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In this episode, we explore the four species of Neotrogla (Insecta: Psocodea: Prionoglarididae) and their unique genitalia. Females in these species have a penis-like organ which penetrates the male, retrieves sperm, and deposits it back in their own body. We discuss the genital mechanism here, the broader genital landscape in animals, the meaning of sex and sexual adaptations, and some of the human context in language and definitions. EXTENSIVE show notes and transcript are available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/02/14/episode-20/. We link to all the articles we reference, and further reading on some more topics. Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles and Tessa @spacermase. The show is on Twitter and Instagram @ASABpod and at our website asabpodcast.com.  If you enjoy the show, please tell your friends, and thank you for listening!

In this episode, analytical chemist Dr. Carolyn P Hutchison, professor at St. Bonaventure, talks to us about their research in anticoagulant rodenticides and wastewater. Topics include rodenticides, bioaccumulation, environmental chemistry, a brief tangent about insects, and Carolyn's post-apocalyptic plans.  More information on Carolyn and their research can be found at their website: https://www.cphutchinson.com/.  Show notes and a transcript for this episode are available on our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/02/03/episode-19/ Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show @ASABpod.  Thank you for listening! 

On this episode we consider the implications of strange radio emissions from around Proxima Centauri. Tangents include Pluto, the meaning of planets, how to even detect radio signals, speculating about aliens, and why do we care about water so much anyway.  This episode was inspired by the findings written on in this article from the SETI institute: https://www.seti.org/signal-proxima-centauri?fbclid=IwAR155CthU3xZUghqUHRwnoDnh4lAFcN91Y1g-xtAlFqpW_s2cIEF6271guw Links for further reading and a transcript are available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/01/20/episode-18/ Tessa is on Twitter @spacermase, Charles @cockroacharles, and the show @ASABpod.  Thank you for listening! 

On this, our first episode of 2021, we talk to Rae Lambert, a research virologist at Jefferson University about immunology, vaccines, rabies, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), viruses, applied science, spiders in space, and the existential horror of inhabiting a human body.  Show notes and a transcript are available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/01/12/episode-17/ Rae is on Twitter @appalledimmuno, Charles @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show @ASABpod.  Thank you for listening! 

On this episode we're joined by Emarose Ahmed, a synthetic organic chemist at UNLV. We learn about orbital hybridization, phosphorus, synthetic chemistry, chirality, lab protocol, and Charles takes a long detour to defend cockroaches.  Links, readings, and a transcript can be found at our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/12/29/episode-16 Emarose can be found on Twitter and Instagram @tenuissimus.  Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, the show @ASABpod and at our website asabpodcast.com. 

In this episode Tessa and Charles talk to each other about the first four episodes of Star Trek: Discovery Season 3. After a soft reboot, the Discovery crew ends up over 900 years into their future to find a universe without the Federation. Plus, trans people!  Show notes and a transcript for this episode are available at our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/12/15/episode-15 Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show @ASABpod.  Thank you for listening! 

In this episode, Australian entomologist Faelan Mourmourakis comes on to tell us about his research in the limitations of bee cognition. Tangents include the hell of academic funding, how people don't adequately appreciate insects' cuteness, and the emu war (which is real, and which humans lost).  To see more about Faelan's research, you can check out his website: https://faemourmourakis.wordpress.com/ A transcript for this episode is available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/12/01/episode-14/ Faelan is on Twitter @Faemourmourakis, Charles @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show @ASABpod.  Thank you for listening! 

On this episode, we had on chemist Elizabeth Feinberg to talk about her research experiences with lasers, plastics, and sewage, and tells us what the heck plastic even is. Since recording this episode a few months ago, she got a new job! But we don't mention it because it was more recent than our recording.  For each episode, we have a transcript on our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/11/10/episode-13/ You can find us on Twitter: Elizabeth @EC_Feinberg, Charles @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase.  The show is on Twitter @ASABpod and our website asabpodcast.com Thank you for listening! 

On this supersized super spooky Halloween special, we bring on returning guest Erin Barbeau to discuss the Locked Tomb Trilogy by Tamsyn Muir, which isn't especially trans but is very gay, and very spooky.  A transcript of this episode is available on our website, https://asabpodcast.com/2020/10/31/episode-12/ Erin can be found online @insectoidreview and @bug_wrangler on Twitter, at zir SFF review blog https://insectoidreviews.wordpress.com/, and on Instagram @caterpillar.creative.  Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles and Tessa @spacermase.  The show is on Twitter @ASABpod and on our website asabpodcast.com.  Thank you for listening! 

