May 10th, 2018
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Interview w/ Dr. Carin Bondar, Outlier US, NASA’s InSight, Cloudless Skies, ExoLife, Swedish Wood, Earthquakes & Elephants, Fishy Smart Skin, Polygamous Owls, Bad Tourist, Fast Benefits, And Much More…
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In a world that is constantly evolving
and revolving at about a thousand miles per hour…
It is easy to get lost in the constant motion and commotion
of being a hairless ape in the type of race designed for furry rats…
Just how to make satisfying sense of it all…
How to get a half way decent understanding of everything…
So that you can know what to expect, see what’s coming next.
Should I bring an umbrella,
how do black holes form,
can I safely swallow gum,
can I still chew gum while being swallowed by a black hole…
Answering the important day to day questions…
This is what the hairless ape brain wants to do more than anything…
But how?
Yes, the modern hairless ape could just google the world one question at a time…
Or we could delve directly into the deep end of human knowledge
and learn the questions we never thought to ask here on
This Week In Science
Coming Up Next…
Interview with Dr. Carin Bondar
Making a return appearance on TWIS, is our guest tonight, Dr. Carin Bondar. Carin is a biologist, author and TV/Web Host. She is a psychotherapist, jungle explorer, glass artist, former ballerina, TED speaker and mother of 4. She does it all, and in addition is a wild mom… no, wait, she wrote a book that’s just out called ‘Wild Moms-Motherhood in the animal kingdom’.
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“I think my story is a little bit different than what you usually read, but I hope you will appreciate it nonetheless. I grew up in a small town of about 2,600 people. Yes, you read that number right. It is a tiny little town in the northern panhandle of Idaho. Growing up, I didn’t exactly have the best access to a quality scientific education. As you can imagine, in a town like that, they tend to frown upon “that evolution stuff” and only teach it because it is mandated by the state. However, after high school, I did manage to get out of that small town and into the local community college. Boy, was that a shock. Needless to say, I did not fare well at first. I ended up dropping out and going to work as a welder. After a few years I began to get curious about things. I started to look up answers to the questions that puzzled me. As I came to find out, much of what I assumed to be true, was blatantly false. The more books I read, and the more research I did, I came to fall in love with science. Programs like TWIS also helped drastically. Against the odds, I decided to go back to school and chase a degree in mechanical engineering. I am almost finished with my associates, and will soon be going after my bachelors. Science has given me the opportunity to better myself, my career, and my understanding of the world as it really is, and not as I wanted it to be. I just want to end by saying thank you for the work you do here on TWIS and for the work of all science communicators, your efforts truly do pay off.
Thank you,
Jesse”
Outlier US
According to new research into political identities and likelihood of subscribing to conspiracy theories, the US stands alone… especially with respect to views on climate change.
NASA’s InSight
Currently on its way to the red planet, NASA’s InSight mission will investigate the interior of Mars; hopefully, telling us more about the formation of rocky planets.
Cloudless Skies
A gas-giant called WASP-96b has been discovered allowing scientists to probe it’s interior and ask questions about gaseous planets.
Swedes propose making more things out of wood…
And, created a new, strong cellulose nanofiber for the job.
Before we find life on other planets,
we need a way to find life on other planets…
What do earthquakes have to do with elephants?
Seismographic equipment could aid in tracking and protecting these enormous, graceful animals.
Smart Skin is for the fishes
A new technology could pave the way for non-invasive tracking of marine animals.
Polygamy in Great Horned Owls
Two females and one male made an unlikely parenting team in an observation that is the first of its kind.
Don’t Be A Tourist
Science says you’re bad for the environment.
One Gene
Is it enough to define a species for conservation?
Fast Benefits
24 hours of fasting is enough to induce regeneration in intestinal stem cells.
If You love TWIS, please consider making a donation below.
Don’t forget to tell a friend about TWIS, and to check out our Patreon page!
