Ologies with Alie Ward

In a delightful conversation, Dr. Rebecca Lai, an electrochemist and professor known for her unique course on Harry Potter's chemistry, dives into the enchanting intersection of magic and science. She discusses the wonders of disappearing ink and the chemistry behind enchanting spells. Listeners will be captivated by her insights on the medical benefits of ginger, as well as the ways magic influences well-being. Through humorous anecdotes and engaging stories, she showcases how the scientific method parallels writing a novel, encouraging curiosity and connection to the magical world.

Rebecca Lai, an electrochemist and professor who teaches "A Muggle’s Guide to Harry Potter’s Chemistry," joins to explore the enchanting mix of magic and science. She reveals the secrets behind disappearing ink and gold nanoparticles, discussing their connection to both alchemy and the Harry Potter universe. The conversation also highlights how creativity in writing parallels scientific experimentation and emphasizes the importance of resilience. With charming anecdotes, Rebecca shares insights on hydrophobic technology, culinary chemistry, and the magical properties of wand woods.

Flags! How long have we flown them? Will you get arrested for stomping on one? Which ones are cute and which are fugly? Which colors don't we see on flags and why? How did all this flag etiquette originate? E. Tory Laitila, a textile expert who also handles Honolulu's flag protocol, gives the skinny on how to dispose of a flag, flags and conspiracy theories, history of the Pride flag, the oldest flags, which state flag needs a makeover the hardest, how to store flags, who designed our modern American flag and how you too can have ... fun with flags all year round. Also: pirate trivia.A donation went to: Connecting to Collections via CulturalHeritage.org Sponsor links: WithCove.com/ologies; barkbox.com/ologies; trueandco.com/ologies (code: Ologies); kiwi.com/ologiesMore links up at alieward.com/ologies/vexillologyBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologiesOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologiesFollow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWardSound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray MorrisTheme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies

Dr. Michael Habib from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County discusses dino feathers, Ross Gellar's paleontology flaws, cloning realities, and penis implants in a fun-filled Paleontology episode. Dive into the mysteries of dinosaurs, their colors, and the competitive world of paleontology. Learn about giant Titanosaurus fossils, naming new species, and the cost of paleontological expeditions.

Floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, explosions, hurricanes, oil spills, bombings, BAD THINGS: Why do they happen? What can we do to prepare? What is a disaster vs. a catastrophe? Who makes it their life's work to go help? Professional Disasterologist and Emergency Management expert Dr. Samantha Montano sits down to talk about disaster movies, the addiction of helping others, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the floods, looting, doomsday prepping, keeping calm under pressure, climate change, governmental budgets, cathedrals vs. islands, the myths of disasters, looking for the helpers, and how humans tend and befriend each other in times of chaos. Dr. Montano's website: disaster-ology.comFollow Dr. Montano on Twitter @SamLMontanoSponsor links: calm.com/ologies; Trueandco.com/ologies (code: ologies); kiwico.com/ologiesA donation went to: billandersonfund.orgMore links up at alieward.com/ologies/disasterologyBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologiesOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologiesFollow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWardSound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray MorrisTheme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies

Celebrating 100 episodes with life advice from ologists, reflections on the journey, 100 potential future episodes, gratitude, and exciting topics like garbology and bell ringing

Saurologist Earyn McGee chats with host about everything from chameleons to dragons, geckos' grip, gila monster sightings, and lion encounters. They discuss #FindThatLizard game, social anxiety advice, and field success tips. Fun and educational lizard hunt!

Sylvia Kessler, a forensic document examiner and graphologist, dives into the fascinating world of handwriting analysis and forgery detection. She discusses how different handwriting styles can reflect personality traits and shares intriguing tales from legal cases. Kessler explains the history and evolution of penmanship, revealing its significance in communication. The conversation also touches on the myths surrounding handwriting analysis in crime dramas, as well as the cultural implications of cursive writing in today's digital age.

Will changing your sunscreen save coral reefs? What even IS a coral? Where do they grow and what do they eat and why are they so pretty? Is it reefs or reeves? The wonderful and charming coral biologist and cnidariologist Shayle Matsuda of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology/UH Mānoa takes time out of his busy schedule during a coral spawning event to chat about how magical and beautiful coral can be and why reef health is important. Also: whether or not "Finding Nemo" got coral right, making transitions during grad school, and how to pursue your ambitions while being bravely authentic. He'll quickly become you favorite cnidariologist.Follow Shayle Matsuda on Twitter @wrong_whaleDonations went to paepaeoheeia.org and pointfoundation.org Shayle's blog post about coral spawningSponsor links: linkedin.com/ologies, kiwi.com/ologies, calm.com/ologiesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologiesOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologiesFollow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWardSound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray MorrisTheme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies

Bleach scientist Evan Rumberger discusses the science of bleach, its history, uses, and misconceptions. Topics include tie-dye for goths, pool chlorination, stain removal, and partnerships for safe water. Learn about the impact and versatility of bleach in daily life.