Seeker Plus
59 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 207 ratingsSeeker+ is your home for deep dives, fun facts, rabbit holes, and more. Join host Julian Huguet as he unapologetically nerds out on the oddball history, astounding science and intriguing future around topics that will make you the smartest person at your next trivia night.
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Episodes
Why Venus Is Earth’s Evil Twin
March 11, 2022 08:00 - 30 minutesThere’s no disputing that Venus is a mysterious hellscape with scorching temperatures, crushing pressures, and a poisonous atmosphere, but it wasn’t always like that. Some theories even suggest Venus was once habitable. So to finally get answers, NASA is developing two missions to explore Earth’s evil twin. In this series, we’re going to see why Venus didn’t end up like Earth, why sci-fi once imagined the planet was a paradise, and explain a controversial study suggesting life could exist in ...
The "God Particle" Explained
February 18, 2022 08:00 - 31 minutesThe "God Particle” is a sexy name, but many physicists absolutely hate it. It’s also led people to think that maybe the discovery of the Higgs boson has something to do with the search for God, but it doesn’t. In this series, we’re going to talk about how scientists even knew to look for the Higgs Boson, how they found it, and what it means for the future of particle physics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why You Think You Might Have ADHD
February 04, 2022 08:00 - 29 minutesIf you’re online, you may notice that conversations around ADHD are everywhere. You may even be starting to wonder, as you flick from one app to the next, that you yourself may have ADHD. But what exactly is ADHD and how is it diagnosed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Supersonic Flights: Soviet Spies, Sonic Booms, and Aerodynamics
January 21, 2022 08:00 - 25 minutesSince the first supersonic flights in the 1940's, we’ve made advances in engines and materials and computers, even having a paying public going supersonic for a few decades too. However, today commercial airplanes are no faster than they were in the 1960s. So when will the public go supersonic again? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Archaeology and The Future of Finding Lost Civilizations
January 03, 2022 08:00 - 24 minutesUltimately the goal of archaeology is to find out about historic humans and their lives, but we also need to consider whether we should be digging up ancient people and the objects that once supported their livelihoods in the first place. And what will the future of the field look like with recent technology break-throughs? All this and more in this episode of Seeker+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How the Metaverse Will Be Built
December 20, 2021 08:00 - 24 minutesConstructing a true metaverse is not an easy undertaking. Find out just what it’s going to take to get the technology up and running for a seamless and immersive experience in this episode of Seeker+. Oh, and we'll get into whether or not the metaverse is going to be a good thing or cause more problems than it's worth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How To Learn Better, According to Science
December 06, 2021 08:00 - 23 minutesIn this episode of Seeker+, we dig into the neuroscience of how we learn and comb through studies about what can really make us more productive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Past, Present, and Future of the International Space Station
November 22, 2021 19:56 - 32 minutesIt’s the single most complex construction project in the history of humanity. Find out how the International Space Station was built, what scientific breakthroughs are being made onboard today, and what the plan is for future stations in space! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Inside the OR: Prehistoric Surgery, Separating Twins, and Autonomous Robots
November 10, 2021 08:00 - 27 minutesEven though surgeries are super common these days, it’s still pretty incredible that surgeons can cut people open, root around and people leave feeling better. We’ve learned how to remove tumors, fix brains, stitch wounds, and even swap out body parts. Learn about some of medicine's craziest and most impressive surgeries and find out what the future of surgery will look like with autonomous robots, predictive modeling, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...
Can Science Prove Whether Ghosts Are Real or Not?
November 08, 2021 08:00 - 32 minutesLet’s talk about ghosts… and not just because we’re bringing Seeker+ back from the dead. So are ghosts real? I mean a lot of people claim to have seen them, but there’s a lot of proof that these scary appearances are more likely to be tricks being played by the brain. In this episode, we'll also get into what science actually says about the soul and whether believing in ghosts might be good for you after all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Who Decided We Needed Vitamins?