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, 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, astronomy, astronomy, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, chemistry, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, earthquakes, ecology, emergent behavior, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, exploration, extrasolar planets, fish, genetics, geology, global warming, insects, KDVS, mammals, marine biology, medicine, molecular biology, nanotechnology, NASA, neuroscience, nutrition, pharmacology, physiology, planets, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space elevator, space exploration, spacecraft, stem cells, technology, Women in Science, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
May 3rd, 2018
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Native American History, Thirsty Skeeters, Jeepers Creepers!, Camo Works!, Meet The Dino-Bird, DNA Methods, Quiet Bats, Hawking Ideas, WORLD’S OLDEST SPIDER, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
This Week in Science,
Coming up next…
Native American history
DNA evidence suggests that the original founding population of Americans who migrated from Siberia to North America was made up of 250 individuals.
Mosquitoes so parched, they’re looking for BLOOD.
Female mosquitoes are thought to drink blood to make eggs, but they might just be thirsty…
Jeepers Creepers!
Mantis shrimp eyeballs are up to some crazy stuff. How can they even see???
Camouflage works even when animals are spotted!
Disruptive coloration makes it hard to tell what predators are looking at, even once they figure out there’s someone hiding!
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hi TWIS gang,
I am a relatively new listener, I’ve only been listening to the podcast for a few months. But I love listening and I really appreciate the variety of stories you share. As a biology nut it’s great hearing stories from outside my usual field.
I really enjoy listening to the ‘what has science done for me lately’ segment and it always gets me thinking, what would I share?
I thought about the medical advancements that have helped me or my family and friends, but I don’t have any spectacular stories like others have.
Then I thought about the fact that I work with animals, and the constant research that improves my ability to look after my animals, and even look after animals in the wild.
Then I thought about the technological advancements helping us to protect the environment and maybe even mitigate climate change and other issues.
But none of those things seemed enough. None of them really shares what science does for me and why I love science. Then I realised, I love science!
I love learning new things, understanding new things – and everyday things.
I love the ‘huh!’ and ‘wow!’ moments you get in science. I love that with science we will never stop learning.
What has science done for me lately? Everyday, science makes me happy! And I think that should count for something.
Tarryn
From Perth, Western Australia”
Missing link… Found!
Meet the Dino-Bird
Ancient human mitochondrial DNA
A new method for dating archaeological evidence.
Bats go quiet during mating season
So how important is echolocation, really? And are there bats hiding in the dark? This changes EVERYTHING!!
Hawking Lives On
His last idea on the universe.
WORLD’S OLDEST SPIDER
It’s not enough to be terrifying, now they also live super long! Spider recorded at 43 years old passed away this week. Yikes…
Plotting the course
That horse knows what you’re up to, and he’s not impressed.
If You love TWIS, please consider making a donation below.
Don’t forget to tell a friend about TWIS, and to check out our Patreon page!
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, 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, archeology, arthropods, biology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, evolution, genetics, insects, KDVS, mammals, marine biology, paleontology, physicists, physics, physiology, podcast, science, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, theoretical physics, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
April 26th, 2018
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Interview w/ Sarita Menon, Uranus Stinks, Galaxies Old And New, Black holes Everywhere, Sweaty Trees, Male Moths Matter, Fruit Fly Rewards, Latrine Fly Bubbles, Telomerase Structure, Strong Kids, Warm Cells, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
Disclaimer Disclaimer Disclaimer
There are certain things in this world that you should keep in mind…
Interesting things…
Exciting things…
Things that fill you with wonder…
Wonderful things that you keep in mind when facing the difficult,
the daunting,
or even the most monstrously monotonous of challenges…
You need something that inspires you.
And while that something may not inspire me…
And my something may not inspire you…
We all live a little more electric lives when we find our somethings.
And there is always a little something for everyone to found here on
This Week In Science
Coming Up Next!
Interview with Sarita Menon, PhD
Dr. Menon got her PhD in cancer biology from the University of Iowa, and spent several years working as a post-doctoral researcher and adjunct faculty before making the jump from research to science education. She started a science enrichment program in the Houston area a few years back, and just last year launched her current endeavor, Smore magazine, with a Kickstarter.
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hello TWiS Team,
I’ve been really enjoying your “”What has science done for me”” segment and I thought I’d share my own story.
A little over a year ago my wife and I mentioned to my three year old son’s pediatrician he had been experiencing headaches when waking up from his naps. She suggested we see a neurologist just to rule things out. The neurologist said it probably wasn’t a big deal, but scheduled an MRI for us just to again, rule things out.
