A Little Bit Of Science

A Little Bit Of Science
  • 4.1 (8)
  • 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. When AI Chooses Nukes, Norway's Brain Gun, and the Syndrome That Makes You a Foodie

    2D AGO

    When AI Chooses Nukes, Norway's Brain Gun, and the Syndrome That Makes You a Foodie

    This week, AI is casually reaching for the nuclear button, a Norwegian scientist has accidentally recreated something that looks a lot like Havana Syndrome, and a brain lesion has turned a marathon runner into an intense foodie. It is a neat little trio of stories that sits right on the edge of science fiction, except the uncomfortable part is that it is all real. We start with simulated war games where major AI models were put in charge of military decision making. The result is grimly simple. In these scenarios, the systems chose to deploy tactical nuclear weapons most of the time, showing none of the cultural taboo or restraints humans have built around nuclear escalation. Then we head to Norway, where a scientist tested a pulse energy device on himself to see if it could plausibly cause Havana Syndrome-style symptoms. It did. Which is both a scientific result and a personal mistake, and it raises the obvious question of what happens when this kind of technology moves from theory to wider interest. Finally, we look at Gorman Syndrome, a neurological twist where a brain lesion appears to flip someone from long distance running to an intense obsession with fine food. It is funny, strange, and a sharp reminder that personality can be less fixed than we like to believe.    CHAPTERS:   00:00 Fire Alarm AI Fail 00:46 LLMs in War Games 06:34 Nukes and No Surrender 09:36 Pentagon Wants Anthropic 10:33 Testing AI Weirdness 12:50 Dead Cow Prompt Update 15:07 Car Wash Question Trap 18:10 Lost in the Middle Fix 22:01 Maps and Recursive Islands 23:32 Chasing Longest Line of Sight 26:53 All the Views Map 27:49 What Limits Sightlines 29:23 Havana Syndrome Emerges 31:58 Theories and Investigations 35:14 Norwegian Microwave Experiment 42:20 Official Stance and Confusion 44:04 Extreme Foodie Case Study 47:39 Gourmand Syndrome Explained 51:21 Brain Lesions and Cravings SOURCES: AIs can’t stop recommending nuclear strikes in war game simulations AI Arms and Influence: Frontier Models Exhibit Sophisticated Reasoning in Simulated Nuclear Crises The Longest Line Of Sight https://pub.towardsai.net/the-car-wash-question-that-breaks-every-ai-and-the-2-word-fix-nobody-talks-about-21db5c78fc29 https://www.vice.com/en/article/brain-damaged-gourmand-syndrome-foodies-cant-register-your-disgust/ https://www.iflscience.com/gourmand-syndrome-when-brain-injuries-spark-an-obsessive-craving-for-fine-food-and-gastronomy-82546 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/gourmand-syndrome-26067295/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/14/havana-syndrome-cia-norway-experiment/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havana_syndrome https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pentagon-reportedly-testing-radio-wave-device-linked-to-havana-syndrome/ https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/13/politics/havana-syndrome-device-pentagon-hsi See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    57 min
  2. Hippo Castration, Heart Bypass Brain Fog and Sperm From Unexpected Places

