Whimsical Wavelengths - A Science Podcast

Detecting volcanic eruptions on Earth is detective work; doing it on the Red Planet is a feat of cosmic proportions. 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Zurek welcomes Dr. Allison Graettinger (UMKC) to discuss the hunt for "Maars"—violent, steam-driven volcanoes—on Mars.We explore the sociology of becoming a scientist, from muddy kid to volcano expert, & how these unassuming circular lakes are actually clues to subsurface water & ice. Discover the Marvelous Database, the physics of thermal inertia, & why a rubber duck named "Ducky" is the most famous attendee at international science conferences.Topics CoveredPhreatomagmatism: Breaking down the explosive interaction between magma and groundwater.The Marvelous Database: A global catalog of 430+ Earth Maars used as a training set for planetary discovery.Career Paths: Why New Zealand and Nicaragua were the "Permissive Environments" Dr. Graettinger needed to grow.Geologic Hazards: The moving threat zones of distributed volcanic fields.Experiments: Pouring molten lava onto "sand popsicles" to simulate Martian ice interactions.Planetary Detectives: Using crater shapes (even "Mickey Mouse" ones) to map hidden Martian water.Chapters(00:00) Maars on Mars: A Tongue Twister(02:10) Phreatomagmatic Diatremes Defined(03:45) Guest: Dr. Allison Graettinger(05:15) Sociology: Permission to Study Lava(06:40) Field Work: Dust, Ash, and Gas(08:30) Why Study Maars? Hazards and Risks(10:45) Scaling Eruptions: VEI vs. St. Helens(12:35) Distributed Volcanic Fields Explained(17:15) Physics of Magma-Water Interaction(21:50) The Marvelous Database Project(26:50) Remote Sensing: Thermal Inertia(30:10) Mars vs. Earth: Gravity and Shape(34:40) Searching for Craters on Mars(36:40) "Goofing" with Lava and Ice Popsicles(41:10) Methane, Permafrost, and CO2 Ice(43:55) Mapping Water for Future Missions(48:25) Ducky: The Scientist’s Companion(51:00) The Science JokeLinks & ResourcesSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

The Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) is a master of invisible chemistry. 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Zurek joins Dr. Andy Fisher (Greifswald University) to untangle the chemical love letters hidden in spider silk.We explore how "virtually blind" predators use smell & electrostatic charges to communicate. Discover the "stinky cheese" pheromone, why males destroy female webs during courtship, and the scandalous truth about "cheating" widows who lie about their age and fitness to attract a mate.Topics CoveredPodcast of the Year: Celebrating 2026 American Writing Awards win.Chemical Languages: How smell and taste dominate the "dark taxa."Explore the sausage-making of science, & how chemical ecology replaces toxic pesticidesThe "Gym Sock" Signal: Identifying butyric acid in widow websHonest vs. Deceptive Signals: How starved spiders "cheat" the systemNew Anatomy: Hot-off-the-press research on how spiders smell with their legs.Chapters(00:00) 2026 Podcast of the Year!(01:05) Warning: Arachnophobia(03:30) Guest: Dr. Andy Fisher(05:55) How Spiders "See" with 8 Eyes(08:50) Electrostatic Communication(12:35) Pest Management vs. Pesticides(14:35) The Western Black Widow(17:00) Field Work: How Not to Get Bitten(22:30) Web Chemistry: Stinky Pheromones(25:45) Why Males Destroy the Web(29:50) The Metabolic Cost of Love(33:15) Deception: The Cheating Widow(38:10) Mass Spec: Smashing Chemical Legos(41:40) Seasonality of Sex Signals(44:55) Sub-Social Web Sharing(48:20) Black Widow Science JokeLinksAnimal Metabolomics & Ecology LabPapers: Starving Female Spiders Pheromone Abundance StudyWeb: WhimsicalWavelengths.comSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

