Best Super Garbage Day Podcasts (2025)

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Super Garbage Day - Episode 92: Plumbers Don't Wear Ties (3DO) 47:14

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13d ago47:14

47:14

This week, we dive head-over-heels into an interactive romantic comedy from 1993 on the 3DO console. Now I know, everything in that description sounds TERRIBLE, but is this game that bad? (yes) Super Garbage Day Discord Super Garbage Day Patreon B-Ross's Twitch Stream Vanfernal's Retro Stream Show Super Garbage Day YouTube Support the show Show Lin…

1
Decoding Fireflies’ Smelly Signals And Blinking Butts 17:48

5h ago17:48

17:48

Fireflies’ magical blinking lights are tiny beacons in the warm dark night. Who can resist catching one? Not scientists. Because their light comes from bodily chemicals, fireflies’ power of illumination has long been used as a tool in medical research. And that has driven scientists to investigate the inner workings of the blinking beetle itself. R…

51
The Uncertain Science Behind What We Understand As ‘Truth’ 18:30

1d ago18:30

18:30

Throughout history, humans have been on a search for truth. From the ancient Greeks and their belief in a universal truth, to our Founding Fathers writing, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” In a world of disinformation, conspiracy theories, and the rising influence of artificial intelligence, where does trut…

51
How Agatha Christie Used Chemistry To Kill (In Books) 17:33

2d ago17:33

17:33

Did you know that murder mystery writer Agatha Christie had a background in chemistry? In about half of her stories, the murder is committed using poison—something she was very, very familiar with. She had even trained in apothecaries to mix prescriptions by hand before she became a novelist. Chemist-turned-author Kathryn Harkup wrote about them in…

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What Do mRNA Funding Cuts Mean For Future US Research? 19:37

5d ago19:37

19:37

On August 5, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Department of Health and Human Services would terminate almost $500 million in mRNA vaccine development grants and contracts, affecting 22 projects. Biologist and mRNA researcher Jeff Coller joins Host Ira Flatow to talk about what this move means for future mRNA research in the…

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Breast Milk Is Understudied. What Are Scientists Learning Now? 18:47

6d ago18:47

18:47

If you’ve found yourself scrolling through the breastfeeding world online, you know that people have a lot of strong opinions about breast milk. But what exactly do we know about the biology of it? Does breast milk really adapt to a baby’s needs? Does it confer immunity? How does making breast milk impact the breastfeeder? Joining Host Flora Lichtm…

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When Headaches Are Ruining Your Life, Where Can You Turn? 18:50

7d ago18:50

18:50

Science journalist Tom Zeller Jr. has suffered from debilitating cluster headaches for three decades. Like other cluster headache sufferers, his episodes would leave him unable to function, and the fear of the next one happening was constant. In a quest to better understand his own condition, Zeller learned that headaches remain a great neurologica…

51
Remembering Apollo 13 Astronaut James Lovell 28:58

8d ago28:58

28:58

Last week, astronaut James Lovell died at the age of 97. In April of 1970, he was the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which launched with three astronauts en route to the moon. While in space, however, the craft encountered a serious problem: an explosion in one of its fuel tanks that severely damaged the craft and disabled its electrical syste…

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‘Underground Atlas’ Shows How Vulnerable Fungal Networks Are 18:34

9d ago18:34

18:34

Fungal networks in the soil are arguably the basis of much of life on Earth, but they’re understudied and underappreciated in the conservation world. Scientists at the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) are trying to fix that. They just unveiled a global map of mycorrhizal fungal networks, which highlights how widespread they…

51
Lithium May Have A Role In Causing—And Treating—Alzheimer’s 26:30

12d ago26:30

26:30

The mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease have eluded scientists for decades. But a new breakthrough points to lithium as a possible explanation—not only does it occur naturally in the brain, but a deficiency causes dementia in mice. This research is one of thousands of projects that have lost funding due to President Trump’s cuts to the National I…

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Are Cold Plunges Actually Good For You? 18:11

