Send us a text Do you carry Neanderthal genes, and if so, how does it impact your pain threshold? This week, our fascinating exploration starts with this intriguing question. In Pet Science we also tackle a rising concern – dog vaccine hesitancy. We are joined by our special guest, Dr. Isabel Ramiro Shah, who enlightens us with her valuable insights on gravitational waves. Voyage into the mesmerizing world of gravitational waves, revealing their nature, detection methods, and the extraordinary e...
Oct 20, 2023•59 min•Season 5Ep. 35
Send us a text What happens when you're outsmarted by a beaver, or find yourself in an unexpected encounter with a moose? Join us as we delve into an adventurous tale of our beloved pets Bunsen and Beaker, and our interactions with local wildlife. Listen closely as we share our experiences, from fascinating beaver escapades to a suspenseful moose sighting. Let us take you on a journey to recall how our training skills rose to the occasion during that thrilling moose encounter and marvel with us ...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Send us a text Ready to embark on an exciting journey through astrophysics, canine psychology, and the captivating world of social media? Well, fasten your seatbelts because we're blasting off into NASA's latest mission, the Osiris Rex, and discussing a recent eye-opening study about rescue dogs versus non-rescue dogs. We've also got the brilliant Dr. Jess Maddox on board, who enlightens us on the science of social media! Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of social media can be daunting, bu...
Oct 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 34
Send us a text Ever thought about the close connection between animals and humans? Ever asked yourself what it means to be a good pet parent? Join us as we explore these topics and more in a heartwarming episode that starts with a charming story from the Red Deer Kennel Club Dog Show. We meet Marla, the inspiring owner of the Twitter celebrity dogs, Chesnyy and Kuno, and discuss her incredible journey as an spokesperson for people with disabilities. Discover how our time at the show rekindled ou...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Send us a text Get ready to spin a web of fascination and discovery with our special guest, Jackie Billotte, a PhD scholar and spider enthusiast. Her journey from an aspiring actress to a spider researcher is as intriguing as the creatures she studies. From the unique personality traits of spiders to debunking popular myths surrounding them, Jackie peels back the veil on these eight-legged wonders, revealing a world far removed from the creepy-crawlies we often imagine. Ever wondered about the l...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 35 min
Send us a text Have you ever been mesmerized by the vibrant hues of fall? Experienced the joy of watching your furry friend sniffing out new scents or chuckling over their adorable encounters with elusive beavers? Pet Chat is back, and in this episode, we reminisce about these delightful experiences with our pets Bunsen Beaker and Ginger. We also share a poignant poem capturing the essence of an Albertan fall, a beautiful reminder to relish every moment before winter sets in. This episode also a...
Oct 01, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Send us a text Wouldn't you love to explore the mysteries of the ancient world, understand the quirky behavior of our furry friends, and learn how to make our pets’ lives better? That's exactly what we’re offering you in this riveting episode! We've got an incredible lineup in store, starting with a trilobite's preserved last meal leading us to fresh insights into these ancient creatures, and a nodosaur from Alberta revealing its diet through its stomach contents. Join us as we traverse the worl...
Sep 29, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Send us a text Ever dreamt of a cosmic adventure? Well, we've got you covered. An epic tale of NASA's Osiris Rex mission, where we faced challenges akin to landing on crushed Cheerios, and the joy of emerging victorious with a sample from an asteroid. If you're a science enthusiast, this is your ticket to understanding the trials, triumphs, and the euphoria in the scientific community with the asteroid sample's return. But that’s not all! Ever had a restless night's sleep and woke up with a dry ...
Sep 27, 2023•26 min
Send us a text Have you ever had a hilarious adventure with your pets that left you in splits and stinking, literally? Well, we did, and we're sharing it all in this episode as our dogs, Bunsen and Beaker, decided to roll in silage! Yes, you heard that right - silage. As pet owners, we understand what it's like when our furballs get messy, and we're sure many of you can resonate with our unique experience. This episode is not just about laughter and fun, it's about recalling some of the most amu...
Sep 24, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Send us a text Ever flushed a toilet and wondered where it all goes? Or how to rank your cat on a scale of 1 to 4 for pain? Nothing escapes our gaze, from its fascinating use in tracking diseases like COVID-19 to its historical ties to the cholera outbreaks of the 1850s. Tread with us through the challenges of weather and local industries that can muddy the data waters. In Pet Science we check out a cat pain scale, a method that anyone can be trained on to determine if our feline friends are in ...
