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11 Episodes 2024 - 2024
Episode 1
Thu, Feb 1, 202427 mins
We explore fire- both house fires and wildfires, and dive deep into the science of smoke detectors, flame retardants, how fires spread and how they can be managed.
Episode 2
Thu, Feb 8, 202426 mins
Let's dig into the single most important dynamic in building science: air leakage. Grace and Corbett Lunsford take you across North America investigating the story of air leakage with visualizations and demonstrations testing this ultimate invisible dynamic, AND the disasters it can lead to in worst cases, including one of the worst mold infestations we've ever seen.
Episode 3
Thu, Feb 15, 202426 mins
Let's go DEEP into the science of all the non-human occupants of our homes, and even into the homes they make for themselves in nature, using techniques we only discover much later. Learn more than you probably want to about cockroaches, bedbugs, rodents, wasps, indoor microbes, and the nuances of pest control.
Episode 4
Thu, Feb 22, 202426 mins
What happens in a home that's flooded, hit by waves, pushed over or twisted by tornadoes and hurricanes? The chemistry, microbiology and physics is a LOT more interesting than the simple soundbites we typically hear, and the nuances of the problem and the solutions are well researched but not widely understood.
Episode 5
Thu, Feb 29, 202426 mins
In trying to fix our problems, are we actually just rearranging them? For every product advertised to fix something in your home, there is its shadow- the byproduct you might not suspect. Every home is a system, and all the parts interact through physics, chemistry, and microbiology- but since we can't predict the specific combination of products in your home, we can't predict their interactions. But there are ways to buy, and even build, in a less chaotic way, that gives us more control over the hazards we face every day.
Episode 6
Thu, Mar 7, 202426 mins
An exploration of the natural phenomena around our homes that are unexpectedly hard or soft- hail, landslides, liquefaction of the ground during earthquakes, and the research around all of these. Featuring geotechnical and even bio-geotechnical engineering advances. Also featuring the UCSD Shake Table, the UC Davis Centrifuge, and IBHS Test Facility.
Episode 7
Thu, Mar 14, 202426 mins
Sick Building Syndrome- whether it's named MCS, CIRS, MCAS, etc, the phenomenon of people becoming over-sensitized to their environment is a very real and very painful thing. Let's dig into the science we know for sure- and the cleaning, maintenance, and material selections that can help unaffected families stay that way.
Episode 8
Thu, Mar 21, 202426 mins
What is an extreme environment, and what can survive there? Well, our homes are technically extreme environments for most insects, and within our homes there are myriad extreme micro-environments where really strange microbial life flourishes. Let's look into the science of extreme heat and cold, what it does to our citizens and our societies, and spend some time in Hawaii for kicks.
Episode 9
Thu, Mar 28, 202426 mins
Fungi are incredible life forms that we barely understand- neither animal nor plant. Explore mycotoxins, dry rot, 'toxic' black mold, and how to inspect your home and tune your living space to keep fungi where they belong.
Episode 10
Thu, Apr 4, 202426 mins
Can we ever truly be safe living in a bubble? Physics, chemistry, and microbiology teach us that it's impossible to avoid dealing with industrial and traffic pollution, water contaminants, sewer system upgrades (whoa that part), your workplace, fast fashion, and wildfire smoke (plus third-hand smoke, which you might not even have heard of yet). And what happens when the outdoor world and our indoor world meet and react?
Episode 11
Thu, Apr 11, 202426 mins
Are we doing a good job preparing for, and recovering from disasters? Whether it's a personal disaster with physics, chemistry or microbiology in your own home, or floods and fires that cross state lines, it's become clear to us the answer is: we could do better. There are some problems baked into the system of disaster preparedness and recovery itself- in renting vs. owning property, insurance claims, lawsuits and even mobile home construction standards (sounds boring, is definitely not). Let's talk about why the problems exist, how to avoid them, and what to do if you need to fight for your family's future in a safe and healthy home.