The Science Pawdcast

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered about the emotional depths of your furry companions or the latest in scientific breakthroughs? Join us on a heartwarming and intellectually stimulating journey where we bridge the gap between the compassionate world of veterinary care and the cutting-edge advancements of science. This week, we're sharing the stage with Dr. Melanie Butera, who brings the...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another heartwarming adventure with the Zackowski clan, where pets are not just animals, but family, teachers, and comedians rolled into one!  This episode is brimming with tales from the Calgary Teachers Convention, where our science dogs Bunsen and Beaker stole the show, to the hilarity of a service dog Easter egg hunt that showcased just how much fun our canine compa...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine the world through the eyes of a toddler, where every sight and sound is a piece of an intricate language puzzle.  Our journey begins with a look into how AI might mimic these tiny linguists, based on a study that is both intriguing and a bit unsettling. While pondering the potential of AI, we'll weave in stories of my niece's son Raffy's adorable encounters...

Send us Fan Mail As the sun rises on a new day, our hearts and homes are filled with the pitter-patter of paws, the essence of today's Pet Chat episode. Picture this: Ginger the cat, gallivanting alongside us on family walks, Bunsen and Beaker, our science dogs, reveling in the unique complexities of dog ownership, and Pedro Pascal, the newest canine sensation who's already carving out a...

Send us Fan Mail This episode takes you through a whirlwind of fascinating science and heartwarming tales, starting with the remarkable tardigrades and their ability to slip into suspended animation to survive harsh conditions. Discover the molecular triggers that arm these micro-animals for survival, and how understanding their cryptobiosis could revolutionize future science. Switching to our fur...

Send us Fan Mail Kayla Fratt joins us from the rugged wilderness of ecological conservation, bringing stories that transform our understanding of how dogs' incredible noses are not just for sniffing out treats, but are vital tools in wildlife research. As a PhD student and conservation detection dog specialist at Oregon State University, Kayla shares her journey from an animal-crazed kid to a...

Send us Fan Mail When our beloved Beaker decided to give Ginger a surprise lick instead of their usual rambunctious romp, it was a moment that had to be shared.  That's just a slice of the heartwarming, tail-wagging tales we unpacked on Pet Chat, where we bridge the gap between pet lovers worldwide.  From the antics of trailblazing beavers caught on cam to the on-screen cuteness of Kuno and C...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on an enlightening journey as we unravel the mysteries of cannabis use among teens and the language of canine tail wags! We'll tackle the tough questions about THC potency, addiction, and mental health in young people, armed with fresh research that's bound to challenge your preconceptions. This season, we're delighted to welcome Dr. Kelly Diehl to our show,...

Send us Fan Mail Escaping a deluge at home, we're back on air with tails wagging and a tale of near disaster to share! The floodgates opened, but Pet Chat HQ and our gear were spared—cue collective sigh of relief. Our furry trio, Bunsen, Beaker, and Ginger, each coped in their own way, with Ginger providing comic relief amid the chaos of unboxing our Starlink system. We're broadcasting l...

Send us Fan Mail When our turtle Carl decided that sharing his tank was more drama than a reality TV show, we knew we had to get personal with our pet tales on this week's Pet Chat. This episode traverses the quirky world of our pets, from Bunsen the dog's elbow bump saga to the turtles' territorial disputes. Prepare to be charmed by anecdotes like Ginger the cat's unexpected v...

Send us Fan Mail Hello, beloved pet enthusiasts!  If you're ready to crack a smile or shed a happy tear, you've come to the right place. This episode is a treasure trove of tails and tales, featuring our science dogs, Bunsen and Beaker. Picture Beaker as the cutest Beakachu you've ever seen and Bunsen donning his best Ash Betcham impression. Our laughter is contagious as we reminisc...

Send us Fan Mail Ever found yourself marveling at how even the tiniest creatures might wander off into their own little worlds? We sure have, and we bring that sense of wonder to our season finale! Our special guest, the inspiring Skyler Stevens from UNM Gallup campus, joins us to chart the intersection of daydreaming studies in mice and her vibrant journey in the realm of science, from biology to...

