A Little Bit Of Science

A Little Bit Of Science
  • 4.8 (56)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

From tales of historical idiocracy and scientific genius to weird and wacky cultural phenomena, Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant are here to take you on a wild conversational journey, deep diving into the crevices of science, history and culture that you never knew existed. 

  1. AI Only Reads Fox News, Insane Browser Hoarding, and Suspicious Russian Defenestration

    4 DAYS AGO

    AI Only Reads Fox News, Insane Browser Hoarding, and Suspicious Russian Defenestration

    Truth Social's AI chatbot thinks "balanced news" means exclusively quoting Fox News, which is about as balanced as someone hoarding 7,470 browser tabs on a single computer (yes, that actually happened).  Meanwhile, Australia's deadliest killer isn't the poisonous spider lurking in your toilet - it's the friendly horse in the paddock next door. And if you think that's absurd, wait until you hear about the Russian oligarchs who keep accidentally falling out of windows or the two bank robbers who covered themselves in lemon juice to make themselves invisible, leading to an entire psychological phenomenon being named after them. So major science revelations for this week? Don't trust an AI that only reads one news source, maybe learn what bookmarks are for, respect horses more than spiders, remember that a little knowledge can be dangerous and if you're ever in Russia, whatever you do, don’t go near the windows.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Truth Social's AI Chatbot 01:54 Media Bias and Source Selection 06:50 Desktop Organisation and Tab Overload 10:56 Animal-Related Deaths in Australia 14:28 Death by Farm Animals 16:45 The Dunning-Kruger Effect Explained 18:08 The Infamous Lemon Juice Robbery 20:12 Suspicious Deaths of Russian Oligarchs 26:31 Nostalgia and the Return to Analog SOURCES: Truth Social’s New AI Chatbot Is Donald Trump’s Media Diet Incarnate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  2. AI Prescribes Victorian Poison, Accidental Canal Unplugging, and Self-Defense Penises

    19 AUG

    AI Prescribes Victorian Poison, Accidental Canal Unplugging, and Self-Defense Penises

    What is this bizarre world we're living in where AI chatbots are literally poisoning people by recommending Victorian-era bromine cures, while British engineers accidentally drain entire historic canals by pulling chains they thought were harmless? Today we explore the shocking discovery that some animals can literally breathe through their butts during oxygen emergencies, and uncover the tale of tarantula species with penises so absurdly long that scientists had to create a new genus just to classify them.  Plus, we dive into the Soviets' insane plan to reverse rivers using 250 nuclear explosions, and discover how Danish zoos are asking the public to donate unwanted pets as lion food in the name of sustainable recycling. From AI reviving dangerous Whether it's chatbots dispensing dangerous medical advice, engineers accidentally draining waterways, or discovering that nature's backup plans involve breathing through uncomfortable places - science keeps reminding us that reality is absolutely mental.  Stay skeptical of your AI's suggestions, avoid pulling random chains near historic canals, and maybe appreciate that your reproductive equipment isn't four times the size of your torso.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 The Science Behind Bromine Consumption 02:49 Historical Uses and Effects of Bromine 06:02 Modern Cases and AI Involvement 09:22 The Chesterfield Canal Incident 15:25 Rivers Changing Course 19:50 Soviet Ambitions to Reverse Rivers 26:59 Reversing the Chicago River 27:41 Chicago's Pollution Problem 29:14 Engineering Marvel: The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal 30:59 Tarantulas and Self-Defense Penises 36:53 Breathing Through the Butt 42:02 Recycling Pets: The Controversial Practice of Danish Zoos 51:32 Conclusion SOURCES: Zoo Requests Unwanted Pets to Feed to Hungry Carnivores: https://futurism.com/zoo-pets-feed-carnivores https://abc7.com/post/denmark-zoo-asks-people-donate-small-pets-food-captive-predators/17428917/ Tarantulas with giant penises  https://metro.co.uk/2025/08/07/tarantulas-giant-penises-discovered-scared-stiff-23855393/ Bromism https://futurism.com/man-poisons-himself-chatgpt?utm_source=beehiiv&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=futurism-newsletter&_bhlid=da09fdfa08b126138ae1ce0a47c43515cef0acf5 Chesterfield Canal: https://issuu.com/madeinn/docs/made_julyaug_issue17_issuu/s/10719854  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesterfield_Canal  Turning Rivers Around: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256483636_Did_the_Nile_River_flow_to_the_Gulf_of_Sirt_during_the_late_Miocene See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min
  3. Cancelled Satellite Missions, Treasure Hunting Laws, and The Pineapple's Epic Fall From Grace

