December 5th, 2019
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:15:54 — 93.8MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview w/ Dr. Ethan Siegel, Shrinking Brains, Domesticated People, Questionable Domestication, Evasive Bacteria, Bird Breaks, Galapagos Finch Fear, Shrinking Birds, Listening Dogs, Frozen Pup, Foggy Findings, EPA Transparency Troubles, And Much More…
Want to listen to a particular story from TWIS, the This Week in Science podcast? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The universe is a very big place
Partly due to the fact that we only know of one universe
And compared to anything in it,
the universe is always substantially larger.
So when pondering the universe,
the first question that confronts a potential ponderer is:
just where to begin one’s pondering?
There are more than several logical pondering places to begin.
However, it’s always recommendable to begin in a place immediately relevant to the ponderer.
Being that you are most likely a mostly hairless ape,
you might start with pondering how a mostly hairless ape
with such pondering powers came to be in the first place.
And like loose threads of a tightly knitted sweater,
this starting point will begin to unravel the recent development of human evolution on earth.
If you can avoid the detailed rabbit hole of human history…
all the gnashing of teeth, flag waving, and near constant battles over this or that square measure of dirt…
Then you might get on to pondering all life on earth…
And, even the earth itself.
Pointing your pondering beyond this planet will provide you with many more world to explore.
The solar system…
Beyond that, as if that were not enough,
billions more solar systems are waiting to be explored in just this one tiny galaxy!
And there are billions more beyond this one.
And, with all galaxies in all the universe confidently in our pondering path,
We must consider that matter makes up but less then 4% of the stuff that is in our universe.
And since the practice of pondering can propagate itself prolifically,
it is probably more practical to simply apply that recommendation of
Pondering the immediately relevant.
And there has never been anything more immediately relevant than
This Week In Science,
Coming Up Next…
Let’s start with an interview!
Interview with Dr. Ethan Siegel –
Ethan Siegel is an astrophysicist and science writer. He writes regularly on the Forbes site, Starts With a Bang, and has authored two books, ‘Beyond the Galaxy: How Humanity Looked Beyond Our Milky Way and Discovered the Entire Universe’ and ‘Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive’. He’s currently working on a third.
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“This email is long overdue! I’ve listened for years and have had comments that go as far back as KDVS, the revolving door of interns, and the near crossover with This Week in Tech.
While this trip down memory lane is brought to us by my hippocampus, science has helped me remember those small tasks that are often forgotten…but not anymore!
Science has given us computing, and modern usage has given us digital assistants. With a wee babe on my hip I have mastered the art of remembering tasks when inappropriate, like remembering to buy donuts…after dinner when the shops are closed. But now when I remember something at a bad time I can tell my watch to remind me, and I have now fooled people into thinking that I actually remember more than I do.
Thanks to science, I can say “”Hey digital assistant, remind me to buy donuts tomorrow at 7am”” or “”Remind me to email Kiki tonight at 10pm.”” What a difference one sentence can make when I can actually respond to my own calls to action!
Thank you science, for helping me be a responsible adult.
Thank you Kirsten, Justin, and Shouty Blair for being my long-distance friends. Apologies for being in the shadows for so long – I would only remember to write in when I was driving, and thus unable to write. Le sigh.
Yours,
Tracey”
Let us know what science has done for you lately, and we will read it on the show!
Now, let’s continue with SCIENCE NEWS!…
Shrinking Brains
The brains of Antarctic researchers shrank while they were there.
Human Domestication?
Did a gene analysis just suggest that humans domesticated themselves? Perhaps.
No Domestication Syndrome?
But, a new study argues that the idea of a domestication syndrome might be flawed to begin with.
Bacteria communicate and coordinate
It appears that bacteria are able to communicate to avoid things that would cause them harm.
Finally, it’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
Bird bones get a lifeline from mammals
Mammal bones could be used to patch or support broken bird bones, meaning a broken wing might not be the end of the line, afterall!
Galapagos scaredy-cats
Or rather, scared-of-cats, in the case of Darwin’s finches.
