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crisscrossing Science
by Michael Crosser & Chad Tillberg
Welcome to crisscrossing Science, the podcast in which we answer the science questions that you never thought to ask. Every other week, co-hosts Michael Crosser and Chad Tillberg will share their love of natural science by discussing a topic that they find interesting.
Episodes
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Episode 255: The Crisspies' IV: A New Hope
Chad and Mike discuss movies with the best science in science fiction. This time, we consider movies with genetic engineering or controlling. We discuss three movies: Jurassic Park, Gattaca, and Project Hail Mary. Who will win the coveted Crisspie this year?
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Episode 254: How do Birds Fly?
Mike and Chad discuss the mechanics of how birds fly. What is it about their wings, feathers, mass, and speed that makes flight possible? If you have ideas that you think we should explore, contact us at [email protected]
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Episode 253: replay Bill Phillips
We are replaying our interview with Nobel Laureate Bill Phillips, to talk about really cold stuff. Subscribe to download the latest episode as soon as they are released.
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Episode 252: (ion pumps and ) Sodium Dumps, Part 1
Chad and Mike discuss the mechanisms behind sodium channels in nerve cells. These proteins open and close based on voltage differences in the cells. Subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episodes as soon as they're available.
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Episode 251: What is an EMP (and should we worry)
Mike and Chad discuss what is fact and fiction regarding an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). Hint: there's a lot of fiction in fiction. Subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episodes delivered as soon as they're available.
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Episode 250: Tick Borne Diseases
Chad and Mike discuss some of the diseases that can be contracted by being bitten by a tick. The most recent disease is something known as the Alpha Gal Syndrome, which is really an allergic reaction to mammalian meat products. It's an interesting discussion that may make you want to stay inside....
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Episode 249: Moonsploration
Mike and Chad talk about the recent Artemis II mission as well as the history of exploring the moon. Finally, we explore why we're planning to go back now. If you have topics that you would like to hear us discuss, email us at [email protected]
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Episode 248: Revisiting Dark Energy
Mike and Chad are revisiting this episode from 2022 about Dark Energy. What is it and where does it come from? Astrophysicists are still trying to understand the answers to these questions. Subscribe to this podcast to download the latest episodes as soon as they're available.
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Episode 247: Deep Diving Mammals
Chad tells Mike about the dangers of diving in deep water, from nitrogen narcosis to the bends. Given these problems, we then discuss how some mammals have adapted to be able to swim to the bottom of the ocean. If you want to dive deep into science topics of the day, subscribe to the podcast so...
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Episode 246: Re-Saving our soils
We had this conversation with Dr. Jo Handelsman in 2023 about farming practices and how to save our soils from erosion. It's something that I've thought about off and on periodically ever since. If you have topics or ideas for interesting discussions, email us at [email protected]
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Episode 245: How's the Weather...Predicted
Mike and Chad invite meteorologist Chris McGinness into the studio to talk about how he can predict the weather and to define some terms that seem new to us. Subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episodes as soon as they are available.
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Episode 244: Supercold computers
Mike and Chad invite Norman Birge, Professor of Physics at Michigan State University, and PhD advisor to Mike, to discuss some research into developing computers that use superconducting materials. Superconducting computers would create less heat, which would be helpful for large data centers. If...
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Episode 243: Re Salmon chanted evening
Chad and Mike relisten to this classic episode in which Stephen McCormick tells us about the life cycle of salmon. Salmon start their lives in fresh water then move to the ocean and only return to fresh water again to spawn. But many physiological changes have to occur for each of these steps....
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Episode 242: Volcanoes
Mike and Chad discuss volcanoes. How do they form, and are they only Earthly events? If you have topics you would like us to discuss in future episodes, email us at [email protected]
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Episode 241: Quorum Sensing
Chad tells Mike about how bacteria can detect when there are enough of them around so that they can change their behavior. It's a collective action that seems smart, but is just a matter of responding to the environment. If you would like to join the collection, subscribe to the podcast so that…
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Episode 240: Rediscover Bat Plagues
Chad and Mike are learning more about what have been described as "Flying Puppies" by re-playing this episode with Leah Rensel.
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Episode 239: Graphene
Mike and Chad finally talk about Mike's research in the material called graphene. Graphene is a two dimensional conductor that can be used as a biosensor and many other interesting applications. Follow us on social media to see more content between our podcast episodes.