    FEB 24

    Hippo Castration, Heart Bypass Brain Fog and Sperm From Unexpected Places

    This week we have hippos with hidden bits, hearts that take a mechanical detour, and a medical case study that will make you sit down and reconsider every life choice that led you to having a body. It is science at its best and worst, fascinating, useful, and deeply inconvenient. We start at the zoo, where hippo castration is a real population control tool, partly to manage breeding and partly to reduce aggression. The catch is hippo anatomy is not built for human convenience, with internal testes that turn the whole procedure into a high stakes game of hide and seek inside a very large, very grumpy animal. Then we move from hippos to hearts, looking at cardiac surgeries that use a heart lung bypass machine. Some patients report a temporary cognitive dip afterward, often called pump brain, and nobody is fully sure why it happens. It might be the machine, the stress of surgery, or subtle changes in blood flow and inflammation, but the mystery is still very much alive. Finally, we end with a story that makes every listener cross their legs in sympathy. A man developed a rectal urethral fistula after previous surgery, likely linked to a catheter complication during a coma, and his internal plumbing rerouted itself in the most unhelpful way possible. The takeaway is simple. Bodies are fragile, embarrassment is useless, and if something feels wrong, get it checked. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Hippo Castration Study 05:50 Why Zoos Castrate Hippos 08:11 Internal Anatomy Surprise 13:04 Surgery Method and Timing 15:14 Recovery and Blood Sweat 17:12 Aftereffects and Social Dynamics 18:11 Science Communication Pivot 18:46 Alcohol Messaging Study Setup 21:27 Violence as Communication 21:57 Alcohol Messages That Work 23:25 Counting Drinks Cancer Risk 25:08 Comfortable With Surgery 25:49 Heart Bypass Miracle Machine 29:12 Pumphead Cognitive Decline 33:43 Why the Pump Makes You Dumber 35:46 Fistula Case From Catheter 42:34 Spinosaurus Tank Top Sendoff SOURCES: Rosetta scientist Dr Matt Taylor apologises for ‘offensive’ shirt Astonishing Spinosaur Unearthed in The Sahara Is Unlike Any Seen Before There's One Simple Method to Lower Alcohol Intake, And It Works  A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of combinations of ‘why to reduce’ and ‘how to reduce’ alcohol harm-reduction communications Westbury, C., & Hollis, G. (2019). Wriggly, squiffy, lummox, and boobs: What makes some words funny? Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 148(1), 97–123. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000467 https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-poop-and-wiggle-are-funny-words-according-to-science.htm? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000169182600171X https://futurism.com/health-medicine/exercise-cardio-stress-research https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0093691X13004275 https://www.discovermagazine.com/why-its-nearly-impossible-to-castrate-a-hippo-4775 https://futurism.com/neoscope/doctors-rectourethral-fistula https://www.cureus.com/articles/68327-a-curious-case-of-rectal-ejaculation#!/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  3. The Alien Economy Problem, Dream Engineering, and ER Horror Stories

    FEB 17

    The Alien Economy Problem, Dream Engineering, and ER Horror Stories

    What happens to the economy if aliens show up? Not the movie version. The real version where markets panic, confidence collapses, and everyone suddenly forgets how money is supposed to work. This week, we dig into the idea that confirming UFOs or UAPs could trigger an ontological shock that rattles financial systems in ways no central bank has a policy for. Then we head into dream engineering, where researchers are testing whether your sleeping brain can be nudged to solve problems while you are out cold. Using targeted memory reactivation, the idea is to plant cues that help your mind keep working in the background, like a night shift you never agreed to. And because the universe loves balance, we finish with an emergency room story that escalates into a full hospital evacuation. Yes, it involves an artillery shell lodged where it absolutely should not be, and yes, it ends with the bomb squad being called. So that is the episode. UFO economics, puzzle solving in your sleep, and a reminder that humans will always find new ways to surprise medical professionals. Like, subscribe, and tell us what weird science story we should chase next. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Ex–Bank of England Analyst Warns: Aliens Could Crash the Economy 03:35 Ontological Shock 101: When Reality Breaks 05:00 From Panic to Euphoria: How Markets Might React to UAP Disclosure 11:16 Can Sleep (and Dreams) Help Solve Hard Problems? 15:13 Dream Engineering & Lucid Dreaming: Hacking Sleep for Creativity 17:21 Inside the Experiment: Puzzles, Sound Cues, and Watching Inception 18:51 Dream Cues for Puzzle-Solving (and Lucid Dream Strategies) 20:40 ‘Rent a Human’: AI Agents Hiring People for Real-World Tasks 21:41 Proof, Crypto Payouts, and the Weirdest Job Examples 27:31 ER Evacuations: When ‘Foreign Objects’ Become a Public Safety Issue 28:58 Annual ‘Stuff Stuck in Bodies’ Highlights (Yes, Mostly Butts) 39:11 Mailbag & Sign-Off SOURCES:   https://defector.com/what-did-we-get-stuck-in-our-rectums-last-year-6 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735675723001535 https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-man-wwii-shell-lodged-in-rectum-bomb-squad-called-2021-12 https://futurism.com/future-society/hospital-evacuated-man-ww1-shell https://futurism.com/space/alien-life-financial-collapse https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bank-england-warned-prepare-aliens-212252751.html https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/bank-of-england-must-prepare-for-ufo-announcement-f3mh8l9vh https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-rent-human-bodies https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-agents-incapable-math Creative problem-solving after experimentally provoking dreams of unsolved puzzles during REM sleep See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min
  4. Rogue Waves, Robot Skin, and Olympic Scandals