Let’s end with some quick SCIENCE NEWS stories!…
Shrinking Birds
As the climate warms, birds are shrinking. But, their wings are getting longer.
Dogs Get Language
Apparently, dogs can understand words across a variety of dialects, which was something previously only known to be done by humans.
Ancient Dog…or?
18,000 year old dog found in ice only raises more questions about the origin of our best friends.
It’s Foggy
A BAD Fog?
It’s Bad at the EPA
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.
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November 21st, 2019
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:48:39 — 100.0MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Half A Brain, Update On The Force, Skull Bonnet, Yeasty Bees, Peacock Disco, Swimming Bees, Milky Way Gazing, Brightest Burst, Science Broth, Non-Stick Toilets, Dino Bird, Moon Map, Social Health, AR Papers, Not Laughing Gas, And Much More…
Want to listen to a particular story from TWIS, the This Week in Science podcast? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The following program contains unclassified information of both government funded and academically executed science from around the world…
Subjects often range in scale, scope, energy and even time…
One moment we may find ourselves in the backyard of a spring garden observing bees.
In the next, deep below a glacier contemplating the movement of water…
Then, without warning, we might find ourselves walking amongst extinct beasts,
Or walking on the moon…
Or walking the fine line between what we think we know…
and what we find when we actually look.
Minds afraid of traveling need no ticket to take this ride as they may never reach a destination.
Sudden shifts in cognitive focus should be expected.
Irreversible increases in intelligence have been incredulously implied.
And, as always, it all starts with agreeing to open your ear holes to the audio brain waves of…
This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
Are you ready for the Science News?
Half A Brain
People who had up to one hemisphere of their brains removed to treat epilepsy are able to recover almost completely normal function. How does that work? According to this fMRI study, connections between existing brain networks are stronger than in whole brains.
Update On The Force
Hungarian physicists have published a new pre-print updating their research investigating a purported ‘fifth fundamental force’ of nature. Still very much in contention, this force might emanate from an as yet undiscovered protophobic boson, which researchers have temporarily dubbed ‘X17’.
Baby Helmets
Babies buried in ancient burial mounds discovered in South America wore caps made of the skulls of older children.
Yeasty Bees
Yeast is intricately involved in the lure of bees to flowers, and potentially beehive health as well.
Finally, it’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
You’ve heard about cat and mouse, what about mantis shrimp and disco clam??
Their dynamic is similar. Disco clams buck the trend and have adapted to protect themselves by opening up instead of battening down the hatches.
That bee in the pool is actually swimming for his dear life!
Bees can flap their wings in such a way as to create a wave and surf (or paddle) their way to safety, before they get tuckered out. What’s next? A new swimming robot, of course!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“What has science NOT done for me…
There isn’t anything that science has not done for me. Between saving my Dad ( who was an aerospace engineer on the Hubble telescope who worked on the solar arrays) and helped a dear friend who had an ectopic pregnancy. To just me driving my car to work.
I run a high end restaurant. Everything…from the kitchen, to the lights, to the plumbing, septic and so on is ALL SCIENCE. There is nothing that you do that has not been affected (not sure if that’s the right use) by science.
It’s everywhere you see, smell, touch, feel and as you should…love? you all are the best. Even you Justin. That was totally a joke because of the last person who ripped you. ? Continue your work, please and educate the next group of people.
Thank you,
Isaac Bonaker
I do want to elaborate on my Dad. He was in an accident and lost the use of his left arm, that being his primary arm. With training and help from again, science he was able to retrain his ohter arm and complete his goal. Being a part of science.
He was a part of building the most important scientific device of the 90s. With one arm. Without science, and determination (a key factor) my Dad, Steven Bonaker, would not have been able to be a part of a program that has changed the views of almost every scientist. I am proud to be a product and a part of science.
Btw besides being a chef… I brew beer, wine and mead which is ALL science. Keep it up!”
Let us know what science has done for you lately, and we will read it on the show!
Now, let’s continue with SCIENCE NEWS!…
Looking inward at the Milky Way
We get a view of supernova remnants, and more…
Record breaking Gamma-ray burst
Bright light, big burst!
