April 10th, 2020
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview w/ Vanessa Hill of BrainCraft, Quick COVID Update, Better Brain Implants, Heart Off The Shelf, Mouse Looks, Charismatic Invasives, Healthy Horseshoe Crabs, Toilet Scans, Interstellar Dropoff?, Panda Mating, And Much More…
Want to watch this on YouTube? You can do that here.
Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!!!
The World Health Organization is too China-centric…
According to one world leader.
And it’s true, the World Health Organization has been focused on China lately,
Which does make sense since southeast Asia has half the world’s population.
And, China has been at the epicenter of several emerging pandemics,
Including the current outbreak,
Which is still underway,
And if you want to know what to do next,
it can be helpful to learn what has already taken place.
So, it is a bit like saying doctors are currently being too patient-centric,
Or scientists are too vaccine research-centric,
What would be nice is to have a leader more leadership-centric.
And yet, this same world leader suggests that the United States
will look into cutting our funding to the World Health Organization in response…
To the World Health Organization, doing it’s job to protect world health…
In the midst of a global pandemic.
If there were a joke here, this is where I would be delivering the punch line.
But I can’t come up with one.
This isn’t funny.
I can’t even do a proper facepalm because…
We’re not supposed to touch our faces anymore.
So instead, it’s time for another episode of
This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
Let’s start with an interview!
Our guest, Vanessa Hill, is an award-winning science educator, host, and an IF/THEN Ambassador and STEM advocate. She hosts and produces the PBS digital Studios show BrainCraft, and holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of New South Wales and a Masters of Science Communication from Australian National University.
What has science done for you lately?
Write in to let us know what science has done for you lately. What does it do for you every day?
Leave us a message on our Facebook page – Facebook.com/ThisWeekinScience
OR email Dr. Kiki at kirsten@thisweekinscience.com
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Now for our COVID-19 Update!
According to Johns Hopkins University:
“The WHO COVID-19 Situation Report for April 7 reported 1,279,722 confirmed COVID-19 cases (68,766 new) and 72,614 deaths (5,020 new). The US CDC reported 374,329 cases (43,438 new) and 12,064 deaths (3,154 new) on April 7. These are both a substantial increase over the previous day; however, it is potentially the result of delays in reporting over the weekend. As of yesterday, 14 states have reported more than 5,000 cases (1 new), and 30 states have reported widespread community transmission (1 new). The Johns Hopkins CSSE dashboard is reporting 401,166 US cases and 12,936 deaths as of 10:30am on April 8. There is growing concern that the number of reported COVID-19 deaths is underestimating the scale and severity of the pandemic, in particular due to limited testing and a focus on the most severe cases. Reports are emerging from around the world that many potential COVID-19 patients may be dying without a proper diagnosis. In Chicago, African American residents have approximately a 6 times higher mortality rate than Caucasian residents. Additionally, 68% of COVID-19 deaths have been reported in African Americans, despite only representing 30% of the population. The distribution of cases and death from COVID-19 highlights differential access to resources and poignant inequities between communities. Wuhan, China, the city where the novel coronavirus outbreak was first documented, lifted travel restrictions today, removing some of the most restrictive measures implemented during the city’s widely publicized “lockdown” that started more than 2 months ago.”
Cats (Big & Small) Get COVID
Don’t smoke em if you got em!
Why covid-19 effects smokers worse.
Doctors with bad data
… Can’t make good choices
LET US KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE, OR INFORM US ON ANY REGIONAL UPDATES, BY EMAILING KIRSTEN@THISWEEKINSCIENCE.COM.
What science news does the second half of the show hold???
Better Brain Implants
Encased in silicon dioxide, a new flexible brain implant sporting more than 1000 electrodes could last up to 6 years in the human body.
Heart Off The Shelf
Or, at least a patch that can repair broken hearts might be on the way.
Is it time for Blair’s Animal Corner???
Is that mouse looking at me weird?
New research could allow us to answer this age-old question with ease!
Charismatic Invasives have it easier
I don’t care how cute that squirrel is Karen, YOU CAN’T TAKE HIM HOME WITH US HE WILL DESTROY THE ECOSYSTEM!
