Lolcatz, Santa, and Death by Dog

In Lolcatz, Santa, and Death by Dog, Andrew Masterson explores the windier shores of science and technology research.

Have you ever considered, for example, the influence of breasts in cyberterrorism? Or the role of cats in the Arab Spring? Did you know that there is a peer-reviewed paper describing the correct method for sticking a pin in a can of Guinness? Have you paused to wonder why our future might depend on finding sympathy for bushfire arsonists? And why male menopause is a feminist issue?

In a rich collection of stories, Masterson takes a gleeful romp through the curiosities of science and tech research, pausing occasionally to interview some of the giants in the field, including cosmologist Neil deGrasse Tyson, string theorist Brian Greene, US ‘science guy’ Bill Nye, science comedian Robin Ince, and America’s most wanted man, Edward Snowden.

‘Masterson has a keen eye for an entertaining science yarn, and matches meticulous research with the ability to fascinate and entertain. His knack of uncovering the peculiar and revealing the ridiculous is second to none.’ Sonya Pemberton, Emmy Award–winning producer of science documentaries including Immortal, Catching Cancer and Jabbed: Love, fear and vaccines.