Episode 40 Sources: Spooky Chemistry

Whether or not you realize it, you interact with chemicals every day of your life. The foods you eat, the products you use to clean your home, and even you, yourself, are made of chemicals! Some of them, though, can be quite dangerous or have been used for nefarious purposes. So, in this episode, we’re diving into the darker side of chemistry with stories of hidden gold, acid burns, and body dissolution.

You can listen on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcherGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicPandora, or iHeartRadio.

Here are our sources:

  1. https://www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/can-acid-dissolve-a-body/3007496.article
  2. https://edu.rsc.org/analysis/breaking-bad-ii-acid-bath-disposal-of-bodies/3007374.article
  3. https://medium.com/the-crime-historian/the-story-of-lye-the-cook-the-murderer-his-wife-and-her-lover-187d29c92352#:~:text=Under%20high%20heat%20and%20pressure,liquid%20in%20just%20three%20hours.
  4. https://ehs.unc.edu/chemical/hfa/chemical-safety-information-hydrofluoric-acid/
  5. https://www.cremationassociation.org/page/alkalinehydrolysis
  6. https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/what-happens-when-a-dead-body-is-dissolved-in-lye
  7. https://www.chem.purdue.edu/chemsafety/chem/HFfatality.html
  8. https://www.today.com/popculture/mythbusters-proves-breaking-bads-walt-needs-some-more-schooling-6C10904583
  9. https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/chemistry/about/diversity/jabiribnhayyan.html
  10. https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2011/10/03/140815154/dissolve-my-nobel-prize-fast-a-true-story  
  11. https://gizmodo.com/how-acid-can-leave-your-skin-untouched-but-destroy-your-1723056026

Black-Eyed Children: Creepypasta or Creepy Kids?

Are Black-Eyed Children just a product of a Creepypasta run rampant, or is there some science behind reported sightings of creepy kids? We discuss the origins of this popular urban legend, and then dive into possible explanations – Meagan has a theory of her own that we’re excited for you to hear!

To see our sources for this episode, head to our website at www.spookysciencesisters.com. Hit subscribe to be notified of future episodes, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@SpookySciPod), TikTok (@SpookyScience), and Facebook (@SpookyScienceSisters) for even more spooky content! Help us grow by sharing with a friend and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support the show further by buying us a “spirit”!

Spooky Science Sisters is a member of the Straight Up Strange Podcast Network.

Episode 35 Sources: 2 Short 2 Spooky

Our second Short & Spooky episode is here! Paige covers Deja Vu – what are we really experiencing and how is it studied? She also shares the story of the mysterious disappearance of Flight 513. Meagan gives an update on Oumuamua – the first interstellar object that we’ve been able to observe passing through our solar system – and our scariest topic yet, Bloody Mary. You can listen on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcherGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicPandora, or iHeartRadio.

Reminder: We’re collecting spooky stories for our Annual Halloween Listener Stories episode! If you have a paranormal or other creepy experience that you were able to debunk, or that you’d like us to take a stab at, you can send it to [email protected] or DM us on any of our social media accounts. Happy Spooky Season!

Here are our sources:

Deja Vu:

  1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-science-explain-deja-vu/
  2. https://www.businessinsider.com.au/why-we-get-deja-vu-2017-12

Flight 513:

  1. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/52255/8-weekly-world-news-headlines-turned-out-be-true
  2. https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/features/79021-mystery-santiago-flight-513.html

Oumuamua:

  1. https://observer.com/2021/03/oumuamua-alien-interstellar-object-ice-comet-study-reveal/

Bloody Mary: Source #8 includes the Strange Face Illusion photos we discuss.

  1. https://u.osu.edu/vanzandt/2019/04/17/bloody-mary-from-the-bathroom-to-the-laboratory/
  2. https://people.howstuffworks.com/bloody-mary-legend.htm
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catoptromancy
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Mary_(folklore)
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWORTeImS44
  6. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/558091/origin-bloody-mary-and-why-we-think-we-see-things-mirrors
  7. https://www.livescience.com/62274-disappearing-optical-illusion-troxler-explained.html
  8. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/illusion-chasers/locking-eyes-with-a-monster/

Episode 34 Sources: Damn Oceans, You Scary – AKA The Whale Episode

Thalassophobia, the fear of the ocean or other large bodies of water, is a common phobia, and in this episode we discuss what makes large bodies of water so spooky. Whether it be the size of the ocean, ghost ships, or what could be lurking beneath the surface of the water there are plenty of reasons to be creeped out! You can listen on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcherGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicPandora, or iHeartRadio.

