RecSciPod Season 1 Episode Archive

In the inaugural episode of the podcast, Lu and Tirth discuss the importance of foreplay in fruit bat copulation and what happens when electrocution is attempted as therapy for venomous snake bites. Originally aired on 3/29/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Join us as we explore the boundless possibilities of scientific innovation.”

(1:55) Chit-chat: host introductions; Dave talk

Articles:

(7:08) Tan et al., 2009. Fellatio by Fruit Bats Prolongs Copulation Time. PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007595
(17:13) Dart et al., 1991. Failure of electric shock treatment for rattlesnake envenomation. Annals of Emergency Medicine. https://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(05)82389-3/abstract

(28:57) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “If you are a lady and you want to keep your man, fellatio is the way to go…Sorry I meant lady bat.”
Lu: “I am shocked to find out that shock therapy isn’t very effective for snake bites.”

S01E02: Chickens appreciate human beauty and rhinotillexomania

Click here for the full transcript

How do humans learn what’s beautiful in a face? Can chickens be trained to find beauty in human faces the way humans do?

Do teenage boys pick their nose? How often? Why do they do it? How do they feel about it? Is it pathological?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how to train chickens to become attracted to human faces and the prevalence of nose picking in teenagers. Originally aired on 4/8/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Please join us on our quest to the unbound horizons of human innovation, on the ship we call the Scientific Enterprise.”

(2:18) Chit-chat: Chappell Roan; check yourself before you wreck yourself

Articles:

(9:56) Ghirlanda et al., 2002. Chickens prefer beautiful humans. Human Nature. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12110-002-1021-6
(22:50) Andrade & Srihari, 2001. A preliminary survey of rhinotillexomania in an adolescent sample. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11465519/

(33:00) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “Humans and chickens might be more alike than I thought, and I should feel more guilt about eating chicken.”
Lu: “Boogers taste sour and you might have a condition. You might need a proton-pump inhibitor for your nose.”

S01E03: Sheep shearing and how to publish anything

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Sheep shearing is hard, especially the step where you drag sheep around. What type of flooring is easiest to drag sheep on? There’s only one way to find out.

Every scientist has asked the following question: how do I publish whatever I want in a peer-reviewed journal? Can I publish my personal blog?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss the hazards of sheep shearing and how to publish anything you want…if you’re the editor-in-chief of a journal. Originally aired on 4/22/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Please join us on a journey to explore scientific innovation. It’s a journey that’s innovative and boundless.”

(1:30) Chit-chat: Lu’s afternoon beef

Articles:

(9:22) Harvey et al., 2002. An analysis of the forces required to drag sheep over various surfaces. Applied Ergonomics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/scien c e/article/abs/pii/S0003687002000716?via%3Dihub
(22:40) McCrory, 2006. Who says you cannot get published? British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/40/2/95.long
McCrory, 2006. Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of rum. British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/40/10/815

(31:47) Let’s read some mail

(34:14) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “You can publish just about anything in a peer-reviewed journal, as long as you’re the editor of the said journal.”
Lu: “Sheep shearing is baaad for your baaack.”

S01E04: Swimming in syrup and fake drunk confidence

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If you replace the water in a swimming pool with syrup and convince some of your colleagues to swim in it, will they swim slower or faster?

Drunk people find others and themselves more attractive. However, do people tricked into believing they are drunk also find themselves more attractive?

In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on his science knowledge and the two discuss how fast humans swim in syrup and how to gain confidence by tricking yourself into thinking you are drunk. Originally aired on 5/13/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Join us please on this exciting and innovative journey on this spaceship we call Science as we explore the boundless frontiers of our universe.”

(1:08) Chit-chat: Tirth takes a science trivia quiz

Articles:

(11:33) Gettelfinger & Cussler, 2004. Will humans swim faster or slower in syrup? AIChE Journal. https://aiche.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aic.10389
(21:18) Begue et al., 2012. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder’: People who think they are drunk also think they are attractive. British Journal of Psychology. https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.2044-8295.2012.02114.x

(33:08) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “Bathing in crude oil is the secret to vitality. The fountain of youth.”
Lu: “If you’re going out to a bar and want to save some money, but want the benefits of drinking alcohol, just take a shot of water and chase it with some mouthwash.”

S01E05: Immoral meat and rubbing chickens into beards

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To some people, eating meat is immoral. It’s a subjective opinion. However, does eating meat make you immoral objectively?

Should hippies be allowed to work in a microbiology laboratory? Are their beards and long hair a contamination risk? How can chickens be used in this study?

In this episode, Lu gives Tirth an opportunity to redeem himself with another science quiz, and the two discuss how eating meat actually makes you immoral, according to science, and how to trick hippies into shaving their beards. Originally aired on 5/27/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Come with us and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination.”