    12 AUG

    Cancelled Satellite Missions, Treasure Hunting Laws, and The Pineapple's Epic Fall From Grace

    The White House just cancelled two perfectly functioning climate satellites for mysterious reasons, British treasure hunters are going to prison for keeping Viking coins they found with metal detectors, and pineapples were once so expensive that wealthy Georgians rented them just to display at dinner parties. We explore how climate science gets axed despite providing "exceptionally high quality" data, why finding ancient treasure can land you in jail thanks to bureaucratic nightmares, and the ridiculous journey of fruit from ultimate status symbol to pizza topping. But wait, there's more weirdness: architects are designing generation ships that would trap your descendants in space for centuries, new services let you preserve and frame dead relatives' tattoos and AI is bringing deceased people back to argue about current politics. From cancelled space missions to criminal metal detecting, status fruit hierarchies to posthumous tattoo preservation, this episode proves that humans have a remarkable talent for making everything unnecessarily complicated - and deeply uncomfortable.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 03:52 Trump Administration Kills Climate Change Satellites 06:23 The Tale of the Viking Treasure Hoard 11:46 Legal Consequences and Treasure Hunting Policies 20:15 Project Hyperion: Designing Interstellar Travel 25:15 Design Plausibility and Practicality 26:53 Fantasy vs. Reality in Space Exploration 28:16 The Ethics of Interstellar Travel 29:18 The Historical Significance of Pineapples 40:04 Preserving Tattoos Posthumously 42:57 AI Avatars of Deceased Individuals 43:40 Conclusion    SOURCES: Postmortem ink  Interview with Joaquin Oliver How two friends found £3m treasure and ended up in jail Treasure trove Fool's Gold Herefordshire Hoard https://www.edelman.com.au/sites/g/files/aatuss381/files/2025-03/202 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-53432877.amp https://futurism.com/white-house-orders-nasa-destroy-important-satellite   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  4. Ozzy Osbourne’s Genetic Superpowers, Radioactive Wasp Nests, and Racist Dogs

    5 AUG

    Ozzy Osbourne’s Genetic Superpowers, Radioactive Wasp Nests, and Racist Dogs

    Ozzy Osbourne's DNA has become one of the most studied genomes in history. Scientists are still trying to figure out how the Prince of Darkness survived decades of chemical abuse that would kill mere mortals. We also explore India's impossible census challenge: counting the Sentinelese people who live on an isolated island and communicate primarily by shooting arrows at visitors, plus the discovery of radioactive wasp nests that are glowing with enough radiation to make federal safety standards nervous. But wait, there's more weirdness: AI chatbots designed to flirt are delivering pickup lines that would make teenagers cringe, dogs can surprisingly be racist, and someone managed to turn Beef Wellington into a murder weapon, forever changing how we look at this classic dinner party dish. From genome sequencing breakthroughs to Cold War leftovers creating mutant insects, this episode proves that science, technology and human behaviour can always find new ways to be absolutely bonkers.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 03:01 Ozzy Osbourne: Genome Sequencing Pioneer 10:57 Comic Book Science and Radioactive Wasps 13:38 Flirty Chatbots: Elon Musk's AI Adventures 22:49 Unexpected Titles and Organic Lasers 26:56 Counting the Uncounted: North Sentinel Island 30:12 Census Challenges 34:13 Dog Behaviour and Racism 42:39 Guard Dogs and Their Training 47:34 Beef Wellington and Social Etiquette 49:02 Conclusion  SOURCES: https://www.loudersound.com/features/ozzy-osbournes-10-craziest-moments  https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a65487234/ozzy-osbourne-dna/ https://discover.hubpages.com/entertainment/The-26-Craziest-Things-Ozzy-Osbourne-Ever-Did  https://www.loudersound.com/features/ozzy-osbournes-10-craziest-moments  https://www.iflscience.com/the-sentinelese-who-are-the-most-isolated-uncontacted-tribe-on-earth-69374  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/26/india-census-2027-north-sentinel-island-most-isolated-tribe  https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-xai-ai-companion-ani/  https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/radioactive-wasp-nest-found-site-us-made-nuclear-124215311  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1566119918303963?via=ihub  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-11341-2  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    50 min
  5. Melting Ice Unplugs Volcanoes, Medieval Medical Madness, and The Original Technocrat

