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This week, Trace and Julian are joined by special guest Dr. Ella Hubber as they embark on a quest to stop natural processes both big and small. Julian combines a little physics and engineering, a smidge of meteorology, and a dash of aerodynamics—and, yeah, he brings up airplanes, because he's Julian—to potentially stop the wind. Meanwhile, Ella explores solutions to one of humanity's most persistent inconveniences and discovers how we may finally be able to tackle the capital "P" Problem. Literally.QUESTIONSJulian: “Wind turbines steal energy as they turn. How many wind turbines would it take to stop the wind?” from Ella Hubber (and her husband)Ella Hubber: “What if humans only peed once a year?” from JuliaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
If our magic button killed every microbe on Earth — all bacteria, all viruses, gone — what would be left standing? Spoiler: You'd be missing something powerful. Julian goes full overachiever and zooms in on FOUR questions all on this devastating topic. Then, Trace, somewhere else in the solar system, is singing in the rain. But does it even rain elsewhere? Is rain weird? Find out this week!Julian answers:"What would be the implications, good and bad, we successfully killed all microbes." from JWT2009"What would happend if ALL bacteria and viruses in the world seized to exist?" from Vicky"What would happen if all of the bacteria in your body died or disappeared?" from Jacob"What if there were no microorganisms?" from StephenTrace answers: "How does rain sound like on other planets?" from VillemDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Did you know our very own Trace Dominguez is the host of another podcast, Health vs Hype with the American Medical Association? Every week on HvH Trace talks about health-related trends circulating online. Everything from protein, creatine, fasting, red light therapy, you name it! Each episode centers on one trend and separates what's actually backed by science from what's over-promised hype.In this episode, Trace uncovers the science behind viral sleep trends, and reveals what actually works to improve sleep quality.From mouth tape and melatonin to your sleep tracker, breath work, and sleep divorces, millions of Americans are experimenting with trending sleep hacks. More than half of U.S. adults have tried at least one viral sleep trend. But are these methods backed by science…or just social media hype?Featuring insights from lifestyle content creator Lucie Fink, sleep storyteller Kathryn Nicolai, and sleep medicine expert Dr. Jose Colon, this episode answers the questions:Does your sleep tracker actually improve sleep or increase anxiety?Is mouth tape safe or potentially dangerous?How much sleep do you really need for optimal health?What is heart rate variability (HRV), and does it matter?You'll also learn why “trying harder” to sleep can backfire, how social media influences health behaviors, and which simple, evidence-based strategies can help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling restored.If you've ever struggled with insomnia, experimented with sleep optimization, or wondered whether viral wellness trends are worth it, this episode gets to the bottom of it all.To learn more, visit: amahealthvshype.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Trace and Julian accidentally stumble into what may be the most in-depth discussion of a certain food-based weather movie ever recorded. To determine whether giant pancakes, spaghetti tornadoes, and burger-based weather systems would actually be fun or the beginning of humanity's downfall, Trace recruits our associate producer, Sabrina Capello. Longtime listeners may know her as the person who bullies us on social media, but today she joins the show in her true role: professional opinion haver and alarmingly dedicated Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs expert. What begins as a whimsical thought experiment quickly turns into a shocking investigation into a world far more horrifying than the movie ever suggests.QUESTIONSTrace: “Should it start raining food tomorrow (i.e. