Best Naturalscience Podcasts (2024)

1
Inostrancevia, of Alexander Inostrantsev 33:09

1h ago33:09

33:09

(image source: https://www.sci.news/paleontology/south-african-inostrancevia-11935.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Inostrancevia, potentially the largest of the gorgonopsids, which are a super-awesome group of creatures you should be ashamed you haven’t heard of before. Have you not heard of them before? Shame, sham…

1
Leaf Mold Compost for Urban Agriculture with Kyle Richardville 35:56

4h ago35:56

35:56

“Leaf mold compost for better soil and crop health” with Kyle Richardville Growing vegetables in urban gardens is becoming a popular and ever more important option for supporting families with nutritious and healthy produce. However, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides can cause negative impacts on soil, crop, and human health. To reduce…

1
Carcharodontosaurus, the Shark-Toothed Lizard 26:14

7d ago26:14

26:14

(image source: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/zDoGPq) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Carcharodontosaurus, a big super-predator that competed with a croc-jawed dino with a sail and a croc-jawed dino without. Oh, and also a big croc. Good ol’ carchar stood out by not following the croc trend! What a rebel. From the Mi…

1
Panthera atrox, the American Lion 25:19

4d ago25:19

25:19

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_lion) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Natasha Krech discuss Panthera atrox, which might also be Panthera leo atrox, making this an extinct subspecies rather than species. Which would be lame. I want differences in my prehistoric monsters! From the Pleistocene epoch, this 7-foot cat is perf…

1
Erketu, of the Mongolian Shamanistic God 23:11

17d ago23:11

23:11

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Erketu-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Erketu, an obscure dinosaur named after a principle deity in Mongolian Shamanism, which means the jokes we make on this episode will surely send us straight to Mongolian hell. From the Late Cretaceous, this 50-foot macronarian sa…

1
Leptictidium, the Graceful Weasel 29:37

19d ago29:37

29:37

(image source: https://walkingwith.fandom.com/wiki/Leptictidium) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Leptictidium, a cute little mammal trying to be a theropod dinosaur, a kangaroo, and a squirrel all in one. Don’t ever say this creature didn’t have goals. From the Early Eocene, this 3-foot leptictidan was part of a family tha…

1
2024 Blooper Reel 7:24

1M ago7:24

7:24

It’s our birthday! That means it’s time for our annual birthday blooper reel! Enjoy our favorite flubs from the previous year and thank you again for listening! Remember that if you like our show, rating, reviewing, and sharing with friends are the best ways you can show your support. Contact us at podcast@sciencesocieties.org or on Twitter @FieldL…

1
Combatting Drought with WAPs with Dr. Sanandam Bordoloi 36:32

28d ago36:32

36:32

“Efficacy of novel water-absorbing polymer amended soil for improving drought resilience of Solanum lycopersicum” with Dr. Sanandam Bordoloi. Drought can be a major problem for tomatoes, particularly in changing climates. Water-absorbant polymers can help water stay in the soil to help tomatoes thrive, but costs can make it hard for farmers to use …

1
Ichthyotitan, the Fish Titan 23:17

26d ago23:17

23:17

(image source: https://www.deviantart.com/inkabg2/art/Ichthyotitan-severnensis-1049125055) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Ichthyotitan, the recently discovered big boy of the early Mesozoic seas that is up there with the biggest boys of all time, along with Perucetus and the modern blue whale. These weren’t just boys. Th…

1
Baryonyx, the Heavy Claw 26:26

1M ago26:26

26:26

(image source: https://252mya.com/products/baryonyx-walkeri-stock-photo) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Baryonyx, a paramount piscivorous predator with crocodile-like jaws and two very big claws. Yeah, this show can be poetic sometimes. From the Early Cretaceous, this 28-foot spinosaurid theropod has had some high profi…

1
Phytoremediation for Urban Agriculture with Marie-Anne Viau and Dr. Adrian Paul 51:32

1M ago51:32

51:32

“Can we simultaneously decontaminate and cultivate? An urban cherry tomato story” with Marie-Anne Viau and Dr. Adrian Paul Contamination of various kinds can make it difficult to ensure healthy and safe food crops in urban agriculture. Phytoremediation is a strategy where we may be able to use plants’ incredible natural abilities to help with this …

1
Martharaptor, the Thief of Martha Hayden 25:49

1M ago25:49

25:49

(image source: https://www.deviantart.com/cisiopurple/art/Martharaptor-760488972) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Martharaptor, a lovely creature with a pot belly and long fingernails, kind of like my great aunt Martha. She makes some great cookies, I gotta say. And brownies. Duuuude. From the Early Cretaceous, this 14-f…

1
Lythronax, the Gore King 26:32

2M ago26:32

26:32

(image source: https://naturerules1.fandom.com/wiki/Lythronax) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Lythronax, a potential contender for one of the edgiest genus names of any dinosaur, right up there with Dynamoterror and Atrociraptor. It’s not enough for these dinosaurs to be scary in appearance; their names have to sound sca…

