Science... sort of

00:00:00 - This week Ryan is joined by Will Harris and David Moscato (@DMos150) from the Common Descent podcast. First up, we learn about the paleontology research they both did as Masters students at East Tennessee State University working at their Gray Fossil Site. Long story short: Will did gators, David did snakes (and other lizards).

00:58:55 - This week Ryan is the sole beer drinker (rare in a group of paleontologists) and he's bringing the funk with a Swedish-brewed Funkstarter. He's bracketed on both sides by Will and David each having a Dr. Pepper.

01:07:48 - Next up, we chat about the fun and the challenges of paleontology podcasting. You can subscribe to their podcast, Common Descent, on Podbean, follow and like them on Facebook and Twitter, watch the Q&A Ryan participated in on Youtube, and even sign up to support them on Patreon! (Bonus: here's the mislabeled sloth tweet that so annoyed former guest Doc Sloth)

01:46:37 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like paleontology; sometimes they take a while. This time, Ryan reads an e-mail from Susan that brings up a very old discussion but also touches on the difficulties of trying to fit evolution into the curriculum when the focus is mainly "teaching to the test". Good, but frustrating, points. Thanks for writing in, Susan!

More cool rewards await you if you decide to support us on Patreon!

Music for this week's show: In the Hills f Tennessee - Jimmie Rodgers I'm a Pepper - Dr. Pepper Commercial Who Tells Your Story (feat. Common & Ingrid Michaelson) - The Roots

00:00:00 - Thanks to Joe, it's the return of the Elon Musk Happy Hour! This time, Musk wants to send loads of people to Mars, probably forever. In traditional Science... sort of fashion we ask: is this a thing? And maybe more importantly, would you go? (Also, Ryan says go read Seveneves.)

00:31:03 - Mars is pretty dry, so it'll be important to stay hydrated once there. Kelly staves off feeling sick with water and Tums but manages to sneak in a plug for The Expanse series of books. Joe confuses everyone with his Fungal Fruit Soda. And Ryan has a beer called Bomb! because of integrity or something.

00:41:50 - This summer 183 miles of the Yellowstone River because an animal related to jellyfish evolved into a parasite millions of years ago. Kelly is amazed by this and explains why it's cool. And a final book recommendation for the episode: I Contain Multitudes by (future guest of the show?) Ed Yong

00:55:54 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like future guests of the show, both are riddled with uncertainty. Things begin a bit somber with the death of Sharon Gray, a botanist killed while doing research in Ethiopia. The reasons surrounding her death are heartbreaking, but a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help young women succeed in science in her memory. As a complete about face, Joe thanks Angie RK for her recent iTunes review and Kelly thanks Simon L. for throwing some cash our way. Finally, Ryan expounds upon Colin from San Diego's theory about yawning and ends up doing a fair bit of research on the topic. Strap in.

Thanks for listening and be sure to check out the Brachiolope Media Network for more great science podcasts!

Music for this week's show: Planetary (GO!) [Lags Gallows Remix] - My Chemical Romance We Are Sex Bob-Omb (Fast) - Beck and Nigel Godrich I Told You I Was Freaky - Flight of the Conchords

00:00:00 - Mezcal is a magical and misunderstood spirit. Abe, Jacob, and Ryan spend some time breaking down just what the spirit is, from the myths about worms to the economies of towns trying to use craft distillates to escape the horrors of the drug trade. It's complicated. What's a bit simpler, somehow, are the fluid dynamics at play in determining proof, known as the pearls of mezcal. A team has presented their findings on the phenomenon, and we try to explain the science at play.

00:31:58 - Abe, unsurprisingly, is enjoying an agave-based spirit, but in the form of an elixir that seems new yet familiar at the same time. Jacob is up next and braces for mockery with a beer he already had in episode 101. Abe and Ryan had no intentions for teasing, but when it's invited it's hard to resist. Ryan goes full hipster with a Multinational Horn-Dog Black Saison that he makes Abe describe because Abe made it in the first place. Delicious!

00:44:17 - Moa were giant terrifying monster-birds from New Zealand. And they're extinct. Did they die because of climate or because of humans? A recent study suggests the latter. The team used genetics, which seems straightforward enough, but leads to a discussion about the potential problems with blaming native peoples for local extinctions. The boys seems to conclude that humans are just humans, no judgement needed beyond universal human foibles.