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), what would be the worst food weather?” from ConnorDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week, Trace conducts a cosmic investigation into whether our nearest celestial neighbor is secretly trying to sunburn us, only to find that the real danger lies in UV radiation's nasty habit of finding creative ways to reach your skin—even on a cloudy day. Later, special guest Chelsea Gohd dives into nature's version of Battle of the Bands, investigating which animals have the skills, creativity, and stage presence to headline the ultimate wildlife concert.QUESTIONSChelsea Gohd: “What animal would make the best musician (not humans)?” from NickTrace: “What are the most unobvious ways to get sunburned? Is it possible to get sunburn from the moon?” from PacoDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week, Julian explores whether animals can be allergic to humans, digging into all things histamine to find out if nature has ever collectively decided that people are, medically speaking, just too annoying to be around. Later, Trace investigates a deeply cursed question: how many holes do humans really have? Oh, and he also tackles the ACTUAL question of what it would be like if humans were born full of holes—think a walking, talking monstera plant, but flesh. Horrifying… and also quite unsanitary.QUESTIONSJulian: “Are there recorded cases of plants and animals being found to be allergic to humans?” from DavidTrace: “What if humans were born with lots of holes in us? Not wounds, but like a monstera leaf. Could we run faster? Swim? Would that solve anything?” from Dalla in the Bay AreaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
If we had a nickel for every time Julian answered a question involving pigeons, we'd have two nickels. Not that many, but weird that it's happened twice. This week, he investigates pigeon logistics, excreta coverage, and everything about the Great Wall of China, all fueled by the power of basic research and—horrifyingly—firsthand investigation. Meanwhile, Trace attempts to outsmart the cruel economics of holiday birthdays using special and general relativity, which was definitely the simplest and most reasonable way possible to solve this problem.QUESTIONSJulian: “How many days would it take a single pigeon to cover the Great Wall of China in excrement?” from JonathanTrace: “What kind of relativistic shenanigans would I need to pull in order to change my birthday by one month?” from RyanDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Hi fellow nerds! As many of you may know, Julian is back at school as an engineering student. As many of you may ALSO know, that's freakin' hard! So to give Julian a bit of a break, we're re-airing one of our favorite TAPE classics featuring friend-of-the-Absurd, Tom Scott. Please enjoy the episode as much as we do, and see you guys very soon with a brand new episode!
Is that a slogan for hair shampoo or fizzy drinks? Well, kick back, relax, and crack open a can—or, you know, be like us and choose from one of the many flat ones you forgot on your desk. Either way, if you're serious about your bubbles, Julian has a proposition for you: skip the middleman and suckle straight from the teat of the soda fountain. On the flip side, Trace embarks on a trek to the follicular frontier to discover how much hair you'd have to grow to actually lose weight. It's a hairy situation, but we're all about life hacks on this show!QUESTIONSJulian: “What would it take to pour a Coke without losing any of the carbonation?” from MacksTrace: “How much hair do I need to grow to lose weight?” from EmilieDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week, Trace digs into whether life could've ever gotten its start somewhere else—say, Mars, for example—quickly pointing out that our lovely planet's existence is already pretty insane on its own. Meanwhile, Julian takes a simple “why hot things glow red” question and follows it straight through Max Planck to the idea of whether the universe itself has a maximum possible temperature. Naturally, we end up circling the origin of everything like that isn't wildly overkill, and we somehow accidentally relive the Big Bang along the way.QUESTIONSJulian: “Is there a limit to how hot something can get?” from TylerTrace: “Could we be martians?” from WynDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
If you've been itching for a cross-country trip, you could just book a flight like a normal person… but where's the fun in that? This week, Julian (heroically) avoids talking about aviation and instead explores his second-favorite mode of transportation: a Mazda Miata outfitted with two Ferrari engines bolted to the sides. Yes, it has training wheels. No, that does not pass inspection. Meanwhile, Trace is busy figuring out if he can hang ten on a giant Detroit-style pepperoni pizza—which, shockingly, is *mostly* possible but, unshockingly, not very delicious.QUESTIONSJulian: “How fast would I have to go to coast from L.A. to New York?” from AlanTrace: “Is there any way that you could use a pizza, cooked or frozen, as a surfboard?” from ParkerDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week on the pod, Julian makes a groundbreaking discovery: contrary to popular belief, humans and squid are, in fact, very different animals. One species commonly needs glasses, and the other…sometimes may also need glasses? Meanwhile, Trace tries to figure out if sound could travel slower in the dark, and the answer is yes! As long as you're okay with being instantly vaporized.