The "motherlode" is just a model away. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) bridges between the classroom & the boardroom with colleague & data scientist Frederick Jackson from Computational Geosciences Inc. Together, they explore how machine learning (ML) & artificial intelligence are revolutionizing mineral exploration.We dig into the expensive reality of drilling—where a single hole can cost over $100k—& how neural networks act as an "artificial geologist" to find patterns in massive "data cubes." From the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia to the surprising links between finding gold, & detecting brain tumors, this episode proves that while the intelligence might be artificial, the discovery is real.Topics CoveredThe Business of Discovery: How science functions in the corporate world & the real-world consequences of being wrong.Drilling by the Numbers: Why de-risking drill holes is the primary driver for AI in mining.The Data Cube: Integrating geophysics, radiometrics, etc., to build "geological ChatGPT."Neural Networks 101: Moving beyond simple regressions to non-linear, brain-inspired algorithms.Prospectivity & Policy: How heat maps help inform land-use decisions .Bioacoustics: Whimsical detour to tracking whales for conservation using the same ML technology.Episode Chapters(00:00) Intro: Geology Meets Algorithms(02:05) The High Cost of Drilling: Why We Need Models(04:35) Frederick Jackson Spinosaurus to Data Science(07:50) Industry vs Academia: The Cost of Being Wrong(10:10) The SEG Paper: Gold Prospectivity in Australia(11:50) AI Hallucinations in Geophysics Managing Risk(15:15) Building the Data Cube: Features vs. Labels(19:35) Garbage In, Garbage Out: AI Pitfalls (21:20) Neural Networks: an "Artificial Geologist"(25:10) Results: Heat Maps and 2D De-risking(30:45) Beyond Minerals: Tracking Mosquitoes & Brain Tumors(32:45) Bioacoustics: Citizen Science & Whales(34:30) The infamous Science JokeLinks & ResourcesCitizen Science: Orca SoundSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

What if the coldest, darkest craters on the Moon are quietly storing a record of solar system history and the resources that could power future exploration?In this episode, we dive into the science of lunar permanently shadowed regions (PSRs): craters near the Moon’s poles that sunlight hasn’t touched for potentially billions of years. Dr. Jeffrey Zurek is joined by Dr. Katlyn (Caitlin) Ahrens (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) to unpack what PSRs are, how volatile molecules migrate and freeze there, and why these ultra-cold environments are targets for future missions.We explore how the Moon’s 1.5-degree axial tilt creates shadowed traps, what the lunar exosphere means for molecule transport, and how researchers balance “easy mode” science with high-risk, high-reward targets. It also illuminates why some of the most exciting discoveries happen in places sunlight never reaches.Topics CoveredPSRs & Cold Trapping: Why sunlight hasn't touched these poles for billions of years.Lunar Exosphere: Surface processes and molecule migration.Mission Logistics: The hurdles of "Pluto-cold" sample return and CLPS landers.Geotechnical Risks: Moon-slides, virtual lava tubes, and soil mechanics.STEM Outreach: The impact of FIRST Lego League.Episode Chapters(00:00) Intro: The Riddle of Lunar Darkness(01:51) The Physics of 1.5° Axial Tilt & PSRs(04:04) Meet Dr. Katlyn Ahrens (NASA Goddard)(09:33) The Lunar Exosphere vs. Atmosphere(15:30) Diverse Volatiles: Water, Methane, & CO2(22:38) Logistical Challenges: Cold Sample Return(26:18) Double PSRs: Craters within Craters(34:14) VIPER Rover & The Future of Lunar Mining(41:14) Flour & Dust: Lunar Soil Mechanics(46:40) Moonslides & Virtual Lava Tubes(49:50) STEM Outreach: FIRST Lego League(55:08) The Infamous Science JokeLinks & ResourcesFeatured Paper: Diverse lunar polar permanently shadowed regions and environmental metrics for site planning decision making. FIRST Lego LeagueSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

