Breaking Bio

Anne Hilborn, PhD student at Virginia Tech, talks about her work studying the cheetahs of the Serengeti, including the not-so-glamourous aspects of the job, and then explains why she doesn't shy away from sharing her observations in graphic detail on Twitter.

For more information, links, and show notes, check out http://breakingbio.com

Dr. Alex Wild, curator of entomology at the University of Texas at Austin, talks with Morgan & Tom about tracking ant invasions with natural history collections, the rights & wrongs of copyright, and his new crowd-funding campaign, Insects Unlocked.

Find show notes at http://breakingbio.com

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Palaeontologist Trevor Valle and evolution vigilante @TakeThatDarwin talk to us about how they face off with evolution denialists, and why pop stars don't get carte blanche at Natural History Museums.

Find show notes and links at http://breakingbio.com

Dr. Adrian Smith, a post-doc at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, chats with us about his work on ant behaviour and chemical ecology, why he thinks scientists should be at least partly responsible for communicating their work, and about his own goals and strategies when it comes to scicomm.

Find show notes & links to Adrian's work at http://breakingbio.com

Dr. Yoel Stuart, a Post-doctoral Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, joins us to discuss the evolutionary ramifications of invasive anoles on the islands of Florida. Turns out it's like the Olympic motto, Higher, Faster, Stronger, but with bigger toes. Yoel also tells us about some of his current work studying convergent evolution in British Colombian sticklebacks.

Dr. Dieter Lukas, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, joins Heidi, Tom & Morgan to explain why a lot of mammals may not qualify for Parent of the Year. 

Find out more about Dieter's research, and find links to the papers we discuss at our website - http://breakingbio.com

This week, we learn all about flamingos from molecular biologist/palaeontologist Chris Torres of the University of Texas at Austin. Chris also explains how he solved a 150 year old mystery in a natural history museum, and why his house is covered in pink.

For more information, including links to the papers we discuss in this episode, check out the show notes at http://breakingbio.com.

This week we're joined by Dr. Nate Morehouse, an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies colour and how its used among insects and spiders. Nate explained some of his lab's work trying to understand how butterflies tell who are potential mates and who are wasted effort, as well as how jumping spiders taste the rainbow.

If you enjoyed this episode, Nate and his lab could use your help with their crowd-funding campaign to finance an expedition to the southwestern US in search of colourful jumping spiders - https://experiment.com/projects/why-are-some-jumping-spiders-so-colorful

This week we're talking to Louisiana State University PhD student Paige Brown Jarreau about her work trying to understand what makes science bloggers tick, or at least why they do what they do. We also discuss the role and future of crowd-funding scientific research.

Help support Paige's crowd-funding campaign - https://experiment.com/projects/something-is-wrong-on-the-internet-what-does-the-science-blogger-do?s=search

Find more information, including links to resources discussed in this episode, on our website - http://breakingbio.com

This week we've put together 4 shorter interviews with Columbia University Conservation Biology Master's Students who are all starting their academic careers studying some aspect of Mammal Conservation. From African traffic noise, to mouse gut microbes, and monkey poo to monkey conflicts, these students share their enthusiasm for their work.

Guests:

Kaggie Orrick - @KaggleRock - https://twitter.com/kagglerock

Erin Dimech - @ErinDimech - https://twitter.com/erindimech

Jessica Stitt - @JessMStitt - https://twitter.com/jessmstitt

Allison Roth

Columbia University Conservation Biology Student Blog - http://www.cuinthefield.wordpress.com/

This week, we talk to Dr. Emily Burfield-Steel of the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland about her work with species who get confused in the bedroom, how scientists introduce drama into spider sex, and moth farts. Kinda.

Check out http://breakingbio.com for more information, and links to the papers discussed in this episode!

We talk to Dr. Sandra Rehan of the University of New Hampshire about her work on the evolution of sociality, the natural history of bees, and what it's like to be a new prof!

More info about Dr. Rehan's work:

Lab webpage: http://www.unhbeelab.com/

Twitter: @sanrehan - https://twitter.com/sanrehan

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Find more of Breaking Bio online:

Blog & past episodes: http://breakingbio.com/

Twitter: @BreakingBio - https://twitter.com/BreakingBio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakingbiopodcast

This week, we sit down and discuss the #SAFE13 project, which is bringing incidences of sexual harassment and assault in scientific field research to light, with the study's authors: Dr. Kate Clancy, Dr. Robin Nelson, Dr. Julienne Rutherford, and Dr. Katie Hinde. 