This week, Trace turns a completely normal human behavior into a full-blown scientific investigation, uncovering how airflow, temperature, and mouth geometry can make you feel like you're secretly developing budget-tier superpowers. Meanwhile, Julian takes a bold step forward for both science and dairy by stress-testing the limits of cheese in a scenario it was never meant to survive. Along the way: thermodynamics, questionable engineering choices, and the realization that just because something can exist in a lava-like state doesn't mean it should.QUESTIONSJulian: “How much cheese could protect the space shuttle?” from AdamTrace: “Why is it when you breathe like hooo it's cold but when you breathe like haaaaa it's hot?” from TaterDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
DescriptionHi all! As I'm sure those of you with the patience to sit through the end credits know, the show is edited and produced by Kyle Sisk. Kyle is the glue holding this podcast together, taking the loose collection of pocket lint that makes up the brains of the two hosts and stitching it together into a beautiful audio tapestry. Without Kyle there truly would be no show. How do we know this? Because this week, we had no Kyle. Kyle came down with COVID and this man STILL tried to get an episode cut together in time for our regular upload. Ultimately we decided his recovery is more important than an arbitrary deadline for a silly show where we're probably going to be talking about dogs made of spaghetti or something, and so this week will be another of our old favorites. Please enjoy!In this episode, it's a battle of (nit)wits! Trace discovers the deadly truth about poison immunity while Julian figures out how to make the worst numbering system imaginable.QuestionsJulian: "Can you still do maths using a unary (base 1) numeral system?" from MasonTrace: "How long would it have taken Westley to build up his immunity to iocaine powder?" from TessaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Hey all! This week, we're rebroadcasting a very memorable TAPE episode from last June to give ourselves a bit of a break: Julian's flight school classes started up again in full force and Trace is traveling back and forth to Brazil to visit his partner while they're undergoing their IVF journey. Don't you fret, though, because this episode contains ⚡️SHOCKING⚡️ and
.... . .-.. .-.. --- / .- -. -.. / .-- . .-.. -.-. --- -- . / - --- / .- -. --- - .... . .-. / .-- .. .-.. -.. / . .--. .. ... --- -.. . / --- ..-. / - .... .- - .----. ... / .- -... ... ..- .-. -.. / .--. .-.. . .- ... . / . .-.. .- -... --- .-. .- - .In this episode, we learn that Julian will never be employed as a telegraph operator, but he might have a future as a Soviet janitor named Ivan who works at a nuclear research facility and collects spicy dead pigeons in his spare time. It's OK, the CIA left them for him, he's not weird. Meanwhile, Trace discovers that the world does not in fact revolve around himself… or anyone else, for that matter. If it did, Everyone Dies™ one way or another.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPEhttps://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarfHere's Trace's photo of the Orion Nebula that made Julian even more jealous than before:https://www.instagram.com/p/DVgdBJ8jW3l/?igsh=MXR2cnp0MWJhcmU0aA==QUESTIONSJulian: "What is the best way to secretly communicate with another person in the same room?" from ArtTrace: "What if the world actually did revolve around a person?" from Swamp Goat & ChrisDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week, Trace takes a closer look at one of the boldest maneuvers in pirate cinema: whether a determined crowd could actually flip something the size of an aircraft carrier by running from one side to the other like in the documentary “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Meanwhile, Julian investigates the logistics of purchasing the Sun—who exactly you'd pay for it, what ownership might legally mean, and how tempting it would be to start charging the planet a small recurring fee for access to daylight.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPEhttps://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarfHere's Trace's photo of the Orion Nebula that made Julian even more jealous than before:https://www.instagram.com/p/DVgdBJ8jW3l/?igsh=MXR2cnp0MWJhcmU0aA==QUESTIONSJulian: "Sun, how much?" from FrandorTrace: "How many people would it take to flip an average aircraft carrier?" from ArtDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week, we're rewriting the rules of life, starting at the molecular level and ending 250 miles above Earth. Julian digs into what would happen if our genetic code were triple-stranded like the Time Lords from Doctor Who. Except, TNA does exist (just not the way you think), and triple-stranded DNA isn't possible… or is it? Meanwhile, all-star guest and fart-gun connoisseur Lieven Scheire phones a friend who casually happens to be a former ISS commander to figure out how long astronauts could survive if everyone on Earth vanished, breaking it down into the four things you have to consider: water, oxygen, fuel, and cannibalism—wait, sorry, food! We meant food…LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPEhttps://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarfHere's Trace's photo of the Orion Nebula that made Julian even more jealous than before:https://www.instagram.com/p/DVgdBJ8jW3l/?igsh=MXR2cnp0MWJhcmU0aA==QUESTIONSJulian: "What if our DNA was TNA?" from AubreyLieven: "How long could the astronauts on the ISS live if everyone on earth disappeared?" from 80hd-neumann on SpotifyDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week on the most serious, most dramatic podcast ever recorded, Trace finally takes Archimedes up on his little boast: “Give me a lever and I can move the world.” Bold claim from a man who's never seen a 1999 Toyota Corolla. Meanwhile, Julian enters the stickiest thought experiment imaginable—yep, even stickier than trying to eat a spoonful of peanut butter with absolutely nothing to wash it down.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPEhttps://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarfTrace really loves it. Julian is jealous. Kyle is … well, he's Kyle.QUESTIONSJulian: "Is there anything that the worlds strongest adhesive does not stick to?" from StephenTrace: "Archimedes said, give me a lever and I can move the world. How long would the lever have to be?" from RossDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week, Julian—hoping to crown the true MVP of the animal kingdom—drafts the ultimate basketball beast, while Trace turns up the heat to find out whether we're actually sweating in hot showers and, more deliciously, how many workouts it would take to perfectly season an omelette with his own hard-earned salt.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPEhttps://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarfTrace really loves it. Julian is jealous. Kyle is … well, he's Kyle.QUESTIONSJulian: "What animal would be the best playing ball?" from ErickTrace: "Are we sweating during hot showers?" from Terry & "How long do I have to exercise to perfectly season my omelette?" from MarcDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
In this emergency rerun episode, Trace's quest for answers takes him to a magical fantasy land of wizards, frozen keys, and bodily fluids. Meanwhile Julian discovers that there are about 3 degrees of separation between chickpeas and dynamite. Yes, really.P.S. Turns out pipes have strong opinions about podcasting schedules...mine burst.
Both Julian and Trace did ‘a journalism' this week! First, Julian learns that electricity is NOT magic (but will kill you) by calling a relative who makes lightning in a lab. Then, TracecalledaprofessorfromUCLAtoseehowmuchspacethatwouldsave.Turnsoutnotthatmuch. AlsoitmakesEVERYTHINGsomuchhardertoread.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DWARF 3 SMART TELESCOPEhttps://link.thatsabsurdshow.com/dwarfTrace really loves it. Julian is jealous. Kyle is … well, he's Kyle.QUESTIONSJulian: "How much water does it take NOT to get electrocuted?" from StevenTrace: "How much paper would we save if we got rid of spaces and returns?" from GeraldDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week Julian hunts the medical mysteries behind the mystical unicorn horn, and Trace reads a loooooooot of government regulations looking to get tripped up by one tiny thing.QUESTIONSJulian: "How would we go about assessing the medical properties of unicorn horn?" from MattTrace: "How tall does an object have to be to be tripped over?" from BryannaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Anyone who's ever had to educate a talking donkey would know, onions have layers (just like ogres). But, just like in the story with the giant, green, scottish (?) ogre — it's important to remember the lessons behind the fables! Like the tortoise and the hare, which reminds us that even if the tortoise doesn't win the race, it'll outlive a rabbit by several decades. Take that RABBIT.QUESTIONSJulian: "At what distance race would a tortoise actually be likely to beat a hare?" from Patreon poll winner NickTrace: "What is the half-life of an onion? If it was hypothetically preserved could it radioactive decay? How long would it take?" from BynzyldyhydeditoximonothaixyprophineDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week Julian takes a pleasant trip down to his local Egyptian library and tries to save it from burning to the ground and dramatically altering the course of history. And returning guest host Ralph Crewe explores the solar system in the most macabre way possible!QUESTIONSJulian: "If the library of Alexandria was never destroyed, how technologically advanced would we actually be today?" - FinjanRalph: "What would happen to a dead human body on each planet in the solar system" - ChelseaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
It's our first episode of the new year! Welcome to 2026! In this, wild episode Trace (recording from his parent's sun room) explores the chemistry and power of the lasagna battery. Then, Julian flies off the handle about helicopters as a gift for himself for his birthday (Happy Birthday, Julian!