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Episode 238: Bloodtypes
In a particularly bloody episode, Chad and Mike discuss the A, B, and O blood types, as well as the Rh positive and negative. What do these designations mean? And what are some of the health consequences of these differences? This episode came about because of a listener question. If you have...
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Episode 237: Nobel Roundup 2025
Mike and Chad discuss the first three Nobel award announcements for 2025. We review the science behind the medicine, physics, and chemistry prizes that will be awarded in Stockholm later this year. If you have ideas for future episodes, or just questions that make you curious, email us at...
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Episode 236: Primordial Blackholes
Mike and Chad discuss new findings by the James Webb Space Telescope about blackholes formed at the beginning of the universe, before there were even stars. Subscribe to this podcast to have the latest episodes automatically downloaded as soon as they are available.
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Episode 235: Rerun, How to Hit a Homerun
Mike and Chad are revisiting this episode about the physics of baseball. So grab some peanuts and crackerjacks, and enjoy this classic episode. If you have science questions that you have always wondered about, email us at [email protected]
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Episode 234: Carnivorous Plants
Chad and Mike discuss carnivorous plants, such as the Venus fly trap. They are surprisingly common and many species independently developed the tools needed to consume flies. If you have a topic you'd like us to sink our teeth into, email us at [email protected]
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Episode 233: Rediscussing the Origin of the Moon
Mike and Chad are on vacation, but still have the moon to keep us together. So enjoy this episode from the vault about where the moon came from.
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Episode 232: Crisspies III
Mike and Chad invite Kevin Curry back in the studios to talk about movies and the best Science in Science Fiction for the Third Annual Crisspies. This year, we are talking about time travel, which is tricky because time travel is already science fiction. But, we narrowed down the list to the top...
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Episode 231: The Final Frontier
Mike and Chad discuss some of the ongoing space missions currently in operation by NASA as well as the European Space Agency, and space agencies from India and Japan. There is a lot of research taking place that deserves recognition. To recognize this podcast, subscribe and get the benefit of...
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Episode 230: ReVisiting Jurassic Park
In celebration of the latest Jurassic Park movie, we are reposting an episode from 2022 about how the birds escaped Jurassic Park. Enjoy. This episode came from a listener question. To ask questions for yourself, email us at [email protected] or DM us on social media platforms.
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Episode 229: Chirality
Chad and Mike talk about how biological molecules are often left handed or right handed. This affects us in many fascinating ways. Once you listen to this episode, be sure to subscribe so that you get future episodes automatically downloaded.
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Episode 228: Relearning the Curie-ous Case of Marie Curie
Mike and Chad are re-listening to this episode from 2020 about the married couple of Marie and Pierre Curie, each of whom won at least one Nobel Prize and were an amazing scientific power couple. If you want to know more about science, be sure to subscribe wherever you find the finest podcasts.
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Episode 227: Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Chad and Mike invite Dr. David Lewis, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and an anthropologist from Oregon State University, onto the podcast. David talks with us about what this land looked like and how land was managed for thousands of years. Also check us out on social media.
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Episode 226: Re-listening to Mandolin
Mike and Chad are re-sharing this episode with Stephen Tufte, a physics professor from Lewis and Clark. He shared with us the science behind playing the mandolin and what makes it different from a guitar.
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Episode 225: Turtles, tortoises, and terrapins... Oh MY!!
Chad and Mike discuss the ancestral plight of turtles and how strange a journey it was for sea creatures to come onto land, then return to the water, and (in the case of the tortoise) return back to land. To join us on other learning journeys, subscribe to the podcast. That way, you'll download…
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Episode 224: Angular Momentum
Mike and Chad discuss angular momentum and some of the seemingly counterintuitive predictions that come from it. Yet so many things in our daily lives rely on this concept.
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Episode 223: Nobel Laureate Randy Schekman
Chad and Mike invite Nobel Laureate Dr. Randy Schekman to discuss his research into yeast cells and the mechanisms that yeast (and human) cells use to direct traffic. Proteins that are created within the cell need to be pushed into the appropriate places and Schekman is one of the discoverers of...
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Episode 222: Packing and Shipping
Chad and Mike are preparing for our next episode in which we talk to Nobel Laureate Randy Schekman. He won the award for learning the mechanisms for how proteins within the cells are moved to where they need to go. The process can be very complicated, so we are doing a pre-episode to help us...
