Dr. Jessica Ware from the American Museum of Natural History joins the show to talk about the most perfectly shaped poo. Plus, Laura talks about being popular in the apocalypse, and Rachel explains why some Vikings and other folks had especially pointy heads.
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts an ... Show More
Aug 13
Medical Butt Chugging, Ancient Ice Cream Pyramids, "The Thing" but Midwestern
Mary Roach RETURNS to Weirdest Thing to share her new book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy! From this phenomenal new read, she discusses a section on breathing through your butt, a thing not only turtles can do, but also apparently humans. Plus, Rachel talks about t ... Show More
56m 1s
Jul 30
Bette Midler and the Salamander, How Marathon Swimmers Pee, D+D is Good for Your Brain
The wonderful Ryan Mandelbaum is BACK to discuss their latest animalian interest: salamanders in New York City! Laura also explains how peeing while swimming a marathon is shockingly complicated, and Rachel gets into why Dungeons and Dragons is therapeutic for your noggin. Go che ... Show More
1h 5m
Jul 16
The Bone Collector, Threads of God, Cloacal Chamber
Scientific illustrator and Twitch streamer Liz Clayton Fuller (ipaintbirbs) joins the show once more to talk all things cloaca -- and why some birds lack them. Plus, Jess hops behind the mic to talk about the world's rarest pasta, and Rachel dives into carnivorous caterpillars th ... Show More
49m 46s
Feb 2025
159: Sadism, Sex Potions, & Deer Musk?? History’s Most Disturbing Aphrodisiacs
Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Since ancient times, people have sought out aphrodisiacs—those mysterious foods, herbs, and even animal parts thought to ignite desire, spark passion, and awaken romance. But do these so-called love enhancers really work? Are they based on science or ... Show More
45m 47s
Aug 2024
Bonus: Fun Fact or Fake Factoid?! A Chemistry and Trivia Showdown
In this bonus game edition of 'Chemistry For Your Life', host Melissa, co-host Jam, and guest Claire embark on an entertaining journey of debunking or verifying popular 'fun facts' submitted by their listeners. The game, titled 'Fun Fact or Fake Factoid', involves dissecting quir ... Show More
28m 6s
Dec 2023
771: Vegemite, Japanese Baby Names, & Mother God
Susie's annoyed about all the vacations Sarah takes, and Sarah is sorry not sorry. (Susie is just jealous.) We don't really understand Susie's new/old obsession with Australia, but now we're having to try vegemite for funsies, and it is truly a wild experience. We learn why Susie ... Show More
1h 24m
Jun 2021
BONUS: Identity & Intersectionality Across the Rainbow
Pride is SO much more than glitter and garments, so we're so excited to chat with Ryan & Matt and many special guests (Brian, Chris, Djorde, Victoria & Amy) about the true meaning of pride and the unique identity everyone holds. We discuss a utopian world where you no longer ... Show More
1h 30m
Jul 18
Dungeons and Dragons’ Popularity Grows—And Science Follows
Brennan Lee Mulligan is a professional dungeon master, playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), a popular tabletop role-playing game, for audiences online and in person. In January his D&D show on Dropout.tv, Dimension 20, played a live game at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ... Show More
21m 58s
Jan 2025
The Science of Racism with Dr Keon West
Polls show that over 50% of us don’t believe racism exists. In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Keon West, a social psychologist at the University of London, specialising in identity, prejudice and representation.
Drawing on his new book, The Science of Racism, West cuts t ... Show More
45m 28s