Tom talks to Dr. Hope Jahren from the University of Hawaii Manoa about her work on plants and how they deal with changing climates, both in recent years and long in the past.

We sit down to talk with Dr. David Gorski, oncologist and science blogger, about his long blogging career and his continuing crusade against crack-pot medical advice.

We sit down to talk about the evolution of sex chromosomes and the diversity of ways organisms determine sex with Dr. Melissa Wilson Sayres of Arizona State University. Dr. Wilson Sayres also explains why math is important for biologists, and how public outreach and engagement needs to become more common from practicing scientists.

We're on hiatus for the summer, but filmed a special episode to highlight a crowd-funding project that we think deserves a voice and hopefully some funding.

We talk to Janna Eaves, CTO and Co-Founder of Miss Possible, a start-up company looking to empower girls to follow their dreams by creating a line of children's dolls showcasing female role models from STEM fields. Miss Possible is currently running a crowd-funding campaign in order to start production on their first doll (Marie Curie). Janna tells us all about what Miss Possible is and hopes to do, as well as how a couple of entreprenuerial women started their own line of dolls while finishing their undergraduate degrees in engineering.

Natalie Bray of Columbia University discusses her work studying soil biodiversity.

 In episode 64 we talk with Steve Phelps of the University of Texas at Austin about the evolution of social behaviour, prairies voles, singing mice, Twitter for academics, the academic work life and more!

Erin Eastwood, an MSc student at Columbia University, talks to us about her research on Marine Protected Areas and small scale fisheries in Fiji.

We talk to Dr. Crystal Dilworth, science correspondent with Al Jazeera America, about the many ways she's helped promote science on screen.

In the very first Breaking Bio Blitz we talk to Cynthia Malone of Columbia University about her upcoming research on conflicts between wildlife and oil palm plantations in Cameroon.

Don't worry, we're not the ones dancing. Stuart Wigby from the University of Oxford sits down to talk to us about his work on fruit fly sex, how aging impacts reproduction, and why his PhD students feel as comfortable on the dance floor as they do in the lab!

This week's guest is ecologist and all-around bird nerd Dr. Alex Bond. Alex was an adjunct at the University of Saskatchewan when we talked to him, but he'll soon beginning his new position as a Conservation Scientist for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds  in the UK. Alex talked to us about the wide variety of ornithological research he's involved with, the importance of natural history to science, and why puffins are giant D-bags! Come for the feathers, stay for the fun!

Follow along with Alex's research & upcoming field work in the middle of nowhere on Twitter (@thelabandfield) and his blog The Lab & Field (http://labandfield.wordpress.com/).

It’s coral reefs, it’s climate change, it’s us making connections for our next African vacation.  It’s episode 60 with Emily Darling (@emilysdarling), marine ecologist extraordinaire! And good news:  we’re not all screwed.  Well, mostly.  Probably.  Okay, look, watch the interview and decide for yourself.

It’s dolphin time!  Join us as we talk with Justin Gregg, research associate at the Dolphin Communication Project, author of the new book Are Dolphins Really Smart, and voiceover artist.  Bonus: a brief discussion on dolphin assisted birth and why that’s a really dumb idea.

In episode 58 we’re joined by Dan Gillis, Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Guelph.  We had a great talk about his work as an ecological modeller for the Saugeen Ojibway First Nations and about an innovative project with his students that is helping to deliver fresh food to food donors and emergency food providers!

In episode 57 we’re joined by David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter), marine biologist, shark conservationist, and scicommer extraordinaire.  It’s a great interview, ranging everywhere from shark culls in Australia to mermaids to how one can buy the shirt off your Red Lobster servers’ back.  Everyone in the pool!

I bet you didn’t know that ‘comparative lactation’ was a thing, did you?  Well, it is.  And it’s awesome.  Katie Hinde (@mammals_suck), assistant professor at Harvard, joins us to talk about milk, milk, milk!  Oh, and some biology stuff. Ever thought about milking a monkey?  Be prepared to have your mind blown.

In episode 55 we’re joined by a luminary of evolutionary biology and behavioural ecology, Professor Marlene Zuk of the University of Minnesota!  Marlene joins us to talk about her latest book Paleofantasy, crickets, the odd things that people will tell you, and more!  If you like science, this one’s chock-full of it.