13d ago18:11

18:11

If social media and certain influential podcast hosts are to be believed, cold plunges can do everything from boosting your immune system to reducing inflammation to acting as an antidote for depression. But what does the science say? Joining Host Flora Lichtman to throw at least a few drops of cold water on this science of plunging is biologist Fr…

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A Nagasaki Survivor And Physician Recounts His Life's Work 18:58

14d ago18:58

18:58

Dr. Masao Tomonaga was only 2 years old when the United States bombed his home city of Nagasaki. He survived, and grew up to become a physician for other survivors, known as hibakusha. He also studied hematology, and his research on leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes was foundational for understanding how radiation affects the body. On the 80th…

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65 Genomes Expand Our Picture Of Human Genetics 18:22

15d ago18:22

18:22

The first complete draft of the human genome was published back in 2003. Since then, researchers have worked both to improve the accuracy of human genetic data, and to expand its diversity, looking at the genetics of people from many different backgrounds. Three genetics experts join Host Ira Flatow to talk about a recent close examination of the g…

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How The Moon Transformed Life On Earth 14:29

17d ago14:29

14:29

For almost their entire 4.5 billion-year existence, Earth and its moon have been galactic neighbors. And the moon isn’t just Earth’s tiny sidekick—their relationship is more like that of siblings, and they’re even cut from similar cosmic cloth. Without the moon, Earth and its inhabitants wouldn’t be what they are today: The climate would be more ex…

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#037 - "The Reckless Raven" - Yukon 50 Mile Ultra & Relay 42:27

19d ago42:27

42:27

Affectionately known by it's original name " The Reckless Raven", and quickly rebranded as "The Yukon 50 Mile Ultra & Relay, this race has just celebrated it's 9th year of blisters and bliss through the mountains, streams, trails, and backcountry through 80 kilometres of pristine Yukon wilderness. This event was created over several conversations b…

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EPA Seeks To Revoke Scientific Basis For Greenhouse Gas Rules 24:51

20d ago24:51

24:51

This week the Trump administration indicated that it would seek to roll back a key EPA finding that allows the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from things like cars and power plants. The 16-year-old rule, known as the “endangerment finding,” states that six greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health. Sophie Bushwick, news editor at …

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You Can Whistle While You Work—But How Does A Whistle Work? 17:41

21d ago17:41

17:41

Whistling is a skill used to communicate over distances—a whistle can mean anything from “you’re cute” to “time to come home for dinner.” There’s a complex series of mechanisms in the mouth that need to come together to make a whistle. Hosts Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman discuss all things whistling with professional musician and whistler Wanda Civ…

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A Reptile’s Baffling Backfin And The Math Of Dashing Dinos 18:44

21d ago18:44

18:44

Paleontologists have identified an ancient reptile with a towering crest made not of skin, or scales, or feathers, or antler—but something else entirely. It’s some kind of integumentary outerwear we’ve never seen before. The small creature sporting the curious crest was named Mirasaura grauvogeli, and it lived during the Middle Triassic period, abo…

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NASA Employees Protest Cuts In Formal Dissent Letter 13:02

22d ago13:02

13:02

The Trump administration has proposed cutting NASA’s budget by almost 25% and shutting down 19 currently operating science missions. On July 21, several hundred current and former employees of the space agency released an official letter of dissent, titled “The Voyager Declaration,” arguing against “rapid and wasteful changes which have undermined …

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Where Are We On The Science Of Menopause? 18:41

24d ago18:41

18:41

Menopause is having a moment. Celebrities like Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, and Michelle Obama have recently shared their personal menopause experiences. Menopause and perimenopause are showing up across social media and even in popular books. All this to say, menopause has finally gone mainstream. But, it wasn’t until about three decades ago that men…

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EPA To Shut Down Scientific Research Arm 12:41

26d ago12:41

12:41

The EPA recently announced that it’s going to shut down its scientific research arm, called the Office of Research and Development. Since the agency was founded nearly 55 years ago, it’s had in-house scientists researching things like pollutants in our air and water, and the risks posed by toxic chemicals. That research informs the EPA’s guidelines…