How to Keep Horseshoe Crabs Healthy
New aquaculture technique could make our use of these sea spider/crab thingies with blue blood more sustainable.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A TWIS SHIRT OR MUG OR OTHER ITEM OF TWIS MERCHANDISE, CLICK ON THE ZAZZLE LINK IN THE HEADER TO BROWSE OUR STORE.
Let’s finish strong with some quick stories!
Toilet Scans
A new toilet design identifies users by their unique anal print in order to assess health markers in the urine and feces.
Interstellar Dropoff?
A comet-like interstellar traveler has apparently lost a bit of itself.
Panda Mating
It happened.
If You love TWIS, and all the science news we bring you each week, please consider making a donation to the This Week in Science podcast.
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Blair's Animal Corner, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, Interview, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, STEM, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
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April 3rd, 2020
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:41:29 — 70.1MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
COVID-19 Update, Magic Brain Decoder Ring, Antarctic Rainforest, Orchestral Squid in the Dark, Ant Traffic, Bacterial Photosynthesis, Fishy Calusa, Matchy Microbiomes, Nuclear Reprogramming 4Eva, Musical Creativity, Mantis Mimic, And Much More…
Want to watch this on YouTube? You can do that here.
Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!!!
With all of the efforts to contain the spread of the dreaded novel coronavirus
Humans have isolated themselves from regular human contact
They are taking on strange behaviors like
Frequent hand washing
Not touching everything
Working from home
Or not working from home
Day drinking
Spending time with family
Or spending time all alone
There are silver linings in this crisis…
For one, we may wind up saving lives
All of these efforts are in response to a single strain of virus
But what about all the other pathogens?
How will the common cold survive in a world of social distancing and hand washing?
How will std’s propagate without bars and clubs open?
Another is that we are technically still a part of the Paris accord
And we’ve got a great chance of meeting our reduction in greenhouse gasses this year.
And most importantly of all,
Despite all the changes that have taken place
There is one thing which remains the same.
This Week In Science,
Coming Up Next…
Let’s start with a COVID-19 UPDATES!
CASES:
The WHO COVID-19 Situation Report for March 31 reported 750,890 confirmed COVID-19 cases (57,610 new) and 36,405 deaths (3,301 new) globally. The US CDC reported 163,539 cases (22,635 new) and 2,860 deaths (455 new) on March 31.
How long do we need to keep up the social distancing measures?
It depends on how well our government responds, but we are looking at about 2 months to get past this first wave of infections.
How does it infect?
IT is a respiratory disease that infects via the ACE2 receptor using spike proteins on its surface to recognize and grab hold of cells, gaining entry. The most dominant infection route is through inhalation through the nose and airways where the cells with ACE2 receptors live. This is why food isn’t such a big concern – our digestive system has far fewer ACE2 receptors AND has caustic acids that destroy the virus.
Who does it infect?
It can infect anyone, but people with pre-existing health conditions like heart disease, COPD, diabetes, asthma, to name a few are more likely to become severely ill. This is also why the CDC is considering recommending that everyone wear masks when leaving the house. Young, healthy individuals who become infected are more likely to be asymptomatic and spread the disease without meaning to. Masks will reduce the potential transmission of the virus from infected individuals for a variety of reasons.
How did corona get here?
Bats, via pangolins. Most likely…
LET US KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE, OR INFORM US ON ANY REGIONAL UPDATES, BY EMAILING KIRSTEN@THISWEEKINSCIENCE.COM.
Now for some other science news!
Magic Brain Decoder Ring
Researchers from UCSF published a study in Nature Neuroscience describing their success in creating a system for decoding neural signals into English sentences.
Antarctic Rainforest
90 million years ago the south pole was a rainforest.
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Is it time for Blair’s Animal Corner???
How Squids Talk in the Dark
With very subtle, flashing light, all over their bodies of course!
When we are all driving to work again, ants might have an answer to those daily traffic jams.
You guessed it, it’s adjusting to the speed of the other drivers, not speeding up to slam on your brakes, Karen!
What has science done for you lately?
Write in to let us know what science has done for you lately. What does it do for you every day?
