The Information Entropy Podcast

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week are diving into the world of cognitive biases! Where do they come from and how does it impact our day to day lives? Mitch looks at the current TikTok banning as a springboard to assess the reactance bias, why are we reluctant to do things that we are told to do? He then dives into cognitive dissonance where we question performing acti...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast for our first show of the year where we will be looking at habits and resolutions! The boys explore the difference between habits and routines and the habit loop so you can understand how to best form new behaviours! Tom explores the brain and neuroscience behind habit formation while Mitch enlightens us on the difference between motivation and disci...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast for our final show of the year. Join the boys as they take a festive approach to science exploring the past year and rambling all the way. Mitch explores where Christmas as a holiday originated along with its various traditions such as gift giving and lights in our trees. Tom looks at the neuroscience behind finding and receiving the perfect gift as...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where Tom is a lone rambling madman taking you through one of his favourite science topics: Vocal Learning. Where does language come from? Why do different places have different dialects or accents? How can we learn where language has come from through the comparative assessment of behaviour with other animals? Well you're in the right place to get a...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where we’re exploring the incredible: Australia! We’ve been away for a little while so we’re a bit rusty and tangents are abound in this episode (so be warned). But why does Australia host such a diverse range of species? Why do some of those species hop as their main form of locomotion and have their underdeveloped young crawl up into their puch aft...

This week on the Information Entropy Podcast, Mitchell takes the mic solo to explore the vast world of the Internet. He dives into its fascinating origins with ARPANET, traces its evolution through the rise of the World Wide Web, and examines the modern landscape shaped by social media and the Internet of Things (IoT). It’s a journey through the technology that connects us all. Tune in, subscribe,...

In this episode, we're diving into the science of food preservation. Ever wondered how we’ve gone from food spoiling in days to some items lasting years? We’ll explore the evolution of preservation techniques, from ancient methods like salting and fermentation to the modern-day chemistry of preservatives and refrigeration. Join us as we break down how these techniques work, the science behind keep...

On this Halloween episode, we're diving into the science of fear. From the alarms set off in our brains to the psychological forces that drive our survival instincts, we’re unpacking what fear really is and why it shapes us so deeply. We’ll trace fear's roots back to our earliest ancestors, explore how it lingers in our memories, and examine why some fears are impossible to shake. Dim the lights a...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast, where today Tom and Mitch are exploring how diseases evolve and their impact on humanity! So, what even is a disease anyway and how do they act on the human (or other) system? What types of diseases are there and how are they classified? How have past diseases impacted human evolution and what remnants are we still carrying around today because of t...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast, where today Tom and Mitch finish their exploration of space and the secrets that it holds within. What is dark energy and is this something that we can observe or measure? Mitch has the answers! Tom instead takes us down the path of the dark worlds in our solar system, exploring the largest bodies in our solar system that are not quite planets. Fina...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast, where today Tom and Mitch are exploring the secrets of space! What do we not know about up there in the great expanse? What do we think we know about but may hide secrets we are yet to uncover? Tom explores exoplanets and how we investigate their atmospheric composition from Earth. Mitch enlightens us on the topics of dark matter and dark energy wha...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where we’re diving into chaos… literally, what is that? Tom covers a quick definition of chaos and what that means for the scientific world while exploring population dynamics and how they model these intricate systems while accounting for unpredictable variability. Mitch describes the differences between chaos and randomness and how chaos is utilise...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast we’re diving into the fascinating (and sometimes controversial) world of animals in science… what’s really going on? From life-saving medical research to quirky behavioral studies, we’re exploring the why, how, and what of using animals in experiments. Over 115 million animals are used in scientific research around the globe each year and play a cruc...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where today we embark on a deep dive into the theory of evolution. Starting with the basics of what evolution is, we explore how life on Earth has developed and diversified over millions of years. We break down the key mechanisms—natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow—and discuss how these forces shape entire populations. Plus, we...

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where today we are exploring the extraordinary evolution of flight in the animal kingdom! The boys tangent their way to the topic today exploring the four evolutionary origins of flight: Insects, Pterosaurs, birds, and bats. What adaptations do/did they possess that make flight possible and why have some bird species lost flight? Find out all this an...

Welcome back to the second instalment of the debate on Nature vs. Nurture! The boys wrap up this topic with interesting discussions on exactly what it is that makes us, us! Mitch dives into mental health disorders and how much of it is a predisposition and how much is your environment. Tom looks at our all-round personality from the side of nature vs nurture, how much of your decisions and interna...

Are you shaped by your genes, or moulded by your environment? This week we're diving deep into the age-old debate of Nature vs. Nurture! From twin studies to epigenetics, we’re exploring whether you’re a product of your DNA—or just the world around you. Tune in to find out if your quirks are wired in, or you gained them along the way! Music: HOME - AWAY

This week Tom and Mitch investigate genetics and Inheritance! Ever wondered why you have the hair colour or type that you do? Why are there so many breeds of dogs yet they are still considered a single species? Well this is where to find out! Tom explains what genes are and how they are inherited, including dominant and recessive alleles. Mitch explains in detail Mendel’s laws of inheritance and i...

This week Tom and Mitch investigate Light! Because what is it really? Well Tom reveals the secrets on what light might be and whether photons are actual particles or not and how light interacts with matter. Mitch then dives deep into the electromagnetic spectrum and the doppler effect and whether light is a wave, a particle, both, or something entirely different? Music: HOME - AWAY

This week Tom and Mitch revisit geoengineering! The boys set out defining the topic again and how that has changed since we last visited the topic… which is a lot! Mitch takes us through the main methods and technologies involved in geoengineering: solar radiation management, aimed at reflecting sunlight away and carbon dioxide removal, aimed at treating the cause of climate change. Tom then dives...

This week Tom and Mitch are back to speak about senses! Mitch goes through the various human senses and explains how various disorders can effect the way they work and we experience the world. Tom takes a quick look at synaesthesia exploring what happens when neurological sense processes are interconnected. Mitch then rounds out the show with the much-awaited visual snow update! Music: HOME – Abov...

This week Tom and Mitch revisit the world of senses! A lot has changed in the last two years, so come and find out about the how we perceive the world. I this first instalment, Mitch and Tom set the background of what senses are, how are bodies utilise them, and how they interact. Tom explores the five main senses and some interesting interactions you may not know about. Mitch explores the less kn...

This week Tom and Mitch hit the ground running with sports science! Mitch dives right into what happens to our bodies when we exercise. From the muscle activity and build-up of lactic acid to kinetics and how we move. Tom takes a scientific approach looking at the underpinnings of biomechanics and sport psychology. How can we study the movements we make and train our mind to improve performance? T...

This week Tom and Mitch dive deep into the fascinating world of biohacking and bioengineering! Tom kicks things off with a discussion on the ISS and Neanderthals, then explores the intriguing realm of biohacking, including how to optimize vitamin uptake. Meanwhile, Mitch introduces us to the groundbreaking innovation of xenobots and the exciting field of bioengineering, delving into the potential...

Join us as we dive into the mind-blowing concept of the multiverse! Tom breaks down the basics of what the universe even is and explores the different levels of the multiverse, from bubble universes to parallel worlds. Mitch delves into the origins of multiverse theory, the intriguing bubble universe hypothesis, and the thought-provoking anthropic principles. Plus, expect plenty of laughs and casu...