Stay ConnectedThe Science Pawdcast breaks down the latest science happening in the human world AND the pet world.
Jason and Kris Zackowski break down a topical science news and pet science news every week with a dose of humour and heart.
You’ll also occasionally get a wonderful interview with a science expert about their area of knowledge, but ALSO some pet stories too!
It’s the perfect blend of education and fun!
Copyright: ℗ & © 2019 The Science Pawdcast - With Bunsen Berner!
On this episode we look at the tsunamis that weren't from the Russian megaquake, and which dog breeds are super super hungry all the time.
• Earthquake occurred in the Kural Kamchatka subduction zone where the Pacific plate slides under the Okhotsk plate at 75mm per year
• Logarithmic earthquake scales mean each magnitude increase represents 10x more energy
• Despite the earthquake's strength, the rupture didn't reach the seafloor, limiting tsunami development
• Hawaiian and California coasts saw modest waves of 1-1.5 meters, far less than feared
• Historical tsunamis like the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster (227,000+ deaths) demonstrate the potential danger
• Texas A&M study of 15,000 dog owners reveals which breeds have highest "food motivation scores"
• Sporting breeds like Labs and Golden Retrievers are 10% more likely to overeat than mixed breeds
• Hound breeds (beagles, dachshunds) follow at 5.3% higher likelihood
• City dogs and those in multi-dog households more prone to weight issues
• Maintaining healthy dog weight reduces risks of diabetes, arthritis, and skin disease
If you enjoy our content, consider joining our Patreon community at the Top Dogs level to support the Science Podcast.
For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
Pet Chat today has a special guest: Wildlife rehabilitator Janie Girardin who shares her experiences caring for orphaned and injured animals at Spicy Paws Wildlife Sanctuary, explaining the delicate process of rehabilitation and eventual release back to nature.
• Specializes in rehabilitating squirrels, rabbits, songbirds, and fawns
• Currently caring for eight baby squirrels, five rabbits, and six fawns
• Animals typically come into care when orphaned, injured, or showing distress signals
• Uses a "soft release" approach, allowing animals to transition gradually back to the wild
• Minimizes human contact to ensure animals retain their wild instincts
• Explains how to tell when wildlife truly needs human assistance
• Debunks myth that touching baby birds causes mother rejection
• Advises keeping distressed wildlife "warm, dark and quiet" until professional help arrives
• Warns against feeding baby animals without professional guidance
• Becoming a rehabilitator requires specific training, testing, and licensing
If you'd like to support Spicy Paws Wildlife Sanctuary, visit their Facebook page.
Our links:
Our Website! www.bunsenbernerbmd.com
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For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
In this episode we explore scientific findings about optimal daily step counts, genetic predispositions for having children of the same sex, and how dogs perceive and interact with television.
• Research shows 7,000 steps per day is the health "sweet spot," not the commonly cited 10,000
• At 7,000 steps, studies found 25% reduced cardiovascular disease risk, 37% lower cancer risk, and 38% decreased dementia-related deaths
• Even modest increases from baseline (2,000 steps) show significant health benefits
• Genetic study reveals some families may be predisposed to having children of primarily one sex
• Older mothers showed strongest patterns of same-sex children, possibly due to biological mechanisms
• Two gene variants identified that correlate with having all male or all female children
• Modern LED TVs allow dogs to see continuous motion unlike older TVs
• Dogs primarily see blue and yellow colors and 45% react to other dogs on screen
• A dog's personality, not breed or age, determines their interest in television
• Anxious dogs may find TV overstimulating rather than enriching
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For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
Johnny Heim, pet artist extraordinaire, shares his journey from childhood drawings of Snoopy to creating art that has raised thousands of dollars for animal rescues worldwide.
• Started drawing as a child in Winnipeg, perfecting his Snoopy technique during long winters
• Won a shrine circus poster contest in grade six, realizing art could bring tangible rewards
• Drew attention with his "Shark Attack" clothing line while in university
• Used drawing skills in advertising career to help visualize concepts for clients
• Reconnected with art during COVID and began focusing on pet portraits
• Raised over $10,000 with his "We're All Made of Stars" portrait series in memory of Kuno
• Creates all artwork traditionally with ink and paper, no digital tools
• Lives by the motto "I draw because they can't" as motivation for his work
• Collaborates with rescue organizations to raise funds through his artwork
• Helps tell the stories of rescue animals through projects like "Unleashing Tales" books
• Currently lives with Olive, his 8-year-old French Bulldog who "lets him live in her house"
• Finds the most joy when people connect emotionally with his portraits of their pets
Email johnny.heim@gmail.com to inquire about commissions. Find his work on X @JohnHeim or Instagram @art_by_heim.
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Our Website! www.bunsenbernerbmd.com
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Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:
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For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
We dive into the environmental impact of AI technologies and explore the science behind how pet touch affects human well-being.
• Generative AI consumes significant energy with a ChatGPT query using approximately 10 times more energy than a Google search
• By 2028, data centers could account for 12% of US energy use, up from 4.4% currently
• Companies rarely disclose the true energy costs of training and running AI models
• Smaller AI models can achieve similar results with dramatically lower carbon footprints
• Practical solutions include choosing efficient models, using AI during off-peak hours, and minimizing unnecessary words in prompts
• Recent study of 443 pet owners shows both giving and receiving touch contributes to owner well-being
• Stroking pets shows stronger positive effects on well-being than hugging or holding
• Pet leaning behavior (like when dogs press against their owners) is particularly beneficial for emotional health
• The act of giving touch to pets may be more beneficial than receiving touch from them
• The physical mechanisms of touch involve specialized nerve fibers that respond differently in hairy versus non-hairy skin
Our links:
Our Website! www.bunsenbernerbmd.com
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Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:
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For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
We explore groundbreaking science developments from space discovery to environmental innovation and canine intuition. The James Webb Space Telescope has directly imaged an exoplanet for the first time, marking a pivotal moment in our quest to understand distant worlds.
