Science with The Blunt Letters

Welcome to spooky season with The Blunt Letters! This week we sink our teeth into the science of vampires! Were there real bloodsuckers in history? Or were they misunderstood patients suffering from a rare disease? Plus, get our little-known vampire recommendations to watch this spooky season! Featuring Original Song “ Vampyre” by Micaela Superstar Join our  Patreon ! Get the "What Are You Drinkin...

This week we dive into the sea to find out what lies deep beneath the ocean. The Titanic is still down there and a crew is again making a deep-sea pilgrimage to check out the wreck. Here at the BL, we’re still wondering why. Then, one of Micaela’s not-so irrational fears may soon be resolved as scientists discover a way to predict devastating rogue waves. And, do you know what the world’s biggest...

Welcome to The Blunt Letter’s Space Update Episode! Can you believe those astronauts are still stuck on the International Space Station? A quick 8-day mission has turned into a 2-month (and counting) endeavor. We’ll give you the details on how they’re living and who’s gonna save them. Then, citizen scientists have discovered an object that is moving so fast, that it may escape the Milky Way. And f...

In this wild episode of The Blunt Letters, Micaela Elle and Jerbil take you on a journey through time as they explore how humans learned to use plants as medicine and intoxicants by watching our furry (and sometimes feathered) friends. From prehistoric cave dwellers spying on trippy goats to modern-day party animals, they uncover the surprisingly clever ways animals helped us discover everything f...

From the blackest black to the whitest white, in this episode, we talk about the science of paint and pigment! Did you know we used real human mummies for brown paint for over 200 years? What about Paris Green, the bright and beautiful color that got its name after being used to kill rats in the sewers of France? We cover the toxic paints of the rainbow that have colored our lives for thousands of...

Welcome to The Blunt Letters podcast! In this episode, we dive into the mysterious and captivating world of "Outer Range," we ask the important questions like “What won’t they throw in that hole?” and “Was that a doppelganger?” We also delve into the fascinating concept of Dyson Spheres, those theoretical megastructures that could harness the power of entire stars. Additionally, we discu...

Welcome to the first true crime episode of The Blunt Letters. We looked into a mysterious phone call that turned out to be more than paranormal. Listen as we discuss the case of Henry McCabe and his message from the beyond. Then, we get into the science of electricity and how how post-life entities interact with the energy field to send messages to the living.  Featuring Original Song “Gone Missin...

Welcome to a new episode of The Blunt Letters Poop Chronicles with Jerbil, where we talk about the role of poop in our lives, society, and culture. This time we’re talking about “Holy Shit” the religious uses of poop spanning human history into the present day. We cover references in the bible, the koran, and beyond. Plus, we get into the modern cults that use feces as part of their religious prac...

Welcome to the Lost In Space episode! This week we talk about space machines that have gotten misplaced in space. First, we talk about  Voyager 1, the 46-year-old NASA space probe that reached interstellar space before it stopped communicating with the Earth, and the 25-year-old spy satellite that disappeared. Then, we chat about the folks who got stuck on the International Space Station for over...

In this episode, Micaela, Elle, and Jerbil talk about the weird side effects of organ transplants. When the bodies we’re born receive new organs, why do some people take on characteristics of the donors? Why is this especially true with heart transplants? Does the heart really hold on to the things and people we love even in a new body? We explore cases where organ recipients suddenly love foods t...

Welcome to the Blunt Letters 2024 420 Episode! We might be a little late, but that’s keeping with the episode’s theme so we hope you’ll forgive us. This year, we will get into the science of weed; specifically, the components that help your body feel better and fight diseases. Buckle up as we explore the brain and the synapses that have enabled your body to enjoy the benefits of this plant for tho...

At long last we present The Blunt Letters Live Show! Last fall we met with Amber Dee apprentice embalmer and artist in Oakland, California to ask her about the science of embalming. Ever wonder what happens to bodies when they’re embalmed? Have you wanted to learn more about afterlife care? Now’s your chance! Original song “Science Shuffle” by Micaela Superstar Check us out: thebluntletters.com ,...