(0:45) Chit-chat: Tirth takes another science trivia quiz

Articles:

(13:39) Loughnan et al., 2010. The role of meat consumption in the denial of moral status and mind to meat animals. Appetite. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666310003648?via%3Dihub
(22:52) Barbeito et al., 1967. Microbiological laboratory hazard of bearded men. Applied Microbiology. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/am.15.4.899-906.1967

(32:11) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “Conducting psychological experiments on psychology students may actually be a confounder in and of itself.”
Lu: “If some of your colleagues have beards that you don’t like, you can make up a study and get them to shave their beards for the study.”

S01E06: Double dipping and using mirrors for itch relief

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Why is double dipping frowned upon? Does it actually transfer oral bacteria from the chip to the dip?

Scratching an itch is bad for the skin. What if you can relieve an itch on one arm by scratching your other arm while tricking your brain with a mirror?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth review research ideas from ChatGPT and discuss the microbiology of double dipping and how to scratch an itch using a mirror. Originally aired on 6/10/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Get your motor running, head out on the highway, looking for adventure in whatever comes our way. Because, like a true nature’s child, we were born, born to be wild.”

(2:21) Chit-chat: evaluating research proposals from ChatGPT

Article links:

(18:18) Trevino et al., 2009. Effect of biting before dipping (double-dipping) chips on the bacterial population of the dipping solution. Journal of Food Safety. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-4565.2008.00137.x
(28:14) Helmchen et al., 2013. Itch Relief by Mirror Scratching. A Psychophysical Study. PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0082756

(35:53) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “By double dipping, I’m essentially giving an invaluable gift to humanity, and I should look into patenting…the technique.”
Lu: “If you are a dermatologist, make sure you have a good mirror supplier.”

S01E07: Manspreading for Tinder and scaring goats with helicopters

Click here for the full transcript

Why do men manspread? Do women on dating apps prefer men who manspread their legs (and arms) in their profile pictures?

Are goats brave? Can the Dutch air force scare goats using attack helicopters?

In this episode, Lu tests Tirth’s knowledge of the people with a “family feud” style game and the two discuss how to get likes on Tinder and an attempt to scare goats using air force helicopters. Originally aired on 6/24/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “It’s a great big universe and we’re all really puny. We’re just tiny little specks about the size of Mickey Rooney. Though we don’t know how it got here, we’re an important part here. It’s a big universe and it’s ours.”

(2:10) Chit-chat: science-themed “family feud” style game (Tirth gets crowned “the man of the dogs”)

Article links:

(16:39) Vacharkulksemsuk et al., 2016. Dominant, open nonverbal displays are attractive at zero-acquaintance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1508932113
(30:55) van der Staay et al., 2011. Physiological and behavioral reactions elicited by simulated and real-life visual and acoustic helicopter stimuli in dairy goats. BMC Veterinary Research. https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1746-6148-7-16

(42:34) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “If I’m single and I’m looking for love, I should just be a part of a research lab that will set up a Tinder profile for me…and name me Michael…or Jessica…”
Lu: “Goats are not afraid of the Dutch Air Force, and frankly neither am I.”

S01E08: Dogs are somewhat magnetic and do elephants yawn?

Click here for the full transcript

How are dogs so good at navigation? Can they sense the earth’s magnetic field? How can you measure this?

Elephants are intelligent and noble beasts. Do they yawn though?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss whether dogs can sense the earth’s magnetic field when they poop and whether elephants yawn. Originally aired on 7/8/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Come explore with us the things that are so amazing and keep us stargazing and whatever we think we might see. Because someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection…the lovers, the dreamers, and us.”

(1:59) Chit-chat: the TSA stops Tirth at the airport and puts him on a podcaster list.

Article links:

(8:41) Hart et al., 2013. Dogs are sensitive to small variations of the Earth’s magnetic field. Frontiers in Zoology. https://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-9994-10-80
(20:54) Rossman et al., 2017. When Yawning Occurs in Elephants. Frontiers in Veterinary Research. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2017.00022/full

(32:45) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “If you’re a dog and you want to mess with your owner, just like pick some random times when you’re pooping north-south and then other times when you’re not really aligned.”
Lu: “If you’re flying a team of researchers all the way to South Africa from California to record some elephants, bring more than one camera.”

S01E09: Kids think bacon and hot dogs are plants

Click here for the full transcript

Do kids know where the food they eat comes from? More specifically, do they know whether food comes from plants or animals?

In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on some of the wackiest scientific journal titles, and the two discuss how American children cannot tell whether foods are animals or plants. Originally aired on 7/22/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Come join us on our journey. Because while we’re just two drifters, Tirth and I, off to see the world, there’s such a lot of world to see. And really aren’t we all after that same rainbow’s end? Waiting round the bend. My huckleberry friend. Moon river and us.”

