Let's Learn Everything!
Maximum Fun
Science communicators Ella Hubber, Tom Lum, and Caroline Roper learn about anything and everything interesting! Each episode they teach each other about a science topic, and learn about a miscellaneous topic. Whether it's bugs on drugs, temporal illusions, or fanfiction, there's so much out there, so let's learn everything! Join our Discord, email us, and follow us everywhere at www.LetsLearnEverything.com
Preview: The Lab Rat Games
Welcome to the (preview for the) Lab Rat Games! The GAME show where we compete to learn anything and everything interesting! We love putting games into our topics, so what happens when we make a whole show of them, with each of us hosting their own section! Plus! We're joined by friend of the show and competitive chaos combatant, Sabrina Cruz!Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord! MaxFunDrive ends on March 28, 2025! Support our show now and get access to bonus content by becoming
Mar 27, • 38:21
81: Dinosaur Diet Detectives & Proto-Podcasts
How can scientist's unravel the mystery of what dinosaurs ate? Well the clues are right in front of our eyes, or should I say their teeth! And poop! And listener you may already know what a podcast is, but how did proto-podcasts in a chicken coop give us the DNA for what we love, and how did podcasts even happen?Images we Talk About:First Iguanadon ToothPuffer Fish TeethFish TeethsIncisivosaurusSaurolophusDinosaur Stomach Contents FossilHam ComicSybil's Baby's Radio RebutTimestamps:(00:00:00) In
Mar 20, • 2:12:38
Tom, Ella, and Caroline join MFD Spring Break
It’s not MaxFunDrive without a wild kickoff spectacular! Former real-life VJ and host of MTV's Spring Break 1999, Dave Holmes, takes your favorite MaxFun hosts through some wacky ‘90s- and Spring Break-themed mini games!!Featuring: Dave Holmes, Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya, Dimitry Pompée, Tom Lum, Ellen Weatherford, Alex Schmidt, Brenda Snell, Drea Clark, Alonso Duralde, Dan McCoy, Jordan Morris, Manolo Moreno, Ella Hubber, Caroline Roper, Ella McLeod, John-Luke Roberts, Justin McElroy, Clint McE
Mar 17, • 1:20:29
80: Ify Nwadiwe, The Science of the Peasant Railgun, and a Panoply of Nerdery
Host of Um Actually and nerd of many domains Ify Nwadiwe joins us as Tom helps him deconstruct the infamous Peasant Railgun from D&D. Could it actually work? And can we come up with something even more powerful using real science? We also dig into nerdery old and new, and see if Ify can convince Ella and Caroline to embrace their home country's greatest export: Warhammer.Images we Talk About:A Real Railgun FiringTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:06:05) The Peasant Railgun(00:43:07) Q&A/Nerding Out(
Mar 13, • 1:16:19
79: The Psychology of Math & Sudoku
Why is math both so easy and so hard for our brains, and how can the psychology of horses, babies, and mathematicians help answer that? And what wild journey did Sudoku take to become the popular puzzle that Ella adores?Things we Talk About:The Video of a Child Learning to CountThe Melencolia PaintingTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:59) The Psychology of Math(01:00:35) Sudoku(01:44:59) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: the Wonderful student, it’s no
Feb 27, • 1:50:32
78: Drosophila Melanogaster & The British Meal Deal
Why is the common fruit fly the perfect model organism, and the reason for 6 Nobel Prizes?? And what is the british fascination around the meal deal, lunchtime, and the sandwich?Images we Talk About:Map of the Fruit Fly BrainRat My Meal DealThe Sandwich FactoryTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:57) Drosophila Melanogaster(00:49:46) The British Meal Deal(01:37:48) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Ella’s former favorite fun fact, are 6 nobel prizes mor
Feb 13, • 1:43:10
77: Light Pollution & Mistaeks
What can we learn from the most modern - but overlooked form of pollution? And can mistakes in art be something actually... good?Images we Talk About:Navajo Rug Ch'ihónít’iRamses II StatueEcce HomoThe Original Ecce Homo3 Versions of Ecce HomoLincoln Memorial MistakeTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:25) Light Pollution
Jan 30, • 1:43:58
Recast: The Funcanny Valley - Spellbound and Gagged
As we plan out the new year, please enjoy a recast of one of my (Tom's) favorite guest appearances on Spellbound and Gagged, hosted by the wonderful friend of the show Ellen Weatherford!
Jan 16, • 1:15:38
New Year Q&A 2024/25
It's the start of the new year which means a bunch of new questions submitted by YOU! What are our favorite words from the podcast? What's it like to scrap a topic? Would we still love each other if we were worms?Things we Talk About:Contrapoints' Twilight VideoJenny Nicholson's Star Wars Hotel VideoShaun's ChannelChina's Artifical SunTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:07:42) Part 1(01:13:53) Part 2(01:54:30) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Members
Jan 2, • 1:59:20
76: The HaLearnDays Spectacular! 2024
It's the HaLearn Days!! We've gathered a whole bunch of fun facts from each other and from friends of the show to share the gift of laughter and learning!Images we Talk About:The Rat CarRat Car VideoSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:07:57) Part 1(00:59:11) Part 2(01:37:06) Outro We also learn about: The Christmas Brussel Sprout Tradition, put christ back in halearn days, Where the Dog Ran, eclipses are more of a “huh?” moment, you might hear a
Dec 19, 2024 • 1:44:18
75: Where are We? & Carrot Propaganda
Where are we in the universe? And what can we learn from all the hilariously wrong guesses and bad maps that got us there? And just how much carrot propaganda was there? Well, we'll see a lot of posters and a few myths to debunk!Images we Talk About:Dunn's Earth & Moon MapsHerschel's Milky Way MapWright's Island Universes DrawingThe Imag
Dec 5, 2024 • 1:29:14
Submit Your Q&A Questions!
It's everyone's favorite holiday: the day we ask you to submit your Q&A questions!!Go to www.LetsLearnEverything.com/questions and submit your questions about truly anything at all from the science to the serious to the silly!