Mount Meager last erupted 2,400 years ago, but today the hazard is the mountain literally falling apart. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) moves downstream with environmental professional Veronica Woodruff to unpack the legacy of the Capricorn Creek landslide—Canada's largest recorded mass wasting event.We explore how 40km of 1940s diking in the Pemberton Valley has complicated modern flood risks, the physics of river aggradation, and why Engineered Log Jams (ELJs) are a vital green-infrastructure solution for stabilizing massive sediment loads. This conversation highlights how community resilience, reforestation (380k trees), and proactive investment can change environmental outcomes before the next high-flow event.Chapters(00:00) Intro: Shifting Focus to Resilience(01:51) Mount Meager & The 2010 Landslide(05:13) What is an "Environmental Professional"?(09:50) The Science of Grants & Funding(13:20) The Lillooet River Watershed(15:45) 1940s Engineering: Straightening the River(18:42) Eyewitnesses & 50M m3 of Debris(23:08) River Evolution: Meanders & Braided Streams(25:45) Aggradation: Why the Riverbed is Rising(29:25) Diking Dilemmas & Seismic Regulations(32:30) Real-time Data: The Rain-to-Town Dashboard(38:00) Volcanic Reforestation & Habitat(44:30) Engineered Log Jams: 92 Jams to Save a Watershed(51:00) Proactive vs. Reactive Spending in Canada(57:22) Blind Drunk: Alcohol & Society(59:17) Science Joke: Flat Earth FearsLinks & ResourcesVeronica's book: "BLIND DRUNK A sober look at our boozy culture"Veronica & Glyn’s Whistler talkSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

To stay within the character limits of most podcast platforms while maintaining the high-value "AI-bait" and technical context, here is a tightened and refined version of your show notes.Summary Subduction zones don't carry passports, and the Cascade Volcanic Arc doesn't stop at the U.S.-Canada border. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) welcomes his mentor Dr. Glyn Williams-Jones (Simon Fraser University) to discuss Canada’s most dangerous volcano: Mount Meager.We dig into the "detective story" of Meager’s last explosive eruption 2,400 years ago—an event that sent ash to Calgary and created a 110-meter-high volcanic dam. We explore the physics of block and ash flows, the "unzipping" of prehistoric dams leading to Jökulhlaups (outburst floods), and the current monitoring gaps on this restless massif. From InSAR satellite radar to the risk of "pulling the cork" on a magma chamber via massive landslides, this conversation illuminates the high-stakes world of Canadian volcanology.Topics CoveredThe 2,400 BP Eruption: Reconstructing the 20km ash column and Keyhole Falls.Columnar Jointing: Why "columns never lie" about the direction of volcanic cooling.Hydrothermal Alteration: How acidic fluids turn strong rock into unstable "garden clay."Mass Wasting: Analyzing the 2010 Capricorn Creek slide (53 million m³).Monitoring: The shift from tectonic monitoring to specialized volcano seismology.Chapters (00:00) Mentorship & Pedigrees (01:51) Backpacking vs. Geophysics (04:04) Dr. Glyn Williams-Jones (06:40) Why Meager is Dangerous (09:33) Explosion to Effusion (12:00) Volcanic Dams & Jökulhlaups (16:00) Physics of Cooling Joints (18:30) Future Hazard Forecasts (21:50) InSAR vs. Seismometers (25:50) The 2010 Slide (28:45) Turning Mountains to Clay (32:15) Can Landslides Trigger Eruptions? (34:50) Public Perception (41:40) Scientific Patience (45:40) Science JokeLinksBesure to check out the center for natural hazards at SFUFIRST Lego LeagueSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

