
Early Bird Science (Kristen Ruka)
Explore every episode of Early Bird Science
Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
---|---|---|---|
23 Dec 2019 | Evergreen for the Holidays | 00:22:04 | |
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 2019 | Bees Can Count to Zero | 00:17:43 | |
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 | |||
28 Oct 2019 | India’s First Lunar Lander: Why Loss of Contact Is a Bummer but Also Brings Hope | 00:16:08 | |
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 2020 | Summer Break 2020 | 00:02:09 | |
Early Bird Science is taking a break for the rest of the summer. Thank you for listening! | |||
13 Apr 2020 | Ice 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): | |||
30 Mar 2020 | Take Care of Yourself | 00:16:25 | |
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
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):
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 2020 | Flex Those Muscles | 00:18:24 | |
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 2020 | Coronavirus | 00:24:40 | |
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):
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 2020 | Friendship Bracelets for Glacier Mice | 00:23:23 | |
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): | |||
25 Nov 2019 | Self-driving Cars and Motion Sickness | 00:19:29 | |
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 2019 | Snail Slime Inspires Superglue | 00:19:30 | |
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 2020 | Why Coffee Makes You Pee | 00:27:36 | |
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):
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 2020 | Misinformation | 00:53:22 | |
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 2020 | Early 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): | |||
11 May 2020 | How Does the Internet Work? With Steven Gago | 00:47:19 | |
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
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): | |||
27 Apr 2020 | GIANT FLYING REPTILES | 00:23:54 | |
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): | |||
22 Jun 2020 | Robots Made of Frog Cells & An Exclusive Sneak Peak of an Important Upcoming Episode | 00:23:30 | |
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): 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 2019 | Is 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 2019 | Coming 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. | |||
30 Sep 2019 | EKGs Part 1 of 2 | 00:14:09 | |
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:
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 2020 | Why COVID-19 Vaccine Development Is Fast AND Safe | 00:34:14 | |
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):
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 2020 | Ancient 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 2020 | How Do Computers Work? With Steven Gago | 00:41:29 | |
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:
References and Resources from Steve
Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions! Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience | |||
14 Oct 2019 | EKGs Part 2 of 2 | 00:11:15 | |
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:
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 2020 | Calculating the Limits of Human Endurance | 00:18:56 | |
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 2020 | Busting Six Mask Myths | 01:23:19 | |
Where do the data stand on mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic? Kristen tackles six myths (start times):
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):
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. |