Nov 28, 2024 • 3:58
74: Autumn Leaves & Swearing
Why do leaves change color? No... like really? Like, show-me-the-scientific-literature-really? After all how mysterious could the answer be? And holy frick we're finally doing a topic on swearing!! What are the eras of swearing, and what is swearing actually good for? Listen to our episode of Escape this Podcast: Oceananigans pt. 3 - The Bering-toss StraitImages we Talk About:Carotenemia HandsTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:34) Autumn Leaves(00:53:04) Swearing(01:42:57) OutroSupport us with a
Nov 21, 2024 • 1:49:16
73: Linguist Gretchen McCulloch, Latin in Science, and Internet Linguistics
Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch of Lingthusiasm joins us to casually answer all of our pressing linguistics questions with the most mind blowing facts. Why does science use so much dang latin, and what is so unique about internet linguistics?Images we Talk About:Gretchen's Favorite FrogsTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:10:58) Latin in Science(00:54:49) Misc & Internet Linguistics(01:22:46) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Words that change the s
Nov 7, 2024 • 1:25:39
72: Former Cryptids & The Art of a Scary Story
Cryptids may be spooky, but what about the spooky animals that turned out to be... real?? And what makes a good spooky story? Could it be something secretly... heartwarming??Timestamps:(00:07:15) Intro(00:04:21) Former Cryptids(00:54:25) The Art of Spooky Stories(01:52:33) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Caroline have you never met a vampire? that was from episode number Four Three, what’s spookier than having to be known, Ella met Tom the true Cry
Oct 24, 2024 • 1:57:20
71: 🎂 Good Invasive Species, Rock Climbing, and Ig Interviews
For our birthday this year, we've each gifted a topic for one another! For Caroline, an environmental hot take: can invasive species ever be... good? For Tom, an entire topic about one of his favorite hobbies: rock climbing! And for Ella, interviews from the Ig Nobel Laureates this year.Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:09:04) Good Invasive Species(00:46:31) Rock Climbing(01:18:05) Ig Nobel Interviews(02:01:14) OutroWe also learn about: In podca
Oct 10, 2024 • 2:05:30
70: The Core of the Earth & Planned Obsolescence
What's actually going on in the center of the Earth, and just how interesting and useful could it be? And how did the now ubiquitous Planned Obsolescence start with... bicycles??Images we Talk About:An Early BicycleBilhert's AnimationsTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:06) Epigenetics(00:58:24) The World Games(01:45:52) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Core Memories, we live on the zest of a lemon, there’s something neapolitan icecreamy about the Ea
Sep 26, 2024 • 1:52:07
69: Hank Green, Sex Science, Reverse Platypi, and the First Dick Drawing
Longtime inspiration and friend of the show Hank Green joins us for a very special episode! How do colonial organisms with just one queen avoid incest? How many Ig Nobels have gone to sex science? Can the team figure out the identity of the Reverse Platypus? When was the first dick grafitti, and could the story actually be... wholesome???Watch: The video of the unexpected momentImages we talk about:MRI of SexRat Pants DiagramThe Phallodeum ImageVenus of Hohle FelsThe Debatable DickHadrian's Wal
Sep 12, 2024 • 2:00:56
68: Phrenology & Lego
It's an infamous pseudoscience, but what haven't we learned from the rise and fall of Phrenology? And Lego are ubiquitous, which means there's a lot to learn and a lot of nuance for our love of these stackable bricks.Things we Talk About:The Phrenology PampheletThe Lego Cullen HouseLego SeismometerCERN Lego DeviceThe Brick Experiment ChannelTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:32) Phrenology(00:56:34) Lego(01:38:25) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Get
Aug 29, 2024 • 1:42:58
Recast: LLE on SIF - Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
While we're sending Tom "Well Wissage" and a speedy recovery, enjoy Ella & Caroline on this tremendous episode of one of our sibling shows on the network, Secretly Incredibly Fascinating!
Aug 15, 2024 • 1:05:38
67: Epigenetics & The Overlooked World Games
You may have heard Epigenetics used as a buzzword, but what is it really? Is it something we know about, something still new, or... both? And what in the world are the World Games, and what makes them better than the Olympics?Links we Talk About:Ella's SciShow Video on X Chromosome DiseasesSport CastingFin SwimmingHaudenosaunee FlagChristopher Root's Incredible Paper on the Colonization of LacrosseThe Adorable NYMuseum Haudenosaunee VideoTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:21) Epigenetics(00:57:40
Aug 1, 2024 • 1:56:31
66: What is a Species & What is UK Voting?
It's a word we say all the time but... what IS a species? How has it been used in the past, and could the different answers all be right? And how does voting work in the UK? It starts with voting for knights, and could hopefully end in the future with something even better.Images we Talk About:Ella's Zoom MoustacheTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:23) What is a Species?(01:01:54) UK Voting(01:50:43) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Jenny Lec, the
Jul 18, 2024 • 1:55:55
The Best of Everything 2023-2024
After much deliberation, the academy (listeners of the podcast) has voted on the best topics from the past year! If this is your first episode, you'll get a sampling of our favorite moments of science and sillyness, and if you're a long time listener, you'll hear some behind the scenes thoughts about the topics, as well as... a secret teaser at the very end??Images we Talk About:The Jacobin PigeonThe Pouter PigeonTimestamps:(00:04:37) Intro(00:03:59) Part 1(00:55:00) Part 2(01:51:28) OutroSuppor
Jul 4, 2024 • 2:00:03
65: Black Holes 101 & Tattoos
What happens when a star collapses to a point of near infinite gravity? And just how hard could that be to actually... find? And why do we love tattoos so much, and how long have human beings across the world been loving them too?Check out Tom's first long form video that's finally out!Images we Talk About:The Crab NebulaFirst Image of a Black HolePhoto of OUR Black Hole, Sagiratius ATimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:47) Black Holes 101(00:57:51) Tattoos(01:43:53) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun
Jun 20, 2024 • 1:47:56
64: Tom Scott, Human Acceleration, and Failed Videos
How fast can a regular human accelerate from 0-60? How can you learn to love roller-coasters? And is there a terrifying experience Ella's done that even Tom Scott hasn't?? After having us on his show for so long, it's finally time for Tom Scott to join us on our show!Videos we Talk About:Tom Scott's Amazing Roller Coaster VideoTom Scott's Failed Video VideoTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:15) Human Acceleration(00:50:03) Roller-coasters and Failed Videos(01:18:05) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun
Jun 6, 2024 • 1:22:03
Pride Merch & Voting for the Best of Everything!