In episode 54 we chat with the talented Upulie Divisekera, molecular biology PhD student at Monash University.  It's a free-wheeling interview covering everything from nanotech for cancer to science communication to Cordyceps fruiting bodies erupting out of human heads! Come on, you know you want to hear about the grey goo. All the cool kids are doing it.

• For bonus points, follow Real Scientists on Twitter!

In episode 53, we’re joined by the awesome and funny Jessica Light to talk lice. That’s right, lice. More generally, though, it’s host-parasite interaction and it’s pretty fascinating stuff. You’ll learn things. Interesting things. Dark things. Ever wondered how to collect lice from a dead rat? We guarantee that you’ll never look at a Home Depot the same way.

Epsiode 52: ants and careers!  We chat with Magdalena Sorger on cool trapjaw ants, unusual career paths in academia, and getting into field work when you’re not prepared for it.

In episode 51, we chat with the inspiring Karen James:  geneticist, innovator in citizen science, co-founder and director of the Beagle project, and she nearly went into space.  Frankly, after we post this episode, we’re all heading out to make something of ourselves.

Episode 50!  For this episode, we had the chance to chat with amazing author and National Geographic contributor David Quammen (Spillover, Song of the Dodo).  This episode was so packed full of awesome that we recorded for double the length and split it into two parts (this is part 2).  No word of a lie, this is one of the best episodes we’ve recorded.

Episode 50!  For this episode, we had the chance to chat with amazing author and National Geographic contributor David Quammen (Spillover, Song of the Dodo).  This episode was so packed full of awesome that we recorded for double the length and split it into two parts (this is part 1).  No word of a lie, this is one of the best episodes we’ve recorded.

In episode 49, we talk with William Gunn (@mrgunn), Head of Academic Outreach at Mendeley!  We chat with him about Mendeley, replicating studies, open access, and Elsevier.  Did you #mendelete?  One of the hosts did! Come see us dish out the hardhitting journalistic questions for which our podcast is not at all famous.

In episode 48, we talk with academic poster design guru (and all-around science guy) Zen Faulkes, also known as @doctorzen.  Come for the Captain Canuck, stay for the design tips!

In episode 47, we chat with Andrew Jackson of The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, or Trinity College Dublin, for short.  This time, we're talking evolution of cooperation, we're talking self-deception and creationism, we're talking visual processing (why do flies live in the Matrix?), and we're talking math.  Feel the modelling.  Live the modelling.  Love the (mathematical) modelling.

Episode 46 finds us chatting with Emily McTavish, postdoc at the University of Kansas, about the Open Tree of Life project!  No idea what that is (http://opentreeoflife.org)?  Hear about the project, data collection, and why *you too* should be a programmer in biology!

For episode 45, we're joined by the peer-reviewed rapper himself, Baba Brinkman (http://www.bababrinkman.com)!  What else can I say?  Sit back and listen to this interview filled with awesome sauce.  

Derek Hennen (@derekhennen) and Mike Skvarla (@MSkvarla36) join us to talk about the perils of Arkansas field work, their favourite mites and millipedes, and we end off with a fact about your eyebrows that will keep you up at night.  It's another must-watch!

It's episode 43!  Your three sparkling cohosts discuss crowdfunding and other alternative ways of funding science, pros and cons, in depth.  We get a little more serious than our usual show, but it's a great conversation.

In episode 42 we were joined by Josh Witten, PhD in molecular biology and big cheese at the awesome blog / science communication powerhouse The Finch & Pea (http://thefinchandpea.com).  Josh spent some time talking with Morgan and Heidi about science communication, rugby, and the scrum^H^H^H^H joys and perils of lab culture.

(Did I get the ruby reference right?  Ah, what the hell do I know about sports...)

Michael joins us to talk orchids, flies, the hardships (hah!) of doing field work in South Africa, and selling your science.  Plus, look for yet another ignored request to cut stuff out of the episode!

In episode 40, Stephen Heap (University of Jyväskylä in Finland) joins us to talk about his research on everything from nest sites in toadlets to landmarks in cichlids to animal signalling systems to human cooperative behaviours!  Plus, why you should fear the winter in Finland.