Science Broths
Using broths sourced from schoolchildren in the UK, researchers found some extracts having anti-malarial properties on par with the leading drug used for treatment.
LESS Water For Toilets
Materials engineers created a slippery substance for toilets that when applied to toilet bowls around the world might add up to some big water savings.
Let’s end with some quick SCIENCE NEWS stories!…
New Dino Bird
Fukuipteryx might be the cutest missing link yet.
Moon Map
NASA scientists have combined images from the Cassini mission to produce the first map of Titan’s surface.
Hanging out with buddies does a body good
Social crows are less likely to carry sickness. But why??
Scientific papers go AR
OK, these papers really jumped the shark… err… ant?
Nitrous Oxide
The increases in N2O in the atmosphere are no laughing matter.
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, calendar, 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
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November 14th, 2019
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:07 — 104.0MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview w/ Dr. Steve Scott from Cray Inc., AI Evading Detection, More DNA Possibilities?, Big Stalled Weather, Smarter Apes, Bat Guts, Orca Family Life, Shooting Star, A Little Hiccup, Tooth Tales, NO Emissions Up, Gut Phage, And Much More…
Want to listen to a particular story from TWIS, the This Week in Science podcast? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
From the first electronic digital computer ever created,
we imagined possibilities beyond our imagination…
Now, imagining anything beyond your imagination isn’t an easy thing to do…
The limits of imagination being left up to the imagination as they are,
People can imagine some pretty amazing things…
The thing about computers that captured our imagination,
and then released us from our previous imagining limitations…
Was that for the first time humanity found a technology
that held the potential to do something we had never thought a technology could ever do for us…
Think.
And while the potential for a thinking computer was little more than wishful thinking
when the first computers were being built…
We have been building on that idea,
pouring generations of thought into making it a reality,
Until today, when at long last the dream of a thinking computer has arrived!
And while some will argue that as good as they are, computers don’t actually think yet…
Others will argue that that sort of thinking is just over thinking what thinking actually is.
And still others will remain convinced that no matter how advanced a computer may become…
No matter how many or how fast it’s processing power becomes…
Even if they can form personalities and act out opinions…
They will never replace
This Week in Science
Coming Up Next…
Are you ready for an interview?
Interview w/ Dr. Steve Scott on exascale computing, the next generation of supercomputing.
Steve Scott is CTO, HPC & AI of Cray, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company. He has been responsible for guiding Cray’s long term product roadmap in high-performance computing, storage and data analytics, and was chief architect of several generations of systems and interconnects at Cray. Dr. Scott has also served as principal engineer in the Platforms group at Google and before that as the senior vice president and chief technology officer for NVIDIA’s Tesla business unit. Dr. Scott earned his Ph.D. in computer architecture and BSEE in computer engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Dr. Kiki
What has science done for me lately.
I am a pool operator in charge of three pools and spa. Science allows me to keep an average of 500 people a day safe by properly filtering and sanitizing the water. Without science the patrons enjoying the spa would be breathing in Legionella causing Pontiac fever or Legionnaires disease.
The children enjoying the splash pad who put water in their mouth (no matter how many times you warn them not to) would be exposed to nasties like Giardia, E.coli and the newest concern Crypto.
Cryptosporidium is chlorine resistant and can live in chlorinated pools for up to 12 days due to its oocysts. Science allows me to keep up to date with current health concerns of how to sanitize the water.
Chlorine by-products are very nasty and swimmers inhale these gases the entire time they are in the water. Recently at the WAHC (World Aquatic Health Conference) I learned how other countries are limiting their use of chlorine and looking to a multi-prong approach to cleaning water for bathers (More filtration, bio-filters, enzymes,etc). Without science we would not be able to enjoy water parks, pools, and spas safely.
Thank you, Science.
Topher
Plainwell Michigan USA”
Let us know what science has done for you lately, and we will read it on the show!
Now, let’s continue with SCIENCE NEWS!…
Evading Detection
An AI algorithm named GENEVA was able to outsmart internet censorship tools in place in countries like China, and could mark the beginning of a digital battle for internet freedom.
