Shots of Science Vs

Latest Episodes:

Coronavirus: Dude, Here's Your Vaccine Dec 05, 2020

Show notes

There’s a ton of hoopla over these new coronavirus vaccines. But given that they’ve been produced at warp speed — can we trust them? We talk to Dr. Katy Stephenson.

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Narwhals: The Missing Sound Nov 28, 2020

Show notes

For years, scientists didn't know if narwhals made sounds or not. A new discovery finally gets them on the mic.

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Did the CIA Start an Outbreak? Nov 21, 2020

Show notes

When the Cuban government rounded up and killed thousands of pigs in 1971, people were angry and confused. Castro claimed they were trying to stop an outbreak. But then rumours started spreading that something much bigger was behind it all. The CIA.

To find out more, we speak to Professor Virgil Suarez, journalist Drew Fetherston and Professor Mary Louise Penrith.

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Why Do Rainy Days Smell? Nov 14, 2020

Show notes

Ever wonder what that earthy smell is after a rainstorm? We go on a little science adventure to find out.

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Platypuses Get a Glow Up Nov 07, 2020

Show notes

The eccentric platypus has always turned heads, and now it’s got something else up its sleeve. We talked with mammalogist Dr. Paula Anich to get the scoop.

Here’s a link to our transcript: https://bit.ly/34YfHR4

This episode was produced by Nick DelRose with help from Wendy Zukerman, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang, and Hannah Harris Green. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Peter Leonard. And special thanks to the Zukerman family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.

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Reparations: How Much Would It Cost? Oct 31, 2020

Show notes

The idea of paying Black Americans reparations for slavery has been around for a long time, but it’s starting to get more support than ever. So we ask: If the country does agree to pay up, how do you calculate the bill? And how could the U.S. come up with that kind of cash? To find out, we talk to economist Prof. William Darity Jr.

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Supervolcanoes: Is Yellowstone Overdue? Oct 24, 2020

Show notes

We keep hearing that a Yellowstone supervolcano could blow at any moment — and possibly wipe us all out. So is Yellowstone overdue for the BIG ONE, and if it happens, how bad could it be? To find out, we talk to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Dr. Mike Poland.

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The Longest Animal Oct 17, 2020

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Scientists made a new discovery in the deep sea! We share with you this snippet of news from the animal kingdom.

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Lab-Grown Meat: What's the Beef? Oct 10, 2020

Show notes

Silicon Valley seems to be constantly pumping out "solutions" to fix our broken food system. The latest and greatest: cell-cultured meat — meat that's grown in vats, without needing to kill animals. We join forces with Chase Purdy, author of “Billion Dollar Burger,” to find out how it's made. And we speak to Dr. Uma Valeti of Memphis Meats.

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Solving the Coldest Case Oct 03, 2020

Show notes

An adventuring Swedish doctor takes on a decades-long mystery: What exactly was the 1918 flu? We talk to Dr. Johan Hultin and Annie Conger.

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