Chit-chat: (2:22) watermelon, (6:04) the weird and wacky titles of peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Article link:

(16:46) Hahn et al., 2021. Children are unsuspecting meat eaters: An opportunity to address climate change. Journal of Environmental Psychology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494421001584?via%3Dihub

(38:32) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “If I want my kids to eat broccoli, I’m going to start conditioning them by saying it’s the same as bacon.”

Special Episode: Replying to SPAM emails for a free Vegas trip

Click here for the full transcript

At scientific conferences where scientists gather to share data and ideas, a prominent scientist is usually invited to give the Keynote Talk, which is the headlining event of the conference. It’s a big honor. Has a graduate student ever received this honor?

In this special episode, Lu tells Tirth and Saran a story about the time he was invited to give the Keynote Talk at a scientific conference in Las Vegas as a graduate student. Originally aired on 8/5/2025.

Video version of the story

Video – James Veitch TED talk 1

Video – James Veitch TED talk 2

(0:00) Intro

(1:57) The email

(28:35) The website/conclusion

(34:50) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “I should stop screening calls from Oslo, Minnesota. A great honor may await me.”
Saran: “You can get the keynote address but be demoted over the course of five to six emails. So, keep things short and sweet.”

S01E10: Size matters, in your pants and inside your head

Click here for the full transcript

Does size matter to women? What about height? These age-old questions have been asked by every man who has ever lived. What does science have to say?

Why do some animals become roadkill? Are they just dumb?

It’s episode 10! In this milestone episode, Lu and Tirth pay homage to some of the greatest scientists of all time, fiercely debate whether size matters to women when it comes to the attractiveness of men, and discuss whether brain size in birds correlates with the probability of getting run over by cars. Originally aired on 8/19/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “We can show you the world. Shining, shimmering splendid. Tell us listeners, now when did you last let your heart decide. We can open your eyes. Take you wonder by wonder. Over, sideways, and under on a magic carpet ride. A whole new world! A new, fantastic point of view. Where no one can tell us no or where to go or say we’re only dreaming.”

(2:49) Chit-chat: who said it? A scientist quotes quiz

Article links:

(16:42) Mautz et al., 2013. Penis size interacts with body shape and height to influence male attractiveness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1219361110
(28:04) Moller et al., 2017. Brain size in birds is related to traffic accidents. Royal Society Open Science. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.161040

(35:51) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “Dr. Manhattan and Steve Rogers are the pinnacle of male species, and we should all just give up and become monks.”
Lu: “The chicken crossed the road to participate in a study on brain size and the likelihood of being hit by a car.”

S01E11: Expensive placebos and recognizing your dog by smell

Click here for the full transcript

Placebos are not supposed to do anything, yet they kind of work. Well, then why not sell them at a high price like real medicine? Turns out, maybe that’s not such a bad question.

Dogs have fantastic noses and can identify their owners by smell. Can humans return the favor? Can dog owners identify their dogs by smell?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how more expensive placebos are more effective than cheaper ones and whether dog owners can recognize their dog’s smell. Originally aired on 9/2/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Please join us on this journey, because we are two laughable scientists discussing laughable science, and it’s gonna be a good time!”

(0:55) Chit-chat: Dave talk; Tirth’s beef

Article links:

(5:38) Waber et al., 2008. Commercial features of placebo and therapeutic efficacy. Journal of the American Medical Association. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/181562
Espay et al., 2015. Placebo effect of medication cost in Parkinson disease: a randomized double-blind study. Neurology. https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000001282
Diaz-Lago et al., 2023. Expensive seems better: The price of a non-effective drug modulates its perceived efficacy. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications. https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-023-00463-4
(21:02) Wells et al., 2000. The discrimination of dog odours by humans. Perception. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1068/p2938

(29:52) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “If I were ever to get Parkinson’s Disease, I want this $5 million placebo company to make [the best placebo I can find]. And I also want Martin Skrelli to be involved in the treatment.”
Lu: “If you’re a dog and you have an insufferable owner and you want to run away from your home, make sure you don’t leave any scent trails behind.”

S01E12: Unboiling an egg and tasting a trombone

Click here for the full transcript

Making a hardboiled egg is easy. Unboiling a hardboiled egg is hard, if not impossible, right?

What do musical instruments taste like? Are violins sour? Are pianos sweet?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth use philosophical razors to debate whether Tirth’s fiancé is real, discuss how to turn back time to uncook eggs, and uncover what sounds taste like and what tastes sound like. Originally aired on 9/16/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Please join us on our journey where two so-called scientists explore so-called science.”

