92 episodes

Each week, two PhD students read the research papers behind headline science news and give you the details you can't get in the stories.

Paper Boys Paper Boys

    • Science
    • 4.8 • 23 Ratings

Each week, two PhD students read the research papers behind headline science news and give you the details you can't get in the stories.

    What happened to the mice of Universe 25? (BONUS EPISODE)

    What happened to the mice of Universe 25? (BONUS EPISODE)

    What happens when you give a scientist, obsessed with biblical death, near unlimited control over a utopian city of mice? Well...a lot of death, it turns out. In the 1960's and 70's, Dr. John Calhoun created what should have been a perfect mouse city - unlimited food, shelter, and water with no predators or inclement weather. Then he let nature run its course. Within a few years, the city was in ruins. Listen in as we dive into the research paper detailing exactly what happened to the mice in Universe 25, from meteoric rise to tragic demise.

    Check out the paper, news articles, and more at www.paperboyspodcast.com.

    Like the show? Want more every month? Fan of universal constants? Check out www.patreon.com/paperboyspod

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Is solar reflective pavement the cure for hot cities?

    Is solar reflective pavement the cure for hot cities?

    As urban environments grow and natural vegetation gets replaced with concrete and asphalt, “Urban Heat Islands” develop, where urbanized areas retain much more heat than surrounding rural areas. The increased heat in densely populated areas can pose significant problems to both comfort and, more importantly, people’s health. The City of Los Angeles is investigating new measures to reduce the heat island effect by making their asphalt more reflective--but how effective is this measure in reducing air temps? Join us this week as we dive into new research evaluating the success of this bright new technology.

    Check out the paper, news articles, and more at www.paperboyspodcast.com.

    Like the show? Want more every month? Fan of universal constants? Check out www.patreon.com/paperboyspod

    • 36 min
    What’s inside a Martian meteorite?

    What’s inside a Martian meteorite?

    Returning rock samples from planets and asteroids can provide new insights into how the solar system, the universe, and life formed. But how much can we learn from meteorite samples that fell to the ground here on Earth? It turns out, quite a bit! Join us this week as we explore a new paper about a 4 billion-year-old rock from Mars that landed in Antarctica.

    Check out the paper, news articles, and more at www.paperboyspodcast.com.

    Like the show? Want more every month? Fan of universal constants? Check out www.patreon.com/paperboyspod

    • 38 min
    Is eating sugar a gut instinct?

    Is eating sugar a gut instinct?

    Check out the paper, news articles, and more at www.paperboyspodcast.com.

    Like the show? Want more every month? Fan of universal constants? Check out www.patreon.com/paperboyspod

    • 35 min
    What happened in the Stanford Prison Experiment? (Bonus episode)

    What happened in the Stanford Prison Experiment? (Bonus episode)

    This week is a bit different - instead of a fresh episode, we are sharing one of our bonus episodes covering the Stanford Prison Experiment. Tune in to hear how this seemingly innocent psychology experiment from the early 1970s went terribly wrong. If you like this episode you can find more like it at www.patreon.com/paperboyspod.

    • 52 min
    Did Oumuamua come from a destroyed planet?

    Did Oumuamua come from a destroyed planet?

    Oumuamua is an interstellar object that passed through our solar system in late 2017. It originally made the news thanks to several scientists suggesting its odd shape might be explained if it were a spaceship. New research on Oumuamua presents a much more tractable--and still extremely fascinating--explanation though. Join us this week as we dive into this new paper the search for Oumuamua’s origin.

    Check out the paper, news articles, and more at www.paperboyspodcast.com.

    Like the show? Want more every month? Fan of universal constants? Check out www.patreon.com/paperboyspod

    • 49 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
23 Ratings

23 Ratings

jon_albo ,

Favorite science podcast!

This is hands down my favorite podcast. James and Charlie do an amazing job breaking down these incredibly detailed papers to make them seem simple and be easy to understand. It doesn’t put me to sleep like most of the other paper podcasts I’ve listened to! They also have a patreon if anyone else who loves them wants to support! Thanks for the awesome podcasts guys.

Aaron in Brooklyn ,

Likeable hosts, interesting papers, thoughtful discussion

Finally, an approachable science podcast that respects the listener to hear more than the headlines.

IAStranger ,

Awesome Science and Communication Podcast

Such a good way to discuss interesting science and the often problematic ways it is presented to the public!

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