Send us Fan Mail Remember those pet misadventures that had you running around the house?  We're no strangers to them either! Join us, Jason and Kris, as we share amusing anecdotes of Bunsen's snow frolics, Ginger's vet visits, and even Trixie's first Christmas escapades. We'll also be addressing some tricky issues like cat urination and defecation problems and discuss non-...

Send us Fan Mail Prepare to venture into a world of fascinating science facts and pet anecdotes. Submerge yourself in a gripping discussion about the purpose of reptile horns and how gut bacteria in wild wolves could potentially benefit our pet dogs. We're also thrilled to introduce our guest, Sarah Lafamboise, a Canadian PhD student with intriguing insights about the role yeast plays in canc...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could accelerate wound healing and protect against sun damage with a synthetic melanin gel? Or what if you discovered that being a left-handed individual doesn't necessarily mean you have an advantage in certain activities? Just when you think you've seen it all, our science podcast never fails to intrigue and amaze. J We start off with a riveting discussion...

Send us Fan Mail Discover an exciting blend of science and pets in this week's enlightening episode, where we explore captivating topics from NASA's innovative dark matter observations to surprising facts about canine health. We profile the fantastic world of bats with our highly esteemed guest, Dr. Dan Riskin, who shares his unforgettable encounter with Jay Leno and contributes to our d...

Send us Fan Mail You know those amusing pet stories you can't help but share with everyone? The ones that make you laugh, cringe, and sometimes even shed a tear? That's exactly what you'll find in our latest episode of Pet Chat. We bring you a hearty dose of our pet adventures involving Bunsen, Beaker, and Ginger. From Ginger's unusual litter box antics to our Advent calendar t...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to challenge what you think you know about cats? Or perhaps you're intrigued by the alarming effects of a sedentary lifestyle on the heart? Set aside the remote, stand up, and join us for a deep dive into these and more fascinating topics in this episode of the Science Podcast. We're busting popular myths about our feline friends and revealing how they're more...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to be transported into a world where pets rule and their stories reign supreme. Our episode opens with a hilarious recounting of Bunsen Beaker’s mischievous antics – from wardrobe destruction to his detective-like retrieval of a lost beach ball. Ever wondered how we come up with the amusing narratives for our popular segment, "Texts from Bunsen"? We'll tak...

Send us Fan Mail Prepare to set sail on an informative adventure as we dive deep into the mysteries of the ocean, explore the mind-boggles of inattentional blindness, and unravel the secrets of a groundbreaking weight loss drug. Ever wondered about the marvels of weight loss drugs? Eager to uncover their potential benefits and drawbacks? We embark on a voyage of discovery with OZEMPIC, exploring i...

Send us Fan Mail Curious about the mysterious world of feline behavior? That's exactly what we're scratching at in our intriguing chat with cat behavior expert, Dr. Mikel Delgado. She opens up about his unconventional journey from punk rock to academia, and how her passion for cats led her  to establish Feline Minds, while also dabbling in music that pays homage to neighborhood felines....

Send us Fan Mail Ever had your dog eat your homework? Well, you're in for a treat as we recount the laugh-out-loud antics of our furry family members, Bunsen and Beaker. From adopting Bunsen, our loveable furball who seems to have an insatiable appetite for homework and loaves of bread, to the hilarious shenanigans of our cat Ginger who seems to be running her own science experiments, this ep...

Send us Fan Mail Can you tell the difference between a real human face and one generated by AI? We kick off our enlightening conversation by delving into the curious world of artificial intelligence image generators and our ability to discern real from the AI. A fascinating study we discuss reveals that AI faces are often considered more realistic than actual human faces, and we explore the implic...

Send us Fan Mail Ever found your pet stuck in a hilarious predicament? Join us, as we share laughter-filled tales about our furry family members, Bunsen and Beaker, who've got into all sorts of antics, from gates to toy-pulverizing. Tag along to a memorable farm visit where a close encounter with ostriches had us scaling fences, and a comical rating system for canola seeds kept us entertained...

Send us Fan Mail Ever pondered how kingfishers dive into water at lightning speed, yet emerge unscathed? Prepare to have your curiosity satiated as evolutionary biologists Shannon Hackett and Chad Ellison draw back the curtain on this avian marvel, revealing a genomic analysis that identifies over 90 altered genes. Brace yourself as we unearth the secret behind the tau protein, and its potential i...