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Let the Whale Fall – headless sea slugs, pollen season, clever cuttlefish
This week, Tegan found the truth about a song from 2012. We also discuss lots of plant and non-plant science from the last week or so. Did you know that cuttlefish are as smart as a toddler?
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I am kind of a time traveller – with Aly Baumgartner
We’re super happy to have a special guest with us this week. Aly Baumgartner is a paleontologist with a specialty in paleobotany. With her, we talk about how to find plant fossils, how to analyse them and so much more about the fascinating world of plant based paleontology.
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MC Hammer is right about science – Nasturtium, Helia Bravo Hollis, icebergs
On a week that exhausted us both we slowly descend into madness and conspiracy theories. This episode could be the last that you hear from us – but it won’t be. We talk about a cool genus of plants, Mexican botanist Helia Bravo Hollis and the right way to draw icebergs.
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Positive Adjectives! – Tomato transpiration, wild cotton, super-plants?
Welcome to another week of doomsday escapism. We bring you a cool story about transpiring tomatoes, wonder about wild cotton and are suspicious about road-side super-plants. And we ask: What is your favourite idiom that translates poorly into English?
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Joram and the curse of knowledge – gum arabic, homework, artistic AI
It snowed! Well, not that you can see any of that, but we’re excited nonetheless. We’re also excited about this week’s topics: we’re talking about fabulous Acacias in Central Africa, the road towards more accessible science and a lot of homework that other people did for us.
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Bomblebees – TNT, Blue, Science Bots
This episode is TNT (it’s dynamite) and it’s blue (da ba dee)! We got an email from a spinach that brought us to learn more about the material sciences of plants and we talk about lots of blue facts! Also: science bots!
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Plants, Pipettes, Periods & Parrots – Noble Rhubarb, Female Adventurers, Cyborg Fly Traps
This week, we’re talking about noble rhubarb and an amazing story of a female adventurer, botanist and tavern owner, Jeanne Baret. Plus speculations about the moon, a lot of great inventions and a parrot who likes crisps.
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Hissing Blue Tits – Roots in compacted soil, crested rats, gribble
Watch out! It’s a snake! Or is it? In this week’s episode, we’re diving deep underground in the search for the reason behind stunted root growth and we talk about animals that pretend to be dangerous – and some that actually are.
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The ducks are anxious – the order of Cycads, Matilda Gage, Red Hot Chili Solar Panels
In this episode, Joram presents not only a plant but an entire order of plants, mostly because he has no idea how plant nomenclature works. Tegan presents the life and work of two important women, Matilda Gage and Margaret Rossiter. Aren’t we two little overachievers?
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Don’t call it Moth-Paté – seagrass biofilms, fatty moths, fatty plants
We’re back! After an extended winter break we return with a cool new paper and lots and lots of science fun facts somewhat related to plants!
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Tapeworms have the life we all want – A christmas episode
Deck the halls and snatch the gravy, it’s a Christmas episode of your favourite plant podcast that is hosted by Tegan and Joram! In this year’s final episode, we’re bringing you one last time in 2020 all the facts and bits of information you never knew you needed. Moth Cyborgs? Check. Zombees? Check. Way too much talking about Christmas music? CHECK. Please enjoy this episode, and have a wonderful winter break. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy, everyone!
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Saving seeds in times of war – Genebanks and Machine Learning
This week, we have a story about seed conservation in times of war and we discuss multiple aspects of machine learning in molecular biology. Plus cool plant facts and as always: cutting edge cat research.
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Atomic Kitten – Spanish Moss, Thekla Resvoll, Mentorship and Gender
After a week off, we’re back with some cool facts from the world of plants and gulls. Did you know that gulls know your every move? There are probably some on the roof as we speak. They see you when you’re sleeping, they know when you’re awake. You better not pout, you better not cry. Sea gulls are coming to town.
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Let it grow – Sorghum spikelets, great paper titles, honest signalling
It’s good news week! Not only was Trump kicked out of office, we also have major news regarding the Covid and AIDS pandemic. Of course we won’t forget our passion for plants over all that joy, so tag along for a deep dive into the biology of sorghum – plus some cool facts from last week’s science.
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The one where Joram did his homework – rediscovering extinct plants, Luciana Leite and Luisa M. Diele-Viegas, Platypodes under UV light
Joram came so well prepared, it made Tegan angry. The two work through their disagreements though in another episode filled to the brim with tales from the (plant) science world.
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