Afleveringen

  • Oral conception, monkey floss, big ears, diapers, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

    Oral conception, monkey floss, big ears, diapers, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

    · Recreational Science

    In this bonus RecSci Quick Bites episode, Lu and Tirth discuss an incredible case of oral conception, monkeys’ choice for dental floss, how your ears get bigger as you age, whether moms can identify their baby’s soiled diapers, analyzing poop in log form, boxers versus briefs, and how to settle co-first authorship between friends.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 1:17 Oral conception study 5:02 Monkey study 7:19 Big ears study 9:48 Diaper study 12:17 Poop analysis study 14:48 Underwear study 17:43 Co-first authorship 19:35 Outro

    Article links:

    Verkyul, 1988. Oral conception. Impregnation via the proximal gastrointestinal tract in a patient with an aplastic distal vagina. Case report. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1988.tb06583.x?saml_referrer Watanabe et al., 2007. Long-tailed macaques use human hair as dental floss. American Journal of Primatology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajp.20403 Heathcote, 1995. Why do old men have big ears? British Medical Journal. https://www.bmj.com/content/311/7021/1668.short Case et al., 2006. My baby doesn't smell as bad as yours: The plasticity of disgust. Evolution and Human Behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513806000195 Krauth et al., 2012. An In-Depth Analysis of a Piece of Shit: Distribution of Schistosoma mansoni and Hookworm Eggs in Human Stool. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0001969 Minguez-Alarcon et al., 2018. Type of underwear worn and markers of testicular function among men attending a fertility center. Human Reproduction. https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/33/9/1749/5066758 Bai & Zhu et al., 2021. Adjacent Cell Marker Lateral Spillover Compensation and Reinforcement for Multiplexed Images. Frontiers in Immunology. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.652631/full

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Theme music by Dasein:

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    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Sexist birds and intimidating runners with hills

    Sexist birds and intimidating runners with hills

    · Recreational Science

    Does the sex of the bird affect how soon they fly away when approached by humans? What about the sex of the human?

    Coming across a steep hill while out jogging can be intimidating. Does being tired affect how runners perceive the size of hills?

    In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how European birds are sexist towards humans and how just tricking people into believing they have to climb a hill can cause them to exaggerate its steepness.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 0:48 Ways to improve the podcast 7:25 Bird study 17:08 Hill study 26:44 Let’s read some mail 29:23 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Morelli et al., 2025. Sex matters: European urban birds flee approaching women sooner than approaching men. People and Nature. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.70226 Bhalla et al., 1999. Visual-Motor Recalibration in Geographical Slant Perception. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-03275-014

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Theme music by Dasein:

    Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/5fNAhYtrSM9nW9GpCiDpST?si=ea49670388f24e5c YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-WQ6G62lfM Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/song/cas/1706824849

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

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  • Kids vs traffic and food preference in fetuses

    Kids vs traffic and food preference in fetuses

    · Recreational Science

    Crossing the street alone is a difficult and dangerous task for young kids. Is it even more perilous for overweight and out-of-shape children?

    Kids are notorious picky eaters. When does this start? In the womb?

    In this episode, Lu and Tirth play another game of Family Feud But Science and discuss practical athleticism in overweight children and whether fetuses are picky "eaters."

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 0:38 BTS 1:48 Family Feud But Science15:00 Fat kids study 26:23 Fetuses study 35:03 Let’s read some mail 39:22 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Chaddock et al., 2012. Role of Childhood Aerobic Fitness in Successful Street Crossing. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2012/04000/role_of_childhood_aerobic_fitness_in_successful.23.aspx Ustin et al., 2022. Flavor Sensing in Utero and Emerging Discriminative Behaviors in the Human Fetus. Psychological science. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09567976221105460 Ladas et al., 2007. Colonic gas explosion during therapeutic colonoscopy with electrocautery. World Journal of Gastroenterology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4171316/

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Theme music by Dasein:

    Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/5fNAhYtrSM9nW9GpCiDpST?si=ea49670388f24e5c YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-WQ6G62lfM Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/song/cas/1706824849

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • The ideal booty call and a potent jet lag drug for hamsters

    The ideal booty call and a potent jet lag drug for hamsters

    · Recreational Science

    What do men and women look for in an ideal partner for a one night stand, friends with benefits relationship, and marriage? What’s the best way to find out? An economics experiment, of course.

