Brain Junk

We catch you up with an update on fluorescing animals and then jump right into new research on Longfin Damsel fish that use Mysid shrimp to farm algae. Stegastes nigricans, photo by Andrew GreenMysid shrimp image: Melev’s ReefCheck out more about this mutualistic relationship here: https://theconversation.com/we-found-algae-farming-fish-that-domesticate-tiny-shrimp-to-help-run-their-farms-151615 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

In WWI and WWII women were super sneaky and ingenious using their yarn and knitting needles to covertly transport coded messages. That’s right, today we’re talking about steganography. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

Brunetto Latini’s Li Livres dou Tresor via British LibraryThere are over 70 examples of knights fighting snails in illuminated manuscripts from the 1300s. But why? First meme? A silly inside joke? A weird allegory? Listen to the episode and check out our link in the show notes. Or better yet, just Google Snail Knights!Show Notes:More Snail Knights from the British Library This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

When music comes on, can you clap along or do you struggle to find the beat? If you have a hard time keeping up with the rhythm, there’s a reason and it’s happening in your auditory cortex. Show Notes: PopSci: Why Some People are Bad at DancingScience Alert: Are You Beat Deaf?Primary auditory cortex and Auditory association areas.jpgImage courtesy Wikimedia Commons via the Creative Commons License.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

Col. William H Jackson had a favorite tree. So, somewhere around 1832, Colonel Jackson gave the white oak tree to itself (and the city of Athens, GA played along). As of this broadcast, that tree’s offspring still grows on the same spot. We have so many questions.image by Felix Wong https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

Help us lean into the New Year with the many Scottish traditions surrounding Hogmanay! There are wee drams of whiskey and balls of fire and cleaning out the house to get ready for the coming year. Raise a glass with us in the hopes of a better 2021.Show Notes:Hogmanay WikiVisit Scotland: HogmanayTrip Savvy: HogmanayComrie Flambeaux Awesome Stonehaven Fireballs!: Biggar BonfirePhoto Credit: Geograph UK, via the Creative Commons License.The Loony DookPhoto Credit: Geograph UK, via the Creative Commons License. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

Happy almost New Year! Amy and Trace got together to socially distance snack. We try some dried mushrooms, chips, a surprise snack, and some candy. We had a fantastic time getting back together in person!All the snacks!Happy New Year!!! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

Tired of cold feet and longs nights huddled under not quite warm enough blankets? Maybe you need a box bed. Originating in medieval times, making a bed walled in on all sides made for a cozy night’s sleep.And sorry again for Zoom remote sound quality. Thanks for being so understanding!Show Notes:The double-decker-box-bed below can be found on A Strange and Wonderful Collection along with many other awesome examples!Apartment Therapy-Box Bedsbellac.com – Box BedsImage credit: A Strange and Wonderful Collection  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

There are only approximately 400,000 elephants left in the world. Frustrated and saddened by this stark statistic, Dr. Lucy King set out to find a way to make elephants less of a threat to people and crops. Her ingenious solution does just that AND saves elephant's lives too. Show Notes:African anti-elephant beehive fence. image: Elephantsandbees.comDr. Lucy King Ted Talk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

Ramesses II (Also known as Ramses or Rameses) became Pharaoh at the age of 14, had more children than any other Egyptian ruler, and reigned during the golden age of Egypt. But of course his history isn’t exactly what we’re talking about on this episode.Show Notes:NatGeo Mummy PassportNatGeo Weird PassportsRipleys: Mummy PassportAncient Origins Mummy PassportA mock up for the only mummy with a passport. Ramesses II ( Public Domain ) on an example of an Egyptian Passport Bio Page. ( Public Domain ) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

When we tried to start recording, the neighbors revved up their engines and insisted on mowing their lawns--so we had all the wacky background noise!For Thanksgiving we got together to taste test Brach's Turkey Dinner flavored candy corn. It was an outdoor, socially distanced adventure that we just had to share with you. It's like an episode of Chopped where they tried to make candy corn into a savory dish.image: from the Brach's websiteTrace's chickens and her husband, Chas, make a guest appearance! (We gave him a Turkey candy corn and he hated it)The candy corn flavors were weird, but we had so much fun. In order from left to right: Turkey, Cranberry, Green Bean, Ginger Carrot, Stuffing, Sweet Potato Pie This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