Leave us a message on our Facebook page – Facebook.com/ThisWeekinScience
OR email Dr. Kiki at kirsten@thisweekinscience.com
What science news does the second half of the show hold???
Bacterial Photosynthesis
Berkeley researchers have improved on their design using bacteria paired with conductive nanowires to recreate the process of photosynthesis. By packing bacteria more densly, they were able to achieve a record 3.6% conversion of CO2 into acetate, on par with some highly efficient plants.
Calusa culture was fishy
They had aquaculture thousands of years ago!
Fish microbiomes
They match around the world!
Nuclear Reprogramming 4Eva
Scientists erased hallmarks of aging in old human cells.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A TWIS SHIRT OR MUG OR OTHER ITEM OF TWIS MERCHANDISE, CLICK ON THE ZAZZLE LINK IN THE HEADER TO BROWSE OUR STORE.
Let’s finish strong with some quick stories!
Musical Creativity
Jazz musician’s brains have something to tell us about creativity.
Robot mimics mantis shrimp force
How interesting, that some of our greatest breakthroughs in robotics are simply being able to match the splendor of the animal world!
If You love TWIS, and all the science news we bring you each week, please consider making a donation to the This Week in Science podcast.
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Blair's Animal Corner, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, Justin Jackson, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, STEM, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
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March 31st, 2020
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:35:39 — 66.1MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Treatment Truths, Cellular Waves, WonderChicken, Animal Ancestor, Snake Venom Virtue, Horny Narwhals, Life Finds A Way, COVID Myths, Musical Brains, Long-lived Ladies, Apelopithecus, And Much More…
Want to watch this on YouTube? You can do that here.
Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!!!
We humans have undergone 10,000 years of domestication since the initial age of agriculture.
In that time, we have experimented with thousands of different societies and ideologies.
Invented as many religions.
Constructed philosophies for all occasions.
Created political and economic systems that span the globe.
Followed the scientific process to amazing peaks of knowledge and technology.
We have largely mastered the natural world,
and are still working out the last kinks in our ancestral ape essence of behavior.
And yet, when everything seems uncertain.
When our domestic bliss is challenged
When societies gears grind to a temporary halt and the restart appears uncertain.
What is it that we reach out for first to see us through?
Toilet paper.
The domesticated modern human does not want to go backwards
At least where our backsides are concerned.
And the second thing we reach out for, is science.
We will not legislate, pray, meditate, philosophize, trade or rate cut our way out of this.
But, we can science ourselves the blankety-blank out of this crisis.
And, the first thing we reach out for when science is the answer is:
This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
Let’s start with some science news!
COVID-19 UPDATE
Don’t hoard the hydroxychloroquine.
LET US KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE, OR INFORM US ON ANY REGIONAL UPDATES, BY EMAILING KIRSTEN@THISWEEKINSCIENCE.COM.
Cellular Waves
MIT scientists looked at the patterns of protein activation within the membranes of egg cells, and found waves similar to those seen in other systems on earth, like air and ocean.
WonderChicken
Oldest of birds looks like a chicken?
Ancestor of all animals on earth
This is NOT a sponge. It’s more like an itty, bitty, teeny, weeny worm.
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Is it time for Blair’s Animal Corner???
Why do snakes have venom?
This isn’t an Aesop’s fable, I’m actually asking…
Why does a narwhal have a big ol’ tooth??
Jury’s still out, but we have a new idea.
What has science done for you lately?
Randy Mazzuca writes in, “What has science done for me lately? The other day I used vinegar and baking soda together to make pizza dough without yeast.”
Write in to let us know what science has done for you lately. What does it do for you every day?
Leave us a message on our Facebook page – Facebook.com/ThisWeekinScience
OR email Dr. Kiki at kirsten@thisweekinscience.com
What science news does the second half of the show hold???
Life Finds A Way
From the depths of the Earth to the heat of Mercury, life finds a way.
What covid-19 is not
COVID-19 is not man-made, and other myths busted by the WHO.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A TWIS SHIRT OR MUG OR OTHER ITEM OF TWIS MERCHANDISE, CLICK ON THE ZAZZLE LINK IN THE HEADER TO BROWSE OUR STORE.
Let’s finish strong with some quick stories!