The MRI revealed a brain tumor. His specific type of tumor is called a craniopharyngioma. It’s a really rare, noncancerous tumor that is most often diagnosed in children. It impacts the pituitary and optic nerves among other things.
Over the next several weeks we had a flurry of appointments. Eventually we found ourselves in the ER and then ICU awaiting his surgery due to the tumor’s progression. Shortly after that he underwent neurosurgery to remove the tumor.
His neurosurgeon and her team were able to remove most of the tumor. He has no neurological or sight impairments, but the tumor calcified his pituitary which has an incredibly important job. He spent the better part of two weeks in the hospital recovering from his surgery.
He is now on a number of daily medications to replace what his pituitary would normally do and we will be starting growth hormone injections soon.
We still have monitoring MRIs to check for regrowth and have to manage his condition with medications and keep an eye on him. But the thing is, he’s now a normal four year old boy. He doesn’t experience headaches like he used to. He goes to school and after school activities, has friends, plays with lego and everything that a normal four year old would do.
Truth be told, he went to summer camp several weeks after his surgery and was running around, blowing bubbles and running in sprinklers with his friends. You can’t even see his craniotomy scar anymore. No one even knows about his ordeal unless we tell them. To everyone he’s just like every other four year old.
It amazes me that medical science has advanced to such a point where my son could have a very normal life, despite needing to have such a critical part of his brain removed. Less than a hundred years ago he would have suffered immeasurably and probably wouldn’t have seen adulthood.
We owe his life to a huge team of medical professionals, from his pediatrician to his neurosurgeon, to his neuro-oncologist and endocrinologist, all of the amazing nurses, support staff and the summation of modern medical knowledge. All of this gave us our little boy back and for that we are profoundly grateful.
I know my story is a little long and it’s okay if you guys don’t use it (or its entirety) in the show. 🙂 I just wanted to add my story to the pile.
Keep up the great work,
Ed Godbois”
Uranus Stinks
…like rotton eggs. Thank you, science!
Galactic Shape
The shape of a galaxy is linked to its age. A new analysis finds that rounder galaxies are older than flat ones,
Galactic Collision
14 galaxies are colliding in the distant past, and scientists don’t really understand how it is possible.
Black holes Everywhere
There could be lots of them just in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Sweaty Trees
Trees expire and move water from the ground to the air. Should California cull their trees to save ground water?
Males could save us from climate change
In moths, a male-heavy population means increased resilience to climate change. OK boys, that’s one you’re good for – genetic variation!
Male fruit flies like to… ummm…
Research was able to isolate an ejaculation trigger in fruit flies, and identified that it was indeed pleasurable for them. What’s more, they were less likely to indulge in alcohol!
Awww… EWWWW!
Latrine flies blow bubbles to cool off! Awww! When they are living inside corpses… Eww…..
Telomerase Structure
The elucidation of telomerase’s structure will allow intelligent drug design, and potentially lead to drugs to combat both telomere-related disease and aging.
Why Kids Don’t Get Tired
Kids have muscles like adult endurance athletes.
It’s those GD T-cells
The cells you want to stay trim and healthy.
If You love TWIS, please consider making a donation below.
Don’t forget to tell a friend about TWIS, and to check out our Patreon page!
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, 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, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in animal behavior, animals, arthropods, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, astrophysics, biology, biotechnology, Black Holes, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, chemistry, cognitive science, conservationism, cosmology, deep space, ecology, emergent behavior, evolution, galaxies, genetics, global warming, insects, KDVS, mammals, molecular biology, NASA, physics, physiology, planets, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, stars, technology, Women in Science, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
April 19th, 2018
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Space Diamonds, Brains In Brains, Ebola Vaccine Hope, MoOOOoles, Famous Animal Victims, Ant Rewards, Neander Noses, Plastic Eating Enzyme, Fog Harvest, Face Palm Science, Diseases And Drinking, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
An end user license agreement has been generated
for this show’s content by an artificially intelligent attorney algorithm…
Though at the time of airing this episode,
the algorithm is still generating exceptions,
conditions,
and a ludicrously unlikely lack of liability caveats.