Like Boromir said, "It is a gift! Let us use it against them!" The internet has been taken over by #lofi girls, so we commissioned an artist to turn Julian and Trace into our own #lofigirl for the holidays! (Is it a lofi girl? are we lofi guys? We're honestly not sure. Either way, we did it!!)We love you all! Thanks for making 2025 such an amazing year (for our little community) even though it was generally a terrible year for gestures broadly. Hope this can being a little light to your holiday season. Enjoy the wintery lofi beats interspersed with #holiday-themed fun facts! See you in 2026!QUESTIONSTrace:
Support your giving goals this holiday season! Go to GiveDirectly.org/Absurd and get a 100% match by Giving Multiplier! (Don't dilly-dally this match is only until the end of the year!)This episode aired around Easter, prompting us to ask: where does that weird Bunny get all the eggs? And why are there eggs in the first place? Guest Yasmin Khan (The Young Turks) has an answer. Meanwhile, Julian explores the word of bat-style crime fighting on a budget and Trace explores if living on Mars would make us super aggro!QUESTIONSJulian: "How can I be Batman on a Budget?" from Wyn (featuring Jasmine from Give Directly)Yasmin: "Where did the Easter Bunny get the eggs?" from Emily ATrace: "Would we all be more aggressive if we lived under a martian red sky?" from guest Yasmin KhanDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
If your life had a soundtrack what would it be? Up-tempo action music? Epic orchestral swells? Romantic… xylophones? Are xylophones romantic? We don't know, we're podcasters, not EGOT-winning music producers of screen and stage. Maybe it's a good thing you can't hear what's in our heads… aside from on this show where we say everything in our heads, obviously. In this episode Trace explores what it might be like if the music in your head had a public feed. Meanwhile Julian tries to figure out what he couldn't do even if he had all the time in the world. Seriously, all of it.QUESTIONSJulian: "What can we NOT achieve with enough time?" from ShaneTrace: "What if you could hear someone else's life soundtrack?" from RebeccaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
We did another live show!! I'm not sure how we convinced the Bay Area Science Festival that we are a legitimate podcast, but, hey, people actually showed up to watch the show in-person in San Francisco. We had an extremely tight window, and are famously (infamously?) long-winded, so in this episode special guest Dr Wallace Marshall ponders the nightmare of giant tardigrades, and Trace looks into the availability of gluttony… you know, for science.If you want to have our show on the road to you — send us an email at hello at thatsabsurdshow.com !QUESTIONSTrace: "At an all you can eat buffet, is there some point at which you can just keep eating as much more food as you want without gaining any additional weight or blood sugar or whatever?" from guest Dr. Marshall Wallace of UCSFMarshall: "What would happen if tardigrades were bigger?" from listener KristinaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Happy American Turkey Consumption Day!
If we say: Making whoopee. Polishing the broomstick. The pickle tickle. Shagging. Enjoying Taco Tuesday. Parking the beef bus in Tuna Town. Waxing the carrot. Boinking. Glazing donuts. Going downtown. … I think you get what we mean (right?)This week, special guest Danielle probes the terrible scenario where ‘Doing Taxes' was more like actually filing financial paperwork than going for a roll in the hay. Meanwhile, Trace gets stuck in some kind of time loop (no groundhogs were harmed in the answering of this question).In case the above wasn't clear: This episode definitely acknowledges the existence of sex.QUESTIONSTrace: "What's the maximum number of times you could have déjà vu in a row before you'd get stuck in some kind of time loop?" from Danielle BezalelDanielle: "What if “doing taxes" wasn't fun (didn't feel good)?” from Constant ListenerDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
You know what's passé? Chemical rockets. Powering a space ship by harnessing the expanding gasses of a controlled explosion and shooting off to parts unknown guided only by fire, math, and spite for the force of gravity? Yawn. What if instead you got like, 40 cyclists with thighs as big as tree trunks that just won't quit, stuck them on some stationary bikes, and used them to power your spaceship like it was a sci-fi trireme from the year 30,000? WOULD THAT SOLVE ANYTHING??? Trace is going to find out.Meanwhile Julian is very concerned with the structural integrity of some fairy-tale pig houses, because they aren't up to code and there's a storm a-comin'. And that storm's name is Wolf. Big Wolf. Big Bad Wolf.QUESTIONS THIS WEEKJulian: "How much wind and energy was the big bad wolf able to generate in the three little pigs?" from AdamTrace: "What's the most efficient way to extract energy from a human?" from LudvigDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over my quaint and curious human egg, forgotten I should stretch my leg— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door“Though thy egg be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from a non-avian shore— Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's ratetian shore!” Quoth the Raven “No birds no more.”QUESTIONSJulian: "What if humans laid eggs as opposed to live birth?" from MarcoMarco from the San Diego Zoo: “What if there were no birds, like ever?” from MeganTrace: "What if humans laid eggs as opposed to live birth?" from Marco