1
Dsungaripterus, the Wing of Junggar Basin 30:14

2M ago30:14

30:14

(image source: https://www.pteros.com/pterosaurs/dsungaripterus.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Dsungaripterus, a pterosaur that by God Almighty looks like a mouthful to pronounce. SUN-ga-RIP-turr-US. There, I just saved you a lot of time and energy. You’re welcome. From the Early Cretaceous, this 16-foot ornithochei…

1
Improving Maize Pollination Efficiency with Dr. Dylan Schoemaker 38:35

2M ago38:35

38:35

“A practical method to improve the efficiency of pollination in maize breeding and genetics research” with Dr. Dylan Schoemaker Mismatched pollination times can make desirable genetic matches beyond the reach of practical plant breeders. Storing pollen is one solution, but limitations in cost and feasibility can make viable pollen storage tricky. T…

1
Sarcosuchus, the Flesh Crocodile 23:03

2M ago23:03

23:03

(image source: https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Sarcosuchus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Sarcosuchus, one of the biggest crocodilians in the fossil record that lived alongside some big hitters like Spinosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, and Suchomimus. Oh, and also a giant sawshark. A truly terrifying swamp, that was. Fro…

1
Glacialisaurus, the Frozen Lizard 29:21

3M ago29:21

29:21

(image source: https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Glacialisaurus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Glacialisaurus, another dinosaur from Antarctica that lived alongside Cryolophosaurus and ate ferns and such. It’s a basic leaf-eating dinosaur, what more do you want from it? From the Early Jurassic, this 20-foot sauropodomo…

1
Gary Opit: Bunyip, Yowie, and Australian Cryptozoology | ST 55 1:19:21

2M ago1:19:21

1:19:21

In this episode of Sasquatch Tracks, the team is joined by Gary Opit, an Australian expert on the continent's indigenous fauna, and a longtime researcher of Australian cryptozoology. Opit is an environmental consultant and scientific member of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales for 48 years. He is also a radio broadcaster, teacher, and…

1
Bioenergy Cropping on Marginal Lands with Dr. Dileepa Jayawardena 37:01

2M ago37:01

37:01

“Comparative productivity of six bioenergy cropping systems on marginal lands in the Great Lakes Region, USA” with Dileepa Jayawardena. Bioenergy crops present a promising source for biofuel production, offering a potential solution to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, they face criticism for potentially encroaching on arable land essential…

1
Tyrannasorus rex, the Tyrannical Hump King 10:01

3M ago10:01

10:01

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannasorus_rex) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Tyrannasorus rex, a real PUNK’d of an animal by being just a plain-ass beetle named after the most fearsome dinosaur ever. Paleontologists have too much fun sometimes. Someone should rein them in. From the Miocene epoch, this 1-…

1
Sauroposeidon, the Lizard of the Earthquake God 26:34

3M ago26:34

26:34

(image source: https://jurassicpark.fandom.com/wiki/Sauroposeidon) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Sauroposeidon, an abso-giganto-freaking-mongus dinosaur and the state dinosaur of Texas, because they like everything big down there. They ain't compensatin' for nuthin’, those durn cowboys. From the Early Cretaceous, this …

1
Soil-Landscape Rehabilitation with Dr. Sharon Schneider 35:45

3M ago35:45

35:45

“Key soil properties and their relationships with crop yields as affected by soil-landscape rehabilitation” with Dr. Sharon Schneider. Soil erosion is one of the major issues in agriculture that causes loss of the topsoil layer, reducing soil health and crop productivity. There are several ways to check soil erosion and its impacts on crop and soil…

1
Fasolasuchus, the Crocodile of Tomas Fasola 23:52

3M ago23:52

23:52

(image source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/triassic-bites-and-a-carnivore-conundrum) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Fasolasuchus, the biggest terrestrial non-dinosaur predator of all time. What a hyper-specific superlative. I bet I’m the biggest human named Matthew that wrote a dinosaur sci-fi serie…

1
Alaskacephale, the Head of Alaska 23:21

4M ago23:21

23:21

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskacephale) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Alaskacephale, a northern dinosaur that somehow had enough minor differences to escape being lumped into the genus Pachycephalosaurus, but the wildly different and far more spiky Dracorex and Stygimoloch didn’t. Yeah, I’m never le…

1
Simosuchus, the Pug-Nosed Crocodile 23:47

4M ago23:47

23:47

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/583708801714650808/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Simosuchus, an adorable little burrowing critter that despite its herbivory and cuddly appearance was actually an ancient crocodylomorph. I bet its death rolls would be so cute. From the Late Cretaceous, this 3-foot notosuchi…