It's Pride and Poll-jedice! For pride month we have some pride merch including an amazing design by Caroline, with proceeds going to Pride in Stem! Also, toss in your vote to defend the honor of your favorite topic for the next Best Of Everything episode!All of this is at LetsLearnEverything.com
May 30, 2024 • 4:08
63: Biomimicry & The Evolution of Chess
What can we learn by mimicking animals in nature, and more importantly, what can we learn about the nuance behind the buzzword of biomimicry? And just how many wild facts are hidden in a simple chess set?Images we Talk About:One of the Oldest Shatranj SetsTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:26) Biomimicry(00:50:25) Chess Chess Evolution(01:33:41) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: So nice to have a topic taken, biomemetics, the spider grabber is more l
May 23, 2024 • 1:38:23
62: False Memories & House Plants
How much real science is there to the Mandela Effect, and how much should we be worried about our faulty memories? And what's the science and history behind our long love for house plants?Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:31) False Memories(00:57:30) (01:37:47) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Yes Ella my favorite host of Let’s Learn Everything, Fiona Broome - Paranormal Researcher, Ella is shocked to learn the Mandela Effect was a conspiracy first, repressed memories,
May 9, 2024 • 1:42:15
61: Whale Fall Ecology & Jury Duty
What happens when the largest living animal becomes the largest dead animal? Just how complex could a dead whale be? And what are the differences, flaws, and nuances of the jury system, and can we be studying it better?Images we Talk About:The Zombie WormTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:59) Whale Fall Ecology(00:52:52) Jury Duty(01:32:41) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: A bucket of mice, when whales die the people who love them will miss them, a
Apr 25, 2024 • 1:37:58
60: Near Earth Objects & Guitar Tabs
What are all these rocks hurtling through space? Do we need to worry about them, and what can we learn from them? And what are guitar tabs, why don't people take them seriously, and why does Tom love them so dang much?Videos we Talk About:Osiris Boop GifTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:54) Near Earth Objects(00:56:58) Guitar Tabs(01:47:55) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| B|-----------------|---
Apr 11, 2024 • 1:53:37
Preview: Rats! Cheddar Heist!
With Tom as their DM, Ella, Caroline, and Ellen Weatherford team up for a dicey heist in the big apple. Only one catch: they're rats! Can Rex, Tango, and Muriel ratatouille their way to nab the cheddar, or will they crumble like feta? Believe it or not this is only the first quarter of the full 2 hour episode that you can only get by becoming a member at MaximumFun.org/join MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.
Mar 28, 2024 • 36:41
59: Quantum Physics & Gossip
Can Tom finally take on his science communication white whale: Quantum Physics?? And what is gossip, what did it mean in the past, and could it actually be... good?? Find out on a very special MaxFunDrive episode!See all the MaxFunDrive events, pins, and links here!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:06:27) Quantum Physics(01:00:04) MaxFunDrive!(01:08:55) Gossip(01:44:38) OutroSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about:One minute of self indulgence, another bit?? when
Mar 21, 2024 • 1:52:09
Go Fact Yourself MaxFunDrive Kick-off Spectacular featuring Ella Hubber, Tom Lum, Teresa McElroy, Ross Blocher, and Jordan Morris
IT'S THE MAXFUNDRIVE!!! And we're kicking it off with a network-wide trivia competition with other MaxFun hosts!You can see all our upcoming events during the drive and become a member at www.LetsLearnEverything.comThis special network wide event is a celebration of the MaxFunDrive! If you’d like to support podcasts you love for just $5 a month and get bonus gifts in the process, go to maximumfun.org/join.J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong from “Go Fact Yourself” are joined by:Teresa McElroy
Mar 18, 2024 • 20:39
58: Kelly & Zach Weinersmith, Mars Ecology, and Space Communes
What would a man-made ecosystem look like on mars? Just how complicated could it possibly be? And are the human and societal issues just as complicated? Science communicators and authors Zach and Dr. Kelly Weinersmith ask and answer all of these questions and more!Check out: A City on Mars!The Weinersmith's article on Frontier Mythology and SpaceThe Weinersmith's paper in the journal Space Policy on Space CommunesBeaWolfSaturday Morning Breakfast CerealTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:30) M
Mar 14, 2024 • 1:16:00
57: Don't Lose Your Head! and Constructed Languages
Losing your head isn't good, but what actually happens, and what can it tell us about animals, ethics, and bad science? And what is a constructed language, when does it fail, and when can it be use to make great... art? As they say, Ni Lernu Ĉion!Content Warning that today's science topic can be a bit grim, so if you want, you can skip ahead to 54:54Things we Talk About:Mike The ChickenSea Slug MovingThe Narmer PaletteTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:36) Don't Lose Your Head!(00:54:55) Construc
Feb 29, 2024 • 1:40:28
56: Are We Still Evolving? & Famous First Messages
How have human beings evolved, and how could we evolve in the future? And what are some famous first messages, and what can we learn from looking at them?Images we Talk About:TelegramFirst Record ImageSecond Record ImageOther Record ImagesTom's Ingenuity ComicSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:15) Are We Still Evolving?(00:52:00) Famous First Messages(01:38:17) OutroWe also learn about:DANGER BOO BOO, Ella has her own discord?? homo sapiens w
Feb 15, 2024 • 1:42:59
55: Evolving Electricity & What's "Women's Work"?
How did eels evolve electricity? And when is "women's work" neither women's nor work?Images we Talk About:SocksMore SocksThimbleBagCrochet ArtTimestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:26) Evolving Electricity(00:51:13) "Women's Work"(01:38:46) OutroWe also learn about: Happy moisturizer to all who celebrate, Ella’s just here for moral support, when did they put batteries in eels, someone's just statically charging these eels, what did we call electric eels before electricity? why would we think lightnin
Feb 1, 2024 • 1:43:31
Recast: LLE on Creature Feature - The Bird Pee Technique
While we take our January break we're rebroadcasting our appearance on Creature Feature! Katie pulled out some of the wildest facts for us, so enjoy, thanks for your patience, and see y'all in 2 weeks!