• JWST captures first direct image of an exoplanet orbiting star TWA7, 111 light-years away
• The Saturn-sized planet orbits 52 astronomical units from its star within a gap in the star's dusty debris disk
• Scientists used a coronagraph to block the star's light, enabling them to see the much dimmer planet
• Researchers genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to convert plastic waste into acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol
• The bacteria achieved 92% conversion efficiency in 48 hours, offering potential solutions for plastic pollution and sustainable pharmaceutical production
• Though promising, this process is not yet scalable for industrial applications
• Study reveals 65% of participants noticed behavior changes in their dogs during pregnancy
• 27% reported these changes occurred before they knew they were pregnant
• Dogs showed increased attention-seeking, guarding behavior, and anxiety around other dogs
• Canines can detect changes in human biochemistry, emotions, and scent during pregnancy
If your dog detected your pregnancy before you knew, we'd love to hear your story! Check out our Patreon at the link in show notes to support the podcast and join our Paw Pack community.
Our links:
Our Website! www.bunsenbernerbmd.com
Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!
Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:
Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok
For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
Jason an Kris share updates on their dogs Bunsen, Beaker, and Bernoulli, as well as cat Ginger, covering health updates, socialization progress, and hilarious escape stories.
• Bunsen has recovered better than expected from his health issues but remains on-leash for safety
• Ginger was a rescue whose name felt perfect without needing a science-themed replacement
• Beaker has overcome socialization challenges through regular visits to doggy daycare
• Bernoulli has discovered an unexpected friendship with miniature horses at a new care facility
• Ginger has mastered multiple escape techniques, including using Bernoulli as an unwitting accomplice
• Beaker provided comfort to students during final exams, showing her progress with strangers
• The Fun Facts with Bernoulli book is completed and will soon be available in the store
• The Bernoulli pre-sale stuffy opportunity remains open until the end of June
Pet Chat will be on hiatus for the next two weeks, returning July 19th with special guest artist John Heim.
Our links:
Our Website! www.bunsenbernerbmd.com
Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!
Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:
Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok
For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
We celebrate a milestone of 200,000 Instagram followers, reflecting on how their platform has grown from a "ghost town" into a thriving community where cute dogs help deliver science education.
• The hosts share updates about their dogs, including Bunsen's recovery progress
• Jason shares exciting wildlife footage captured on their trail cam, featuring a great horned owl
• Community member Holly recounts the story of her cat Toby escaping through an unlatched door
• Paula shares her experience rescuing a robin fledgling and connecting with a wildlife rehabilitator
•Kris tells the story of rescuing a great horned owl that was later rehabilitated and released
• The hosts and community members discuss the importance of proper wildlife rescue protocols
• Bunsen and Ginger's "Operation Beauty and the Beast" team-up to raid the cat food
Join us next Saturday for another episode of Pet Chat, and Paw Pack members can catch us tomorrow for our special community chat.
Our links:
Our Website! www.bunsenbernerbmd.com
Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!
Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:
Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok
For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
Innovations in science are making daily life better through passive cooling paint and insights into pet interactions.
In the Science News section we explore technologies that could transform how we maintain comfortable living spaces and manage our emotions at work.
• Cement-based cooling paint from Nyang Technological University uses three cooling strategies: radiative cooling, evaporative cooling, and solar reflection
• The specialized paint maintains effectiveness after two years of testing, reflecting 88-92% of sunlight while conventional paints yellow and lose performance
• Buildings using this paint required 30-40% less electricity for air conditioning, potentially reducing urban heat islands
• Research shows looking at photos of your own dog (not random dogs or cats) significantly reduces anger and aggressive intent
The Guest in Ask an Expert...
• Dr. Lori Palen discusses how data communication bridges the gap between scientific discovery and real-world impact
• Data Soapbox helps scientists translate complex findings into accessible, engaging content that drives positive change
• Science communication needs to be planned from the outset rather than treated as an afterthought
Dr. Palen's links
Data Soap Box: https://datasoapbox.com/
Dr. Palen on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/loripalen.bsky.social
Our links:
Our Website! www.bunsenbernerbmd.com
Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!
Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:
Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok
For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
We explore the physics behind making the biggest splash in pool jumping and examine a promising new non-opioid painkiller that could revolutionize pain management without addiction risks.
Our investigation into canine health reveals which dog breeds are most prone to diarrhea—with some surprising findings for particular designer breeds.
• The science of Manu jumping reveals a precise 45-degree entry angle with V-shaped body posture creates the biggest pool splash
• Underwater backward roll and leg extension forms an air pocket that collapses to create maximum splash height
• New experimental drug SBI-810 targets pain pathways without causing addiction or euphoria
• This non-opioid painkiller outperformed newer opioids in animal testing and could reduce reliance on addictive pain medications
• Study of 2.25 million dogs shows breeds with names ending in "poo" have highest diarrhea rates
• Cavapoos (14.95%), Maltese (14.6%), and Miniature Poodles (14.26%) top the list for diarrhea incidence
• Most canine diarrhea cases (92%) involve only one event per year and resolve with a single vet visit
• Common treatments include probiotics, dietary management, and sometimes antibiotics for more severe cases
Here's a link of Manu jumping! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogkRgkf4YAo
Our links:
Our Website! www.bunsenbernerbmd.com
Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter!
Bunsen and Beaker on Twitter:
Bunsen and Beaker on TikTok
For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!
Being Kind is a Superpower.
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