    FEB 11

    Rogue Waves, Robot Skin, and Olympic Scandals

    Winter Olympians are allegedly gaming their suit seams for extra lift, the ocean is still capable of throwing an absolutely giant wall of water at your face with no warning, and somewhere in Queensland, a blob of pitch is taking nearly a century to prove it is technically a liquid. This week, we bounce from sports cheating to monster waves to the slowest experiment on Earth, with science doing what it does best and refusing to be tidy. We dig into ski jumping and the art of the tiny advantage, including why the groin region has become an unexpectedly important battleground in Olympic aerodynamics. Then we hit the open ocean, where rogue waves have gone from sailor myth to measured reality, and the scariest part is how suddenly they show up. From there, climate change delivers a curveball in Svalbard, where some polar bears are getting fatter by adapting their diets and hunting patterns. We also look at 3D printable electronic skin that lets robots feel touch, and a massive Swedish study that challenges long-held assumptions about autism and gender bias. Finally, we pay tribute to the pitch drop experiment at the University of Queensland, a reminder that some scientists are built differently and will happily wait decades for goo to make a point.  CHAPTERS:    00:00 Winter Olympics Excitement 00:19 The Science of Ski Jumping Suits 01:25 Meet the Hosts 02:18 Ski Jumping Suit Scandal 10:13 Polar Bears and Climate Change 16:21 Rogue Waves: The Ocean's Hidden Danger 29:04 The Mystery of the Unsinkable Ship 29:24 The Rise of Rogue Waves 29:42 The Record-Breaking Youclue Lit Wave 30:41 Super Rogue Waves: A New Threat? 32:08 The Physics of Waves 34:06 3D Printable E-Flesh: A Technological Marvel 38:28 Autism: A Gender Perspective 45:27 The Pitch Drop Experiment: A Slow Burn 55:41 Mailbag and Final Thoughts   SOURCES: https://www.aps.org/apsnews/2018/01/existence-rogue-waves https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-04/rogue-wave-kills-us-passenger-on-antarctic-cruise/101731482 https://www.sciencealert.com/gigantic-wave-in-the-pacific-was-the-most-extreme-rogue-wave-on-record https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/science/beal-seeds-experiment.html https://magazine.wfu.edu/2022/10/05/unearthing-time-in-a-bottle/ https://www.sciencealert.com/the-worlds-longest-running-lab-experiment-is-almost-100-years-old? https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-running-laboratory-experiment https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/85986/15-longest-running-scientific-studies-history https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28402709 https://www.sciencenews.org/article/oldest-pitch-drop-experiment https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/05/penis-injection-doping-claims-in-winter-olympics-ski-jumping-investigated-by-wada Scientists share design so you can make your own 3D-printable 'eFlesh' for robots — affordable,easy to produce, and highly-tactile robot sensor grips can be printed at home Towards the equal recognition of autism in girls and women Body condition among Svalbard Polar bears Ursus maritimus during a period of rapid loss of seaice   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    57 min
  5. Penis Evolution, Magic Mushrooms & Influenza Transmission

