Ecogeeks : Untamed Science Video Podcast

Ecofact: Where do Vampires Come From? - Corn?

Rob Nelson - Haley Chamberlain — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:03:21 -0400

The origin of vampires may have come from a misunderstanding of human biology. One theory is that vampires arose from the pellagra - a vitamin deficiency which happens when people have a diet consisting solely of corn! We hope you enjoy our Halloween special about vampires!

Intertidal Biome

Jonas Stenstrom — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:56:45 -0400

The Intertidal Zone is the zone from the high tide mark to the low tide mark. Animals must be able to withstand extreme temperature changes and desiccation when they live here. Some intertidal zones are narrow and some are very wide. Learn more as Jonas and Suze head out to explore this aquatic zone.

Coral Reef Biome

Jonas Stenstrom — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:43:23 -0400

Coral Reefs are formed from small coral polyps. These small coral polyps, when they grow together, make amazing physical structures. Examples include the Great Barrier Reef and the barrier reefs of the Florida Keys. Jonas explains the basics of corals, coral reefs, and coral reef conservation.

Ecogeeks Giveaway - Raw Nature DVDs from Animal Planet

Rob Nelson, Jonas Stenstrom, Haley Chamberlain — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:15:18 -0400

Untamed Science is giving away 5 Raw Nature DVDs this fall. All you have to do is help us test the beta site by signing up on the website and becoming an ecogeek. Users with the best profile will win! We'll notify winners on October 5th, 2009!

Estuaries Biome

Jonas Stenstrom — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:07:01 -0400

Estuaries are important aquatic biomes. They are the transition between fresh and saltwater. Because of this salt gradient, it creates a difficult solution for animals in this habitat. Estuaries include Mangroves, salt marshes, and river deltas.

The Lake Biome

Rob Nelson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:07:05 -0400

Lakes and Ponds represent important freshwater aquatic biomes. In this episode, Haley Chamberlain describes the difference between tropical and temperate lakes, lake zonation and how lakes can cycle throughout the year as surface temperatures fluxuate.

Discovering the Wetlands Biome in Style!

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:37:23 -0400

Wetlands have been reported to be the most threatened habitat on earth. This ecogeeks episode explores the types of wetlands, where wetlands are found, and what kind of plants are found in them. It also helps answer the question - What is a Wetland? If for nothing else, this is a great episode to watch Haley and Rob get down and dirty with style.

Bluntnosed Sixgill Shark Ecofact

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:15:10 -0400

In this species profile we look at an animal found in the deep sea, the bluntnosed sixgill shark. To do that we went down in Karl Stanley’s homemade submarine to 2000 feet. Sixgill sharks belong in the order Hexacanthiformes along with 5 other species of primitive shark. As a teacher, this episode is great for teaching about taxonomy and the classification of animals.

Shooting Update: Iceland

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:01:50 -0400

Jonas just finished filming a short piece in Iceland where he dove in freshwater lakes on the mid-ocean ridge. Along the way he found glaciers, hot springs and geysers. To fill us in on the scenery, Jonas posted this short update.

Shooting Update: Flipped Raft and Gear in Rapids - Cataract Canyon

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:01:56 -0400

In this short shooting update we show how we flipped our raft in Cataract Canyon. It was a scary experience, but we managed to get it all on film. Luckily no one was badly hurt, but the raft behind us had someone that needed to be airlifted out.

An Untamed Science Overview

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:28:35 -0400

In this podcast we discuss what Untamed Science is all about. We're here to help start a revolution. We can't do it alone though. We need your help. Join us now as we begin building a group of dedicated ecogeeks!

Manatee Ecofact

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:27:13 -0400

The Florida Manatee is a subspecies of West Indian Manatee. In this Ecofact, Jonas visits Homosassa Springs State Park in Western Florida to get an up-close and personal encounter with some 3,000 pound manatees! We give a few quick facts about the West Indian Manatees.