Still, it should be known
that the following hour of programming
is not covered under any form of host/ listener privilege of privacy…
If you or anyone you know has engaged in unscientific activities,
Please report to your local science news podcast for reprogramming.
If fact,
as long as you are here,
we might as well start the treatment immediately with…
This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
Space Diamonds
Diamond inclusions discovered in meteorite fragments contain elements suggestive of a planetary source. Were these chunks of space rocks from an ancient planet that once orbited the sun?
Brains In Brains
Researchers showed that mini human brains implanted into mouse brains survived and functionally integrated into the host tissue.
Ebola Vaccine Hope
Two years in, a vaccine for the Ebola Zaire strain of the disease continues to protect volunteers.
MoOOOoles
Could an implantable “tattoo” sensor tell us if we have cancer?
Famous animals victim of their own success
Animals frequently shown in branding and other aspects of the media are often perceived to be more prevalent than in real life, which is quite the unexpected blow to species on the brink of extinction.
Ants like to treat themselves after a hard day’s work!
Does that cold beer taste better after a tough day? It might, and the same might be true for ants as well.
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“The clock works! I was fixing my clock listening to the show and realized all the science that has been applied to making my simple wall clock tell time. Here are just a few:
– Metallurgy to purify and produce metals and metal coatings that resist corrosion so the fine gears keep cooperating!
– Physics to balance the 12″” clock hands so the tiny motor turns with nearly no effort.
– Chemistry in the battery to tease out a way to hold and slowly release electrons to power the clock.
…and a bunch more between the plastic creation and molding and the printing of the numbers, on and on. The more I think about it, the more I see the fruits of science being harvested in this everyday gizmo.
Thanks for a great show with tons of variety and levity.
Minion Andrew”
Neander Noses
Turns out their nasal passages delivered more air to the lungs than modern human noses.
Plastic Eating Enzyme
Two years after discovering a plastic eating bacterium in a Japanese dump, researchers have isolated the enzyme that gives it this special power.
Meanwhile back on Tatooine…
A simple harp design facilitates greater water harvest from fog.
Airline Transmission
Sick people spread germs, but this study didn’t have any sick people.
Animal Predictions
Studies on this topic have been few, and poorly run.
Kissing Disease
Turns out that the kissing disease, mono nucleosis, might predispose you to lots of other diseases.
No More Noro?
Not yet…
Drink Less
An international study found increased risk of death at levels lower than those recommended by national guidelines.
Zoos and Aquariums are important contributors to science!
They have published over 5,000 studies in the past 20 years, and have completely changed how we care for and conserve species.
If You love TWIS, please consider making a donation below.
Don’t forget to tell a friend about TWIS, and to check out our Patreon page!
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, 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 aerospace, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, astrophysics, bioethics, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, Blair's Animal Corner, cancer, cell biology, chemistry, cognitive science, conservationism, CRISPR, ecology, emergent behavior, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, extrasolar planets, genetics, infectious diseases, insects, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, paleontology, pandas, pharmacology, physics, physiology, podcast, psychobiology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, spacecraft, stem cells, technology, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
April 12th, 2018
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Fixing Alzheimer’s, Finger Bone Finding, Birds Of A Feather, Wall Downfall?, Smart Lemurs, Of Bathrooms And Bacteria, Scrubbing Memzymes, Carbon XPrize, Bloodless Monitoring, Viral Rich History, Immunity Migrations, SlaveMakers, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
What is a number?
Does it mean more than a count, a measure, a label?
The number of this show tonight
is many things:
It is the largest repdigit triangular number;
It is a Smith number;
It is an apocalyptic number;
It is an evil number,
but then so are pi and the golden ratio.
However, this number is said to be the number of the beast,
referred to in Revelation 13:18,
“”Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast:
for it is the number of a man; and his number is 666.””
Yet, this is an example of a time that a number is not just a number.
In this case, when written it was a code.
The old Hebrew words used to write the number 666
Were in fact pointing to Nero Caesar as the root of all evil at that time.
One man who was beastly in his actions
became a number feared through history.
And, this is just a show
This Week in Science, episode number 666,
Coming up next…
Fixing Alzheimer’s
Using human cells, researchers at the Gladstone Institute in San Francisco confirmed that the presence of a protein called ApoE4 leads to damage that potentially causes Alzheimer’s. Additionally, using a “structure corrector”, they were able to fix the mutant protein and reverse its cellular effects.
