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Artwork for That's Absurd Please Elaborate

That's Absurd Please Elaborate

Trace Elements Media
Physics
Gravity
Evolution
Science Communication
Cats
Probability
Time Travel
Animal Behavior
Vampires
Skyscrapers
Particle Physics
Human Hair
Selfie Stick
DNA
Squirrels
Lava
Comedy
Tornadoes
Aliens
Hair Types

Seriously researched answers to absolutely ridiculous questions. New episodes every week.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes138Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for That's Absurd Please Elaborate

Latest Episodes

If we had a nickel for every time Julian answered a question involving pigeons, we’d have two nickels. Not that many, but weird that it’s happened twice. This week, he investigates pigeon logistics, excreta coverage, and everything about the Great Wa... more

Hi fellow nerds! As many of you may know, Julian is back at school as an engineering student. As many of you may ALSO know, that's freakin' hard! So to give Julian a bit of a break, we're re-airing one of our favorite TAPE classics featuring friend-o... more

Is that a slogan for hair shampoo or fizzy drinks? Well, kick back, relax, and crack open a can—or, you know, be like us and choose from one of the many flat ones you forgot on your desk. Either way, if you’re serious about your bubbles, Julian has a... more

This week, Trace digs into whether life could’ve ever gotten its start somewhere else—say, Mars, for example—quickly pointing out that our lovely planet's existence is already pretty insane on its own. Meanwhile, Julian takes a simple “why hot things... more

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Recent Guests

Tom Scott
Guest on the show, host of Lateral
Lateral
Episode: Oh No the Goalie is… Everywhere | feat. Tom Scott | TAPE Classic
Yasmin Khan
Contributor at The Young Turks
The Young Turks
Episode: Red Sky at Night Batman’s Delight! | feat. Yasmin Khan (TYT) & Jasmine Miller (Give Directly)
Jasmine Miller
Senior Research Manager at Give Directly
Give Directly
Episode: Red Sky at Night Batman’s Delight! | feat. Yasmin Khan (TYT) & Jasmine Miller (Give Directly)
Dr. Wallace Marshall
Guest Host
University of California, San Francisco
Episode: The Buffet Hates to See THIS Tardigrade Coming | LIVE from the Bay Area Science Festival
Nick Charles
Listener from Pasadena, California who submitted a question
Episode: Thanksgiving Rerun: Melting Witches with Inflated Heads
Danielle Bezalel
A sex educator and host of Sex Ed with DB
Sex Ed with DB
Episode: Stuck in a Time Loop while ‘Doing Taxes’ | feat. Danielle Bezalel
Dan Condon
Civil Engineer and former drinking buddy of Julian
Episode: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Civil Engineers
Sophie Schran
A science communicator and returning guest to the podcast
Science with Sophie
Episode: THE 100 1/2TH ABSURDAGANZA CONTINUES
Kari Byron
Formerly of Mythbusters, currently hosts the MythFits podcast.
MythFits
Episode: THE 100TH EPISODE ABSURDAGANZA!

Hosts

Julian Huguet
Science communicator and co-host known for humorous, curious approach to odd science questions.
Trace Dominguez
Co-host and science communicator, known for engaging banter and accessible explanations.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 651 ratings
  • Science Podcast for Folks Who Don’t Science

    I’m usually a trivia podcast listener, but this podcast is so great because I feel like I’m learning useful science knowledge along with interesting facts. Give it a try, see if it would solve anything.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DanielBarkdull
    United States22 days ago
  • Such absurd. So elaborate.

    Ridiculously fun explorations of the possible science to answer absurd questions. I love learning science concepts from people who so clearly love what they’re doing. 😊

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lossandra
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent podcast. I would give it four stars, but I have been asked to let that ancient bit lie.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Drysword
    4 months ago
  • So absurd, so funny!

