
Advertise on podcast: Trackside Science
Rating
5from
This podcast has
86 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Trackside ScienceExplicit
No
Date created
2018/05/26
Latest episode
2026/08/07
Average duration
41 min.
Release period
71 days
Description
A science podcast marinated in just the right amount of alcohol, or caffeine (depending on the time zones involved). Your MCs are a former virologist-turned community college teacher and an active human geneticist and informal science educator. If you want to support the show, visit our Patreon page. Send us an email at [email protected], we'd love to hear from you! Thanks for listening!
Unlock Trackside Science podcast Email contact info,
Listeners & Audience details
Email contact information
Direct podcast contact details

Listeners
Audience numbers & engagement insights

Audience details
Podcast Insights

Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from Trackside Science podcast
An AI-generated virus? Not worried.
2026/08/07
Virus Update - Ebola, Yellow Fever, Crimean Congo Fever and Usutu Virus
2026/08/03
References
1. LaCapria K. Spain records first death as rare tick‑borne Crimean‑Congo fever appears in local cases. Yahoo News. Published July 24, 2026. Accessed August 2, 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/spain-records-first-death-rare-173100593.html
2. Reid R. Crimea‑Congo fever case confirmed in Puertollano, patient transferred to Madrid. Russpain.com. Published July 31, 2026. Accessed August 2, 2026. https://russpain.com/news/crimea-congo-fever-case-confirmed-in-puertollano-patient-transferred-to-madrid-76847
3. Spengler JR, Bergeron É, Rollin PE (2016) Seroepidemiological Studies of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Domestic and Wild Animals. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 10(1): e0004210. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004210
4. Nabeth P, Cheikh DO, Lo B, et al. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Mauritania. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004;10(12):2143-2149. doi:10.3201/eid1012.040535
5. Alhilfi RA, Khaleel HA, Raheem BM, Mahdi SG, Tabche C, Rawaf S. Large outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Iraq, 2022. IJID Reg. 2023 Jan 18;6:76-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.01.007. PMID: 36818019; PMCID: PMC9931897.
6. Pshenichnaya N, Aslanov B, Melnik V, Ermakova L. Review of the incidence of Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever for 17.5 years in 2005–1/2 2022 based on ProMED‑RUS reports. Int J Infect Dis.
7. Mohney, G. (2026, July). Invasive "yellow fever" mosquito newly found in Castro Valley. SFGATE/MSN.
8. Orellana, F. (2026, July 30). Chile issues first-ever preventive hantavirus health alert. UPI/MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/chile-issues-first-ever-preventive-hantavirus-health-alert/ar-AA294wEM
9. Binder, J. (2026, July 24). Usutu virus probably cause of dead blackbirds in Munich. BR24. https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/usutu-virus-wohl-ursache-fuer-tote-amseln-in-muenchen,VQHiJP8
10. Binder, J. (2026, July 24). Usutu virus probably cause of dead blackbirds in Munich. BR24. https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/usutu-virus-wohl-ursache-fuer-tote-amseln-in-muenchen,VQHiJP8
11. Mail & Guardian. (2018, March 23). White genocide: How the big lie spread to the US and beyond.
12. Beirich, H. (2018, August 23). President Trump is stoking white nationalism, exploiting racist fear. Southern Poverty Law Center.
13. Fiore, K. (2026, July). Leadership shakeup at CDC's Ebola response team. MedPage Today/MSN.
14. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/leadership-shakeup-at-cdcs-ebola-response-team/ar-AA290sEN
15. Jovanovic, D. (2026, July 17). 7 Americans at US‑backed Ebola isolation facility in Kenya, charity group says. ABC News. https://abcnews.com/International/7-americans-us-backed-ebola-isolation-facility-kenya/story?id=134861044
16. Evolve Editors. Donald Trump takes action to stop deadly Ebola threat after CDC warning. Yahoo News. July 21, 2026. Accessed August 3, 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/donald-trump-takes-action-stop-135408994.html
Virus Update Ebola and COVID and Avian Flu 07172026
2026/07/17
References