Finger Bone Finding
One finger bone is helping tell the story of human migration out of Africa.
Birds Of A Feather
A study of prosocial food sharing in Pinyon jays finds they are more likely to share when dosed with the bird version of oxytocin, mesotocin.
The proposed border wall in Texas
…is ruffling more feathers, this time of animals and plants. The border wall is likely to fragment habitat, threaten species, reduce flood resilience, and decimate the ecotourism industry along the Rio Grande. How is that making America great again, I ask?
For lemurs, it’s the smart who are popular.
Revenge of the nerds, indeed! Lemurs know to stay connected and spend more time with the brainiest members of their group, since they are most likely to lead them to successful foraging strategies!
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“TWIS team,
I love your show and I’ve been listening for years. One episode a while back made me laugh when you were talking about trucks, and you said that one-ton trucks weighed one ton. They actually weigh around 2.5 tons.
What has science done for me lately?
This is short but to the point. I’m a Mechanical Engineer in my 50’s, and I have been working in the automobile industry for my entire career. However instead of boring you with all the advances in automotive science and technology, I want to talk about what science has done for me lately in regards to medicine.
I recently had a torn meniscus in BOTH knees, which made it painful to walk. I had arthroscopic surgery done to both knees (done separately because the Doctor told me if he did them both at the same time, I would not have a leg to stand on! Ha Ha.). The science of arthroscopic surgery made the procedure quick, had minimal scarring, and had me walking without crutches within a few days! Pain that I endured for months went away immediately after surgery.
Every week listening to your show I’m impressed hearing about new advances in medical science, and I hope for the sake of mankind that a cure for cancer is just around the corner. I’ve known too many wonderful people that have passed on due to cancer.
Thank you to you, Justin, Blair, and everyone behind the scenes that makes this show possible.
–Roy Loponen”
Of Bathrooms And Bacteria
Use a paper towel instead of a dryer to keep your hands the cleanest.
CO2 scrubbing memzyme – good idea, bad idea?
Is pulling the CO2 out of smoke the answer to our climate woes, or does it just delay the inevitable?
Carbon XPrize
The top 10 competitors have advanced to the final stage of the Carbon XPrize, which will test their technologies to capture and repurpose CO2 from coal plants in real world situations.
Bloodless Monitoring
A new non-invasive patch is being developed to allow diabetics to monitor their gluscose levels without having to use blood.
Toxo Causes Diabetes?
Research suggests that infection of the pancreas with Toxoplasma gondii can lead to persistent Type 1 diabetes.
Viruses may have been around as long as vertebrates have.
That’s a long, rich evolutionary history, that enriches the viruses’ past.
Immunity Migrations
Do birds evolve migration to avoid having to fight more diseases?
Slave Makers
Ants were brood parasites before becoming enslavers.
If You love TWIS, please consider making a donation below.
Don’t forget to tell a friend about TWIS, and to check out our Patreon page!
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, education, 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, archeology, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, chemistry, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, genetics, infectious diseases, KDVS, mammals, mathematics, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, paleontology, pharmacology, physiology, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, stem cells, technology, therapies, Toxoplasma, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
April 5th, 2018
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Interview w/ Dr. Ayanna Howard, Cloud Life, Down The Drain, Dead People Problems, Anti-bacterial Enzyme, Turtle Table Manners, Hot Tub Monkeys, Fiery Death, Bird Vision, The Smoking Diet, And Much More…
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Want to listen to a particular story from the show? You can do that here. Just look for the time-code link in the description.
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
Often people have a radically precise,
but horribly inaccurate view of how to go about doing science…
Yes, you can start with a question,
form a hypothesis,
test it rigorously,
and at the end,
wind up with a result…
And, right or wrong,
you will have done something science-y…
And while starting with a question sounds right.
And winding up with a result seems sound.
You could just as easily start with the result and search for questions.
it may be the answer too…
Or you could focus on the rigorous testing,
resolving every variable,
narrowing down a methodology to a set protocol…
then go looking for things to test it with.
