Some great books in the Seiun Awards in Japan, why Sword and Laser is good for your heart, we kick off the May pick, and finally wrap up our thoughts on the surprising complexity and depth of the awesome Cordelia's Honor.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

In this episode we sit down with professor of Neil Theise, the author of Notes on Complexity, to get an introduction to complexity theory, the science of how complex systems behave – from cells to human beings, ecosystems, the known universe, and beyond – and we explore if Ian Malcolm was right when he told us in Jurassic Park that "Life, um, finds…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Computerized CRISPR, Gut Microbiota, Lava Lakes!, Diabetes, Synthetic Living Cells, Chickadee Memory, Artificial Sweetener, Consciousness for All, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Bright Burst, Blackholes, Genetic Material, Neanderthal Woodshop, Gamer Games, Asteroid Games, Human Evolution, Going Ape, Bacterial Vampires, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can fin…

OMG all of the top bestsellers are romantasy! What order should you read series in? Does it matter? Also why is Veronica telling Tom to suck it? Or did we misunderstand. Tune in and find out!By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

Is a hotdog a sandwich? Well, that depends on your definition of a sandwich (and a hotdog), and according to the most recent research in cognitive science, the odds that your concept of a sandwich is the same as another person's concept are shockingly low. In this episode we explore how understanding why that question became a world-spanning argume…

Will Veronica and Tom make it to Glasgow? Not after that embarrassing German pronunciation. And after talking some baseball, they dig into non-spoilery discussion of Cordelia's Honor.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Guest Host Dr. Jessica Hebert, Barcode Birds, Molecular Transistors, Legs Or Junk, Speed of Vision, Naked Hearts, Don’t Vent, Bacteri-leather, Robo-Mirror, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember […]…

In this episode we sit down with psychologist Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s leading experts on the science of emotion, the man Pixar hired to help them write Inside Out. In his new book – Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life – he outlines his years of work in this field, the health benefits of awe, the evo…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Michael Garfield, Broken Memories, Bigger Brains, Machine Learns Beer, Teens are the Goat, Tardii-people?, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can find TWIS in […] The post 2…

The Nebula Award nominees are out! Should we re-read Neuromancer? Veronica explains Type I, II, and III fun. The truth behind Cordelia's Honor. And our final thoughts on Iron Widow.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Dr. Jessica Hebert, Earthly Solutions, A Plastic Problem, Making Babies, Hair From Where?, Blood In Space, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can find […] The post 20 March,…

In this episode we welcome psychologist Mary C. Murphy, author of Cultures of Growth, who tells us how to create institutions, businesses, and other groups of humans that can better support collaboration, innovation, performance, and wellbeing. We also learn how, even if you know all about the growth mindset, the latest research suggests you not ma…

Adam Hill (He/Him) is a dad who loves science, cooking, math, engineering, skepticism, espresso, and politics! He has been a teacher, an engineer, and now a software business analyst. Curiosity now and forever! TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 0:46 – Burley Bee Bike Trailer 5:20 – Nanofoamer Pro 12:07 – Magsafe wallet 16:22 – Eat Your Books Watch on YouTube: ht…

Mia Coots is a Senior at Nokomis Regional High in central Maine and an amazing presenter for the Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine for the Department of Education. LINKS: http://SLAMShow.org TOOLS: 0:00 – Intro 0:53 – ATEM Mini Switcher 7:50 – Rode Wireless II Mics 15:22 – MuteSync 18:50 – Canva Watch on YouTube For show notes and transcript …

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: RNA, Hydrogen energy, Mammoths, Forever Chemicals, Light Chemistry, Old Humans of Ukraine, Origins of India, Chilling Science, Star Influence, Bee Friends, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember […]…

We check in on who's winning the tournament. A vikings kids book! Where it's stabbing time! We talk a little bit about Iron Widow, and wrap up Shadow of the Gods.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

In 1974, two psychologists, Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, as the New Yorker once put it, "changed the way we think about the way we think." The prevailing wisdom, before their landmark research went viral (in the way things went viral in the 1970s), was that human beings were, for the most part, rational optimizers always making the kinds of ju…

