We recently discovered that there was an e-mail server issue for the e-mail addresses related to the Ask Science Dude site. This would effectively prevent any questions you have submitted from making it to the Dude. We apologize for the inconvenience, and wanted to drop a quick message here on the site to let you all know that all of those issues have now been resolved and e-mail is back!

So if you have submitted any questions recently, or have even just sent Sinead a message via the related e-mail addresses then you might want to give them another go. Just to be sure that they got through. Once again, we apologize for any inconveniences this short disruption of the e-mail server may have caused. Thanks for all the support!

In this episode of the podcast, Science Dude and the Angry Hippie look at science’s problematic search for the ‘gay’ gene, and the issues attached to this seemingly bigoted quest. We also take a look at a question raised about the biological energy differential between men and women to see if the host of another podcast is correct in her assertions that females are naturally biologically disadvantaged over the males of the species. Featuring a fantastic reading by Luna Allison.

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In this episode of the podcast, Sinead and the Angry Hippie examine the facts and societally hard truths of chocolate, the processes involved in transforming cocoa into the popular forms we know and love today, and the slavery that has always been attached to the trade and corporatization of this commodity.

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I recently learned that March 24th has special significance in the technical and scientific communities, and one that I should have taken note of before this year. But as the saying goes, better late than never. For those who have not heard of this day before, much like I was until last week, it is Ada Lovelace Day, an international day of blogging to celebrate the achievements of women in technology and science. After learning that, there was no way could I not post today in celebration, and to honor my co-host, my friend, Sinead.

In this episode of the podcast, Sinead and the Angry Hippie take a look at the contract that the scientific community working in the public sector has with the public, and how climategate has effected this contract. An interesting discussion with both perspectives considered and represented.

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Once again it is time for another episode of the podcast. Ask Science Dude : Macro v Microevolution! In this episode Sinead looks at macro-evolution and micro-evolution and the differences between them. Also, with an interesting look back at dinosaurs, Sinead covers the evolution of flight.

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As Rob and I talk about on the macroevolution podcast, someone asked me why the way to keep champagne bubbly after opening it is to hang a spoon or fork in the bottle (handle down). Forget why. I don’t even know if I believe the if.  I am skeptical of this, but think that keeping your bubbly bubbly is a very important goal indeedy. Soooo… I propose a Science Project. To participate, here’s what you’ll need:

3 bottles of champagne or bubbly wine, 1 die (raid the Monopoly game!), enough room in your fridge for the 3 bottles, and at least one friend.

After a month off fighting the flu, Sinead is back as is another episode of the podcast. Ask Science Dude : Antibiotic Resistance! In this episode Sinead looks at antibiotic resistance and the way that bacteria react to the chemicals we use on the daily to combat them after receiving a question from a listener…all this after a brief rant on Climategate.
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Yesterday we posted the study that goes along with this episode on the blog. For those who did not see it, or just who did not grab the Zombie Infection Model, there it is again. It is not necessary for this episode, but it will give you more background on what we are discussing.

So without further ado, we present a special Halloween treat, Ask Science Dude : Zombie Apocalypse! In this episode Sinead looks at epidemiological modeling in terms of projecting infectious diseases through the use of differential equations and a survival guide to the zombie apocalypse.
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For those of you who listened to the last episode of the show, you heard us mention that the next episode would be covering an explanation of how disease spreads so rapidly and easily in today’s society, through use of a chapter from a book on Infectious Disease Modeling. The chapter is called, When Zombies Attack!: A Mathematical Modelling of an Outbreak of Zombie Infection. And below is a downloadable PDF copy of the chapter so that anyone who wishes can check it out before the episode and follow the conversation a little easier as you listen.

The link to the chapter is here:
Zombie Infection Model