01:05:52 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like moas, oversized and prone to destruction. Ryan begins with an overdue thanks to recurring donor Jeff E. Thanks, Jeff! Next up, Jacob has an e-mail from Matt M. pruporting to explaing the phrase "going commando" as referenced in our recent interview with Mary Roach. It's a fun explanation, but is it a "just-so story"? Trying to work backwards, it seems kilts may be to blame as the original source of eschewing underwear. This leads to pontifications on the nature of meta-skepticism, literally debunking the debunkers. Abe wraps things up with a question from Tyler V. about the possibility of a Spanish-language science podcast. Seeing as there are more native Spanish speakers than native English speakers, seems like a no-brainer, but not something we can quite pull off at this point, though we have talked internally about it.

Music for this week's show: Another Pearl - Badly Drawn Boy Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes The Bird That You Can't See - Apples in Stereo

00:00:00 - Way way back in the 1980's some scientists found a... thing. No this isn't the start of an excellent John Carpenter movie, it's something that happened in real life! Only this year did someone get around to describing the thing, and it turns out they couldn't. Does this new animal deserve a new phylum all to itself? Listen and decide for yourself!

00:22:54 - Ethanol is a great way to preserve specimens when done properly. It's also a great way to socialize, but again, only when used properly. Here are three examples of its proper use. Charlie kicks back a Phosphorescent Pale from the sentimental Island Hoppin' Brewery, near where he got hitched. Patrick enjoys a Devils Tale collaboration from Devil's Backbone Brewing Company and Coronado Brewing Company. He's come so far from his early days as a hops detractor. Ryan claims the greatest beer in the history of the show, a bold claim but can he pull it off? You be the judge, for he sups a Camarasaurus Cream Ale from Fossil Brewing Company!

00:30:31 - Speaking of ruling the drinks segment, who really rules the earth? And, assuming humans are dominant now, who takes over when we're gone? A think piece from LiveScience prompts a free-wheeling discussion that ends in an obvious answer (hint: AI). In other news, new species of hominids keep popping up basically all the time. That's cool . Unless any of this isn't even real, and then who really cares, right?

01:20:15 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like AI, once turned on it's difficult to get them to stop. Patrick presents a new recurring donation from Steven C. Thanks Steven! Charlie also has a donation to pair with a story and a few questions from the UNGA. The story is touching, and the questions are hard. Namely, what ultimately controls the tree line? It's not at all simple, but the guys take a stab at it. Finally, Ryan has an easier question about how solar panels work from Mike S. And a quick message to all parents of 4th graders: This school year you all get into any US National Park unit for FREE! Check out the details here: Every Kid In A Park.

Thanks for listening and be sure to check out the Brachiolope Media Network for more great science podcasts!

Music for this week's show:

Family Tree - TV on the Radio

Ambulance - TV on the Radio

Golden Age - TV on the Radio

00:00:00 - Arthur C. Clarke wrote in 2010: Odyssey Two that the center of Jupiter was one giant diamond. He probably never expected to be right... sort of. A new model suggests that conditions on Jupiter and Saturn may be right to have diamonds forming in the atmosphere and raining down from above. Pretty trippy stuff, science.

00:23:00 - Most drinks don't cause a trip, but there's only one way to find out for sure: drinking them. Jacob insults Ryan by daring to bring a pre-mixed Zombie cocktail from Bacardi on the show. Tsk tsk. Abe enjoys a Dunkel from Prost Brewing Company. And Ryan gets weird with a Tangerine Dreamsicle collaboration beer from Terrapin Beer Company and Green Flash Brewing Company.

00:31:40 - Jacob hasn't been on the show much lately, so Abe and Ryan demand some answers. Turns out he's been teaching children science as part of Club Scientific. I guess teaching the next generation is an OK excuse...

00:59:49 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like summer camp, you develop very strong bonds and then don't talk for a year. Ryan presents a new recurring donation from Bonnie D. Thanks, Bonnie! Jacob ponders an e-mail on mosquito control techniques inspired by Episode 154 from Mark G. And finally Abe has a new 5-star iTunes review from a user whose name I'd rather not type. Sorry, guy, but thanks for the kind words!

Thanks for listening and be sure to check out the Brachiolope Media Network for more great science podcasts, and be sure to come to our live show in San Francisco as part of the Bay Area Science Festival’s Nerd Nite Block Party next week on Oct 24th!

The video game giveaway this week is Bioshock 2! First donor to e-mail us and ask for it gets a free Steam copy, enjoy!

Music for this week's show:

Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey

Sweet Tangerine - The Hush Sound

Kids - Childish Gambino (from the album Camp)