Lab Libs

Debbie I
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SCIENCE

Real Life scientist Debbie and Megan share ”Science-y Stories With An Ad-libs Twist”

  1. 5D AGO

    #17 The _____ Emu War: Saving Crops, One Emu At A Time

    This week on Lab Libs, Debbie tells Megan the absolutely unbelievable story of the Great Emu War of 1932. Yes, an actual military operation where Australia went to war against thousands of giant flightless bird and somehow struggled to win. What started as an attempt to protect wheat farms from massive emu invasions quickly turned into a chaotic disaster involving machine guns, missed shots, military strategy failures, and emus that apparently mastered guerrilla Megan is trying to piece the whole thing together completely out of context, leading to some truly cursed guesses, increasingly dramatic descriptions of “gangly marauders,” and the growing realization that this story somehow gets more ridiculous every minute. Then Megan takes Debbie down a rabbit hole into the interesting history of the LGBTQ+ ballroom scene. You won’t want to miss your favorite funny and informative podcast this week! Don’t forget to use the Lab Libs to make your own guesses! Lab Libs A continent A decade in the 1900s Were or Were not Two problems a farmer might have A type of crop A number between one and ten A color A number A single-digit number A large number A body part A weapon A large quantity word A number between 50,000 and 60,000 Sources https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/emu https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/the-emu-war-of-1932 https://www.historyhit.com/the-great-emu-war/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/australian-emu-war-history

    1 hr

  2. APR 10

    #16 One Woman's Superpower: Detection __ Parkinson's Disease

    This week on Lab Libs, Megan tells Debbie the unbelievable true story of Joy Milne, the Scottish woman who discovered she could smell Parkinson’s disease before doctors could diagnose it. What started as her noticing a strange change in her husband’s scent eventually led researchers to realize that Parkinson’s may leave behind a unique odor signature on the skin. Meanwhile, Debbie dives headfirst into the completely chaotic rabbit hole about the 1904 Olympics, a story so ridiculous it sounds fake. Then they fall further into some other Olympic shenanigans. So naturally, this episode turns into a completely unhinged mix of superhuman noses and Olympic madness. Don’t forget to use the Lab Libs and see how well you do! Lab Libs: A neurodegenerative disease A type of pollutant One of the five senses A type of in-person meeting A middle school competition event A type of scientist A number between 1 and 5 A new kind of technology A number between 50 and 100   You can check out Lab Libs on Instagram @lablibs_podcast   Sources: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-supersmeller-can-detect-the-scent-of-parkinsons-leading-to-an-experimental-test-for-the-illness/ https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/23/820274501/her-incredible-sense-of-smell-is-helping-scientists-find-new-ways-to-diagnose-di https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/parkinsons-breakthrough-can-diagnose-disease-from-skin-swabs-in-3-minutes/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055 sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220223085828.htm https://www.sciencealert.com/parkinsons-disease-has-a-smell-that-some-dogs-can-detect

    1h 12m

  3. MAR 19

    #15 The Ummo Letters: Messages ___ Mysteries From Planet Ummo

    This week on Lab Libs, Debbie takes Megan into one of the strangest UFO stories in European history. The story of the UMMO letters. It starts with mysterious typewritten messages in the 1960s turned into a decades long saga involving aliens, Ufologists, advanced physics, supposed secret landings, and a confession that may or may not solve the mystery. In true Lab Libs fashion, Megan had no idea what the story was while filling in the blanks, so the result is a mix of aliens, science, philosophy, and chaos. Then Megan will drag Debbie down a rabbit hole into the wild world of Korean drama television. They give their opinions on  Dubbed vs. Not Dubbed. Use the Lab Libs and come play along with your favorite funny science podcast!   Lab Libs A Year in the early 1900s Three traits a good scientific should have A country in Europe A method of   communication  A country in Europe A way for a Government to rule A mode of transportation A shape A trait you might look for in a car A decade in the late 1900s A year in the 1990s A category of experiment someone could conduct Sources https://www.ufodigest.com/article/the-ummo-affair-are-extraterrestrials-living-among-us http://www.strangemag.com/ummo.html UMMO: Alien Correspondence by Author VIDGITA

