Whimsical Wavelengths - A Science Podcast

Under 0.45 Billion Tons: The Geochemical Truth About Volcanoes and Climate Change

It is a flat-out scientific fact: humans emit way more carbon dioxide than volcanoes. It’s not even close. But in this season two solo finale, I don't want you to just ta

Sequoias of the Deep: White Sturgeon, Polyploidy, and Dammed Rivers

Time to turn our focus to the mighty river systems of the Pacific Northwest to examine a mysterious titan of the deep—the white sturgeon! BTW there is only one episode le

The Endless Frontier: How Politics and Policy Shape Modern Science

The countdown to the end of season 2 continues. With only two new episodes left before our summer encore presentations, we are turning the lens back on ourselves to exami

Atomic Legos: How symmetry controls Lanthanide Chemistry

With only three new episodes left before a summer of algorithmic-refreshing encores, I dive headfirst into the frontier of material science. Thomas Karpiak, a PhD candid

Bottoms Up: Decoding Kilauea’s Deep Magma Supply

Kilauea is one of the world's most studied volcanoes, but its deep plumbing still holds mysteries. In this episode, we dive into a "bottoms-up" view of Hawaii’s magmatic

Of Cows and Cures: Reconstructing the Logic of Vaccination

We treat modern medicine as a given, but for centuries, humanity was blind to the invisible agents of disease. In this solo episode, Dr. Jeff Zurek takes off his volcanol

Inclusive Fieldwork: How Accessibility is Changing the Future of Geosciences

For decades, the "field" has been treated as a character-building barrier in geosciences—a place for the rugged and the able-bodied. But what happens when we view the out

Strepsiptera: A Real Xenomorph? Evolution and Life Cycle of Twisted-Winged Parasites

What if Alien wasn't science fiction, but a documentary? 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Zurek sits down with Dr. Rebecca Millena (University of Roche

Maars on Mars: Mapping Volcanic Water Interactions on the Red Planet

Detecting volcanic eruptions on Earth is detective work; doing it on the Red Planet is a feat of cosmic proportions. 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Z

The Chemical Language of Black Widows: Pheromones and Deception in Spider Silk

The Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) is a master of invisible chemistry. 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Zurek joins Dr. Andy Fisher (Greifs

The Artificial Geologist: Using Machine Learning & Neural Networks to Find Gold

The "motherlode" is just a model away. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) bridges between the classroom & the boardroom with colleague & data scientist Frederick

The Science Behind Lunar Permanently Shadowed Regions: Ice and Resources for Future Missions

What if the coldest, darkest craters on the Moon are quietly storing a record of solar system history and the resources that could power future exploration? In this epis

From Canada’s Largest Landslide to Modern Flood Hazards: Mt. Meager’s Volcano‑Driven Sediment Story

Mount Meager last erupted 2,400 years ago, but today the hazard is the mountain literally falling apart. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) moves downstream with

Mount Meager: Canada’s Most Dangerous Volcano? Cascadia, Landslides, and Hidden Risk

Summary Subduction zones don't carry passports, and the Cascade Volcanic Arc doesn't stop at the U.S.-Canada border. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) welcomes h

Wandering Stars: How We Found the Planets, Lost Pluto, and Learned How Science Really Works

Before we looking forward to a new year of discovery, we have to know the past to understand the present. In this solo episode, Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) takes a deviatio

Who Becomes a Scientist? Exploring STEM Pathways and Identity in Astronomy with Dr. Zachary Richards

Usually, we look outwards to the stars, but this week, we're turning the telescope around. The scientists themselves are under observation. Dr. Jeffrey Zurek (P.Geo) is j

Machine Learning Meets Geophysics: Image Segmentation and Inversion Tools with Johnathan Kuttai

How do we map the subsurface without digging? It is finally time we explore geophysical inversions—the math of working backward from surface data to Earth's hidden struct

A New Species of Pterosaur Unearthed in Australia with Adele Pentland

How did the first vertebrates take to the skies? In this episode, we venture into the Mesozoic to explore the world of pterosaurs—the remarkable flying reptiles that rule

The Science of Plastic: Environmental Trade-Offs and Sustainability with an Industrial Scientist

Is plastic truly the environmental demon it’s painted to be? In this episode of Whimsical Wavelengths, we step away from the traditional paper-based deep dive to look at

Modeling Supermassive Black Holes and Accretion Disks with Dr James Chan – New Research Insights

What happens at the gravitational center of a galaxy? In this episode of Whimsical Wavelengths, we spiral into the dark heart of the universe with Dr. James Chan, a postd