    FEB 3

    Penis Evolution, Magic Mushrooms & Influenza Transmission

    This week, we bounce between sex, psychedelics, and infectious disease, and somehow it all hangs together by the end. We unpack research on porn use that suggests the real issue is not how often people watch it, but why they are watching in the first place, with motivation shaping the impact on emotional and sexual wellbeing. Then we head into the world of magic mushrooms, where psilocybin is being studied for potential health effects that go beyond the trip. From possible links to ageing markers like telomeres, to broader associations with physical health, the science is early but intriguing. We also explore research suggesting psychedelics may influence sexual arousal and satisfaction, including for people dealing with depression and antidepressant side effects. Finally, we tackle an influenza study with a bizarre result: healthy volunteers spent time around flu sufferers and nobody caught it. Was it luck, immunity, or a sign we still do not fully understand how flu spreads in real world settings. CHAPTERS:   00:00 Introduction to Pornography Concerns 00:40 Science Steps In: Quality Over Quantity 03:52 Exploring the Concept of Gooning 06:55 Research on Pornography Usage 12:44 Human Anatomy Compared to Great Apes 19:39 Life Hacks and Psychedelic Drugs 19:46 Health Benefits of Psychedelics 21:26 Anti-Aging Properties of Psilocybin 23:36 Survival Skills and Psychedelics 27:27 Flu Transmission Study 33:57 Sexual Benefits of Magic Mushrooms 37:49 Listener Contributions     SOURCES: https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003595 https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1013153 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  6. Science Finds Heaven, Longevity Hacks and Smart Dogs

    JAN 26

    Science Finds Heaven, Longevity Hacks and Smart Dogs

    Everyone wants to live forever, dogs are out here doing actual jobs, and someone has tried to work out where heaven might be using astronomy. We dig into the strange science of longevity, including research suggesting reproduction and lifespan might be linked in uncomfortable ways. Then they meet the working dogs sniffing out invasive species, guarding airport runways, and generally making the rest of us look lazy. From there, things get cosmic. An opinion piece argues heaven could sit beyond our cosmic horizon, which is a great way to accidentally spend your afternoon thinking about infinity. There is also a quick detour into gelatin-based culinary chaos, featuring the kind of vintage recipes that should come with a warning label. We wrap up with listener stories, including a cow named Veronica who can use a broom as a tool, because of course she can.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction  00:19 Exploring the Science of Longevity 01:00 Psychology and Climate Action 01:09 Mailbag and Birthday Surprise 01:27 Lifestyle Changes for Longevity 02:47 Reproduction and Longevity 12:58 Dogs with Jobs 21:07 Science Finds Heaven 27:51 Cosmic Horizon and Hubble's Law 29:39 Einstein's Relativity and Speed of Light 31:18 The Mysteries Beyond the Cosmic Horizon 40:49 Veronica the Tool-Using Cow 48:03 Gelatin: A Culinary and Industrial Marvel 54:58 Komodo Dragons and Asexual Reproduction 56:25 Listener Mailbag and Fun Facts       SOURCES:   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656622000423 https://futurism.com/health-medicine/conspiracy-theories-psychology https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656622000423 https://futurism.com/health-medicine/men-lifespan-castration https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109009 https://www.aol.com/articles/heaven-real-science-may-reveal-130016778.html https://michaelguillen.com https://www.iflscience.com/we-didnt-even-think-about-looking-broom-wielding-veronika-shows-tool-use-in-cows-isnt-so-absurd-after-all-82260 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9963746/ https://www.nature.com/news/2006/061218/full/news061218-7.html https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/blog/trending-now/dogs-with-unusual-jobs https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2024/04/05/schizophrenia-hallucinationspsychiatric-assistance-dog/73171229007/ https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/people-like-the-idea-of-being-green-but-they-hate-being-told-what-to-do-even-more/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    58 min
  7. FBI Hunts Bigfoot, Craft Beer's Hidden Science and Fame Kills Rockstars