There is no one way,
best way,
only way to do science…
We know that people have been doing science
Since long before science was a thing that people knew they were doing…
Because at the core of all that
is science is this simple statement:
Make an observation and follow it wherever it goes for as long as you can.
That’s it.
Well, that and…
This Week In Science,
Coming Up Next…
Interview w/ Dr. Ayanna Howard
Dr. Howard is a busy woman with many roles. As an entrepreneur, she founded Zyrobotics, which develops mobile therapy and educational products for children with differing needs. As a researcher, she is Chair of the School of Interactive Computing in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech University, where she also holds a faculty appointment in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and functions as the Director of the Human-Automation Systems Lab (HumAnS). In both of these positions, she innovates in the area of technology development for intelligent agents that must interact with and in a human-centered world. She is also an educator, founding and directing a traineeship initiative in healthcare robotics and functioning as the lead investigator on the NSF undergraduate summer research program in robotics. We are glad she is able to join us this evening. Welcome to the show, Dr. Howard…
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hey Kiki, Justin, and Blair!
I’d been meaning to write you about how science allows me and my co-workers to work at a geographically distributed company thanks to the science behind networks, video conferencing, and crowdfunding platforms.
But the word “”Lately”” in this segment recently became more relevant to me.
About a month ago, I spent the weekend in an intensive care unit. I was treated for dual pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in both my lungs that were restricting blood to and from my heart). Sur-PRISE!
Apparently, the clots were amazingly extensive. But…
By the mere fact that you’re hearing this, you’ve correctly guessed that the treatment was successful. I got tPA (clot-busting juice) dripped into me via IV. After only about an hour and a half of that, the clots were gone! I felt better laying in that ICU bed at 2 am than I literally had in months!
During that same period, my average heart rate came down from 80-90 bpm to the 50-60 bpm it normally is. My really scary blood pressure dropped back down to its normal level, which is in the 120s / 80s. Apparently, no lasting damage had been sustained to my heart.
For now and for the next few months, I’ll stay on a blood-thinner, just in case.
Anyway, I feel like I often hear about the failures of western medicine. But holy moly, what happened to me was science at its best. My life-threatening condition was so quickly handled, in fact, it almost seems like science fiction! In just one short weekend’s treatment, I’m feeling on top of the world again. I’m amazed, and I hope all of you get to be just as amazed as me, if something should ever go so wrong for you.
All thanks to science.
And thanks This Week in Science, for being awesome!
Bruce R. Cordell”
Cloud Life
Could bacterial life exist in the clouds of Venus?
Down The Drain
There may be hundreds to thousands of baby black holes circling the drain of Sagittarius A* at the Milky Way’s center.
Dead people problems
A new analysis of early human burial sites suggests that they are not indicative of ritual burial, but rather scavenging. If supported further the evidence could pose a problem to the idea that early people had “culture”.
Anti-bacterial enzyme
A synthetic enzyme produced in a lab is effective at putting holes in bacteria when stimulated with light, and could be beneficial for use in hospitals and other places needing sterile surfaces.
Sea turtles have table manners
A recent study using crowd-sourced images shows that sea turtles use their flippers to manipulate food, despite the fact that they evolved for locomotion.
Japanese macaques, or “snow monkeys,” prove hot tubs could be good for you
Or, more accurately, hot tubbin reduces stress, most likely from cold, in these snow-dwelling primates. Does this mean I can get a hot tub covered by my health insurance??
Fiery Death
Tiangong-1 met its end this past weekend in the expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
Bird Vision
Magnetoreception in birds is possible thanks to a protein in their eyes.
Smokers have a worse diet than non-smokers
While smokers often ate less in quantity than non-smokers, the quality and calorie count was not good. The question is, what side of cause and effect is this on? Or is it just another sticky correlation?
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April 3rd, 2018
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:39:35 — 91.6MB)
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No Dark Matter, Too Much Water, Humans In Canada!, People Everywhere, Mama Bears, Shark Poop Factories, Buried Controversy, Worms For Weightloss, Superbug Battle, Brain Mapping Revolution, Not Really New Organ, Fish Lunch Lag, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The following hour of programming is for people
with really big brains to enjoy at their leisure.
Other people are welcome to listen as well,
but may run the risk of over filling their brains with science-y information.