Jan 18, 2024 • 1:02:16
New Year Q&A
It's our annual Q&A episode where we look back on 2023 and answer your questions to learn about our process, our favorite things, and each other!Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Ella gets on the album, Dodie is very frog people music, pigeons fruit flies and sloths, our favorite topics of each others, black holes and microscopes and extinct animals, there’s one whole picture of Ella and Caroline, I need more than 5 seconds of this lady, Nessie Krampus a
Jan 4, 2024 • 1:46:53
54: The HaLearnDay Extravaganza!
It's the HaLearnDays! The time of year when we share gifts of fun facts from us and friends of the show!Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: I wish Katie and Alex were real, pooping every 20 minutes, a human creates 320 pounds of poop a year, when I think about dangerous, “when I think of dangerous bird boop”, cube pooped saves on the poly count, poopin and pleasin, Watching the Sky and Thinking a Thought, smuggling instruments to space, sonic boooooms, thi
Dec 21, 2023 • 1:41:15
53: Making Superheavy Elements, and Celebrating Public Domain Day
What are the superheavy elements, and how did we make them? And what is public domain day, and why is next year's going to be so interesting?Things we Talk About:The Mickey Mouse CurveSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:17) Superheavy Elements(00:37:05) Public Domain Day(01:18:43) OutroWe also learn about: It’s like we’re in school again, ordering the periodic table before discovering the electron, Mendelev didn't even like electrons, the nucl
Dec 7, 2023 • 1:23:10
Submit Your Q&A Questions!
Submit your questions for our end of year Q&A episode at letslearneverything.com/question or in our discord!
Nov 30, 2023 • 0:52
52: Amy Westervelt, Carbon Capture, and the Cartoonishly Evil Atlas Network
Investigative journalist Amy Westervelt from Drilled asks us: what is carbon capture and is it good or bad or... complicated? What is the Atlas Network and why are they comically evil dark avengers of the climate world? And how do you go from recording a podcast in your car to creating an award winning podcast network?🎤 See Tom perform comedy in Brooklyn for Earth Alliance! 🎤Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:14) Carbon Capture(00:39:05)
Nov 23, 2023 • 1:11:52
51: Carcinization, The Animal Algorithm Mystery, and The Many Lemming Lies w/ Ellen Weatherford
Are we really all destined to turn into crabs? Why are there so many animal algorithms, and are they all legit? And just how many times have we been wrong about the lemming?Things we talk about:All the Crabs Caroline mentionsThe Big List of Animal AlgorithmsBoid VideoSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:03) Carcinization(00:42:00) The Animal Algorithm Mystery(01:25:38) The Many Lemming Lies(01:45:27) OutroWe also learn about: Endless forms mos
Nov 9, 2023 • 1:50:27
49: Goosebumps, (Not) Alien Pyramids, and Nessie & Cryptids
Why do we get goosebumps when we hear nails on a chalkboard? Obviously aliens didn't make the pyramids, but how were they made and what does that teach us about humanity? And what's the story behind nessie and why the queer community loves cryptids?Things we talk about:Egyptian painting of using water to pull a statueVideo of modern people pulling a blockThe famous Nessie photographSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:59) Goosebumps(00:48:51)
Oct 26, 2023 • 1:55:49
50: The Ig Nobel Prize, The 2023 Ig Nobel Winners, and the Ig Nobel Peace Prize
For our 2nd anniversary and our 50th episode (which it definitely is, don't check) we cooperatively tackled a topic folks have been asking us to do for ages: The Ig Nobel Prize!Check out our new merch! Hats! Posters! Mugs!Images and Videos we talk about:The Levitating Frog VideoThe Best of Miss Sweetie PooOcean Mixing Anchovy DiagramThe Grabbing Tentacle Robot VideoNecrobotic Spider DiagramNecrobotic Spider VideoThe Juke 8Daisuke Practicing his SpeechJoin our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(
Oct 12, 2023 • 2:05:58
48: Wikipedia w/ Annie Rauwerda, The First Boring Number, and Perpetual Stew
We all use Wikipedia, but how did it come to be? What's the first number to not have a Wikipedia page, and what does that say about math and humans? And what on Earth is Perpetual Stew?Follow Annie and Depths of Wikipedia on Instagam/Twitter/Tiktok!Images we talk about:Sloane's Gapnostalgia.wikipedia.comSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:07:33) The History of Wikipedia(00:50:16) The First Boring Number (01:12:09) Wikimania and Perpetual Stew(01:5
Sep 28, 2023 • 1:35:03
47: The Abyssopelagic Zone, The Crystal Healing Boom, and Time Capsules
What lies below the depths of the sea... and why should we stop being so afraid of it? Okay we know crystals can't heal you, but could they actually do... something? And why are time capsules more complicated than you'd think, and why should we love them anyway?Images/Videos we talk about:The Phantom Jellyfish (warning for Thalassophobia)The Venus Flow Basket SpongeSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:04) The Abyssopelagic Zone(00:54:21) The C
Sep 14, 2023 • 1:59:50
46: Lawn Loathing, Spelling Psammophile, and Guinness World Records
Why are lawns so bad, and what could we grow instead? How much can we learn from an esoteric word like Psammophile? And why is the Guinness Book of World Records wonderful and terrible at the same time?How complicated is trying to scientifically study gender? Why does it feel like water get discovered on Mars every other month? And what's so great about these pigeons I see everywhere?Images/Videos we talk about:Snakes in SandThe Jerboa/Kangaroo Rat/Kangaroo MouseSupport us with a Max Fun Member
Aug 31, 2023 • 1:54:44
45: Superseded Science, why is TB Still a Thing, and the Radium Girls
What theories in science came before the ones we know today, and what can they teach us? Why is Tuberculosis still a thing in the modern age? And who were the Radium girls, and what did they give us?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about:Oh Fuck Tom and Ella and Caroline, theory vs pseudoscience, scientific glow up, the LLE game show theme, any time Tom isn’t talking he’s doing a little dance, preformationism, tiny growing dinosaur gametes, miasma, spontaneous
Aug 17, 2023 • 1:54:44
44: Katie Goldin & Alex Schmidt, Space Birds, and the Bison Emoji 🦬
Special guests Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin from Secretly Incredibly Fascinating and Creature Feature answer: Have birds ever been to space? Why does Katie love birds so much? And how did Alex bring about the bison emoji to everyone's phones?Things we Talk About:The Quails in Space video we watched over and overThe Club Winged Manakin's "Call"Katie's Snoopy ComicsSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:07:13) Space Birds(00:38:46) Birds & Bison Emo
Aug 3, 2023 • 59:39
43: Gravitational Waves, The Loneliest Animal, and Graffiti
How long have we been searching for Gravitational Waves? What is the loneliest animal, and what does it mean to be lonely? And what really makes graffiti... graffiti?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:26) Gravitational Waves(00:41:01) The Loneliest Animal(01:14:17) Graffiti(01:45:21) OutroWe also learn about: Invisible ripples in spacetime that move at the speed of light and squeeze and stretch spacetime, Aristotle would have lost his mind a
Jul 20, 2023 • 1:50:14
42: Gender Complexity, Mars Water Deja Vu, and Pigeons
How complicated is trying to scientifically study gender? Why does it feel like water get discovered on Mars every other month? And what's so great about these pigeons I see everywhere?Images we talk about:The Brain Gender ChartThe Jacobin PigeonThe Pouter PigeonSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:38) Gender Complexity(00:42:27) Mars Water Deja Vu(01:18:16) Pigeons(01:38:21) OutroWe also learn about: Caroline snipes Tom’s joke, let’s talk about
Jul 6, 2023 • 1:42:31
Best Of Everything!