    1h 1m

  4. MAR 5

    #14 Reef Rescue: Science __ Action

    In this episode of Lab Libs, Megan takes Debbie beneath the surface of the ocean to explore the race to save the world’s coral. From cute coral nurseries to heat-resistant super corals, she unpacks the real science behind how researchers are fighting bleaching and rebuilding fragile ecosystems. It’s hopeful, innovative, and way more intense than you’d expect from something that just appears like colorful underwater rock. Then Debbie takes a sharp turn down into her rabbit hole of British slang, because what pairs better with coral restoration like some cheeky British chat? Debbie unpacks the history, humor, and crudeness of it all. It’s fun, science, culture, conservation, and questionable accents all wrapped into one episode. Don’t forget to create your own Lab Lib blanks and play along with your favorite science podcast! Lab Libs A worldwide crisis A scientific job requiring a lot of math A number 1-20 A type of pollution A type of ocean animal A common fraction A method of sun protection A type of coral A percentage 1-100% A short amount of time A region of Florida Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/Articles/c04gqez4lkyo https://www.vox.com/down-to-eArth/24098428/scientists-oceAn-corAl-spAwning-bleAching-greAt-barrier-reef https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/how-coral-reefs-might-survive-climate-change-feature https://www.flaquarium.org/conservation/leaders-in-conservation/coral-conservation/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/13/coral-reefs-ice-sheets-amazon-rainforest-tipping-point-global-heating-scientists-report https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fox13news.com/news/florida-aquarium-works-renew-floridas-coral-reefs.amp https://fsc.org/en/blog/good-climate-news https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/02/hannah-ritchie-not-the-end-of-the-world-extract-climate-crisis https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/habitat-conservation/restoring-seven-iconic-reefs-mission-recover-coral-reefs-florida-keys

    1h 23m

  5. FEB 13

    #13 Maps, Messages & Missing People: The Lost Colony __ Roanoke

    In this episode of Lab Libs, Debbie takes Megan deep into one of America’s oldest cold cases, the disappearance of the settlers on Roanoke Island, better known as the Lost Colony of Roanoke. From the eerie “CROATOAN” clue to the long absence of governor John White, Debbie walks through what we actually know, what archaeology can (and can’t) prove, and how modern researchers like the team at the First Colony Foundation are using real science to untangle a 400-year-old mystery. Then, in classic Lab Libs fashion, Megan launches into a completely unhinged but fascinating rabbit hole: the chaotic, risky, and surprisingly emotional world of the very first organ transplants, starting with groundbreaking heart surgery. Then new and unsual transplant attempts. From vanished colonists to transplanted hearts, this episode collides early modern history with medical innovation and proves that sometimes the wildest science stories span centuries. Enjoy this funny yet informative science podcast by writing down your own Lab Lib answers! Lab Libs: A country in Europe  A continent  A number less than 150 A state in the Southeast A symbol A number less than 5 A plant (not specific) A number between 500 and 900 Item that an archaeologist might find A metal A scientific field   https://www.history.com/articles/archaeologists-find-new-clues-to-lost-colony-mystery https://www.iflscience.com/archaeologists-shine-new-light-on-the-history-of-the-lost-roanoke-colony-74119 https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/science/new-clues-bring-search-for-indigenous-village-of-roanoke-to-elizabethan-gardens https://greekreporter.com/2025/06/11/lost-colony-roanoke-assimilated-native-americans 2025 The HISTORY® Channel Roanoke Descendants Revealed by DNA Test | In Search Of (Season 2)

    1h 7m

  6. JAN 30

    #12 The Internet DNA Marketplace: Curiosity Kits __ Data Assets

    In this episode, Megan pulls Debbie into the tangled world of DNA collection and tracking websites. What starts as a science-forward look at genetic testing, data storage, and how your spit ends up on the internet quickly spirals into questions about privacy, law enforcement, and whether your ancestors unknowingly signed you up for a lifelong surveillance program. Then, Debbie disappears down an urban exploration rabbit hole, abandoned houses, theme parks, and hospitals, and the very real science of decay. And they will examine the mystery about abandoned houses. Along the way, they connect the dots between forgotten places, forgotten data, and the unsettling fact that once something is collected, it rarely stays lost. Join Debbie and Megan in this ad-lib riddled science comedy podcast. Don’t forget to use the Lab Libs, and create your own answers! Lab Libs A percentage to one decimal, between 90%-100% A step required before publishing a scientific study A type of family member A type of insurance A reason for couples to break up A number between 1 and 1000 A continent A type of legal process for a company A number between 1 and 10 A common government employee A type of survey https://www.nist.gov/how-do-you-measure-it/how-do-companies-measure-dna-discover-your-ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/c/dna-learning-hub/ancestrydna-test-accuracy https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcrisksbenefits/ https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/07/06/535767665/why-you-should-think-twice-about-those-dna-by-mail-results https://www.reddit.com/r/MyHeritage/comments/18hjz68/palestinian_results/ https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/1/28/18194560/ancestry-dna-23-me-myheritage-science-explainer https://nulawreview.org/forum-posts/2022/8/23/law-enforcements-use-of-dna-ancestry-websites-and-why-your-consent-may-not-matter https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2021/05/ancestry-tests-affect-race-self-identification https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00118-y.epdf?no_publisher_access=1&r3_referer=nature https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au/commercial-dna-tests-are-unreliable-and-risky/8569 https://www.npr.org/2025/06/30/nx-s1-5451398/23andme-sale-approved-dna-data