    Do hamsters experience jet lag? Do hamsters respond to Viagra? Does Viagra cure jet lag in hamsters?

    In the season 2 premier, Lu and Tirth catchup on all the life changing events that took place during the offseason and discuss giving people “mate dollars” to build their ideal mate and using Viagra to treat jet lag in hamsters.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 0:52 Big updates from the offseason 6:45 Booty call study 19:09 Jet lag study 26:54 Let’s read some mail 29:22 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    March et al., 2018. Netflix and Chill? What Sex Differences Can Tell Us About Mate Preferences in (Hypothetical) Booty-Call Relationships. Evolutionary Psychology. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1474704918812138 Agostino et al., 2007. Sildenafil accelerates reentrainment of circadian rhythms after advancing light schedules. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0703388104

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Theme music by Dasein:

    Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/5fNAhYtrSM9nW9GpCiDpST?si=ea49670388f24e5c YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-WQ6G62lfM Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/song/cas/1706824849

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • RecSciPod season 2 announcement

    RecSciPod season 2 announcement

    · Recreational Science

    Season 2 will premier on May 19, 2026. We're fairly sure. Probably. Who knows?

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

    Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!

    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social Threads https://www.threads.com/@recscipod

    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Bacon, sports cars, rollercoasters, knuckle cracking, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

    Bacon, sports cars, rollercoasters, knuckle cracking, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

    · Recreational Science

    In this bonus RecSci Quick Bites episode, Lu and Tirth discuss a medical use of bacon, the relationship between penis size and sports cars, the effectiveness of rollercoasters in passing kidney stones, the long-term effects of knuckle cracking, surname sharing amongst economist coauthors, the jollity of visiting mall Santas, and the best scientific abstract ever written.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 0:57 Bacon study 3:50 Sports car study 6:48 Rollercoaster study 8:25 Knuckle cracking study 10:35 Author surname study 13:44 Mall Santa study 16:05 Best abstract ever 17:08 Outro

    Article links:

    Humphreys et al., 2011. Nasal packing with strips of cured pork as treatment for uncontrollable epistaxis in a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/000348941112001107 Richardson et al., 2023. Small Penises and Fast Cars: Evidence for a Psychological Link. Psyarxiv. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/uy7ph_v1 Mitchell & Wartinger, 2016. Validation of a Functional Pyelocalyceal Renal Model for the Evaluation of Renal Calculi Passage While Riding a Roller Coaster. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2016.128/html Unger, 1998. Does knuckle cracking lead to arthritis of the fingers? Arthritis and Rheumatism. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1529-0131(199805)41:5%3C949::AID-ART36%3E3.0.CO;2-3 Goodmen et al., 2015. A Few Goodmen: Surname-Sharing Economist Coauthors. Economics Inquiry. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ecin.12167 Trainkaus, 2004. Visiting Santa: an informal look. Psychological Reports. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.2466/pr0.95.2.587-588 Berry et al., 2011. Can apparent superluminal neutrino speeds be explained as a quantum weak measurement? Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1751-8113/44/49/492001

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Bad knives, self-scoping, baby size, Olympics, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

    Bad knives, self-scoping, baby size, Olympics, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

    · Recreational Science

    In this bonus episode of RecSci Quick Bites, Lu and Tirth discuss more funny studies they didn’t get to talk about at length during season one. These include making knives out of poop, performing colonoscopy on yourself, reasons why babies are so small, the happiness of Olympic medalists, the worst time to consume chili, zebra-striped mannequins, and giving it to Reviewer 2.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 1:50 Knife study 3:37 Self-scoping study 5:44 Babies study 7:56 Olympian study 10:57 Chili study 12:28 Zebra study 15:31 Reviewer 2 study 18:22 Outro

    Article links:

