The Information Entropy Podcast

Welcome back to The Information Entropy Podcast! This week we are turning our heads to the ever-impressive Winter Olympic Games! While exploring the science and mechanics behind the flight of ski jumpers and the twists and turns of figure skating the boys also explore the scandals that have come out of this years games: Penis-gate (fact or fiction), the Canadians double touch curling, and much more!

Should you trust your own memory? Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast, this week we are returnign to memory to understand how recall actually works, why amnesic patients can still learn, how trauma reshapes childhood memory, and what ADHD and autism reveal about how differently brains store the past.

Welcome back to The Information Entropy Podcast! This week we are exploring our past through the form of memories… what are memories in the first place and how do they biologically function? Are they as accurate as you think or is your episodic memory filled with false reconstructions? How it possible for two people observing the same event to have two dramatically different recollections? Why is nostalgia such a positive feeling: Is it just rose tinted glasses or a longing for times gone by? Join Mitch and Tom as they break it down for you.

Welcome back to The Information Entropy Podcast! This week we are returning to the world of supplements and exploring, are they fact or fiction? I will not lie… this is quite an off-topic episode, the boys explore concentration and focus supplements (ironic I know) as well as heavy metal contamination in our food. Mitch and Tom recount their uni days and reminisce about the unhealthy quality of  childhood food.

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast, this week we ask: Are supplements actually doing anything — or are we just very expensive placebo machines? We dig into vitamins, minerals, and the booming world of supplements. We break down what vitamins actually are, how they were discovered (and why some mysteriously skipped letters), whether taking certain supplements together really improves absorption, and what the science says about popular calm, sleep, and focus aids — from magnesium to mushroom extracts.

Welcome back to The Information Entropy Podcast! This week, we're diving into the sticky, smelly, and utterly essential world of oil. We start underground, exploring how ancient fossils turn into crude oil, and follow it all the way through fractional distillation and chemical refining—yes, cracking, reforming, and hydrotreating are actually real things that chemists do every day. We'll talk about the environmental impact of fossil fuels, from spills to climate change, and then look forward to modern alternatives like biofuels, algae-based oils, and synthetic e-fuels. Finally, we ask the big question: how long until these sustainable fuels can really take over? It's a journey from deep time to your gas tank, and everything in between.

Welcome back to the first Information Entropy Podcast of the year! In this episode, we are looking at new facts, new beginnings, and how you can make the most out of your new years resolutions! We introduce our new intro and outro for the year – yes it is ridiculous… but what's a laugh eh? Mitch explores why the new year is a good time to set resolutions and how you can be SMART about making and sticking to them. Tom on the other hand looks at why January became the first month of the year in the first place and asks the simple yet unintuitive question of… how old is the water in your cup?

Welcome back to the final Information Entropy Podcast of the year! In this episode, we see out the year with a bit more of a relaxed approach (is that possible I hear you ask… well maybe?)! Mitch and Tom reflect on their 2025 resolutions and whether they achieved them and whether it was a good year all in all. Mitch goes on to analyse what makes a film a “Christmas” film by scientific and cultural definitions and the boys get into why love actually is terribly flawed… but perhaps that was the point. Tom examines why so many family holiday gatherings can turn sour… perhaps it's inevitable at some point! Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we return to finish off our investigation into CRISPR and genetic engineering! In this episode, we skip straight to the fun stuff where Mitch explores the potential for humans and AI to hack the biological instructions with malicious intentions... how far away are we from AI altering our DNA? Tom takes a look at Gene Drives, a system that allows humans to alter the inheritance chance of positive and negative genes and traits that could have devastating ecological consequences if unleashed on the world. In addition to that, the boys get ahead of themselves and rant about Christmas movies and the capitalistic nature of the holiday season. Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast and our yearly wrapped episode! This is one of our favourites where we are able to talk about the podcast's stats this year as well as reveal our own awful (or great) music listening habits. We use this as a launchpad to talk about what music means to us, how we engage with it, and we also discuss some of the controversy around the current RAM production crises, spotify boycotting, and sensory overloading. A massive thank you to everyone who tunes in! Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast! In this episode, we break down the building blocks of life, from atoms and molecules to DNA and RNA. We then dive into the world of genetic engineering, exploring what CRISPR is, how it works, and why it's become one of the most important tools in modern biology and why scientists are so eager to rewrite genetic code. This week is Part 1 where we set the stage and foundational knowledge, next week we will explore the possible exploitations of such a technology… good and bad! Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we are hunkering down into the cold weather and asking how other species cope with it as well. Mitch takes a deep dive into hibernation, the biology and physiology behind it, as well as what separates it from other bouts of lowered metabolic rate such as torpor (see episode for various pronunciations of that). Tom takes a look at the wood frog and how it survives being 65% frozen each winter and other amazing strategies. Otherwise, the boys tangent their way around the topic as usual, eventually getting to where they meant to be! Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we are continuing our exploration of addiction! Last week we covered the mechanisms of substance use disorders and behavioural addictions but this week we focus on the interaction between neurodivergence (Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD) and addiction, why some people might be more vulnerable than others, and the nature of video game behavioural addiction. Tom then opens the debate on whether people suffering from addiction actually have a choice or whether the behavioural and biological mechanisms are so far gone that their choice is made for them. Music: HOME – AWAY