The Bug Chicks return (from way back in Episode 9!) to talk to use about their awesome Indiegogo campaign  (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-bug-chicks) to film an educational show about bugs across the US.  Plus, an exclusive announcement about the show breaks here on the show, and we get some behind-the-scenes talk from the hosts!  If you like bugs, or good educational programming, or support women and girls in science then you should watch this episode.

Now, go give them all your money.  We know where you live*.

* We have no idea where you live, but the Bug Chicks still deserve some of your money.

Some weeks it's zombie ants, some weeks it's kinky squid sex;  this week, it's kinky squid sex with Ben Wegener.  If you're looking for a conversation that veers wildly between technical aspects of sexual selection and questionable beauty products, we've got what you're looking for.  (Warning: this episode's audio is a little NSFW).

ZOMBIES!  WANT YOUR BRAI…*ahem*. In this episode we chat with David Hughes (@zombieantguy): entomologist, parasitologist, and high-flying consultant to Hollywood and video games!  Come hear about behaviour-controlling fungi in ants, World War Z, and The Last of Us.  If you like better science in pop culture, David’s your guy.

Christie Wilcox (@NerdyChristie) comes on to school us on lionfish with liver damage and why scientists should use social media.  Come for the invasive species, stay for the social media smackdown!

If you want to hear about cobra venom in your eye and tramping around the jungles like a *real* biologist, then Phil Torres is your man and this is your episode!  Plus, the behind-the-scenes story of the Donald Trump caterpillar.  Don't miss this one!

My beloved Brontopodcast! Okay, the joke is lame (http://www.amazon.com/My-Beloved-Brontosaurus-Favorite-Dinosaurs/dp/0374135061), but the podcast isn't:  it's the awesome Brian Switek of Laelaps blog and twitter fame and author of two great books on dinosaurs and the fossil record.  I can't even describe it, you'll just have to listen to it.

In Episode 32, we talk with Glendon Mellow (@symbiartic), science illustrator extraordinaire, about his work illustrating biology, copyright, visuals in science, and tattoos!

In episode 31 we talk to Stu Auld about host-parasite coevolution in Daphnia.  If you like tales about crustaceans with parasites and gender issues, then this is the podcast for you!  If not, it's probably still the podcast for you, because Stu is awesome and funny.

In episode 30 Anthony returns to turn the tables and ask *us* questions for #scifund! If you've ever wanted a look behind the scenes of Breaking Bio, this is the podcast for you.

In episode 29 we talk with Mike Kasumovic about spiders and crickets and video games - and that's just the science!  Plus, Mike's tips on getting ahead in science and how to have a great academic beard.

Our guest Patty Jones from UT Austin joins us to talk about frog-eating bats, the joys of field work, and the crew hatches a plan to rid the world of Justin Bieber!

In Episode 27, we chat with the awesome Joshua Drew (@labroides) and even drop in on his graduate class to say 'hi'.  If you're interested in awesome shark tooth weapons, communicating science, or the role of women in science, then this is the episode for you! Plus, bowties are *cool* (uh, though of course, you can't hear that).

In Episode 26 we talked with the awesome Siouxsie Wiles of the University of Auckland about bioluminesence and communicating science.  Seriously, I can't even describe how cool the squid are, and you'll never look at a mouse with TB the same way either!  (Well, if you had a way of looking at a mouse with TB to begin with, I suppose...)

In Episode 25, we chat about all things gecko with Alyssa Stark (Ph.D. student at the University of Akron):  gecko-inspired tape, swimming geckos, gecko harnesses, pet geckos, crapping geckos ... the fun never stops.  Join us to find out why it's a bad idea to give your experimental animals names!

In episode 24, we chat with Anthony Salvagno (@thescienceofant), newly minted Ph.D in physics, about his thesis research on the effects of heavy water on living things (come, see the giant E. coli!) and his open science approach. It's a great conversation, so have a listen!

In episode 23, Tom, Morgan and I return to our roots of shooting the scientific breeze, ranging from de-extinction to the ... interesting things ... that people ask us when they find out what we do. Plus, for bonus points, you can play the Breaking Bio drinking game! 

In episode 22 we talk with @JohnRHutchinson, who does awesome biomechanics work on big animals (NOT just dinosaurs).  Ever wanted to know what it's like to get a look at an elephant's intestines?  He's your man.  Also, this is Heidi's first episode as a regular cohost of the show!  As you'll see, she fits right in.

