious science, we sprinkle in some humor with a cheeky shampoo joke to keep things light and lively. Join us as we explore the extraordinary capabilities of our ...
Dec 28, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 40
Send us a text This episode uncovers the mysteries of beluga whale communication, exploring their unique melon structures and the signals they may convey. It also examines how companion animals influence adolescent participation in sports and features an interview with Mara Williams about the vital role of medical lab scientists. • Beluga whale melon shapes as a form of communication • Findings on companion animals impacting adolescents' sports involvement • Insights from Mara Williams on life a...
Dec 22, 2024•58 min
Send us a text Get ready to uncover the mysteries of the cosmos and the chatter of canines as we explore an episode full of scientific revelations and heartwarming stories. Discover the intriguing insights from the Chandra X-ray Observatory as it peers into the atmosphere of HD61005, affectionately known as the Moth, and what these findings could mean for our understanding of solar systems like our own. Then, we shift our gaze from the stars to our four-legged friends on Earth, where a groundbre...
Dec 14, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 38