    1h 16m

  7. JAN 18

    #11 The Titanic Disintegration: Morphing ____ Steel to Sediment

    In this episode, Debbie takes Megan on a deep dive, two and a half miles beneath the Atlantic, to explore how the RMS Titanic is literally disappearing. The famous shipwreck isn’t just rusting, it’s being eaten by a metal-loving bacteria that bears its name. They are living inside bizarre formations. At some point, all scientific credibility is abandoned when Debbie tells Megan the official term for these formations is rusticles, and they absolutely refuse to act mature about it. Debbie will break down the science behind Titanic’s deterioration, from deep-sea pressure and corrosion to iron-metabolizing microbes accelerating the ship’s collapse. And how the Titanic has become an unexpected deep-sea ecosystem. Part maritime history, part microbiology, and part chaotic science comedy, this episode of Lab Libs will explain how one of history’s most famous disasters is slowly being recycled by nature, one rusticle at a time. Then in this episode rabbit hole, Megan takes Debbie on a surprisingly chaotic tour of animals with jobs. From police-trained seals that absolutely should not have been trusted with guns, to crows in Sweden getting paid in seeds to clean up cigarette butts, Along the way, they spiral into how smart animals really are, and how we somehow taught crows to pick up litter before teaching people not to throw it on the ground.Join Debbie and Megan in this ad-lib riddled science comedy podcast. Don’t forget to use the Lab Libs, and create your own answers! Lab Libs: A year in the early 1900s A number less than 10 A number between 60-100 A number less than 4 A metal A microorganism A number 1-15 A gas A recent year A year in the near future  A number less than 10   Sources: https://www.dal.ca/news/2006/08/08/titanic.html https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240903-the-titanic-why-is-it-disintegrating-and-how-long-will-it-take-to-disappear https://titanicfacts.net/titanic-timeline/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-photographs-reveal-decay-of-the-titanic-and-collapse-of-its-iconic-railing-180985011/ https://www.britannica.com/story/timeline-of-the-titanics-final-hours Sánchez-Porro C, Kaur B, Mann H, Ventosa A. Halomonas titanicae sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from the RMS Titanic. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2010 Dec;60(Pt 12):2768-2774. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.020628-0. Epub 2010 Jan 8. PMID: 20061494.

    1h 1m

  8. JAN 5

    #10 Mars Exploration: Rovers ____ Wild

    This episode of Lab Libs blasts off toward Mars. Megan tells Debbie about real Mars missions, with wild rovers, landers, orbiters, and billion-dollar robots doing science millions of miles from Earth. In true Lab Libs fashion, we take actual planetary science, mix it with ad-libs chaos, and see what happens when nerdy facts collide with improvised comedy. How do Mars rovers land without exploding? Why is Mars red? What are we actually looking for? This science comedy podcast breaks down Mars exploration in a way that’s funny, chaotic, and accidentally educational, from early missions that failed spectacularly to modern rovers quietly doing incredible science. Then Debbie takes Megan down a rabbit hole exploring ambitious theme park ideas that didn’t survive contact with reality. We start with Walt Disney’s original EPCOT vision, a real city powered by automation, including vacuum-based trash collection, and how that idea quietly died after Walt’s death in 1966, turning into something much safer and much less weird. From there, we branch into other failed, abandoned, or deeply questionable theme park experiments: rides that never opened, attractions that closed almost immediately, and futuristic concepts that sounded great in meetings but disastrous in practice. Think over-engineered transportation, experimental technology, and attractions that asked guests to trust way too much machinery. Use the Lab Libs and fill in your own answers to see how close you get!   Lab Libs: A planet in our solar system An extremely cold temperature in Fahrenheit An obscure location on Earth A number below 20 A famous scientist on television A radioactive element An object used to land safely from a fall A common chemical on Earth A number between 1-100 A modern digital camera feature A hand tool found at home improvement stores A ride that spins A country in Asia A mythological being Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO5CTBBgtXs https://science.nasa.gov/universe/search-for-life/the-hunt-for-life-on-mars-and-elsewhere-in-the-solar-system/ https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/every-mars-mission https://spacecenter.org/meet-our-solar-system-mars/ https://www.planetary.org/articles/life-on-mars-your-questions-answered https://lithub.com/a-brief-history-of-sci-fis-love-affair-with-the-red-planet/2/ https://www.astronomy.com/space-exploration/50-years-ago-a-forgotten-mission-landed-on-mars/ https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viking/ https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-pathfinder/ https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/mars-pathfinder-mini-rover-full-scale-model/nasm_A20020297000#:~:text=Images%20were%20taken%20and%20experiments,for%20the%20rover%20as%20well https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_(rover) https://www.newsweek.com/nasa-mars-opportunity-rover-new-york-daily-news-jet-propulsion-laboratory-1334615 https://science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosity/science/ https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/the-extraordinary-sample-gathering-system-of-nasas-perseverance-mars-rover/ https://www.powermag.com/the-nuclear-battery-aboard-perseverance-the-next-gen-mars-rover/ https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/tianwen-1 https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-says-mars-rover-discovered-potential-biosignature-last-year/

    1h 20m
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About

Real Life scientist Debbie and Megan share ”Science-y Stories With An Ad-libs Twist”

Information

  • Creator
    Debbie I
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Lab Libs