

The Science of Everything Podcast
James Fodor
I discuss a variety of topics in both the natural and social sciences, exploring the many fascinating insights that the scientific method yields about the world around us.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 31, 2024 • 1h 17min
Episode 150: How Home Appliances Work
Dive into the fascinating world of home appliances! Discover how refrigerators chill and sift through the mechanics behind rice cookers and microwaves. Uncover the science of washing machines and the tidy performance of vacuum cleaners. Learn about the design and plumbing innovations in modern flush toilets. The discussion reveals how engineering shapes daily conveniences and offers insights into the future of home technology. Plus, find out how video resources are enhancing the educational experience!

Nov 30, 2024 • 45min
Episode 149: The Psychology of Personality
Dive into the fascinating world of personality psychology! Discover the evolution of the field through legends like Freud and Jung, and how their ideas shaped modern understanding. Learn about the Big Five personality traits and their implications for self-concept and behavior. Explore the allure and controversies surrounding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Lastly, find out how values and narrative identity shape who we are and drive our motivations in life!

Sep 30, 2024 • 1h 9min
Episode 148: Control of Gene Expression
An introduction to the processes by which cells control which genes are expressed. We begin with an overview of why genetic regulation is necessary and the key stages where such regulation occurs, including key concepts such as transcription factors and DNA binding domains. We then discuss prokaryotic gene regulation, focusing on the lac operon in E. coli. We then expand the discussion to cover the various mechanisms of eukaryotic gene regulation, including chromatic remodelling, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation, RNA editing, and micro RNAs. Recommended pre-listening is Episodes 34-35: DNA Structure and Function, and Episode 118: Cell Signalling.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything

Aug 31, 2024 • 1h 14min
Episode 147: Genetic Mutation and Repair
Here we survey of the causes and consequences of genetic mutation, including a discussion of mechanisms of endogenous and induced mutations, rates of mutation, types of single nucleotide mutations, and the phenotypic effects of mutation. We also discuss various mechanisms for detecting and repairing genetic mutations, including base excision repair, DNA mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair, double strand break repair. We conclude with an examination of large-scale chromosomal changes, including deletions, duplications, inversions, and translocations, unequal crossing over, with a brief look at polypoidy in plants and aneuploidy in humans. Recommended pre-listening is Episodes 34 and 35: DNA Structure and Function, and Episode 44: Cell Division.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything

Jul 29, 2024 • 1h 23min
Episode 146: Mendelian Genetics and Inheritance
An introduction to classical Mendelian genetics, in which we discuss Mendel's experiments with peas and the laws of heredity that he discovered, including inheritance of one allele from each parent, the law of dominance, and the law of independent segregation. We then consider more complex cases of genetic inheritance, including sex-linked traits, incomplete dominance, codominance, and epistasis. The episode concludes with a discussion of quantitative traits determined by many genes, including how genetic variation is described, how sources of variance are identified using genome wide association studies, and the conceptual issues with defining heredity and separating the effects of genes from those of environment.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything
Check out out youtube channel!
The Science of Everything Podcast - YouTube

Jun 30, 2024 • 1h 26min
Episode 145: Relativity and Black Holes
Continuing our series on General Relativity, we discuss the derivation of the Schwarzschild metric as a vacuum solution to Einstein's Field Equations, and analyse the physical meaning of this solution, including the properties of the singularity, event horizon, and effects of time dilation and length compression. We then consider how solutions like the Schwarzschild metric yield testable predictions such as gravitational lensing and graviational redshift, which serve as important evidence in support of General Relativity. We conclude with a discussion about some of the more exotic aspects of black holes, including Hawking radiation, the no hair theorem, and the black hole information loss paradox. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 136: Introduction to General Relativity.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything

94 snips
May 29, 2024 • 1h 19min
Episode 144: Anthropogenic Climate Change
Explore the undeniable human impact on climate change, backed by compelling scientific evidence. Discover how greenhouse gas emissions are driving up global temperatures and causing alarming sea level rise. Delve into the economics of renewable energy and the benefits of various mitigation strategies. Learn about the complex challenges of energy storage and the need for comprehensive solutions. Finally, understand the importance of global cooperation and individual actions to combat this pressing crisis.

Apr 28, 2024 • 1h 6min
Episode 143: Climate Modelling
An overview of climate models, beginning with a summary of the major types of models, and then a more detailed disussion of hte primitive equations and parameterised feedbacks that characterise the widely used Atmospheric General Circulation Models. We also discuss techniques for model validation and some evidence regarding the accuracy of various climate models. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 142: The Greenhouse Effect.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything
Check out out youtube channel!
The Science of Everything Podcast - YouTube

Mar 30, 2024 • 1h 23min
Episode 142: The Greenhouse Effect
A detailed discussion of the greenhouse effect and its impact on Earth's climate. We begin with a discussion of Earth’s energy budget, the various greenhouse gases and their interactions with longwave radiation, and a summary of major sources of greenhouse gas emisions. We then examine the mechanisms of the greenhouse effect in more detail using the idealised greenhouse model and radiative transfer models. We conclude with an analysis of the sensitivity of Earth's climate to changes in greenhouse gas concentrations, and how this interacts with the atmospheric lapse rate. Recommended prelistening is Episode 141: Natural Climate Change.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything

Feb 29, 2024 • 47min
Episode 141: Natural Climate Change
An overview of the natural mechanisms by which climate changes over time. Beginning with an introduction to the concepts of radiative forcing and climate sensitivity, we then discuss solar forcing, orbital changes, volcanic eruptions, and silicate weathering, covering how each process operates and the effects it has on Earth's climate over varying periods of time. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 140: A History of Earth's Climate.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything


