Casey Johnston joins the show this week to talk about how women are truly and actually stronger than men (all of which she details in her new book!). Plus, Laura talks about promiscuous fruit flies, and Rachel talks about capuchin monkey's version of a Labubu.
Get Casey's book here! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/casey-johnston/a-physical-educatio ... 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 22
Could Peanut Allergies Be Cured?
Peanut allergies have surged dramatically in recent decades, and scientists are still working to understand why. In this episode, journalist Maryn Mckenna, who recently authored an article on the subject, and host Rachel Feltman explore the latest research on causes, treatments a ... Show More
20m 29s
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
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