December 27, 2018 11:00 - 29 minutesTake your vitamins! A phrase from our parents mouths to our ears since time immemorial. Turns out it’s been a pretty effective message because nearly half of American adults take a vitamin or mineral supplement. But why? Who decided vitamins were important? What kind of vitamins do you actually need to survive? And are they all they’re cracked up to be? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stereotypes: The Good, the Bad, and the Truthful
December 20, 2018 11:00 - 37 minutesDon’t judge today’s episode by its cover. Why? Because we’re talking the science of stereotypes! Where do stereotypes come from? Why do they exist? And why are they so hard for humans to let go of? We’ve got all that and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Violent History and Cyber Future of War
December 13, 2018 11:00 - 43 minutesThis week we’re charging into the science of WAR! Are humans really prone to violence? When did war first begin on our planet? How have strategies and tactics changed since then? We’ll answer all that and more, in this episode about war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Where Do Dreams Come From?
December 06, 2018 11:00 - 35 minutesThis week we’re getting dreamy! That’s right, we’re talkin’ the science of dreams, from what dreams really are, to why we have them, to if there’s a way to control them, we’ve got all the sleepy science you’ve been dreaming of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
WTF Are Algorithms Anyway?
November 29, 2018 11:00 - 32 minutesIn this episode we’re talking about the science of algorithms. Where they came from, what they really are, whether they’re good or EVIL, and much, much more. Links: ‘Breakthrough’ algorithm exponentially faster than any previous one https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180628131104.htm How an ex-YouTube insider investigated its secret algorithm https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/02/youtube-algorithm-election-clinton-trump-guillaume-chaslot Back to Basics: Algorithms http...
Why Do We Drink Alcohol?
November 22, 2018 11:00 - 43 minutesThe origin of human alcohol consumption is a widely debated topic among many scientists and it is an interesting topic at that. What we really want to know though is, are there actual health benefits from drinking alcohol today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Your Body On (And Off) Food
November 15, 2018 11:00 - 29 minutesYou eat food every single day. But what exactly is happening inside your body to give you those essential nutrients? In this episode of Seeker plus, we’ll break down how your body processes food, what happens when you don’t eat, and whether it’s possible to ditch food all together and rely on something else for nutrients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How The Internet Changed The World Forever
November 08, 2018 11:00 - 42 minutesTwitter, Facebook and other social media sites have helped spark some of the world's most fascinating revolutions and it doesn't stop there! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why We Don’t Have Real Holograms Yet
November 01, 2018 10:00 - 26 minutesThis week on Seeker Plus, we’re talking holograms! From who invented them and how, to why we don’t have holodecks, we’re answering all your holographic questions. Read More: The Holographic Principle https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sidebar-the-holographic-p/ How Can You Store a Beam of Light? https://www.explainthatstuff.com/holograms.html The History of Holography https://www.ihma.org/history.aspx ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Foll...
Why Fear Is Our Most Valuable Trait
October 25, 2018 10:00 - 43 minutesWhen a fear begins to affect your every day livelihood is when one should seek medical help. Luckily Dr. Ali Mattu is here to show us how. ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science covera...
The Life And Death Of Stars
October 18, 2018 10:00 - 33 minutesStars come from a very precise situation in the universe. What exactly happens to create them? And what happens when they die? ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science coverage https://w...
Mosquitoes Suck!
October 11, 2018 10:00 - 45 minutesThere are vast numbers of viruses and diseases that mosquitoes spread, but what do they spread and what do those viruses do to us exactly? ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science covera...
WTF Is Gravity? Scientists Don’t Really Know Either
October 04, 2018 10:00 - 33 minutesGravity is a simple concept, but the “why” and the “how” are magnificently complicated. In today’s episode, we’re digging into all things gravity, from how we discovered it, to what would happen without it, and so, so much more. Read More: Isaac Newton: The Man Who Discovered Gravity https://www.bbc.com/timelines/zwwgcdm Gravity mysteries: Why is gravity so weak? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227122-900-gravity-mysteries-why-is-gravity-so-weak High-Tech Suits Help Pilots Avoid Grav...
