A CN Tower-sized mega tsunami, and more…
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This week's episode of Quirks and Quarks dives into a series of fascinating scientific stories, beginning with a massive 481-meter tsunami triggered by a landslide in Alaska's Tracy Arm fjord—nearly as tall as the CN Tower and linked to melting glaciers. Scientists explain how climate change is increasing the risk of such catastrophic events in narrow fjords. The episode then shifts to the Andes hantavirus, a rare, person-to-person-transmissible virus causing concern after a cruise ship outbreak, with insights from Dr. Gustavo Palacios on airborne transmission risks and containment strategies. A surprising study reveals raccoons solve puzzles not for food but for intrinsic enjoyment, suggesting shared cognitive motivations with humans. The show explores the evolutionary roots of caretaking across species, from poison frogs transporting tadpoles to eusocial naked mole rats, highlighting how cooperative care shaped human evolution. Elizabeth Preston's book, 'The Creature's Guide to Caring,' underscores that caregiving is a deeply rooted biological trait, not just a human invention. The episode closes with a nostalgic archival interview with Dr. Mike Brown, the 'man who killed Pluto,' and a listener question about the 'wah-wah' sound in cars, explained by Helmholtz resonance. The episode blends awe-inspiring natural phenomena with deep scientific inquiry and a touch of humor.
Melting glaciers are increasing the risk of massive landslide tsunamis in narrow fjords, with climate change playing a key role.
The Andes hantavirus can spread person-to-person, likely through respiratory secretions, and requires careful contact tracing and isolation.
Raccoons solve puzzles for fun, not just food, indicating intrinsic motivation similar to humans.
Cooperative caregiving evolved in humans and other animals as a survival strategy, with brain circuits for care shared across species.
Having children may have a protective effect on brain aging, with caregiving providing cognitive stimulation.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Intro: The Power of Puzzles and Planet Debate
Bob McDonald welcomes listeners to Quirks and Quarks, introducing the episode's themes: a giant tsunami, raccoon puzzle-solving, hantavirus, and the legacy of Pluto's demotion.
The Monster Tsunami of Tracy Arm: Climate Change and Collapse
“The wave itself was traveling over 100 kilometers an hour out the fjord... but of course, much of it was sloshing back and forth, sort of like if you fill up a pot of water at the kitchen sink and you trip a little bit and that water is sort of bouncing around, spilling over the edge.”
Andes Hantavirus: A Deadly, Human-to-Human Outbreak
“The respiratory secretions, I believe that they are involved. At least as I told you, I mean these... connection that, you know, sharing of the space in passing to the restroom. I mean, I think that the only type of infectious material that could be exchanged in those conditions would be respiratory secretions.”
Raccoons and the Joy of Solving Puzzles
“We think that they may be intrinsically motivated to engage in what we are calling this paper, we're calling information foraging. So in humans, that's certainly a feeling that we're all familiar with...”
The Evolution of Care: From Frogs to Humans
“It's not just a question of something inborn. It's not just in their DNA. And we know this because you can take the pups from the more caring and the less caring mothers. you can swap them. You can have them foster pups who aren't related. And what matters to their caretaking when they grow up is just how they were raised.”
“It's not just a question of something inborn. It's not just in their DNA. And we know this because you can take the pups from the more caring and the less caring mothers. you can swap them. You can have them foster pups who aren't related. And what matters to their caretaking when they grow up is just how they were raised.”
“I actually like Pluto. But it had it coming. There was really nothing I could do. It wasn't my fault. Why do you mean it had it coming? If you look at Pluto in the context of the solar system... it's very clear that we've made a mistake.”
“The respiratory secretions, I believe that they are involved. At least as I told you, I mean these... connection that, you know, sharing of the space in passing to the restroom. I mean, I think that the only type of infectious material that could be exchanged in those conditions would be respiratory secretions.”
Host
Guests
Quirks and Quarks
media
Andes Hantavirus
other
Elizabeth Preston
person
Bob McDonald
person
Dr. Gustavo Palacios
person
Pluto
other
Dr. Dan Sugar
person
Hannah Gribling
person
Tracy Arm
place
Naked Mole Rat
other
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