Vaguely Scientific

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Ryan to list all of the fictional towns on contemporary Earth that we would never want to live. Then, why does Mario die when the little timer runs out?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Ryan

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Big A to crown a new king of the jungle! Then, how do we get good at rock paper scissors? We have a big tournament coming up.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Big A

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Dave to discuss whether mermaids lay eggs or give live birth. Furthermore, are they monotremes??? Then, what F-tier superpowers would we take? And how bad is F-tier really?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Dave

We have some fresh new outtakes to share with everyone! These ones are (checks notes) three years old. Oops. Not so fresh anymore. You might have to dig into our back catalogue to figure out what we were talking about between episodes 92 and 104. Or not. They're fun either way!

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Jeremiah to figure out how they can walk on lava for fun (and maybe profit). Then, we try planting enough plants so that we can perpetually live in a sealed environment.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Jeremiah

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Joel to discuss which fictional tools, weapons, or other gizmos we would choose if we could have one. Then, would intelligent zombies be more or less dangerous than regular ones?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Joel

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Sydney to discuss why the smoke from a campfire always follows you specifically. Then, what would OSHA look like in a world chock full of superheroes.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Sydney

In our 2025 April Fools Extravaganza, Jim and Derek are joined by Justin to answer our shortest and sweetest questions. We also play a game of Science Fact and Fiction and read through the best spam of all!  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Justin

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Sierra to discuss what we would put into a time capsule for future generations. Then, why does it throw us off when we hear our own voice echoed back to us through a headset?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Sierra

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Anne to discuss whether or not it would be possible to actaully create Captain America in our world. Then, if we could sit down with three scientists of our choosing, who would we pick, and what would we serve? And how terrible can a scientist really be?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Anne

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Brian to discuss whether or not a ghost could ride a human elevator. Clearly they can ride ghost elevators. Then, which movies would have wildly different outcomes if the characters had cell phones.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Brian

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Jonathan to determine how badly plummeting to the ground in an indestructible case might actually be. Then, can we make a perpetual motion machine? The answer won't surprise you.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Jonathan

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Mark to discuss why people like rhymes. Then, can we bolt an infinite number of horses to a carriage to make it go infinitely fast?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Mark

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Chris to try and figure out how Merlin could have lived his life in reverse. Then, why do we continue to live in a place where the air hurts our face? Well, where else would we go?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Chris

In this very festive episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Joe to discuss the different types of Frosties we might get if we change out his hat or emotions (or both). Then, could you make and live in a real gingerbread house? And finally, what obscure media would we turn into a Hallmark ornament? Also, do we even know any media that's particularly obscure?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Joe

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Aly to discuss tomatoes as fruit, mushrooms as vegetables, and how multiple things can be true by stretching definitions. Then, we look at some of the best species team-ups in nature.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Aly

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Dac to try and figure out how Katamari balls in Katmarai Damacy stick everything together. Then, we examine the toy society of Toy Story.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Dac

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Big A to talk about how life might be different if we had perfect memory. Then, what appliances could we replace with animals like the Flintstones do?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Big A

In this Halloween adventure, Jim and Derek are joined by Jeremiah and Spooky Dave to figure out how to scare someone so bad that their hair turns white. Then, how do skeletons move even though they have no muscles or any other connective tissue? And finally, what's the best way to hand out your trick or treat candy?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Spooky Dave, Jeremiah 

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Catherine to try and figure out why we are frequently wide awake at bedtime and super sleepy in the mid-afternoon. Speaking of sleep, we discuss how life might be different if humans could hibernate.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Catherine

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Justin and Aly to discuss what the world might be like if our moods directly affected the weather. Bring a poncho. Then, if we could go on a field trip with Ms. Frizzle, what would we want to go do?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Aly, Justin

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Joel to discuss whether Krang from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is secretly a Dalek from Doctor Who. Then, would we rather never have to sleep again or never have to eat again?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Joel

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Sydney to figure out what would happen if we were literally all thumbs. On our hands, mind you. Not, like, our kidneys and shoulders and stuff. Then, it's time for the Animal Olympics! Which animal is doing what event against whom?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Sydney

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Anne, who helps us to unlock our potential to communicate with animals. Or something like that. Then, what is the best piece of playground equipment? Objectively, of course.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Anne

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Mark to destroy Saturn's rings once and for all. Then, we desperately try to search through a print book by using Ctrl+F and come up short.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Mark