Musical Brains
Brains that synchronize indicate musical popularity.
Females live longer, across mammal species
I can’t quite figure out how to extrapolate this to a snarky remark, as we don’t yet know WHY.
Australopithecus…
More ape than man, and this might change our ideas on aspects of human evolution.
If You love TWIS, and all the science news we bring you each week, please consider making a donation to the This Week in Science podcast.
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Blair's Animal Corner, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, STEM, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in animal behavior, animals, astrobiology, bioethics, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, chemistry, chickens, clinical trials, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, evolution, FDA, infectious diseases, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, paleontology, pharmacology, physics, physiology, planets, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, reptiles, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, technology, therapies, whales, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
March 19th, 2020
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:54:42 — 79.2MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview with JPL Mars Geologist Fred Calef III, Virus Viability, New Reality, COVID-19 Vaccine Trial, Lighten Up Trauma!, Croc Moms Rock, Donation Acceptance, Human Magnetoreception, Anxious Kids?, Legos Live Forever, Some Good COVID News, And Much More…
Want to watch this on YouTube? You can do that here.
Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!!!
If you went outside today…
why?
Maybe you haven’t heard…
we are in the midst of a global pandemic!
A virus has gone viral despite not getting any likes…
So we all need to come together to fight it
by staying as far apart as possible
And while the world is reeling from the reality that nature still exists
That we are still very much connected to nature
And that even the smallest form of life,
A life form that doesn’t even check all the boxes for the normal definition of life,
Can bring about consequences that shut down civilizations the world round,
Remember that one thing that can’t be shut down…
This week in science…
coming up next.
We started with an interview!
Dr. Fred Calef III has a PhD in Mars Geology. According to his Twitter bio, he works with InSight, Mars Science Lab on Curiosity, & Mars2020 at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, mapping landing sites for food.
We discussed the importance of mapping Mars, and a variety of aspects related to Dr. Calef’s job as a geospatial scientist.
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What science news does the second half of the show hold???
Virus Viability
After our conversation last week in which Blair was wondering about the safety of her mail, this study comparing SARS-CoV1 to SARS-CoV2 found that both were longest lived (up to 72 hours) on stainless steel and plastic, survived up to 24 hours on cardboard, and less than 4 hours on copper surfaces. The virus remained aerosolized up to 3 hours, which was the duration of the experimental period. So, if you are worried, let your mail sit overnight before opening it.
New Reality
Researchers from Imperial College London modeled the spread and impact of COVID-19 on healthcare infrastructure using the tactics of mitigation and suppression, finding that only long-term suppression is likely be successful in keeping disease cases from overshooting capacity.
COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
A company is rushing an mRNA vaccine into human testing, and the first trials began this week in Seattle.
LET US KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE, OR INFORM US ON ANY REGIONAL UPDATES, BY EMAILING KIRSTEN@THISWEEKINSCIENCE.COM.
Is it time for Blair’s Animal Corner???
Trying to get over trauma? Turn off the lights!
Long Term Memory in flies could be erased via changes in environmental light. Excuse me while I go huddle in darkness for a while…
Crocs: the ultimate mothering machine.
Crocodilians may outlive us all, as they did the dinosaurs, mainly due ot their careful parenting.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A TWIS SHIRT OR MUG OR OTHER ITEM OF TWIS MERCHANDISE, CLICK ON THE ZAZZLE LINK IN THE HEADER TO BROWSE OUR STORE.
Let’s finish strong with some quick stories!
Human Magnetoreception
Can humans detect magnetic fields? Looks like our brains can.
Anxious Kids?
Parents, go to therapy.
Legos live forever
At least 1300 years at least.
Some good COVID News
You’ve probably gotten enough bad news at this point, here’s some good stuff.
If You love TWIS, and all the science news we bring you each week, please consider making a donation to the This Week in Science podcast.
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Blair's Animal Corner, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, Interview, KDVS, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, STEM, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
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March 12th, 2020
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43:48 — 95.5MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
COVID QUIZ TIME!!!, Arctic Chlamydia, Old Flu, Glowing Amphibians, Scorpion Glow, Crabs Can’t Camo, Dark Genes, Solar Sytem Minor Leagues, Violent Farmers, Tiny Old Bird, Pillow Talk, Follow The Worker, Don’t Feed The Monkeys, And Much More…
Want to watch this on YouTube? You can do that here.
Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!!!
Pandemics are nothing new.
Actually, while common, they are a rather new phenomenon for humans because for most of human history
humans preferred not to hang out where large groups of other humans were hanging out.
Our nomadic hunter gathering, frequent foraging forbears didn’t hang out in any one location long enough to catch a seasonal flu… If something really deadly came along it killed maybe 10 or 20 people in a group and that was it, it went no further.
Then at some point we began returning to the same places year after year,
then staying all year in the same location.
Farming, animal domestication took over foraging, and populations blossomed
Humans living closely with other humans and goats, and cows and pigs and chickens and wild dogs and everyone pooping all the time, and never far enough away from town, or water supplies.
With greater and greater frequency, and less and less surprise humans have been riddled with one form of communicable illness or another.
As the world now faces a truly comprehensible threat in the form of a virus
One that is quite possibly going to infect every one of us eventually.
Societies are choosing to commit suicide as a solution.
Corona canceling conferences, music, and social gatherings,
Viral Vacating vacation plans, political gatherings, and school classes
Pandemically postponing political rallies, public transportation
Symptomatically surrendering stock markets, and sporting events
One thing that won’t be cancelled, regardless of what goes on elsewhere in the world…
This Week in Science,
Coming up next…
Let’s start with a COVID-19 QUIZ!
Latest COVID19 NEWS
COVID QUIZ TIME!!!
The WHO finally called the outbreak of COVID-19 a global pandemic today, and to go along with this news, I have a quiz for Justin & Blair… and for you! Can you answer all the questions correctly? If so, you may just be prepared for COVID-19.
Here are the questions (you can listen to the show for the answers!)
1) COVID-19 is:
a) a kind of bird with a great memory
b) an acronym for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus discovered in 2019
c) a family of coronaviruses
2) Which is better for reducing the probability of COVID-19 spread?
– Hand sanitizer
– Hand washing
3) Speaking of sanitizing, which of the following is approved by the FDA for destroying SARS CoV2?
a) apple cider vinegar
b) colloidal silver
c) clorox bleach
d) none of the above
4) Face masks are best:
a) filled with menthol at a rave
b) stockpiled with the toilet-paper in the basement
c) used to protect health care professionals
5) Social distancing is:
a) a punk band
b) a practice involving cancellation of public gatherings
c) A long-distance relationship
6) The average time to symptoms after infection is:
a) 2 days
b) 5 days
c) 10 days
7) True or False: COVID-19 is just another flu.
LET US KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE, OR INFORM US ON ANY REGIONAL UPDATES, BY EMAILING KIRSTEN@THISWEEKINSCIENCE.COM.
Now, let’s get to the science news!
Arctic Chlamydia
A genetic survey of marine sediments in the Arctic Ocean found evidence of novel Chlamydia species, although no one knows how they are living there.
Flu From The Past
4 year old study, explaining why pandemics catch on
Is it time for Blair’s Animal Corner???
Holy glowing amphibians, batman!
It turns out most, if not all, amphibians exhibit biofluorescence.
Oh, and scorpions, too!
Scorpions might glow to beat parasites. Thats one way to do it!
I can’t camouflage with all this noise!!
Crabs can’t focus on camouflage or retreat when it’s super loud! So turn off your ships!!
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What science news does the second half of the show hold???
Dark Genes
How is 98% of the genome non-coding?
Solar System Minor Leagues
Using data from the Dark Energy Survey, researchers have discovered over 300 trans-Neptunian objects.
Violent Farmers
When did humans get so violent?
Tiny Old Bird
A tiny dinosaur skull in amber opens the door to the diversity of tiny vertebrates during the age of dinos, and shows us that early birds could be quite small.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A TWIS SHIRT OR MUG OR OTHER ITEM OF TWIS MERCHANDISE, CLICK ON THE ZAZZLE LINK IN THE HEADER TO BROWSE OUR STORE.
Let’s finish strong with some quick stories!