1. Chin J. CDC warns about likely COVID‑19 surge in summer. Taipei Times. July 15, 2026. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/07/15/2003860776
2. Institut National de Santé Publique. SitRep N°060/MVB — 13 July 2026. Published July 14, 2026. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://insp.cd/sitrep-n060-mvb-13-07-2026
3. Al Jazeera Staff; AFP; AP; Reuters. WHO warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak may be double the official tally. Yahoo News. Published July 14, 2026. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/warns-dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-130734863.html
4. Al Jazeera Staff; AFP; AP; Reuters. WHO warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak may be double the official tally. MSN News. Published July 14, 2026. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/who-warns-dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-may-be-double-the-official-tally/ar-AA27T2vZ
5. Soucheray S. Cambodia confirms human H5N1 avian flu case as H5N1 hits more Utah egg farms. CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy). Published July 16, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/cambodia-confirms-human-h5n1-avian-flu-case-h5n1-hits-more-utah-egg-farms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations. Published December 26, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/hpai-interim-recommendations.html
6. Mole B. US continues to shun Ebola-infected citizens; second American sent to Germany. Ars Technica. Published July 13, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/07/us-continues-to-shun-ebola-infected-citizens-second-american-sent-to-germany/
7. Robles C. Cambodia reports H5N1 bird flu in 9-month-old girl; 5th case this year. BNO News. Published July 11, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://bnonews.com/index.php/2026/07/cambodia-reports-h5n1-bird-flu-in-9-month-old-girl-5th-case-this-year/
Ebolavirus Outbreak (update) Democratic Republic of the Congo 07102026
2026/07/10
Transcript with references: link
Sounds
Intro and Outro - stolen from In Search of
transporter beam by Owdeo (Freesound.org)
References
1. Muniroh M, Hermawati L, Fathurrohim F, et al. Ebola virus disease: A persistent challenge in global health security. Open Vet J. 2026;16(2):768-787. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.1
2. Matson MJ, Chertow DS, Munster VJ. Ebola Virus Disease: Uniquely Challenging Among the Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025;12(8):ofaf464. Published 2025 Aug 2. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofaf464
3. MacNeil A, Farnon EC, Wamala J, et al. Proportion of deaths and clinical features in Bundibugyo Ebola virus infection, Uganda. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010;16(12):1969-1972. doi:10.3201/eid1612.100627
4. Towner JS, Sealy TK, Khristova ML, et al. Newly discovered ebola virus associated with hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Uganda. PLoS Pathog. 2008;4(11):e1000212. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000212
5. Wamala JF, Lukwago L, Malimbo M, et al. Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Associated with Novel Virus Strain, Uganda, 2007–2008. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2010;16(7):1087-1092. doi:10.3201/eid1607.091525.
6. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON612
7. Umar SK, Diggle MA. The Ebola virus - going beyond the bleeding edge. J Med Microbiol. 2025;74(7):001998. doi:10.1099/jmm.0.001998
8. France 24. France's first detected Ebola patient recovers, leaves hospital. France 24. Published July 4, 2026. Accessed July 8, 2026. https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260704-france-first-detected-ebola-patient-recovers-leaves-hospital
9. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
10. https://www.who.int/emergencies/alert-and-response
11. Brown, K. (2004). Penicillin Man: Alexander Fleming and the Antibiotic Revolution. 320 pp. Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3152-3.
Stop worrying about hantaviruses
2026/05/21
In which I try to point out bigger problems
Sounds
Intro and Outro - stolen from In Search of
transporter beam by Owdeo (Freesound.org)
References
Lindsay JA. Staphylococci: Evolving Genomes. Microbiol Spectr. 2019;7(6):10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0071-2019. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0071-2019
