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Pub. DateTitleDuration
23 Dec 2019Evergreen for the Holidays00:22:04

Evergreen trees keep their green leaves all year long. What benefits and challenges do they experience as a result? Kristen discusses this topic and wraps up 2019, the Year of the Periodic Table. Happy holidays!

 

Episode References and Resources

Why do evergreens stay green in the winter?

 

BONUS LINKS! Happy birthday (sesquicentennial) to the periodic table!

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

16 Sep 2019Bees Can Count to Zero00:17:43

Kristen welcomes you to the first ever episode of Early Bird Science! She gives an introduction to the show and what you can expect from future episodes. Then Kristen talks about a scientific discovery that bees can recognize zero. She discusses the experiments researchers did to make this discovery, as well as why it is a big deal. We hope you are BUZZing with excitement!

 

References and Resources

Primary publication

Why zero is important

Other references

 

Show Site

earlybirdscience.com

28 Oct 2019India’s First Lunar Lander: Why Loss of Contact Is a Bummer but Also Brings Hope00:16:08

To the moon! ...Almost!

Kristen discusses what happened during the Chandrayaan 2 mission on September 7, 2019 when the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) lost contact with their spacecraft as they were trying to land it on the moon. She talks about why the setback is a bummer but also gives her opinion on why this mission and others like it bring hope for space exploration and even human purpose.

 

References and Resources

 

Connect - Leave comments, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

06 Jul 2020Summer Break 202000:02:09

Early Bird Science is taking a break for the rest of the summer. Thank you for listening!

13 Apr 2020Ice on Mercury?!00:18:12

Surprisingly, Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, which can reach daytime temperatures of 430 degrees C (about 800 degrees F), has ice! Kristen discusses research describing a newly-discovered mechanism for water formation and freezing on Mercury.

References and Resources

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

 

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

30 Mar 2020Take Care of Yourself00:16:25

Kristen discusses mental health during the pandemic. Wash your hands and be well. <3

In the United States, “If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call

  • 911
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517)”



References and Resources



Related Episode

Coronavirus [Episode 13]: https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/13



Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience



Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show



Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

20 Jan 2020Flex Those Muscles00:18:24

The types of muscles you pump up at the gym are just one of three different muscle types in your body. Kristen introduces the muscle types skeletal, cardiac, and smooth, and discusses their differences in appearance, location, control, and contraction. She also explains why calcium is so important for you.

References and Resources

Related Episodes

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

02 Mar 2020Coronavirus00:24:40

The coronavirus-caused disease COVID-19 has the potential to spread to pandemic levels. What are the facts?

 

References and Resources



Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience



Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show



Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

08 Jun 2020Friendship Bracelets for Glacier Mice00:23:23

Glacier mice are rare fuzzy little green balls that mysteriously move in herds atop some of the world’s glaciers. They are not mammals, but they are kind of cute and may be important parts of glacial ecosystems. Researchers are learning more about them.

References and Resources

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

 

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

25 Nov 2019Self-driving Cars and Motion Sickness00:19:29

Self-driving, or autonomous, cars are an appealing technology with tons of transportation potential, but one major barrier that may afflict many future drivers-turned-passengers is motion sickness. Kristen discusses this challenge, as well as early-stage research from University of Michigan’s Mcity Test Facility that is working to address it.

 

References and Resources

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

11 Nov 2019Snail Slime Inspires Superglue00:19:30

Kristen discusses a new superglue from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania that imitates the way snail slime works. The adhesive is not only super strong - It stuck a human to the ceiling! - but is also reversible, a combination of properties that is currently rare and in-demand in areas like auto manufacturing, household use, robotics, research, and medicine. Kristen also gives an overview of how this new invention could make it to you as a consumer in the future through a process called “technology transfer.”

 

References and Resources

 

Connect - Leave comments, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

25 May 2020Why Coffee Makes You Pee00:27:36

Most of us have experienced nature’s call shortly after having a cup of coffee. Why does that happen? Kristen talks about the kidneys and how water and caffeine affect them.

References and Resources

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

 

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

 

Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

03 Oct 2020Misinformation00:53:22

Welcome to Season 2! Kristen gets real about why a summer break was necessary, and also talks about what to expect this season. This extra-long episode provides a framework to empower you to minimize consumption and spread of misinformation.

