Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists' obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.
Cycadology (RARE PLANT DRAMA) with Nathalie Nagalingum
Gather round fellow nerds, you’re about to learn about the wildest not a fern not a bush not a cactus plant you never knew you never knew about: CYCADS. These endangered ancient plants have been around for 270 million years, give or take, and now they’re some of the most valuable vegetation in the world. Come along to learn about these uncomfortably sexy gymnosperms and the international crimes people do to steal them. Also: neurotoxins, Jurassic Park, and one the best fixes for procrastination we’ve ever heard with the world’s favorite botanist and cycadologist Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum.
Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum’s website
Follow Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum on Twitter and tell her you love her at
Dr. Nagalingum’s profile at California Academy of Sciences
Speaking of which, Alie will be moderating a Women in Science Nightlife event there coming up March 3rd, and you can get tickets for that here
A donation was made to Ovarian Cancer Australia
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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media
Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer
Theme song by Nick Thorburn