1
The Minerva Monsters: An Odd Tale of Hairy Bipeds and Big Cats | ST 054 1:07:46

4M ago1:07:46

1:07:46

In the summer of 1978, a strange series of events began to unfold for rural residents of northeastern Ohio. While enjoying a quiet evening at their rural home near Minerva, the Cayton family and their grandchildren witnessed a large, hairy, bipedal creature peering through their kitchen window. This creature, described as standing over 7 feet tall …

1
Tenontosaurus, the Sinew Lizard 27:19

4M ago27:19

27:19

(image source: https://alphynix.tumblr.com) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Tenontosaurus, a poor schmuck of a dinosaur whose entire existence seems to be cannon fodder for packs of Deinonychus. Hence why I chose this picture for the episode image, because it’s funny seeing the tables turned. Mwuahahaha. From the Early C…

1
Anchisaurus, the Intermediate Lizard 25:05

4M ago25:05

25:05

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Anchisaurus-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss Anchisaurus, a long-necked lizard thing of a dinosaur that had far more interesting ancestors and even more interesting descendants. It really was ‘intermediate’ in how mid it was. Boo. From the Early Jurassic, this 10-foot basa…

1
Recalibrating the Pennsylvania PSNT with Dr. Charlie White 49:54

4M ago49:54

49:54

“Recalibrating the Pennsylvania pre-sidedress soil nitrate test recommendations for modern corn production” with Charles White. Nitrogen management is one of the most important agronomic practices in modern crop production systems. The Pre-Sidedress Soil Nitrate Test, also known as the PSNT, gives farmers an estimation of plant available nitrogen i…

1
Maiasaura, the Good Mother Lizard 26:52

5M ago26:52

26:52

(image source: https://pixels.com/featured/maiasaura-and-nest-phil-wilson.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Maiasaura, a real mommy of a dinosaur in that it was the first one with direct evidence of parental care. A real nurturer, Maiasaura. I could use that. No, I don’t have mommy issues. From the Late Cretaceous, t…

1
Simbakubwa, the Great Lion 25:25

5M ago25:25

25:25

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simbakubwa) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Simbakubwa, possibly the largest terrestrial mammalian predator of all time and the true holder of the title of Lion King. Naaaaaants ingonyamaaaa bagithiiiii baba sithi uhm ingonyamaaaa! Disney, making children scat faux Swahili sinc…

1
Australopithecus, the Southern Ape 29:59

5M ago29:59

29:59

(image source: https://bit.ly/3T1rkyC) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Australopithecus, one of our definitive ancestors and the first to walk upright, which is kind of a big deal. I don’t think I could handle walking on my knuckles all day, so thank you, Australopithecus. From the Late Pliocene, this 4-foot-tall hominid a…

1
Megalosaurus, the Great Lizard 27:35

5M ago27:35

27:35

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Megalosaurus-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Megalosaurus on this very special day, as exactly 200 years ago on this date Megalosaurus was officially the first described dinosaur, marking two centuries of dinosaur knowledge! Awesome! Oh yeah, the animal is cool too, w…

1
Precision Agriculture for Improving Wheat Yield and Quality with Olga Walsh 40:39

5M ago40:39

40:39

“Precision nitrogen management for improving yield and protein content in wheat” with Dr. Olga Walsh. Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for crops, which is required in large amounts for crop production and demands precise nutrient management methods due to its highly mobile property in plants and soils and high chances of leaching. Pr…

1
John Hickenbottom: Sasquatch at Salt Fork State Park | ST 053 1:46:24

5M ago1:46:24

1:46:24

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the after opening news that focuses on tales of "swamp beasts" in rural America and also massive reptiles invading the Florida Everglades, the team is joined by John Hickenbottom, the naturalist at Ohio's Salt Fork State Park. A longtime outdoorsman whose interest in wildlife includes snakes and reptiles ind…

1
Basilosaurus, the King Lizard 28:16

5M ago28:16

28:16

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilosaurus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Basilosaurus, a ginormous flesh-eating whale with a bulbous body and tiny back legs. Bet you didn’t know your mom was featured in this podcast, huh? From the Late Eocene, this 60-foot cetacean had a dinosaur-esque name due to its se…

1
Proa, the Prow of Val de Arino 26:13

6M ago26:13

26:13

(image source: https://metode.org/issues/monographs/the-dinosaurs-of-the-maestrat-basin.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Proa, a dinosaur who lived in Spain and is on display in a huge museum there called Dinopolis, a place I have promptly scheduled on my calendar to visit on a moments’ notice! Oh wait, plane tickets…

1
Simocyon, the Short-Snouted Dog 22:42

6M ago22:42

22:42

(image source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-other-pandas-thumb) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss Simocyon, a creature that looks like a cougar and whose name says it’s a dog but is more closely related to red pandas. That’s a running joke on this show, I swear. “It looks like a baboon, eats like a ll…