Gold! What Is It Good For?
September 27, 2018 10:00 - 27 minutesGold has more uses than just strictly currency. It's characteristics make it ideal for the medical field, space travel and so much more! ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science coverage...
Can We Actually Travel Through Time?
September 20, 2018 10:00 - 49 minutesWith a deep understanding of time and relativity, traveling through time might actually be possible, according to Albert Einstein. ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguezFollow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seekerAnd, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science coveragehttps://...
What's This Puberty Thing All About?
September 13, 2018 10:00 - 27 minutesWe all think that puberty begins in our pre-teens and ends in our early adulthood but, the truth is, puberty lasts throughout our lifetime. ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguezFollow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seekerAnd, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science coverag...
Microgravity Makes the ISS a Perfect Lab, Here’s Everything We’re Learning
September 06, 2018 11:00 - 34 minutesToday, we’re breaking down all things ISS. Join us in talking to Dr. Mike Roberts from CASIS as we learn about the experiments, animals, and artificial intelligence of the Space Station! ____________________ Sources: ISS: U.S. National Laboratory https://www.iss-casis.org/ What Is Microgravity? https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-microgravity-58.html Space Station Research Experiments https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments_cat...
Hearing Colors: What It's Like To Have Synesthesia
August 30, 2018 10:00 - 19 minutesHost Trace Dominguez interviews musician Kaitlyn Hova, a synesthete who can see specific colors when she hears musical notes. ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science coverage https://ww...
The Periodic Table Of Elements: An Origin Story
August 16, 2018 10:00 - 21 minutesFrom a troubled home life to a lifetime of notoriety and fame in the science world, Dimitri Mendeleev came a long way in his crazy life and gave the world an amazing tool. ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeke...
Let’s Talk About Sex Baby, Let’s Talk About Brain Regions… And Also Robots
August 09, 2018 11:00 - 32 minutesToday we're breaking down all things sex. From how it's working in the brain, to what it does to your body, to robots and VR sex- It's gonna be a wild one. (Parents, you've been warned.) Check out Bad Science at cms.megaphone.fm/channel/bad-science ____________________ The Future of Sex: How Intimacy is Transforminghttps://futurism.com/the-future-of-sex-how-intimacy-is-transforming/ The Brain: Where Does Sex Live in the Brain? From Top to Bottom. http://discovermagazine.com/2009/oct/10-where...
How The Universe And Everything In It Formed
August 02, 2018 10:00 - 36 minutesIt took a long time to get to where we are today and several theories exist as to how we got here in the first place. But which are true? ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science coverag...
Sharks Are Awesome!
July 26, 2018 10:00 - 49 minutesSo humans kill over 100 million sharks per year. But why? These creatures are awesome and should be admired for their incredible longevity! ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science cover...
The Emergence And Reemergence Of Dinosaurs
July 19, 2018 10:00 - 40 minutesSoft tissues, including DNA, of fossils can be preserved but not enough DNA has survived after 65 million years to clone a dinosaur. ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science coverage htt...
Star Trek Science: Fusion is Happening NOW! Here’s How it Works IRL
July 12, 2018 10:00 - 43 minutesThe Science of Star Trek is complicated - so we teamed up with our sister pod BAD SCIENCE and brought in a experimental physicist to break it all down! Check out Bad Science at cms.megaphone.fm/channel/bad-science ____________________ Is Warp Drive Real? https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/technology/warp/warp.html How Lasers Work https://lasers.llnl.gov/education/how_lasers_work Why Star Trek Phasers Don’t Exist Yet https://gizmodo.com/5978482/why-star-trek-phasers-dont-exist-yet ____________...
