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PODCAST

Brain Junk

Brain Junk is an off-the-wall, totally unbelievable but true podcast where Amy Barton and Trace Kerr shake up science & history in the hunt for answers to questions you never knew you wanted to know. We bring you the inside scoop on things like: Can goldfish drive? How do whales not drown while eating? Who had the first prosthetic eye? We cannonball off the question high dive every other Tuesday -- those of you in the front seats, bring your ponchos. We"re out to flood your brain.

science natural sciences

All Episodes

4:44

88: Get Smart! Dogs vs Cats

Brain Junk ·

2019/12/03

Who is the brightest, the most likely to crush the SAT, the one pet who has the brains to out think them all? Is it your cat or your dog?SHOW NOTES:Who is smarter?Dogs (The lovely Ruby would agree)Or cats?Leap and Haku are too sleepy to care.Show Notes:Science Alert Cats vs DogsStudy done by neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel from Vanderbilt University in the US.Spoiler alert!It’s dogs. Episode TranscriptWelcome to Brain Junk, I’m Trace Kerr and I’m Amy Barton. And this is a Brain Storm. AB: I’m

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6:28

87: Licorice or Liquorice?

Brain Junk ·

2019/11/26

Either way you spell it, you either love that black candy or can’t get away fast enough. Amy dives into why.Image Credit: Pixaby -gate74https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcodeNCCIH LicoriceHuffPost Licorice Episode Transcript:Welcome to Brain Junk. I’m Trace Kerr, and I’m Amy Barton, and this is a Brain Storm. Actually this is a Brain Freeze Brain Storm.TK: Yeah, this is our ice cream episode. Why do we not have ice cream? I’m all, where is my ice cream?AB: Um, my pants aren’t

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23:32

86: A Fungus Among Us

Brain Junk ·

2019/11/19

Bad dad mushroom jokes, a “bleeding” mushroom, the world’s largest organism, and so many fungus facts! That little brown mushroom on your pizza has fungal cousins that are more unexpectedly interesting than you would have thought.Bioluminescent Jack-O-Lantern Mushroomhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcodeHow about Zombie Ants?Ant infected with the cordyceps fungus.image: Susanne Sourell https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcodeBleeding Tooth FungusBleeding Tooth

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4:42

85: Two-Penny Hangover

Brain Junk ·

2019/11/12

In the late 19th century, London had the beginnings of homeless shelters. They weren’t always comfortable (try sleeping in a four-penny coffin), but it was better than being left drunk and alone out in the cold. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

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5:12

84: FDC Willard, Physicist

Brain Junk ·

2019/11/05

Trend setting science from 1975. We can’t tell you anything else, it would spoil the surprise! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

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18:42

83: Two Truths and a Lie (Animal Facts Edition)

Brain Junk ·

2019/10/29

Trace and Amy try to stump each other with the wildest, weirdest, most outrageous animal facts they could find. There’s chemical warfare snails, bird arsonists, toads with babies bursting out of their backs and MORE. Listen in and play along.Show Notes: SPOILERS!!!!Fire Hawks: Black Kites and Whistling Kites in Queenslandimage: Mark Marathonhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode TRUE!Koala toes and Human Fingerprintsimage: Janine

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4:59

82: Talking Eggs

Brain Junk ·

2019/10/22

Before they even hatch, Yellow Legged Gull chicks seem to be communication to their nest mates. Amy dives into the how and why. Show Notes:https://www.sciencealert.com/baby-birds-can-communicate-with-each-other-from-inside-their-unhatched-eggsScience Alert - Michelle StarrUnhatched bird embryos can not only hear the warning calls of adult birds - they can communicate that information to their unhatched brothers and sisters sharing the same nest, remaining safely tucked away in their shells until it

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8:19

81: Victorian Pineapple Rental

Brain Junk ·

2019/10/15

Would you pay eight-thousand dollars to impress your friends with a pineapple? No? Well, the Victorians did.Show Notes:Pineapples everywhereimage: Derek Harperhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcodeDunmore Pineapple house built in Scotland in 1761The building had a hothouse that was used for growing pineapples!image: PeakPX.comEpisode Transcript:Welcome to the Brain Junk, I’m Amy Barton and I’m Trace Kerr and it’s time for a Brain Storm and we’re going to be talking about one of

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15:41

80: Weather, Whether You Like it or Not

Brain Junk ·

2019/10/08

What do those rain percentages they give you on the news really mean? Why does the snow in Europe sometimes turn orange? Have you ever heard of a firenado? So many things you never knew you wanted to know about weather. Watch out for falling fish.Show Notes: You’ve got to see to believeFirenado or Fire Whirlcourtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Find more info here: https://roaring.earth/whats-a-firenado/ Roll Cloud in Kansasimage: David DeHetre

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8:03

79: Point Roberts

Brain Junk ·

2019/10/01

When the US and Canadian governments decided the border between our two countries, a few places got left on the “wrong” side of the line. Those places are called exclaves. On the west coast, Point Roberts became one of those places. Show Notes:Point Roberts WikipediaCityLab Point RobertsAtlas Obscura Point RobertsImage Courtesy pointswithacrew.com Episode Transcript:Welcome to Brain Junk. I’m Trace Kerr, and I’m Amy Barton and this is a Brain Storm.AB: We’re going to do a geography lesson today.