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Parker Solar Probe Captures Closest-Ever Images Of The Sun 18:01

27d ago18:01

18:01

In December, the Parker Solar Probe made history when it made the closest-ever approach to the sun by a spacecraft. As it whizzed by, a camera recorded incredibly detailed images, which show the sun’s surface, the flow of solar winds, and eruptions of magnetized balls of gas. Seeing this activity in such detail could help scientists understand sola…

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Climate Change Is Upending The Home Insurance Market 18:30

28d ago18:30

18:30

You can’t get a mortgage without home insurance. But in some parts of the country, it’s becoming harder and harder to find a plan, as insurance companies drop homeowners and pull out of entire states, as flooding, wildfires, and storms become more frequent and intense. Host Flora Lichtman talks to reporters Jessica Meszaros and Rachel Cohen, who ha…

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Super Garbage Day - Episode 91: Urban Yeti (GBA) 56:46

28d ago56:46

56:46

Yeti live among us and pay taxes! Come venture into the big city, making terrible wages, punching fools in the face, and hoping to kill enough chickens to mate with the "Sabrina Carpenter" of sasquatches. Yes that is literally the plot. Super Garbage Day Discord Super Garbage Day Patreon B-Ross's Twitch Stream Vanfernal's Retro Stream Show Super Ga…

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What The Sigma Is Algospeak? 18:32

29d ago18:32

18:32

Gen Alpha slang can seem unintelligible to adults, but linguist and TikToker Adam Aleksic argues language development in the internet age is worth legitimate study. Adam talks to Host Flora Lichtman about how algorithms and social media are changing the way we speak, and discusses his new book, Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future…

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How Millions Of Flies Can Help Stop The New World Screwworm 12:41

30d ago12:41

12:41

The New World screwworm has cattle ranchers, entomologists, and the federal government on edge. The pest was successfully eradicated from the US decades ago, but has recently been moving north from South America into Central America and Mexico, with concerns that it may cross the border into Texas. It’s notorious for laying eggs in the wounds of an…

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Why Is The Scopes Trial Still Relevant 100 Years Later? 18:22

1M ago18:22

18:22

In July 1925, the Scopes “Monkey” Trial captivated the nation. On its face, the case was relatively straightforward: A Tennessee biology teacher named John Scopes was accused of teaching human evolution to his students. At the time, that was against state law. Both sides enlisted the help of big name lawyers to represent them, and the case turned i…

1
Why Don’t We Have A Vaccine For Lyme Disease? 18:36

1M ago18:36

18:36

It’s shaping up to be one of the worst tick years yet, and concerns about Lyme disease—which is transmitted through the bites of some species—are high. Aside from a short-lived vaccine released in the late 1990s, people have not had the opportunity to get vaccinated against Lyme disease. But if our dogs can get vaccinated, why can’t we? Host Flora …

1
Is This PTSD Treatment Too Good To Be True? 12:41

1M ago12:41

12:41

About 7% of veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and that number can be closer to 30% for those who have served in a war zone. But PTSD has been treated pretty much the same way since the disorder was first recognized roughly four decades ago: Patients are instructed to revisit their trauma until the memory no longer creates a…

1
Is It Time For A New Model Of The Universe? 28:31

1M ago28:31

28:31

For decades, astronomers have been trying to nail down the value of the Hubble constant—a measure of how fast the universe is expanding. But some cosmologists say there’s evidence that the universe is expanding faster than physics can explain, and our current models of it might be broken. Hosts Flora Lichtman and Ira Flatow talk with Wendy Freedman…

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How PFAS From A Military Base Has Sickened Nearby Residents 12:44

1M ago12:44

12:44

For decades, residents of the small city of Newburgh, New York, were unknowingly drinking water contaminated with toxic PFAS—also known as forever chemicals. The source turned out to be firefighting foam used on a nearby air base that had seeped into streams and creeks, and ultimately the city’s main drinking water reservoir. Now, Newburgh is one o…