The Compromise Of Renewable Energy
July 05, 2018 10:00 - 44 minutesIn 2014 USA's 99 nuclear reactors produced 798 billion kWh which accounts for over 19% of our total electrical output. So why the bad rap? ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitter: http://twitter.com/seeker And, subscribe on YouTube too: http://youtube.com/seeker Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure. Visit the Seeker website for more science covera...
Using Asteroids To Further Humanity
June 28, 2018 10:00 - 35 minutesIn 2013 NASA introduced an asteroid-capture mission called ARM (Asteroid Redirect Mission) which would bring an asteroid to moon's orbit. ____________________ Sources: The Evolution Of NASA’s Ambitious Asteroid-Capture Mission: https://www.space.com/28963-nasa-asteroid-capture-mission-history.html “NASA's ambitious asteroid-capture mission has changed a lot since the agency officially announced its existence less than two years ago. The original plan, which was revealed in April 2013, called ...
Genetics 101
June 21, 2018 10:00 - 35 minutes"Gene" is a general word for a piece of DNA that creates proteins, but what exactly are genes? Why do they matter? ____________________ Sources: DNA can't explain all inherited biological traits, research shows https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150402161751.htm "Characteristics passed between generations are not decided solely by DNA, but can be brought about by other material in cells, new research shows. Scientists studied proteins found in cells, known as histones, which are no...
In the 1930s Nuclear Energy Fueled the Future… Where is it Now?
June 14, 2018 10:00 - 48 minutesThis sucker is nuclear, baby! Nuclear energy has been toted by some as the solution to our energy crisis, while others warn of its immense danger. But how did we even discover it? Why aren't we using it more? And what's the real deal with radiation, really? In this episode with Trace Dominguez, and special guest Dianna Cowern (Physics Girl), we explore all things nuclear. ____________________ Sources: Introduction: The Nuclear Age https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9956-introduction-the-...
The Birth And Death Of Earth's Oceans
June 07, 2018 17:47 - 34 minutesOcean acidification, over-fishing, warming climate and other environmental triggers may spell the next "Great Dying," but are we there yet? ____________________ Sources: Early Accretion Of Water In The Inner Solar System From A Carbonaceous Chondrite-like Source: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/346/6209/623 “Determining the origin of water and the timing of its accretion within the inner solar system is important for understanding the dynamics of planet formation." Dehydration Melting A...
What's Up With Sleep
May 31, 2018 10:00 - 31 minutesWe spend 36 percent of our entire life asleep, but what exactly is happening to your body and brain while snoozing? ____________________ Sources: Do All Creatures Sleep? https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/all-creatures-sleep.htm Do Microbes Sleep? https://www.popsci.com/blog-network/our-modern-plagues/do-microbes-sleep Sleep vs Coma vs Anesthesia https://www.tuck.com/anesthesia/ ____________________ Follow Trace on twitter: http://twitter.com/tracedominguez Follow Seeker on twitt...
What's Up With The Calendar?
May 24, 2018 10:00 - 34 minutesWe've all learned it takes 24 hours for the Earth to rotate once on its axis but that isn't the whole story at all. There's much more to it. ____________________ Sources: Why Are There 24 Hours In A Day?: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/11/15/3364432.htm “While each country has (in broad terms) historically had distinct measurements for distance, weights etc the method of splitting the day into 24 hours, one hour into 60 mins and one minute into 60 seconds seems to be the only one...
This is Your Brain on Noise... Any Questions?
May 17, 2018 10:00 - 46 minutesNoise and sound are not the same thing… Noise is more than just an annoyance, it's messing with our heads, literally. Too much noise can actually affect how we evolve, but just the write amount of noise makes us more productive! In this episode with Trace Dominguez, and special guest Mike Rugnetta (Reasonably Sound, CrashCourse) explores how exactly noise impacts our lives. ____________________ Sources: How Sound Shaped The Evolution Of Your Brain https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/20...
