We ring in 2019 with news of lovelorn crickets, the far side of the moon, food allergies, and a new branch on a big tree. But the proverbial elephant in the room is the ongoing shutdown of the United States’ government.

The best in science communication tells a compelling story. This week we have a great one! Gabriel Montejo-Kovacevich joins us to talk about her field research in Central and South America studying butterflies of the genus Heliconius. She shares her story of the hard work and the gratifying rewards of field research in challenging conditions. Gabriela is at the front line of science, and we are grateful to her for sharing her adventure and her research with us.

A year ago we were in shock and disbelief in the days after the Tubbs Fire in Northern California incinerated our neighborhood, and our home. One year later and that scene of apocalyptic devastation has been replaced by a community coming together and rising from the ashes. 

I’m overjoyed to announce that we can put that awful year behind us. My family and I have moved back into our wonderful neighborhood, and we’re looking forward to more and more of our neighbors’ return.

A million thanks to the Blue Streak Science team. You are simply the best. I’m indebted to you, and it’s my honor to work on this project with you. 

Thanks to our incredible audience for sticking with us during the past year. For you, we pledge to take the Blue Streak Science Podcast to the next level. The future is gonna be awesome! 

Science is under assault, but there’s something we can do about it. We can VOTE! Blue Streak Science is proud to endorse four candidates who will put science back into the halls of Congress. Vote for democracy! Vote Science!

There were many interesting science stories this week, but none more important than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 1.5˚C Report. This may be one of the most important news stories of our lifetimes. Our government’s failure to recognize its importance, and their continued contempt for inconvenient truths warranted a collective rage-scream by the Blue Streak Science Team.

Last week it was the fun stuff, but this week it’s that most serious of awards ceremonies, The Nobel Prize Awards. Sophie gives us the low-down on this year’s winner in the category of Medicine and Physiology. JD breaks in with a newsflash, as one does, with Nobel Prize in Physics.

Science marches forward, but sometimes nations take a step or two backward. This is the case in recent years with my own country, and we’re not alone in our regression to a lesser form of ourselves. The government of Japan is throwing an international temper tantrum because the majority of nations do not want to fall back to the old ways of wanton slaughter of whales for commercial profit. Yes, we’re judging. And the verdict speaks poorly of this great nation. Japan can, and must do better.

A slight diversion from the usual format today. But hey, do we know how to turn out a science podcast or what? Chris and JD talked about everything from cigarette smoker kids to self-administered colonoscopies. And of course, this episode was custom-made for all the Whovians out there. You know WHO you are.

It’s that time of year again, the peak of hurricane season. At the moment this episode goes live the people of America’s southeast coast are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Florence, a storm with historic and deadly potential. At the same time the President of the United States has denied that thousands of Americans died as a result of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

Shhhh!!! You hear that? No? It sounds like a kind of hissing-whining sound. What is that? Is it a leak? It can’t be a leak! We’re on the International Space Station! Seriously, was that you? Tell me it was you.