Lab Libs

#17 The _____ Emu War: Saving Crops, One Emu At A Time

This week on Lab Libs, Debbie tells Megan the absolutely unbelievable story of the Great Emu War of 1932. Yes, an actual military operation where Australia went to war against thousands of giant flightless bird and somehow struggled to win. What started as an attempt to protect wheat farms from massive emu invasions quickly turned into a chaotic disaster involving machine guns, missed shots, military strategy failures, and emus that apparently mastered guerrilla Megan is trying to piece the whole thing together completely out of context, leading to some truly cursed guesses, increasingly dramatic descriptions of “gangly marauders,” and the growing realization that this story somehow gets more ridiculous every minute. Then Megan takes Debbie down a rabbit hole into the interesting history of the LGBTQ+ ballroom scene. You won’t want to miss your favorite funny and informative podcast this week! Don’t forget to use the Lab Libs to make your own guesses! Lab Libs A continent A decade in the 1900s Were or Were not Two problems a farmer might have A type of crop A number between one and ten A color A number A single-digit number A large number A body part A weapon A large quantity word A number between 50,000 and 60,000 Sources https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/emu [https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/emu] https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/the-emu-war-of-1932 [https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/the-emu-war-of-1932] https://www.historyhit.com/the-great-emu-war/ [https://www.historyhit.com/the-great-emu-war/] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/australian-emu-war-history [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/australian-emu-war-history]

#16 One Woman's Superpower: Detection __ Parkinson's Disease

This week on Lab Libs, Megan tells Debbie the unbelievable true story of Joy Milne, the Scottish woman who discovered she could smell Parkinson’s disease before doctors could diagnose it. What started as her noticing a strange change in her husband’s scent eventually led researchers to realize that Parkinson’s may leave behind a unique odor signature on the skin. Meanwhile, Debbie dives headfirst into the completely chaotic rabbit hole about the 1904 Olympics, a story so ridiculous it sounds fake. Then they fall further into some other Olympic shenanigans. So naturally, this episode turns into a completely unhinged mix of superhuman noses and Olympic madness. Don’t forget to use the Lab Libs and see how well you do! Lab Libs: A neurodegenerative disease A type of pollutant One of the five senses A type of in-person meeting A middle school competition event A type of scientist A number between 1 and 5 A new kind of technology A number between 50 and 100   You can check out Lab Libs on Instagram @lablibs_podcast   Sources: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-supersmeller-can-detect-the-scent-of-parkinsons-leading-to-an-experimental-test-for-the-illness/ [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-supersmeller-can-detect-the-scent-of-parkinsons-leading-to-an-experimental-test-for-the-illness/] https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/23/820274501/her-incredible-sense-of-smell-is-helping-scientists-find-new-ways-to-diagnose-di [https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/23/820274501/her-incredible-sense-of-smell-is-helping-scientists-find-new-ways-to-diagnose-di] https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/parkinsons-breakthrough-can-diagnose-disease-from-skin-swabs-in-3-minutes/ [https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/parkinsons-breakthrough-can-diagnose-disease-from-skin-swabs-in-3-minutes/] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055 [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055] sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220223085828.htm [http://sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220223085828.htm] https://www.sciencealert.com/parkinsons-disease-has-a-smell-that-some-dogs-can-detect [https://www.sciencealert.com/parkinsons-disease-has-a-smell-that-some-dogs-can-detect]

#15 The Ummo Letters: Messages ___ Mysteries From Planet Ummo

This week on Lab Libs, Debbie takes Megan into one of the strangest UFO stories in European history. The story of the UMMO letters. It starts with mysterious typewritten messages in the 1960s turned into a decades long saga involving aliens, Ufologists, advanced physics, supposed secret landings, and a confession that may or may not solve the mystery. In true Lab Libs fashion, Megan had no idea what the story was while filling in the blanks, so the result is a mix of aliens, science, philosophy, and chaos. Then Megan will drag Debbie down a rabbit hole into the wild world of Korean drama television. They give their opinions on  Dubbed vs. Not Dubbed. Use the Lab Libs and come play along with your favorite funny science podcast!   Lab Libs A Year in the early 1900s Three traits a good scientific should have A country in Europe A method of   communication  A country in Europe A way for a Government to rule A mode of transportation A shape A trait you might look for in a car A decade in the late 1900s A year in the 1990s A category of experiment someone could conduct Sources https://www.ufodigest.com/article/the-ummo-affair-are-extraterrestrials-living-among-us [https://www.ufodigest.com/article/the-ummo-affair-are-extraterrestrials-living-among-us] http://www.strangemag.com/ummo.html [http://www.strangemag.com/ummo.html] UMMO: Alien Correspondence by Author VIDGITA