    I love this show, I’ve been bingeing for the last 2 weeks. I found out about the show from Lateral and am so happy that I did!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mmishamaze
    United States5 months ago
  • Absurdly addicting

    Started binging the podcast early this year on my dog walks - absolutely recommend it, if you ever wondered what would happen if you turn off gravity or build a 1:1 model of the sun made out of LEGO bricks! Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bjolleborg
    Germany7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the entertaining yet rigorously explained science, often with unique or whimsical topics.
Many reviews mention binge-worthy episodes and strong community engagement.
Audience comments highlight the show's humor and engaging guest dynamics as strong positives.
The hosts' chemistry is consistently praised, making deep science approachable and entertaining.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#76
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#226
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#63
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#84
Philippines/Science
Apple Podcasts
#103
Belgium/Science
Apple Podcasts
#158
South Africa/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Planckmaxxing
Q: Is there a limit to how hot something can get?
There is a mathematically defined limit called Planck temperature (10^32 kelvin), but some theories suggest even higher limits under different models, and in practice physics breaks down far before we reach such extremes; current understanding places a hard limit at Planck temperature, with other ideas from string theory offering alternative upper bounds.
Coast to Coast Riding a Pizza Surfboard
Q: Is there any way that you could use a pizza, cooked or frozen, as a surfboard?
The team explores it by analyzing crust types, moisture, and buoyancy, ultimately suggesting that a Detroit-style crust with a cheese barrier could theoretically work as a surfboard surface for a short time, but cautions about moisture, rigidity, and practicality.
Either You Iocaine or You 1-0-can’t | TAPE Classic
Q: Could we ever replace binary with another base in real computer hardware, and what would be the trade-offs?
In practice, it's possible conceptually, but hardware, standards, and resilience against noise make binary a robust choice; moving to another base would require rethinking architecture, with enormous implications for memory, processing, and error handling.
Either You Iocaine or You 1-0-can’t | TAPE Classic
Q: Can you still do maths using a unary base one numeral system, and could computers work that way?
Yes in theory, but it would be vastly inefficient and impractical for real-world computing; binary and higher bases are far more memory and time efficient, which is why computers use on/off states rather than a unary scheme.
This Man Built a Piss Rocket. Seriously. | feat. Lieven Scheire
Q: How long could astronauts on the ISS survive if everyone on Earth suddenly disappeared?
According to the guest and researchers cited, water and oxygen could be made circular or stored for extended periods, fuel and food remain limiting but could last years depending on crew size and decisions like cannibalism, with the crew potentially choosing to wait out conflicts or extend life support as long as possible.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About That's Absurd Please Elaborate

What is That's Absurd Please Elaborate about and what kind of topics does it cover?

-- A science-leaning humor podcast that answers ridiculous thought experiments with rigor and wit, driven by two hosts who banter smoothly while chasing real explanations. Episodes feature guests ranging from science communicators to engineers and nonprofit professionals, blending hands-on demonstrations, deadpan humor, and accessible science storytelling. A standout is how guests and hosts push boundaries—tackling topics from biology and space to safety, physics, and whimsical hypotheticals—while underscoring practical safety and real-world science. Listeners often appreciate the playful depth, the chemistry between hosts, and the way complex ideas are made entertaining and memorable.

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Which podcasts are similar to That's Absurd Please Elaborate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with That's Absurd Please Elaborate:

1. Let's Learn Everything!
2. Lateral with Tom Scott
3. Escape This Podcast
4. A Problem Squared
5. You're Dead to Me

How many episodes of That's Absurd Please Elaborate are there?

That's Absurd Please Elaborate launched 3 years ago and published 138 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on That's Absurd Please Elaborate?

Recent guests on That's Absurd Please Elaborate include:

1. Tom Scott
2. Yasmin Khan
3. Jasmine Miller
4. Dr. Wallace Marshall
5. Nick Charles
6. Danielle Bezalel
7. Dan Condon
8. Sophie Schran

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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