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Episode 221: Einstein's Greatest Blunder
Mike and Chad celebrate Einstein's 146th birthday by discussing his Greatest Blunder. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts.
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Episode 220: The Goss on Moss
Chad tells Mike all about moss, and the entire ecosystem that lives in that tiny, fluffy, world. Look for crisscrossing Science on Social media!
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Episode 219: The Science of Milk
Mike and Chad discuss milk. Why do mammals drink it? How do mammals produce it? What is pasteurization? Answers to these questions, and more, when you listen to crisscrossing Science!
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Episode 218: Star Formation
Mike and Chad invite astronomer Dr. Kathryn Devine to discuss the process of astronomy and how we can determine how stars form. Subscribe to the podcast to download the latest episode as soon as it is available.
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Episode 217: PET Eating Bacteria
Chad and Mike invite Dr. Jay Mellies to talk about his research into bacteria that are able to break down plastics into their constituent pieces. To learn about plastics and more, subscribe to the podcast, wherever you listen to them.
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Episode 216: Champagne Supernova
Mike and Chad discuss the bright events called supernova and the chain of events that makes them happen. For this and other episodes, subscribe to the podcast.
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Episode 215: Plastic
Mike and Chad discuss how plastic is created and why it is so ubiquitous in our modern world. We also consider why plastics are often not recycled and why it will be hard to stop making more. To get more uplifting stories like this, be sure to subscribe to the podcast.
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Episode 214: Wallace and Darwin
Chad tells Mike about the co-discoverers of the mechanism of evolution by natural selection: Wallace and Darwin. What? You've only ever heard of Darwin? Listen and learn... Subscribe to download the latest episodes as soon as they are available.
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Episode 213: Primates!
Chad and Mike welcome Stephen Frost onto the podcast to discuss the evolutionary history of primates. Subscribe to the podcast to download the latest episodes.
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Episode 212: The Solar Neutrino Problem
Imagine studying one problem for forty years until finally the scientific community accepts your research. Mike and Chad discuss the work of Raymond Davis, Jr. who measured the number of neutrinos emitted by the sun. His numbers did not agree with theory and it took decades to prove that new...
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Episode 211: Original Antigenic Sin
Chad and Mike delve into disease and vaccinations and consider the role of B cells. When are new B cells produced and when do older ones ramp up production of antibodies? Follow us on social media to see short reels of interesting science!
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Episode 210: Tesla & Edison's Current War
Mike and Chad talk about the differences between AC and DC power. We then delve into the history of electrifying the world, when advocates for AC (Tesla, Westinghouse) beat out arguments for DC (Edison). It is a crazy story. Find us on social media for new content updated regularly.
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Episode 209: Take Me Home-ing Pigeon
How do Homing Pigeons find their way? It turns out researchers have done many experiments to confuse them! We also have a tie in to Game of Thrones, so be sure to tune in. Find us on social media! Search for crisscrossing Science on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
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Episode 208: It's STILL GOLD, I tell ya!
We've been busy watching the Olympics, which got us thinking about GOLD!! So while we finish our efforts for Season 8, we are replaying this episode about where gold comes from.
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Episode 207: Still Humming Along
Mike and Chad are gearing up for Season 8 and have a lot of ideas for upcoming episodes. In the meantime, we were enjoying hummingbirds flying around and thought it would be fun to revisit an episode from 2021 about these little guys that migrate surprisingly far distances. Enjoy.
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Episode 206: Still WaterLogged!
Enjoy this encore episode in which our guest Janet Peterson discusses how much water we should be drinking.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to crisscrossing Science, the podcast in which we answer the science questions that you never thought to ask. Every other week, co-hosts Michael Crosser and Chad Tillberg will share their love of natural science by discussing a topic that they find interesting.
HOSTED BY
Michael Crosser & Chad Tillberg
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does crisscrossing Science have?
crisscrossing Science currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is crisscrossing Science about?
Welcome to crisscrossing Science, the podcast in which we answer the science questions that you never thought to ask. Every other week, co-hosts Michael Crosser and Chad Tillberg will share their love of natural science by discussing a topic that they find interesting.
How often does crisscrossing Science release new episodes?
crisscrossing Science has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to crisscrossing Science?
You can listen to crisscrossing Science on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts crisscrossing Science?
crisscrossing Science is created and hosted by Michael Crosser & Chad Tillberg.
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