(1:12) Chit-chat: philosophical razors

Article links:

(17:23) Yuan et al., 2015. Shear-Stress-Mediated Refolding of Proteins from Aggregates and Inclusion Bodies. ChemBioChem. https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cbic.201402427
(24:36) Crisinel et al., 2010. As bitter as a trombone: synesthetic correspondences in nonsynesthetes between tastes/flavors and musical notes. Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics. https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/APP.72.7.1994

(36:04) What did you learn today?

Tirth: “If I want to control and reverse time, and you know, de-age myself…I would stuff myself in a giant centrifuge tube and vortex it.”
Lu: “The next time I go to the symphony…I should bring my own charcuterie board to taste along with the music, to figure out if I’m synesthetic.”

S01E13: Are farts sterile? Plus, gym bro science

Click here for the full transcript

Do farts contain dangerous bacteria? Should you avoid being flatulent near food?

Can pre-workout supplements help you lift more weights at the gym? Should you drink beet juice and coffee before your workouts?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth honor some of their favorite winners of the Darwin Award (an award even more prestigious than the Nobel Prize), debate whether breaking wind during surgery also breaks the sterile field of the operating room, and discuss whether nitrates and caffeine make good pre-workout supplements to maximize gains at the gym. Originally aired on 9/30/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Please join us on our journey where two intrepid scientists explore intrepid science.”

(0:53) Chit-chat: Darwin awards

Article links:

(9:15) 2001. Hot air? British Medical Journal. https://www.bmj.com/content/323/7327/1449
(21:38) Montalvo-Alonso et al., 2025. Single and combined effect of beetroot juice and caffeine intake on muscular strength, power and endurance performance in resistance-trained males. Scientific Report. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-02021-y

(33:09) Let’s read some mail

(37:26) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “If you’re a surgeon and you desperately need to break wind in the middle of a surgery, you do it, and you blame the medical student.”
Lu: “Before my workouts…instead of chugging a gallon of milk, which is what I have been doing, I should instead drink some coffee and some beet juice.”

S01E14: Cocaine bees and predicting iPhone vs Android users

Click here for the full transcript

The paradox of cocaine reinforcement is one of the biggest paradoxes in science. Why is cocaine so addictive to humans? Do bees enjoy cocaine as much as us?

Why do some people prefer Apple iPhones while others prefer Android phones? Are there fundamental psychological differences between iPhone and Android users? Can you predict who uses which phone?

In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on different -ologies, or scientific fields of study. The two then discuss the behavior of honeybees on short- and long-term cocaine use and the differences in personality traits between iPhone and Android users. Originally aired on 10/14/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Please join us on our journey, a journey where two irreverent scientists explore irreverent science.”

(1:15) Chit-chat: Tirth takes an “-ologies” quiz

Article links:

(17:37) Barron et al., 2009. Effects of cocaine on honey bee dance behavior. Journal of Experimental Biology. https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/212/2/163/18461/Effects-of-cocaine-on-honey-bee-dance-behaviour
(30:46) Shaw et al., 2016. Predicting Smartphone Operating System from Personality and Individual Differences. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cyber.2016.0324

(43:34) What did you learn today

Tirth: “Someone needs to do a study where if you rub cocaine on a person’s belly, would they get the same high?”
Lu: “Android phone users are very good looking…handsome…very nice hair, some of the best hair you’ll ever see…and very tall, 6’5” at least…very muscular…the best of the best.”

S01E15: Fear is sexy and using zombie arms to carve pumpkins

Click here for the full transcript

Why do we sometimes seek out and enjoy fear? Could it be that fear promotes sexual attraction? Is it a good idea to take your date to a horror movie or on a rollercoaster?

Carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns is dangerous and often leads to hand injuries. What’s the safest pumpkin carving tool to use this Halloween? How do you even determine this?

It’s Halloween! In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss why some houses are thought to be haunted, how situations that arouse fear also arouse other feelings, as well as how to use reanimated cadaver arms to study pumpkin carving best practices. Originally aired on 10/28/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Please join us on our journey, a journey where two brave scientists explore brave science.”

(3:35) Chit-chat: Why are some houses haunted?

Article links:

(8:35) Dutton & Aron, 1974. Some evidence for heightened sexual attraction under conditions of high anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1975-03016-001
(23:29) Marcus et al., 2004. The safety of pumpkin carving tools. Preventive Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091743504000374

(34:54) Let’s read some mail

(40:04) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “If you are in a relationship and things have gone stale, so to speak, and you want to rekindle the fire, walk across a suspension bridge.”
Lu: “If you want to carve a pumpkin this Halloween season, use a cadaver arm.”

S01E16: Mansplaining explained and dedicating a brain cell to Jennifer Aniston

Click here for the full transcript

Mansplaining is when a someone explains in a condescending, oversimplified, and often inaccurate manner, without regard to the fact that the explainee knows more than the explainer, usually done by a man to a woman. Why do men do it? Does mansplaining actually even exist?