#14 Reef Rescue: Science __ Action

In this episode of Lab Libs, Megan takes Debbie beneath the surface of the ocean to explore the race to save the world’s coral. From cute coral nurseries to heat-resistant super corals, she unpacks the real science behind how researchers are fighting bleaching and rebuilding fragile ecosystems. It’s hopeful, innovative, and way more intense than you’d expect from something that just appears like colorful underwater rock. Then Debbie takes a sharp turn down into her rabbit hole of British slang, because what pairs better with coral restoration like some cheeky British chat? Debbie unpacks the history, humor, and crudeness of it all. It’s fun, science, culture, conservation, and questionable accents all wrapped into one episode. Don’t forget to create your own Lab Lib blanks and play along with your favorite science podcast! Lab Libs A worldwide crisis A scientific job requiring a lot of math A number 1-20 A type of pollution A type of ocean animal A common fraction A method of sun protection A type of coral A percentage 1-100% A short amount of time A region of Florida Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/Articles/c04gqez4lkyo [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fc04gqez4lkyo&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896116694%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zvJoyc98nWO4h00imiB6l6gZhX87Fw5LxHl0sz1LhCg%3D&reserved=0] https://www.vox.com/down-to-eArth/24098428/scientists-oceAn-corAl-spAwning-bleAching-greAt-barrier-reef [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Fdown-to-earth%2F24098428%2Fscientists-ocean-coral-spawning-bleaching-great-barrier-reef&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896143925%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4tuhqHZ8ifEXNOK9yejFeyAwx5KDpwOCTis0ajo%2F3SI%3D&reserved=0] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/how-coral-reefs-might-survive-climate-change-feature [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fmagazine%2Farticle%2Fhow-coral-reefs-might-survive-climate-change-feature&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896163626%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BvvFvkZLn83eo7S594MUx%2BD1vsCnN0gqxsreEUSlPR0%3D&reserved=0] https://www.flaquarium.org/conservation/leaders-in-conservation/coral-conservation/ [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flaquarium.org%2Fconservation%2Fleaders-in-conservation%2Fcoral-conservation%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896183305%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=voXChdvcc9POqvsVMWI381s5khCGTwdhlJB8665IQBI%3D&reserved=0] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/13/coral-reefs-ice-sheets-amazon-rainforest-tipping-point-global-heating-scientists-report [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2025%2Foct%2F13%2Fcoral-reefs-ice-sheets-amazon-rainforest-tipping-point-global-heating-scientists-report&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896202796%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pNNb3kTccqPx7Xaw5Dk3s3LK7pzH5H99NCVCuMq9N4Y%3D&reserved=0] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fox13news.com/news/florida-aquarium-works-renew-floridas-coral-reefs.amp [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Famp%2Fs%2Fwww.fox13news.com%2Fnews%2Fflorida-aquarium-works-renew-floridas-coral-reefs.amp&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896222290%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=68M1Em438vQ8N8RwK7wHFE9XbhhJsHkW2WJMKysxACo%3D&reserved=0] https://fsc.org/en/blog/good-climate-news [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffsc.org%2Fen%2Fblog%2Fgood-climate-news&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896241814%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5j%2FQggAGwLeuK5ceL3Z3zXQpT5jgMoiinL3I0vKRp%2Bo%3D&reserved=0] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/02/hannah-ritchie-not-the-end-of-the-world-extract-climate-crisis [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2024%2Fjan%2F02%2Fhannah-ritchie-not-the-end-of-the-world-extract-climate-crisis&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896262409%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=NTXLdsm%2BkRGtTsdjQ%2FvD8CLfKuLJZERgDpuCI7r6rDI%3D&reserved=0] https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/habitat-conservation/restoring-seven-iconic-reefs-mission-recover-coral-reefs-florida-keys [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fisheries.noaa.gov%2Fsoutheast%2Fhabitat-conservation%2Frestoring-seven-iconic-reefs-mission-recover-coral-reefs-florida-keys&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ce40b6d59d9f94f31baf108de5f3f964f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639052923896282572%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TSfcWWwtn5ofkYWKmHEzHqRmncw%2FnPNclDxqWmNsZN0%3D&reserved=0]

#13 Maps, Messages & Missing People: The Lost Colony __ Roanoke

In this episode of Lab Libs, Debbie takes Megan deep into one of America’s oldest cold cases, the disappearance of the settlers on Roanoke Island, better known as the Lost Colony of Roanoke. From the eerie “CROATOAN” clue to the long absence of governor John White, Debbie walks through what we actually know, what archaeology can (and can’t) prove, and how modern researchers like the team at the First Colony Foundation are using real science to untangle a 400-year-old mystery. Then, in classic Lab Libs fashion, Megan launches into a completely unhinged but fascinating rabbit hole: the chaotic, risky, and surprisingly emotional world of the very first organ transplants, starting with groundbreaking heart surgery. Then new and unsual transplant attempts. From vanished colonists to transplanted hearts, this episode collides early modern history with medical innovation and proves that sometimes the wildest science stories span centuries. Enjoy this funny yet informative science podcast by writing down your own Lab Lib answers! Lab Libs: A country in Europe  A continent  A number less than 150 A state in the Southeast A symbol A number less than 5 A plant (not specific) A number between 500 and 900 Item that an archaeologist might find A metal A scientific field   https://www.history.com/articles/archaeologists-find-new-clues-to-lost-colony-mystery [https://www.history.com/articles/archaeologists-find-new-clues-to-lost-colony-mystery] https://www.iflscience.com/archaeologists-shine-new-light-on-the-history-of-the-lost-roanoke-colony-74119 [https://www.iflscience.com/archaeologists-shine-new-light-on-the-history-of-the-lost-roanoke-colony-74119] https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/science/new-clues-bring-search-for-indigenous-village-of-roanoke-to-elizabethan-gardens [https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/science/new-clues-bring-search-for-indigenous-village-of-roanoke-to-elizabethan-gardens] https://greekreporter.com/2025/06/11/lost-colony-roanoke-assimilated-native-americans [https://greekreporter.com/2025/06/11/lost-colony-roanoke-assimilated-native-americans] 2025 The HISTORY® Channel Roanoke Descendants Revealed by DNA Test | In Search Of (Season 2)