More Possibilities
Researchers took a shot at figuring out how many permutations of DNA-like genetic data storage molecules there could be in the universe, and came up with a number in the millions.
Stalled weather patterns…
…will get bigger due to climate change
Apes are smarter now
At least, when compared to Australopithecus, and based on potential blood flow to the brain.
Finally, it’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
Bat guts – they’re not just like us!
The microbiome of bats is quite the mystery, not following any pattern we would expect for a mammal. Curious…
New monitoring methods give glimpse into orca family life
They touch each other, snuggle in, play, and learn from one another in a way we didn’t know before – but it makes sense!
Let’s end with some quick SCIENCE NEWS stories!…
Shooting Star
Australian astronomers have discovered a star that seems to have been flung out of the galaxy by our black hole.
A Little Hiccup
Hiccups in newborns send signals to the brain that researchers think might influence the development of the learned skill of conscious breath control.
What your teeth can tell about your lifestyle choices
Like rings on a tree, your molars have a wealth of information from your life.
Nitrous oxide emissions
set to rise in the Pacific Ocean
Gut Phages
Thanks Minion Dave
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, calendar, 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
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November 7th, 2019
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:17 — 116.1MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview w/ The Bug Chicks, Space Is Closed?, Age Reversal For Mice, Conservatives of Atlantis, Bat Friends, Tracing Ivory, Lost Thoughts, Brain Thoughts, Into The Beyond, Shark Protection, And Much More…
Want to listen to a particular story from TWIS, the This Week in Science podcast? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
What is an earthling?
You?
Yeah, you probably qualify as such.
We humans are quick to put our own picture
into the frame next to the earthling entry in the Encyclopedia Galactica
But despite our impulse to take a planet teeming with life
And assume that we are the most relevant thing living here
There are many more forms of life that could just as easily represent the planet.
By the numbers we aren’t the most populace life form
We aren’t the biggest number by gross weight either
If just counting the number of legs we fare even worse
And while not being the only earthling on the planet may not occur to humans who see the earth as theirs and theirs alone…
There are some humans who have noticed that we are not alone…
Humans who are interested in understanding more than their own earthling experience
Humans who therefore know more about what it truly means to be an earthling
Than any earthling ever dared…
As long as those earthlings aren’t listening to
This week in science
Coming Up Next…
Are you ready for an interview?
The Bug Chicks are Kristie Reddick and Jessica Honaker. Scientists, educators, and besties.
Kristie has a Master of Science in Entomology and is an educational media specialist. She studies the biology, biodiversity, and distribution of solifuge arachnids in Kenya, and wants to train teachers in refugee camps to use insects as educational resources. Jessica also has a Masters of Science in Entomology, and is a science illustrator. Her research focuses on integrated pest management and her research on pecan aphids is helping to establish new pest control parameters for farmers in eastern Texas. She plans to continue her work in an effort to reduce reliance on pesticides in developing countries.
The Bug Chicks have offered a discount to TWIS listeners for their SEL educational curriculum… use the code: twisbug.
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Dr. Kiki, I’d like to share a true, but crazy story involving the microbiome (anonymously).
When I was born I was unable to process breast milk or lactose from cow milk and I had to be put on a soy milk. When I got older, around four, this allergy seemed to go away and I was able to drink milk all through my childhood with only a slight “souring” on my stomach that left my breath kind of bad.
I later had a surgery and the anesthesia apparently killed off a lot of my microbiome and poof I was lactose intolerant again. It makes my stomach hurt and gives me diarrhea so I just avoid it altogether now. So, what happened??
When I was four, my mean, older cousin decided to feed me some waste from our outhouse! That accidental fecal transplant made me able to mostly digest lactose for over 30 years until my gut biome got decimated! – Now this is the honest truth, it sounds nuts, but when my cousin admitted doing this (pretty much on her death bed) it hit me that this HAD to be what “cured” my lactose intolerance and why it came back after my surgery!”
Let us know what science has done for you lately, and we will read it on the show!