Join us for the chillest episode yet! This week we talk about the permafrost in the Arctic, not your freezer! We start by reviewing True Detective: Night Country, the newest installment of the series that's set in a remote Alaskan town thrust into days of night and paranormal mystery. Then, we get into the real science of the permafrost and examine a few of the discoveries recently extracted f...

Uh-oh we’re still sliding into the apocalypse. In this episode we talk about the pre-apocolyptic times we’re currently in and what we’re doing to accelerate the deterioration of our environment, the resurgence of almost eradicated disease, and other human absurdities. Don’t worry, while there may be some doom, it’s not all gloom. Join us as we laugh our way into oblivion! Featuring Original Song “...

This episode we bring you an episode from the stars! First, we tell you about meeting star cartoonist Trina Robbins, a living legend and the first woman to draw Wonder Woman. Then, we talk to you about The Year of The Dragon and bring you predictions to ponder this year. How will you be affected? Finally, we talk about jellyfish UAPs spotted floating around the Earth, and new discoveries about pla...

Get ready to dive into the deepest depths to discover the mysterious (multiple) golden orbs of the oceans and find out what scientists are doing to talk to whales! Learn about the joint project of SETI scientists and marine biologists who want to communicate with the hyper intelligent whales off the coast of Alaska. Can these scientists uncover the secret of non-human to human communication? Plus,...

This episode is so delightfully Blunt Letters! We have our Whorescopes update in case you were concerned about the likelihood of meeting an ET in person, find out in this episode! Then we bring back Let Me Tell You About This Movie with Godzilla Minus One, Elle's first introduction to the Kaiju mythology, and Micaela's long-term obsession. And finally, what really happened in Miami on the...

In Brazil in 1966, two seemingly ordinary electrical engineers were found “post-life” wearing lead masks over their eyes leaving the world to puzzle over the strange circumstances of their passing. In this episode, we discuss the infamous Lead Mask Mystery and how the study of electricity may have led to the science of time travel. Of course, no discussion of electricity could exist without the wo...

We're coming in hot to welcome 2024 and the 4th season of The Blunt Letters podcast! Buckle up because this episode has both Philip K Dick moments and a Conspiracy Corner! Join us as we talk about the wild frontier of artificial intelligence. Is it the key to an accelerated tech utopia or the next step toward our demise? You be the judge! We discuss conversation bots, notable Sci-Fi, and discu...

Naturally occurring plant poisons and animal toxins are defense mechanisms organisms develop as a way to protect themselves, but there is more to these substances than you might notice at first glance. While you probably don’t want to find yourself on the wrong end of a stinging nettle or scorpion,  poisonous plants and animal toxins have historically contained the key components for life-saving m...

From how we know what we’re smelling to what we’re expelling, in this episode we’re talking about the science of eating! We’re joined by Scientist Sarah to discuss Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, the incredible book by Mary Roach. Of course, we take extra time to explain the science of farting and poop, how the super colon may have impacted celebrities through history, and what can you d...

This episode is all about Animals! In this creature feature we talk about the ways animals have adapted to life with humans at the top of the food chain and how our environmental impact has affected the critters that share our planet from their learned behavior to genetic changes. Then Micaela gives us a crow update on the Corvid crews that populate her neighborhood and how her interactions with t...

This week The Blunt Letters crew talks about one of their favorite places in the US, the history of this natural wonder has been studied for centuries and explored by countless people from all over the world  - The Grand Canyon!  Now The BL turns its attention to the mysterious forbidden zone and the conspiracy behind what was found in the caves within, the famous UFO history of the Grand Canyon a...

Sink your teeth into this episode of The Blunt Letters Podcast, where your hosts - Micaela, Elle, and Jerbil - are joined by the extraordinary Keely, aka "teeth girl." Together, we explore of the intriguing persistence of teeth in the fossil record. Keely delves into the insights these dental relics offer about the migration patterns of ancient people, shedding light on the dietary habit...

Welcome to another Poop Chronicles episode! We’re once again joined by Jon Bonessi who transforms from Jerbil the Googler to our special guest for this episode all about poop and the impact it has on our communities, daily lives, and science!  Did you know a few years ago Bill Gates brought a jar of poop to a public event? Find out what he was doing with it and how it could change the landscape we...