This week on The Information Entropy Podcast, we dig into what addiction actually is — beyond the stereotypes. We explore the difference between chemical dependence and behavioural addictions, trace how our understanding has shifted from the old “just say no” model to a modern brain-based view, and look at why teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable. It's science, it's storytelling, and as always, it's us waffling about random things while trying our hardest to stay on track. Music: HOME – AWAY

This week, we dive into the chemical dark arts of the natural world. What is the difference between a poison and a venom? Why do some animals weaponize their biochemistry while others simply make themselves too toxic to touch? We explore how different toxins work at the molecular level, how evolution turns simple enzymes into precision biological weapons. From cobras fine-tuning neurotoxins in an evolutionary arms race, to plants quietly loading their tissues with defensive chemistry, we unravel how life learned to kill — or defend — with molecules. All while we lose it along the way with our own hilarity and stupidity :D Music: HOME – AWAY

This week we dive into the wonderfully weird world of the Ig Nobel Prizes — celebrating research that makes you laugh, then think. But first, as always, we take the scenic route: detouring through music, coffee philosophy, and the art of the perfect cheese toastie before actually getting to the science. We explore whether painted cows can really fend off flies, how physics explains why cacio e pepe sauce clumps, what happens when scientists get bats drunk on purpose, and how narcissists react when you tell them they're geniuses (or not). Between aviation, physics, psychology, and literature, this one's equal parts silly and smart — the episode where science meets stupidity in the best possible way. Music: HOME – AWAY

This week, Tom dives into the endlessly complex world of fractals, repeating patterns that appear everywhere from galaxies to your lungs. Tom explores how fractals shape the natural world, why measuring something as simple as a coastline turns out to be impossible, and what happens in the brain when people on psychedelics see fractal-like visions. That may not seem like science but LSD consumption and fractals have had a profound impact on our understanding of the brain and how we function. Music: HOME – AWAY

This week on The Information Entropy Podcast, we're diving into the science behind the 2025 Nobel Prizes — the discoveries that shaped this year's biggest scientific headlines.   Firstly, Tom apologises for his audio, we double checked everything but sadly audacity glitches strike again. But if you can bear it, it was a very fun episode!   In Physics, we explore how researchers made quantum mechanics go big, building superconducting circuits that behave like single quantum particles — the groundwork for quantum computers of the future. In Chemistry, it's all about molecular architecture. The laureates designed metal–organic frameworks — crystalline structures so porous they can trap gases, harvest water from desert air, and maybe even help clean up the planet. And in Physiology or Medicine, we meet the immune system's own peacekeepers: regulatory T cells. Their discovery revealed how the body prevents its defences from turning on itself, paving the way for new treatments in autoimmune disease, cancer, and organ transplantation. So join us as we unpack the science, the stories, and a bit of the chaos behind this year's Nobel Prizes — with our usual mix of curiosity, tangents, and mild existential dread. Music: HOME – AWAY

This week we return for some planetary defence chat with some tangents along the way! The boys start off speaking about the changing nature of AI use and its real-world implications. Once on topic they turn to discussing how one might go about avoiding interstellar catastrophe. Is it possible to move large objects in space out of the way, what about using stellar engines to move the sun and all the planets along with it? What are these marvellous machines and how would they function? Music: HOME – AWAY

This week on we're looking at how Earth protects itself from dangers that come hurtling out of space. Mitch takes us through NASA's DART mission and what it means for defending the planet against near-Earth objects — those asteroids and comets that occasionally pass a little too close for comfort. Meanwhile, Tom explores solar storms: massive eruptions from our Sun that could knock out satellites, fry power grids, and disrupt life as we know it. Music: HOME – AWAY