Now, let’s continue with SCIENCE NEWS!…
Space Is Closed?
A new analysis of the Planck satellite data suggests that the universe might be closed rather than flat, but astrophysicists are up for the debate.
Age Reversal For Mice
Using gene therapy, Harvard Wyss Institute scientists reversed symptoms of four aging-related diseases in mice.
The lost city of Atlantis…
was likely a conservative hot bed.
If you did live in Atlantis…
you now believe in global warming.
Finally, it’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
I Vant to Be Your Friend!
Bats make strong friendships when in captivity, and they remember who their buddies are when they get back on the outside.
Tracing ivory and catching bad guys
New technology could help us catch those still hunting elephants for their ivory. WHO IS EVEN STILL KILLING ELEPHANTS??
Let’s end with some quick SCIENCE NEWS stories!…
Lost Thoughts
Psychologists determined that people around the world prefer consuming information and entertainment to sitting quietly with their own thoughts.
Brain Thoughts
Using EEG, Russian researchers were able to watch thoughts in the brain in real time.
Into The Beyond
Voyager 2 reached interstellar space.
Sharks kill bacteria
Their mucous or some element of their biology keep them from contracting infection. Something else we could learn from them, IF WE JUST STOPPED KILLING THEM!!
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, calendar, 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
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November 1st, 2019
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:15:45 — 124.8MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview w/ Dr. Tobin Hammer, AI Mastery, Brainssss!, Bacterial Gut Battle, Rat-Eating Monkeys, Creepy Primate, Funny Guys, Stressed Out Organoids, Two-Legged Robots, Rat Racers, Feely Spiders, And Much More…
Want to listen to a particular story from TWIS, the This Week in Science podcast? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
There are creatures living in the darkness!
Despite any evidence to the contrary, you are most likely a human!
What it means to be human is a question with many possible answers.
Our thoughts, desires and feelings
Our intellect, ethics and accomplishments
Our anatomy can considered distinctly human
And our DNA as well…
But there is something else…
Something distinctly not human,
living in the darkness inside every one of us…
The bacteria in our guts…
And these living creatures have much more to do
with all of the things we think of as strictly human
Than we realized until recent years
But far from being body snatchers…
They help us be humans
In fact, Bacteria are so essential to a healthy human life
That without them we couldn’t have
This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
Are you ready for an interview?
Interview w/ Dr. Tobin Hammer…
Tobin Hammer is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, and describes himself as a combination ecologist, evolutionary biologist, entomologist, microbiologist, and naturalist. His work centers on the study of the interactions between insects – currently bees, butterflies, and moths – and their microbes.
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hi Dr Kiki, Blair, and even Justin.
Here is what Science has done for me lately…
I’m of the vintage where there was no MMR vaccine when I was a child. And like most of my age group, I had at least 2 or 3 of those now uncommon (thanks to vaccines) illnesses. I had the measles when I was very you and had an extremely high fever while my adult teeth were forming, and due to this, I have very fragile teeth.
When I was 13 or 14 both of my front lower teeth were broken and I had to have them crowned. Back then (late 70’s/early 80’s) having teeth crowned was a 6 to 8 week process of grinding teeth, taking molds, sending off molds, waiting for someone to hand-cast and shape the crown, then having it installed over several visits to the dentist.
Fast forward to earlier this year when I cracked a tooth and I had to have a root canal and another crown. This time the tooth was scanned by the dentist with a hand scanner to model the existing tooth and how it fit with the rest of my teeth. The tooth was ground to shape, another scan was taken, and within 30 minutes, a new crown was computer cast and shaped in the dentist’s office and installed in the same visit.
No waiting 6-8 weeks with a temporary crown that prevented me from eating many foods, else it might come off, no repeat visits to the dentist (one crown 10 yrs ago took 4 visits because it wasn’t made correctly when it was sent out).
Thanks to scientific advances in 3D scanning, modeling, and modeling, I was able to have a broken tooth fixed in just one short visit.
Thank you, Science!
–Jim”
Let us know what science has done for you lately, and we will read it on the show!