Sep 22, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Send us a text Join us aboard the SciChat ship as we hoist the sails with our esteemed guest, Dr. Dawn Wright, the genuine scientific pirate! She's not just any pirate, but a seasoned marine geologist turned data scientist with a tale that will have you on the edge of your seat. From her initial days of geology in Hawaii to an oceanography degree and years spent exploring the sea, Dr. Dawn's journey unfolds like a captivating novel. Her current role at a software company sees Dawn employing wide...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 27 min
Send us a text Promising you a journey through the fascinating world of science and pet ownership, we've got an episode jam-packed with intriguing insights. You're in for a ride as we unravel how music can soothe pain in newborns and why having a dog could be your shield against dementia. We lean on research from Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center and the University of Michigan's Health and Retirement Study to make sense of these remarkable connections between music, pets, and human health...
Sep 15, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 31
Send us a text Get ready for a fascinating journey through the complex universe of social media, with our special guest, social media expert Dr. Jess Maddox. We tackle the multifaceted aspects of this digital world, discussing its virtues, ethical dilemmas, aesthetic appeal, and the inherent potential for both harm and benefit. We've got intriguing case studies up our sleeve, shedding light on how social media can be a tool for social change or a purveyor of misinformation. Venture into the biza...
Sep 14, 2023•57 min
Send us a text Ever wondered what life is like in a household teeming with pet adventures? Well, welcome to our world of pet escapades featuring Bunsen, Beaker, and our attention-seeking cat, Ginger. This week, we're sharing an update on the curious case of the elusive beavers in our creek and discussing how our beloved Bunsen has been obsessing over something called Bark O'Clock. Meanwhile, Beaker has developed a rather irrational fear of her new super chew. And did we mention that Bunsen and B...
Sep 10, 2023•31 min
Send us a text Get ready to be intrigued as we journey through the fascinating world of gut bacteria and its profound impact on health, cats and their stress-induced behaviors, artificial intelligence's influence on human evolution and more. We've got a real treat for you as our expert guest, JJ Jerome, unveils mind-blowing insights from his new book 'Evolution Ended'. Pouring over a captivating study, we unlock the potential of human microbiome in tackling insulin resistance and type two diabet...
Sep 08, 2023•59 min
Send us a text Ever wondered about the intriguing world of gravitational waves, black holes, and time travel? Get ready to stretch your mind as we chat with the spirited Dr. Isobel Ramero-Shaw, an accomplished physicist whose tenacity led her to the far reaches of gravitational wave astrophysics. From her path from literature to mathematics to astrophysics, to the rippling effect of gravitational waves, embark with us on this illuminating journey. The episode unfolds as we venture into the myste...
Sep 06, 2023•59 min
Send us a text Ever felt the incredible bond between a human and a pet dog? Well, you're not alone! In this episode, we share heartwarming pet stories about our lovable canine companions, Bunsen and Beaker. Join us as we unveil our exciting plans for the upcoming Emmaton Comic Con, with Bunsen and Beaker as our special guests. We also discuss our side-splitting attempts at capturing the antics of beavers with a trail cam. All this and more await you in this episode! Ever met a Twitter celebrity ...
Sep 03, 2023•46 min
Send us a text Ever wondered about the secret behind your dog's adorable head tilters? Or the future of overpopulation? How about the peculiar way lobsters communicate? Strap in for an exhilarating exploration into these captivating topics and so much more! We traverse the landscapes of science, pets, and video-games in an episode filled to the brim with knowledge, laughter, and a dash of eccentricity. Our guest for this episode, the esteemed science fiction author and scientist, Erin Anderson, ...
Sep 01, 2023•53 min
Send us a text Did you know that water is essential not only for our hydration but also for generating electricity? Our insightful conversation with Dr. Lauren Logan, an expert in the intriguing world of the energy-water nexus, brings this rarely discussed topic to light. We journeyed through the complex workings of thermoelectric plants, where water cools the electricity generation process, and navigated the energy-intensive world of water and wastewater treatment plants. Water scarcity is a gr...
Aug 30, 2023•50 min
Send us a text Ever found yourself intrigued by stories of human and animal interaction? Have you ever wondered about the fascinating world of pets? We invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy an episode loaded with tales about our furry friends and their incredible tales. We kick things off and pay tribute to International Dog Day with a host of dog-based trivia. We share an inspiring story of a life-saving golden retriever and also take a trip down memory lane with Snoopy, the beloved beagle. ...
