Allen dives in to diodes, Arik explores the origin of taxis, and Allen reveals an unsavoury fact about zygotes.Steve Mould on LEDs and solar panelsWhy blue LEDs were almost impossibleThornton Blackburn

Back Door Fact

29 days ago 36m 8s

Arik throws peanuts, Allen tries to cook vegetables, photographers try to prompt a good pose, and the earth’s magnetic field threatens to cause trouble.High-altitude cookingSay cheeseGeomagnetic reversal

Suffered for Science

Feb 29th, 2024 38m 34s

Scientists discover where birds go, the trouble with coin flips, the limits of the human body, and what exactly you can find in the Perseus Molecular Cloud.The majestic PfeilstorchXCKD’s What If: What if Nascar had no rules?The Perse

Raspberry Dust

Jan 22nd, 2024 37m 51s

Science discovers our galaxy’s flavor, machinists discover precision measurements, and Arik discovers why you shouldn’t rent a car in Germany.Galaxy’s centre tastes of raspberries and smells of rum, say astronomersWhat Does Space Taste

That Doesn’t Seem True

Dec 18th, 2023 33m 29s

We check in on platypi and Polaris, consider zero’s parity, and make a decision about booby traps.PolarisParity of zeroLegality of booby traps

Gelatinous, Delicious, Terrible

Nov 20th, 2023 43m 2s

Allen thinks about cans, Arik thinks about governance, and everybody thinks about the Roman Empire.Why are cranberry sauce cans upside down?Roman DictatorWhy do bees make honey?

You're Cursed Anyway

Oct 30th, 2023 38m 24s

Allen considers ancient honey, Arik considers ancient surgeries, and some jobs may or may not get automated.Honey’s Eternal Life, ExplainedCaesarean sectionATMs and tellers

All You Need Is a Cartel

Sep 27th, 2023 32m 12s

Allen showcases a very surprising study, Arik recounts a very Canadian heist, and somebody loses a finger.Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma when jumping from aircraft: randomized controlled trialInside Quebec’s Great, Mult

The Bone of Theseus

Aug 29th, 2023 32m 30s

Arik improves an idiom, Allen shares a good news fact, Arik shares a grammar fact, and Allen locates your bones.You can’t have your cake and eat it too in other languagesStatus update on pandasPisiform boneSesamoid bones

Cool Fact

Jul 23rd, 2023 32m 56s

Arik and Allen attempt a live episode, Allen attempts to store dry ice, Arik attempts to use the word “relative”, and Allen attempts to explain what salt does.Carbon capture and storagePermanent storage of carbon dioxide in the

Both Jaunty and Cool

Jun 28th, 2023 39m 8s

Allen explains why summer exists, Arik outlines a trademark scheme, and Allen betrays Arik with a fishy biology fact.Seasonal lagList of genericized trademarksCladistics, the effort to recategorize living things into clades

This Would Be Unsurvivable

May 30th, 2023 35m 8s

Allen goes deep on whale ingestion, and Arik explains what’s really going on with dinosaurs.National Geographic on the plausibility of whales swallowing humansDinosaurEvolution of birdsOrnithischiaSaurischia

Ridiculously Ridonkulously Large

Apr 29th, 2023 36m 52s

Our sun proves a nuisance, the former Soviet Union makes a trade, we consider pepper seeds, Isaac Newton considers an apple, mice consider some cheese, rats get exonerated, and we share a superior alternative to implausible.What would the

Astronomically Unlikely

Mar 23rd, 2023 45m 55s

Women handle backward buttons, Allen handles a lot of feedback about very improbable things, and Arik handles digested asparagus.Why Zippers Are On Different Sides For Men And Women’s ClothingSumptuary lawUnderstandi

We Gotta Blow It Up

Feb 21st, 2023 49m 32s

Allen saves us from asteroids, Jack Black’s mom saves some astronauts, Allen offends Arik’s sense of probability, and Arik sets the record straight on streetcar conspiracies.Asteroid impact avoidanceThe Truth About Jack Black’s Mother’s

Let's All Do Crime

Jan 27th, 2023 46m 47s

A Portuguese scheme attempts to make counterfeit money real, an American scheme attempts to make walking illegal, and we set the record straight on Australian toilets.Alves dos Reis on WikipediaRose Bailey’s Mastodon thread on

Don't Eat This

Dec 21st, 2022 36m 6s

Ancient cultures name colours, algae goes wild, toilets inspire poetry, and we attempt to correct the internet.What Is Blue and How Do We See Color?Did Ancient People Really Not See The Color Blue?Himba people - Wikipedi

A Heaving Mass of People

Nov 28th, 2022 42m 24s

Arik makes an important call, Allen explains flavour, Arik invents football, Allen counts smiths, and we discover Ethiopian Time.Bon Appetite on blue raspberrySerious Eats on banana flavourHistory of American footbal

Sounds Made Up

Oct 27th, 2022 46m 10s

We talk about how rice is grown, how eyes are colored, how time is told, and, of course, a scheme.The System of Rice IntensificationEye color percentages around the world and what causes eye colorEye Color Percentage for Acr

Sorry, Scientists

Sep 27th, 2022 40m 19s

We consider too much rain, too many dinosaurs, too much bad stuff happening, and too many MIDI notes.Carnian pluvial episode - WikipediaOrnithosuchus - WikipediaThe Worst Time in History to Be Alive, According to Sci

It's All Colonialism

Aug 29th, 2022 38m 55s

A new border appears, and an old new fish appears; we measure stars, and measure aging. Bonus: a special frog fact.Hans IslandHolland vs the NetherlandsExtinct Fish Species That Predates Dinosaurs Found in Indian OceanStellar para

Paid for with Pee

Jul 24th, 2022 43m 58s

Vespasian pays for a colosseum, the bible describes angels, frogs jump into the air, and cities tell us how to compost.Was the Colosseum Paid for with Pee?Vespasian: The Emperor Who Gave His Name to a Public ToiletEmpero

A Little Round Blob

Jun 25th, 2022 51m 55s

Allen reveals why pills are the way they are, Arik reveals why trucks are the way they are, and we catch up on followup.Episode now fixed: Episode 57, Butt-Water Air Adventure TourismDiscussion of cold meds on Ep. 29, This is Not Medica

Butt-Water Air Adventure Tourism

May 23rd, 2022 1h 6m

Turtles breathe in a very peculiar way, nut butter makes a mess, bacteria get crushed, and Arik goes on a quest for carbonation.Turtles breathing through their buttsThe potential future of butt-breathingSome specific