x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Ologies with Alie Ward

Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists" obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.

science

All Episodes

01:35:40

Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES) with India Jackson and...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/04/03

Sunset flimflam! Auroras! Eclipse tips! Let’s get to know the center of our solar system, the Sun, as the April 8th eclipse approaches. What is it made of? How big is it? Will it explode soon? Why can’t I stare at it? And why is it wearing sunglasses? Dr. Michael Kirk and almost-Dr. India Jackson are brilliant and charming Heliologists who have both worked with NASA’s heliophysics departments. Get to know them and also the giant hot plasma ball we revolve around. You’ll never (not look at it) the

en-us

00:25:12

Smologies #41: PELICANS with Juita Martinez

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/03/30

Spine mysteries, face purses, limericks, flim flam, flags, divebombs, sibling rivalries, and more! The warm and wonderful pelicanologist Juita Martinez studies these glorious dinosaurs and shares what it’s like to hold a floofy baby sea bird, how these birds’ ecosystems are being restored, and what she loves about being in nature. Also: How much fish can they fit in there, anyway?A donation went to BackyardBasecamp.orgFull-length (*not* G-rated) Pelicanology episode + tons of science linksMore

en-us

01:29:21

Disgustology (REPULSION TO GROSS STUFF) with Paul Rozin

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/03/27

Taboos. Intolerable foods. Sad songs. Sexy kinks. Candy that looks like poo. Let’s get a little gross, shall we? The foremost expert in disgust, Dr. Paul Rozin, chats about the emotions related to revulsion – and BOY HOWDY do we cover some ground. Why do some things gross us out and others don’t? Can we change that? Learn how research psychologists study disgust, from butterflies to bigotry, and from pranks to power dynamics. Maybe don’t eat lunch while you listen, but definitely tune in to learn

en-us

00:47:07

Field Trip: Alie’s Mystery Surgery!

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/03/21

Where have I been? What surgery did I have? Am I going to die? I took you along for the whole wacky, sometimes scary process in hopes it might help someone and urge you all to draft up your wills and call your doctors if anything seems weird. If you think this thing has *nothing* to do with your own life, you’ll learn why it very much indeed does. Cryptic! What am I, a princess? Tune in for the journey of the last few months behind the scenes at Dadward HQ. And thank you for all of the support, for

en-us

00:25:10

Smologies #40: HAIR with Valerie Horsley

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/03/18

Peach fuzz. Chin hairs. Mammalian ponytails. WHY DO THEY HAPPEN. Yale researcher and associate professor Dr. Valerie Horsley stops by California to chat with Alie about the nature of hair and what it has to do with skin and nails, stem cells, how it grows, why some of us have curly hair or straight hair or thin hair or thick hair, and why we love and hate and need our hair as animals.Dr. Valerie Horsely is on FacebookThe Horsely Lab at YaleMore episode sources & linksFull-length (*not* G-rated)

en-us

01:32:46

Oikology (DECLUTTERING) Encore with Jamie & Filip...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/03/12

Why does clutter happen? How can we get rid of it and how will it affect us psychologically if we do? Buckle up for an encore that will lift your spirits and quite possibly change your life. We all have unfolded piles of laundry, that closet we don’t want to open, a tornado of papers on our desk that seems impossible to sort through. Enter: Oikology, the science of keeping things contained. Alie hunted down world-famous professional organizers, Jamie & Filip Hord of Horderly to chat about -- FIRST

en-us

01:12:51

Functional Morphology (ANATOMY) Encore with Joy...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/03/05

Ever poked at roadkill? Watched videos of whales exploding? Drooled over a curio cabinet full of claws & bones? Peered into a jar with a pickled toad? Then this one is for you. Whether you’ve heard it before or are new to this classic ep, you’re sure to be delighted by this Ologist’s storytelling. Arguably the world's most famous comparative anatomist (and pretty-much-also functional morphologist) Dr. Joy Reidenberg pulls up a chair at Mt. Sinai Hospital to talk about her fascinating backstory,

en-us

00:25:05

Smologies #39: ANCIENT ROME with Darius Arya

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/03/02

Classical Archaeologist and TV host Dr. Darius Arya is back for a smologized version of this classic episode to dish about priceless garbage piles, pottery graveyards, tomb discoveries, what's under European cities, ancient spa days, ingenious construction methods, and unlikely laundry techniques. Plus, what did ancient romans use before toilet paper - and perhaps more importantly, WHY?? Dr. Darius Arya's website, Twitter and InstagramA donation was made to AncientRomeLive.orgFull-length (*not*

en-us

01:09:41

Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!)...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/02/28

Part 2! Black hole suns, black hole movies, wormholes, time travel, matter evaporation, scientists being bitches, risk-taking advice, Italy’s favorite pastry, and more await you. NASA Goddard Theoretical Astrophysicist and Black Hole Theory Cosmologist Dr. Ronald Gamble, Jr. is back for the conclusion of black hole basics and how theories get made and what’s on the (event) horizon for future astrophysicists to solve. Also: what do we do with our space anxiety?!Visit Dr. Ronald Gamble’s website and

en-us

00:48:59

Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!)...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/02/21