1
Paranthropus, the One Alongside Man 26:07

6M ago26:07

26:07

(Image source: https://www.science.org/content/article/one-ancient-human-relative-use-early-stone-tools) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Paranthropus, one of our ancestors’ relatives that didn’t fully make the transition into cavemen and died off before they could see what humanity would become. They were the lucky ones. F…

1
Mitigating Coastal Eutrophication with Drs. Wafa Malik and Patrick Durand 41:39

6M ago41:39

41:39

“Nitrogen mitigation scenarios to reduce coastal eutrophication” with Wafa and Patrick. Eutrophication is a state of overgrowth of aquatic plants, such as algae and seaweeds, in water bodies due to the excessive pouring of nutrients from different sources like agriculture, industry, and human settlements, causing disturbances to the ecosystems. Coa…

1
Ambulocetus, the Walking Whale 26:40

6M ago26:40

26:40

(image source: https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Ambulocetus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Ambulocetus, a walking whale that might not have actually walked all that much, but boy it could swim! So a whale then, basically. A whale with feet. Ehhh. From the Late Eocene, this 10-foot cetacean swam through the rivers of Pa…

1
Coahuilaceratops, the Horned Face of Coahuila 27:38

7M ago27:38

27:38

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Coahuilaceratops-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Coahuliaceratops, one of the few dinosaurs we have evidence of from Mexico due to something… explosive happening there at the end of the Cretaceous that wiped out most of the fossils. And no, it wasn’t the aftermath of …

1
Coelurosauravus, the Hollow Lizard Grandfather 17:51

7M ago17:51

17:51

(image source: https://sciifii.fandom.com/wiki/Coelurosauravus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Natasha Krech discuss Coelurosauravus, the reptiles’ first of many, many attempts to get the hell off the ground and into the air. It seems like reptiles might be playing a geologic time scale level game of The Floor Is Lava. From the Late Permian,…

1
Prognathodon, the Forejaw Tooth 29:32

7M ago29:32

29:32

(image source: https://bethzaiken.com/royal-saskatchewan-museum-prognathodon) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss Prognathodon, a very unmerry creature that only has its episode released near Christmas due to the predetermined release schedule. Jingle bells! Chomp. From the Late Cretaceous, this 45-foot mosasaurid was smaller th…

1
Sam Shearon: In Search of Yuletide Hominoids | ST 052 1:04:28

7M ago1:04:28

1:04:28

'Tis the season... and so joining the Sasquatch Tracks team for their 2023 holiday installment of the program is Mister Sam Shearon, artist extraordinaire and dealer in knowledge of all things esoteric and hominological. Along with his impressive horror art, Sam Shearon is known for his work in the field of cryptozoology, most notably for cryptozoo…

1
Pakicetus, the Pakistani Whale 27:13

7M ago27:13

27:13

(image source: https://eartharchives.org/articles/the-evolution-of-whales/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Pakicetus, the very first cetacean and thus very first whale, so that’s neat I guess. Evolution and stuff. Intermediary fossils. Woo. From the Early Eocene, this 5-foot artiodactyl had many features of both land-dwe…

1
Latent Variable Phenotypes in Lentil with Sandesh Neupane and Derek Wright 40:10

7M ago40:10

40:10

“Focusing the GWAS Lens on days to flower using latent variable phenotypes derived from global multienvironment trials” with Sandesh Neupane and Derek Wright. Lentil, a pivotal pulse crop, is recognized as an important part of food and nutrition security in the world. It has rich sources of important nutrients, is easy to cook, and thrives well on …

1
Eurapteryx, the Broad-Billed Moa 18:00

8M ago18:00

18:00

(image source: https://a-dinosaur-a-day.com/post/185693540635/euryapteryx-curtus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Don Hall discuss Euryapteryx, another one of those giant birds the Maori people had to deal with when they migrated to New Zealand. They had a rough time. The birds, not the people. From the Early Holocene, this 3-foot-tall ratite…

1
Megamonodontium, the Giant Trapdoor Spider 22:33

8M ago22:33

22:33

(image source: https://novataxa.blogspot.com/2023/09/megamonodontium.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Natasha Krech discuss Megamonodontium, the most nope nope to have ever noped. A giant spider lunging in a hole in Australia? Nope, nope, nope. From the Late Miocene, this 2-inch spider trapped and ate giant dinosaurs and sunk its venomou…

1
Return to Ape Canyon: Rediscovery of the Vanderwhite Mine | ST 051 1:37:16

8M ago1:37:16

1:37:16

During the summer of 1924, a team of gold seekers alleged that they were attacked by giant, ape-like creatures, measuring about 7 feet tall, who hurled boulders at them. Their story recounts an encounter with these beings in a remote area, where a member of their group shot at one of the creatures, hitting it thrice, resulting in it falling off a c…

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