In Episode 21, we talk with Heidi Smith from the University of Texas at Austin about her postdoc in behavioural ecology with Mike Ryan, the wonders of nature, bathing in fire ants, guns everywhere!, and a lot more!  

In episode 20, we talk to Jon Tennant (@protohedgehog), PhD student in paleontology at Imperial College, London about the ins-and-outs of the Jurassic-Cretaceous extinction, feathers and sexual dimorphism in dinosaurs, and how the "terrible lizards" got freaky!

In episode 19, we dissect the Sasquatch genome paper with David Winter (@TheAtavism).  Spoiler alert:  still not real.  Also, looking for a radical new weight loss solution?  Well, don't try bot flies. Seriously.  Morgan and Bug Girl explain why it's a really stupid idea.

In episode 18, Morgan and I are joined by Tommy Leung, evolutionary biologist and parasitologist extraordinaire, to talk about parasites of all kinds.  And as a special bonus, MC Parasite appears out of *nowhere* to hit us with some evobio rhymes on the evolution of cooperation! 

In this episode, Morgan, Rafael and I talk about the reasons we move where we do, why you don't want a blood transfusion in Akron, and Morgan reports on Science Online (#scio13).  

In episode 16 we're joined by Chris Buddle (@cmbuddle) to talk about wolf spiders and their distinct lack of hunting in packs, field work in the Arctic, and how scientists can benefit from social media. All that and more! 

In episode 15, Lauren, Morgan, Rafael, Tom and I discuss the least-stressful job of 2013 (professor!) and scientific literacy.  Then, the topic turns to baby carrots and things go completely off the rails.  You may never look at your vegetables the same way again. 

In Episode 14, Morgan and I chat with Jaden Walker (@theeternal, @myriap0da), who is an amateur entomologist, musician, autism advocate, and more.  If you've ever wondered what it's like to house 12,000 spiders (no, that's not a typo) in your bedroom, this is the episode for you!  

In this episode, we talk with the fantastic Jacquelyn Gill (@jacquelyngill)!  We had a great conversation but it was so meaty that I decided to break this one up into three parts.  In this third part, we talk with Jacquelyn about how to be social in science, getting a faculty job, dealing with the NSF (if you're American), and using Skype during your thesis defense!

In this episode, we talk with the fantastic Jacquelyn Gill (@jacquelyngill)!  We had a great conversation but it was so meaty that I decided to break this one up into three parts.  In this second part, we talk with Jacquelyn about science and social media, imposter syndrome, and Bug Girl arrives to talk about the standing of women in science and how we can improve things.

In this episode, we talk with the fantastic Jacquelyn Gill (@jacquelyngill)! We had a great conversation but it was so meaty that I decided to break this one up into three parts. In this first part, we talk with Jacquelyn about paleoecology, dung, scicomm, and mammoth cloning!

In Episode 12, Bug, Crystal, Morgan, Tom and I talk about why the Strepsiptera are rubbish, censorship!, the public conversation about science and whether we can blog our science as it happens, and academic ... CV ... size.  Not only was this Crystal's first live podcast, but Tom was kind of drunk.  Audio is definitely NSFW.  

In this episode I'm joined by Lauren, Tom, Morgan, Michael and Bug Girl as we talk with Professor Mike Siva-Jothy of the University of Sheffeild.  We cover traumatic insemination in bedbugs, tiny glass-blown genitalia, and the triumphant return of pubic lice! 

In this series of clips shot at the Entomological Society of America 2012 conference, Morgan and Crystal interview a series of special guests (including a quick cameo from friends of the show @TheBugChicks!).

In episode 9 we're joined by the Bug Chicks (thebugchicks.com).  Tom, Rafael, and I chat with Jessica and Kristie about everything from teaching about bugs to driving in East Africa with no brakes.  

I'm joined by Lauren, Morgan, Rafael, and guest Sam Evans to chat about science goblins, anti-intellectualism, Master's degrees, the things we write on grants and the joys of working in a call centre.

Professor Rob Brooks (@Brooks_Rob), a behavioural ecologist studying sexual reproduction at the University of New South Wales, joins Rafael, Morgan, Tom, Michael, Lauren, and I for an interview about his book (Sex, Genes, and Rock'n'Roll), and evolution in general.  In a departure from our usual format, there was a minimum of chaos.  Also, our new cohost Lauren (@PygmyLoris) joins us for the first time!  Due to mic issues we don't hear much from her, but look for her to be a big part of things in episodes to come.