A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth w/Henry Gee

This episode comes from a conversation with the Director of Life Sciences here at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on hibernation! Why do animals do it? What's the difference between say... torpor and taking a nap? Could humans ever hibernate? Plus, we get to dive into some other fascinating research about fish species, specifically, the very cute pupfish, which somehow live in the desert! Learn more about Frank's work: https://www.unlv.edu/news/expert/frank-van-breukelen https://www.shanemauss.com/⁠ Thank you for watching and for being an inquisitive being.

Today, I sit down with Andrew Kerr, head of the Dale Etheridge Planetarium in Las Vegas!  Andrew is an astronomer and physicist who received his PhD for his work on the Gravito-Electromagnetic Effect and the Cosmological Constant. In this episode, we talk about the state of planetariums, seek to understand the utility of constellations and star classifications, try to grasp the milestones and timescales that make up our universe, and project into the future of our solar system! Learn more: https://www.csn.edu/student-life/discover-csn/planetarium  https://www.shanemauss.com/ Thank you for watching and for being an inquisitive being.

Today I'm at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville speaking with Kimberly Sheldon all about dung beetles! Kim studies the patterns and processes that determine the distribution of species and use this information to predict impacts of anthropogenic change on species and ecological communities.  Learn more about Kim's work: http://www.biogeographyresearch.org/ https://eeb.utk.edu/people/kimberly-sheldon/ To find out how you can learn more, be involved, and maybe even help, head to http://www.nimbios.org/

Today I'm learning about virtual education and how technology is helping teach students about otherwise complex topics. Shalaunda Reeves holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction and her research interests focus on how people learn in virtual environments. Learn more: https://tpte.utk.edu/people/shalaunda-reeves-phd/ https://www.shanemauss.com/ Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being.

Henry Gee is the author of ‘A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth’ - winner Royal Society Science Book Award 2022 and more notably, one of Shane's favorite books :) Henry is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and editor at Nature.  He is also a hilarious, charming, wonderful guy who articulates the story of our existence in a poetic and accessible way. Learn more about him, his books, and his other writings here https://occamstypewriter.org/cromercrox/about-henry-gee/  The paperback version of this book is available for preorder now Listen to Henry's first appearance on the show here: https://www.herewearepodcast.com/episodes/episode-360-46-billion-years-in-2-hours-henry-gee 

Birds, animal communication, evolution, environmental pressures, and human impacts.  This conversation was very much in the Here We Are wheelhouse which made for a loose, funny, and fascinating episode! It was such a treat to talk with Associate Professor Elizabeth Derryberry in person at The University of Tennessee Knoxville https://eeb.utk.edu/people/elizabeth-derryberry/ .  Her work on animal communication integrates behavioral and evolutionary ecology.  We talked about how changes in city noise impact bird communication and what life in our modern world will mean for future migrations. Professor Derryberry also works with the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis which has been working with our show to present more of their scholars and give listeners insights into what transdisciplinary approaches in mathematics and biology can mean for making a global impact.  Check out their website to learn more http://www.nimbios.org/ Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/shanemauss where you can join game nights and other meetups.  There you can join the community on discord and be the first to know about all things related to Shane’s many projects. Shane has some very special announcements next week regarding live shows!  Make sure to tune in for Henry Gee’s second appearance as we discuss what roles mass extinctions, the Triassic period, and the evolution of the anus had in shaping life as we know it.

I've got some major life updates including a residency in Vegas at https://area15.com/ Sundays starting April 23.  Tickets and details should be available by the end of the month. Stay tuned for more soon! This week Rebecca Tiffany Trout Fryxell talks about the La Crosse Virus.  What is it?  What does it do?  How is it treated or prevented? Humans, animals, plants, and the environment are inextricably linked, with the health of one affecting the health of all.  The One Health Initiative is Uniting disciplines to protect and promote the health of all life on Earth. To find out how you can learn more, be involved, and maybe even help, head to https://onehealth.tennessee.edu/ https://www.megabitess.org/

Today I'm at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville speaking with Dr. Paul Armsworth.  Paul examines how conservation investment strategies and natural resource management policies can be made more effective by integrating ecological and socioeconomic models and data. Learn more about Paul's lab: https://www.armsworthlab.com/ Learn more about Paul's research: https://eeb.utk.edu/people/paul-armsworth/ Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being.

Today I'm speaking with David and Douglas Kenrick about their new book "Solving Modern Problems With a Stone-Age Brain: Human Evolution and the Seven Fundamental Motives". Douglas Kenrick is a professor of psychology at Arizona State University. His research and writing integrate three scientific syntheses of the last few decades: evolutionary psychology, cognitive science, and dynamical systems theory. He is the author of over 170 scientific articles, books, and book chapters, the majority applying evolutionary ideas to human cognition and behavior. David Lundberg-Kenrick is the Media Outreach Program Manager at Arizona State University. He creates multimedia supplements for psychology textbooks, produced and edited videos for use in psychology experiments, and worked on documentaries about evolutionary psychology, including the BBC’s “The Science of Seduction” and his current project “The Caveman Goes to Hollywood.” Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being.

Today I'm at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville speaking with Dr. Derrick Stowell, who is the Education and Horticultural Therapy Program Administrator for the UT Gardens. Derrick is responsible for directing education programs and horticultural therapy programs for the UT Gardens, Knoxville location.  https://onehealth.tennessee.edu/ https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/ Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being.