On July 6th, 1930 Fred Newton dipped a toe into the Mississippi river and explained to reporters that he planned to swim from Minneapolis to New Orleans. Along the way he encountered floating rafts of manure and other hazards. It wasn't an adventure for the faint of heart.Show Notes:Smithsonian Magazine - Fred Newton Swims the MississippiWashington Post-Swimming Down the Mississippi for Dear LifeFred NewtonImage Courtesy of Smithsonian MagazineMap courtesy Wikimedia Commons This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

In 1532 the Spanish found out what everyone in South America already knew--potatoes are amazing. But when they brought them back to Europe the reception wasn't so great. No one was impressed by a food harvested out of the dirt. When famine hit Prussia in 1774, King Frederick the Great had a plan to get his starving people to eat the dreaded potato.Check out his grave in Germany and leave a potato. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

A word on sound quality: We’re still recording remotely. Just pretend Amy is on the moon, reporting from her own personal lunar module.Besides the lander modules left by each mission, there’s a lot of unexpected junk and treasures left behind by America’s six trips to the moon.Show Notes:Check out a hammer vs feather drop experiment done on the moon. Commander David Scott did the demo during the Apollo 15 moon walk. Experiment at 0:23. Family photo left on the moon by astronaut Charlie Duke. image: NASAThe Apollo 15 mission left behind a lunar rover. Too bad the batteries will be long dead by the time another mission lands on the moon. image: NASAIn our era of special effects, these moon photos look so ordinary. This is Neil Armstrong. Reflected in his helmet is Buzz Aldrin taking his picture. That flag, the rover, it’s tracks and their footprints are still there. image: NASARMG.co.UK Things left on the moon.NASA Hammer Feather Drop with article This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this wit

An accidental discovery by scientist Jonathan G. Martin lead to a surprise at his bird feeder. Turns out Flying Squirrels in the United States have a special trait. Under ultraviolet light they glow. Ultraviolet light makes flying squirrels turn PINK!image: Northland CollegeIf you want to know more about the particulars of ultraviolet light here's a link to a LiveScience.com article. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

Letting you know straight out the gate that the sound quality of this episode is...eh. We had some remote recording issues again--thanks Covid--but (get it? Butt Music and but? HA! Dad joke for the win). But, Amy had too much cool stuff to share not to air this episode on Hieronymus Bosch, his painting of The Garden of Earthly Delights, and Amelia Hamrick's discovery of sheet music on a naked butt.Show Notes:The Garden of Earthly Delight -Hieronymous BoschAmelia Hamrick -Image courtesy of the Edmond OutlookArtnet Bosch Butt Music Edmondoutlook Bosch Butt Music  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

The tomato traveled a long strange road of misunderstanding and admiration all the way from the New World to the old and back again. Why did it become the iconic pin cushion shape we all remember and how in the heck did it sprout a little strawberry off the side? P.S. We had some recording issues--darn you COVID-19. The sound quality isn't amazing, but the show is classic Amy and Trace. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

During WWII, special super secret decks of playing cards were used to help American prisoners of war escape from Nazi camps.Show Notes:Check out the articles for some great pictures! No one knows for sure how many decks were produced, but the only two known surviving decks are in the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.. Plan your road trip and send us pictures!Reddit POW Poker DecksPOW Playing Cards Business Insiderwearethemighty.com POW Card Decks Image Courtesy of the Bicycle Playing Card CompanyAmazon has sold imitation decks:https://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Escape-Poker-Standard-Playing/dp/B00EA1QZ22  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

Amy and Trace dug deep into their "this is too gross for a podcast" files and decided there was just too much quality disgustingness not to do it anyway!!!WARNING! We aren't kidding. This stuff is all about glowing mouse brains, stomach burrowing eels, maggots, and SO MUCH MORE. Listen if you dare.Show Notes:Live Science - Really Alarming Snake Eels  Spiky, but ripping guys. Factinate - Hagfish The grossest. Pelicans yawning and debunking pelican spine memes.The Action Lab and explaining microwaving antsBeware not for the weak of stomach. Trace finds this video so so GROSS. Mango worms in Africa. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com

This hard to stop insect can shoot a caustic mix 212 degree chemicals out of it's abdomen at 500 times a second. Seriously! Trace shares some super cool facts about this little bug. image: Patrick Coin ( wikimedia)Great video of a variety of beetles using chemical warfare from BBC Earth!Science Magazine: Japanese toad vs. Bombardier BeetleHere's a cool view of what's happening INSIDE the Bombardier Beetle's abdomen from A team of researchers at MIT, The university of Arizona, and Brookhaven Labs.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainjunkpodcast.substack.com