Down The Rabbit Hole
Summary
Host Marnie Chesterton and guests Phyllis Muete and Sandy Ong explore the science behind Alice in Wonderland’s 75th anniversary. They discuss Danilewsky’s phenomenon, where shrews shrink their bones and brains to survive winter, and Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, a neurological condition causing size distortions. The episode also covers Victorian scientific influences on Lewis Carroll, climate warning communication in Africa, and the ALICE particle physics experiment at CERN.
Topics discussed
Introduction and the 75th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland
Shrews shrinking their bones and brains to survive winter
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome and its link to migraines
Quiz: Which animal survives longest without its head?
Victorian science influences on Lewis Carroll's work
Show recap and sponsor messages
Language barriers in African weather warning systems
Listener question: How iguanas crossed the Pacific
Quiz answer: Cockroaches surviving without heads
Why baby mammals have disproportionately large heads
The ALICE experiment at CERN and the early universe
Final thoughts and closing remarks
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