Fossil Reefs Ecofact

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:42:24 -0400

In 1965, a hurricane exposed a remarkable fossil reef just outside of Miami Florida. In this Ecofact, Danni explores this unusual site and learns how a 2000 year old mangrove forest became a fossilized intertidal zone. Visit UntamedScience.com to discover more!

Danni Washington - New Ecogeek

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:33:34 -0400

Danni Washington is the newest member of the Untamed Science team and an amazing science educator. After earning a bachelors in Marine Science from the University of Miami, Danni joined the Untamed Science team in an effort to change the way students learn about their world. In this short video she describes the essence of what we do.

Red Mangroves Ecofact

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:16:33 -0400

Red Mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) inhabit the shallow waters of estuaries in tropical and subtropical countries. In this short ecofact, Haley and Rob visit a patch of red mangroves and explain some of the benefits these habitats have. They also share the unique adaptations of red mangroves to this salty habitat. Learn more about red mangroves at UntamedScience.com.

Austin Bats: Mexican Free-tailed Bat Ecofact

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:30:19 -0400

Mexican Free-tailed bats visit the Congress avenue bridge in large numbers during the spring and summer months in Austin, TX. In this particular ecofact we happen to hook up with Katy Dougharty on Lady bird lake who gave us a brief glimpse of this amazing bat spectacle. Learn more about Austin's Bats at UntamedScience.com.

Plant Biology Ecofact - Its Springtime

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:34:35 -0400

Plant Biology is the study of all aspects of plants and how they interact with their environment. In this podcast we explore the unique processes that are happening all around us in spring. How have trees prepared for this? What hormones are involved? How does Global warming effect this process? Learn more about plant biology at UntamedScience.com.

The Deep Sea Biome

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:08:20 -0400

The Deep Sea is by far one of the last truly unexplored places on our Earth. It is the largest habitat in the ocean, yet remains the least explored. Only one submarine has ever probed the deepest ocean trench. Today we descend in Karl Stanley's Idabel to explore the mesopelagic zone and bathypelagic zone. Read more about the deep sea at UntamedScience.com.

Bears Ecofact: Brown, Polar, and Black Bears of North America

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:40:07 -0400

The genus Ursus contains 4 species of bear, the polar bear, the brown bear, the american black bear and the asiatic black bear. All but the asiatic black bear can be found in one special place in Alaska - the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Find out more about the bears in the genus Ursus at UntamedScience.com.

Untamed Science Promo: Who are Biologists

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:08:20 -0400

In this podcast we wanted to give you a sneak peek of our new video series. This is the first of 35 episodes that we’ve produced to accompany the new Miller and Levine High School Biology textbooks. We found that high school lessons can be enhanced if teachers are able to share short videos before the lesson. This is our attempt to help increase students’ ability to learn about biology. Let us know what you think of our introductory video for the series. Find out more at UntamedScience.com or Biology.com.

Meet Dr. Fish - Ecofact

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:52 -0400

Gara rufa are freshwater fish that are native to the middle east. Today they are used to help patients with psoriasis and eczema as they eat off the dead skin! Jonas explored these fish while in Borneo on expedition! If you want to see more iguana videos then go to UntamedScience.com.

Green Iguana Facts: An Untamed Science Ecofact

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:49:25 -0500

Green Iguanas are prehistoric creatures of the Central and South American rainforests. They can grow to almost 7 feet in length, get to approximately 20 pounds and live for almost 30 years. Not all green iguanas are green though. Many will start green and end up a dull grey and have males that turn a brilliant orange color. If you want to see more iguana videos then go to UntamedScience.com.

Ice Fishing

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:09:25 -0500

Ice fishing is a sport that allows you to fish in the middle of the winter on a frozen lake. Hazen decided to go out with a local wildlife agency and a high school class to observe this unique fishing technique.