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Chris to try to pinpoint all of the dangerous near-Earth asteroids and destroy them! Or something like that. Then, we try to translate video game stat buffs over to the real world.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Chris

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Sierra to ponder how a raven is like a writing desk. Somehow there are more similarities than we thought. Then, we discuss how life might be different if humans were somehow able to photosynthesize.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Sierra

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Joe to discuss the types of jobs that AI would hate doing just as much as we do. Then, how can we more effectively harness all the wasted energy coming out of the sun?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Joe

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Ryan to discuss how we could bring the sport of Quidditch into the real world. Then, would we rather fight 100 trilobite-sized Hulks or 1 Hulk-sized trilobite? The answer may not surprise you!  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Ryan

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Dave to discuss whether or not elevators are worthy enough to lift Thor's hammer. Then, we discuss what is more ridiculous--hollow Earth or flat Earth. Not that they're not both ridiculous. Panelists: Jim, Derek, Dave

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Jonathan to discuss which dinosaur species could cause the most ecological damage if we brought it back to life? Then, what is computer hacking really like? Panelists: Jim, Derek, Jonathan

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Aly to talk about how delicious human-shaped creatures like Saiyans and elves must be. Then, we ascribe genres to our favorite animals.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Aly

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Dac to discuss which Pokémon could exist in the real world. Then, we flip that question on its head to talk about which animals could be Pokémon.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Dac

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Justin to answer those fun and silly April Fools-style questions. Oh, sorry. I meant to say that Mark and Jonathan are joined by Justin to answer those very serious and normal science-based questions.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Justin, Mark(?), Jonathan(?)

In this episode, Jeremiah joins us for the first time(?) to discuss how a shrink ray might work. Then, we try to determine how long a dead body could float around in outer space before decomposing.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Jeremiah 

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Joel to discuss putting fun computer chips into our brains! Then, we take a deep breath and dive into a world where humans no longer had to breathe.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Joel

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Chris to discuss why we would want to program a computer to be good at chess. Then, we talk about non-carbon-based life forms and what those might look like.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Chris

In this episode, Big A returns to talk about what kinds of wild things would happen if the internet were to suddenly shut down. Then, we look at artificial islands and whether or not that whole thing is worth the effort.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Big A

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Adam to figure out how to jam humans into carnivorous plants. Then, we look at how fictional weapons were inspired by real weapons.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Adam

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Justin to discuss where Jörmungandr might be hiding. He's a beefy snek! Then, where's the nearest bear? It's much closer than you think! Panelists: Jim, Derek, Justin

In this festive episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Anne to discuss what the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future get up to when they're not bothering Scrooge. They gotta keep busy somehow. Then, could there be a real snowball war?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Anne

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Sydney to discuss all the different sizes of rocks. Riveting! Then, we contemplate what flavor our teeth are. Finally, what are we thinking about and, more importantly, how are we thinking about it?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Sydney

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Joe to discuss why people say that everything tastes like chicken. Then, we analyze the anatomy of many sci-fi aliens.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Joe

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Mark to discuss what superheroes might work best to avert historical disasters. Then, we try to figure out what exactly volcanologists do.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Mark

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Brian and Spooky Dave to talk about why vampires drink human blood and not, say, a horse's blood. Then, could a War of the Worlds-style panic happen today? Finally, we discuss our favorite Halloween costumes of days gone by.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Brian, Dave

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Adam to discuss how humans might be able to get wings and if they could use them. Then, we talk about how stupid grass lawns are.  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Adam

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Jonathan to discuss whether there's any relation between the Pokémon Kabutops and Scyther. Then, what kinds of weird powers could we gain if we were able to manipulate the elements of the periodic table in the same way cartoon characters can manipulate earth, fire, water, and wind?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Jonathan

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Dac to try and figure out where Charmander's fire and Squirtle's water come from. Then, what would happen if Earth were to suddenly become flat? Everyone would probably die. But what else? Panelists: Jim, Derek, Dac

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Justin and Aly to try to figure out what Scooby Snacks are made out of. Then, we tackle the most vital law enforcement question of our time: can a vampire cop enter your house without permission?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Aly, Justin

Way back in Episode 88 (Justin: Time), we had actually planned and recorded a whole third question. However, we had so much other content from the first two questions that we had to cut it for time.  So here it is in all of its glory! 

In this episode, Jim and Derek are joined by Catherine to talk about viewing our dreams using fancy pants technology. Then, we exterminate all mosquitoes! But is that a very good idea?  Panelists: Jim, Derek, Catherine