How big are black holes? Is time elastic? What is spacetime foam? Why is there a place called “elsewhere?” Enjoy this dazzling two-parter that starts with the absolute basics with NASA’s Goddard Theoretical Astrophysicist and Black Hole Theory Cosmologist Dr. Ronald Gamble, Jr. We talk busting of flim-flam, how do we image them, what's the most giant dense book you can buy about them, where do trad goths fit into this episode, does my dog exist, how astrophysics is like drawing, and the greatest

en-us

00:25:16

Smologies #38: CARNIVORES with Rae Wynn-Grant

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/02/17

Ah, charismatic megafauna! Teeth, claws, fur, poop, hibernation, hiking, nature preserves, and living your childhood dreams with Alie’s longtime -ologist crush, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. The large carnivore ecologist, researcher and TV presenter tells us all about her field work, what it’s like to stuff a baby bear in your coat, carnivore microbiomes, how well carnivores can taste and smell their food (and yours), how smart the average bear really is and more. Also: Is there such thing as a vegetarian

en-us

01:17:21

Hydrochoerology (CAPYBARAS) with Elizabeth Congdon

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/02/14

CAPYBARAS! Blocky faces. Chill vibes. Spa days. Finally. Hydrochoerologist, Dr. Elizabeth Congdon, leads us into the muddy pond of Rodents of Unusual Size, weird feet, pet questions, interspecies snuggles, capybara cafes, natural habitats, escaped capybara, a fossil record that will rock you, and what the Pope thinks of them. An instant classic that you’ll want to enjoy on repeat. Y’all, CAPYBARAS. I repeat: Capybaras. Read Dr. Congdon’s publications on ResearchGateA donation went to Edgewater

en-us

00:57:03

Theoretical & Creative Ecology (SCIENCE & ECOPOETRY)...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/02/07

Environmental models! Poetry! Scientists who are poets! Novelists who are scientists! Art + science = an actual -ology. Creative Ecologist, climate scientist, theoretical ecologist, author and celebrated poet Dr. Madhur Anand sits on a porch with me on an island to chat about storytelling, narratives in science, forest beetles, carbon stability, human motives, hip waders, technology meets nature, absurdity, identity, overcoming writer’s or scientist’s' block, and how accepting ourselves can be

en-us

00:25:23

Smologies #37: PROTEINS + DNA with Raven “The Science...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/02/03

This one’s got it all: teeny tiny cellular factories, mitochondrial relevancy, what big smelly vats of poop have to do with curing cancer, how many trips to the sun your unravelled DNA could make, and mysteries of the brain. Dr. Raven The Science Maven has a background in molecular biology and a Ph.D in Science Communication, which she puts to work while Alie generally does her best to suppress high pitched noises of excitement. Learn to appreciate your proteins and pick up some noodle analogies

en-us

01:24:54

Evolutionary Anthropology (METABOLISM) with Herman...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/01/31

*Content warning up top: This episode discusses sensitive themes like diet culture, caloric intake, the psychological & physical effects of food restriction and includes many listeners’ personal experience with the term “obesity." It may be triggering for those with a history of or sensitivity to disordered eating. We also discuss the Body Mass Index, still used by medical professionals, but acknowledged by many sociologists to be rooted in structural oppression.*Let’s explore our human machinery

en-us

00:50:52

Carcinology (CRABS) Part 2 with Adam Wall

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/01/24

Hairy crabs! Shell swaps! Carcinization! Will we all evolve to be crabs? What’s with having one giant claw? Why would a crab stab you? Adam Wall, a carcinologist at the Natural History Museum of LA covers all of this and more in this thrilling conclusion of our two-part episode on crabs. Also: did the Little Mermaid get it right, and does Adam enjoy being interviewed? Listen to the end to find out.And if you missed Part 1, listen here. Part 1 covers: Claw hands! Beady eyes! Pinching forces that

en-us

00:25:34

Smologies #36: FEATHERS with Allison Shultz

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/01/20

Plumage! Dance battles! Possible holographic disco birds? Natural History Museum of LA ornithology curator Dr. Allison Shultz is a professional plumologist aka feather expert. We visit the museum’s collection of rare specimens and chat about everything from fossilized dinosaur feathers to peacock tails, the fanciest roosters, quill pens, pigments, flight feathers, the blackest black birds, and why birdwatching is like seeing tiny purple raccoons zoom overhead. Birds: like Pokemon Go but

en-us

01:08:07

Carcinology (CRABS) Part 1 with Adam Wall

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/01/16

Claw hands! Beady eyes! Pinching forces that could crack your skull! Gentleman, scholar, curator of the Natural History Museum’s crustacea collection and Carcinologist Adam Wall takes us on a tour of the museum’s crab bunker to discuss everything from the tiniest to the most hauntingly giant crabs, discovering new species, crabs that are NOT crabs, sea monkeys, hairy crabs, hermit crabs, crab dongs, crab butts, crab butters, the secret history of secret Maryland spices, Amelia Earhart rumors, giant

en-us

01:19:27

Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY/NATIVE PLANTS) with Leigh...

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/01/09

The what, where, and who of native plants is … ethnobotany! Which is under the umbrella of Ethnoecology! The wonderful botanist Leigh Joseph shares what steered her to this field, how she includes her Squamish First Nation community in her research, and how we relate to plants – both native and invasive. She’ll chat about how to identify plants, Latin names vs. traditional names, how knowledge is passed down or silenced, the chilling history that inspired some of her work, uses for barks and berries

en-us

00:25:05

Smologies #35: COMPUTER PROGRAMMING with Iddris Sandu

Ologies with Alie Ward ·

2024/01/04

At just 22, Iddris Sandu’s life story was already legendary. This Architectural Technologist learned to program at the age of 11 and has worked with everyone from Kanye West to Nipsey Hussle to Space X. In this episode from 2020 we talk coding, holograms, what ancient flutes have to do with computers, how programming works and why it's important. The designer and entrepreneur also shares his favorite programming languages, philosophies on future technology and why we should all strive to be dynamic

en-us

526 results

Similar Podcasts

Beyond the Divide

Koala Moon

Autobiography of an Electron

Charles R. Gibson

Ologies with Alie Ward

Alie Ward

New Books in Political Science

New Books Network

Fascinating Frontiers

Patrick