The Science Pawdcast
The Science Pawdcast breaks down the latest science happening in the human world AND the pet world. Each episode will also bring you a guest to enthral you with their area of knowledge. You'll learn, be captivated, and laugh along with host Jason Zackowski. Pets and Science, it's the pawfect mix. You'll also get episodes of PetChat which are the live shows from social audio. PetChat is a live community gathering updates about the animals in our life, but also the animals in the wonderful community that supports us! Heart and Hope. Science and Shenanigans.
Episodes
We explore fascinating examples of mutualism in nature and therapeutic relationships between humans and animals through two distinct scientific studies.
• Squamillaria plants in Fiji function as apartment buildings for up to five different ant species
• These plants have internal chambers with separate entrances preventing deadly conflicts between rival ant colonies
• When chamber walls are broken, an...
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 strengt...
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<...
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% decrea...
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 At...
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 ...
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 astronomic...
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 cha...
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 mem...
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 ...
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 wit...
The cosmic dance of our solar system is more precarious than we realize, with rogue stars potentially disrupting Earth's orbit and sending us hurling into space—though the probability is a reassuring 0.2% over 5 billion years.
Recent research reveals singing to babies significantly improves their overall mood, highlighting the universal evolutionary importance of lullabies as emotional regulation tools acros...
We dive into the fascinating world of extinct giant sloths, explore how dogs are inspiring better swimming robots, and discuss the alarming resurgence of measles with immunologist Dr. Elisabeth Marnick.
• Ancient sloths evolved wide body size diversity based primarily on their habitat preference
• Tree-dwelling sloths evolved to be smaller while ground-dwelling species became massive
• The largest gro...
We explore the science behind HBO's "The Last of Us," investigating whether a fungal apocalypse could happen in real life and if a vaccine for fungal infections is possible. The Royal Tyrrell Museum's new "Breakthroughs" exhibit showcases five groundbreaking fossil discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of prehistoric life. Lastly we look at the cause of the orange color in or...
We explore the cutting-edge science of extending dog lifespan through innovative drug development with Loyal founder and CEO Celine Halioua, who shares the company's groundbreaking approach to canine longevity and health.
In Science News:
• Cold water immersion after exercise shows no benefits for women despite its popularity among fitness influencers
In Pet Science:
• Brachycephalic dog and cat b...
On this show we explore the contentious debate around fluoride in municipal water, the science behind pedigree cat adoptions, and innovative approaches to teaching science to non-science majors.
• Examination of the fluoride controversy using Calgary, Alberta as a case study
• Discussion of how fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and prevents acid damage
• Review of research showing increased tooth deca...
This week we look to deunk myths about rising autism rates and explain the genetic and environmental factors at play, while exploring the resurrection of dire wolves through genetic engineering and how puppy cognition predicts adult dog behavior.
• CDC data shows autism diagnoses increased from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 31 in 2022
• Approximately 80% of autism cases stem from inherited genetic var...
In this episode we explore potential signs of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b and discuss how pets impact our sleep quality, while special guest Dr. Sabina Vorah-Miller provides expert insights on vaccine misinformation and avian flu safety.
• Bunsen's recovery from a UTI and continued mobility improvements
• Recent James Webb Space Telescope findings detected dimethyl sulfide on exoplanet K2-18b
...
On this week's episode we dive deep into nature's most shocking survival strategy exploring how the Alamendro tree has evolved to harness lightning strikes as a competitive advantage. We also examine the fascinating results of fermenting miso in space and discuss the challenges and rewards of cat fostering programs.
• Lightning-resistant Alamendro trees have 100% survival rate after strikes while 56...
On this week's show we dive into the hidden connections between shingles vaccines and decreased dementia risk, while exploring how humans often misinterpret their pets' emotions based on environmental context rather than actual animal behavior. Our guest, Dr. Yasmin Mohseni blows us away with the inner workings of the immune system.
Some highlights:
• Shingles vaccine study reveals a 20% reduction i...
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