Before we looking forward to a new year of discovery, we have to know the past to understand the present. In this solo episode, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) takes a deviation from cutting-edge research to chronicle the history of the planets—from the "wandering stars" of antiquity to the mathematical hunt for Planet Nine.We explore how the Babylonians set the stage for modern astrology, the high-stakes heresy of the heliocentric model, and the "detective story" of Uranus and Neptune. Discover why the discovery of Neptune was once called a British "heist," how a bookkeeping error led to the discovery of Pluto, and why the search for a massive, unseen world in the Kuiper Belt is still a legitimate open question in orbital dynamics today. Topics CoveredThe Antiquity of Planets: How Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, & Saturn were viewed 3,000 years ago.The Heliocentric Divide: Clash between Aristotelian philosophers, Church, and observations of Galileo and Copernicus.The Parallax Problem: Breakdown of why early astronomers couldn't prove the Earth moved.Kepler’s Divine Geometry: How a "mystic" defined the three laws of planetary motion.The Neptune Controversy: The international scramble for prestige between Urbain Le Verrier and John Couch Adams.The Ghost of Planet X: From Percival Lowell’s errors to the 2006 demotion of Pluto & the modern hunt for Planet 9.Chapters(00:00) Holiday Housekeeping & New Year’s Resolutions(03:10) Why History Matters to Science(06:04) Babylonian Astronomy & The Zodiac Tradition(09:15) Wandering Stars vs. Worlds: Greek Perspective(10:45) Heliocentric Revolution: Copernicus & Galileo(14:15) Parallax: Measuring the Width of a Coin(18:42) Johannes Kepler: Mystic of Planetary Motion(22:01) Newton’s "Why": Unifying Gravity(24:00) Uranus: The First Discovered Planet(25:40) Neptune Heist: for International Prestige(31:00) Pluto & Planet X: Finding a Planet(34:30) Planet 9 & The Kuiper Belt(37:00) 2006: The Demotion of Pluto(38:30) Outro: Wandering Stars and the New YearLinks & ResourcesSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

Usually, we look outwards to the stars, but this week, we're turning the telescope around. The scientists themselves are under observation. Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) is joined by Dr. Zachary Richards, a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History, to discuss his recent paper: Astronomy Identity Framework for Undergraduate Students and Researchers.We dive into the "transcendental phenomenological" approach to understanding how scientists build their identity. From the influence of fearless icons like Katya and Maurice Krafft to the "Moons for Goons" introductory classes that serve as the first—and often only—gateway to science for many, we unpack the six pillars of professional identity. This conversation explores how internal factors like competence and interest collide with external pressures like recognition and representation to determine who sees themselves as part of the scientific universe.Topics CoveredThe Observed Observer: Using qualitative research to understand the human element of STEM.Building an Identity: The six-pillar framework (Interest, Competence, Belonging, Career Expectations, Recognition, and Socializing).Representation & Bias: Addressing the self-selection bias and the real-world negative experiences of marginalized groups in physics and astronomy.The Power of Outreach: Why informal education at museums and observatories is the front line for diversifying the next generation of scientists.A Journey in Circles: Dr. Richards' evolution from exoplanet research to science education and back again.Episode Chapters(00:00) Intro: Turning the Telescope Around(02:10) The Geoscience Enrollment Crisis(04:02) Introducing Dr. Zachary Richards(05:15) Physics: A Personal Evolution(08:00) The Ice Cream Chef/Adjunct Balance(11:50) "Transcendental Phenomenological" Research?(14:40) Defining Identity: How We See Ourselves(16:50) Internal vs. External Influences: The Framework(20:00) Marginalization and the Self-Selection Bias(23:05) Confronting Gender and Racial Bias(26:40) Coding: Analyzing Data That Isn't Numbers(32:10) The Accessibility of Astronomy: Just Look Up(35:30) Future Work: Quantifying Identity(37:40) Science Joke: The Sun and the Moon’s KissLinks & ResourcesSupport: PateronSocials: Bluesky | Instagram | FacebookWhimsical Wavelengths: Deep-dive conversations where a working scientist unpacks how we know what we know, one paper, one idea, or whimsical detour at a time. Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo).