1
The Leap: And Then The Sub Went Silent 28:09

1M ago28:09

28:09

Oceanographer Victoria Orphan’s dream was coming true. She was sitting in the Alvin submersible, on one of its deepest science dives ever. But the trip was anything but smooth sailing. Victoria takes us inside the sub, where her dream turns nightmarish as things start to go wrong, and Alvin pilot Nick O’Sadcia works frantically to troubleshoot. Oce…

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How These Spiders At The Bottom Of The Sea Run On Methane 7:57

1M ago7:57

7:57

Researchers found a new sea spider with a giant nose, leg cannons, and—most remarkably—a novel way of surviving in the lightless, freezing environment miles below the sea surface. These oceanic arthropods are powered by methane that seeps out of the ocean floor. Biologist Shana Goffredi joins Host Flora Lichtman to tell us more about the discovery …

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Super Garbage Day - Episode 90: Summer Carnival '92 Recca (Famicom) 1:04:00

1M ago1:04:00

1:04:00

What were you doing in the summer of ’92? Probably either not born yet or playing the most frustrating shoot-’em-up to ever win a game development competition. But let’s be honest… probably not. Super Garbage Day Discord Super Garbage Day Patreon B-Ross's Twitch Stream Vanfernal's Retro Stream Show Super Garbage Day YouTube Support the show Show Li…

1
As Disasters Escalate, What’s The Future Of FEMA? 19:19

1M ago19:19

19:19

President Trump has said that he wants to phase out FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and move responsibility for dealing with major disasters to the state level. Since its creation in 1979, the agency has played a key role in coordinating emergency response nationally. Host Ira Flatow talks with Samantha Montano, an emergency manageme…

1
Spaghetti Science And Mouth Taping Myths 18:23

1M ago18:23

18:23

Most pasta is made from just two ingredients—flour and water. For decades this humble food has prompted physicists around the world to try to understand its mysterious properties and answer questions like: Why does a stick of spaghetti break into three pieces and not cleanly into two? And why is cacio e pepe so hard to perfect? The answers reveal m…

1
The Goo In Your Home Could Help Science Address Climate Change 17:58

1M ago17:58

17:58

We live in a world filled with microbes—they’re inside our bodies, in soil, in deep sea hydrothermal vents, and in your window AC unit. Some microbiologists are hopeful that finding more of these tiny organisms could help us address the climate crisis. Joining Host Flora Lichtman to talk about how are microbiologists James Henriksen and Lisa Stein.…

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How Do GLP-1 Drugs Override Our Biology? 18:43

1M ago18:43

18:43

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic have dominated headlines over the past couple of years. When writing his new book, Diet, Drugs and Dopamine: The New Science of Achieving a Healthy Weight, former FDA commissioner David Kessler wanted to unpack the science beyond those headlines. He also has a personal relationship with the subject, having taken GLP-1…

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The Leap: Everything Else Is Boring 25:38

1M ago25:38

25:38

In both her life and her work, researcher Karmella Haynes has never followed the pack. Karmella explains why she created her own area of research at the intersection of synthetic biology and epigenetics. Emory colleague David Katz weighs in on the challenges Karmella faces in pioneering a new research field. Plus Karmella’s sister Sherrone Wallace …

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The Seafaring Life Of ‘Modern-Day Captain Nemo,’ Robert Ballard 30:08

2M ago30:08

30:08

In excerpts of two conversations from the Science Friday archives (originally recorded in 2000 and 2009), oceanographer Robert Ballard joins Host Ira Flatow to discuss the 1985 expedition in which he discovered the wreck of the Titanic. He also emphasizes the value of combining the efforts of oceanographers, engineers, and social scientists to stud…

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Understanding Sunscreen Ingredients And Which Ones You Need 18:38

