Recent Paper Decent Puzzle

PODCAST · science

Recent Paper Decent Puzzle

Recent Paper Decent Puzzle is a podcast with two parts: First, I pick apart a recent scientific journal article in enough detail that a non-expert listener would be able to speak intelligently about it. Then I present a decent puzzle, so the listener has something fun to work on until the answer is announced in the next episode.

  1. 41

    Eyes Before Flippers

    A recent paper about how eyes got creatures onto land, and a puzzle about a disease called Stinky Stink. Note: This will be our last episode of the season - see you in September! (music: Bensound)

  2. 40

    Amazon: Floodplains and Uplands

    Guest host Shelby Riskin:  A recent paper about forests in the Amazon and how they dry out, and puzzle about finding phosphorus. Music: Bensound

  3. 39

    Kangaroo Rats Keep Their Cool

    A recent paper about kangaroo rats staying stealthy around heat-seeking rattlesnakes, and a decent puzzle about cereal boxes Music: Bensound

  4. 38

    Flying Mosquitoes

    A recent paper about mosquito flight that might even make you stop hating them for a second, and a decent puzzle about a martini. Music by Bensound

  5. 37

    Laughing Parrots

    A recent paper about why laugh tracks would be good for parrot sitcoms, and a decent puzzle about a pentagon. music: Bensound

  6. 36

    Neanderthals With Food In Their Teeth

    A recent paper about Neanderthal dental hygiene, and a puzzle comparing American coffee consumption to the flow of the Thames. Music: Bensound

  7. 35

    Beetles Pretending to be Ants

    A recent paper about beetles pretending to be ants, and a romantic puzzle about Andy and Maria.   music: bensound.com

  8. 34

    "I'm not left-handed either!"

    A recent paper about left/right handedness in fish, of all things, and a decent puzzle about ten gloves.   Music: Bensound

  9. 33

    Can Dark Feathers Protect Birds from Pollution?

    A recent paper about how birds deal with heavy metal pollution, and a decent puzzle about two trees. Music: Bensound

  10. 32

    Why do Seals have Whiskers?

    A recent paper about why harbour seals have whiskers, and a decent puzzle about your cow's new shed. Music: Bensound

  11. 31

    Madagascar's Most Mysterious Bat

    A recent paper on the mystery of Madagascar's male microbats, and a decent puzzle about a cow, some grass, and a shed. Music: Bensound

  12. 30

    Does Seeing the Poor Make People More Generous?

    A recent paper showing that exposure to the poor makes people less supportive of them, and a decent puzzle about birthdays. Music by bensound

  13. 29

    Surprisingly Popular!

    A surprisingly popular paper about harnessing wisdom from crowds, and a decent puzzle about rolling a six. Music: Bensound.

  14. 28

    Fish Can Take a Vote Without Counting

    A recent paper about fish schools democratically choosing where to go, and a decent puzzle about the province of Saskatchewan.   Music: Bensound

  15. 27

    Cockroaches Divide Without Counting

    A recent paper about how cockroaches can evenly share two hiding places without counting, and a puzzle about nails and string. Music: Bensound

  16. 26

    The Devil Drinks with its Skin

    A recent paper about Australian lizards that use the cracks in their skin as drinking straws to their mouths. Also, a four-ball puzzle. Music: Bensound.com

  17. 25

    Balls Under Water

    A recent paper about why buoyant balls held just under the surface launch further out of the water than those from deeper down. Also, a five-ball puzzle. Music by Bensound.com

  18. 24

    Bats and Wind Turbines

    A recent paper about wind turbines killing bats, and a decent puzzle about what it's like at the tip of a turbine blade. Sound by Bensound.com

  19. 23

    Diving Birds Don't Break Their Necks

    A recent paper about seabirds plunge-diving without breaking their necks, and a puzzle about throwing a baseball at the water. Music by Bensound.com

  20. 22

    Neurohacking Dogs

    A recent paper about why drugs given to your dog can show up in your body, and a puzzle about clay and paint.   Music: bensound.com

  21. 21

    Inevitability of Death

    A recent paper deflating your hopes of living forever, and a puzzle about a tall building.   music: bensound.com

  22. 20

    Sex to Die For

    A recent paper about spiders that automatically die after sex, and a puzzle about a rectangular moat. music: bensound.com

  23. 19

    Stick it to the Man by Eating Well.mp3

    A recent paper about making teens think differently about eating choices, and a decent puzzle about bats, cats, and rats.   music: bensound.com

  24. 18

    Ten things you didn't know about Rosetta

    Dan takes a break from making a TV show about Rosetta to tell us 10 things about Rosetta we might not know. Also, a cometary puzzle. Music: Bensound.com

  25. 17

    Nerds, Birds, and Convergent Evolution

    A recent paper about birds that get worse at flying when they move to islands, and a decent puzzle about balls in a bucket. Music: Bensound.com

  26. 16

    The Botfly

    My friend Sherri lets us listen in while she has a botfly removed from her ankle. Also, there's a puzzle about a five-pointed star. music: bensound.com

  27. 15

    I Scream You Scream

    We announce the final results of our citizen science experiment about ice cream, some puzzle answers, and an Indiana Jones-themed Puzzle. music: bensound.com

  28. 14

    Please Eat Ice Cream for Science

    We're doing an experiment this summer, and want your data. Music: bensound.com

  29. 13

    A Hurricane's Name makes it Deadlier

    A recent paper about how a hurricane's name can determine how many people it kills, and a puzzle about a long rope.   Music: bensound.com

  30. 12

    Mice from Hell

    A recent paper about mice on Gough Island, and a coin-tossing game that will shatter your understanding of probabilities.   music: www.bensound.com

  31. 11

    Carnivorous Bats

    A recent paper about carnivorous bats, and a puzzle about a cube you break in the desert.   music: www.bensound.com

  32. 10

    City Lizard, Country Lizard

    A recent paper about lizard evolution, and a puzzle about edgy dice.   music: www.bensound.com

  33. 9

    A Solar System with Rhythm

    A recent paper about a solar system that's in sync, and a puzzle about a year in space. music: bensound.com

  34. 8

    Air Rage and Class Warfare

    A recent paper about how the mere sight of first class sends people in economy into fits of rage, and a puzzle about cutting a post. music: bensound.com

  35. 7

    Adapting to Chernobyl

    A recent paper about whether animals are adapting in Chernobyl and a decent puzzle about the corners of a cube. music: bensound.com

  36. 6

    Long-necked Dinos

    A recent paper about dinosaur necks, and a decent puzzle about rolling dice.   music: bensound.com

  37. 5

    Bats are Springs with Wings

    A recent paper about bat flapping, and a decent puzzle about hollow cubes.   music: bensound.com

  38. 4

    This Mite be a Little Fast

    Out of the way, cheetah. A mite is the world's new fastest animal. Believe it. Music: bensound.com

  39. 3

    Kick-ass Birds

    A recent paper about birds that kick venomous snakes in the face, and a puzzle about a very big chessboard.   Music: bensound.com

  40. 2

    Gravitational Waves

    A recent paper announcing that gravitational waves are real, and a decent puzzle about your $100,000 inheritance. Music: bensound.com

  41. 1

    New 9th Planet

    Episode 1: A recent paper suggesting that there's a huge 9th planet out there past Pluto, and a decent puzzle about three coins. Music: www.bensound.com 

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Recent Paper Decent Puzzle is a podcast with two parts: First, I pick apart a recent scientific journal article in enough detail that a non-expert listener would be able to speak intelligently about it. Then I present a decent puzzle, so the listener has something fun to work on until the answer is announced in the next episode.

HOSTED BY

Dan Riskin

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