Whimsical Wavelengths - A Science Podcast

By Volcanologist & Geophysicist: Jeffrey Mark Zurek, PhD, PGeo | Science Communicator

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Category: Earth Sciences

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Subscribers: 1
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Episodes: 45

Description

Winner of the 2026 Science Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) and the 2026 PopCon Podcast Award for Science and Technology, Whimsical Wavelengths is a science podcast hosted by volcanologist Dr. Jeffrey Zurek dedicated to the "how" and "why" of discovery.

Eschewing the trend of bite-sized science, the show offers a deep, honest look at how science actually works, focusing on messy data, imperfect models, and the human personalities behind the research. From geophysics and planetary discovery to the history of scientific paradoxes, the focus is always on the process: how evidence is gathered, how ideas evolve over centuries, and why uncertainty is a fundamental feature of science rather than a flaw.

Because science is conducted by people, Whimsical Wavelengths does not ignore the human element. I weave together mathematical rigor and historical context with reflections on the realities of building a scientific career and what it truly means to belong in STEM. Whether it is a solo narrative exploration or a conversation with a working researcher, the goal is clarity without oversimplification.

The tone is thoughtful and curious, anchored by real-world field experience and the occasional groan-worthy dad joke, because while the science is serious, the pursuit of it is a human adventure. This is for listeners who want to understand the machinery of the natural world and the people who spend their lives trying to take it apart.

New episodes are released every two weeks.

Research the host and the show:


Episode Date
Bottoms Up: Decoding Kilauea’s Deep Magma Supply
May 25, 2026
Of Cows and Cures: Reconstructing the Logic of Vaccination
May 11, 2026
Inclusive Fieldwork: How Accessibility is Changing the Future of Geosciences
Apr 27, 2026
Strepsiptera: A Real Xenomorph? Evolution and Life Cycle of Twisted-Winged Parasites
Apr 13, 2026
Maars on Mars: Mapping Volcanic Water Interactions on the Red Planet
Mar 30, 2026
The Chemical Language of Black Widows: Pheromones and Deception in Spider Silk
Mar 16, 2026
The Artificial Geologist: Using Machine Learning & Neural Networks to Find Gold
Mar 02, 2026
The Science Behind Lunar Permanently Shadowed Regions: Ice and Resources for Future Missions
Feb 16, 2026
From Canada’s Largest Landslide to Modern Flood Hazards: Mt. Meager’s Volcano‑Driven Sediment Story
Feb 02, 2026
Mount Meager: Canada’s Most Dangerous Volcano? Cascadia, Landslides, and Hidden Risk
Jan 19, 2026
ENCORE Nikola Tesla- The man, the myth, the legend Pt1 - Back story and accomplishments
Jan 05, 2026
Wandering Stars: How We Found the Planets, Lost Pluto, and Learned How Science Really Works
Dec 22, 2025
Who Becomes a Scientist? Exploring STEM Pathways and Identity in Astronomy with Dr. Zachary Richards
Dec 08, 2025
Machine Learning Meets Geophysics: Image Segmentation and Inversion Tools with Johnathan Kuttai
Nov 24, 2025
A New Species of Pterosaur Unearthed in Australia with Adele Pentland
Nov 10, 2025
The Science of Plastic: Environmental Trade-Offs and Sustainability with an Industrial Scientist
Oct 27, 2025
Modeling Supermassive Black Holes and Accretion Disks with Dr James Chan – New Research Insights
Oct 13, 2025
The Science of Ice Cream - fat networks, sugar, temperature, air and temperature with Dr. Abigail Thiel!
Sep 29, 2025
Understanding Masaya Volcano – The Science Behind Its Basaltic Plinian Eruptions
Sep 15, 2025
Encore: The whimsical sounds of the Birds, Ornithology and why birds sing, territory and more with Miranda Zammarelli
Sep 01, 2025
Encore: Paleontology & Theropods PT2! Dinosaur behaviour from fossils - With Dr François Therrien
Aug 18, 2025
Encore: Dinosaurs and the mammal longevity gap, Evolutionary Biology - with Associate Professor Molly Burke
Aug 04, 2025
The Age of the Earth & The Fall of Leaded Gasoline: Clair Patterson
Jul 21, 2025
Scientific and Historical look at The rise Leaded Gasoline - When industry poisoned the world
Jul 07, 2025
Sierra Negra volcano's internal dynamics through gravity and deformation with Dr Antonina Calahorrano-Di Patre
Jun 23, 2025
Insects breathe?! An inside look at insect evolution through respiration with Dr Hollister Herhold
Jun 09, 2025
Modeling dwarf galaxies to probe the early universe with Dr. Eric Andersson
May 26, 2025
A tale of disappearing Seas, The Mediterranean sea basically drys up! - The Messinian Salinity Crisis
May 12, 2025
Gravitational Lensing Part 2! Strong Lensing, modeling and so much more!
Apr 28, 2025
Gravitational Lensing - Micro, weak, and Strong Oh MY! with Dr Georgios Vernardos
Apr 14, 2025
Umami, taste and Kitchen Chemistry of food ingredients! Delicious with guest Dr Bryan Le
Mar 31, 2025
The whimsical sounds of the Birds, Ornithology and why birds sing, territory and more with Miranda Zammarelli
Mar 17, 2025
Climate Change - weather, climate & science communications. Frank discussion with Research Meteorologist Jared Rennie
Mar 03, 2025
Investigating the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa Volcano using gravity: what created the Ninole Hills?
Feb 17, 2025
Paleontology & Theropods PART2! Soooo good it needed a sequel - With Dr François Therrien
Feb 03, 2025
Jurassic Park 30 years of Paleontology & T-Rex (Theropods) - With Dr François Therrien
Jan 20, 2025
Nikola Tesla - Pt2, Free Energy, and the Physics of Conspiracy
Jan 06, 2025
Nikola Tesla- The man, the myth, the legend Pt1 - Back story and accomplishments
Dec 23, 2024
Dinosaurs and the mammal longevity gap, Evolutionary Biology - Guest Associate Professor Molly Burke
Dec 09, 2024
NASA's Lucky Peanuts - Interview with JPL's Dr Morgan Cable
Nov 25, 2024
What is High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) and it's conspiracies?
Nov 11, 2024
The predicted impending Nova from T Coronae Borealis! An interview with Dr David Zurek
Oct 28, 2024
Dante's Peak Pt2 - ballistics, lava and earthquakes Oh my! with SFU's Volcanology Group
Oct 14, 2024
Dante's Peak Part 1 a Primer
Sep 30, 2024
Introduction and a short history of wavelengths
Sep 16, 2024