Now, let’s continue with SCIENCE NEWS!…
Deep Mind StarCraft
Google’s Deep Mind AI research group has developed an AI called Alpha Star that doesn’t just play Star Craft II, it became a Grandmaster.
Brain To Brain
Using EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation, researchers successfully demonstrated brain-to-brain information transmission.
Antibacterial Gut Bacteria
Weapons of bacterial warfare are developed by the bacteria themselves.
Finally, it’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
Holy rat-eating monkeys, batman!
The same monkeys that might be eating the palm fruit farmers wish to preserve could be helping them out by eating rats as well!
The creepiest primate just got creepier!
Aye-ayes have a pseudothumb, that’s right, a sixth digit, complete with their own fingerprints!!
Let’s end with some quick SCIENCE NEWS stories!…
Funny Guys
A new meta-study finds that on average, men are funnier than the average woman.
Stressed Out Organoids
New research into brain organoids suggests that they are not as similar to real brains as the hype would have us think. In fact, they are really stressed out.
Two legged robots
Learning to balance is easier when taught by real humans.
Hey! Who’s driving that car? A rat??
Rats are less stressed when they get a chance to drive, as opposed to me when I get stuck in traffic…
Male spiders get touchy feely
Their copulatory organs may have some sensation in them after all. Which may not be a good thing, since so many spiders rip them off in mating. Whoops.
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, calendar, 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
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October 24th, 2019
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:49:43 — 100.9MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Interview w/ Dr. Melanie Mitchell on AI, Prime Editing, Quantum Supremacy, Cosmological Crisis, Smarty Crabs, Fast Ants, Elbow Sex, Shark Buddies!!, Plants!, And Much More…
Want to listen to a particular story from TWIS, the This Week in Science podcast? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
One of the fundamental rules of defining a human is this.
Humans are humans, and
anything that is not human,
is not human.
Seems simple enough, and yet…
One of the fundamental tendencies humans have
is to humanize anything that is not human.
And yet, clocks do not really have faces…
And when apes show emotions, while they might appear to be human,
It could just as well be that humans are experiencing ape emotions.
Somewhere in the in-between there are truths that may not be comfortable.
A face can at times just be a facade that displays information.
An emotion can be separated from social context, and universal across many species
And while there is no doubt humans have the ability to be intelligent…
There is increasing evidence that we are not alone in this.
And what is the one thing intelligent creatures of all sorts have in common?
They all have a never ending thirst for more…
This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
Are you ready for an interview?
Interview w/ Dr. Melanie Mitchell
Melanie Mitchell is Professor of Computer Science at Portland State University, and External Professor and Co-Chair of the Science Board at the Santa Fe Institute. She attended Brown University, where she majored in mathematics and did research in astronomy, and the University of Michigan, where she received a Ph.D. in computer science. Her newest book is called Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans.
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
This week Kai tells a story of how science helped us understand that lilies are poisonous for cats, and how to help our cats when they had been exposed to lily pollen.
Let us know what science has done for you lately, and we will read it on the show!
Now, let’s continue with SCIENCE NEWS!…
Prime Editing
The Broad Institute is at it again with an alternative to the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system that might be more accurate and useful for genetic disease therapies. Not everyone is buying into the hype though.
Quantum Supremacy
Google says their 53 bit quantum computing system surpassed conventional computers, and can claim “quantum supremacy.” IBM begs to differ.
Crisis in Cosmology!
New data suggests the universe expanding more rapidly than believed
And, now it’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
Crabs are smart!
They can solve mazes just like mice, and even have some memory for it.
World’s fastest ant!
This bug runs nearly a meter a second. That’s 108 body lengths, or the equivalent of 2 football fields to us. Yikes!
Let’s end with some quick SCIENCE NEWS stories!…
Elbow Sex
Researchers discovered sexual dimorphism of the distal humerus, or elbow, of Thai skeletons.
Plants!
Scientists sequence 1,100 plants
Shark buddies!!
Sharks may hang out in friend groups, shattering another expectation for these aquatic “terrors.”
