Recreational Science

In this bonus RecSci Quick Bites episode, Lu and Tirth discuss an incredible case of oral conception, monkeys’ choice for dental floss, how your ears get bigger as you age, whether moms can identify their baby’s soiled diapers, analyzing poop in log form, boxers versus briefs, and how to settle co-first authorship between friends. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:17 Oral conception study 5:02 Monkey study...

Does the sex of the bird affect how soon they fly away when approached by humans? What about the sex of the human? Coming across a steep hill while out jogging can be intimidating. Does being tired affect how runners perceive the size of hills? In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how European birds are sexist towards humans and how just tricking people into believing they have to climb a hill ca...

Crossing the street alone is a difficult and dangerous task for young kids. Is it even more perilous for overweight and out-of-shape children? Kids are notorious picky eaters. When does this start? In the womb? In this episode, Lu and Tirth play another game of Family Feud But Science and discuss practical athleticism in overweight children and whether fetuses are picky "eaters." Timesta...

What do men and women look for in an ideal partner for a one night stand, friends with benefits relationship, and marriage? What’s the best way to find out? An economics experiment, of course. Do hamsters experience jet lag? Do hamsters respond to Viagra? Does Viagra cure jet lag in hamsters? In the season 2 premier, Lu and Tirth catchup on all the life changing events that took place during the o...

Season 2 will premier on May 19, 2026. We're fairly sure. Probably. Who knows? You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found! Follow us on social media @RecSciPod! YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social Threads ht...

In this bonus RecSci Quick Bites episode, Lu and Tirth discuss a medical use of bacon, the relationship between penis size and sports cars, the effectiveness of rollercoasters in passing kidney stones, the long-term effects of knuckle cracking, surname sharing amongst economist coauthors, the jollity of visiting mall Santas, and the best scientific abstract ever written. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:5...

In this bonus episode of RecSci Quick Bites, Lu and Tirth discuss more funny studies they didn’t get to talk about at length during season one. These include making knives out of poop, performing colonoscopy on yourself, reasons why babies are so small, the happiness of Olympic medalists, the worst time to consume chili, zebra-striped mannequins, and giving it to Reviewer 2. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro...

In this bonus episode, Lu and Tirth do some RecSci Quick Bites or funny studies they didn’t get to discuss at length during season one. These include an unusual finding on colonoscopy, ergonomic toilet seats, Japan’s Phillips curve, the misuse of the word promiscuity, the deal with birds, fruit bat fellatio part 2, and a case of untreated writer’s block. This episode is part of the 4th edition of...

How do you make yourself lift more at the gym? Have you tried swearing? Kids need potty training, but what about animals? Does potty training cows make them healthier and happier? In the season 1 finale, Lu and Tirth do a year-end review and discuss how saying your favorite swear word makes you stronger at the gym and how to potty train cows using an electric trainer. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:45 Y...

Graphene is a fascinating material with the potential to help solve the world’s energy needs. Can you improve graphene with poop? Garlic is a superfood packed with flavor and health benefits. Yes, garlic causes bad breath, but could it actually improve your body odor? In this remunerative episode, Lu and Tirth discuss the electrocatalytic effects of doping graphene with guano and whether eating ga...

How do economics work in a strip club? What are the factors that go into how much a stripper makes in tips? Do strippers earn more tips when they’re ovulating? Men are prone to doing some dumb, poorly planned, and aggressive stuff. Is testosterone to blame? Does testosterone make men serve more hot sauce to other people? In this episode, to celebrate the supposed end of Tirth’s bachelorhood, Lu an...

Humans recognize each other’s faces. Chimps recognize each other’s butts. However, do chimps recognize human butts? Do humans recognize human butts? Do humans recognize chimp butts? All these questions must be asked. Getting surgery, even minor procedures, triggers anxiety. Do clowns help kids relax pre-surgery? Is there room for clowns in pediatric operating rooms? In this episode, Lu and Tirth d...