https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/data/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Four pediatric deaths from community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — Minnesota and North Dakota, 1997-1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1999;48(32):707-710.
Gualandi N, Mu Y, Bamberg WM, et al. Racial Disparities in Invasive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections, 2005-2014. Clin Infect Dis. 2018;67(8):1175-1181. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy277
Medicare Care Compare - https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/
Virus - Hantaviruses on a cruise
2026/05/13
Twitter: @TracksideScien1
Instagram: Tracksidescience
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tracksidescience
Credits:
Opening and closing - Lewis, W. M., & Rinder, L. (1976). Theme from In Search Of… [Television series theme music]. On In Search Of… (Original television broadcast).
Native American Flute: Native American Flute Western CarlosCarty Freesound.org
(54) Where do ideas come from?
2025/08/19
Where do ideas come from? Rob describes his Big A Eureka Moment. 2025 Jeff wants to tell 2000's Jeff to suck it up and stop complaining. We both love people who are generous with their ideas.
Email: [email protected]
Instagram & Bluesky: Tracksidescience
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tracksidescience
Alcohol
Jeff: Primary: When Lava Flows by Pontoon Brewing - Sandy Springs GA
Solid Rocket Booster: The Right Slice by Revision Brewing - Sparks NV
Rob: Laser Kitten IPA by Medusa Brewing, Hudson MA
Reading
Jeff: The Power Broker
Rob: Can science comics aid lay audiences' comprehension of forensic science?
Philatelic Science (53)
2025/08/07
Philatelic Science! Rob's box of stamps generates some science ideas! Wisconsin has indicted a DNA sequence. Jeff is suddenly bro-ing all the time.
Email - [email protected]
Bluesky - @tracksidescience.bsky.social
Instagram - tracksidescience
Alcohol
Jeff - 1800 Tequila & Cointreau - Bing's AI tells me this is a Conintreau Margartia. Thank god for AI
Rob - GnomeGang Belgian IPA
Links
Macht SH. Postage stamps as a mode of transmitting bacteria. Va Med Mon (1918). 1946 Feb;73:60. PMID: 21011507. (link)
Hopkins B, Williams NJ, Webb MB, Debenham PG, Jeffreys AJ. The use of minisatellite variant repeat-polymerase chain reaction (MVR-PCR) to determine the source of saliva on a used postage stamp. J Forensic Sci. 1994 Mar;39(2):526-31. PMID: 8195763. (link)
https://www.totheletterdna.com/
Keepsake DNA, renamed GEnetic Legacies: https://geneticlegacies.com/
Affinity-DNA: https://www.affinity-dna.com/
Dudás E, Csany M, Galambos A, Vágó-Zalán A, Pamjav H. DNA identification of relics of Blessed Stephen Sándor beatified by Pope Francis 2013. Biol Futur. 2020 Jun;71(1-2):131-136. doi: 10.1007/s42977-020-00002-y. Epub 2020 Feb 20. PMID: 34554521. (link)
Bates, Claire. "Who Were My Parents—and Why Was I Left on a Hillside to Die?" BBC News, 18 Mar. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/stories-43420678
(2018) Wisconsin indicts a DNA sequence: https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/dna_from_stamp_is_used_to_indict_john_doe_suspect_for_threatening_judge
Science Firings part 2 (EXPLICIT)
2025/04/20
The moronic, mean-spirited and illegal assault on US government scientists continues.
(52) Salute to Government Scientists
2025/03/08
To those recently, and illegally, fired. Contains some strong language, because that is 100% appropriate.
(51) Science from Australia!
2024/12/29
Episode 51 - Our Down Under connection! In 2021 we got an email from a listener from New Zealand working in Australia as a Physics Science Communicator. It took years to get over the shock that someone we didn't already know was actually listening to us, but we did and now he is here!
Drinks
Jeff - Folgers
Rob - Austin Eastciders
Errol - Hop Nation Brewing
The Dish (2000) - IMDb
Rear bumper: Freight Train Crossing.wav by Sailor55 (Freesound.org) & Night Train, The Mad Caps (1952, Archive.org)
(50) International Podcast Day
2024/09/29
Remember how you waited anxiously as a kid for it to come? Not having to go to school on that day? Family from all over pulling into the driveway with gifts and food for the International Podcast Day celebration? Yah, we don't either.