Are we alone in the universe? This week we dive into the science of astrobiology — the hunt for life beyond Earth. From NASA's latest discovery of potential biosignatures on Mars to the strange possibilities of methane seas on Titan and silicon-based aliens straight out of science fiction, we explore what it takes for a world to be habitable, how scientists search for life, and what counts as real evidence. Music: HOME – AWAY

From the phone in your pocket to the car on your driveway, batteries quietly power modern life. But how do these tiny boxes of chemistry actually work? In this episode we crack open the science of batteries — from the basics of anodes, cathodes, and electrolytes, to the differences between lithium-ion, alkaline, and lead–acid cells. We explore why voltage and current matter, how thousands of cells are scaled up to run electric cars, and what really happens when batteries fail or catch fire. We also dig into why they wear out over time, the challenge of long-term storage, and the big question: can energy storage keep up with our growing global demand? Batteries aren't just about powering gadgets — they may shape the entire future of energy.

Join us on this episode as we delve into the stealthy threat of appendicitis. We explore the anatomy of the appendix, why its obstruction turns emergency, how symptoms can mislead even seasoned clinicians, and what scores like Alvarado and AIR add to the diagnostic toolkit. We'll guide you through the treatment landscape— from keyhole surgery to antibiotic-first strategies—highlighting the risks, benefits, and when each is appropriate. Through real-life cases, we'll underscore the consequences of a delayed diagnosis and the power of early intervention.

Ever wonder why you keep scrolling, buying, or clicking — even when you know you shouldn't? In this episode, we dive into the science of attention and the clever tricks marketers and social media platforms use to capture it. From supermarket layouts and clever packaging to TikTok's endless scroll and online ads, we explore how your brain is being subtly steered and why compulsive behaviours like doomscrolling are so hard to resist. Music: HOME - AWAY

Ever wonder why we spend a third of our lives lying in the dark trying to hallucinate? ME TOO FRIEND! So, come and dive into the science of sleep, from the stages your brain cycles through, to the surprising tricks animals use to rest, and the shocking effects of going without sleep. Plus, explore why we sometimes stay up late on purpose and what really makes sleep restorative. Music: HOME – AWAY

The universe is vast—hundreds of billions of stars, trillions of planets—so where is everyone? This week we dive into the Fermi Paradox, the puzzling question of why we haven't found any signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life despite the overwhelming odds. We break down the science behind the paradox, explore the Drake Equation, and examine possible explanations for the cosmic silence—from civilizations being short-lived to the unsettling idea of the Great Filter. Is the galaxy teeming with life that hides from us, or are we truly alone? Music: HOME – AWAY

This week we're back in the world of dog minds, digging into whether dogs really understand the words we say, or if we're just wishful-thinking pet parents. We explore why they might ignore our commands, whether their so-called “bad behaviour” is actually intentional, and how different training styles affect behaviour. It's dog psychology with a healthy dose of science, scepticism, and sympathy for the little chaos machines we love

The UK's Online Safety Act just went live — and it's got nothing to do with safety. In this episode, we break down how this sweeping new law threatens free speech, demands intrusive age checks, and opens the door to mass surveillance. We'll expose the tech behind the ID dragnet, unpack the VPN boom, and ask the big question: is this the end of online privacy in Britain? Plug in, encrypt everything, and hit play — your digital freedom depends on it.

This week we dive into the minds of dogs — exploring how they interpret human gestures, what their behaviour might reveal about their emotions, and whether breed really shapes personality. We break down the science of training, cognition, and attachment — and ask what's really going on behind those puppy-dog eyes. Turns out, your dog might be understanding more than you think. And probably judging you a little less than you fear. Music: HOME – AWAY

This week we dive into the twisted psychology behind reality TV. From enforced gender stereotypes to the dark influence of producers, we explore how contestants are pushed, manipulated, and reshaped for the cameras. What makes people obey, conform, or completely lose themselves on screen? Think Love Island meets the Milgram experiment—with a dose of online misinformation, social pressure, and the false belief that everyone else thinks just like you.