On this episode we're joined by science educator and aspiring astronaut Sam Long. Sam is a high school science teacher in Colorado who is one of the main minds behind the Gender Inclusive Biology project, a project to develop more inclusive biology curriculum for K-12 students. He was also a finalist for the Out Astronaut contest in 2019, and a fantastic guest!  Sam's other podcast appearances and writing can be found on his website, at http://sam-long.weebly.com/press.html.  The Gender Inclusive Biology project is available online at https://www.genderinclusivebiology.com/.  A transcript and show notes are available on our website for this episode at https://asabpodcast.com/2020/10/27/episode-11/.  You can Sam on Twitter @samlong713, Charles @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show @ASABpod.  Thank you for listening! 

On today's episode we have immuno-oncology student Vic Zamloot on his research using Salmonella on cancerous tumors, as well as ethics in science and having never read Animorphs. Enough time has passed that when we recorded Vic was a mere PhD student and is now a full-fledged PhD candidate, which you won't be surprised to learn after you hear their command of relevant information.  A full transcript for the episode is available at our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/10/05/episode-10/ You can find Vic on Twitter at @dngayest, Charles @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show @ASABpod. 

In this episode, we brought on three different space scientists to discuss the recent announcement of phosphine found in Venus's atmosphere. We talk about why it's exciting, what it means, whether there are aliens, and which ones we'd date.  A transcript is available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/09/25/episode-9/ You can find all of us on Twitter @DrAshleyNova, @powerzzs, @theneedforsneed, @cockroacharles, and @spacermase, and the show @ASABpod and at our website asabpodcast.com. 

In this episode, Bryan K Lynn joins us to talk about his research using bacteria to study the evolution of cooperation, as well as being trans in science, fear of apocalypse, and the baffling decision to present Kelsey Grammer as a blue beefcake in X-Men: The Last Stand.  A transcript is available for this (and all our other) episode on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/09/14/episode-8/ Bryan can be found on Twitter @abstractbryan or at his website https://www.bryanklynn.com/.  Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, the show @ASABpod. We can also be found at our website, asabpodcast.com. 

On this week's episode we spoke to chemical engineer and self-described battery nerd Sophie Lee. They told us about their background in research and current research interests, indulged Charles in his request to have chemistry explained to him as if he were a precocious 10-year-old, and joined us in a meditation on how the world feels like it's on fire (and in some places, is literally on fire).    A transcript and show notes are available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/09/02/episode-7/   You can find Sophie on Twitter @sophieelee, Charles @cockroacharles, and Tessa at @spacermase.    You can find the show on Twitter or Instagram @ASABpod or at our website asabpodcast.com. 

For this episode, we watched Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 4x06, "Rejoined," in which Jadzia Dax meets and contemplates rekindling a relationship with the new (female) host of one of her symbiont's previous host's wife's symbiont. We start talking about the gayest Star Trek episode before the new millennium and veer hard off course into a consideration of immortality, consciousness, and the metaphysics of transporter and robot technologies.    A transcript can be found on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/08/25/episode-6/   Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show can be found on Twitter and Instagram @ASABpod and at our website asabpodcast.com. 

Our guest this week is entomologist (specializing on caterpillars), illustrator, and science fiction reviewer Erin Barbeau. We talk about science fiction, museum collections, insect research, cool caterpillars, and the significance of genitalia.    Transcript and show notes on our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/08/18/episode-5/   Erin can be found a variety of places online.  insectoidreviews on Twitter @insectoidreview or on their blog insectoidreviews.wordpress.com. Professional: on Twitter @Bug_Wrangler or erinbarbeau.wordpress.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caterpillar.creative/   You can find us @cockroacharles and @spacermase, and the show on Twitter @ASABpod or our website, asabpodcast.com. 

Our first guest is comic writer Melody Dickens, who has a background in applied biomedical sciences and science education. We talk about her experiences with research, with teaching science, and, inevitably, a lot of Star Trek.   Transcript and notes for this episode are available on our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/08/04/episode-4/   Melody can be found on Twitter @MelodyDickens. Her comic can be found @Schmultsy, and the first 200 strips can be purchased together on Amazon.    You can find us @cockroacharles and @spacermase, and the show on Twitter @ASABpod or our website, asabpodcast.com. 

In this episode we use the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Chase" (Season 6, Episode 20) to talk about evolution, philosophy of science, whether life is governed by laws, and how extraterrestrial life might develop. 

Charles talks about biological taxonomy, systematics, and nomenclature. If that sounds boring to you, it probably will be, there's no hidden twist it's just about taxonomy.    A transcript is available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2020/07/21/episode-2/

In this ep Tessa describes some of the background of astrobiology as a field, and talks about her own research.