$16 Million, Dead Ducks, and Algae: The Reflecting Pool Explained by a Scientist

In 1804, a newspaper claimed two fishermen shot and killed a 100-foot serpent in Cayuga Lake. Over 200 years later, the city of Ithaca has an official resolution protecting it. In this episode, I team up with Kenny Biddle, Chief Investigator at the Center for Inquiry, to dig through the old newspaper trail, measure the monster, and talk to the people keeping the legend alive. Along the way, we talk to Sylvie, creator of the Old Greeny Fringe Fest; Pat Sewell, the alder behind the resolution; and Ben Sandburg, executive director of the History Center in Tompkins County. Plus, there’s a pattern in the sighting dates that says Old Greeny is “due to return,” and I explain why that math should make you suspicious. I’m Ally, an environmental scientist who manages lakes for a living, and this is AquaDiary: lake science, legends, and mysteries. GUESTS Kenny Biddle, Center for Inquiry: https://skepticalinquirer.org/category/a-closer-look/ Sylvie, Old Greeny Fringe Fest: https://oldgreenyfringefest.com/ Pat Sewell, Ithaca Common Council, Third Ward Ben Sandburg, Tompkins County History Center: https://www.thehistorycenter.net/

There's a river in the sky carrying up to 15x the flow of the Mississippi River. You've heard the term atmospheric river in the news — this episode is the explanation nobody gave you. In this episode, environmental scientist Ally breaks down what atmospheric rivers actually are, how scientists measure and rate them on a scale from beneficial to catastrophic, why the West Coast depends on them for its water supply while also being devastated by them, what El Nino might change about that in 2026, and why the East Coast, the South, and the Midwest are not off the hook. Topics covered: what an atmospheric river is, integrated vapor transport, orographic lift, the AR1-AR5 rating scale, the ARkStorm scenario, Oroville Dam, forecast informed reservoir operations, El Niño and what a very strong event means for this winter, and what climate change is doing to these systems. The full source list is available for free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheAquaDiaryPodcast//About AquaDiary:AquaDiary is a science communication project focused on water, environmental science, and the systems that shape our world. You can reach Ally for collaborations at www.aquadiary.org or at [email protected]

How does a mountain collapse cause a flood when there is almost no rain?In August 2026, a rock-and-ice avalanche collapsed from the northern face of Langtang Lirung in Nepal, sending an enormous volume of material down the Himalayan valley and generating a seismic signal equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake. In this episode, we examine the glaciology, geology, hydrology, and remote-sensing evidence behind the event, including how hanging glaciers and fractured bedrock fail. Sources: 34 sources are available for free on ⁠Patreon ⁠ Official website: www.aquadiary.org

What happens when algae show up in the water that eventually becomes your drinking water?In this episode of AquaDiary, we go behind the scenes again with Rochester, NY to find out how the city monitors for algae, where and how they collect samples, what they're looking for in those samples, and how they ensure algae toxins never become a drinking water concern. Ask me a question or work with me: [email protected] Merch available and speaking event details on www.aquadiary.org Substack newsletter Patreon (sources)

Fluoride is under a federal microscope right now. RFK Jr. told the CDC to drop its fluoridation recommendation, Utah already banned it, and the EPA fast-tracked a new toxicity review. So, is your tap water lowering your IQ? I spent a while reading the actual primary sources both sides cite so you don't have to. Short version: the studies finding an IQ effect are real and well-designed. So are the studies finding none. They're mostly answering different questions. Dose and timing turn out to matter more than "fluoride: yes or no." I walk through where the evidence actually lines up, and where the genuine open question still is.// Full citations and in-text citations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheAquaDiaryPodcast Free newsletter for updates and resources: substack.com/@aquadiarypodcast Learn more at aquadiary.org