If unsure of your particular brain’s capacity,
Ask yourself the following questions:
1.) When I learn a new thing do I immediately forget something I used to know?
If the answer is no, you will be fine listening to the show.
If the answer is yes, move on to question #2
2.) Is the thing I forget, that I used to know, a uselessly outdated piece of information that I can safely do without?
If the answer is Yes, you may proceed with listening further…
or closer as the case may be.
If the answer is No, you may want to reconsider listening…
If the answer is I don’t know, then it may be too late,
as you are already listening to
This Week In Science,
Coming Up Next…
No Dark Matter
A galaxy that should have loads of dark matter has been found lacking.
Too Much Water
Does the TRAPPIST-1 system have too much water for life?
Humans in Canada!
Or, at least their footprints.
People everywhere
Even where the Amazon was thought to be uninhabited.
Mama bears have another reason to keep their cubs at home.
Due to hunting pressure, bears are staying home longer. Is this an explanation for those “lazy millenials” who won’t move out? Perhaps…
Sharks are important! For even more reasons!
They’re population control, but they’re also… Poop factories! And their poop keeps coral reefs thriving!
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Science has given me a deeper appreciation for EVERYTHING, and is constantly keeping me humble and amazed. I graduated from UC Davis in 2000 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, I was one of the 10% of females in my class by the way, but that is another topic. The amount of physics, math, logic and programming that I studied has allowed me to see the world with new appreciation. I was particularly interested in learning about where the hardware met software and how we could possibly push these electrons through silicon logic gates and get the amazing software we all take for granted today.
I’m far from an electrical engineer now, but I am an avid knitter! I started knitting when I was pregnant with my son 11 years ago and haven’t stopped. You might be wondering what has this got to do with science? Well, knitting is made up of two stitches, Kint and Purl. Much like the 0’s and 1’s that underpin our entire complex digital life, I can take the knit and purl stitchs and create elaborate sweaters, socks, hats and plushies for my kids. I’ve grown an appreciation for the natural properties of wool, did you know it is naturally antibacterial, water wicking and keeps you warm in the cold yet breaths in warmer temperatures? Knowing the micron lengths of the fibers has allowed me to pick the non-scratchy fibers. Science has given me “”super wash”” wool yarn that if my knits get thrown into the wash then they won’t felt. I also spin my own yarn now, and again it’s science that has given me a deep appreciation for this ancient craft and understand how the twist energy in a single ply and the alignment of the fibers can affect how fluffy or smooth the yarn turns out, which affects the drape of the garment or object I create. I’ve learned about natural dyes and how indigo dye vats are actually alive! These age old chemistry experiments have given us color to play with and wear. Could you imagine only wearing gray, white, black or brown every single day?
So, that’s my odd story about what science has done for me… that and everywhere I look I can appreciate just how much science goes into it. Science is all around us. Sometimes I see Forier Transform patterns when driving past a field of young orchard trees. We have learned so much being on this planet, yet there is so much still unknown. So thank you for bringing the science each week!
–Sharon Troia”
Buried controversy
Did the Neanderthals bury their dead?
Worms For weight loss
The newest dietary fad may soon be… tapeworms!
Or Don’t Eat
Caloric restriction might keep us young.
Give me room lots of room…
C.difficile likes its space.
Brain Mapping Revolution
In the vein of faster and better, MAPseq technology might be the path to better understanding of the brain.
Superbug Battle
Teixobactin proves successful at treating Staph infection in animals.
Not Really New
What’s being touted as a “new” organ system in humans is not really new, and probably not really an organ.
Fat fish can’t swim
A big meal slows even the most dominant fishes down to the back of the pack. So quit rushin me, Karen, I just had a big lunch!!