In this special HALLOWEEN EPISODE ⚡️ Julian and Trace wear out Kyle's lightning button ⚡️ and answer some SpoOOoOooOOOoky questions about ⚡️ dangerous animals ⚡️ vampires and in true Millennial fashion…⚡️ ⚡️ ⚡️ alcohol ⚡️QUESTIONSJulian: "If a vampire bit and fed off of a very drunk person, would the vampire then get drunk from the persons contaminated blood? If so, would this also work for other substances (like caffeine or THC)?" from KellyTrace: "What is the most dangerous animal to become sentient?" from MacksDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
When can we all admit that we're all scrolling instagram while sitting on the toilet? When will we admit that foods with more surface area are just darn tastier? And when will we admit that … well we're still on the toilet because of constipation. Julian and Trace will cover all of this in this week's episode.Except the instagram thing, that's still a mystery to science because no one will admit it!! WHEN CAN WE ALL ADMIT THAT WE'RE AL—sounds of being stuffed into a truckQUESTIONSJulian: "What's the most impractical way to treat constipation" from Anonymous PooperTrace: "Why does the ‘surface area theory' work?" from BenDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Locusts, Squirrels, and Birds OH MY! In this wild episode of the show, Julian drones on like the queen he is all about airplanes and bees. Then, Trace finds some fuzzy commandos to gnaw at infrastructure of New Jersey. Squirrel away this knowledge for a rainy day — as long as the locusts don't attack your airplane.QUESTIONSJulian: "How many bees would it take to Sully a plane?" from Zoe-- Wiki about Sully's plane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549-- Images of locust strikes: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/plague-locusts-180975345/Trace: "How many squirrels would it take to invade New Jersey?" from Pheonix-- Squirrel with a Gun gameplay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZj4Ft6ZklM-- Squirrel with a Gun trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mpnSSJwSRw-- Play Cyber Squirrel One and invade your own power station here: https://robidev.github.io/CyberSquirrelOne/Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Dearest Listeners,We write from our recording studio's trenches. The air is thick and oppressive. The relentless heat tests our resolve. Our studios, once creative havens, now resemble the crannies of camels. The temperature rises each hour, and so do tempers. We are tired–Listeners—bone-tired, the kind that settles deep into one's soul. Yet we press forward, driven by our duty to document the absurd. Julian hasn't fared well; the heat has frayed his nerves, making him snap at small provocations. Sophie has started doing karaoke and wears strange accents. Trace is... indescribable. We all persist, for absurdity waits for no one, and neither shall we. Onward to the 100th And a Halfth.Your faithful servants of nonsense, warmed like croissants, but unbroken.QUESTIONSJulian: "Why glasses thick and contact lenses not thick?" from SaffTrace: "Would eating lab grown human meat be considered cannibalism?" from Ellen featuring Simone Giertz (Her own YouTube channel, Yetch Store, formerly, Queen of Shi*ty Robots)Trace: "Is there a universal geographic coordinate system for the human body? If so, where is the Prime Meridian located on the body? Is it even necessary to assign a name to every square centimeter of the body?" from Yusuke featuring Patrick Kelly (PatKellyTeaches on YouTube)Julian: "Would I be cold if I was covered in thermal paste?" from ShaneTrace: "How large would I need to be for noticeable lag in real life?" from Jori featuring Amy Shira Teitel (VintageSpace on YouTube, on Twitch theSpaceVixen)Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
