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
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1:06:47
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1:06:47
Addiction: Neurodivergence and Choice
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
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1:04:40
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1:04:40
Addiction: Substance and Behaviour
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
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1:06:52
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1:06:52
Poisons and Venoms
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
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59:31
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59:31
The 2025 Ig Nobel Prizes
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
Join Mitch and Tom as they endeavour to decrease the entropy of information in our lives. From deep space and human evolution to pop culture and gaming filled tangents, the boys will take you through a whole host of scientific topics with guests joining them along the way. The IE Podcast makes science interesting, funny, and accessible for all! Join us for new content every week and find us on our socials to join in the conversation!
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