    31 JULY

    Melting Ice Unplugs Volcanoes, Medieval Medical Madness, and The Original Technocrat

    Today, we’re talking about the explosive side effects of climate change - literally. Patagonian glaciers are melting so fast they're uncorking volcanoes that have been sitting quietly under the ice for millennia. We’re also taking a look at the bizarre world of 16th-century medicine where doctors kept patient records that read like Harry Potter spells, complete with astrological charts and alchemical recipes that’ll make you pretty grateful for modern healthcare. Plus, we revisit the 1930s technocracy movement where engineers genuinely believed they could run society better than politicians using energy units instead of money. On the ecommerce side of things, did you know that in America's digital gun marketplace, you can now buy assault rifles online easier than getting decent pizza delivered? Because apparently there are more gun shops than McDonald's and Starbucks combined. From volcanic eruptions triggered by global warming to the Wild West going digital, this episode proves humanity has a special talent for making everything simultaneously fascinating and terrifying.   CHAPTERS:   00:00 Introduction  00:39 Volcanoes Unleashed by Melting Ice 02:18 Historical Medical Records and Practices 02:49 Astrology and Self-Taught Doctors 03:58 Bizarre Medical Treatments 13:56 Dog Flatulence and Animal Farts 24:03 Technocracy and Historical Predictions 30:55 Technocracy: The Vision and Ideals 41:23 Plant Perception: Can Plants See? 47:20 The Surprising Number of Gun Stores in the US 52:39 Conclusion  SOURCES:   Flatulence in pet dogs #DoesItFart Does It Fart?: The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence Flatulence of humans in art Expansion and contraction of the Patagonian ice sheet Flatulence in pet dogs #DoesItFart Does It Fart?: The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence Flatulence of humans in art Expansion and contraction of the Patagonian ice sheet https://bostonraremaps.com/inventory/technocracy-inc-technate-of-america-1940/?srsltid=AfmBOorbLyYscmwozM57Wjrr_Kgv5DAoAhG1q9oq7Y4KAcrfHbRaYJpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technocracy_movement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Scott_(engineer) https://web.archive.org/web/20100728093447/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744852,00.html https://futurism.com/trump-junior-gun-failure https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/may/16/purges-angels-and-pigeon-slippers-methods-of-elizabethan-quacks-finally-deciphered https://www.earlystuartlibels.net/htdocs/overbury_murder_section/H0.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    54 min
  6. Hurricane Conspiracies, Screaming Plants, and Turnspit Dogs

    22 JULY

    Hurricane Conspiracies, Screaming Plants, and Turnspit Dogs

    What is this bizarre world that we’re living in where meteorologists are getting death threats from conspiracy theorists convinced they're controlling hurricanes, while actual climate science gets ignored?  We explore the shocking discovery that plants literally scream when stressed (at frequencies we can't hear, but insects definitely can), and uncover the tragic tale of turnspit dogs - a breed we created specifically to be living kitchen appliances before making them extinct when we invented better technology. Plus, we take a reality check on Silicon Valley's latest obsession with "vibe coding" and AI utopian fantasies, and discover why humans are surprisingly good at rating the attractiveness of animal mating calls (even though we have no idea why).  From weather warfare theories to screaming gardens, this episode proves that science is always stranger than the conspiracy theories - and infinitely more fascinating.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Conspiracy Theories and Election Manipulation 04:40 Meteorologists Under Attack 14:59 Nature Sounds and Animal Communication 20:34 Plants in Distress and Insect Reactions 23:34 The Peculiar Job of Deafening Moths 25:47 Strange and Remarkable Dog Breeds 27:48 The Turnspit Dog: A Kitchen Helper 35:54 The Future of Technology and AI 38:56 Book Review: More Everything Forever   More Everything Forever Book: https://amzn.to/3IGKfNG   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/13/pentagon-pizza-delivery-israel-iran-attack https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/rare-dog-breeds-you-never-knew-existed/ https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/turnspit-dogs.htm https://a-z-animals.com/animals/turnspit/ https://futurism.com/conspiracy-meteorologists-hurricanes https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/11/meteorologists-death-threats-hurricane-conspiracies-misinformation https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/hurricane-milton-misinformation-meteorlogist-death-threats-1235130352/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  7. Human Skin Books, AI Psychosis, and Self-Cloning Crayfish