WE DID IT. WE MADE 100 PODCAST EPISODES WITHOUT MISSING AN UPLOAD (almost).To celebrate Trace and Julian decided to do it big. How big? TEN WHOLE QUESTIONS BIG. SO BIG THEY HAD TO ASK THEIR FRIEND SOPHIE SHRAND TO HELP THEM OUT BIG. BIG ENOUGH TO.... BE... LIKE... REALLY LONG... BIG.You get the idea.We pulled out all the stops for this absolute marathon of an episode because we owed it to you all. You have made making each episode such a delight with your weird thoughts, running gags, and delightful dispositions. As just a couple of dudes riddled with ADHD and science nerdiness... what did we do to deserve you?! We're so grateful that y'all have showed up for this show week after week. Thank you.QUESTIONSJulian: "What if water ice sank?" from HunterTrace: “How much did Rapunzel's long hair weigh?” from Hal with Special Guest Kari Byron (Mythbusters, MythFits podcast)Sophie: “Likely way to die while walking my dog?” from LisaJulian “If a frog had a glass ass would it hop?” from CoyTrace: "How would the world be different if Zeppelins were the primary method of transportation?" from Hannah (yes, that Hannah) feat special guest Dr Alex Dainis (a.k.a. the “Blimp Lady”)Do you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Tired of having to do all your evil deeds yourself? Well with this one simple organism and some ethically dubious genetic engineering you too could have your very own army of immortal minions! (Intelligence and number of eyes may vary). Julian explores what you might need to make these little favorites of moms everywhere. Then Trace explores a pool of saliva.... Just going to leave it at that.QUESTIONS:Julian: "If you were to create a Despicable Me Minion what living thing would you start with?" -AvaTrace: "Is it possible to drown people in saliva? " -MostaphaelDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Want to make a nanoscale image of the Mona Lisa? Listener Kodiak does. All they have to do is learn a bit of quantum mechanics, some thermochemical nanolithography, and then tap the genius of ancient superbrain Leonardo da Vinci! EASY!! Scientists did it!! Even though you can't see it without a powerful microscope trust us that she is smirking even harder than usual.While Trace is poking around like Ant Man, Julian roleplays as Frozen's Elsa to see if he can extinguish fire with nothing but an icy blast. Spoiler alert: you may be better off with a magical mystical freeze ray.TRY YOUR HAND AT NANO ARTThanks to Prof. Babak Anasori for coming on the show and explaining nanoscale art to us.
The hip bone connected to the basalt rockThe femur bone connected to the lunar mariaThe foot bone connected to the gravitational equilibrium of the celestial bodies!That's the story of the bones… and… this episode?QUESTIONSTrace: "How easy would it be to break your bones if humans can fly?" from AnonymousJulian: "How big would the moon have to be to make you weightless?" from SunDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
his week, Julian prunes the universe down to size: bonsai animals, bonsai humans, bonsai...uhm...did he just say bonsai HUMANS? Meanwhile, Trace tunes into the world of telepathy, where mind-reading might sound less like superpowers and more like trying to pick up a radio station with a bent coat hanger.QUESTIONSJulian: "Can you bonsai any living things other than trees or shrubs?" from ArdTrace: "How would telepathy actually work? Would it be fuzzy like those AI images? Aren't all brains wired differently?" from DalaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
This week, we and guest Lieven Scheire all ruminate about a new job: Fart Safety Officer. Meanwhile, Trace get's SALTY thinking about what if the oceans weren't and Julian calculates the pure pasty reflectiveness of the Britons.QUESTIONSTrace: "If we removed all salt from the oceans, would that solve anything about rising water levels?" from RobLieven Scheire: "Could a fart be ruminated to the point where smelling it would kill you?" from NickJulian: “Could enough pasty Brits reflect enough sunlight to make a laser?” from GabrielDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Julian rolls into yet another extremely nerdy community and fires rounds left and right. Meanwhile, Trace calls his mom to help answer a question from a kid. As long as we're not on the subject though, what do tree trunks and military tanks have in common? They're both flammable.QUESTIONSJulian: "Who would win: Dragons vs WW2 tanks” - Tim Trace: “Why are trees Green and Brown why not purple or something else?” - RhondaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Hi Seeker+ fans, Trace here! It's been a while, but I'm back. This feed now belongs to me and my lil' production company, Trace Elements Media! I've got an announcement for you… I'VE GOT A NEW SCIENCE PODCAST :: That's Absurd Please Elaborate.In our new show, Julian Huguet and I answer ridiculous questions with serious science research. We have been working on this podcast for a couple of years, and it's funny, quirky, strange, and takes deep dives into everything from arboreal shrinkage to space elevators, psychology of pets to the rocket equation and how it applies to farts (seriously). This is the first half of Episode 68 -- Vulcan Tech or Unladen Swallows: Where'd you get the coconut? Which aired earlier this year.I hope you enjoy! Please come join us on the show, links to that feed are here ↙️[[ SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW ]] We drop an episode every Thursday!Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thats-absurd-please-elaborate/id1680094699 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JOkmJBsVOuODHarxzmotZ?si=bbd7324faa1f4d7dAudible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Thats-Absurd-Please-Elaborate-Podcast/B0C112HVSQ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpPandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/thats-absurd-please-elaborate/PC:1001063894Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a59ffc33-878c-49b8-bedc-bb8995453ed5/that's-absurd-please-elaboratePocketcasts: https://pca.st/85cfavxv…or click here to listen on your favorite podcast app: https://pod.link/1680094699Our website: http://thatsabsurdshow.com+++++++++++++You can also find the show on Nebula! An indie streaming service run by creators. Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/thatsabsurdshow?ref=tracedominguezI invested in Nebula early on, and absolutely believe in the mission of for creators, by creators. Hundreds of us creators post videos there, we pool resources to make original shows and fund creator's films. It's really incredible. Nebula has a huge roster of creators onboard. You'll definitely find someone you like, and every time you watch the videos you were going to watch anyway that creator gets credit for the watch time. Support creators. Watch on Nebula. +++++++++++++[[ FOLLOW THAT'S ABSURD SHOW SHOW ON SOCIAL ]]Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsabsurdshowFacebook: https://facebook.com/thatsabsurdshowThreads: https://threads.net/thatsabsurdshowMastodon: https://mastodon.social/@thatsabsurdshowLinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thatsabsurdshowSubmit a Question for the pod: https://notionforms.io/forms/have-an-absurd-question*[[ FOLLOW TRACE ON SOCIAL ]]*
Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-doo, Julian's got a blueberry question for you…Oompa Loompa, do-ba-da-dee, it you are wise you'll listen to … this podcast??What do you get from a hose to space?“Is it a straw or a siphon,” asked Trace?Blaming us for these silly quest-ionsYou know exactly what… else happ-pens!We dig deep and will answer them!Oompa Loompa do-ba-dee-da,If you like this pod then you will go far.You will live in happiness too,Like the oompa loompa do-ba-dee-doo!QUESTIONSJulian: "What would happen if you ran a hose from the ocean into space" from PinkyTrace: "How many blueberries would you have to eat to actually turn blue?" from JustinDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
In this episode, Trace investigates whether your furry companion is cuddling you... or forging a trauma bond in exchange for treats. Meanwhile, in a shocking twist of anatomy, Julian answers what would happen if your muscles worked in reverse. Flexing? Cancelled. Walking? Complicated. Cuddling your trauma-bonded cat? Still mandatory.QUESTIONSJulian: "What if muscles worked in the opposite direction?" from Eline from the NetherlandsTrace: "Does my cat have Stockholm syndrome?" from RobDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's silly idea you had, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? If you want an answer, no matter the question, tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
In this rebroadcasted episode, Trace resets the solar system to observe what life would be like on a 2/3rds-sized "Wee Earth." Julian, meanwhile, uses particle physics to finally distinguish between his left and right hands.QUESTIONSJulian: "If I had some magic communicator to speak to someone in another galaxy, could I explain what "left" and "right" were?" from AnonymousTrace: "How would have life evolved if Earth was two-three times smaller?" from MomaDo you have an absurd question? Maybe it's a silly idea that popped into your head, a shower thought about the nature of reality, or a ridiculous musing about your favorite food? Whatever your question, we want to answer it—tell us!HOW TO ASK A QUESTION
Trace Dominguez joins the show to explain just how inconceivable building up an immunity to iocane powder (or other poisons) is. Sara Kiley also discusses unidentified seismic objects, and Rachel talks about how peeing together transcends species. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Links to Rachel's TikTok, Newsletter, Merch Store and More: https://linktr.ee/RachelFeltman Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman Link to Jess' Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn -- Follow our team on Twitter Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman Produced by Jess Boddy: www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci Theme music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ Thanks to our Sponsors! Get Started today at https://chime.com/WEIRDEST. Chime. Feels like progress. Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://www.Zocdoc.com/WEIRDEST to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices