Science... Sort Of

00:00:00 - This week Ben, Jacob, and Ryan start the week off by getting the science behind temporal cloaking with Alessandro Farsi. If you can make sense of it you win a laser to the ye, but you'll also be able to avoid it, so there's that. 00:23:00 - Drinks are only hidden by cloaking them in your mouth. Boring Ben has plain old water. Jacob has tossed some top shelf Canadian whiskey into a Pepsi. And Ryan brings up the rear with a Snow Cap from Shelly. 00:27:00 - Trailer Trash Talk gets historical this week as the guys discuss the World War II racially charged Red Tails. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day everyone! Now get out there and fly a plane for America! 00:41:00 - A group of scientists from China claim that individuals with Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) have differences in their BRAINS! We're not sure IAD is actually a thing, but we still bet you can't stop listening to this segment. 00:54:00 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like temporal cloaking, easy to miss. Jacob has an possibly Swedish iTunes revie

00:00:00 - Kelly tell us about the fascinating world of kleptoparasites, specifically silverfish that hide inside ant colonies with chemical mimicry. Patrick and Ryan interrupt. 00:14:55 - Drinks also use chemicals, and they hide inside your glass until attacking your mouth. Patrick picked Kona's Coffee Porter, he's been there before, and he'll go back again. Kelly also chooses an old favorite in Great Lake's Edmund Fitzgerald. And finally, Ryan has brought something back from the slopes of Park City with his glass of Bourye whiskey. 00:20:10 - The Paleopals bring aboard blogger and Tolkien scholar Juliana to help discuss this week's trailer: The Hobbit. It may be a long ways off, but the doesn't prevent excitement now. 00:36:08 - Botany on the high seas sounds hard enough, but try doing it as a woman dressed as a man aboard a ship full of men. And you have to share a room with the captain. What sounds like a potential comedy is actually the true history of Jeanne Baret, only recently recognized for the wo

00:00:00 - Kepler (the satellite, not the dude, who would be a zombie at this point) done found us a planet within the habitable zone of a star a mere 600 light years away. THANKS KEPLER! 00:13:08 - Drinks are like planets, wait long enough and one of them goes away. Ryan has some holiday cheer with Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper 2010. Patrick is double-fisting an unimpressive Guinness black lager and a more palatable Lagunitas, even if they messed up their holiday schedule. And finally Charlie savors a cab sav from Napa Valley, perfect for a winter's night. 00:17:53 - Are you ready for some adventure Belgian-style? If so then you might enjoy The Adventures of Tintin, even if it crosses the uncanny valley. 00:33:24 - Humans and snakes. A feud as old as time itself. But have snakes always been the aggressors or do humans give as good as they get? A tribe in the Philippines may hold the answer.  00:48:23 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like snakes, they get longer and more aggressive as time goes on. Patrick thanks

00:00:00 - Naked mole rats are even more awesome than previous thought: their sperm is terrible. Doesn't sound like a good thing? Well how come their awful sperm still works just fine? Because mole rates cannot be stopped, that's why. 00:11:53 - Like it or not, drinks are a part of the show and thus require a moment of discussion. Charlie has an old standby in the form of a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Patrick has a nondescript merlot, he can assert that it is in fact red. Ryan has a hot buttered whiskey based on a recipe he is happy to share from the book And A Bottle of Rum. And Jacob has spicy cinnamon vanilla eggnog, if that's what you're in to. 00:18:20 - This week trailer trash talk heads north to Scandinavia whilst the Paleopals try to breakdown the many incarnations of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. 00:32:32 - Last year several circular holes opened up in Guatemala city, and while it may be tempting to call them sinkholes, according to an article Patrick found they should actually be called piping fea

00:00:00 - Who knew crustaceans could be so crafty? An amphipod has evovled the ability to spin silk like a spider, except under water! Fraught with awesome imagery and potential medical applications to be sure. 11:11:11 - Every week we consume something on air and this week those consumables varied more than usual. Kelly has crafty Norwegian chocolate with an unexpected surprise. Ben has homo milk from a bag? We don't know either, Canada is even weirder than previously imagined. Ryan descends into a bottle of Hades from Great Divide Brewing in anticipation of this week's trailer. Charlie has bubbly water and explains it's morbid origins. 00:19:23 - This week for we have the divisive trailer for The Divide. Will the Paleopals be divided on their opinions? Or will the threat of impending apocalypse unite them all? 00:29:48 - Willpower, does it even exist? If so, how much have you got? These are the pressing questions vexing the Paleopals this week. Everyone brings something different to the table, including