Learn more at UntamedScience.com

Camera Review: Canon Mark II 5D - HF11 - Panasonic HVX200

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:45:45 -0500

In this short episode we wanted to show you a selection of clips taken from three different cameras. This camera review covers the Canon Mark II, the Canon HF11, and the Panasonic HVX200.

Ecofact: Brassica oleracea

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:12:07 -0500

In this ecofact we explore quickly a small plant that has played an important part in our history. Brassica oleracea or wild cabbage is a species that has been domesticated over the centuries by farmers to create several varieties that we know and love today. These include cabbage, brussels sprouts, kohlrabbi and kahl to name a few. Check out some of the cultivars we grabbed for the grocery store for this episode and watch more with Untamed Science.

Geocaching Explained: An outdoor treasure hunt!

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:34:30 -0500

We here with Untamed Science have recently found an exciting outdoor treasure hunt that involves hidden caches in your home town. Its called geocaching and all you need is a map or GPS unit and the ability to download waypoints from geocaching.com. Then you can let the excitement begin.

Visit Untamed Science for more science video podcasts.

Ecofact: Cotton

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:08:06 -0500

In this episode we're in the panhandle of Texas looking at upland cotton. Did you know that Upland Cotton is native to the Americas but is not the only species that is used in the industry! In fact, there are four other cotton species that have varying degrees of use.

Ecofact: Polar Ice Caps

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:05:41 -0500

Over the past 40 years sea ice has been decreasing in the polar ice caps. In this short Ecofact we're reposting an old feed whereby we decided to look at the facts behind sea ice melting. What we found was that there is now a northern passage because there is no longer sea ice! How interesting is that!

Most Dangerous Snakes

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:39:33 -0500

Have you ever noticed that the television nature networks like to list the TOP DEADLY this or the MOST DANGEROUS that? However, when it comes to snakes, so many shows claim different snakes as the world's deadliest. We decided to probe this issue a bit more and make a short video about what we found.

Timelapse: Welcome to Untamed Science

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:03:21 -0500

Time-lapses are basically just snapshots in time that give the impression of time speeding up. Here at Untamed Science we create a lot of great timelapses. Most of them are taken with a simple SLR still camera and focused on plants, clouds, or decaying animals. Check out our new Wildlife Filmmaking page for more information about shooting time-lapse photography.

Ecofact: Sharks

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:11:05 -0400

TV shows portray sharks as dangerous but they're really not all that bad. Sharks are not programed to eat humans. For more information visit our Sharks and Rays page.

Filmmaking: Cameraflying: How to shoot skydiving videos!

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:11:05 -0400

Ever wondered how they shoot skydiving videos? Skydivers call these people camera flyers. For one of our future episodes explaining the science of gravity we decided we should pick up skydiving and in the meantime we thought we'd show you what it takes to fly with a camera! For a better description of camera flying and becoming a skydiving cameraman visit our site:

Filmmaking: Building a Cable Dolly / Cable Cam

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:05:50 -0400

Ever wonder how they get those steady moving shots through the forest? Here is a low-tech cable dolly that we've made to get some dynamic shots on some of our productions. Cable Dolly built by Ed Watkins and Hazen Audel

NSTA Meeting in Boston

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:04:14 -0400

We were at this year's NSTA meeting in Boston and we wanted to ask science teachers one important question: "What inspires you to teach science?" Its also the first introduction we gave to the science community to the new Untamed Science.

Ecofact: Global Warming and Melting Sea Ice

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:52:21 -0500

It is true! Global Warming is causing sea ice to melt in the polar ice caps. But, have you ever seen the actual images? Rob and Jonas bring you this short EcoFact on a recent trip to Svalbard.

Ecofact: Fungi

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:52:25 -0500

The Kingdom Fungia represents one of our least understood taxa. They are all around us, yet we rarely see them. In fact, the only time we see them is when they send up their fruiting bodies. Imagine only seeing a plant if it was in flower!