Josué Moreno, a Spanish composer and sound artist, has made Finland his home, where he inspires the next generation of musicians as a teacher at the prestigious Sibelius Academy’s Music Technology Department. Known for pioneering Urban Sonic Acupuncture, Josué seamlessly blends the vibrancy of live electronic compositions with the innovative realms…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: JWST, Life on the Moon?, Human Tales, Ancient Meat Substitute, Fluorescent Fingerprints, Brain Circuitry, Seeding the Stratosphere, Chemical Behavior, No Longer Vestigial?, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. …

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Life & SATURN, Dainish Bog Body, Bulls & Balls, ADHD, Propagandist AI, Authoritarian Science, Gazeboed, Viral Brains, Meaning & Melody, And Much More! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you […] The post 21 Februa…

A few more thoughts on the Hugos, who would win in a fight between Maas and Yarros, and we preview our March Madness brackets!By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

Jeremy Utley, Kian Gohar, and Henrik Werdelin sit down to discuss the surprising results of a new study into what happens when groups of people work together to brainstorm solutions to problems with the help of ChatGPT. Based on their research, Utley and Gohar created a new paradigm for getting the most out of AI-assisted ideation which they call F…

Kern Kelley is a Technology Integrator at Maine School Unit #19. Starting his teaching career in New Zealand, he has provided support to educators for over two decades and conducted professional development across the globe. He advises a student produced technology show for the Maine Department of Education at MLTI.me and brings his student present…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Dr. Allison Coffin, Be Irresistible, Unexpected Love Songs, Female Freedom, Erecting Erections, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can find TWIS in all the […] The post 14 F…

Rich Edwards is the CEO of Mindspan Systems, which helps community financial institutions transform themselves with data-driven strategies and technologies. Rich has worked extensively with banking, insurance, and financial services clients worldwide during his career. He has led product strategy in data center automation and artificial intelligenc…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Rewriting Astronomy, Curing Cancer, Building Highways, Concussion Protein Protocol, Blue Berries?, Ancient Swedish mystery grave, Sexy Psychedelics, Childlike Learning, Night Walkers, And Much More! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitc…

We've opened nominations for Mad Marchness!, our March tournament of book picks. Plus, the failure of the Hugos and the rise of Romantasy. And we begin our first impressions of Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

Our guest in this episode is Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and writer for the New Yorker Magazine who is also the New York Times Bestselling author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better. His new book is Supercommunicators, a practical and approachable guide to what makes great conversations work. In the episode we di…

Brent Deverman founded and sold a China-based internet startup providing services to tourists and English speakers based in Shenzhen, China. With over 20 years of experience in software development, analytics, digital transformation, and e-commerce development, Brent has also executed technical projects for HSBC, CNN, DFS, and AIA. He graduated fro…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Sarah Treadwell, Genome Maps, Muscle Bots, Against The Light, Squeaky Mice, Laundry Recycling?, The Planetarium Show, Joides Resolution Ship, Ocean Vents, Scuba Diving, Mount Everest, Bees, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science p…

Surprise, there's a problem with hosting the Hugos in China. Plus: Keanu Reeves is co-writing with China Mieville, we kick off our February read, The Shadow of the Gods. And our spoilery thoughts on The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

Chris Butler is a chaotic good product manager, writer, and speaker. He has extensive experience in product management leadership at Microsoft, Waze, KAYAK, Facebook Reality Labs (aka Meta), and Cognizant. He is now Group Product Manager in Google’s Core Machine Learning team. He is also the co-founder of The Uncertainty Project a community focused…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: RNA Outside, Mammoth Travels, HIV Entry, Early Hunters Gathering, Bone Switch, White Rhinos, Justin Rants, Kiki Hopes, Penguin Poop, Old Fossils, And Much More! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that […] The post 24 …

There are several ways to define pluralistic ignorance, and that’s because it’s kind of a brain twister when you try to put it into words. On certain issues, most people people believe that most people believe what, in truth, few people believe. Or put another way, it is the erroneous belief that the majority is acting in a way that matches its int…