It's time for the annual Thanksgiving Science... sort of special! Each year the Paleopals pick an extra-long PaleoPOW and cover it in a little more detail than usual. Just like the pilgrims did. 00:00:00 - Charlie starts things off with an e-mail from Michal about our dismissal of Evolutionary Psychology. Maybe the PaleoPOWsevolved to think that it's just not up to snuff? 00:24:56 - Ben has a question from Liz about anti-gravity. He answers it with his usual aplomb, while artfully plugging his own new podcast: The Titanium Physicists! 00:34:09 - Since it wouldn't sound very good for the Paleopals to eat on air, they settle for some drinks instead. Ryandouble-fists cider post a Thanksgiving-meal pregame. Ben drinks water like a fish. Charlie goes on rant about the realities of tryptophan and post-holiday meal torpor. Patrick is having a very old (possibly fishy) pale ale. And Charlie jumps the holiday gun with some eggnog. 00:43:32 - Trailer Trash Talk follows it's Thanksgiving tradition by reviewing a wei

00:00:00 - Jai Ranganthan joins Paleopals Charlie, Jacob, and Ryan to update everyone on the #SciFund Challenge. First and foremost, congrats to our own Kelly Weinersmith on being the very first project to get fully funded! Yay! But the Paleopals go one further and actually highlight a few projects that caught their eye. Jacob was intrigued by the dolphin with the backwards fin, mostly because he lives near a beach and this was the closest to an engineer project he could find. Charlie really liked the idea of domesticating bacteria to create petroleum products and other goodies suit our needs. If yeast can make beer, why can't bacteria make oil? Ryan wants to use social networks and cell phones to help children in Tanzania get the vaccinations they need. It's ambitious, it's complicated, and it just might be crazy enough to work! And finally, we have to give a shout out to the project that wants to investigate methods for artificially aging red wine. A very Science... sort of, kind of project. After a bi

Brian Switek is fast becoming the arbiter of the special edition. This time Ryan and Brian sit down in person at the Paris Casino in Las Vegas to opine on the goings on of the 71st Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. They discuss some of the cool talks and posters they saw, the benefits of socializing science, and even the very reasons meetings like this exist. Enjoy! And as always, be sure to follow Brian on Twitter (@Laelaps), subscribe to his blog, and buy his book, Written in Stone!

00:00:00 - The Paleopals are joined by Massimo Pigliucci, of Rationally Speaking, to talk about philosophy, science, and philosophy of science. This here is the bulk of the episode, so enjoy as Dr. Pigliucci waxes poetic about the deep inner workings of the scientific system we all hold so dear. Be sure to read the blog and listen to the podcast of Rationally Speaking. But be especially sure to pick up Massimo's book: Nonsense on Stilts 01:06:07 - After we say goodbye to Massimo (and his glass of chianti), we say hello to our own Birra Artiganale, peppermint tea, and Abita, respectively. 01:09:55 - It's time to get inspired and literate with this week's trailer, the German (i.e. not funny) film Young Goethe in Love. 01:19:25 - Ryan starts with a mole rat from James C. (available for viewing on the Art... sort of page!), Kelly has an e-mail about philosophy of science (how appropriate!) from David H., and Charlie follows up on the difference between his voice and Patrick's(with a startling revelation!)

00:00:00 - Ben begins the show this week talking about Jacob. Eventually Ryan and Patrick force him into talking about the agreed up topic: The 100 Year Starship symposium which took place recently in Orlando, FL. Which happens to be near Jacob. Big ideas about how to get off this tiny planet abound, and the Paleopals break down a few but encourage you to read up on the details yourself! 00:26:11 - What the Paleopals lack in rocketry they more than make for in 'jet fuel', if you know what I mean. Patrick celebrates with a Jubelale, Ben has a whole island of new juice opportunities, and Ryan pans a Las Vegas 2-for-1 bruised dry gin martini. 00:31:51 - Trailer Trash Talk this week feels better than ever as the guys break down the newest in the long-lived Greek war-epic genre: Immortals. 00:41:23 - New research suggests that saurpods (the dinos with the big long necks) may have migrated. Patrick and Ryan discuss isotopic particulars while Ben pesters about dinosaurian generalities. 00:59:43 - PaleoPOWs are a