Halloween special ... Pumpkins and the Cucurbitaceae

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:27:49 -0400

The Cucurbitaceae family is also known as the pumpkin family, squash family or gourd family. There are around 825 species in almost 120 genera. This video talks specifically about the pumpkins and squash that are grouped in the genus Cucurbita.

We're Finalists in Jackson Hole!

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:42:57 -0400

The Ecogeeks at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival! This year we were officially selected as finalists in the New Media category. The festival is the top wildlife filmmaking festival of the year and we feel extremely honored to have been chosen this time around. We are also extremely grateful to everyone who has subscribed to our podcasts. Big things are happening with us and because of that we'll be able to expand and provide more great content to everyone who has told us they want more.

As always, log on to www.thewildclassroom.com, and never stop exploring!

Crew Bio Jonas Stenstrom

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:24:28 -0400

Jonas Stenstrom has been with us since the beginning ... since that first trip to Mexico. Actually almost 10 years ago, it was Jonas and Rob, who in Australia studying Marine Biology, dreamed of traveling the world. This dream finally materialized into what we now call Untamed Science.

Biodiversity of Mexico Preview

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:09:39 -0400

It seems like so long ago now that we had our first real filmmaking expedition. When we filmed this documentary in 2003, most of the crew had never actually met, but we had something big planned. This is the preview to our first video ever! We make no excuses for our cheesy graphics or our lack of decent podcasting clothes. What can we say, it was the start of a great journey for us all.

Z is for Zebra: Extinction in Black and White

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:41:40 -0400

Did you know there are 4 species of zebra? Did you know that more than one species is endangered? Join Ecogeek Rich Blundell as he travels to Kenya on assignment to help unravel the mystery of the declining Grevy's Zebra population.

Temperate Coastal Oceans Biome

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:06:51 -0500

The Ecogeeks bring you another lighthearted biology video. This time they're in Sweden visiting crew member, and marine biologist Jonas Stenstrom. They've also managed to convince Stephanie Schneider to come along as they all hunt for something different in the ocean.

Read more about Temperate Coastal Oceans.

Barro Colorado Island - Video Tour

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:05:00 -0500

This spring the ecogeeks crew have been doing research and filming the plants and animals on Barro Colorado Island. We wanted to share this place with you and explain why it is so unique.

Crew Bio Hazen Audel

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:46:43 -0400

Hazen Audel is an Ecogeek with Untamed Science (and co-creator of thewildclassroom.com). In many ways, Hazen is the epitome of being young at heart. When the crew travels to film our podcasts you can be assured that Hazen is probably missing from the shoot - off finding a critter to bring back and talk about. Its his boyish enthusiasm that we love the most.

Rainforests Biome

Sun, 06 May 2007 23:52:06 -0400

Grab your flipflops, your blue suitcase, your portable drill and come with us as we travel to the rainforests biome. Join Ecogeeks, Rob, Hazen and Suze as they explore the rainforest biome in Panama.

Derby Day - Cane Toad Racing

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:42:13 -0500

See the humorous festivities as a bunch of researchers similate the Kentucky Derby with a bunch of Cane Toads. Who said you cann't have fun doing science? On Barro Colorado Island, within one of the most studied tropical islands in the world, we proved that most scientists are really just young at heart - especially when their once a year derby day event roles around. As always, for more information visit TheWildClassroom.com

Blue Suitcase Rap - by Hazen

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:26:39 -0400

Our very own Crazy Hazen gives you a preview to the next podcast with a funny rap about his blue suitcase. You don't need all the gear to explore the forests (or your own backyard for that matter). All you need is a pair of flip-flops and a sexy blue suitcase. We’re in the rainforests of Panama right now and we’ve got a lot in store for our next episode. But, until next time, remember, “Never Stop Exploring”.

Who are the ECOGEEKS?