#internationalpodcastday
Alcohol
Jeff - Southern Tier Brewing Imperial Pumking Ale
Rob - Canada Dry Black Cherry Sparkling Seltzer Water
Podcasts we mentioned
Deviant Criminology - https://deviantcriminology.squarespace.com
Hot Shot Wake Up - https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/
Sounds and Music
International Podcast Day 2024 promo (internationalpodcastday.com)
Remixed by Jeff with:
Breaks Dig It Beat by DCDJ (freesound.com)
trap loop by emceeiscokid (freesound.com)
Bass Drop Pitch Sweep FX by Stereo Surgeon (freesound.com)
Rear bumper: Freight Train Crossing.wav by Sailor55 (Freesound.org) & Night Train, The Mad Caps (1952, Archive.org)
Impromptu Science (49)
2024/09/09
No plan or pre-recording preparation whatsoever…the difference between dentists & endodontists… old microscopes… Rob's home office inspection… regulation of medical data.. college graduation in state prisons.. pubpeer.com… problematic paper screener … (https://www.irit.fr/~Guillaume.Cabanac/problematic-paper-screener)... Jeff's anxiety about teaching in the federal prison (update, students were nice but it was way more difficult teaching there than the state prison)
RIP Vanessa, Rob's former colleague in South Dakota
Alcohol
Jeff - All the Holiday Things, Wild Leap Brewing
Rob - Be Hoppy Pale Ale, Wormtown Brewing
Sounds & Music
All sound are from freesound.org unless otherwise noted
Opening bit:
Squeaky Car Door (coltures)
Car Acceleration Inside Car.wav (alexftw123)
City ambience with soft rain…(felix.blume)
Opening a door in the city and going inside (evsecrets)
engine_turn_signal_subaru_forester_1989. (mario1298)
G13-46-Abrupt Car Stop.wav(craigsmith)
Footsteps on tiled bathroom (brandonb1111)
service_elavator.mp3 by morgantj
Car Explosion w Debris.mp3 by PNMCarrieRailfan
(48) Science Video Game - PhD Simulator
2024/03/30
We relive the highs and lows of graduate school through a spot-on video game.
PhD Simulator - A Text-Based Game by Mianzhi Wang (wmz.ninja)
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: Tracksidescience
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tracksidescience
Alcohol
Jeff - Dekalb County's fine tap water
Rob - Shark Jumper IPA Night Shift Brewing
Sounds & Music
Front Bumper - combination of:
A rapper in trouble - after he made a bad joke! by fmceretta (freesound.org)
Team Masaka - Sad Moan - by TeamMasaka (freesound.org)
Rear bumper: Freight Train Crossing.wav by Sailor55 (Freesound.org) & Night Train, The Mad Caps (1952, Archive.org)
(47) What connects you to science?
2023/11/25
Episode 47 - What connects you to science?
Rob's a conference guy, he likes interacting with people. Jeff's a reading-papers-in-a-quiet-house kind of guy. Rob likes the cutting edge while Jeff gravitates towards the arcane. Rob's beer is bigger than Jeff's.
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: Tracksidescience
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tracksidescience
Alcohol
Rob - Flemington Fog Juicy Hazy India Pale IPA, Flemington NJ
Jeff - Fluffiest Otter Stout, Sandy Springs GA
Sounds & Music
Matrix_RetroError
ThatJeffCarter_electro-magnetic-interference
Dangerbabe_Android-keypad-dialing
Rear bumper: Freight Train Crossing.wav by Sailor55 (Freesound.org) & Night Train, The Mad Caps (1952, Archive.org)
Podcast reviews
Read Trackside Science podcast reviews
petetej 2022/06/15
Good science and good fun!
Love to have a beer with these guys and pick their brains about all things science related!
vgeta25 2018/06/17
A good listen
These guys are fun to listen too even for a nonscientist.
HBPBSD 2018/06/04
Smart, funny guys
A fun and easy listen. Great topics. Can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Podcast sponsorship advertising
Start advertising on Trackside Science relevant audience podcasts
You may also like to advertise on these Podcasts

4.922692003
First15 Devotional
First15

4.762582000
The Lawfare Podcast
The Lawfare Institute

4.6137781994
The Rubin Report
Dave Rubin

4.858201921
Sara Gonzales Unfiltered
Blaze Podcast Network

4.7278392000
The Matt Walsh Show
The Daily Wire

4.890631572
Fearless with Jason Whitlock
Blaze Podcast Network

4.922361837
The Ten Minute Bible Hour Podcast
Matt Whitman

4.917101558
DarrenDaily On-Demand
Darren Hardy LLC

4.847092000
Pat Gray Unleashed
Blaze Podcast Network

4.889061599
Order of Man
Ryan Michler