    JAN 13

    FBI Hunts Bigfoot, Craft Beer's Hidden Science and Fame Kills Rockstars

    The FBI’s search for Bigfoot shows that even serious agencies can get swept up in a good mystery. Their investigation ended with a misidentified animal instead of a legendary creature, but the files are still a treasure for anyone fascinated by conspiracies and the unknown. Sometimes, the search is more interesting than the answer. Meanwhile, scientists in Queensland have been busy breaking down the secrets of your favourite brew. By analysing the proteins in dozens of beers, they found that craft brews really do stand apart from the mass-produced stuff. If your IPA tastes special, it is not just in your head. Science backs you up. On a darker note, the world of fame is not all it is cracked up to be. Research shows that musicians in the spotlight face far greater risks than the rest of us, with fame itself becoming the real danger. The pressure and constant scrutiny can take a heavy toll. Sometimes, chasing the dream comes with a price nobody wants to pay. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:13 The FBI's Bigfoot Files 01:46 Exploring the Freedom of Information Vault 03:37 The FBI's Investigation into Bigfoot 07:08 Mass Spectrometry and Beer Proteins 10:12 Craft Beer vs. Mass-Produced Beer 13:01 The Dream of Being a Rockstar 13:58 The Risks of Fame in the Music Industry 18:09 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Engagement   SOURCES: The FBI Released Bigfoot’s Official File Beer snobs, rejoice: Craft beer really is different The price of fame? Mortality risk among famous singers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min
  8. AI Inflates the Ego, Ancient Drop Crocs and Gen Z Survey Findings

    JAN 6

    AI Inflates the Ego, Ancient Drop Crocs and Gen Z Survey Findings

    AI is giving people a confidence boost they might not deserve, especially among those who consider themselves tech-savvy. Studies show that using AI for problem-solving leads many to overestimate their own abilities, with higher AI literacy actually making users more likely to trust the machine and question themselves less. The smarter we think we are with technology, the more likely we are to fall for its digital flattery. Meanwhile, ancient Australia was home to predators that make today’s wildlife look tame. Fossil evidence suggests that five-metre crocodiles once hunted by dropping out of trees onto unsuspecting prey. This twist on the classic crocodile encounter adds a new layer of terror to Australia’s already legendary roster of dangerous animals. Forget snakes in the grass. Sometimes the real threat was lurking above. On the cultural front, Gen Z is challenging old standards and rewriting the rules on everything from ironing to mental health. Some in this generation long for a less digital era, question the value of traditional skills, and proudly reject the notion that neat clothes equal good character. They also claim credit for baggy jeans and even admit to being the most annoying generation to work with. From digital delusions to tree-dwelling crocs and Gen Z’s new priorities, the only thing we can count on is that the world refuses to stay boring.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction  00:48 AI and the Dunning-Kruger Effect 02:11 AI Literacy and Overconfidence 02:51 AI's Impact on Self-Assessment 06:59 Australian Wildlife and Myths 07:35 Legend of the Drop Croc 08:57 Generational Differences 10:10 Gen Z's Perspective 11:03 Skills and Inventions 12:52 Annoying Generations at Work 13:40 Conclusion and Call to Action   SOURCES: AI Is Causing a Grim New Twist on the Dunning-Kruger Effect Generation Conflicted: How Do Gen Zers Compare Themselves to Past Generations? Evidence of ancient tree-climbing 'drop crocs' found in Australia Australia’s oldest crocodylian eggshell: insights into the reproductive paleoecology of mekosuchines See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    15 min
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4.1
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    419
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 A Little Bit Of Science
  • Show Website
    A Little Bit Of Science

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