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, arthropods, artificial intelligence, astrophysics, astrophysics, biology, biotechnology, Blair's Animal Corner, botany, Calendar, cell biology, cognitive science, computer science, cosmology, CRISPR, crustaceans, ecology, emergent behavior, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, fish, genetics, insects, marine biology, molecular biology, physics, podcast, quantum computing, robots, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, sharks, technology, theoretical physics, Women in Science, world robot domination, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
October 17th, 2019
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:42:14 — 94.1MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
Good Energy News, Organoid Brain Development, Sea Captain Neanderthal?, Smarty Pigs, Nocturnal Sperm?, Brain Space!, Cool Dinosaurs, Bloody Concussions, Long Live The Brain, Brain Disruptions, Vaccine For Cats, Whispering Whales, Lineman Lessons, And Much More…
Want to listen to a particular story from TWIS, the This Week in Science podcast? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The world is not always as it appears to be!
But more often than not…
it is exactly as it appears.
The rain falls down from the sky like rain and
The sun shines with the brightness of the sun
The fog was as thick as a thick fog
Sometimes putting all your eggs in one basket is just an efficient way of collecting eggs
And, while not every wasteland is vast…
(there are modest wastelands as well you know.)
A rose can be as red as a rose, wherever red roses are found.
Still, there are some places in the world where the world as you find it can be full of surprises.
The world of dumpster diving!
Or more to the theme of this show, the world of science.
Finding the world as it is, describing it as you find it,
Without analogy, or simile or cliche exaggeration…
Can be more inspiring than a poetic interpretation of unicorns in heat.
Science is the art of revealing a thing as it is
And in that spirit we bring you a show about this week’s science news that we call…
This week in science,
Coming Up Next…
Let’s talk about science!
Good Energy News
In both the UK and the US, renewable energies are starting to outpace traditional fossil fuels. Let’s keep it up!
Organoid Brain Development
An organoid study tells a tale of developmental differences between chimps and humans.
Neanderthals of the Aegean Sea
Di they have boats?
And, now it’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
Those are some pigs!!
Pigs in a zoo are observed using tools to dig a pit. Is this a fluke? Probably not.
Why are most mammals nocturnal?
Once again, it all boils down to sperm.
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hi TWIS crew,
I have a contribution for “”What has science done for me lately””.
I started collecting and enjoying houseplants around my home earlier this year. This Spring and Summer were different from usual in that, anecdotally, my own seasonal allergies and those of my kids were dramatically reduced to the point of only being thought of a few day rather than weeks of puffy eyes and runny noses.
Whether it’s the plants filtering contaminants or the soil containing somehow beneficial microbes (like the ones you guys discussed about people in rural environments in a May episode) I can’t do more than speculate on, but what I can say is that through a variety of scientific pursuits, from botany to aviation to computers that run the nursery’s inventory and ordering, I’m been able to enjoy foliage from around the world without leaving my little corner.
From the peace lily of Southeast Asia, to the monstera of Central America, to the prayer plant which moves its leaves daily following the sun from Brazil, all without leaving my Sacramento apartment.
Thank you science for fueling my curiosity and my hobby.
–Jacob Evans”
Let us know what science has done for you lately, and we will read it on the show!
Now, let’s continue with SCIENCE NEWS!…
Brain space!
Why our brains are bigger than their skull britches.
Cool Dinosaurs
It’s not just T-Rex, lots of dinosaurs had unique designs to cool their brains.
Concussions may not be as unnerving as we thought…
A study found greater signs of blood vessel damage than nerve damage after performing post-mortem scans
Long Live The Brain
Apparently, too much excitation in the brain leads to earlier mortality.
Brain Disruptions
In epilepsy, high frequency oscillations in brain activity derail cognitive thought, but might point a way to future treatments.
Vaccine For Cats
I mean against cat allergies… for cats.
Dog kibble measuring is hard…
Based on the measuring utensil, the amount of dog kibble owners pour out for their dog can vary wildly, surprising no one at all…
Whispering whales. Shhh…
Mother right whales speak in hushed tones to their bebe, and not just cause it’s sweet.