Brain processing and recognition of visual imagery, such as people and objects, is thought to involve complex neuronal pathways with lots of connected brain cells each playing a role. But are multiple brain cells really necessary for this? Why don’t we just dedicate one brain cell to recognizing each important person in our life?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss whether mansplaining is real and why it might occur and examine evidence showing that the visual recognition of certain people and objects may be the job of one specific brain cell. Originally aired on 11/11/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Come with us on our journey, ok? A journey where two loosey-goosey scientists discuss loosey-goosey science.”

(1:13) Chit-chat: How was your week?

Article links:

(5:04) Fokkema & Pollmann, 2024. Mansplaining explained: The role of the better-than-average effect and the interpretation bias in acts and accusations of mansplaining. Psychology of Language and Communication. https://sciendo.com/article/10.58734/plc-2024-0021
(21:38) Quiroga et al., 2005. Invariant visual representation by single neurons in the human brain. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03687

(35:25) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “Anytime someone asks, tells me something about their life, let’s say a friend comes up to me and says, ‘hey, my father is very sick,’ I should just start saying that ‘I’m happy for you.’”
Lu: “I really should visit the Sidney Opera House.”

S01E17: Ethicists steal more and making turkeys exercise

Click here for the full transcript

Are ethicists ethical? One would think that people who spend their careers studying ethics must be more ethical than others. But are people with looser morals more likely to become ethicists, so that they can understand what they lack?

Why do some ancient human bones have larger enthesis (sites on the bone where muscles and tendons attach)? Did the individuals these bones belong to run or exercise more than their peers? How can we study this using Thanksgiving dinner?

In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on the science of Thanksgiving dinner. The two then discuss how you can evaluate the ethics of ethicists by going to a library and how forcing turkeys to walk on treadmills can teach us about human history. Originally aired on 11/25/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Once up on a time, there was a forest…a deep, dark, unexplored forest. There were two bright-eyed, bushy-tailed scientists who went into this forest to explore. This forest of course is the forest of knowledge, of science, and the two scientists are Lu and me. So please, come join us on this forest exploration journey.”

(0:57) Chit-chat: Lu quizzes Tirth on the science of Thanksgiving

Video – never deep fry a frozen turkey

Article links:

(10:39) Schwitzgebel, 2009. Do ethicists steal more books? Philosophical Psychology. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09515080903409952
(24:15) Wallace et al., 2017. Physical activity alters limb bone structure but not entheseal morphology. Journal of Human Evolution. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047248417300647

(32:40) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “If you’re a practicing ethicist, and someone points a finger at you, just direct them to lawyers or your wife.”
Lu: “If you want to contribute to science this Thanksgiving, after you finish your turkey, send the bones for a CT.”

S01E18: Batman makes people nicer and octopus fun time

Click here for the full transcript

Would you give up your seat to a pregnant woman on the train? Would you be more likely to give up your seat to a pregnant woman if Batman was also on the train?

What do octopuses do during their free time? Are they smart, curious, and bored enough to play catch by themselves?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how the presence of Batman makes people more kind to one another (aka the Batman effect) and whether octopuses play with toys. Originally aired on 12/9/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “Imagine you are on your way somewhere and you’re in an Uber, and your Uber driver is taking you along all these roads and you don’t know what’s happening. You’re getting scared and you’re confused, and you don’t get to your destination. Now imagine you’re in a Waymo but there’s actually a driver in the driver seat. That driver is me and Lu. That Waymo is also me and Lu. We’re taking you on this journey, this exciting journey of science to the right destination.”

(1:25) Chit-chat: Lu has a hater (video – beef man origins)

Article links:

(10:39) Pagnini et al., 2025. Unexpected events and prosocial behavior: the Batman effect. npj Mental Health Research. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-025-00171-5
(21:53) Jarmoulk et al., 2025. Evidence of play behavior in captive California two-spot octopuses, Octopus bimaculoides. PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0326379
- Video – octopus playing

(31:41) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “If you’re a middle school or a high school student having some problems at school, let’s say you’re getting bullied, getting stuffed into lockers, just bring Batman with you.”
Lu: “If you’re a pharmaceutical company making Prozac, sell them to octopuses, make eight times the amount of money.”

S01E19: Eating Legos (for kids) and the fighting prowess of bearded men

Click here for the full transcript

Kids swallow little toys and other things they’re not supposed to all the time. Is it dangerous to swallow Legos? How long does it take for a swallowed piece of Lego to pass? There’s only one way to find out.

Why do some men have beards? Do beards signify virility and manliness? Do bearded men have higher power levels?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss the rich history of self-experimentation in medicine, how long it takes Legos to pass through the digestive tract, and whether bearded men fight better. Originally aired on 12/19/2025.