The Plan To Evacuate Earth
May 10, 2018 10:00 - 43 minutesEarth has shaped the way humans look and behave. How will future generations in space evolve under radiation and little gravity? Sources: How Many People Can Earth Support?: https://www.livescience.com/16493-people-planet-earth-support.html "The power of population is so superior to the power of the Earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race." AFTER EARTH: WHY, WHERE, HOW, AND WHEN WE MIGHT LEAVE OUR HOME PLANET: https://www.pop...
BAD SCIENCE: Star Wars: Episode V
May 01, 2018 10:00 - 46 minutesWe're excited to share the first episode of our new podcast BAD SCIENCE. If you'd like to subscribe, be sure to find the show on Apple Podcasts or find us wherever you discovery and listen to podcasts. Calling all padawans! For Bad Science: Episode I, Ethan sits down with Reggie Watts for an epic conversation with Emily Manor-Chapman, a NASA Systems Engineer, to break down the science of STAR WARS: EPISODE V - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. We learn about gas giants like Bespin, the body warmth of...
New Show: Bad Science
April 28, 2018 00:26 - 1 minuteComing May 1st, a new weekly show by Seeker that puts popular films under the microscope, breaking down the science with the help of a comedian and a scientist. Be sure to subscribe and join us next week as we launch our first episode with Reggie Watts, dissecting Star Wars with a Nasa Systems Engineer. Find it on iTunes or listen here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Is Blood So Important?
April 26, 2018 11:00 - 40 minutesBlood is the red liquid that flows through your body and each of us have about 9-12 pints in us. Today we're taking a deep dive into the science of blood: what it's made of, what it does, and why it's so bloody important. ____________________ Sources: Blood Facts And Statistics https://www.redcrossblood.org/content/redcrossblood/en/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help/blood-needs-blood-supply.html Researchers closer to being able to change blood types https://www.sciencedaily....
A Battery Is a Dynamic and Crazy Place, And We Ain’t Li-Ion
April 19, 2018 11:00 - 47 minutesToday we're diving into everything you’re ever going to need to know about the tiny bricks that power all the devices on (and in) your person. We'll talk about some of the best batteries in the world, the oldest batteries ever found, what batteries actually are (they’re not what you think), and we even have a special guest to talk about the atomic movement of batteries! We're digging deep into the physics and chemistry, design and possible future of these ubiquitous pieces of modern technolo...
Is Mars Our Only Hope?
April 12, 2018 20:00 - 25 minutesThe red planet has captured our imaginations since it was first spotted in the sky, but is it really the only hope for human survival? Make sure you gear up, because today, we're diving into everything Mars! ____________________ Sources: Mars Could Have Supported Life, NASA Says https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/science/space/mars-could-have-supported-life-nasa-says.html?_r=0 Why Thousands Of People Are Willing To Die On Mars https://www.popsci.com/article/science/why-thousands-people-are-...
Can Science Help Us Understand Humor?
April 05, 2018 11:00 - 48 minutesToday, we find our funny bone. Not literally. Instead, we're going to breakdown the science of humor. We'll cover what happens in our brains when we find something funny, how a sense of humor evolved, what makes something not funny at all, and even if we can teach robots and A.I. to be funny! ____________________ Sources: The Biology Of Humor: In Search Of The Cerebral Funny Bone http://discovermagazine.com/2002/may/featbiology Is there a scientific formula for funny? https://science.howstuf...
Space: We're Bad At It, Yet We Keep Trying
March 29, 2018 11:00 - 41 minutesToday, we’re going to break down the science of humans going to space. We'll cover how we get to space, how astronauts train for it, the dangers of space shuttles, and, of course, the future of space travel! ____________________ Sources: A Brief History of Space Exploration http://www.aerospace.org/education/stem-outreach/space-primer/a-brief-history-of-space-exploration/ NASA: Astronaut Selection and Training https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/606877main_FS-2011-11-057-JSC-astro_trng....