What makes perfectly sane people eat bugs, betray teammates, or forget their own name on national TV? This week, we dive into the wild world of game show psychology—from group conformity and mob mentality to time pressure and full-blown cognitive collapse. We unravel the science behind why the game format lowers our guard, how 30% of a group can flip the entire consensus, and why your brain starts short-circuiting the moment a buzzer goes off. Spoiler: it's not just about the money. Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome to this very special episode of the Information Entropy Podcast: Episode 150! Today we take a bit more of a relaxed approach to the structure of the episode exploring a variety of topics that we find interesting such as new space telescopes and their discoveries as well as the influence that games are having and will have on our technology in the future. Thank you to each and every one of you who tunes in, whether for a few minutes or each and every week. Music: HOME – AWAY

In this episode of The Information Entropy Podcast, Tom explores one of the biggest mysteries in modern cosmology: the Hubble tension. Why do we get different answers while measuring the expansion rate of the universe? Is our standard model of the cosmos missing a crucial piece of the puzzle? Join Tom as he journeys from the discovery of cosmic expansion and the Big Bang, through the ingredients of our universe, to the Nobel Prize-winning revelation that expansion is accelerating — and then into the heart of the tension that's challenging our understanding of the cosmos. We'll look at how scientists are tackling this problem, what it could mean for the ultimate fate of the universe, and why this is a moment of exciting discovery. Music: HOME - AWAY

In this episode of The Information Entropy Podcast, we explore the science of ageing—what it is, why it happens, and how it affects the body and brain over time. We dig into cellular damage, stem cell decline, and metabolic theories like the Rate of Living Hypothesis. Plus, we ask why animals like Greenland sharks live for centuries while others burn out in months, and why time seems to speed up as we get older. Packed with biology, big questions, and the usual chaotic commentary. Music: HOME – AWAY

We're back for round two on conservation — and this time we're naming names. From habitat loss and invasive species to climate chaos and pollution, we break down the Big Five threats that are pushing species to the brink. Mitch digs into the Svalbard Seed Vault, the planet's frozen backup drive for food and biodiversity, and we unpack the economics of conservation — who pays to save the planet, who profits from wrecking it, and whether nature can really be priced in pounds and dollars. Music: HOME – AWAY

This week, we're getting into the wild world of conservation — the science of saving stuff before it disappears forever. But it's not all noble rangers and panda logos. Conservation is complicated. It's where ecology crashes headfirst into politics, economics, and some big ethical questions about what we value and why. We break down what conservation really means today, why it's not just about protecting animals but entire ecosystems, and why humans are now part of the systems we're trying to save. Then we dive into the IUCN Red List — the global scoreboard of extinction — and unpack how scientists actually figure out whether a species is vulnerable, endangered, or officially gone. It's got spreadsheets, thresholds, and way more urchins than you'd expect. From the origins of the conservation movement to the hard science behind who lives and who dies, this episode asks: can we really protect nature while still being part of the problem? Music: HOME – AWAY

In this final "Middle Ages" episode, we take a closer look at how medieval weapons were made—from the blacksmith's forge to the battlefield. We explore the practical science behind forging and quenching steel, how techniques developed across Europe and Japan, and what this meant for the weapons themselves. We also examine how swordsmanship evolved alongside metallurgy, from early battlefield combat to the structured environments of tournaments. That includes a look at techniques like the Mordhau, and how fighting styles changed as both armour and social attitudes shifted. It's an episode about materials, methods, and the people behind the weapons—not just how they were used, but how they were made to last. Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast. This week, we are following the evolutionary arms race between medieval units. The infantry, the missile troops, and the cavalry. A delicate balance of strengths and weaknesses on the battlefield, but how and why did these roles evolve over time and what were the driving forces behind that change? As the art of the sword became more refined and “gentlemanly”, we look at the codex Wallerstein to see how it became the guidebook on swordplay and took influence from martial arts. Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast. This week, we're storming the gates—literally. From scaling walls and battering gates to digging tunnels under your enemies and flinging plague-ridden cows into castles, we dive into the gritty science and strategy behind medieval siege warfare. Learn how castles were taken (or not), how defenders fought back, and why flinging a bucket of piss wasn't just personal—it was tactical. Trebuchets, moats, murder holes, tunnelling, and a whole lot of rocks—because sometimes brute force really was the plan. Music: HOME – AWAY

In this episode of The Information Entropy Podcast, we catapult ourselves into the world of medieval castles. Join us as we unpack the science and strategy behind castle defence, from murder holes and machicolations to position, structure, and power. We're digging deep into how medieval castles were designed as layered defensive machines and the evolution of their design. Castles weren't cosy stone palaces—they were engineered war machines. Music: HOME - AWAY