Reminder: We’re collecting spooky stories for our Annual Halloween Listener Stories episode! If you have a paranormal or other creepy experience that you were able to debunk, or that you’d like us to take a stab at, you can send it to [email protected] or DM us on any of our social media accounts. Happy Spooky Season!

As always, here are our sources:

  1. https://amp.capecodtimes.com/amp/7653838002?__twitter_impression=true
  2. https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a19000/less-than-one-percent-worlds-shipwrecks-explored/
  3. https://theconversation.com/ten-things-you-never-knew-about-the-oceans-deepest-places-55172
  4. https://www.usharbors.com/2018/10/the-science-of-ghost-ships/
  5. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-enchanting-sea-monsters-on-medieval-maps-1805646/
  6. https://medium.com/short-history/christopher-columbus-cant-tell-a-manatee-from-a-mermaid-b008e117c78d
  7. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-real-sea-monsters-brought-life-early-naturalists-180953155/
  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_wave
  9. https://www.boatinternational.com/luxury-yacht-life/lifestyle/best-ghost-ship-stories–29737
  10. https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/ss-ourang-medan-ghost-ship/
  11. https://www.historicmysteries.com/ourang-medan/
  12. https://www.marineinsight.com/maritime-history/ghost-ship-the-mysterious-flying-dutchman/
  13. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-did-whales-evolve-73276956/

Damn Oceans, You Scary: AKA The Whale Episode

Thalassophobia, the fear of the ocean or other large bodies of water, is a common phobia, and in this episode we discuss what makes large bodies of water so spooky. Whether it be the size of the ocean, ghost ships, or what could be lurking beneath the surface of the water there are plenty of reasons to be creeped out!

To see our sources for this episode, head to our website at www.spookysciencesisters.com. Hit subscribe to be notified of future episodes, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@SpookySciPod), TikTok (@SpookyScience), and Facebook (@SpookyScienceSisters) for even more spooky content! Help us grow by sharing with a friend and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support the show further by buying us a “spirit”!

Spooky Science Sisters is a member of the Straight Up Strange Podcast Network.

Episode 33 Sources: Spooky True Crime Vol. 2 w/ Kyna: Was Elizabeth Bathory Innocent?

We’ve all heard stories of Elizabeth Bathory, who is known as the most torturous and prolific female serial killer in history. Was she really the monster we all know her as, or was she the Regina George of her time – a powerful woman with enemies just as mean as she was? Kyna, host of the Historical AF podcast joins us for our second spooky true crime episode. Listen in for a giggle-filled discussion on the famed Blood Countess and her residence-turned-prison, Cachtice Castle. You can listen on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcherGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicPandora, or iHeartRadio.

Here are our sources:

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory
  2. https://www.thoughtco.com/elizabeth-bathory-mass-murderer-or-victim-1221244
  3. https://stmuhistorymedia.org/elizabeth-bathory/
  4. https://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/elizabeth-bathory/elizabeth-bathory-countess-dracula/
  5. https://allthatsinteresting.com/elizabeth-bathory-true-story
  6. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bathorys-torturous-escapades-are-exposed
  7. https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/elizabeth-bathory#:~:text=In%201610%20she%20was%20accused,for%20most%20prolific%20female%20murderer.
  8. https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1134&context=etd
  9. https://www.historyhit.com/the-blood-countess-facts-about-elizabeth-bathory/
  10. https://www.thetravel.com/elizabeth-bathory-history-education-hungary-travel/
  11. https://www.istrianet.org/istria/legends/vampires/bathory.htm
  12. https://historycollection.com/real-countess-dracula-12-facts-life-crimes-elizabeth-bathory/6/
  13. https://www.orellfuessli.ch/shop/home/artikeldetails/ID3093779.html
  14. https://stmuhistorymedia.org/elizabeth-bathory/#marker-96966-11
  15. https://serialkillershistory.wordpress.com/2017/12/20/the-true-story-of-elizabeth-bathory-the-blood-countess-2/
  16. https://amyscrypt.com/cachtice-castle-elizabeth-bathory/
  17. https://historycollection.com/10-ghosts-of-the-most-famous-historical-figures-and-where-to-find-them/6/
  18. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/blood-countess-slovakia/index.html
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egNckCeKevE