Football linemen need jazzercize
Stay active, people!
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, calendar, 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 alternative energy, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, biology, biotechnology, Blair's Animal Corner, Calendar, cell biology, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, energy, engineering, evolution, genetics, mammals, medicine, molecular biology, neuroscience, nutrition, paleontology, pharmacology, physiology, podcast, psychobiology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, technology, therapies, whales, wind power, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
October 10th, 2019
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:55:55 — 106.6MB)
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What is in the This Week in Science Podcast?
2020 Nobel Prize Winners, Funding Black Scientists, The Resistance, New Antibiotic?, Drone Whale Scale, Documentary Drive, Human Salamander, False Song Memories, Mold Pigs, Zebra Stripe Update, Solar Pressure, New Moons, Bird Pee, Can-O-Marrow, And Much More…
Want to listen to a particular story from TWIS, the This Week in Science podcast? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The following program has persisted out a love of science
A belief that the discovery of scientific knowledge
Application of that knowledge in the world
And a constant effort and dedication to learn more
Make the world a better place to live.
Through science, we accomplish the goals humanity sets for itself.
But science is in trouble.
There are powerful people who simply do not want scientists to speak publicly,
want to prevent them from sharing their knowledge.
Not that this is anything new, for science has always been in trouble this way.
Religion was an early and persistent threat…
Demanding, through violent retribution,
that no progress be made in science that did not capitulate the prevailing dogma.
Currently the threat is political…
with redacted reports, researcher retaliation, and silencincing of results…
happening at an increasingly inhibiting pace…
Maybe what we need now is a new legal framework…
a constitutional amendment for science.
A protection for the funding and findings of science.
One that separates once and for all,
the political interests of politicians and their donors…
From the work of scientists.
A separation of science and state.
A freedom of publication act.
One that once and for all prevents the willful disregard of scientific findings by political appointees…
And instead puts the knowledge in the hands of
This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
Let’s talk about science!
2020 Nobel Prize Winners
The parade of male scientists has returned! While the science celebrated this year at the annual Nobel Prize awards is absolutely worthy of such honor, sadly no women were among the recipients for 2019. We hope for greater female representation in awards such as the Nobel Prize in years to come.
Funding Black Scientists
An analysis of the NIH award process determined that three factors were key in whether or not black scientists received funding. Primary among them was the proposed topic of study. Further research into why this is the case is necessary.
Antibiotic resistance found in food animals
The resistance is growing.
New antibiotic found
There is good news on the horizon, hopefully.
And, now it’s time for Blair’s Animal Corner!
Drones weighing whales? Now I’ve heard it all!
Not weighing, per se, but estimating weight. Another win for drones in conservation work!
That nature doc is more than entertaining!
Research shows that nature documentaries like Planet Earth do drive interest in animals and conservation, though it does not appear to drive donations. Is this a win or a loss for conservation organizations and the wildlife they protect?
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Science has granted me POWER!
Solar power to be exact. Thanks to advances in photovoltaic materials, and of course the sun, I’m now feeding energy into the grid during the day, and getting credit for the power I pull back out at night.
Not only is this good for my power bill (if all goes well it should be about 0 for electricity on average), but during the day when air conditioning is straining the grid I’m helping contribute, not just adding to the load. Not to mention lowering emissions is a little bit good.
So thanks science for figuring out how to make photons into electrons in a way I can afford to do on top of my house!
—Tom Merritt”
Let us know what science has done for you lately, and we will read it on the show!
Now, let’s continue with SCIENCE NEWS!…
Human regeneration
Cartilage might not be as useless when damaged as we thought.
False Song Memories
Researchers implanted false memories of songs into birds heads.
Mold Pigs
Somewhere between tardigrades and … mold pigs existed.
Zebra Stripe Update
Cows painted to look like zebras are bitten less often by biting insects.
Solar Pressure
We are traveling in a bubble through space.
New Moons
Saturn has officially gained 20 moons, and you can help name them.
What’s in bird pee?
The answer may surprise you. If you are a biologist.
Can o marrow
It did a body good.
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, calendar, 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
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