2M ago18:38

18:38

Summer is here, which means it’s the season for soaking up the sun. But it’s important to do so responsibly, considering the strong link between sun exposure and skin cancer. There are a lot of sunscreens on the market, so Hosts Flora Lichtman and Ira Flatow join dermatologist Jonathan Ungar to discuss what ingredients to look for and how they work…

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In ‘Jurassic World Rebirth,’ Paleontology Is Still The Star 13:55

2M ago13:55

13:55

The latest Jurassic World movie, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” is out today. The movie stars Scarlett Johansson (“The Avengers”) and Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”). Their characters make a dangerous journey to an island chock-full of dinosaurs to get their hands on some dino blood for a life-saving heart medicine. But unfortunately for them, and luckily …

1
What Does It Mean To Have A Chatbot Companion? 19:36

2M ago19:36

19:36

AI is not just for automating tasks or coming up with new recipe ideas. Increasingly, people are turning to AI chatbots for companionship. Roughly half a billion people worldwide have downloaded chatbots designed specifically to provide users with emotional and social support. And while these human-chatbot relationships might ease loneliness or sim…

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Super Garbage Day - Episode 89: The Legendary Axe (Turbografx-16) 44:52

2M ago44:52

44:52

Let me AXE you a question: have you ever played a Turbografx-16 in the flesh? If so, perhaps you have adventured with this red-headed hunk of a warrior as he traverses monkey pits to rescue some woman named "Flare". Make sense? Super Garbage Day Discord Super Garbage Day Patreon B-Ross's Twitch Stream Vanfernal's Retro Stream Show Super Garbage Day…

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The Leap: Mars? It Was A Miracle We Got To Florida 23:43

2M ago23:43

23:43

Geologist Steve Squyres risked his career and millions of dollars to get two rovers roaming on Mars. But the mission almost didn’t make it to the launch pad. Steve and NASA engineer Jennifer Trosper describe the many obstacles the team faced in getting Spirit and Opportunity ready, from ripped parachutes to fuzzy camera feeds, and the problem-solvi…

1
After Her Grants Got Cut, This Researcher Is Suing The NIH 13:07

2M ago13:07

13:07

Since January, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has made sweeping cuts to science. It's hard to keep track of how many research grants were canceled, but they add up to hundreds of millions—possibly billions—of dollars of research funding lost. Some scientists, like Dr. Katie Edwards, are taking the fight to the courts. Edwards studies inter…

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New Telescope Captures The Cosmos In Groundbreaking Detail 12:38

2M ago12:38

12:38

The first images from the brand new Vera C. Rubin Observatory have finally been unveiled, and they show us the cosmos like never before. The camera captures so much detail that its first complete image contains about 10 million galaxies. Host Flora Lichtman talks with Dr. Federica Bianco about our dazzling new view of the night sky, how the camera …

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How Scientists Made The First Gene-Editing Treatment For A Baby 18:56

2M ago18:56

18:56

Last month, scientists reported a historic first: they gave the first personalized gene-editing treatment to a baby who was born with a rare life-threatening genetic disorder. Before the treatment, his prognosis was grim. But after three doses, the baby’s health improved. So how does it work? What are the risks? And what could this breakthrough mea…

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Ancient Bone Proteins May Offer Insight On Megafauna Extinction 19:23

2M ago19:23

19:23

Australia is known for its unusual animal life, from koalas to kangaroos. But once upon a time, the Australian landscape had even weirder fauna, like Palorchestes azael, a marsupial with immense claws and a small trunk. There was Protemnodon mamkurra, a massive, slow-moving, kangaroo-like creature. And Zygomaturus trilobus, a wombat the size of a h…

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The Leap: You Do Realize… That’s Impossible 23:47

2M ago23:47

23:47

As a grad student, Suchitra Sebastian wasn’t sure she wanted to be a physicist. But when one of her experiments gave an unexpected result, she was hooked. Suchitra’s former PhD student Beng Sing Tan describes the late-night experiments that led to an “impossible” finding—a potentially new state of matter. Theoretical physicist Piers Coleman tells u…