00:00:00 - Jorge Cham, of PhD Comics, joins the Paleopals to discuss his comic, his time in academia, and the path he took to transition to full time artist. 00:27:27 - Scholastic achievement makes people thirsty. Thus the Paleopals imbibe. Patrick pulls out a rye beer he'd been saving. Ryan thinks his Sour Apple Saison is thematic. Kelly eschews alcohol for Italian sodas and rockets. While Charlie is back on the IPA wagon with Widmer Falconer. 00:33:48 - In a first for Trailer Trash Talk, we cover a film not just with our guest, but by our guest. Jorge Cham sticks around to talk about his new indie movie based on his very own comics: The PhD Movie. Potentially screening at a university near YOU! 00:52:22 - We 'end' the show with an extended PaleoPOW featuring questions regarding school from the Paleoposse! Kelly reads an e-mail Catherine asking how we each entered our respective fields. Ryan talks for too long. No one is surprised. Chad read an article in the NY Times about how we teach math in the US and

00:00:00 - This week the Paleopals are joined by Giacomo Bernardi from UCSC. He filmed fish using tools for the very first time, and is happy to tell us all about just why that's so awesome. Make sure to watch the video on our site and experience the glory for yourself! 00:34:04 - Tool use is not just required for cracking clams, but also for cracking open cold ones, even if Patrick is the only one with a beer. Charlie and Ryan bourbon each other while Kelly tries to make due without her usual bartender. 00:40:33 - It's all for one and every Paleopal for themselves with this week's trailer, The Three Musketeers in 3D! Will it live up to the 1993 classic? 00:53:49 - Patrick reports on his trip to the annual meeting of the GSA (not Gamers Sitting Around), the Geological Society of America (though some would argue it should be Geologic Society of America). He gave a talk, but you listen to him talk just about every week, so we thought we'd give some other people a chance. He mixed it up in the poster sessions

00:00:00 - The scientific world was 'rocked' when news came out of GSA reporting a giant hyper-intelligent cephalopod discovered in the Triassic. But does the story hold water? (hint: NO) The Paleopals are joined by former cast-member Justin to break down this prehistoric cryptid! 00:18:28 - Their first story took place deep in the drink, so the Paleopals decide to dive in too. Justin has scotch, Kelly celebrates Ben's PhD with mangosteen juice (and a backup for her tastebuds), while Charlie has yet to make his Campari (it's made of bugs!) and soda, and Ryan presumes he's keeping it thematic with New England rum. 00:24:28 - Ryan is convinced he'll get a thumbs up from Kelly in Trailer Trash Talk this week where the team discusses Being Elmo. Does he succeed? You  must listen to know for sure. 00:33:54 - People often complain about the age we live in, how it was better before, etc. But what age are we living in exactly? Apparently it's not obvious, even to the committee tasked with figuring it out. Is the H

00:00:00 – The Ig Nobel awards were a surprise to Sean Williams, and he blames Ryan. Thus Ryan concoted a game to tell the truly ignoble from the simply ficticious, and he forces Charlie and Jacob to play a round of Ig Nobel or Ig Know Not?!  Topics covered include but are not limited to: Homosexual necrophilia in Mallard Ducks Collection of whale snot with remote controlled helicopters Wasabi-based fire alarms Beetle larvae tricking then eating frogs(with special help from Michael C.) Contagious tortoise yawning Fruit bat fellatio (NSFW?) Congrats to all the 2011 Ig Nobel winners for making science just that much zanier! 00:20:57 – Drinks. When done correctly they go down smooth. This week Jacob succumbs to the marketing powers of AB InBev with a Leffe, is the flavor worth the sacrifice? Ryan undergoes a gluten-free beer experiment with mixed results. And Charlie has a red wine too difficult to spell here, but he liked it. 00:30:45 – This week Trailer Trash Talk attempts to unpack everything happening

00:00:00 - This week we are joined by the wonderful Jacquelyn Gill to talk about mammoths and the spores found in their poop! Jacquelyn does a ton of outreach with her blog and twitter, so support the effort by checking them out, ok?! 00:23:53 - Drinks. They're what happens when it's too late in the day for coffee. Ben is having his final Sussex Golden Ginger Ale, since it's only available in one part of Canada. No one has the heart to explain FedEx to him. Jackie is treating herself to a New Glarus Raspberry Tart float, which is just insane but probably delicious. Ryan goes to Hog Heaven. And Patrick has the spiciest of all wines, and likes it! 00:30:26 - Trailer Trash Talk is celebrating Jackie Chan's 100th movie which happened in 1911. Not as much to say about this particular Asian War Epic, other than the fact that everyone but Ryan seems to love them and Jackie Chan can sing. 00:39:56 - Mammoth hemoglobin might help your limbs keep oxygenated in the cold. Finally, paleontology put to good use!  00:57