It's our first Best Of episode! We sat down to listen to and talk about the topics YOU told us were your favorites!Temporal Illusions! Eurovision! Dodos, and so much more! Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: The handsome Dr. Ella Hubber, if a friend recommended this to you they’re amazing and didn’t start that orphanage fire, declaring Tom’s love for Carly in the first episode, the first “Comedy”, Tom’s Eurovision indoctrination, the grim Holiday Episode, *
Jun 19, 2023 • 1:32:08
41: Eyevolution, Eliminating Mosquitos, and Bagged Milk w/ Sabrina Cruz
What are some of the wildest ways that eyes have evolved? What would happen if we got rid of all mosquitos, and how would we even do it? And how on Earth did some Canadians come to love bagged milk?Images we talk about:The Picture Tom had on his Dorm WallThe Sheep VideoSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:15) Eyevolution(00:44:03) Eliminating Mosquitos(01:18:52) Bagged Milk(01:42:00) OutroWe also learn about: Ella you’ve made it! it’s bagged
Jun 8, 2023 • 1:47:08
40: Mitochondrial Eve, Climate Change CRISPR, and Telephone Music
Who is the most recent human we all share our DNA with? How can CRISPR be used to help the climate crisis? And what do telephones have to do with music?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:22) Mitochondrial Eve(00:39:21) Climate Change CRISPR(01:14:56) Telephone Music(01:47:57) OutroImages we talk about:Early Headphone AdvertisementWe also learn about: Dartboard topics, Most recent common female ancestor, that’s actually the topic! endosymbiot
May 31, 2023 • 1:51:29
Tom-nical Difficulties: Back in a Week! (And the week after that!)
Tom threw out his voice screaming about the new Zelda game (not actually) so we're delaying the next episode. But! We're not shifting the release schedule so the next episode will still come out the Thursday after!In the meantime, check out the episode of Veritasium that Tom researched and wrote! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMQbHMgK2rw
May 25, 2023 • 2:25
39: The Pill, The 2 Highest Points on Earth, and Period Products
What are the myths and facts around the hormonal birth control pill? Why are there two highest points on Earth, and does that teach us about our planet? And what are all the ways period products affect the world we live in?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!Timestamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:04) The Pill(00:52:01) The 2 Highest Points on Earth(01:28:28) Period Products(01:49:10) OutroWe also learn about: Now that’s a rabbithole I can go down, taking half the pill makes you bi
May 11, 2023 • 1:53:25
38: Ellen Weatherford, Can Fish Drown, and Real Pokemon
Special guest Ellen Weatherford joins us to ask: just how interesting can water and fish be? And are there any pokemon inspired by strange but real animals? Check out Ellen's podcasts "Just the Zoo of Us" and "Spellbound and Gagged"Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: defining fish, “just be cool about it”, defining drowning, Ellen and Caroline teach Tom and Ella about where water oxygen comes from, history of breathing, where we’re going we don’t need bone
Apr 27, 2023 • 1:21:48
37: Loving Toxicity, Future Warnings, and Better Burials
Is there more to learn than to fear from toxic animals? How would we warn future humans about present dangers? And what are better ways for us to be buried? Things we mention:WIPP Mock Up ImagesSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about:This ant can kill 1 million elephants, haven’t found a venomous mushroom… yet, a lot of my friends are toxic frogs, nom nom nom I eat poison, don’t touch shit, from none to death, the schmidt sting index, I want the data not the st
Apr 13, 2023 • 1:59:43
Technical Difficulties: Back Next Week!
Apologies all, Ella's computer kicked the bucket, so we'll be back next week with a fresh episode!
Apr 6, 2023 • 2:27
36: Scientific Language Models, The Smell of Space, and Forgotten Olympic Events
IT'S THE MAX FUN DRIVE!!!See our Game Night Livestream Monday March 27th at 5pm EST!Get cool drive rewards and listen to our special bonus episode!Can Large Language Models be used for good in scientific fields? Could space smell... good? And what olympic events have we tried, abandoned, and completely forgotten about?Things we mention:Compulsory FiguresSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about:Using ChatGPT to break up with your partner, it’s all very dry, you
Mar 23, 2023 • 1:58:04
Recast: Just The Zoo Of Us: Rats w/ Let's Learn Everything!
Today we're rebroadcasting our appearance on Just the Zoo of Us as we prepare for an episode coming NEXT week for the MaxFunDrive! On this episode we combine our shows formats to bring you a full Topic, Question, and misc, all about one of the most misunderstood, intelligent, and rascally animals: the rat!Join Tom at a MaxFunDrive Meetup!Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!
