The Science Pawdcast

Send us Fan Mail If you've ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes magic that pairs rescue dogs with loving homes, Skarlet Rockwood from Fur Social joins us to reveal just that. Our furry family members, Bunsen and Beaker, often steal the show with their shenanigans, but today we're peeling back the curtain on the touching adoption stories fueled by social media know-how. Settle in for...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the captivating world of biotech innovation with the delightful MJ Huntsgood, who joins our Science Chat straight from the life sciences hub near Washington DC. MJ's journey from a bug-loving biology aficionado to a biotech manufacturing maven, intricately involved in the development of pharmaceutical marvels like Keytruda, is nothing short of inspiring. Our convers...

Send us Fan Mail Kris and I uncover the secrets of lab-grown diamonds, embracing the science that sculpts these lustrous marvels. We'll even delve into the high-stakes world of diamond selection, sharing a tale from my own quest for the perfect engagement ring. But the sparkle doesn't stop with gemstones; we're beyond thrilled to welcome Michelle Waitzman to our show. Her insights o...

Send us Fan Mail Caught in a gust of post-blizzard bliss, Bunsen's snowy romp reminds me of the simple joys our pets bring into our lives. Ginger's clever feline shenanigans, creating a cat food piñata, had me in stitches, proving once again that our four-legged companions are adept at sprinkling humor throughout our daily routines. This week's episode is brimming with tales of misc...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered about the mysterious connections we share with our four-legged friends, even beyond their passing?   Maybe some of you have superhuman sweat!  You'll have to listen on! Losing a pet can leave a void filled with sorrow and, sometimes, unexplainable occurrences that offer solace in the midst of grief. We'll navigate the delicate terrain of pet loss w...

Send us Fan Mail This week's bonus podcast is an eclectic mix of travel hijinks, pet antics, and celestial phenomena. We discuss the unique challenges of selecting a rental car equipped for the future, navigating the technology frontier, and the joy of witnessing an eclipse in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Our furry companions Bunsen and Beaker might not have joined us on the trip, but they certain...

Send us Fan Mail Back from the eclipse! Ok let's delve into how the simple act of writing and ditching our negative thoughts, inspired by a Japanese study, could be the outlet we've been searching for. I also weave in a heartening snippet of pet science, revealing the profound influence our furry companions wield over children's lives, and set the stage for a fascinating discussion...

Send us Fan Mail Prepare to be tattooed with knowledge as we trace the lines of ancient artistry on the skin of Otzi the Iceman, whose 5,200-year-old tattoos might just share a lineage with the buzzing machines in your local tattoo parlor. Ever caught yourself in that high-pitched cooing when talking to your pets or a baby? It's not just you—it turns out there's a science to our soppy sp...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever pondered the intersection where cutting-edge technology meets the human mind? Prepare to be captivated as we navigate the fascinating realm of brain-computer interfaces like Neuralink. Alongside our insightful discussion on the ethical considerations of these devices, we highlight Nolan Arbaugh's remarkable ability to play chess using nothing but his thoughts, t...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wake up to the chaos of pets orchestrating their own dawn chorus? Join us as we recount the tail-wagging tales of our morning routine with Bunsen, the early riser dog, and Ginger, the crafty cat with a penchant for food bag heists. With fur babies ruling the roost, we debate superhero names for my uncanny ability to snooze amidst the uproar—think "REM Woman". We als...

Send us Fan Mail  As Kris and I gear up to witness our very first total solar eclipse, we're bringing you all the stunning science that this rare event has to offer. Embrace the darkness with us for an extended four and a half minutes of groundbreaking research and chuckle along with eclipse-themed jokes to keep things light. Plus, we're sinking our teeth into a study on dog growls, deci...

Send us Fan Mail The Live Recording Audio is off a bit as I had to use a backup source.  We had major technical difficulties at the start to bring all the social media platforms together, but we got it sorted. This week's podcast is a full-on sensory experience, as we give you the scoop on the forthcoming Rolling Bone magazine, packed with doggone delightful features and music by Vultures of...

Send us Fan Mail Picture this: female beavers challenging the status quo of size dimorphism, proving that in science, as in life, there's always room for surprises. Then, let the story of therapy dogs in senior care homes tug at your heartstrings—a touching reminder of the profound connections between humans and pets, inspired by visits with my own grandfather. Joining us on this enlightening...

Send us Fan Mail The early bird might get the worm, but in our household, it's the early pets that bring the mayhem – and we wouldn't have it any other way. In a blend of humor and affection, we recount the quirky morning antics that pet owners know all too well, like Bunsen's insistence on pre-dawn attention and Ginger's keyboard capers that leave us both exasperated and enamo...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine trekking to witness an awe-inspiring eclipse and stumbling upon a radical idea that trees might just be the next big thing in neutrino detection. That's exactly the kind of unexpected twist you'll find in our latest podcast adventure. Our guest, neuroscientist Dr. Allison Coffin, joins us to shed light on the remarkable similarities between fish and human auditor...

Send us Fan Mail As we gaze up at the night sky, the stars tell ancient stories, and no one knows this better than Dr. Stephanie Deppe, a planetary scientist with an affinity for the Kuiper Belt. During our cosmic conversation, she transports us from nostalgic tales of her first telescope to the outer reaches of our solar system, revealing her academic odyssey and the pivotal role of educators in...

Send us Fan Mail Wake up to the whimsy of winter pet parenting with Bunsen and Beaker's snowy shenanigans! Our latest episode is a cozy quilt of tales woven from the fabric of frolicsome dog walks and the hilarity of pets outfitted in snow boots. From Bunsen's selective walking strikes to Beaker's snow pants escapades, we share the laughter and challenges that come with keeping our...

Send us Fan Mail Leap into a world where science meets companionship, and the wag of a tail leads to a conservation revolution. Join us as we marvel at the astonishing Striped Marlin, whose high-speed chases and vivid color changes captivate our imaginations. Then, we pivot to our terrestrial friends, revealing how studies show a man's four-legged companion might just influence women's p...

Send us Fan Mail Prepare to embark on a scientific odyssey with us, your hosts Jason and Kris Zakowski, along with Bunsen and Beaker, the Science Dogs, guiding you through a universe of discoveries that span from earth-shattering medical innovations to the far reaches of outer space. This episode promises to test your grey matter with a live interactive Kahoot game, where we uncover the smallest v...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to unleash the inner superstar of your four-legged friend with our latest podcast episode! We're rolling out the red carpet for pet lovers and science enthusiasts alike, as we introduce the uproarious new spoof magazine, Rolling Bone, and share how you can feature your pet in its pages. As a special treat, we reminisce about the time Bunsen and Beaker turned heads a...

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...