    Eren et al., 2019. Experimental replication shows knives manufactured from frozen human feces do not work. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X19305371?via%3Dihub Horiuchi & Nakayama, 2006. Colonoscopy in the sitting position: lessons learned from self-colonoscopy by using a small-caliber, variable-stiffness colonoscope. Gastointenstinal Endoscopy. https://www.giejournal.org/article/S0016-5107(05)03012-9/ Ellstrand, 1982. Why are juveniles smaller than their parents? Evolution. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1983.tb05637.x Medvec et al., 1995. When Less Is More: Counterfactual Thinking and Satisfaction Among Olympic Medalists. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.69.4.603 Gupta, 2007. Red hot chilli consumption is harmful in patients operated for anal fissure - a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Digestive Surgery. https://karger.com/dsu/article-abstract/24/5/354/116015/Red-Hot-Chilli-Consumption-Is-Harmful-in-PatientsHorvath et al., 2019. Striped bodypainting protects against horseflies. Royal Society Open Science. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/6/1/181325/94617/Striped-bodypainting-protects-against Peterson, 2020. Dear reviewer 2: Go F’ Yourself. Social Science Quarterly. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ssqu.12824

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    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Lady bugs, toilet seats, Japan, promiscuity, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

    Lady bugs, toilet seats, Japan, promiscuity, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

    · Recreational Science

    In this bonus episode, Lu and Tirth do some RecSci Quick Bites or funny studies they didn’t get to discuss at length during season one. These include an unusual finding on colonoscopy, ergonomic toilet seats, Japan’s Phillips curve, the misuse of the word promiscuity, the deal with birds, fruit bat fellatio part 2, and a case of untreated writer’s block.

    This episode is part of the 4th edition of Podcasthon! This is the world’s largest podcast charity initiative, bringing together podcasters globally to raise awareness for important causes.

    Doctors Without Borders: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

    Podcasthon: https://podcasthon.org/

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 2:27 Colonoscopy study 4:04 Toilet seat study 5:59 Japan study 7:02 Promiscuity study 8:47 Birds study 10:05 Fruit bat study 12:00 Writer’s block study 13:01 Outro

    Article links:

    Tahan et al., 2019. An Unusual Finding of a Ladybug on Screening Colonoscopy. ACG Case Reports Journal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6791639/ Lustig et al., 2018. Beware of the toilet: the risk for a deep tissue injury during toilet sitting. Journal of Tissue Viability. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965206X17300670?via%3Dihub Smith, 2006. Japan’s Phillips Curve Looks Like Japan. Queen's Economics Department Working Paper No. 1083. http://qed.econ.queensu.ca/working_papers/papers/qed_wp_1083.pdf Elgar et al., 2013. Promiscuous words. Frontiers in Zoology. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1742-9994-10-66 Baldassarre, 2020. What’s the Deal with Birds? Scientific Journal of Research and Reviews. https://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/sillymolecules/birds.pdf Maruthupandian et al., 2013. Cunnilingus apparently increases duration of copulation in the Indian flying fox, Pteropus giganteus. PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0059743 Upper, 1974. The unsuccessful self-treatment of a case of “writer's block.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1311997

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Swearing makes you stronger and how to potty train cows (season finale)

    Swearing makes you stronger and how to potty train cows (season finale)

    · Recreational Science

    How do you make yourself lift more at the gym? Have you tried swearing?

    Kids need potty training, but what about animals? Does potty training cows make them healthier and happier?

    In the season 1 finale, Lu and Tirth do a year-end review and discuss how saying your favorite swear word makes you stronger at the gym and how to potty train cows using an electric trainer.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 1:45 Year-end review 7:37 Swearing study 25:25 Potty training study 37:01 Is this SPAM? An update 42:43 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Jiannine & Antonio, 2023. The Effects of Cursing on Exercise Performance. Journal of Exercise Physiology online. https://www.asep.org/asep/asep/JEPonlineOCTOBER2023_Lia%20Jiannine_Jose%20Antonio.pdf Stephens et al., 2025. “Don’t Hold Back”: Swearing Improves Strength Through State Disinhibition. American Psychologist. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2027-01514-001.html Bergsten et al., 1992. The cleanliness of cows tied in stalls and the health of their hooves as influenced by the use of electric trainers. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/016758779290038H

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Doping graphene and the hedonic benefits of garlic

    Doping graphene and the hedonic benefits of garlic

    · Recreational Science

    Graphene is a fascinating material with the potential to help solve the world’s energy needs. Can you improve graphene with poop?