Mar 16, 2023 • 1:11:08
35: Don't DeExtinct the Dodo, Humans vs Computers, and Art Forgery
Is it really possible to bring back the Dodo, and what even really happened in the first place? Are there any games left that humans can beat computers at, and why might that be okay? And what can art forgery tell us about art and the art world?Images/Videos we Mention:The TinkerToy Tic Tac Toe ComputerThe Rock Paper Scissors RobotSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: The Cherished Dodo, tinction, what does a dodo taste i mean look like, dodo art telephone,
Mar 2, 2023 • 2:02:11
34: The Replication Crisis, Human Senses, and Pride Flags
Is psychology doomed, or could the reproducibility crisis a good thing? How many senses do we really have? And what's the history behind all the pride flags you see?Check out:Maintenance Phase's Episode on Brian Wansink's DownfallStrange Aeons (on My Immortal Authors)Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: We’re already learning! god i hate the stanford prison experiment, the four horsemen of the reproducibility crisis, the file drawer effect, honestly this h
Feb 16, 2023 • 1:56:39
33: Immortality, Before Trees, and Emojis 💩
Is immortality possible in humans or other animals? What was on Earth before trees? And what can we learn from emoji?🤔Things we talk about:The First EmoticonsKurita's EmojisSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Halloween in January, stories of immortality, the epic of gilgamesh, MR BEAST GRANTS IMMORTALITY IF YOU STAY UP FOR 6 DAYS, the first story of facing AND accepting mortality, teen alexander the immortal, shooting down 9 suns, making your own immorta
Feb 2, 2023 • 1:47:55
32: The Ozone Success Story, Turning Heads, and Eurovision
What's the story of how we successfully saved the ozone? Why and how can owls turn their heads around, and who else can? And can Ella convert Tom to the wonder that is Eurovision?Listen to Ella's Full Eurovision PlaylistSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: defining ozone, not wrong but not right, the ozone layer is miles thick and not full of ozone, the sun is a deadly laser, tom feels stupid about the ozone, accidentally finding out about the ozone layer
Jan 19, 2023 • 1:52:00
31: End of Year Q&A
To round out the year we learn about the most interesting thing: each other! We talk about the process of researching and writing an episode, future sciences and science fiction, and laugh and cry reflecting on our favorite things from 2022. Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: our favorite topics, this is why we don’t do topics on colors, topic lists, science ruining movies, science is just a job, anything goes as long as you don’t explain it to me, hackin
Dec 29, 2022 • 1:39:30
30: The HaLearnDay Spectacular!
On a very special holiday episode, Tom, Caroline, and Ella give the gift of learning! We've wrapped up our favorite fun facts to give to each other, and even gotten a few presents from some special guests!Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: the the gin craze, no free gin advertisements, gin street and beer street, wrapping paper foley work, pumpkin toadlet balance, silly UK laws, yeah and maybebeallowedtoshootacrossbowatacathedral, keep your kite flying pr
Dec 15, 2022 • 1:27:10
29: What's in a Scientific Name, How Many Cells are in a Human, and What the British Museum Stole
What is the science of scientific naming, and could it actually be life saving? How many cells are in a human body, and why is it important to know? And how exactly did the British Museum... "acquire" all these artifacts?Watch Tom's PowerPoint Comedy Show!Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: what does tom smell like? naming is hard for computer science, naming is a science, reading 12 million paper titles by hand, single use acronyms, polynomial naming, Ra
Dec 1, 2022 • 1:52:09
28: Cerebral Organoids, Are Cats Liquids, and The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread
How can you study a brain without a brain? In what ways is a cat actually like a liquid? And why do we say The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread?Images we Discuss:Rat BrainCats Sitting in ThingsBread Crumbs---Watch the SciShow Episode Ella Wrote!Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: brains are complex and hard to access, organoids, organettes, organittos, induced pluripotent stem cells are cool, Madeline Lancaster, DNA is amazing, scientific serendipity, tr
Nov 17, 2022 • 1:39:20
27: Zoologist Ash Campbell, Kleptoparasitism, and Australia's Best Animal
Today our guest Ashlen Campbell asks us: how do you stop a seagull from stealing your chips? And what can that teach us about the wild world of kleptoparasitism?Our Favorite Ash Videos: Erythrism, Blathers ExposedAsh's Kleptoparasitism ListAsh's Follow Recommendations: @luccasbiohub @drkyliesoanes @zoe_kean_sci @sarawebbscience @astrokirstenVisit our NEW MERCH STORE!Support us with a Maximum Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Majored in zoology minored in chips, temperature e
Nov 3, 2022 • 1:26:31
26: Pain, Vampiric Animals, and Penny Dreadfuls
How do we define pain, and what animals can feel it? How similar are vampires to real vampiric animals? And what are penny dreadfuls and how were they actually... good?Visit our NEW MERCH STORE!Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: pain is bad, but pain is good, what animals can feel pain, if they can feel kink pleasure from pain they can feel pain, it’s time to define pain for you guys, ella swoops in on a Tom joke, pain is like art, the international asso
Oct 20, 2022 • 1:48:22
25: The Timeline of Timekeeping, Origins of Speech, and the Birthday of Birthdays
It's the show's birthday! And we're going to celebrate with LEARNING! How much do we really know about the history of keeping time? When did human speech first arise, and how would we even figure that out? And when did the concept of birthdays have its birthday?Visit our NEW MERCH STORE!Support us on Maximum Fun!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Your favorite podcast on your favorite torso, the blind watchmaker, time technology is not like iphone upgrades, Ancient or Recent, France’s dec
Oct 6, 2022 • 1:42:00
24: Self Experimentation, Amputation Archaeology, and Learning to Love PowerPoint
What are the pros and perils of self experimentation? What archaeological clues do we have to the first human amputation? And why should we actually learn to love PowerPoint?See Tom Perform PowerPoint Comedy on October 4th at Caveat NYC! (or stream it!)Go to Ella's Women in Science Photography Exhibition in London October 25th!Support us on Maximum Fun!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Santorio Santorio, sitting in a chair for 30 years, two pieces of toast, 1500s diet culture, insensible pe
Sep 22, 2022 • 1:43:48
23: Plastic's Past, Imperfect Pitch, and the Dumb History of Generation Naming
What is the history of plastic, and what could the future hold? Why is perfect pitch, not so perfect, and do any animals have it? And how on Earth did we end up with these meaningless names for generations?Support us on Maximum Fun!Join our Discord!Catch Sidney Gish on Tour!We also learn about: what is plastic? plastics are an invasive species, natural plastics, explosions are at the root of a lot of science, guncotton, oops we made it explosive, should have bought those 666 horses, patent dra
Sep 8, 2022 • 1:46:46
A Big Announcement...!