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5:26

78: Rock and Roll Mosquitoes

Brain Junk ·

2019/09/24

Turn up the Skrillex to ward off some pesky bloodsucking insects. And possibly your neighbors. Show Notes:Smithsonian Mag Skrillex MosquitosPhoto Credit: Michael Nusbaum, www.mikenusbaum.comCorrections: Skrillex is not EDM according to my husband. I argue that he is credited as an EDM artist by The Internet, but acknowledge it may not be his main genre. Sorry. AB Episode Transcript: Welcome to Brain Junk. I’m Trace Kerr and I’m Amy Barton and this is a Brain Storm.AB: I would like to talk about

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5:30

77: Maud Stevens Wagner

Brain Junk ·

2019/09/17

Born in Kansas in 1877, Maud grew up to be the first white female tattoo artist in the United States.Show Notes:Maud herselfMaud and her husband, Gus Wagnerimage: https://allthatsinteresting.com/maud-wagnerMaud Stevens Wagner http://www.theheroinecollective.com/maud-wagner/ List Episode Transcript: Welcome to brain junk. I’m Amy Barton and I’m Trace Kerr and it’s time for a Brain Storm.TK: So I found this website, theheroincollective.com heroin. It sounded weird like the lady. Yeah, like you know,

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16:00

76: Weird World of Pets

Brain Junk ·

2019/09/10

A half-marathon running dog, Japan’s pet cafes, cats maybe recognizing their names (because cats am I right?), and expensive pet pampering. We’ve got it all in this end of summer, back to school episode.Show Notes:Ikefukurou Cafe:Owls! You can carry them around and pet themThey are on instagram! Https://instagram.com/ikefukurou_cafe?igshid=n8thw413ky46 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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5:58

75: Worm Charming

Brain Junk ·

2019/09/03

This episode will have you outside with a sharpened stake, a hammer, a slab of metal and an empty coffee can. That’s right, we’re going to be talking about charming worms right out of the ground and explaining the science behind how it works. ‘Cause it DOES work and you’re going to want to try.Show Notes:Worm Charming aka worm grunting http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/10/21/2396935.htmSeagulls tap dancing on dirt to scare up worms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N93bKtWB6w Episode

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6:24

74: Giant Sea Spiders

Brain Junk ·

2019/08/27

Absorbing oxygen through their “skin” and pumping blood with their guts, the Giant Sea Spider isn’t a true spider, but it’s close. Too close for Trace. Show Notes: Live Science Sea Spider StudyImage Courtesy Live Science. Episode TranscriptWelcome to brain junk. I’m trace Kerr and I’m Amy Barton. And this is a brainstorm.AB: I am super excited to talk to you about this subject. It is giant sea spiders.TK: Oh God.Yeah. Not just little spiders. Big, big, big spiders. You know, I like context for the

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5:14

73: Bridget “Biddy” Mason

Brain Junk ·

2019/08/20

At the age of 42, Bridget Mason won a court case in California that freed her and her daughters from slavery. She went on to become a California real estate developer and a prolific philanthropist. She also funded the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. That church stands to this day and its 19,000 members share in her legacy.Episode Transcript:Welcome to Brain Junk. I’m Amy Barton and I’m Trace Kerr and it’s time for a Brain Storm. TK: So one thing I don’t normally do is

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20:30

72: Brain Junk Road Trip

Brain Junk ·

2019/08/13

Just in time for vacation season here in the US, Brain Junk goes on the road (metaphorically) to bring you cool places we’ve been or want to go. Carlsbad Caverns, the Seattle gum wall, a visit to the Weeki Watchee Mermaids, or a B&B shaped like a beagle. Don’t forget to bring licorice for Amy and, buckle up, Trace called shotgun.Show Notes: /licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode Trace’s daughter, Zoe and the Jackalope Beagal B&Bhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode

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4:25

71: Ants on Stilts

Brain Junk ·

2019/08/06

Ants hunt for food, but how do they know how to get back? Content warning: Science is messy. Some ants were harmed and we talk about it. Not in great detail, but we thought you should know. Episode Transcript:AB: Welcome to bring to them Amy Barton. And I’m trace Kerr and it’s time for a Brain Storm.TK: So we’re gonna talk about ants. This was an idea that, uh, my daughter’s threw at me the other day because she saw a picture, I think on Instagram. It’s on stilts.AB: I’m excited already.TK: Right

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4:19

70: Galloping Crocodiles

Brain Junk ·

2019/07/30

Like a scaly cheetah, galloping crocs were a terror both on land and in the water. Good thing they lived 100 million years ago. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

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25:35

69: Brain Science

Brain Junk ·

2019/07/23

Where Trace shows how much she can’t math OR spell and Amy reveals she multitasks better with a high cognitive load. We also look into the science of how infants acquire language while asleep and how to build muscle without exercise. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

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349 results

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