Pillow Talk
Apparently, it matters to men, but not so much to women.
Follow The Worker
Geniuses don’t motivate people to try harder in science.
News flash: people can be dumb
Despite accurately identifying dominant and subordinate monkeys in photos, people were more likely to get up close to dominant monkeys, mainly just due to the act that they are more bold. Was the photo worth it??
If You love TWIS, and all the science news we bring you each week, please consider making a donation to the This Week in Science podcast.
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Blair's Animal Corner, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, Justin Jackson, KDVS, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, STEM, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in agriculture, amphibians, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, arachnid, arthropods, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, astrophysics, biology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, chemistry, conservationism, crustaceans, deep sky, ecology, emergent behavior, evolution, exploration, FDA, genetics, infectious diseases, mammals, marine biology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, paleontology, pharmacology, physiology, podcast, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, technology, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
March 6th, 2020
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:03 — 104.0MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Science News With Dr. Kiki AND Guest Hosts: Ethan Seigel & Jessica Hebert!
COVID-19 Update, Chinese Air, Air Death, Biggest Bang, Mitochondrial Membrane Motion, Baby Whale Birth, Death By Gamete, Merging Holes, BPA Not So Free, Water Planet Earth?, Equinox!, CRISPR In The Eye, And Much More…
Want to watch this on YouTube? You can do that here.
Let’s start with a COVID-19 UPDATE!
Latest COVID19 NEWS
THE NUMBER OF DIAGNOSED CASES OF COVID-19 IS NOW OVER 95,000 globally, WITH OVER 3200 DEATHS, 9 OF WHICH WERE IN KING COUNTY, WA. GENETIC SEQUENCING OF CASES IN WASHINGTON SUGGESTS THAT THERE ARE UP TO 3 TRANSMISSION CHAINS IN THE AREA. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION STATED THAT IT NOW ASSESS THE CASE FATALITY RATE AT 3.4% – THIS IS AN AVERAGE, AND WILL NOT BE THE CASE IN ALL LOCALITIES OR AGE-GROUPS.
AS THE SARS-CoV2 VIRUS SPREADS, PEOPLE MAY HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, BUT THE CRUCIAL INFORMATION TO REMEMBER IS THAT YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF BY WASHING YOUR HANDS, STAYING HOME WHEN SICK, AVOIDING SICK OR IMMUNO-COMPROMISED PEOPLE, AND NOT TOUCHING YOUR FACE.
LET US KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE, OR INFORM US ON ANY REGIONAL UPDATES, BY EMAILING KIRSTEN@THISWEEKINSCIENCE.COM.
Now, let’s get to the science news!
Chinese Air
Coronavirus might be the reason for a sudden improvement in air quality over China.
Air Death
An international study found that air pollution shortens life-expectancy more than malaria or smoking.
Biggest Bang?
Astronomers discover the biggest explosion since the Big Bang
Mitochondria Membranes Are In Motion!
As power plants and energy stores, mitochondria are essential components of almost all cells in plants, fungi and animals. Until now, it has been assumed that these functions underlie a static structure of mitochondrial membranes. Researchers have now discovered that the inner membranes of mitochondria are not static, but constantly change their structure every few seconds in living cells.
Researchers Capture Video Of A Humpback Whale Giving Birth For The First Time, And Make #TeamPlacenta Proud
For the first time in history, whale researchers captured video footage of a humpback whale giving birth earlier this month. On that historic day, PacWhale Eco-Adventures staff also spotted a floating placenta from a different birth in the same waters.
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What science news does the second half of the show hold???
Death By Gamete
A study across species found that those individuals with two X-chromosomes live longer.
Black Hole Mergers
Merging supermassive black holes will release more energy than any other event since the Big Bang.
BPA-Free Does Not Mean Safety
Using “BPA-free” plastic products could be as harmful to human health — including a developing brain — as those products that contain the controversial chemical, suggest scientists in a new study led by the University of Missouri and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Bisphenol S can cross the placental barrier!
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Let’s finish strong with some quick stories!
Water Planet Earth?
Was Earth once a water planet? Was there a time before continents? Researchers think maybe…
The equinox this year is March 19!
Why is this the earliest since 1896?
