SciShow Tangents

Explore the quirky and sometimes painful world of bug bites, from those caused by insect mouths to those from their, let's say, less conventional body parts! Engage in a lively debate about what really constitutes a bug bite and hear personal anecdotes that range from comical to cringe-worthy. Discover the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, ranking the agony of various insect stings. Along the way, enjoy humorous insights into bizarre insect behaviors and the effectiveness of oatmeal baths as a remedy for itchy encounters!

Dive into the sizzling world of sweat! Discover if humans truly are the sweatiest species and learn about the unique sweating mechanisms of animals like polar bears and horses. Explore the hidden ecosystem that blooms between two people holding hands for the first time. Enjoy lighthearted discussions on the science behind sweating, the cultural perceptions of perspiration, and even how plants sweat. Get ready for some fun quizzes and surprising tales about our body's responses to heat!

Discover the world of cicadas, the vibrant insects that emerge every 17 years for a summer party! Learn about their quirky life cycles, from neon wing veins to their unique diets. Enjoy humorous anecdotes about eating bugs and a whimsical poem celebrating these creatures. Dive into the fascinating connection between cicada sounds and The Beatles, while exploring their ecological role. The podcast wraps up with fun trivia and entertaining insights into cicadas' impact on local ecosystems.

Join Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson as they dive into the colorful world of queerness in animals. They discuss fascinating same-sex behaviors and the joys of studying these intricate relationships. Topics include fluid sexuality in marine creatures, humorous anecdotes about animal courtship, and historical perspectives on homosexuality in the animal kingdom. With a mix of science and light-hearted fun, they promote a celebration of diversity in animal behavior, urging listeners to appreciate the complexities of the natural world.

Stefan Jinn, a former host of SciShow Tangents now bringing science to life on YouTube, joins Sabrina Cruz from Answer in Progress, who passionately documents her quest for knowledge. This lively discussion dives into the surprisingly scientific world of bananas, exploring their classification as berries, unique uses of banana peels, and even cosmic comparisons to newborn galaxies. With humorous anecdotes and playful banter, they tackle everything from budgeting to the mysteries of banana flowers, making the topic both entertaining and enlightening!

Another wild teaser appears! This little snippet is from a bonus, cut-for-time question from our episode on Turtles! You can listen to the rest, and also a bunch more bonus content, on our Patreon. It's one of the best ways you can support the show and keep Tangents going and free for everyone. Head over to Patreon.com/scishowtangents and join in all the learning and shenanigans! Thank you so much to all our Patrons - we genuinely would not get to do this without you, and we really like doing this, so it rocks that we can. THANK YOU!

Cloning is more than just a sci-fi fantasy; it’s a real-world phenomenon with intriguing implications! From self-cloning crayfish that could shed light on diseases to the unique reproduction methods of the little fire ant, cloning unfolds in nature in surprising ways. Explore the potential of cloning for de-extincting woolly mammoths and ponder the ethical dilemmas that arise. The hosts also share humorous takes on cloning ethics, the identity questions sparked by teleportation, and the quirky world of lab-grown meat!

Discover the peculiarities of glue and stickiness as the hosts humorously explore adhesive science. They delve into the history of glues, from ancient sources like mistletoe to innovative materials like UV-sensitive substances. Personal anecdotes about Shopify intertwine with whimsical discussions about superhero identities. Fascinating trivia about adhesives and even a lighthearted take on medical solutions like fibrin glue add depth and laughter to the mix. It's a delightful blend of science, humor, and creativity!

No, your eyes and ears don't deceive you - this is, in fact, a super special cross-feed treat from our friends over at Crash Course in the form of the first episode of their brand new show, "Crash Course Pods: The Universe." Hosted by novelist John Green and astrophysicist Dr. Katie Mack, "The Universe" is a podcast about the history of the entire universe, from its explosive beginnings to its mysterious, but inevitable, end. In this first episode Dr. Mack walks John through the Big Bang and the very first micro-moments of the universe, and some of the ways that that ancient event is actually still connected to us, here, today. It's great, we really like it, we're really proud of the Crash Course team, and we thought you guys would also really enjoy the show! So to make it easy, we put the entire first episode right here! The rest of John and Dr. Mack's conversation will cover 11 episodes airing every other week on the Crash Course YouTube channel at youtube.com/crashcourse or wherever you get your podcasts. Give it a listen, and we hope you enjoy!

Dive into the quirky world of machine learning as experts explore how AI draws inspiration from animal behavior, like raccoons and dolphins. Discover the humorous side of algorithms, along with ethical dilemmas and societal pressures shaping AI's role. They break down the mysteries between machine learning and AI, tackle the nuances of supervised learning, and even play a game separating real studies from fakes. Plus, the fascinating applications of AI in health give a glimpse into its future, all wrapped in engaging discussions!