Bud Thorpe is a long time photographer, a life long educator, and former paramedic. He and his wife specialize in creating artwork of dogs (and their well behaved families). They run the Dog Art Gallery in historic Portsmouth New Hampshire. He teaches studio lighting for photographers online at The Master Lighting Course. His website is BudThorpe.c…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Predictions from 2023, Predictions for 2024, Supernovae, Ancient Archery, Grizzlies, Wing Source?, Giants of Southern China, Bats could cure diabetes, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full episode of our science podcast on YouTube and Twitch! And, remember that you […] The…

Davey Rogulich is a Stagehand and Maker from Albuquerque, NM. He has toured internationally with Tricklock Theater Company and throughout the US with “Blue Man Group” and “Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan!”. He is currently the Technical Director of NDI New Mexico at The Hiland Theater in Albuquerque and the owner of Davey Craft & Tools. His hobbies includ…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: What does This Week in Science think were the year’s top science stories? This end-of-year episode counts down the Top 11 science news stories of 2023 and much more science! Become a Patron! Check out the full episode of our science podcast on YouTube […] The post 9 January 2024 – Episode 955 …

On this episode we learn about the history of the exclamation point, the question mark, and the semicolon (among many other aspects of language) with Florence Hazrat, a scholar of punctuation, who, to my great surprise, informed me that while a lot of language is the result of a slow evolution, a gradual ever-changing process, punctuation in the En…

Alternatives to Goodreads, and one of them is Amazon. Which owns Goodreads. What you can and can't do with Mickey Mouse. The "Who should play Murderbot" discussion continues. Typical human and augmented human stuff! Plus why Veronica should read this month's book pick.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

Are there too many Nat 20s in Kings of the Wyld, our stance on Skarsgard as Murderbot, and we introduce the January pick (which has a lot of triggers).By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

Temple Grandin didn’t develop speech until much later than most children, and she might have led a much different life if it hadn’t been for people who worked very hard to open up a space for her to thrive. In this episode we discuss all that as well as her latest book, Visual Thinking, about three distinct ways that human brains create human minds…

In this episode David McRaney is interviewed by Andrea Chalupa about the psychological research covered in How Minds Change that could help if you expect to spend time with a family member this holiday who can't wait to pull you into an argument about politics, a wedge issue, or something else buzzing in the zeitgeist over which they'd love to star…

Mike Harris legal assistant, bookworm and amateur photographer who likes the surreal and the silly. Mike writes a newsletter called ThinkTrove, where he wrangles the week's wonders. TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 1:02 - Fidget cube: https://www.antsylabs.com/collections/fidget-cube 5:34 - MyNoise.Net: https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/japaneseGardenSoundscape…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Trace Dominguez, Mapping Mouse Brains, Culture Coffee, Crusty Protection, What Big Eyes, Emoji Diversity, Geminids, Free Range Cats, Particle Physics, VR For Mice, Brain Computing, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on…

All the end of year book picks are out with lots of great titles to add to your own list! Did Vonnegut think he was a genre writer? And our non-spoilery thoughts about Kings of the Wyld.By Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont

How likely is the fungal infection in The Last of Us? The one that takes over human brains and brings humanity to the brink of extinction, could something like that really happen? In this episode we sit down with Emily Monosson, an expert on deadly fungal infections, and discuss the handful of fungi (we know of) that are today, right now, causing c…

Casper Kelly is a writer/director of weird TV and movies including the viral short Too Many Cooks and the 2023 horror movie Adult Swim Yule Log. His website is casperkelly.com and he's on Twitter and Instagram @heycasperkelly. TOOLS: 0:00 - Intro 0:43 - Chromadepth glasses: https://geni.us/cbvJf 4:53 - Mage.space: https://www.mage.space 21:51 - Tin…

What is in the This Week in Science Podcast? This Week: Interview W/Tom Merritt, Open Carbon Data, Biobots, Dolphins, Optimism, Unity, Goodbye Offices, Ketamine, Mice, Birds, Penguins, And Much More Science! Become a Patron! Check out the full unedited episode of our science podcast on YouTube or Twitch. And, remember that you can find TWIS […] The…