Spooky True Crime Vol. 2 with Kyna: Was Elizabeth Bathory Innocent?

We’ve all heard stories of Elizabeth Bathory, who is known as the most torturous and prolific female serial killer in history. Was she really the monster we all know her as, or was she the Regina George of her time – a powerful woman with enemies just as mean as she was? Kyna, host of the Historical AF podcast joins us for our second spooky true crime episode. Listen in for a giggle-filled discussion on the famed Blood Countess and her residence-turned-prison, Cachtice Castle.

To see our sources for this episode, head to our website at www.spookysciencesisters.com. Hit subscribe to be notified of future episodes, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@SpookySciPod), TikTok (@SpookyScience), and Facebook (@SpookyScienceSisters) for even more spooky content! Help us grow by sharing with a friend and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support the show further by buying us a “spirit”!

Promo at the beginning of the episode from Ain’t It Scary? with Sean & Carrie. Spooky Science Sisters is a member of the Straight Up Strange Podcast Network.

Episode 31 Sources: Spooky Movie Science

Do you enjoy scary movies? Have you ever wondered why that is? In this episode we chat about what science has to say about why scary movies are so enjoyable, and what is happening to your body while you watch them. We discuss a list of the top 20 scariest movies and give our rankings. Whether you are a fan of psychological thrillers or prefer a classic slasher, this episode is for you! You can listen on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcherGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicPandora, or iHeartRadio.

Here are our sources:

  1. https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2020/10/these-are-the-scariest-horror-movies-according-to-science/
  2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2020/10/17/what-is-the-scariest-movie-ever-well-science-now-has-an-answer-to-that-question/?sh=1e7e19ad56a2
  3. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02298/full
  4. https://now.tufts.edu/articles/why-do-we-horror-movies
  5. https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2017/october/fear
  6. https://news.usc.edu/151096/why-do-we-like-to-be-scared-usc-experts-explain-the-science-of-fright/
  7. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/anxiety-love-watching-horror-movies_l_5d277587e4b02a5a5d57b59e
  8. https://read.dukeupress.edu/poetics-today/article-abstract/25/2/283/20819/I-ll-Never-Have-a-Clown-in-My-House-Why-Movie?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Spooky Movie Science

Do you enjoy scary movies? Have you ever wondered why that is? In this episode we chat about what science has to say about why scary movies are so enjoyable, and what is happening to your body while you watch them. We discuss a list of the top 20 scariest movies and attempt to rank them ourselves. Whether you are a fan of psychological thrillers or prefer a classic slasher, this episode is for you!

To see our sources for this episode, head to our website at www.spookysciencesisters.com. Hit subscribe to be notified of future episodes, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@SpookySciPod), TikTok (@SpookyScience), and Facebook (@SpookyScienceSisters) for even more spooky content! Help us grow by sharing with a friend and leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support the show further by buying us a “spirit”!

Spooky Science Sisters is a member of the Straight Up Strange Podcast Network.

Episode 23 Links: A Ghost Hunting Chat with Karen Stollznow & Matt Baxter

Dr. Karen Stollznow from Monster Talk is back with her husband, Matthew Baxter, host of Ask a Paranormal Investigator, to talk about their experiences investigating the paranormal! We discuss some of their favorite investigations, hear some amazing spooky (true!) ghost hunting stories, and learn behind-the-scenes dirt on the production of paranormal TV shows.

You can find Karen on Twitter @karenstollznow or at her Amazon author page. Matt can also be found on Twitter @parabaxter, or on his YouTube series, Ask a Paranormal Investigator.