Aug 27, 2023•42 min
Send us a text Unlock the mysteries of the universe and the mind as we traverse through the cosmos, from the brain's intricate functions to the enigmatic workings of binary star systems. In a fascinating turn of events, we explore how UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley researchers are using AI to revolutionize lives. They've developed a brain-computer interface that has given a paralyzed woman her voice back. This miraculous feat of technology underscores the ever-growing prevalence of AI, a featu...
Aug 25, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 28
Send us a text Once a month we will be doing a special podcast episode called Science Bites! It's a short program where Kris and I have some fun banter back and forth while we cover 5-6 of the most wholesome and fun science studies of that month. We hope you enjoy Science Bites! Show Notes: Have you ever wondered how the universe communicates its secrets? Prepare to be tantalized by cosmic riddles as we decode the mysteries of black holes and gravitational waves. This week, we're setting our sig...
Aug 23, 2023•32 min
Send us a text Wondering how service dogs help veterans manage PTSD? This week, we're exploring this question, sharing a pioneering study from Canada that is sure to impress. We also have some refreshing news about a brilliant smart rust technology, boasting the potential to wave goodbye to water pollutants such as estrogen. Be prepared for an enlightening conversation with our special guest, Dan Schneiderman, known for his role as the director of the 2024 eclipse. Dan's passion for the maker cu...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 27
Send us a text As we grapple with the scorching heat of July 2023, the hottest month in human history, we tackle the intense effects of extreme heat on the human body. From increased perspiration and blood circulation to overworked hearts, the dialogue gets heated. We examine the perilous role of dehydration and the hindrance high humidity plays on our cooling processes. We also look at a fun test to determine if dog's see the glass half empty or half full! Are dogs optimistic? Jocelyn Pearl, a ...
Aug 11, 2023•59 min•Season 5Ep. 26
Send us a text Prepare to be shocked as we expose the deceptive world of sports supplements, revealing that only 11% of the 60 tested products contained an accurate amount of the ingredients listed on the label. With prohibited compounds lurking in 7 of these supplements, we question how these inaccuracies bypass the FDA's attention. But it's not all gloom and doom; we also dive into the commendable efforts made by organizations to ensure these supplements are accurately represented. We also loo...
Aug 04, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 25
Send us a text Ready for a hearty mix of laughter, compassion, and knowledge? This episode of Pet Chat is just the ticket! We kick off with a game centered around my (Jason's) adorable dogs - Bunsen and Beaker, and then take you on a journey through the world of pets. Alongside, we extend the conversation to include our listeners' stories and answer their questions. There's also a surprising revelation as to why there was a recent dip in our content. From there, we navigate the waters of climate...
Jul 30, 2023•1 hr 27 min
Send us a text Feeling the burn from both the scorching heat outdoors and the blazing tension between your cats? We've got the antidote. This week, we're talking about the global heat wave that's got everyone talking, thanks to that meddlesome El Nino. We're also decoding feline language, so you can tell if it's a fun play-fight or a real feud brewing between your cats. And if you think that's hot, we're about to make you break a sweat with our hilarious heat wave joke. Get ready to be inspired ...
Jul 28, 2023•56 min•Season 5Ep. 24
Send us a text Brace yourselves for a thrilling ride as we journey into the past, exploring the enigmatic Homo Nelidi, a bygone relative of humans with an unusual ritual of burying their dead. As we meander through the eerie Rising Star Cave System, the final resting place of these intriguing beings, we also exchange thoughts with Dr. Erin Kane, an eminent primatologist with intriguing insights and - get ready for this - a good old science joke to share! From ancient ancestors to our contemporar...
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 23
Send us a text Join us on an incredible voyage through the cosmos, where the extraordinary Dr. Nora Bailey, host of Nora's Guide to the Galaxy, unveils the enigmatic world of exoplanets. Your curiosity will be thoroughly satiated as Dr. Nora shares her captivating journey from academia to studying these alien worlds, her love for planets from her favorite sci-fi stories, and the intriguing mystery of the Wow signal. With every moment, you'll find yourself more engrossed in the immensity of our u...
Jul 20, 2023•44 min
Send us a text Remember that nostalgic sensation when you see an old friend, and you both marvel at how it feels like you just met yesterday? We shared that exact sentiment this week as we celebrated the anniversary of our first meeting! We took a playful and whimsical turn, hosting a fun game featuring questions from last week's content. Packed with laughs, we revealed anecdotes about our feline friend Ginger's fear of storms, and our dogs Bunsen and Beaker's love for rolling in dead ducks. Oh,...
Jul 16, 2023•1 hr 14 min
