Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat, Part 2: Exploring Science Fairs, Schrodinger’s Cat, and the Fascinating Concept of Cats as Liquids

Welcome back to part two of a two-part series on cats and science on 6 Degrees of Cats, the world's #1 (and only) cat-themed culture, history and science podcast. We continue our fascinating journey with biophysicist Kareem Elsayad, Ph.D., based in Vienna, as he unveils the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and demystifies the significance of Schrodinger's cat - a thought experiment that has intrigued minds for decades. 

Joining Dr. Elsayad is materials scientist Titilayo Shodiya, Ph.D., an expert familiar with the diverse states of matter, including liquid, solid, collapsed, and more, in which cats astonishingly exist.

Additionally, we are thrilled to introduce rising young researcher Kaeden Henry and co-investigator Kerry Hyde, who have employed the scientific method to conduct an innovative study that promises to ignite spirited conversations among cat owners worldwide.

Check out part 1 here! 

Support the podcast, sign up for The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter and more here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats.

About the experts:

• Kareem Elsayad, Ph.D., heads the Advanced Microscopy team at the Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities (VBCF) in Vienna, Austria. His research has broadly contributed to the fields of microscopy, high-resolution optical spectroscopy, and nanophotonics. Dr. Elsayad can be followed @kelsa909 on Twitter.
• Titilayo Shodiya, M.S., Ph.D., is the host of hit pop culture and science podcast, Dope Labs with co-host Zakiya Watson, Ph.D. Dr. Shodiya received her B.S. in Materials Science from Penn State University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University. She currently works at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Dr. Shodiya can be followed @dr_tsho on Instagram and Twitter.
• Kaeden Henry and Kerry Hyde are a Florida-based independent research team whose innovative science fair poster, “Does Your Cat’s B***hole Really Touch All The Surfaces In Your Home?”, gained worldwide attention in 2021 upon publication on social media.

Reference image:

• Adam Ellis "Books of Adam" cat meme

Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything*

• Captain Kitty (Amanda B.)

* with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles

Animal voices include:

• Binky & Snuggles _^..^_

Opening and closing credits:

• Leathered: "Look Alive" (c) 2022
• Samples licensed via Loopcloud
• Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com

Logo design:

• Edward Anthony © 2024 (Instagram: @itsmyunzii)

Research used:

• Howgego, J. (n.d.). Schrödinger’s Cat. Schrödinger’s cat: A thought experiment that highlights the strangeness of quantum theory. Retrieved from https://www.newscientist.com/definition/schrodingers-cat/ 
• Humphreys, J. (2021, December 11). How Erwin Schrödinger indulged his “lolita complex” in Ireland. The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/how-erwin-schr%C3%B6dinger-indulged-his-lolita-complex-in-ireland-1.4749204 
• Myers, M. (2021, April 27). Kid’s science project centered around if a cat’s behind touches surfaces. K 104.7. Retrieved from https://k1047.com/2021/04/27/kids-science-project-centered-around-if-a-cats-behind-touches-surfaces/ 
• Zhu, A. (2022, July 11). The Ig Nobel Prize: Why are Cats Liquid? Retrieved from  https://stemfellowship.org/the-ig-nobel-prize-why-are- cats-liquid/