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, Justin Jackson, KDVS, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, astrobiology, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, astrophysics, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, chemistry, conservationism, cosmology, Dark matter, ecology, evolution, fish, galaxies, genetics, infectious diseases, KDVS, mammals, marine biology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, nutrition, paleontology, particle physics, pharmacology, physics, physiology, podcast, science, science and politics, Science Education, Science Music, sexy scientists, space, technology, therapies, worms, z-Broadcasts | 2 Comments »
March 22nd, 2018
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:02:28 — 112.6MB)
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Scientist Doodles, Rogue Star, New Neander News, Double Denisovan, Batty Communication, Cane Toad Traps, The Sinkhole State, Plastic Everywhere, Gerrymandering Science, Graphene Hair, Fat Fries Taste, 5 Fantastic Frogs, And Much More…
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Want to listen to a particular story from the show? You can do that here:
DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The wonderful thing about the world we are living on…
if you haven’t noticed by now
Is that it is covered with living things…
So many planets in our solar system without life…
So much of the universe apparently uninhabitable…
And yet this one planet…
This one we live on…
Life is abundant.
It is everywhere we have looked…
And it should come as no surprise that with all this teaming, resplendent, abundance…
We would want to learn everything we can about it
Here on
This Week In Science…
Coming Up Next!
Scientist Doodles
One in three kids now draws a woman when asked to draw a scientist compared to nearly 100% male depictions in the 60’s.
Rogue Star
Simulations of the movements of objects in the solar system suggest that about 70,000 years ago Scholz´s star perturbed their Oort cloud orbits and set them on different paths through the solar system.
New Neander News
The five new genomes will help in reconstruction of Neandertal population histories.
A Dab of Denisovan
Twice over even! Looks like Denisovans and Humans mixed more than once.
Bats learn from other species
Is this new? Apparently, it is.
It’s high time we addressed the cane toad in the room… er… in Oz…
New traps combine audio and visual effects to make a dent in the approximately 1.5 billion toad problem in Australia.
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hi Dr Kiki!
So, how to start? Well, I listen to these segments, which are often about health issues, and while I’m really happy for the people who are helped, I also find them a bit depressing because they ignore the, let’s say, less good, parts of health science.
I’ve got a health problem that’s been going on for nearly 10 years. It took me eight years to find a doctor who would do more than say “”go away””, and even now, while my current doctor has had a pretty good go at trying to figure out what is going on, they still don’t know, and so there is no solution.
However, that’s not the problem. I accept that we won’t always be able to get answers. What is the problem is the lack of care. All the doctors that I’ve seen show no signs of caring about me, or how the lack of answers affects me, and for that I blame science. Doctors have become blinded by all the good stuff that they can do, with the consequence that when they can’t provide a solution, they don’t know how to provide, or don’t see the need to provide, a caring human touch. All their science, which they worship (just look at the way that they react to any alternative health system), has insulated them from human needs and wiped out their humanity.
It’s not just in treatment that this is a problem. Chronic fatigue isn’t my problem, but way that people with it have been treated by the research community illustrates the problem. Initially, there was Simon Wessely who said it was all in people’s heads, and because he was such a prominent figure, everyone in the science community fell into line, presumably without thinking. Even now, when the “”all in the head”” explanation has been debunked, he is still lauded by the science community. More recently we’ve had the PACE trial, where the authors fought tooth and nail against releasing their data. And who did the science community back? Well, I don’t think that it was the patients. Where is the care in any of this?
So, what has science done for me lately? I think that it’s taken the care out health care, and I don’t think that’s a good thing.
Hope that you can use this. Or if it’s too hard, at least use it as inspiration to recognise the damage that science sometimes does.
–Paul”
Why Texas is such a sinkhole state…
Or, we just dig it too much.
BPA Brains
Even low doses of BPA altered neuron development and later behavior in mice.
Plastic Everywhere
A questionable study finds microplastics in bottled water.
New gerrymander
Can science direct politics?
Hawking Accuracy
Read the paper, people.
Astronaut Genes
Clarifications on last week’s story.
Graphene Hair
A new use for graphene might be as a hair dye. Will this lead to conductive hair integrated electronics elements?
Being fat could be killing your taste buds.
Or at least it does in mice. What a vicious cycle…
Five new frogs found hanging out in a museum…
True story.
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Don’t forget to tell a friend about TWIS, and to check out our Patreon page!
Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in amphibians, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, astrophysics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, engineering, evolution, extrasolar planets, galaxies, genetics, geology, KDVS, mammals, molecular biology, neuroscience, nutrition, paleontology, physics, physiology, planets, podcast, psychobiology, reptiles, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, stars, technology, theoretical physics, z-Broadcasts | 1 Comment »
