It might be a snow day where you are, but here at scienceTASTIC we braved the cold to bring you all the latest science headlines. Mark lashed his Siberian husky (named Mr. Eko) to a sled to report on humanoid robots exploring the moon, Mike trudged through six miles of two-foot high snow to weigh quality versus quantity when it comes to sleep, and Joe tip-toed across a suspiciously creaky ice-covered pond just to tell us that  happy people are selfish. Of course if you're experiencing record heat in your corner of the world we also provided these stories to keep you cool: tiny ears for tiny sounds, cell phones predicting our daily habits, and a paper chip that can diagnose diseases. Either way, dress in layers and always carry an umbrella.

Say! Don't forget that next episode is our TriviaGanza game show. Write in to enter. One of our big losers could make you a tiny winner!

What we didn't get to: moon base designs, dolphins treating diabetes, and Fora.tv.

(Links to the stories we cover are always available at scienceTASTIC.net.)

The torch has been lit and the Science Podcast Olympiad is on! Mike goes for gold with his report on a South Korean city of the future! Mark manages to walk away with a bronze for his story on asteriod collisions, despite a suspiciously low score from the Swedish judge. Alas, Joe falls shy of medal contention after failing to stick the pronunciation as he details the color of feathered dinosaurs. The closing ceremonies include the world's largest solar-powered office building, a tour of the International Space Station, and communication with patients in vegetative states. It was an honor representing our country.

What we didn't get to: a solar turbine powering Arizona, cat versus robot, and Olympic medals made of junk.

(Links to the stories we cover are always available at scienceTASTIC.net.)

 

In this episode of scienceTASTIC the crew takes a little time from combatting VENOM to bring you the latest headlines. Mark (vehicle codename "Gator") explores some avant garde chimp cinema, Mike (vehicle codename "Condor") takes aim with a giant gun that shoots stuff into orbit (Popular Science, February 2010), and Joe (vehicle codename "Thunderhawk") turns office paper into toilet paper. In the second half of the show those stories turn into these: robots in movies, why crows hate Mark, and elastic water. Now, Fly Away!

(If any of that made sense, sorry, you're pretty much a dork.)

What we didn't get to: a 200 kilometer per hour soccer kick, five brand new emotions, and how you can feed hungry people around the world while making yourself a little smarter. Seriously, check out FreeRice.com. It's really the very least you could do.

 

Welcome to the Being John Malkovich episode of scienceTASTIC, as we each take turns crawling into each other's heads and covering stories we think our co-hosts would pick. Mike (dressed up as Mark) delves into the phychology of the soccer penalty kick, Mark (doing a superb impression of Joe) demos a new portable sleeping cocoon, and Joe (wearing a Mike mask) explains how to make hydrogen fuel out of titanium leaves. The second half of the show is more like Vice Versa (or Like Father, Like Son if you're in more of a Dudley Moore-ish/Kirk Cameron-y kinda mood) as we once again swap minds and discuss animal chatter, space pee, and the eponymous English squirrels.

What we didn't get to: amputated hands, black holes, and discount space shuttles.

2009 may have been the International Year of Astronomy, but for our first show of 2010 we wanted to show that our support of the space sciences will continue. Mark counts down the top ten methods of deep space travel, Mike uses ESA's Herschel telescope to look back in time, and Joe asks for your vote on one of three proposed NASA missions. We also throw in a unique view of the aurora borealis, what could be your last chance to visit Seattle before it gets annihilated, and a new way to interface with your electronic devices. We're just a few days in and the new year is already looking scienceTASTIC.

What we didn't get to: fish with attitude, retinal implants, and the hip new slang term that's sweeping the nation.

The holidays are upon us, and so is Episode 033 of scienceTASTIC. Mike warns us to be good for goodness sake because Big Brother is watching on closed-circuit tv. Mark dons a parka and knit cap to show us the world's smallest snowman. Joe takes us on a journey to a magical, frozen land. No, not the North Pole, but Titan, the moon of Saturn where a ship could soon be exploring its seas of hydrocarbons. We'll stuff your stocking with even more science treats, like a crowdsourced map of the world (perfect for a one-night, around-the-world trip) and a lunar lander you can buy (or trade in that old sleigh for). And then there's a story about the jolly fat man himself (and why he's a bad influence). All of us here at scienceTASTIC would like to sincerely wish you a merry Whatever-You-Celebrate (or don't) and a happy Arbitrary Period of Time!

What we didn't get to: LCD screen, consumer technology for military use, and gaming on the go.

In this episode of scienceTASTIC we peak into our crystal ball to see what science has in store for us. No news on personal jet packs yet, but Mark shows how we could all be flying to work in our own two-seater planes (with video). It's a bit of a bummer that the oceans are getting more acidic, but Mike points out that some ocean life is rolling with the changes. Speaking of the high seas, Joe reports on a new ship that could soon provide a better means of exploring the deep. In addition to the soothsaying you also get smoking (turns out it's bad for you), a better way to make cheap solar cells, and monkey grammar. Behold, the future!

What we didn't get to: the smell of books, exotic ocean creatures, and the top science images of the year.

Say, our announcer Maria Farina has just released the second book in her Gypsy Chronicles series titled Grave Talk. You should check it out. It's great fun.

Here in episode 031 of scienceTASTIC we all get a chance to report on some of our favorite things. Mike - a noted span enthusiast - lays out a new method of building bridges*, Neil deGrasse Tyson fanboy (and future object of a restraining order) Mark shares a video of an NdeGT talk, and chip-lover Joe explains Intel's plans to give its customers brain implants. (Joe actually prefers chips of a nacho variety over those made of silicon, so pardon me for stretching on that one.) We then get down to some serious animal talk with raspberry ants, right-handed turtles, regenerated rabbit penises, and the name of our newly-adopted red fox. Did your suggestion win? You'll have to listen to find out!

What we didn't get to: eroding beaches, cow clones, automated image montages.

*Popular Science, December 2009

Mark and Joe were all set to throw down some stories for this week's scienceTASTIC, but instead decided to visit the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center... and you're invited! First we sit down to get the lay of the land with Director of Development and Community Relations Renee Burslem. Then we stand up to meet some critters with Director of Wildlife Dave Wolf. Finally we sit down again (thank goodness) to talk about all things space with Schuele Planetarium Director Jay Reynolds.  Fun facts and animal interractions abound in this nature-tastic tour.

Visit the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center at www.lensc.org. Or actually visit it. They have a building and everything.

PLUS be sure to write us at sciencetastic@gmail.com with your name suggestions for our new podcast pet!

Unfortunately the first half of this write-up for episode 029 of scienceTASTIC is lacking a clever little theme that we're usually so proud of. I mean, Mark's claim that humans are nearing immortality, Mike getting rats hooked on junk food, and Joe's study about clean smells leading to more virtuous living really have nothing to do with each other. Right? Luckily after the break we turn green with bunny-based biofuels, gas-guzzling pets, and a more ecological font. So you have that. Which is nice.

What we didn't get to: why sleepyheads forget, the genetic genesis of speech, and whale wars.