In this episode of Whimsical Wavelengths, we explore how machine learning is opening new possibilities in geophysical imaging and inversion workflows. Like image segmentation! We look at how modern computational tools can help interpret what we cannot observe directly beneath the surface.Our guest, Johnathan Kutti, joins us to break down how machine learning approaches can assist with geophysical inversion, improve subsurface models, and support decision-making in exploration and environmental studies. With experience both in the field and in building mathematical tools, he brings a grounded perspective on how these methods work in practice.We start by outlining what geophysics actually is—using physics to study the Earth’s structure and processes—and why inversion methods are so central to the field. Because we cannot directly measure physical properties everywhere inside the Earth, geophysical inversion works backward from measurable data such as magnetics, gravity, or electromagnetic responses to estimate what the subsurface must look like.The conversation then moves into:Why geophysical inversions have infinite possible solutionsHow physical assumptions and constraints narrow those solutionsWhere machine learning and image segmentation can helpExamples of integrating AI into geoscience workflowsPractical realities from years spent collecting data across remote terrainIf you've ever wondered how AI and scientific modeling intersect—or how we “illuminate the void” geophysically—this episode offers both clarity and depth.UBC Geophysical Inversion Facility: https://gif.eos.ubc.ca/Whimsical Wavelengths LinksFacebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

We’re heading back through deep time on Whimsical Wavelengths — but this time, we’re not walking with dinosaurs, we’re flying with them! Flight has evolved at least four separate times in Earth’s history, and today’s episode focuses on one of the earliest masters of the skies: pterosaurs.Host Jeffrey Zurek is joined by Dr. Adele Pentland, palaeontologist and lead author of the paper describing Haliskia peterseni, a newly discovered anhanguerian pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Australia. The research, published in Nature’s Scientific Reports, sheds new light on prehistoric ecosystems and the diversity of Australia’s flying reptiles.Adele discusses the discovery process, what makes Haliskia special, and how Australia fits into the global pterosaur record. We also touch on the art of science communication — from museum exhibits to fossil-inspired stamps and children’s books.Links from the episode: Research Paper: Haliskia peterseni in Scientific Reports Adele Pentland’s Website Book Mentioned Nature People by Cesar PuechmarinWhimsical Wavelengths LinksFacebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

Plastic and the environment and what you think you know. A discussion about science which honestly misses the mark but a useful discussion. Understanding the good is just as important to the badThe first fully synthetic plastic was developed in 1907. What they needed was an electrical insulator. Thanks to alternating current (covered in season 1 too with Nikola tesla!) electricity was being wired to new places creating a problem of how to insulate these wires. With that success companies began to research and explore what other plastics could be made. WW II created more demand for synthetic substitutes. Resources were scarce. Needed things at scale. Plastic could do that. Shortly after WWII, some thought of plastic and created an almost utopian vision of a future with abundant material wealth thanks to an inexpensive, safe, sanitary substance that could be shaped into anything. How disappointed they would be with today… The 1960’s brought about environmentalism with plastic debris starting to collect on beaches, the sea and the environment. The 70’s saw the leaded gasoline come to final phase out plan, CFC’s were next. But plastic stayed. There has been some regulatory push particularly more recently.Outside of the intro and outro, I feel I failed at digging into more nuance in the discussion. But it is definitely an interesting discussion. Today's guest has published a book and has made the podcast circuit to bring to light that plastic is not necessarily an enemy. One of Dr Chirs DeArmett's book can be found for free here :https://plasticsparadox.com/Links for Whimsical Wavelengths:Facebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

Diving straight into the deep end of the universe: supermassive black holes!An episode with enough gravitational pull that you can’t help but get sucked in.Host Dr. Jeffrey Zurek welcomes Dr. James Chan, a postdoctoral researcher at the American Museum of Natural History and City University of New York, to explore the strange physics and luminous surroundings of the darkest objects in the cosmos.At the center of the conversation is Dr. Chan’s recent paper in The Astrophysical Journal:“Reverberation Mapping of Lamp-post and Wind Structures in Accretion Thin Disk.”Together, they discuss how light echoes and flickers around black holes can reveal their inner geometry — from the “lamp-post” models of X-ray emission to the chaotic winds that shape accretion disks. It’s a look into how we can study what can’t be seen, using timing, modeling, and a dash of cosmic detective work.Paper at the center of the episode: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2409.15669Links for Whimsical Wavelengths:Facebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