A very special announcement!Episodes we recommend for new listeners:1: Time Illusions, Electric Bees, and Fakespeares5: The History of Pregnancy Tests, The Middlest Size, and FanFiction19: The Science of Gay, How Many Songs Fit in DNA, and Niche SportsSupport us on Maximum Fun!
Sep 6, 2022 • 6:48
22: Magnetic Mysteries, The Real Trolley Problem, and Hitchbot
How do animals sense magnetic fields? Why was the first Trolley Problem written? And who was Hitchbot?Images we talk about:- Hitchbot with SantaSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: the first compasses, captain McDonalds, “epistemologically unacceptable”, magnetic bacteria, magnetic dip, pooping north, the table of good boys, let’s do a study, it’s more intersting that dogs Sometimes poop north, alignment during excretion, I’d rather study dogs than leopards,
Aug 25, 2022 • 1:41:54
21: Paleontologist Evelyn Vollmer, Figuring out the Age of the Earth, and What Defines a Dinosaur
How old did Aristotle think the Earth was? What makes a dinosaur a dinosaur? And how did our guest get into paleontology? Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord! We also learn about: getting started in paleontology, shooting lasers at fossils, artistotle thought the earth was infinitely old, getting the 6,000 number from bible family tree math, it’s infinitely old because because, melting rocks is science, Lord Kevlin’s real name was William Thompson??? every b
Aug 11, 2022 • 1:12:21
Test Ep 2: Bugs on Drugs, How Much Pi do we Need, and the Blackest Black
What happens when you gives bugs drugs? How many digits of pi do we actually need? And what is the drama behind the blackest black?Images we talk about:- Spider Webs on Various Drugs- Graph of Pi Approximations Across History- The Redemption of Vanity, MIT's Blackest BlackSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: how do you give a bee cocaine? cocaine is a natural insecticide, the waggle dance, actually im not going to dance it’s embaressing, “I want to be a bee
Jul 28, 2022 • 1:10:35
20: The Math of Conspiracy Theories, Why is Pluto not a Planet, and Animal Art
If all these conspiracy theories were real, what are the statistical odds they'd be kept secret? Why did Pluto get demoted from planethood? And can animals make art?Images we talk about:- Pierre’s Brassau’s Art- Erased Dekooning Drawing- Sean Thomas’ “Case Study”- Monkey SelfieSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: planes fly over Ella’s house? coincidence??, the conspiracy leak formula, gish gallop, the Tom & Caroline Show conspiracy, moon landing photos, the
Jul 14, 2022 • 1:46:08
19: The Science of Gay, How Many Songs Fit in DNA, and Niche Sports
What is the nuanced science behind homosexuality in animals and humans? Is there a single gay gene? No. No absolutely not. But how many songs could you fit into a gram of DNA, and why would you want to? And what are some of the most niche sports and why are they still so great? Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Tom is an ally, 1500 observed gay animals from shrimps to apes, the adelie penguin story hidden for 100 years, dynamic region translatio
Jun 30, 2022 • 1:57:45
18: Radiocarbon Revolution, Space Babies, and Nail Polish
You've probably heard of Carbon Dating, but how are Astronomy, Biology, and Nuclear Physics involved? What are the problems with having babies in space, and how many animals have had babies in space? (surprisingly more than you'd think!) And what is the history of nail polish, and more importantly, our relationship with painting nails?Videos we talk about:- Mice in SpaceSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: counting the rings in a carbon atom, Dendrochronolog
Jun 16, 2022 • 1:57:44
17: Cosmic Rays, Eye Colors, and the Most Disliked Instrument
What exactly are cosmic rays and how do they affect us? Why do humans have so many different eye colors? And why does everyone hate the triangle so much?Images we talk about:- The Sistrum - The Angel Battle of the Bands - The Triangle in the Painting Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord! We also learn about: pions and tiny particles with delightful names, see the rave of space, OMG particle or the What What What particle, galactic cosmic r
Jun 2, 2022 • 1:25:21
Test Ep 1: Machine Learning, Caterpillar Memories, and Love Island
This week we're releasing our very first test episode of the podcast! What are neural networks? Do butterflies remember being caterpillars? And what is Love Island?Content Warning: Mentions of suicide in the Misc TopicSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: what is a dog? stem cell hotel, the giant squid axon, neural networks will be walking and talking soon, why is it called deep learning? Deep blue and Watson, love island AI, Amazon’s biased hiring AI, black
May 19, 2022 • 1:00:27
16: The Trouble with Honeybees, Why Repeated Words Lose Meaning, and Speed Running
Follow Ella's new job's tiktok!When we say save the bees, which bees are we talking about? What happens when you repeat a word and it loses meaning? And how could you design an experiment to figure that out? And what is speed running and why do we all love it?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: solitary bees dance in their spare time, 25000 species of bees, send your enemies bees in the post, Bombus terrestris, human centric beekeeping, the billion pound h
May 5, 2022 • 1:43:02
15: What the Turing Test Became, Ella's Bodily Quirks, and Pub Quizes
What is the Turing Test, what has it become, and what can we learn from it? How many of Ella's weird bodily quirks do you have? And how did the pub quiz come about? For the next month only, use code "Everything" to save 60% off your first month of MEL Science!https://melscience.com/sBGM/Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: the imitation game, performative gender, the alignment problem, It’s not blade runner, artifical stupidity, have you heard abou
Apr 21, 2022 • 1:48:38
14: Domesticating Foxes, The Oldest Potted Plant, and Crosswords
Could you domesticate a fox, and what even IS domestication? What is the oldest potted plant, and, wait, what does Caroline mean by that question? And how did Tom go from hating crosswords to loving them? The photo we mention of Mecta the Fox Pup Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: the first domesticated animals, one of Darwin’s sequels, floppy ears, domestication syndrome, the fox bachelor, the neural crest cell hypothesis, our version
Apr 7, 2022 • 1:34:27
13: The Golden Toad Mystery, All the Things we Left on the Moon, and the Oldest Bar Joke
What happened to the golden toad? How many things did we leave on the moon, and what are they? And what is the oldest recorded bar joke?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: The World Wildlife Fund/World Wresting Federation, Agatha Christie’s Mystery of the Golden Toad, publication smackdowns, the amphibian apocalypse, outside my jurisdiction, double callback, the african clawed frog (from ep 5!), on this podcast we stan… Michael Collins, moon poop, moon scal