(0:00) Intro: “The sea is angry; the waters are choppy and treacherous. But fear not, Lu and I are here at the helm of the ship. We will get you safe and sound on your search for knowledge…the treasure chest that we call knowledge.”

Chit-chat: (3:12) hate caller follow-up, (7:59) the rich history of self-experimentation

Article links:

(16:42) Tagg et al., 2018. Everything is awesome: Don’t forget the Lego. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jpc.14309
(23:23) Dixson et al., 2018. Contest competition and men’s facial hair: beards may not provide advantages in combat. Evolution and Human Behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513817302660
Beseris et al., 2020. Impact Protection Potential of Mammalian Hair: Testing the Pugilism Hypothesis for the Evolution of Human Facial Hair. Integrative Organismal Biology. https://academic.oup.com/iob/article/2/1/obaa005/5799080

(36:11) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “If I want to be considered in the pantheon of great scientists, I really, really need to get on a high fiber diet.”
Lu: “I think it’s time to grow out that beard.”

S01E20: Pâté vs dog food and smoochy woochy poochy

Click here for the full transcript

Dog food quality has risen over the years, and its ingredients are not too different from that of pâté, or liver mousse, a French delicacy. The question, then, must be asked: can people taste the difference between dog food and pâté?

Driving under the influence of marijuana is dangerous and illegal, but what about bicycling? Is it safe to ride bikes after smoking weed?

Happy 2026! In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss whether blind taste testers can tell the difference between dog food and pâté, liverwurst, or SPAM, and whether cannabis users can safely navigate through traffic on a bicycle while stoned. Originally aired on 1/6/2026.

(0:00) Intro: “Imagine if you will that there’s two rivers, one called Recreation, one called Science. Now imagine the confluence of these rivers and this small, fertile patch of land where two farmers, Lu and I, are growing the trees of knowledge. So why don’t you join us in tasting this succulent, sumptuous, delicious fruit of knowledge from the knowledge tree.”

(1:45) Chit-chat: New Year’s party and resolutions

Article links:

(8:04) Bohannon J et al., 2009. Can people distinguish pâté from dog food? AAWE Working paper No. 36 – Economics. https://wine-economics.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/AAWE_WP36.pdf
(20:17) Hartung et al., 2016. The effect of cannabis on regular cannabis consumers’ ability to ride a bicycle. International Journal of Legal Medicine. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-015-1307-y

(30:16) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “If you’re starting up a new French restaurant and you don’t want to go through all the efforts of hiring like a fancy chef or anything, just buy Newman’s Own dog food.”
Lu: “If you’re biking under the influence, because you don’t want to drive obviously, you want to be responsible…and you get pulled over, just show them this study.”

S01E21: Recognizing butts and using clowns as anesthesia

Click here for the full transcript

Humans recognize each other’s faces. Chimps recognize each other’s butts. However, do chimps recognize human butts? Do humans recognize human butts? Do humans recognize chimp butts? All these questions must be asked.

Getting surgery, even minor procedures, triggers anxiety. Do clowns help kids relax pre-surgery? Is there room for clowns in pediatric operating rooms?

In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss historic science gaffes, how human faces are quite similar to chimpanzee butts, and whether clowns can be good anxiolytics for children. Originally aired on 1/20/2026.

(0:00) Intro: “Please join us, two well-rested scientists, as we discuss well-rested science.”

Chit-chat: (0:55) Dave talk; (5:27) Lu quizzes Tirth on historic science gaffes

Article links:

(19:22) Kret & Tomonaga, 2016. Getting to the Bottom of Face Processing. Species-Specific Inversion Effects for Faces and Behinds in Humans and Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes). PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165357
(36:49) Vagnoli et al., 2005. Clown doctors as a treatment for preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized, prospective study. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-0466
Golan et al., 2009. Clowns for the prevention of preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatric Anesthesia. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1460-9592.2008.02903.x

(50:29) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “Two things actually: that someone should go look for a butt neuron in the brains, you know how we have Jennifer Aniston neurons? And then the other thing is, when people say someone has a…buttface…I don’t think that’s an insult at all…I think that’s a compliment.”
Lu: “My anesthesiologist friend, who went to four years of undergrad, four years of med school, four years of residency, and another year of fellowship, instead of doing that, they should have just went to clown college.”

S01E22: Strip club economics and hot sauce aggression

Click here for the full transcript

How do economics work in a strip club? What are the factors that go into how much a stripper makes in tips? Do strippers earn more tips when they’re ovulating?

Men are prone to doing some dumb, poorly planned, and aggressive stuff. Is testosterone to blame? Does testosterone make men serve more hot sauce to other people?

In this episode, to celebrate the supposed end of Tirth’s bachelorhood, Lu and Tirth discuss surprising factors that affect how much money lap dancers make and how testosterone levels in men make them more aggressive with hot sauce. Originally aired on 2/10/2026.