    Garlic is a superfood packed with flavor and health benefits. Yes, garlic causes bad breath, but could it actually improve your body odor?

    In this remunerative episode, Lu and Tirth discuss the electrocatalytic effects of doping graphene with guano and whether eating garlic makes men smell more desirable to women.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 2:16 Is this SPAM? 11:43 Graphene study 22:10 Garlic study 34:34 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Wang et al., 2020. Will Any Crap We Put into Graphene Increase Its Electrocatalytic Effect? ACS Nano. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.9b00184 Fialova et al., 2016. Consumption of garlic positively affects hedonic perception of axillary body odour. Appetite. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666315300787

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    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Strip club economics and hot sauce aggression

    Strip club economics and hot sauce aggression

    · Recreational Science

    How do economics work in a strip club? What are the factors that go into how much a stripper makes in tips? Do strippers earn more tips when they’re ovulating?

    Men are prone to doing some dumb, poorly planned, and aggressive stuff. Is testosterone to blame? Does testosterone make men serve more hot sauce to other people?

    In this episode, to celebrate the supposed end of Tirth’s bachelorhood, Lu and Tirth discuss surprising factors that affect how much money lap dancers make and how testosterone levels in men make them more aggressive with hot sauce.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 1:34 Tirth’s “not” bachelor party 8:37 Stripper study 20:51 Testosterone study 31:13 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Miller et al., 2007. Ovulatory cycle effects on tip earnings by lap dancers: economic evidence for human estrus? Evolution and Human Behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513807000694 Klinesmith et al., 2006. Guns, Testosterone, and Aggression: An Experimental Test of a Mediational Hypothesis. Psychological Science. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01745.x

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Recognizing butts and using clowns as anesthesia

    Recognizing butts and using clowns as anesthesia

    · Recreational Science

    Humans recognize each other’s faces. Chimps recognize each other’s butts. However, do chimps recognize human butts? Do humans recognize human butts? Do humans recognize chimp butts? All these questions must be asked.

    Getting surgery, even minor procedures, triggers anxiety. Do clowns help kids relax pre-surgery? Is there room for clowns in pediatric operating rooms?

    In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss historic science gaffes, how human faces are quite similar to chimpanzee butts, and whether clowns can be good anxiolytics for children.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 0:55 Dave talk 5:27 Historic science gaffes quiz 19:22 Chimp butt study 36:49 Clown studies 50:29 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Kret & Tomonaga, 2016. Getting to the Bottom of Face Processing. Species-Specific Inversion Effects for Faces and Behinds in Humans and Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes). PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165357 Vagnoli et al., 2005. Clown doctors as a treatment for preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized, prospective study. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-0466 Golan et al., 2009. Clowns for the prevention of preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatric Anesthesia. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1460-9592.2008.02903.x

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • PĂątĂ© vs dog food and smoochy woochy poochy

    Pâté vs dog food and smoochy woochy poochy

    · Recreational Science

    Dog food quality has risen over the years, and its ingredients are not too different from that of pùté, or liver mousse, a French delicacy. The question, then, must be asked: can people taste the difference between dog food and pùté?

    Driving under the influence of marijuana is dangerous and illegal, but what about bicycling? Is it safe to ride bikes after cannabis use?

    Happy 2026! In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss whether blind taste testers can tell the difference between dog food and pùté, liverwurst, or SPAM, and whether cannabis users can safely navigate through traffic on a bicycle while stoned.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 1:45 New Year’s celebrations and resolutions 8:04 Dog food study 20:17 Weed study 30:16 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Bohannon J et al., 2009. Can people distinguish pĂątĂ© from dog food? AAWE Working paper No. 36 – Economics. https://wine-economics.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/AAWE_WP36.pdf Hartung et al., 2016. The effect of cannabis on regular cannabis consumers’ ability to ride a bicycle. International Journal of Legal Medicine. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-015-1307-y

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    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Eating Legos (for kids) and the fighting prowess of bearded men

    Eating Legos (for kids) and the fighting prowess of bearded men

    · Recreational Science

    Kids swallow little toys and other things they’re not supposed to all the time. Is it dangerous to swallow Legos? How long does it take for a swallowed piece of Lego to pass? There’s only one way to find out.