Mar 24, 2022 • 1:40:03
12: Thermal Biology, Why we have Periods, and Stickers
What do heat and temperature have to do with biology? (It turns out, a lot!) We know what periods are, but why do humans have them? And stickers are delightful but how did they come about?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: what is heat? endotherms ectotherms homeotherms heterotherms and poikilotherms, being warm blooded evolved twice, heat generating plants, naked mole rats are weird, the podcast's stable of strange animals grows, kleptothermy, everyone hu
Mar 10, 2022 • 1:26:11
11: Guest Steve Rathje, Insect Consciousness, and Theatre Science
Special guest Steve Rathje (@StevePsychology) asks us, do insects have consciousness? What, empirically, makes things go viral on social media? And what are the scientific effects of live theatre?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Outgroup effects on social media, subjective experience and qualia, except for mosquitos, we share genes with bananas are they conscious? the emotional dog and the rational tail, over-anti-anthropomorphism, tiktok survey of insec
Feb 24, 2022 • 1:09:01
10: Video Game Epidemiology, Sneeze Smells, and Game Jams
What can a video game teach us about pandemics? What are the different things a sneeze can smell like? And what makes game jams so magical?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Hakkar the Soulflayer, npc asymptomatic carriers, just reset the world and change the code!, a disease model with real people, death isn’t temporary, show us the patch notes, self protection fatigue, pandemics are complicated, “look for the helpers, you will always find people who are
Feb 10, 2022 • 1:25:20
9: Beaver Reintroductions, Solving Mazes, and ASMR
What are the benefits of reintroducing a species after 400 years? Why do we make rats solve mazes, and can slime molds solve mazes? What is ASMR, and how did it become such a thing? Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord! We also learn about: Beavery introductions, vanilla flavor usually isn’t castorium, beavers support everyone in the wetlands, Tom’s gonna make a joke, The Scottish Beaver Trial, impatient beavers, international legal beaver issues, failed reint
Jan 27, 2022 • 1:44:38
8: Recorded Sound, Prosopagnosic Pareidolia, and Meeting David Attenborough
To start the new year we learn about the science and history of recording sound, consider whether people with Prosopagnosia experience Pareidolia, and relive what it was like for Caroline to meet the one and only Sir David Attenborough.Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: The Phonoautograph, unplayable recordings, “drop the auto, just, Phonograph”, did you write that joke down tom, debunking Edison’s first recording, someone pretending to be a pigeon, Before
Jan 13, 2022 • 1:34:28
7: End of Year Q&A
Today we learn about the most interesting topic of all: each other! How did we get into our science fields, and how did we meet? What's our favorite science fact to tell at parties? What advice do we have for aspiring creators? Support us with a Max Fun Membership! Join our Discord! We also learn about: our science origin stories, Tom used to be a theatre kid, Tom’s first podcast, our first TikToks, we’re on a first name basis with Hank, how we met, that time we all freaky
Dec 30, 2021 • 1:16:35
6: Genetic Chimeras, Judas Goats, and Toys
On a surprisingly deep holiday episode, we ask, what is a genetic chimera, could it save lives, and is it moral? What are Judas Goats, and what are the challenges faced in conservation? And most importantly, what were the first toys in history and what were our favorite toys?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Why are mythological chimeras all ladies? a Tom/Joe chimera, “It was very dissapointing”, “I expect better evidence”, a Judas Kiss, goats are weird,
Dec 16, 2021 • 1:39:30
5: The History of Pregnancy Tests, The Middlest Size, and FanFiction
When was the first pregnancy test? If we know the biggest and smallest sizes in the universe, what is the middlest size? What's the deal with fanfiction?Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord! We also learn about: Comedy!, piss prophets, we should know better that science is weird, “Looks like the frog’s ovulating!”, we are in the middle of history, what even is an object, the centi-sand, don't fudge significant figures, Dante’s Self Insert RPF, we get carried away playi
Dec 2, 2021 • 1:37:17
4: Randomness, What Happens Without Sleep, and Stardew Valley
What are the uses of randomness, and how do we even get it? What happens to your body when you don't sleep? And is Stardew Valley secretly... a horror game? Links we Discuss: Infinite Monkey Theorem ResultsThe Hollow Mask IllusionSupport us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Ella making random noises, chiptune drums, dice fanfiction, the infinite monkey grant, gggggggggggggg, everyone guesses 7 and picks Rock, a very funny joke for our particle physicist listeners, a
Nov 18, 2021 • 1:40:44
3: Mind Controlling Parasites, Are Elephants Right Handed, and Naruto AMVs
How do mind controlling (or rather, behavior controlling) parasites work? Are elephants right or left handed? And what is so great about Naruto Bohemian Rhapsody AMVs? Read Tom's essay on Tor.com! Get tickets to Ella's science comedy show! Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord! We also learn about: being cancelled by ants, Ella tries to pronounce latin names, bugs losing their butts, the parasite of the day, thanks for the parasites Charlie
Nov 4, 2021 • 1:29:16
2: Spooky Frogs, The Most Bones, and Witch Hunts
On this SpoOoOoky Halloween episode we learn about a slew of truly spooky frogs, investigate which animal has the most bones, and see how capitalism may have led to the rise of witch hunts! Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord! We also learn about: fluorescence, dinosaur eating frogs (technically), CAN A SPIDER EAT A DINOSAUR??? (NOT CLICKBAIT), frog shazam, Ella learns to love the Freddy Krueger Frog, wishing you a happy bones day, evo-devo, deregionalization, h
Oct 21, 2021 • 1:18:16
1: Time Illusions, Electric Bees, and Fakespeares
What does a time illusion look like? Why are bees electrically charged? Who is the real Shakespeare? Support us with a Max Fun Membership!Join our Discord!We also learn about: Yanney and Laurel, bad science magic tricks, Carly Rae Jepsen's seminal hit Call Me Maybe, Temporal Odor Mixtures, how many bees are in a bolt of lightning, The Flower Dome, fake flowers and fake bees, the flat moon theory, and the Voldemort Codex.Sources: Dixon, N. F., & Spitz, L. (1980). The detection
Oct 7, 2021 • 1:19:23