References and Resources

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT): headshake.show

Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

16 Mar 2020Early Bird Pseudoscience: "N-Rays"00:15:52

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

Yes, Kristen has had a busy couple of weeks and couldn't find time to record an episode of Early Bird Science for this morning.

However, her Headshake co-host Nathan A. Libby has offered to take over the program (with Kristen's blessing, of course) and change the content over from real science to proven NON-science.

Kristen will be back in two weeks with another regular episode of Early Bird Science, but for now, please enjoy some nonsense.

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

 

Check out Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

11 May 2020How Does the Internet Work? With Steven Gago00:47:19

Kristen and her software engineer spouse Steve Gago have been “safer at home” for weeks, so they decided to record an episode together while trying to stay sane. Steve is back on the show to talk about how the Internet works!

Internet Concepts

  1. History
    1. Who made the Internet? - NOT Al Gore
      1. ARPANET
    2. (D)ARPA
    3. Circuit switching vs. packet switching
      1. World Wide Web, WWW
      2. Hypertext protocol
    4. Tim Berners-Lee, CERN
    5. Related technologies
    6. Browsers
    1. Client
    2. Server
    3. Packet
    4. Internet protocol (IP) address
    5. Media access control (MAC) address
    6. Router, switch
    7. Internet backbone
    8. Internet service provider (ISP)
    9. Fiber optics
      1. Hypertext transfer protocol (http), ...secure (https)
        1. e.g. .com, .show, .ninja
      2. Top level domain
      3. Path
    10. Universal resource locator (URL), domain name
    11. Host
    12. Why your Internet is slow!
      1. ICANN
    13. Why the “I” in “Internet” is capitalized
  2. How it works

Resource

Textbook: Computer Networks and Internets, Douglas Comer, 6th Edition

https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Networks-Internets-Douglas-Comer/dp/0133587932

 

Related Episodes

How Do Computers Work? With Steven Gago

https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/9



Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience



Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

27 Apr 2020GIANT FLYING REPTILES00:23:54

PTEROSAURS! Commonly known as pterodactyls, the most massive flyers in the fossil record could inform modern biomimetic aerospace engineering.

 

Reference

Volant Fossil Vertebrates: Potential for Bioinspired Flight Technology: https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(20)30080-X

 

4/30/20 CORRECTION: Pterosaurs were not dinosaurs. We therefore changed the episode title, which was originally “Dinosaur Flight.”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-a-pterosaur-is-not-a-dinosaur-87082921/

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

 

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

22 Jun 2020Robots Made of Frog Cells & An Exclusive Sneak Peak of an Important Upcoming Episode00:23:30

The creation of tiny, bio-based robots called xenobots could spark a future of biodegradable, self-replicating, self-repairing ‘bots. Stick around to the end of the episode for a sneak peak of the next Headshake episode with a very special guest!

References and Resources

 

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

You will be able to listen to the episode with special guest host Dr. Theanne Griffith on June 29, 2020! https://headshake.show/episodes/12 (link will work beginning 6/29)

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

09 Dec 2019Is Blood Blue?00:13:42

Kristen addresses the argument over whether human blood is blue. She talks about common misconceptions and what gives blood its color. As a bonus, she also talks about the variations in colors of blood in other animals.

 

CORRECTION: In this episode, Kristen says “octopi” to indicate the plural of “octopus.” Because “octopus” originated from Greek and not Latin (which does use “i” to pluralize words) and because “octopus” has been a word in English for a long time, Kristen would have preferred to pluralize the word using English rules: “octopuses.”

 

Episode References and Resources

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

30 Aug 2019Coming Soon!00:02:26

Early Bird Science is coming soon! Kristen and AV tell you how to find out the moment Episode 1 is available.

earlybirdscience.com

30 Sep 2019EKGs Part 1 of 200:14:09

Have you ever wondered what those squiggly lines mean on heart monitors in the hospital or on TV? More importantly, has a friend of yours ever gotten a heart beat tattoo, and you really wanted to critique it? In this episode, Kristen talks about what you’re seeing when you look at an EKG. As AV explains, Kristen got a bit carried away recording this topic, so it is split into two parts.

