Part-Time Genius

It’s the grand finale! Our last four greatest science ideas of the past 25 years include a very hungry super fungus, a chemical-free (but not dubstep-free) insect repellent, a poignant story of agricultural polymers and wet books, and a cure for sleep apnea that may require some negotiations with your neighbors. We’re giving away great prizes every day this week! Head over to our Instagram @parttimegenius to find out how you can win. Check out the Zorbix website and YouTube channel!   Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the home stretch! Buckle up for ideas 8 through 5, which include some magical molecules, a sea creature that helped reinvent plywood, a medical treatment with terrifying origins, and a discovery that practically upended the world of classical music. We’re giving away great prizes every day this week! Head over to our Instagram @parttimegenius to find out how you can win.   Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re covering ideas 13 through 9! These include a fascinating discovery about NASCAR and psychology, a clock that’s so accurate it’s reshaping our understanding of time, a tasty way to make concrete stronger (and more environmentally friendly), and some truly delightful revelations about dinosaurs. Plus: We explain particle physics through song. We’re giving away great prizes every day this week! Head over to our Instagram @parttimegenius to find out how you can win. Check out musician David Nagler’s website and his band, As For the Future!   Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our countdown continues with ideas 19 through 14! Today we’re talking virtual dolphins, a bike helmet you’ll actually want to wear, glass that un-breaks itself, unusual diet tips from the Amazon, personal germ clouds, and a high-tech approach to eating lobster. We’re giving away great prizes every day this week! Head over to our Instagram @parttimegenius to find out how you can win. Check out Shucks Maine Lobster here! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re kicking off this series with a breakthrough for jetlagged hamsters, a hot tub that’ll take you on a journey, a better ketchup bottle, a solution for one of the world’s most common tech annoyances, and some very bad news: chickens are definitely judging you. Plus, we meet the man who brought the smell of outer space to earth. We’re giving away great prizes every day this week! Head over to our Instagram @parttimegenius to find out how you can win. Discover Steve Pearce’s work with fragrances and flavors here! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango get serious about novelty songs, learning: why there was a Golden Age of this unique music; how the Monster Mash got invented; who was really doing the kung-fu when "everyone" was kung fu fighting; and why a song about Itsy-Bitsy, Teeny-Weeny, Yellow Polka Dot Bikinis isn't what you think it is. Plus: Will and Mango reveal two shocking truths about The Purple People Eater.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe it was his dad? Or all the punishments he got as a naughty high schooler? Or perhaps it was inspired by watching so many Soap Operas? Whatever the cause, Thurgood Marshall's life story is remarkable. From watching trials as a child to almost getting lynched for trying cases in the deep South, Will and Mango look back at the life and legacy of one of America's greatest legal minds.   Got notes for us? Questions? Visit our Instagram @parttimegenius. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oz Woloshyn, co-host of the TechStuff podcast, joins Mangesh and Will to shed light on the often-misunderstood Luddite movement. They discuss how the Luddites weren't anti-technology, but rather pro-worker, fighting against industrial exploitation in the early 1800s. The conversation unveils the socio-economic factors behind their resistance and its relevance today, especially concerning job displacement due to modern tech like AI. Expect surprising historical parallels and a nod to Lord Byron amidst the rich discussion!

From the Museum of Mollusks crammed into a hospital kiosk, to the supercool collection housed in a New York City elevator shaft, Mango and Gabe visit some of the tiniest, most delightful, and absolutely strangest museums worth your time. Plus, we dig into why every good host needs to invest in this after-dinner furniture piece.  To see a few of the museums we referenced or hit us up for questions, visit our Instagram @parttimegenius.  Photo by Alina Vilchenko. Thanks Alina! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking for a last-minute idea to impress your valentine? Don’t follow the lead of anyone in this episode! Today we’re celebrating nine of history’s most over-the-top expressions of love… and the epic ways they failed. Raise a glass to the man who surprised his wife with an ancient monument, the legendary political figure whose way with words didn’t prevent him from getting rejected, the Hollywood stars with big diamonds and even bigger problems, and more.  If you have a great (or so-bad-it’s-great) Valentine’s Day gift story, tell us about it on Instagram @parttimegenius. [Pictured: Catherine the Great, and someone who was NOT the man who gave her a very very fancy diamond.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.