Science Night

This week, we're joined by our friend and yours, Dr. Bill Sullivan, so of course we had to talk about some of the science behind The Last of Us! We're talking about the very real cordyceps fungus, and how one species can create a zombie apocalypse while another changes the economy of the Tibetan plateau. We're also looking at Keanumycin, the bacterial substance that could save us all, without the...

This week friend of the show, engineer, and fantasy physicist Matt Sauers joins us! In the first half, Matt answers the age-old question "why engineering" and talks about how he brings science to a fantasy world. In the second half, we talk about the recent train derailment and chemical spill near East Palestine, OH. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest Eagle eared listeners w...

This week, Dr. Alexis Katsis from the Luxesci podcast is joining us to talk about her work as an immunologist during the COVID-19 pandemic and her shift looking at the more luxurious side of science. In the news, we're talking about some cyborg cells that could change the way we treat certain diseases (or usher in the end of humanity...) and James tries to talk about theoretical mathematics with s...

We're back with another look back at the year in fusion energy. Join us as our friendly fusioneer Steffi Diem and special guest Arturo Dominguez talk about the highlights and high temps from an exciting year. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Our Guest Dr. Arturo Dominguez is the head of Science Education at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. He is an excellent physicist and amazing scienc...

This week Kirk Mona from the Strange by Nature podcast joins us to talk about podcasting, science communication, and what it takes to be a modern naturalist. In the news, we're talking about twisted metal, a core issue, and whether or not either of these stories will cause the downfall of civilization. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest Kirk is a professional naturalist and...

This week, we're closing out 2022 with a scicomm roundup. First, we're talking about the new hot supergroup that's taking the Tree of Life by storm, next, we crown new science royalty, and finally, we ignite a conversation about the future of energy. Also, be sure to check out our social media accounts so you don't miss our top 5 countdown of our most downloaded episodes in 2022. Your Hosts ] Jame...

This week we’re looking at three bits of science news with special guest Kate Miller. First we ask, “do we really need an ai diarrhea detector”? Then we watch a light show 8.2 billion years in the making. In the second half, we gather round the fire to talk about a new discovery from the Rising Star in South Africa. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest Kate is a PhD student at...

This week, Rufus Cochran from Indiana Sciences stops in to talk about AI, deep learning, and how it probably won't lead to the end of civilization as we know it. In the news, we're talking about the loss of the leap second and Meta's AI malarky. Be sure to follow Indiana Sciences on social media so you'll never miss out on their content. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest Ru...

This week Dr. Yasmeen Mezil makes her triumphant return to the show! She joins James, Jason, and Steffi to talk about three scicomm stories. Join us as we cover a new Pew Research poll, a bash at the Biosphere, and a new sciart exhibition. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest Yasmeen is a scientist, educator, and illustrator. She teaches anatomy and physiology to students at M...

This week, we're bringing you our annual Halloween Spectacular! Our intrepid hosts begin by talking about the cryptids! Specifically what they are, how they work, and their purpose in society. We then go in-depth with our favorite friend from the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the Jersey Devil. In the second half, we bring you a chilling tale from Pulp! From Beyond the Veil's own Cody Sullivan. Your Hos...

This week we're talking to two instructors from the New Hampshire Academy of Science about informal STEM education and inspiring the future of science. In the news, we're talking about dynamic droplets and chaotic cetaceans. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guests Kelly Salmon has a background in biochemistry and cell biology. She also has a long history of developing and coordi...

This week we're looking back to the early days of the podcast. This remastered classic focuses on the life and work of the queen of paleoanthropology Mary Leakey. If you love this style of scicomm and want to hear more, let us know! Credits Editing-James Reed Mastering- James Reed Music: Intro and Outro- Wolf Moon by Unicorn Heads | https://unicornheads.com/ | Standard YouTube License AngloZulu by...

This week we're talking to the team behind the creation of a new card game about cranial nerves and the boney openings that love them, Foramina! Mikaela Stiver and Zach London stop by to tell us what inspired the game and how they went about creating it. In the news, we're talking about doppelganger DNA & a spiderweb of misinformation. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guests...