(0:00) Intro: “Imagine if you will, there’s a vast, barren, complicated desert. We shall call this desert the Desert of Knowledge. You want to traverse this, but you don’t know where to go. Fear not, Lu and I got you on our magic carpet that we call this podcast.

(1:34) Chit-chat: Tirth’s “not” bachelor party

Article links:

(8:37) Miller et al., 2007. Ovulatory cycle effects on tip earnings by lap dancers: economic evidence for human estrus? Evolution and Human Behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513807000694
(20:51) Klinesmith et al., 2006. Guns, Testosterone, and Aggression: An Experimental Test of a Mediational Hypothesis. Psychological Science. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01745.x

(31:13) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “If you’re a researcher who, let’s say has a certain habit, you know, likes to frequent certain establishments, just make up a study about it.”
Lu: “The next time I go out for hot wings, I shouldn’t bring my gun and wave it at the waiter.”

S01E23: Doping graphene and the hedonic benefits of garlic

Graphene is a fascinating material with the potential to help solve the world’s energy needs. Can you improve graphene with poop?

Garlic is a superfood packed with flavor and health benefits. Yes, garlic causes bad breath, but could it actually improve your body odor?

In this remunerative episode, Lu and Tirth discuss the electrocatalytic effects of doping graphene with guano and whether eating garlic makes men smell more desirable to women. Originally aired on 2/24/2026.

(0:00) Intro: “It’s the month of February, love’s in the air, we’re celebrating our presidents, we’re celebrating all sorts of great, rich history. In this very special month, in this very special time, come with Lu and I as we take you on this journey through the history of science as well. The history of recreational science, specifically.”

(2:16) Chit-chat: Is this SPAM?

Article links:

(11:43) Wang et al., 2020. Will Any Crap We Put into Graphene Increase Its Electrocatalytic Effect? ACS Nano. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.9b00184
(22:10) Fialova et al., 2016. Consumption of garlic positively affects hedonic perception of axillary body odour. Appetite. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666315300787

(34:34) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “There is a lot of money to be made in guano, and I think as soon as we stop recording, we should get in on this. In fact we should quit our day jobs and become guano miners or chicken farmers.”
Lu: “Like guano, there are many remunerative opportunities associated with garlic: garlic milk, garlic ice cream, garlic yogurt maybe, garlic parfaits…”

S01E24: Swearing makes you stronger and how to potty train cows

How do you make yourself lift more at the gym? Have you tried swearing?

Kids need potty training, but what about animals? Does potty training cows make them healthier and happier?

In the season 1 finale, Lu and Tirth do a year-end review and discuss how saying your favorite swear word makes you stronger at the gym and how to potty train cows using an electric trainer. Airing on 3/10/2026.

(0:00) Intro: “Intrepid listeners, you’ve made it with us on this spaceship. It’s called recreational science and we’re about to land on the planet of knowledge.”

(1:45) Chit-chat: Year-end review

Article links:

(7:37) Jiannine & Antonio, 2023. The Effects of Cursing on Exercise Performance. Journal of Exercise Physiology online. https://www.asep.org/asep/asep/JEPonlineOCTOBER2023_Lia%20Jiannine_Jose%20Antonio.pdf
Stephens et al., 2025. “Don’t Hold Back”: Swearing Improves Strength Through State Disinhibition. American Psychologist. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2027-01514-001.html
(25:25) Bergsten et al., 1992. The cleanliness of cows tied in stalls and the health of their hooves as influenced by the use of electric trainers. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/016758779290038H

(37:01) Is this SPAM? An update

(42:43) What did you learn today:

Tirth: “Next time I’m presenting at lab meeting, I should just set up a metronome and just keep cussing every 5 seconds. No matter what’s on the slide.”
Lu: “Instead of feeding our cows antibiotics, we should just be shocking them.”

Bonus Episode: Lady bugs, toilet seats, Japan, promiscuity, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

In this bonus episode, Lu and Tirth do some RecSci Quick Bites or funny studies they didn’t get to discuss at length during season one. These include an unusual finding on colonoscopy, ergonomic toilet seats, Japan’s Phillips curve, the misuse of the word promiscuity, the deal with birds, fruit bat fellatio part 2, and a case of untreated writer’s block.

This episode is part of the 4th edition of Podcasthon! This is the world’s largest podcast charity initiative, bringing together podcasters globally to raise awareness for important causes. Originally aired on 3/20/2026.