    Why do some men have beards? Do beards signify virility and manliness? Do bearded men have higher power levels?

    In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss the rich history of self-experimentation in medicine, how long it takes Legos to pass through the digestive tract, and whether bearded men fight better.

    Please vote for our show on the pod radar before Monday 12/22! https://thepodradar.com/

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 3:12 Hate caller follow-up 7:59 The rich history of self-experimentation 16:42 Lego swallowing study 23:23 Beard study 36:11 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Tagg et al., 2018. Everything is awesome: Don’t forget the Lego. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jpc.14309 Dixson et al., 2018. Contest competition and men's facial hair: beards may not provide advantages in combat. Evolution and human behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513817302660 Beseris et al., 2020. Impact Protection Potential of Mammalian Hair: Testing the Pugilism Hypothesis for the Evolution of Human Facial Hair. Integrative organismal biology. https://academic.oup.com/iob/article/2/1/obaa005/5799080

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Batman makes people nicer and octopus fun time

    Batman makes people nicer and octopus fun time

    · Recreational Science

    Would you give up your seat to a pregnant woman on the train? Would you be more likely to give up your seat to a pregnant woman if Batman was also on the train?

    What do octopuses do during their free time? Are they smart, curious, and bored enough to play catch by themselves?

    In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how the presence of Batman makes people more kind to one another (aka the Batman effect) and whether octopuses play with toys.

    Beef man origins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc-5StGiCb4

    Octopus playing video: https://figshare.com/articles/media/An_adult_i_O_bimaculoides_i_Octopus_H_playing_with_test_tube_cap_/29494452?file=56034531

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 1:25 Lu has a hater 10:39 Batman study 21:53 Octopus study 31:41 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Pagnini et al., 2025. Unexpected events and prosocial behavior: the Batman effect. npj Mental Health Research. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-025-00171-5 Jarmoulk et al., 2025. Evidence of play behavior in captive California two-spot octopuses, Octopus bimaculoides. PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0326379

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

    Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!

    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social Threads https://www.threads.com/@recscipod

    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Ethicists steal more and making turkeys exercise

    Ethicists steal more and making turkeys exercise

    · Recreational Science

    Are ethicists ethical? One would think that people who spend their careers studying ethics must be more ethical than others. But are people with looser morals more likely to become ethicists, so that they can understand what they lack?

    Why do some ancient human bones have larger enthesis (sites on the bone where tendons and ligaments attach)? Did the individuals these bones belong to run or exercise more than their peers? How can we study this using Thanksgiving dinner?

    In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on the science of Thanksgiving dinner. The two then discuss how you can evaluate the ethics of ethicists by going to a library and how forcing turkeys to walk on treadmills can teach us about human history.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 0:57 Thanksgiving science quiz 10:39 Ethics study 24:15 Turkey study 32:40 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Schwitzgebel, 2009. Do ethicists steal more books? Philosophical Psychology. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09515080903409952 Wallace et al., 2017. Physical activity alters limb bone structure but not entheseal morphology. Journal of Human Evolution. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047248417300647

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social Threads https://www.threads.com/@recscipod

    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

    Video - never deep fry a frozen turkey:

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KqtVCqFJsu0

  • Mansplaining explained and dedicating a brain cell to Jennifer Aniston

    Mansplaining explained and dedicating a brain cell to Jennifer Aniston

    · Recreational Science

    Mansplaining is when a someone explains in a condescending, oversimplified, and often inaccurate manner, without regard to the fact that the explainee knows more than the explainer, usually done by a man to a woman. Why do men do it? Does mansplaining actually even exist?

    Brain processing and recognition of visual imagery, such as people and objects, is thought to involve complex neuronal pathways with lots of connected brain cells each playing a role. But are multiple brain cells really necessary for this? Why don’t we just dedicate one brain cell to recognizing each important person in our life?