OHSU Doctors Have Injected CRISPR-CAS Into A Patient’s Eye To Try To Cure Genetic Blindness
Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University say they have used the gene editing tool CRISPR inside someone’s body for the first time, a new frontier for efforts to operate on DNA to treat diseases. The patient has Leber congenital amaurosis, caused by a gene mutation that keeps the body from making a protein needed to convert light into signals to the brain, which enables sight. They’re often born with little vision and can lose even that within a few years.
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Tags: Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, STEM, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in animal behavior, animals, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, astrophysics, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Black Holes, cell biology, CRISPR, ecology, emergent behavior, energy, energy conservation, evolution, galaxies, genetics, geology, infectious diseases, mammals, marine biology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, nutrition, physicists, physics, physiology, planets, podcast, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, space, technology, whales, Women in Science, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
February 27th, 2020
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:43 — 116.5MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview w/ Microbe Genome Scientist Jonathan Eisen, Mini-Moon, Moondust, Old Algae, Old People, Who Needs Oxygen?, Gull Bait, Mantis Punches, Polar Cannibals, Academic Losses, Robo-Poets, Robo-Fingers, And Much More…
Want to watch this on YouTube? You can do that here.
It’s an interview week!
Our guest this week was Dr. Jonathan Eisen.
Dr. Eisen is a professor at UC Davis in the College of Biological Sciences, Director of the UC Davis Microbiome Special Research Program, and affiliated with the Dept. of Evolution and Ecology, Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, the Genome Center, and the Center for Population Biology. His current research focuses on the evolution, ecology and function of communities of microbes and how the microbes interact with each other and with hosts.
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Now, let’s get to the science news!
New Meaning For New Moon
Astronomers have discovered an object about the size of a car orbiting the Earth, like the moon. Orbital analysis suggests that it was captured by the Earth’s gravity in 2017, and will eventually escape again.
On The Far Side
The Chinese Chang’e 4 mission Yutu-2 rover has discovered that the moon’s far side is covered in regolith just like the near side.
Old Chinese Seaweed
A Chinese discovery of fossilized green algae pushes the origin of green plants back to one billion years ago.
Mystery Archaic Humans
Old genes suggest Neanderthals and Denisovans interbred with some other early human species that we have yet to actually identify in the fossil record.
Mitochondria-free multi-celled life discovered
The discovery supports an idea that organisms can lose the need for mitochondrial support given the appropriate conditions.
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Is it time for Blair’s Animal Corner?
Seagulls want that food you’re holding!
But… only cause you are holding it…
Mantis Shrimp tone down the muscles, for their own good.
These shrimps don’t punch quite as hard in the air, but it is mostly for them, not for us.
Let’s finish strong with some quick stories!
Polar Cannibalism
Reports of cannibalism among polar bears is increasing. Tomorrow is International Polar Bear Day. Oh, happy day!
Losing Women
Academia loses women at every career stage, not just junior faculty.
AI Poet
University of Colorado computer scientists applied Machine learning to the production of poetry, and the results are… interesting.
Jellyfish prefer soft robot fingers
Of course they do! Wouldn’t you??
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Blair's Animal Corner, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, Interview, Justin Jackson, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, STEM, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in animal behavior, animals, artificial intelligence, astrobiology, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, cnidarians, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, computer science, conservationism, crustaceans, ecology, emergent behavior, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, exploration, genetics, infectious diseases, ISS, jelleyfish, mammals, marine biology, medicine, microbiology, NASA, paleontology, physics, physiology, planets, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, robots, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, spacecraft, technology, therapies, Women in Science, world robot domination, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
February 22nd, 2020
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:58:50 — 109.3MB)
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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…
Want to watch this on YouTube? You can do that here.
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?
If You love TWIS, and all the science news we bring you each week, please consider making a donation to the This Week in Science podcast.
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Blair's Animal Corner, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, Interview, Justin Jackson, KDVS, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, STEM, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, arthropods, astronauts, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, chemistry, civilian space travel, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, evolution, exploration, genetics, infectious diseases, insects, mammals, medicine, molecular biology, NASA, paleontology, physics, podcast, science, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, technology, Women in Science, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