Brian Switek joins Ryan, Patrick and Ben to play Odd Man Out with the premiere of Terra Nova. Physics, dinosaurs, Spielberg; oh my! Will the Paleopals pass on the new show? Or did the antics of a family in the Cretaceous win them over? Tune in to find out! Hear more with Brian in our full length interview fromEpisode 59 - Psi-Fi and Switek! Also be sure to check out Brian's text review of the episode on the Smithsonian Magazine Blog (where he even embedded the trailer, our kind of guy!).

00:00:00 - Will having a few drinks prevent you from getting malaria, or make it more likely in the first place? The Paleopals discuss the pros and cons of boozing it up near infected mosquitoes. 00:20:26 - Fortunately the Paleopals live outside the range of malaria, thus their drinks are relatively risk free. Patrick expects condemnation from Ryan for his Kona but Ryan is too busy spilling La Roja from Jolly Pumpkin all over himself. Kelly shows up with another custom cocktail from Zach, this time called The Honey Rumple (milk, honey, rum; mix to taste). 00:26:34 - Johnny Depp has also developed a taste for rum as he returns to the world of Hunter S. Thompson in the trailer for The Rum Diary, as discussed in this week's installment of Trailer Trash Talk! 00:39:27 - Even though the females are bringing the parasites the males are bringing the sperm to the next generation of the little buggers. But a new study has successfully eliminated the sperm without eliminating the male's sex appeal. Cool? Yes. Labor

00:00:00 - This week we talk to Abraham Padilla about his work studying the volcanoes of Iceland. We barely scratch the surface of this topic, but that's probably a good thing because any deeper and we'd hit lava. 00:25:17 - Libations are an integral part of our podcast, thus we sup. Abe brings Ryan two types of tequila, one especially dark reposado and another a sensual triple distilled reposado. The bottle is supposed to be sensual (see for yourself), but your results may vary. 00:36:42 - Butch Cassidy rides down ole South America way for his final adventure as previewed in the trailer for Blackthorn. 00:48:48 - There was no electricity in the US Southwest for a bit last week. Some guy was working on it and it just plumb went out. Well this brings up quite a few issues about security, reliability, and energy production, which Charlie is on top of. Ryan also referencesSGU #317 when they talked about Sicilian time offsets due to grid fluctuations. And see our very ownEpisode 4when we talked about the US n

00:00:00 - The Paleopals are joined with an old friend (similar yet distinct from a Paleopal) Jered Karr! Jered is a paleoentomologist at UCSC but he's also one of the top contributors to The Paleobiology Database, which he's here to tell us all about! What is it? How can it be used? How does he use it? And how long until I can put myself in there as a fossil? 00:21:21 - Even if they couldn't wait to start Patrick and Jered are still expected to explain their drinks. Charlie sticks with a classic. And Ryan attempts an audio hi-jink that may or may not have worked to get him a Manhattan. You decide! 00:31:14 - But it's up to the Paleopals to decide how they feel about this week's trailer, which is Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. It's another case of a bait-and-switch trailer, even though Ryan thinks this one should have been a bit more obvious. Will the guys go for satirical redneck antics? Or will they side with the douchey city-slickers? 00: 44:50 - The earth has a bit of junk in her orbit. Charlie explains t

00:00:00 - Mars just keeps better, this time because it's a bit wetter. Charlie explains the science behind the discovery, especially how we were able to taste something on another planet. 00:16:43 - Patrick keeps his beverage dark and Cascadian, Charlie searches for a glass (why didn't he just check our store?) and Ryan is feeling dark and stormy. 00:23:02 - Trailer Trash Talk is looking to take a nice country drive. But that's not what Drive is about at all. Does the trailer live up to the poster? Does it even live up to the font? And what are driving gloves even for? Find out! 00:38:59 - Science is under threat! The threat of the 'decline effect.' Jonah Lehrer wrote about it and the Paleopals discuss his findings. Ironically, they find less significance in the decline effect, which kind of makes sense if you think about it... Check out the RadioLab episode also on this subject Plus one of Jonah Lehrer's books Proust was a Neuroscientist 01:05:48 - PaleoPOWs are fortunately not subject to the decline