    15 JULY

    Human Skin Books, AI Psychosis, and Self-Cloning Crayfish

    People are literally going insane from chatting with AI too much, crayfish are cloning themselves faster than you can say "seafood buffet," and apparently binding books in human skin used to be a legitimate hobby for 19th-century doctors. Today we're exploring the darker side of science where reality gets a bit too weird for comfort. From digital conversations that literally drive people insane to aquatic creatures having identity crises, these stories prove that sometimes science is more horror movie than textbook. CHAPTERS: 00:00 The Troubled Life of James Allen 01:24 James Allen's Deathbed Confession 03:19 Chat GPT Psychosis: A New Phenomenon 04:46 Case Studies of Chat GPT Psychosis 10:44 AI's Role in Mental Health Crises 16:16 Ethical Dilemmas in AI and Refugee Representation 22:48 The Marvel of Marbled Crayfish 29:49 Animal Behavior and Cultural Transmission 31:43 Chimpanzee Grass Behavior 33:22 Cultural Transmission in Animals 36:56 The Both Brothers' Innovations 45:51 Human Skin Books 59:23 Listener Contributions and Closing Remarks   SOURCES: People Are Being Involuntarily Committed, Jailed After Spiraling Into "ChatGPT Psychosis" https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-06-29/australias-forgotten-inventor-brothers-edward-and-donald-both/105427730 en.wikipedia.orgabc.net.au A Pet Crayfish Can Clone Itself, and It's Spreading Around the World See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 1m
  8. Hitler’s Horsepower Fail, Giant Dolphin Testicles and Beer-Bonking Beetles

    8 JULY

    Hitler’s Horsepower Fail, Giant Dolphin Testicles and Beer-Bonking Beetles

    Say what you like about Hitler, but he was one driven man. The guy was dead serious about building monster weapons, including a 188 tonne tank to take over the world. Meanwhile, Australian beetles are proving themselves quite driven to get laid, bonking their brains out with empty beer bottles (we love a good alliteration). And teenagers these days? Well they’re creating slang so fast that even AI can’t keep up with them. Sheesh, take it down a notch guys. Failed Nazi engineering, teenagers breaking AI with their slang, monkey reproductive strategies that would make your biology teacher blush and beetles with absolutely terrible taste in partners. It’s all happening in this one. You’re welcome! CHAPTERS: 00:00 Hitler's Obsession with Wonder Weapons 00:35 Introducing the Maus: The Heaviest Tank Ever Built 02:01 Off the Charts Specifications of the Maus 07:33 Technical Challenges of the Maus  14:17 AI Can’t Understand Generation Alpha’s Lingo 24:13 Convergent Evolution  25:54 Promiscuity and Testicle Size in Mammals 28:50 Dolphins and Their Massive Testicles 30:29 Where Do Human Chins Come From? 32:05 Beer Bonking Beetles 37:34 Feeding Predators to Save Prey. Is it a Good Thing?   SOURCES: Panzer VIII Maus https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/panzer_maus.php https://www.sciencealert.com/dolphins-got-giant-testicles-we-got-a-chin-only-one-makes-sense https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/convergent-evolution.html https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/06/19/193493225/the-love-that-dared-not-speak-its-name-of-a-beetle-for-a-beer-bottle https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/creatura-with-bec-crew/2015/05/australias-beer-loving-jewel-beetle/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
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4.8
out of 5
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About

From tales of historical idiocracy and scientific genius to weird and wacky cultural phenomena, Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant are here to take you on a wild conversational journey, deep diving into the crevices of science, history and culture that you never knew existed. 

Information

  • Creator
    A Little Bit Of Science
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2025
  • Episodes
    393
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 A Little Bit Of Science
  • Show Website
    A Little Bit Of Science

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