Dog food quality has risen over the years, and its ingredients are not too different from that of pâté, or liver mousse, a French delicacy. The question, then, must be asked: can people taste the difference between dog food and pâté? Driving under the influence of marijuana is dangerous and illegal, but what about bicycling? Is it safe to ride bikes after cannabis use? Happy 2026! In this episode,...

Kids swallow little toys and other things they’re not supposed to all the time. Is it dangerous to swallow Legos? How long does it take for a swallowed piece of Lego to pass? There’s only one way to find out. Why do some men have beards? Do beards signify virility and manliness? Do bearded men have higher power levels? In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss the rich history of self-experimentation...

Would you give up your seat to a pregnant woman on the train? Would you be more likely to give up your seat to a pregnant woman if Batman was also on the train? What do octopuses do during their free time? Are they smart, curious, and bored enough to play catch by themselves? In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how the presence of Batman makes people more kind to one another (aka the Batman effe...

Are ethicists ethical? One would think that people who spend their careers studying ethics must be more ethical than others. But are people with looser morals more likely to become ethicists, so that they can understand what they lack? Why do some ancient human bones have larger enthesis (sites on the bone where tendons and ligaments attach)? Did the individuals these bones belong to run or exerci...

Mansplaining is when a someone explains in a condescending, oversimplified, and often inaccurate manner, without regard to the fact that the explainee knows more than the explainer, usually done by a man to a woman. Why do men do it? Does mansplaining actually even exist? Brain processing and recognition of visual imagery, such as people and objects, is thought to involve complex neuronal pathways...

Why do we sometimes seek out and enjoy fear? Could it be that fear promotes sexual attraction? Is it a good idea to take your date to a horror movie or on a rollercoaster? Carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns is dangerous and often leads to hand injuries. What’s the safest pumpkin carving tool to use this Halloween? How do you even determine this? It’s Halloween! In this episode, Lu and Tirth di...

The paradox of cocaine reinforcement is one of the biggest paradoxes in science. Why is cocaine so addictive to humans? Do bees enjoy cocaine as much as us? Why do some people prefer Apple iPhones while others prefer Android phones? Are there fundamental psychological differences between iPhone and Android users? Can you predict who uses which phone? In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on different...

Do farts contain dangerous bacteria? Should you avoid being flatulent near food? Can pre-workout supplements help you lift more weights at the gym? Should you drink beet juice and coffee before your workouts? In this episode, Lu and Tirth honor some of their favorite winners of the Darwin Award (an award even more prestigious than the Nobel Prize), debate whether breaking wind during surgery also...

Making a hardboiled egg is easy. Unboiling a hardboiled egg is hard, if not impossible, right? What do musical instruments taste like? Are violins sour? Are pianos sweet? In this episode, Lu and Tirth use philosophical razors to debate whether Tirth’s fiancé is real, discuss how to turn back time to uncook eggs, and uncover what sounds taste like and what tastes sound like. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro...

Placebos are not supposed to do anything, yet they kind of work. Well, then why not sell them at a high price like real medicine? Turns out, maybe that’s not such a bad question. Dogs have fantastic noses and can identify their owners by smell. Can humans return the favor? Can dog owners identify their dogs by smell? In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how more expensive placebos are more effect...

Does size matter to women? What about height? These age-old questions have been asked by every man who has ever lived. What does science have to say? Why do some animals become roadkill? Are they just dumb? It’s episode 10! In this milestone episode, Lu and Tirth pay homage to some of the greatest scientists of all time, fiercely debate whether size matters to women when it comes to the attractive...

Scientists often gather at scientific conferences to share data and ideas. At these events, sometimes a prominent scientist is invited to give the Keynote Talk, the headliner of the conference. It’s a big honor. Has a graduate student ever received this honor? Well, Lu has, via an email that for some reason when to his SPAM folder. He, of course, accepted without hesitation. In this special episod...

Do kids know where the food they eat comes from? More specifically, do they know whether food comes from plants or animals? In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on some of the wackiest scientific journal titles, and the two discuss how American children cannot tell whether foods are animals or plants. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:22 Watermelon 6:04 Wacky scientific journal title quiz 16:46 Kids food stud...