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:37:46 -0500

Who are the Ecogeeks? While we're going to introduce each of us one at a time throughout our podcasts, we thought we'd give you a short, quick reminder of our ties to one another. There are six of us that work on most episodes (Rob, Hazen, Jonas, and Suze, Haley, and Danni). A large group of other biologists, and filmmakers act as field reporters and hosts for other episodes. Find out more about the Ecogeeks

Biodiversity

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 20:56:26 -0500

Biodiversity is all around us! In this video we introduce you to the concept of biodiversity. It is more than just the total number of species, however. It describes diversity at all levels from genetic diversity to ecosystem diversity. Yet we are loosing biodiversity. We pose the question, "What can each of us do to help save what is left?"

Tailless Whip Scorpions - Amblypigids

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:40:43 -0500

In this EcoGeeks episode we followed researcher Eben Gering's work on Tailless Whip Scorpions (also known as Amblypigids). We wanted to learn more about this tropical species that is commonly misunderstood. We weren't sure if it was a dangerous animal or not until we found an expert and did some of our own research.

Ecogeeks Announcement: A new season from Panama

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:13:01 -0500

This is a brief announcement to let you know that we have not stopped podcasting, but have only been in the process of moving our operations to the Republic of Panama. A great deal of research is conducted each year from Barro Colorado Island, a rainforest research station run by the Smithsonian Tropical Research institute. It is from this island and the surrounding forests that we will be podcasting from over the next 6 months. Please stay tuned as we prepare to release new episodes every week or two about interesting science concepts from the Ecogeeks new tropical home.

Ecogeeks Email Question: Part2- Oahu Tree Snails

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:19:06 -0500

This is the second part to our Hawaiian Island email question: In this episode we look at the endangered Oahu Tree Snails. This group of snails is found nowhere else in the world but on the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian islands. These snails are really unique. They give birth to live young, but only after they are 6 or 7 years old. Find out more and watch the video.

Ecogeeks Email Question: Hawaii Part 1

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:17:55 -0500

This is the first of our email questions: "How did plants and animals make it to the Hawaiian Islands." Hawaii is nearly 2,400 miles from the closest land mass and that means it would be very difficult for any critter to get here. Three ways animals could have made it here however, are from the Wind, in the Waves (rafting), and via the Birds (Wing). Its the three W's. But, how come most animals in Hawaii are not found anywhere else if they came across the ocean from somewhere else? Thats next weeks question

Ecogeeks Species Profile: #1 Alligator Snapping Turtle

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 01:32:35 -0400

The alligator snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtles in North America. They can grow to 250 pounds and nearly 3 feet in length. They live a long time too. They believe these turtles can live for over 100 years!

Streams and Rivers Biome

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:11:52 -0500

Streams and Rivers flow through every major inhabited continent in the world. Do you know about the river near you? If not, join us as we explore the Smith River in Montana!

Crew Bio: Rob Nelson

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:11:16 -0500

This is a special episode for Ecogeeks. We thought it is important that you know who is behind these science documentary shorts. We have a young diverse crew from all over the world. In this episode producer Rob Nelson explains about his background as a marine biologist, dive-master, tour guide and how a near tragic boat accident helped lead him to become a wildlife filmmaker.

Alpine Tundra Biome

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:10:52 -0500

High above our civilized world are lands unfamiliar to most. The alpine tundra is a land devoid of trees where only hardy plants adapted to the cold, intense sunlight, and short growing season can survive. In this video we sent Jonas to Hawaii, Joseph to Alaska and Mexico, and Rob and Suzi to the alpine slopes of Colorado.

Temperate Grasslands and Prairies Biome

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:10:28 -0500

EcoGeeks has decided to start off the podcast series with several short videos on the biomes of the world. The first is about temperate grasslands and was filmed in the tall grass prairies of northern Minnesota. We feel it is important for students to get a good understanding of what a biome is, what it looks like, and what factors combine to make this zone unique.

World's Deadliest Snakes

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:09:20 -0500

What is the world's deadliest snake? The Ecogeeks first video examines the myths and rumors that have been aired in other nature documentaries. For more info visit our page on Deadly snakes.