Doctors Without Borders: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Podcasthon: https://podcasthon.org/

Article links:

(2:27) Tahan et al., 2019. An Unusual Finding of a Ladybug on Screening Colonoscopy. ACG Case Reports Journal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6791639/
(4:04) Lustig et al., 2018. Beware of the toilet: the risk for a deep tissue injury during toilet sitting. Journal of Tissue Viability. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965206X17300670?via%3Dihub
(5:59) Smith, 2006. Japan’s Phillips Curve Looks Like Japan. Queen’s Economics Department Working Paper No. 1083. http://qed.econ.queensu.ca/working_papers/papers/qed_wp_1083.pdf
(7:02) Elgar et al., 2013. Promiscuous words. Frontiers in Zoology. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1742-9994-10-66
(8:47) Baldassarre, 2020. What’s the Deal with Birds? Scientific Journal of Research and Reviews. https://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/sillymolecules/birds.pdf
(10:05) Maruthupandian et al., 2013. Cunnilingus apparently increases duration of copulation in the Indian flying fox, Pteropus giganteus. PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0059743
(12:00) Upper, 1974. The unsuccessful self-treatment of a case of “writer’s block.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1311997

Bonus Episode: Bad knives, self-scoping, baby size, Olympics, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

In this bonus episode of RecSci Quick Bites, Lu and Tirth discuss more funny studies they didn’t get to talk about at length during season one. These include making knives out of poop, performing colonoscopy on yourself, reasons why babies are so small, the happiness of Olympic medalists, the worst time to consume chili, zebra-striped mannequins, and giving it to Reviewer 2. Originally aired on 4/7/2026.

Article links:

(1:50) Eren et al., 2019. Experimental replication shows knives manufactured from frozen human feces do not work. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X19305371?via%3Dihub
(3:37) Horiuchi & Nakayama, 2006. Colonoscopy in the sitting position: lessons learned from self-colonoscopy by using a small-caliber, variable-stiffness colonoscope. Gastointenstinal Endoscopy. https://www.giejournal.org/article/S0016-5107(05)03012-9/
(5:44) Ellstrand, 1982. Why are juveniles smaller than their parents? Evolution. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1983.tb05637.x
(7:56) Medvec et al., 1995. When Less Is More: Counterfactual Thinking and Satisfaction Among Olympic Medalists. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.69.4.603
(10:57) Gupta, 2007. Red hot chilli consumption is harmful in patients operated for anal fissure – a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Digestive Surgery. https://karger.com/dsu/article-abstract/24/5/354/116015/Red-Hot-Chilli-Consumption-Is-Harmful-in-Patients
(12:28) Horvath et al., 2019. Striped bodypainting protects against horseflies. Royal Society Open Science. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/6/1/181325/94617/Striped-bodypainting-protects-against
(15:31) Peterson, 2020. Dear reviewer 2: Go F’ Yourself. Social Science Quarterly. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ssqu.12824

Bonus Episode: Bacon, sports cars, rollercoasters, knuckle cracking, and more (RecSci Quick Bites)

In this bonus RecSci Quick Bites episode, Lu and Tirth discuss a medical use of bacon, the relationship between penis size and sports cars, the effectiveness of rollercoasters in passing kidney stones, the long-term effects of knuckle cracking, surname sharing amongst economist coauthors, the jollity of visiting mall Santas, and the best scientific abstract ever written. Originally aired on 4/28/2026.

Article links:

(0:57) Humphreys et al., 2011. Nasal packing with strips of cured pork as treatment for uncontrollable epistaxis in a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/000348941112001107
(3:50) Richardson et al., 2023. Small Penises and Fast Cars: Evidence for a Psychological Link. Psyarxiv. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/uy7ph_v1
(6:48) Mitchell & Wartinger, 2016. Validation of a Functional Pyelocalyceal Renal Model for the Evaluation of Renal Calculi Passage While Riding a Roller Coaster. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2016.128/html
(8:25) Unger, 1998. Does knuckle cracking lead to arthritis of the fingers? Arthritis and Rheumatism. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1529-0131(199805)41:5%3C949::AID-ART36%3E3.0.CO;2-3
(10:35) Goodmen et al., 2015. A Few Goodmen: Surname-Sharing Economist Coauthors. Economics Inquiry. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ecin.12167
(13:44) Trainkaus, 2004. Visiting Santa: an informal look. Psychological Reports. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.2466/pr0.95.2.587-588
(16:05) Berry et al., 2011. Can apparent superluminal neutrino speeds be explained as a quantum weak measurement? Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1751-8113/44/49/492001

RecSciPod home • List of all seasons • S01E01 • S01E02 • S01E03 • S01E04 • S01E05 • S01E06 • S01E07 • S01E08 • S01E09 • Special Episode • S01E10 • S01E11 • S01E12 • S01E13 • S01E14 • S01E15 • S01E16 • S01E17 • S01E18 • S01E19 • S01E20 • S01E21 • S01E22 • S01E23 • S01E24 • Bonus Episode 1 • Bonus Episode 2 • Bonus Episode 3

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