Spooky Science Lab

Spooky Science Lab

An all-ages podcast in which two horror authors discuss strange-but-true science facts that are scary, disturbing, and even downright spooky. Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David Wellington. Artwork by Errick Nunnally (https://erricknunnally.myportfolio.com/). Theme "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle (c/o premiumbeat.com).

Episodes

June 17, 2024 55 mins

In the final episode of Season 1, Nick tells the story of a massive herd of earthworms discovered in the shape of a perfect spiral on the ground--a "wormnado"--and examines what could have caused this seemingly impossible phenomenon. Does it have anything to do with a rare phase of the moon known as the "Worm Moon"? Then, Dave looks into the "Dark Forest Hypothesis," which tackles the question, if the ...

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Nick introduces us to the busy, relentless world of leafcutter ants, who spend their whole lives  harvesting leaves from the forest to bring back to their nest and feed to the fungus that lives there. These tiny, six-legged personal chefs live to serve the fungus, which raises the question: Who's in charge? Then, Dave discusses the theory of "panspermia," which suggests that life on Earth might have started in outer ...

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Nick shrinks Dave and drops him inside a Venus flytrap to explore what happens to the prey of this fascinating carnivorous plant.  Don't worry, it's for science! Then, Dave looks into the infamous Tunguska Event of 1908, when a colossal explosion blasted the snowy Siberian landscape. The cause of the explosion has long been a mystery, but have scientists finally discovered the answer?

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David ...

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Join Nick in a return to the watery deep to meet the creature with the fastest draw on Earth -- the pistol shrimp, a cannibalistic predator with a surprising secret! Then, Dave teleports Nick into outer space without a spacesuit to study exactly how and why you would die in the vast expanse between planets, and what would happen to your body over time. Don't worry, it's for science!

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David We...

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Dive under the sea to encounter a crustacean assassin, the mantis shrimp! Nick explains why this creature has the best eyesight of any animal on the planet, and why it isn't actually a shrimp. Stick around to hear Dave discuss the Multiverse, which it turns out was not just invented for the movies but might actually be real--and potentially the answer to one of the biggest questions in theoretical physics!

Hosted by Nicholas Ka...

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In this episode, Nick changes Dave into a caterpillar and puts him in a chrysalis to study his intense, disturbing transformation into a butterfly and Dave takes us on a tour of our galactic neighborhood to introduce us to some of the strangest stars in the night sky!

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David Wellington
Edited by David Wellington
Additional voices by Jennifer Dikes and Alexa Antopol
Logo by Errick Nunnally

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In this episode, Nick discusses the horrors that parasitoid wasp larvae inflict on common orb-weaver spiders and Dave explains how there could be a black hole growing at the center of our sun -- a black hole we'll never see until it's too late!

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David Wellington
Edited by David Wellington
Additional voices by Jennifer Dikes and Alexa Antopol
Logo by Errick Nunnally
Theme song ...

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In this episode, Nick examines the bizarre behavior of caterpillars impregnated with wasp larvae and Dave uses a shrink ray on Nick again to continue exploring the mysterious miniature world all around us!

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David Wellington
Edited by David Wellington
Additional voices by Jennifer Dikes and Alexa Antopol
Logo by Errick Nunnally
Theme song "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle

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In this episode, Nick reveals the hidden threat of scientists resurrecting bacteria that's been dead for millions of years and Dave describes the bizarre miniature world Nick would find himself in after being hit with a shrink ray!

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David Wellington
Edited by David Wellington
Additional voices by Jennifer Dikes and Alexa Antopol
Logo by Errick Nunnally
Theme song "Phantom Fun&...

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In this episode, Nick relates the horrific story of a decapitated snake that refused to die and Dave explains how to tell if you're living in a computer simulation of reality!

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David Wellington
Edited by David Wellington
Additional voices by Jennifer Dikes and Alexa Antopol
Logo by Errick Nunnally
Theme song "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle

Connect with us on soci...

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In this episode, Nick introduces you to a fungus that turns cicadas into sex-crazed zombies and Dave reveals the shocking truth about human poop on the moon!

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David Wellington
Edited by David Wellington
Additional voices by Jennifer Dikes and Alexa Antopol
Logo by Errick Nunnally
Theme song "Phantom Fun" by Jonathan Boyle

Connect with us on social media at Facebook, T...

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In this episode, Nick takes us to Lake Natron, widely known as the deadliest lake in the world thanks to its alarming tendency to turn animals to stone, and Dave describes the shocking effects of throwing Nick into a black hole.

Hosted by Nicholas Kaufmann and David Wellington
Edited by David Wellington
Additional voices by Jennifer Dikes and Alexa Antopol
Logo by Errick Nunnally
Theme song "Phantom Fun" by...

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