This week we talk about GPR or ground penetrating radar as Shannon considers buying one and asks what to look for.

• Do trees glow before lightning strikes?
• McFarland, P. J., et al. "Corona discharges glow on trees under thunderstorms." Geophysical Research Letters 53.4 (2026): e2025GL119591.

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Shannon Dulin

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This week we talk about how you should approach an outcrop in the field for the first time. What do you look for? What kind of notes do you take? This and more field camp tips plus a discussion about the rheology of pasta sauce.

• Busiello, Daniel Maria, Vincenzo Maria Schimmenti, and Ivan Di Terlizzi. "Physical properties of a perfect pasta sauce." Physics Today 2026 (2026).

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Shannon Dulin

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This week we help a listener identify their bizarre fossil - and it's a trace fossil! Learn all about it and find out if you'd remember more if we were funnier!

• Trace Fossil Dictionary
• Shannon’s Favorite Trackway
• Asterosoma

• Would you remember more about science if your teachers presented it in a funny way?
• Frank, Alexandra L., et al. "Wit meets wisdom: the relationship between satire and anthropomorphic humor on scientists' likability and legitimacy." Journal of Science Communication 24.1 (2025): A04.

This week, we continue to talk about temperature with a discussion of temperature scales, where they came from, and why there are so many!

• Kaiser, Caspar, and Andrew J. Oswald. "The scientific value of numerical measures of human feelings." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119.42 (2022): e2210412119.

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Shannon Dulin

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What is temperature? Why do we care? Where did all of these temperature scales come from? This week, we find out!

• Di Lorenzo, Emilia, et al. "Periodic cooking of eggs." Communications Engineering 4.1 (2025): 1-10.

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John Leeman

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Shannon Dulin

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This week it's all about liquefaction as we explore why some caskets are above ground and how some cars get half way buried.

• Flame Structure
• Sand Boil
• Quicksand

• Can creatively shaped pasta fold itself when cooked?
• Tao, Ye, et al. "Morphing pasta and beyond." Science Advances 7.19 (2021): eabf4098.

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John Leeman

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Shannon Dulin

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We are back after a very challenging 2025 but don't panic - there is a plan!

• Taloni, Andrea, Vincenzo Scorcia, and Giuseppe Giannaccare. "Large language model advanced data analysis abuse to create a fake data set in medical research." JAMA ophthalmology 141.12 (2023): 1174-1175.

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John Leeman

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Shannon Dulin

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We're still here - it has just been a very difficult time, but this week we're talking about Hurricane Melissa and Halloween Candy!

• Hurricane Melissa
• Video Inside the Hurricane

• Trick or Treat! Maybe it should be Treat or Toy? Find out in this week's Fun Paper!
• Schwartz, Marlene B., Eunice Y. Chen, and Kelly D. Brownell. "Trick, treat, or toy: children are just as likely to choose toys as candy on Halloween." Journal of nutrition education and behavior 35.4 (2003): 207-209.

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John Leeman

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Shannon Dulin

• @ShannonDulin