Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:55:04 — 79.5MB)
What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
This Week: Cytobacteria?, Invisible Fences, Jurassic Garden, Zee Deeehnay, Branching Worms, Simulated Impact, COVID Update, 1 To 3, Baby Mantis Punch, Holographic Histopathology, Fertility Feed, Bat Senses, Seat Of Consciousness, Cinco de Mayo Science News…
Check out the full episode of our science podcast on YouTube. You can do that here.
And, remember that you can find us on all the podcast directories. If you are looking for science podcasts on Spotify, we are there! Science podcasts on Google? We are there! You’re looking for science podcasts on iTunes, science podcasts on Apple? We are there, too! Just look for This Week in Science…
Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!!!
World governments continue to reflect thoughtfully over the past years pandemic.
Waiting patiently to reopen until such a time as it is safe for the general public to return.
Like Florida did before leading the nation in COVID cases.
Like India did before leading the world in COVID cases.
How did the virus overwhelm hospital capacity?
Who knows, it was a novel virus…
Despite dire warnings from scientists who study such things,
it was pretty obvious that it was safe because – why bother with facts?
Even now I am talking about it in the past tense
despite there being more new cases in the world this past week than at any other time,
and peak deaths will naturally follow…
So, statistically we’re at the worst point…
but, why bother with facts?
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to re-imagine the future of energy production.
Our current system was imagined into existence a hundred years ago.
Since then we have learned that reliance on fossil fuels,
while fantastic at first,
is bad for human health.
It is bad for land, air and water quality…
turning them toxic, which is about as far from quality as you can get.
And, of course, also bad for stability of the climate.
We’ve known all of this for nearly a hundred years
thanks to scientists who have been pointing out the dangers all along the way,
but still we failed to make any significant changes to our behavior because…
again, why bother with facts?
Facts are persistent, pesky things…
and while we may not wish to bother with them…
Time will come when they won’t bother with us either…
Because none of the facts we ignore now will matter when we have all sorts of new facts to deal with,
with all sorts of new questions…
Which cities will be abandoned when sea levels rise above their sewer systems or their suburbs…
For what reasons did the super storms get started…
Why did so many species go extinct so fast…
Who knew that a minor food web collapse in the ocean could lower the planet’s oxygen levels…
Someday sooner than you think the world won’t care about warning signs…
because it will be too late.
But it isn’t too late yet!
In fact you are just in time for another episode of
This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
Let’s start with some quick science news
Cytobacteria?
Do bacteria live in the cells of healthy plants?
Invisible Fences
A little citrus, and wood becomes transparent.
Jurassic Garden
A thousands of years long dead plant breathes fresh CO2 again in an amazing new breakthrough
Zee Deeehnay
A unique form of DNA is in use by viruses, and was apparently evolved to get around bacterial defenses.
Branching worms
When is a plurality of posteriors preferable? Apparently, when you are a sponge-inhabiting annelid.
Simulated Impact
NASA JPL took part in a simulated asteroid impact at the 7th International Academy of Aeronautics (IAA) Planetary Defense Conference to see how well the international community responds to such a threat. The results were…not great.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A TWIS SHIRT OR MUG OR OTHER ITEM OF TWIS MERCHANDISE CLICK ON THE ZAZZLE LINK TO BROWSE OUR STORE.
Are you ready for a COVID Update?
Who To Trust?
Trust the experts!
In-School Risk
In-person schooling increases risk of COVID-19 to household members, but simple mitigation measures implemented at schools can reduce that risk so as to make it non-existent.
HELP TWIS GROW! GET A FRIEND TO SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
It’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
What once was one is now three
In an extreme case of regeneration, a marine cordate cut into three pieces can regrow to three complete organisms
Don’t ever babysit a mantis shrimp
Babies are just as smash and stabby as adults from a very early age
Support us on Patreon!
What does Justin have to say about science this week?
Holographic histopathology
Allowing us better views of tissues.
Fertility Feed
Do you know what data your fertility app is collecting, and how it is being used?
WANT TO HELP TWIS? LEAVE A POSITIVE REVIEW FOR TWIS ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM TODAY!
Let’s finish strong with science from Dr. Kiki!
Bat Senses
Two studies out this week investigated the navigation abilities of bats and their senses.
Seat Of Consciousness
A study claims to have found the part of the brain that makes you conscious of the world around you.
Don’t forget that Brood X is coming to the East Coast soon!
This Week in Science Questions!
Do you have questions that you want us to answer? Send us your questions! We will do our best to have answers!
Leave us a message on our Facebook page, OR email Dr. Kiki!
Check out this episode of TWIS from last May when we talked about identifying dolphins by their voices and told you not to panic about the Murder hornet. How’s that all panned out?
I'm the host of this little science show. 
I noticed in the fertility/period tracker app discussion that you folks used woman a lot when discussing people whom menstruate. Using woman in these discussions can be very dysphoric for the trans people listening to your podcast.
Thank you.
Thank you for the reminder. We definitely appreciate your time and thoughtful comment, and are trying to be more inclusive with our language. Thank you!