Mark and Toddcast

#119 – The Symmetry of Emmy Noether

Emmy Noether (1882-1935) was a mathematician in algebra and theoretical physics that Einstein himself called an inspiration and genius. The Noether Theorem helped make sense of things that science just couldn't make sense of, and led to huge advancements in math and science. Find out all about her this week! Also, the Unipiper calls in to talk Best Celebrity, Best Podcast, and other great Portland news! News: Are "laser AK-47s" real?, US weapons show up on dark web, the Great Plastic Straw Debate continues, Kah-Nee-Tah resort to close, oldest human tools found, a vaping pilot causes airplane to plunge 25,000 ft., and a woman has a tapeworm in her spine. Enjoy!

#118 – Henrietta Lacks and Her Hella Cells

This week we take a look at an African-American woman named Henrietta Lacks who died of cancer in 1951 at the age of 31. Unbeknownst to her or her family, her cancer cells were taken and discovered to be "immortal"- which led to breakthroughs in the study of polio, herpes, leukemia, influenza, hemophilia, Parkinson's disease, cancer, AIDS, cloning, and in vitro fertilization, and more. It's a fascinating look at where ethics meet science. Also: Boyd Coffee Company is sold, Multnomah Falls bridge back open, Disney's "stunt robots," crows reverse-engineer tools from memory, RIP Route 66?, and the FDA approves the first drug derived from marijuana. Enjoy, and happy 4th of July!

#117 – Synesthesia: These Colors Taste Fantastic

Synesthesia is a term for when a person's sensory inputs get crossed; it may cause them to see numbers as colors, or colors as tastes, or any number of different sensory combinations. Join us this week as we explore this fascinating condition! Also: Jerry Springer signs off, Koko the gorilla dies, Porltand's upcoming traffic hell-scape, roller derby talk, and more!

#116 – “Bins Worthy” And Other Scams

This episode Mark dives into some of the old and new internet scams that are making the rounds. In addition, we talk about our new video series with the Unipiper called "Bins Worthy" and let you know where you can find it before its official release! Also discussed: NASA's most/least realistic movies list, Necco Wafers are back!, half mammal/half reptile found in Utah, the plague is in Idaho, dust storm on Mars shuts down NASA rover, and the 10 millionth US patent is approved.

#115 – I Want To Believe: The Greg Nibler Conspiracy

Conspiracy theories are thriving in the internet age, even as access to facts become easier. So what's going on? Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? Greg Nibler of Funemployment Radio and Digital Trends sits in this week to talk about his favorite theories and why these theories continue to thrive. Also: American Airlines' therapy animal guidelines, lie-detecting computer kiosks, world's oldest living person: "every day is a punishment," Google removes "Don't Be Evil" from mission statement, Top 50 websites, and Bitcoin takes up .5% of the world's electricity. Enjoy!

Hear Greg every day on Funemployment Radio!

#114 – Wiki-War!

In this episode we go to war! Both Mark and Todd pick a dozen random and fascinating short articles from Wikipedia and go head-to-head to see who uncovered the most interesting and obscure entries. Cut your hair accordingly! Also: the Unipiper finds his own Wiki-hole and brings us along for the ride. In the news: Amazon record profits!....and Amazon Prime's price increase, ABBA reunites, tinnitus treatment, vomit-inducing caterpillars, Harvard to resurrect woolly mammoth, an undercover Lego crime ring in Portland, and breaking news about exploding urine. Players....FIGHT!

#113 – Concrete Information about Cement

Concrete is such a fundamental aspect of humanity that we barely even notice it anymore. It's literally pedestrian. This episode we find out why and how concrete came to be, and how it formed the modern world we live in. Also: "King of Kong" winner controversy, the sound of black holes colliding, the rapture is upon us, Wapato Jail sold, "Pirates of the Caribbean" ships on Oregon coast, Art Bell dies, Japan's robot mayor, world's most hipster cities, throw out your romaine lettuce, and the world is in the grips of a Necco Wafer panic! Enjoy!

#112 – Black Holes, Dark Matters

Black holes and dark matter are such a mystery, scientists are still trying to unwrap their secrets. In this episode, we take a look at the basics of black holes, and struggle to understand dark matter, which is the mysterious substance that makes up most of the universe. Plus, the Unipiper joins us in studio to talk fake Unipipers, Sasquatches, and WWeek's "Best of Portland 2018." Also: LED street lights causing headaches, world's largest dinosaur footprint, zombie raccoons, fart detectors, and what 167 theramins sound like playing Beethoven. Enjoy!

#111 – News Pile the Size of Texas

If I can't exhale at the speed of sound, how does my voice travel the speed of sound? How do the Eastern Oregon hot springs work? And who knew Alyssa Milano's dad was such a successful Hollywood sound editor? These questions and more will be answered in this meandering and interesting episode. Also discussed: "Embiggen" added to the dictionary, oil companies buy Utah monuments for drilling, Amazon patents drones to recognize flailing and screaming gestures, the Texas-sized (?) Pacific Garbage Patch, earliest North American footprint found, China face IDs and tickets jaywalkers, mind-reading technology, new human organ discovered, and turtles develop karate-chopping flippers. Cowabunga, dude!

#110 – Name That Tune with Brian the Unipiper

Between movies, TV, and advertising, our heads are full of songs we know note-for-note, but know nothing else about. This week, Brian "The Unipiper" sits in for a vacationing Mark and digs into the history and origins or some of the most famous songs we don't know the origins of. Also, "Toys R Us" and "I Heart Radio" file for bankruptcy, autism neurology breakthrough, WalMart patents robot bees, and "Weird" Al makes history. Enjoy!