Tom's SciCast

Feb 27 2025 63 ep. 45 mins 21
Tom's SciCast Podcast artwork

Let's explore the universe while pushing the limits of what we know with our imaginations, some speculation, philosophy, and science fiction. A podcast about all things science. Stay Curious!

  Science  Education
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


63. The Gray Areas of Life: Misconceptions and Discoveries

Feb 27 2025 30 mins  
Tom unpacks the complex definitions of life and challenges common misconceptions about living organisms, from mules and parasites to viruses. Listeners gain insights into the key characteristics that define life while exploring philosophical questions surrounding it.

62. Themes in Science

Oct 15 2024 81 mins  
This is Chapter 2 of my textbook, Biology for Health Sciences, a college freshman course for students entering nursing, nutrition, exercise science, environmental science, or other careers in the health field. Topics include; what is life, the hierarchy of life, emergent properties, ecology, and evolution

61. A Biologists Looks at 50

Apr 04 2024 62 mins  
A look back on my life in science, birds, fish, invasive species, streams, dams, and climate change and sleeping lizards.

60. The Fermi paradox, aliens, biology, evolution

Mar 12 2024 59 mins  
Where is every one? Why haven't we been visited by alien races, made contact with aliens, or even discovered a hint of an alien race? Ever since Fermi asked this simple question, people have been coming up with answers as to why we don't see aliens. Some solutions are scary, but I think a potential answer could be found by looking at our own solar system.

59. Why we should colonize the solar system

Mar 02 2024 37 mins  
I believe humans are special and improve our chances of surviving as a species, I explain why we should colonize the solar system and beyond.

58. The Silurian Hypothesis, evolution, civilizations, aliens, and the legacy of humanity.

Nov 26 2023 45 mins  
I explore how the Silurian Hypothesis provides insight into what it takes for a planet to host or evolve a civilization, how we might detect them, and the legacy of humans on Earth.

57. Life, aliens, opinions, and other things I've been thinking about lately

Oct 12 2023 40 mins  
After 6 months, I'm back! I talk about how some of my views have changed to become more nuanced and how my own biases shape the way I think about astrobiology.

56. Do the laws of nature make life likely to occur and evolution progressive?

Mar 27 2023 40 mins  
In researching astrobiology for my up coming book, I've started to view the evolution of life and civilizations in a paradigm shifting way that challenges the very basics of our understanding of evolution. Listen in as I explain why I think evolution is progressive.

55. What's so special about animals?

Mar 10 2023 41 mins  
What makes animals different from all other organisms? I discuss the evolutionary origins and unique features of animals along with a few other fun facts. And find out why I don't think sponges are animals.

54. Plants have relationships too!

Mar 03 2023 39 mins  
The more I learn about plants, the more I'm amazed. From insects to fungus and bacteria, plants form many relationships. Some plants even talk to each other through the air or underground, while others form three-way relationships with ants and fungus.