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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview w/ Amy Shira Teitel, Self-Replication, Bird Memories, Neander Burials, Millipede Sex, Squid Sex, Dog-Like Teeth, Water States, Dino Tracks, Camera Trackers, And Much More…
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It’s an interview week!
Amy Shira Teitel is an author and space history junkie. She blogs and vlogs at The Vintage Space, and has written several books. The most recent of which was released yesterday. Fighting for Space, tells the riveting tale of two female American pilots and their efforts to go to space during the race to the moon. Their efforts paved the way for female astronauts to have a fighting chance in the 80’s.
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Now, let’s get to the science news!
Self-Replication
One goal of synthetic biology is the creation of a self-replicating system based on biological design. Scientists at Max Planck report creating the prototype of such a system with a bare-minimum of 116kb of DNA containing the genetic code for replication of DNA, and translation and transcription into proteins.
Bird Memories
Wild New Zealand songbirds remember a food-related memory task for up to two years.
Neander news
Perhaps our cousins buried their dead.
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Is it time for Blair’s Animal Corner?
We’ve finally, at long last, done it!
We know how millipedes have sex. Eureka!
Squids don’t like mating near loud noises, but they get used to it…
Squids can become accustomed to pile driving suonds over time. Is that a good thing? We’re not sure…
Let’s finish strong with some quick stories!
Dog-Like Teeth
Fossils from 28,500 year old Czech dig site confirm that early dogs were domesticated and ate a different diet from that eaten by wolves.
Water States
New evidence supports the long-considered idea that water is weird… when compared to other liquids. Researchers found that it has not one, but two local structures – one based on tetrahedral structure whereas the other is not.
Dino tracks on the ceiling
This only works if the ceiling used to be a floor.
Specialized cameras can track vital signs of zoo animals from afar.
Question is, do we need that?
I'm the host of this little science show. 
