A Scientist Walks Into A Bar

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 11: Parasites Mar 24, 2016

Show notes

This episode is a recording of the talk "Parasites: A Global Health Problem", with Dr. Buddy Ullman, a parasitologist from OHSU. In this talk, Buddy describes a number of different human parasites, including tapeworms, hookworms, and plenty that you've never heard of. WARNING: this talk contains pretty graphic detail of what parasites do to human bodies, so if you're squeamish, this may not be the right episode for you. However, if you want to hear a scientifically interesting, slightly horrifying, fascinating, and hilarious talk, then please press play.

Buddy's slides have been synched with this recording and uploaded as an m4a format, so depending on your media player, you may be able to see the pictures of what he's describing as the audio plays along. If you're brave enough.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

(A parasitologist would never listen to a podcast.)

Ep. 10: Neuroscience of PTSD Feb 23, 2016

Show notes

This episode is a recording of the talk The Neuroscience of Trauma: From Trigger Warnings to PTSD with Dr. Larry Sherman, a neuroscientist at OHSU in Portland, Oregon. In this talk, Larry describes a lot of things related to trauma and PTSD, including his own family experience with the condition, conditioned fear response, fMRI studies, epigenetics, and proven methods of treatment. This event was held on November 17, 2015.

Note: Unlike other episodes of this podcast, we have NOT included slides along with the audio. Sorry.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

Ep. 9: Food Scraps as Compost and Energy Jun 03, 2015

Show notes

This episode is a recording of the talk Ignoble Rot: Food Scraps as Compost and Energy by David Allaway, senior policy analyst with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). David spoke about ways to reduce food waste, and also described some of the pros and cons of four ways of dealing with food waste once it's been discarded: composting, anaerobic digestion, in-sink grinders, and landfills. He also had some interesting things to say about compostable packaging.

This event was held on May 5, 2015, and was produced in collaboration with Metro and their Let's Talk Trash program.

David's slides have been synched with this recording and uploaded as an enhanced podcast, so depending on your media player, you may be able to see the slides as the audio plays along.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

Ep. 8: Molecules with Theodore Gray Dec 03, 2014

Show notes

This episode features Theodore Gray talking about his new book "Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything." Theo is known for many things, including his periodic table, his Ig Nobel award, his column in Popular Science, his app development company called Touchpress, his work as a co-founder of Wolfram Research, and his book "The Elements." In this talk he describes the inspiration for the book, some of the many interesting molecules that are covered in its pages, and he gives a demo of the new Molecules App. At the end of the episode there are a few audience questions that range in topic from where to find good chemistry sets these days, to that time the government visited and asked for their rocket nozzle back, to whether there's a market for really smelly substances. It's a fun talk, even if we didn't get to light anything on fire.

Theo's slides have been synched with this recording and uploaded as an enhanced podcast, so depending on your media player, you may be able to see the slides as the audio plays along.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

Ep. 7: Cannabis Pharmacy Nov 24, 2014

Show notes

This episode features the talk Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana with author Michael Backes. The book gives "evidence-based information on using cannabis for ailments and conditions, plus a comprehensive guide to the most popular varieties." In this talk he describes how prohibition of cannabis in the United States has inspired selective breeding and has changed the chemical makeup of the plants, and how since some states (like Oregon!) are legalizing use that more scientific research is starting to be done on the myriad potential medical benefits. He also talks in detail about some of the individual cannabinoids such as THC and CBD (and many others), and how their presence or absence can dramatically change how a person's body reacts when using cannabis.

Michael's slides have been synched with this recording and uploaded as an enhanced podcast, so depending on your media player, you may be able to see the slides as the audio plays along.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

Ep. 6: Epigenetics Nov 10, 2014

Show notes

This episode features the talk Epigenetics: The Merger of Nature and Nurture, by Dr. Lisa Sardinia from Pacific University. Lisa teaches environmental science and biology, specializing in microbiology and genetics. In this talk she describes the emerging field of epigenetics and how changes in your environment and what you eat can contribute to genetic changes not only for yourself, but potentially for your children and grandchildren. She also covers Genetics 101 with a basic explanation of DNA, phenotypes, genotypes, and genes, the difference between Ligers and Tigons, why mother rats should lick their babies, and why eating chocolate and peanut butter is good for you.

Lisa's slides have been synched with this recording and uploaded as an AAC format as an enhanced podcast, so depending on your media player, you may be able to see the slides as the audio plays along.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

Ep. 5: Missoula Floods Nov 03, 2014

Show notes

This episode features the talk Cataclysms on the Columbia: The Great Missoula Floods, by Dr. Scott Burns from Portland State University. The Missoula Floods were a series of 80+ floods that happened in the Pacific Northwest during the last ice age around 15,000 years ago, and they dramatically shaped the geology and topography of Washington and Oregon. Scott describes with enthusiastic detail what caused the floods, who discovered them, what evidence was used to prove that they happened, and some of the people continuing to study them today. He also touches on Lewis & Clark, the Willamette Meteorite, scientific grudge matches, what to ask geologists on a road trip, and how to grow good wine grapes, among many other things.

Scott's slides have been synched with this recording and uploaded as an m4a format as an enhanced podcast, so depending on your media player, you may be able to see the pictures of what he's describing as the audio plays along.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

Ep. 4: Forensic Anthropology Oct 30, 2014

Show notes

This episode features the talk I Dig Your Bones: Adventures in Forensic Anthropology, by Dr. Nici Vance, a forensic scientist and State Forensic Anthropologist for the Oregon State Police. In this talk she talks about what happens when bones are found in the woods, where she then has to figure out: 1) are the bones human? 2) if so, are they male or female? 3) how old was the person? 4) how did the person die?, and 5) ultimately, who are they? It's like CSI, only real. She also talks about how people in the general public can help match up missing persons and unidentified remains by going to the website for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, aka NamUs.

Nici's slides have been synched with this recording and uploaded as an m4a format, so depending on your media player, you may be able to see the pictures of what she's describing as the audio plays along. Warning: some of the images are disturbing.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

Ep. 3: The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Love Oct 11, 2014

Show notes

This episode features Dr. Larry Sherman, a neuroscientist from OHSU in Portland, Oregon, talking about how our brains process pleasure and the special case of falling in love. Topics touched on during the talk include: ancient philosophy and the definition of "pleasure"; how hormones such as estrogen and testosterone affect our choice of partners; how drug addiction and stalking are neurologically related; ways that the levels of dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine can change how we feel about someone; how taking The Pill can change a woman's ability to choose a viable mate; how liking chocolate ties in to falling in love; how studying the DNA of prairie voles can perhaps shed light on why people cheat; and much more.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

Ep. 2: Physics for Rock Stars Sep 24, 2014

Show notes

This episode features an excerpt of a talk by Christine McKinley, mechanical engineer, musician, host of Brad Meltzer's Decoded on History Channel, and author of Physics for Rock Stars: Making the Laws of the Universe Work for You. In this (hilarious!) talk, she describes her childhood where she was learning about the scientific method at the same time she was trying to fit in as a "cool kid." She continues by describing what it was like to learn physics and chemistry while going to Catholic school, and how the things she was learning in her science classes began to relate to how she sees the world and the people in it.

Want to come to an event? Visit www.ScienceOnTapORWA.org for more info.

As always, a final thanks to Jonathan Coulton for the use of his song Mandelbrot Set as our theme music.

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