Part 1 discusses:

  • What an EKG looks like
  • A brief review of anatomy of the heart
  • What an EKG is and is not recording
  • The definition of “EKG,” and
  • How EKG recordings are made

Listen for Part 2 in the next episode for more.

 

References and Resources

Textbook: Vander's Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function, 13th Edition; Widmaier, Raff, Strang

Website: https://www.practicalclinicalskills.com/ekg

 

Connect - Leave comments, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

19 Dec 2020Why COVID-19 Vaccine Development Is Fast AND Safe00:34:14

There is a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel in the U.S. The FDA is starting to grant emergency use authorization to COVID-19 vaccines! Kristen talks about how the current vaccines were developed so quickly without compromising safety.

 

 

Abbreviated Reference List*

*To view a full list, please visit https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/24.

 

 

Correction

This episode states that Operation Warp Speed is overseen by the US Department of Defense. This statement is true but incomplete. Operation Warp Speed is also overseen in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and other federal agencies and private firms.

 

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

 

 

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

 

 

Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

03 Feb 2020Ancient Stardust in an Old Meteorite - PLUS a Special Announcement!00:17:36

An ancient meteorite contains the oldest solid material ever found on Earth. Kristen makes an exciting announcement about an upcoming project!

References and Resources

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

06 Jan 2020How Do Computers Work? With Steven Gago00:41:29

Happy new year 2020!

Steven Gago is the first human guest on Early Bird Science! He is an experienced software and firmware engineer, with a background in electrical and electronic engineering. Oh, yeah, he is also Kristen’s spouse. :-) He joins Kristen for this special, double-length episode to talk about how computers work.

Concepts covered:

  1. Steve is NOT a morning person
  2. Ancient computers
  3. Processors
  4. Transistors
  5. Logic gates
  6. Boolean algebra, 1s and 0s
  7. John Von Neumann
  8. Fetch-execute cycle
  9. RAM
  10. Computer “mouses” vs. “mice”
  11. Analog vs. digital
  12. Quantum computing

 

References and Resources from Steve

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

  • Leave questions for Steve in the comments on this episode’s webpage

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

14 Oct 2019EKGs Part 2 of 200:11:15

Have you ever wondered what those squiggly lines mean on heart monitors in the hospital or on TV? More importantly, has a friend of yours ever gotten a heart beat tattoo, and you really wanted to critique it? This episode is part 2 of 2 on EKGs, so if you haven’t yet listened to Part 1, we encourage you to go back one episode to get caught up.

In Part 2 Kristen discusses:

  • Parts of an EKG signal
  • Heart electrophysiology
  • What doctors can tell from EKG signals, and
  • Examples of unhealthy signals

 

References and Resources

Textbook: Vander's Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function, 13th Edition; Widmaier, Raff, Strang

Website: https://www.practicalclinicalskills.com/ekg

 

Connect - Leave comments, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

17 Feb 2020Calculating the Limits of Human Endurance00:18:56

Studying long-term energy expenditure of athletes in sporting events ranging from 0.5 to 140 days long, researchers have calculated the limits of human endurance. Based on this research, it also turns out pregnant women are endurance masters! Kristen’s Headshake co-host Nathan A. Libby pays a visit.

 

Check out the trailer for the new podcast Headshake, set to premiere February 24!

https://headshake.show/episodes/0

 

References and Resources

 

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

21 Nov 2020Busting Six Mask Myths01:23:19

Where do the data stand on mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic? Kristen tackles six myths (start times):

  1. Masks don’t work (00:12:41)
  2. Masks are unsafe (00:40:48)
  3. Masks solve everything (00:52:34)
  4. My mask protects only me (00:58:10)
  5. Wear a mask only if you’re sick (01:03:35)
  6. Mask-wearers are afraid or virtue signaling (01:06:00)

Guidelines on how to properly wear cloth masks begin at 01:09:06.

 

Abbreviated Reference List*

*This is the most thoroughly-researched episode of EBS yet. Please visit earlybirdscience.com/episodes/23 for a full list of references.



Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience



Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show



Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

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