Something Offbeat
Something Offbeat
Playlist by Something OffbeatWhat’s the deeper story behind that weird headline you forwarded to your friends or shared at the watercooler? We ask questions to gain grounded insight into the stranger news of the week.Follow the podcast:
132 clip(s) in playlist
Offbites: When otters attack, too many people in space, and athletic pets
On this episode of Offbites, Lauren and Chris discuss the otters who attacked a woman out for a jog, ask how many people is too many people in space, and the dog capturing people's hearts on a beach in Brazil.
17:25
'Vampire bacteria' with a thirst for human blood might be lurking in your body
Vampires are spooky, bacteria can be scary… and when you put them together? Things get a bit spooky-scary. New research published earlier this year reveal that some bacteria actually act like vampires. That is, they thirst for human blood and will feed on it when the chance arrives. Dr. Arden Bayli…
16:35
Offbites: Brat summer or decapitated whale summer?
Lauren and Chris are finally back with another episode of Offbites. This week, they discuss their Brat summers, the most unattractive qualities in the opposite sex, and say goodbye to a fast food sandwich staple.
24:29
Vintage Offbeat: An ancient sea creature named after the president
For our second anniversary this summer, we’re looking back at one of our first episodes! ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Remember the fun of naming your pet? Now, imagine taking on the task of naming an entire species. Earlier this year, Dr. Christopher Whalen of Yale University got that chance. This week …
15:34
Pinot Naur? What the dino-killing asteroid has to do with your favorite wine
According to a study released this summer, the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago likely helped grapes flourish in the Western Hemisphere. While there may not be a direct correlation between dinosaurs and grapes, Monica Carvalho, the assistant curator at the Museum of Paleon…
18:39
Why Elvis' blue suede shoes still fetch $150K decades after his death
This Friday marks the 47th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death at age 42, which means that it is Elvis Week, a weeklong celebration of the late King of Rock and Roll at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tenn. Presley may have left Earth decades ago, but he’s still a household name and an enduring A…
21:21
How risky is spice? We asked an expert
We love spicy food here at “Something Offbeat”. Sometimes, when the heat is intense, things can get scary. In one case, a spicy chip social media challenge has even been linked to the death of a teen. This week, we talked with Dr. Paul Terry, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Tenness…
17:42
One thing Millennials aren't ruining? Sainthood. Meet the 'gamer saint'
The Catholic church decided earlier this summer it would canonize the first Millennial saint. Carlos Acutis, an Italian teenager who died in 2006, was credited with a second miracle in May by Pope Francis. To learn more about the canonization process, the novelty of such a young saint, and saints …
18:39
Would you let Elon Musk put a chip in your brain?
Elon Musk’s project Neuralink has been bringing a concept that seems out of science fiction, brain implants that allow users to control tech, into reality. So far, the company has implanted the device into a subject with quadriplegia. While he was able to do things like play online chess, he then l…
22:29
Can you tell the difference between your favorite celebrity and an AI version of their voice?
From a voice assistant that sounds just like Scarlett Johansson to political deep fakes to a computer-generated sports broadcaster, AI is beginning to make some of its most public-facing moves yet in the media industry. To discuss what the future holds for artificial intelligence in sports, news, …
15:50