I scream you scream we all scream for Ice cream.Time for some sweet delicious science delivered right here on whimsical wavelengths. Food science! Love the breath we get to explore here. This discussion is going to investigate some of the science that goes into perfecting and understanding the greatest frozen dessert that comes in so many different flavours. Yes, ice cream!Ice cream like other materials, like magma, melt, freeze and deform in complex ways depending on structures within the material. In past episodes I have talked about eruption dynamics and how the viscosity or resistance to flow changes eruption style. Well viscosity or more broadly Rheology (how a substance flows under a force over time) is important here too!The crossover between scientific disciplines is real! So be ready to chill here on Whimsical Wavelengths as we scoop into the coolest science around! This week's guest is no soft serve when it comes to sweet science— So grab your spoons and prepare for the brain freeze.Today's guest studied how fat networks within dairy foods like ice cream can alter sensorial and rheological properties. Today she applies that science background as an industry consultant and science communicator. Dr. Abigail Thiel!Here is Dr. Abigail Thiel'sYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@AbbeytheFoodScientistBlog:https://abbeythefoodscientist.com/Also she has a kids Colouring book out!Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FGJWXGHD?ref_=litb_stb_nodlAmazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGJWXGHD

Its the start of Season 2!! Time for Basaltic plinian eruptions, melt inclusions, viscosity and more. Today we going to head into one of my papers!Because it’s one of my papers that means heading back to volcanology. Like other historical scientists covered here on Whimsical wavelengths I will follow where the data is pointing. Follow the path.When I was planning my PhD, yes I was in the envious position of basically picking my projects, I knew I wanted to do more at Masaya Volcano. Masaya is however complicated. It is a unique volcano in many ways. Here I'll focus on two things:Masaya is persistently active. It has been in a perpetual state of unrest for 100’s of years. The last eruption of any significant amount was 1772 where it produced a lava flow from the central cone. Since that time there have been degassing, occasional lava lakes, and small vent clearing explosions. There is not many volcanoes on earth able to claim constant activity for 100’s of years. It can have basaltic Plinian eruptions……Basaltic plinian eruptions. For those who know a bit about volcanoes this may seem like an oxymoron.Join the pod to find out all this apparent oxymoron!Paper at the center of the episode:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377027318303470example Basaltic plinian eruptions at Masaya (there are lots but here is one): https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00585-5#:~:text=Las%20Sierras%2DMasaya%20volcanic%20system,%2DTIL)13%2C20.Links for Whimsical Wavelengths:Facebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

Today the pod shows its fitness with im-peck-able wordplay. That's right, today's episode is for the birds. At least those which have a raven-ous appetite for knowledge.Our guest, PhD candidate Miranda Zammarelli (Dartmouth College) has research that takes place in what I guess can be best described as the closest we can get for lab conditions in the natural world. The site for her work is the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest - located in New Hampshire.The forest is her laboratory and this discussion does its best to get at how and why it happens!For thoses that want to get involved in Citizen Science (PLEASE DO!) check out these apps for your smartphoneMerlin: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ebird: https://ebird.org/homeAlso don't forget about the future when its time for the Christmas Bird Count (https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count)Or the Great Backyard Bird Count !(https://www.birdcount.org/)Links for Whimsical Wavelengths:Facebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

Part2 jumps in where part 1 left off so more about Theropods! specifically about one of Dr François Therrien's recent studies about a Gorgosaurus and what was found inside its stomach!!!!incase you missed it from the notes of the last episode:Dr François Therrien - The Curator of Dinosaur Palaeoecology at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller Alberta https://tyrrellmuseum.com/Dr François Therrien's Professional Highlights (lifted from the museum's website)Discovered the first feathered dinosaurs from North America.Researched Cryodrakon boreas, a new species of pterosaur that was among the largest and oldest in North America.Published on a theropod site from Mongolia that reveals that colonial nesting behaviour first evolved in the dinosaurian ancestors of birds.Researched Thanatotheristes degrootorumLinks for Whimsical Wavelengths:Bluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialwww.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsinstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