This week, we're diving deep into the weird and wonderful world of memory — both biological and mechanical. From how your brain stores the smell of grandma's house to how your laptop remembers where your holiday photos are, we explore what memory actually is, how it works, and why your version of events might be completely wrong. We'll explain how neurons store memories, why your brain edits the past like a drunk film director, and how trauma changes memory in ways that can shape your entire life. Then we plug in and switch gears to look at how computers store information — from magnetic disks to binary code to why your SSD might outlive your attention span. As always, expect a healthy dose of solid science, questionable analogies, and the kind of off-topic nonsense that makes this The Information Entropy Podcast. Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome back to The Information Entropy Podcast! This week, we're diving into the fascinating world of music. Mitch kicks things off with some important news and clarifications for the ASD community, clearing up a few common misconceptions. Then it's straight into the science, as Tom unpacks the origins of musical notes — where they came from, and why we even have them in the first place. From there, the conversation flows into the physics of harmonics and the evolution of the orchestra as an organised collective of sound-makers. To wrap it all up, Mitch asks the question we've all thought at some point: what exactly is the conductor doing up there? Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we are questioning why some animals live to be 500 and others less than a day! Tom starts with some out of this world news before the boys get onto the topic in a semi-reasonable time this week! The boys explore different life history strategies and the effects it has at an individual and population level, when is it more beneficial to live fast and when is the slower approach more appropriate, and what effects does each have on our ability to perceive and interact with the world around us? The boys discover how much they didn't know about the Greenland shark, so you're bound to learn something! Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast we're exploring the fascinating world of forests…. Eventually. First the boys get lost on their adventure and they talk about moving house and some life updates. Mitch explores the next steps in light-based computing technologies before the boys debate whether dire wolves are really back! Then onto forests: Tom defines what they are and explores the different layers and their ecological niches. Mitch looks at the different types of forests and how they sequester carbon from our atmosphere. To round out the show the boys discuss forest psychology and the impact that being in a forest has on us. Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where today we are exploring the world of Plains and Grasslands! What are plains and grasslands in the first place and why are they scientifically interesting? Mitch defines them and Tom looks at how they form. The boys then explore the important ecosystem services that plains provide in the form of carbon sequestration while also investigating the fascinating interactions keystone species (such as lions) have on their environment. Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where Tom is back at his lone ramblings on Vocal Learning. In the previous episodes Tom explored what vocal learning is and how we categorise/define it. This week Tom is taking a look at the implications of being able to choose when to vocalise. A crucial underpinning of proper language use is our ability to produce the sounds when we want to, but what if we can't? How do other species compare? How do we even test it to find out? Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week, we're climbing to new heights—literally—as we take a deep dive into the science of mountains! From the violent tectonic forces that build them to the brutal conditions of the Death Zone, we break down what makes these towering giants so extreme. Why do some mountains keep growing while others crumble away? How do animals survive in one of the harshest habitats on Earth? And what happens to the human body when you climb above 8,000 meters? (Spoiler: It's not great.) Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where today we are taking you on a wild and chaotic episode of Swamps! Yes, the wetlands that are smelly and gross… much like the opening half of the episode. Mitch takes us on a journey exploring the immune response to food poisoning to shed light on his week and it is fascinating as well as horrifying. Back on track the boys explore what differentiates swamps from other wetland habitats, how important they are for carbon sequestration, and the Surinam Toad… but if you have trypophobia don't listen to that bit! Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where we are exploring islands! Islands are one of the most fascinating things for scientists to study and unveil massive amounts of information about the world around us. By looking at island formation we understand continents. By look at animal and plant dispersal methods to islands we extrapolate to population level movements. Islands offer unique looks into evolutionary effects of isolation and specific environmental conditions. So, join us this week as we explore what makes islands so special. Music: HOME - AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast! Today, we dive into the invisible forces that shape our world. Tom kicks things off by exploring the surprisingly misunderstood emu—are these birds really as dumb as they seem? Mitch takes us on a journey through the oceans and the cosmos to unravel the mysteries of tidal forces. What causes tides, and what are their broader impacts? Tom then heats things up, delving into kinetic and potential energy to explain why things get hot and how heat transfers across materials and systems. Finally, Mitch wraps up the episode with a look at the Casimir effect and the strange behavior of quantum mechanics. Music: HOME - AWAY.

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where Tom is a lone rambling madman taking you through one of his favourite science topics: Vocal Learning. Where does language come from? Why do different places have different dialects or accents? How can we learn where language has come from through the comparative assessment of behaviour with other animals? Well, you're in the right place to get all of the background information on this complex topic! Music: HOME – AWAY