what is nerd alert?
Nerd Alert is a project that was cooked up by a small band of Oxford neuroscientists in the aftermath of getting totally out-nerded on BBC4′s Only Connect. It started life as a live show for Oxide Radio and in the summer of 2010 we set up nerd-alert.net to host the shows as a podcast. At that point we added to the team and took the opportunity to throw a few more ideas at the world, like a blog and a series of science-related wallpapers.
the podcast
Our podcast is a seat-of-the-pants mix of chat, science and music, arranged chaotically but enthusiastically around a theme. Originally all episodes were webcast live on Oxide Radio, sometimes almost weekly. What you hear in the podcast is live, unscripted nerds with microphones. Anything can happen. These days, new episodes are a rare event but the spirit remains the same; you can subscribe via RSS or iTunes.
The original Team Nerdcast: Jonathan, Blake and Neil
The show is aimed at anybody who’s inclined to switch their brain on. We are scientists, but we like to pick ideas apart so that any interested, 21st-century kinda person can follow.
No matter what the topic – brains, bosons, baboons or balone – we like to use some critical thinking, but we’re not on a high horse about it. We’re not licensed to ride one of those. We are, however, certified fans of the scientific method and we particularly like on-air experiments.
The music we play in the podcast is covered by a Limited Online Music License from the good people at PRS for Music.
The show began with Jonathan, Blake and Neil and has frequently included Pete, George and/or Nicky plus occasional special guests. If you love or loathe the show, do let us know! We love hearing from like-minded folks and we’re always up for a nerdfight with anybody else…
Episode 1: Neil wrestles with the hardware and Blake “helps”.
“I first listened when I was home with a stomach bug, and had to stop because the giggles hurt too much. Tell me there are more coming!”
- Bianca in Boston
“Great show – a fantastic mish-mash of science rubbish to listen to at 4:30am.”
- Paul in Adelaide
“Cracking stuff!”
- Hugh in London
“Neeeeeeeerds!”
- Nic in Canberra
“When you all stop talking at the same time, it’ll be great!”
- Neil’s mum
the blog
wallpaper of the week
This is a formerly weekly effort to sneak some scientific scenery onto the dull, beaches-and-pets dominated computer screens of the world. A cool image of an experiment or an exoplanet or an exotic extremeophile – on your desktop. Every week. Ish. Complete with a potted explanation to make you sound clever when people ask about it.
Again, these don’t appear regularly any more but you can find them all in the RSS feed.
If you have a science-related image that would look cool on a desktop, please send it our way! We will, of course, give you all the credit and include a link to your Flickr stream or website. Use the submission form here.
and finally – what the hell is that green brain thing?!
That there is a brain made of lime jelly and it’s thanks to Elizabeth Feldman. Isn’t it cool?