This week we're finishing up our GenCon journey with a little help from our friends at Sun King Brewing. Join us as we learn about the blend of art and science that go into brewing beer. Visit our friends at Sun King Brewing at https://www.sunkingbrewing.com/ to learn more about their beer, and where to find them. Credits Editing-James Reed Mastering- James Reed Music: Intro and Outro- Wolf Moon b...

It's been a year since the Science Night podcast transformed into the show you've come to know and love. To celebrate we're looking back at our favorite moments from the relaunch era. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guests Over the past year we've been lucky enough to have talked to some amazing scientists and science communicators. We were so lucky that the list is too long to...

This week we have another special episode from our recent trip to Gen Con in Indianapolis, IN. This time, its some of the audio from both nights of the Science of SciFi panel presented by Indiana Sciences. First up, the Science Night crew talks about the science of the Mass Effect and Fallout series. In Night two, Dr. Bill Sullivan, Matt Sauers, and Rufus Cochran talk about parasites, physics-base...

This week we're talking to Carolyn Dugas, a forager and content creator who is teaching people to reconnect with the food in their backyards safely and sustainably. In the news, we're talking about underground infernos, space sausage, and poison control. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest Carolyn has been foraging and preparing wild foods on an almost daily basis since 2017...

In the first of three Gen Con specials, we're sharing our thoughts on the Greatest Four Days in Gaming and sharing some of the sounds and conversations from the con floor. Be sure to check out our website for links to all the game makers featured in the episode. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Credits Editing-James Reed Mastering- James Reed Music: Intro and Outro- Wolf Moon by Uni...

This week Dr. Yasmeen Mezil fills us in on her work as an anatomist and illustrator. She talks about her path in finding a way to combine the many facets of her life, and how to bring creativity into science. In the news, we're talking about some animal antics that have been in the headlines, and charting the foggy shores of "Covid brain". Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest...

This week we're talking about disinformation, misinformation, and effective communication with David Goldstein, chief strategist at We Defend Truth. In the news, we're revisiting our favorite protein-analyzing AI, learning about quarks in their many forms, and talking about the dos and don'ts of finding things in the brave wilderness. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest David...

Tonight, we welcome back Dr. Jen Ma to talk about her recent event where she brought together people with different viewpoints and have them actually listen to each other. It’s a great conversation about communication, empathy, and re-building our listening skills. We even got Jen to join us in the news segment to talk about synthetic skin and a return to the land of time crystals. Your Hosts ] Ja...

This week we're talking to the host of the Nature is Gay podcast Camryn Martin. We talk about mating behaviors in nature, and how species after species don't fit in the "binary". In the news, we're covering terrific turbines, wonderful worms, and ancient asteroids. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest Camryn is the host of the Nature is Gay podcast, which talks about sexuality...

This week we're extremely excited to bring you our conversation with the incredible Prof. Lee Berger. He shares stories from his work, and we talk about his efforts to include new people in his discipline and make his science more accessible to everyone. In the news, we talk about a sharcano, and dynamic dinos. Your Hosts ] James Reed Steffi Diem Jason Organ Our Guest Lee Berger is an award-winnin...

This week, we have the triumphant return of those marvelous mollusks, the cone snails! We're talking to Bea Ramiro from the Safavi Lab at the University of Copenhagen, who is looking at a potential medical use for cone snail venom. In the news, we hop aboard the de-hype train, talk about fusion fuel, sing a black hole song, and explore a secret garden. Plus a new line of cone snail merch at our we...

This week we’re talking to chemist and tik tok star Dr. Andre Isaacs. We talked about mentorship, creating the proper learning environment, the importance of creating a more diverse and inclusive STEM landscape, and much much more. Plus we have a news segment covering oceans of open data, malleable metal, and creepy crawlers. Check out links to these stories and everything Dr. Isaacs talks about a...