This time we take a deep dive into an hypothesis The longevity bottleneck hypothesis: Could dinosaurs have shaped ageing in present-day mammals?” by João Pedro de Magalhãeshttps://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202300098See our branch of the animal kingdom, mammals, first evolved around 200 million years ago. During the age of dinosaurs. To quote the paper “long evolutionary pressure on early mammals for rapid reproduction led to the loss or inactivation of genes and pathways associated with long life”To talk about this and look at the evolution of aging, the wonderful and fantastic Dr Molly Burke agreed to talk about her research and the science of aging more generally! Her lab at the Oregon State university uses model organisms to experimentally study evolution. (https://ib.oregonstate.edu/directory/molly-k-burke).Links for Whimsical Wavelengths:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsinstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

Time for someone who some have called the greatest scientist you have not heard of. Likely the reason average IQ's have no fallen (even if it feels like they have - idiocracy)!This is the sibling episode to the last one. The rise of Leaded Gas. This time the story starts with Dr. Clair Patterson a geochemist. Before the PhD and discovering the age of the Earth, Clair Patterson and his wife Laurie (also a chemist) became civilians working on the Manhattan project. No not in New Mexico designing the bomb like depicted in the movie Oppenheimer. Instead they got to work on the problem of concentrating Uranium. A 235U electromagnetic separation plant (figure in the post!) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.From there on to a PhD. The following of the data lead to lead being everywhere. Before advocating for the elimination of lead he developed the first clean room and found the age of the earth by dating a meteorite (fragment of which is picture with the post). His work brought about the downfall of leaded gasoline. His story has been told many times before but probably not like this. Even if you already know the story I bet there is new nuggets here. Whimsical even....So with the release of this episode, season 1 is done! Time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t.Special thanks to those who did give me feedback throughout the year. It was needed. Embrace the terrible puns and jokes, don’t apologize for them! Was just one piece of advice I got.And of course thanks to all the guests that agreed to come on the podcast! Some without any tie to someone I know and they took a chance to share their work. A unknown podcast showing up in an email or call out ask.The next 3 eps will be encore additions. Some of my favourites from this inaugural season and then on September 15 season 2 will start!Links for Whimsical Wavelengths:Facebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

Today we are going to start to cover a real scientific disaster story. No it isn’t the hollywood variety although maybe it should be. We have the movie Oppenheimer although to tell the whole story here requires multiple main characters. Perhaps a TV series then. I have known I wanted to tell this story for some time but have struggled on the best way.It starts at the gas pump and the question: Ever wondered why all pumps say “unleaded gas”? Or perhaps asked the question why would they need to? This is a story about scientific discovery, advocacy, environmentalism and corporate greed. The next sibling episode (they can stand alone) has direct ties to the manhattan project and the age of the Earth.Covering a bit about the history of lead Flint, Michigan came up. Here are some links to see how that is still playing out however if you want to do a deep dive don't stop at just these two links!https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/07/01/flint-lead-pipes-replacement/https://eos.org/articles/flint-10-years-laterLinks for Whimsical Wavelengths:Facebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: whimsical.wavelengths@gmail.comPatreon: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

Deformation and gravity go hand in hand in volcano monitoring like hot apple pie and icecream. They fit together great. as these two techniques tell us so much more together than separately.This time I reached out to a friend to share her research!Remember volcanic eruptions are dynamic. The amount of force and material involved in an eruption … Even if the eruption is small the changes can be significant to the overall system. Volcanologists can see or image magma chambers that are close to the surface through a number of different monitoring techniques. Today we will focus on gravity and deformation. Mass flux and how the earth's surface moves in response to changes at depth!Using what keeps us all attached to the ground's surface to monitor what is moving up towards us. This episode is full of hot material!