    In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss whether mansplaining is real and why it might occur and examine evidence showing that the visual recognition of certain people and objects may be the job of one specific brain cell.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 1:13 How was your week? 5:04 Mansplaining study 21:38 Neuron recognition study 35:25 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Fokkema & Pollmann, 2024. Mansplaining explained: The role of the better-than-average effect and the interpretation bias in acts and accusations of mansplaining. Psychology of Language and Communication. https://sciendo.com/article/10.58734/plc-2024-0021 Quiroga et al., 2005. Invariant visual representation by single neurons in the human brain. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03687

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

    Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!

    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social Threads https://www.threads.com/@recscipod

    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Fear is sexy and using zombie arms to carve pumpkins

    Fear is sexy and using zombie arms to carve pumpkins

    · Recreational Science

    Why do we sometimes seek out and enjoy fear? Could it be that fear promotes sexual attraction? Is it a good idea to take your date to a horror movie or on a rollercoaster?

    Carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns is dangerous and often leads to hand injuries. What’s the safest pumpkin carving tool to use this Halloween? How do you even determine this?

    It’s Halloween! In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss why some houses are thought to be haunted, how situations that arouse fear also arouse other feelings, as well as how to use reanimated cadaver arms to study pumpkin carving best practices.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 3:35 Why are some houses haunted? 8:35 Sexy fear study 23:29 Pumpkin carving study 34:54 Let’s read some mail 40:04 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Dutton & Aron, 1974. Some evidence for heightened sexual attraction under conditions of high anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1975-03016-001 Marcus et al., 2004. The safety of pumpkin carving tools. Preventive Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091743504000374

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

    Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!

    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social Threads https://www.threads.com/@recscipod

    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Cocaine bees and predicting iPhone vs Android users

    Cocaine bees and predicting iPhone vs Android users

    · Recreational Science

    The paradox of cocaine reinforcement is one of the biggest paradoxes in science. Why is cocaine so addictive to humans? Do bees enjoy cocaine as much as us?

    Why do some people prefer Apple iPhones while others prefer Android phones? Are there fundamental psychological differences between iPhone and Android users? Can you predict who uses which phone?

    In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on different -ologies, or scientific fields of study. The two then discuss the behavior of honeybees on short- and long-term cocaine use and the differences in personality traits between iPhone and Android users.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 1:15 Ologies quiz 17:37 Cocaine bee study 30:46 iPhone vs Android study 43:34 What did you learn today, outro

    Article links:

    Barron et al., 2009. Effects of cocaine on honey bee dance behavior. Journal of Experimental Biology. https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/212/2/163/18461/Effects-of-cocaine-on-honey-bee-dance-behaviour Shaw et al., 2016. Predicting Smartphone Operating System from Personality and Individual Differences. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cyber.2016.0324

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social Threads https://www.threads.com/@recscipod

    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

  • Are farts sterile? Plus, gym bro science

    Are farts sterile? Plus, gym bro science

    · Recreational Science

    Do farts contain dangerous bacteria? Should you avoid being flatulent near food?

    Can pre-workout supplements help you lift more weights at the gym? Should you drink beet juice and coffee before your workouts?

    In this episode, Lu and Tirth honor some of their favorite winners of the Darwin Award (an award even more prestigious than the Nobel Prize), debate whether breaking wind during surgery also breaks the sterile field of the operating room, and discuss whether nitrates and caffeine make good pre-workout supplements to maximize gains at the gym.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro 0:53 Darwin awards 9:15 Fart culturing study 21:38 Pre-workout supplement study 33:09 Let’s read some mail 37:26 What did you learn today, outro

    Article link:

    2001. Hot air? British Medical Journal. https://www.bmj.com/content/323/7327/1449 Montalvo-Alonso et al., 2025. Single and combined effect of beetroot juice and caffeine intake on muscular strength, power and endurance performance in resistance-trained males. Scientific Report. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-02021-y

    You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!

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    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social Threads https://www.threads.com/@recscipod

    Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ

    Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)

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