March 15th, 2018
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No New Neurons, Different Signals, Nursemaid Neanderthals, Barn Mouse Domesticity, Team Termite!, A Hermit’s Bones, Bt Benefits, Detecting The Undetectable, Flying Fossil, Raven Ravings, Spider Gifts, And Much More…
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In the brief history of time we have shared together on this show…
We rarely have had to say goodbye to an influential intellect
as impactful as Stephen Hawking.
Partly because that sort of intelligence is rare…
But also because celebrity is so rarely linked to intelligence.
Between the pregnant pauses of an 1980’s synthesized voice…
We waited with anticipation,
and often wound up astonished and amazed
At the seemingly effortless communication of the immensely complicated…
At the insightful often whimsical talking tours of our universe…
By one who understood it better than most of us will ever comprehend…
In his memory we offer these moments of science
Coming Up Next
Hawking Radiation
May he radiate in peace.
No New Neurons
The jury is still out, but a recent study suggests that adult humans do not grow new brain cells.
Different Signals
Astronomers find not dark matter at the center of our galaxy, but really old stars instead.
The future of nursing…
may be waiting in our past.
Which came first? The barn cat or the barn mouse?
Wild mice domesticated themselves, when given food, shelter, and some warmth. What’s more, they started to look like pet mice! These domesticated species are looking less and less intentional… take that, human hubris?
Old termites take one for the team
Older soldiers take on the front line, saving the young, spry individuals to guard the inner-most sections of the nest. But, they don’t appear to be better or worse fighters, so termites just seem to see the elderly as disposable. Yikes…
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hi Dr. Kiki,
First, I would like to say that I love the show and have been
listening for years. I don’t have the financial means to donate, but I
try and get everyone I know to watch/listen to the show. Now, On to the
topic at hand.
First off, I would not be alive without the involvement of
medical science. Apparently, my mother and I did not get along to well
during gestation. Without the help of doctors and advances of medical
treatments I likely would have died before I was born.
When I was a kid I spent most of my time watching/reading
science fiction. I was always more drawn to realistic sci/fi such as
Arthur C Clarke. A trait I have yet to out grow. Thus I have had
multiple decades of of entertainment and thought provoking stories.
I’ve always had a knack for technology. Rather it be
electronics or computers. Computers really just being very complex
electronics. Thus I have spent most of my adult years in the computer
repair field. The advances in physics and technology have left me in a
perpetual state of learning. Something I enjoy way more now then I did
as a kid.
Both of my kids have had life saving medical treatments.
Without which I would not have the two most precious things in the
world to me. My girls have grown to be amazing people. My oldest is
wanting to move to California for college and considering UC Davis as a
likely destination for a degree in genetics. I think in large part to
listening to your show.
What has science done for me lately? My life, my kids lives, a
career, and basically everything I enjoy and hold dear in this life.
Thanks again for an awesome show,
Rug”
Rediscovered phantom
Footprints in the earth are corroborated by bones found in a hermit’s collection.
Bt Benefits
A study suggests that Bt corn has a lot of benefits.
What do spacecraft, newborns and endangered shellfish have in common?
Bacteria, of course.
Flying Fossil
Archaeopteryx might have flown like a pheasant.
Raven Ravings
Raven calls communicate age and sex of the caller to those listening.
Chinese Space Junk
It’s falling to Earth later this month.
Twinning No More
The results are in. Going to space changes DNA.
IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE THAT COUNTS
Hunting spider ladies are not fooled by flashy wrapping paper, they only care about the quality of gift inside.
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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
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March 10th, 2018
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Interview w/ Michael Shermer, African Flip Flop, Early Photosynthesis, That Sinking Feeling, Martens & Squirrels, Flying Pesticides, Earhart’s Bones, Tattoo Persistence, Killer Animals: Exposed!, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The view from wherever you are is never all that you can see…
For there are worlds beyond your immediate location…
There are galaxies
Out there beyond…
And more numerous than the stars that you can see…
And everywhere around you there are living creatures…
Hidden from sight, mostly…
Though hints of their existence may show up from time to time…
On a bit of old cheese left half wrapped in the back of the fridge…
Or a sniffling drizzle that won’t let you bizzle…
If you have ever wondered at magic, fantasized about traveling through space, or dreamed an impossible dream…
You already know what it’s like to explore
This Week In Science,
Coming Up Next…
Interview with Dr. Michael Shermer
Dr. Shermer is a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University, founder of the Skeptic Society, founding publisher of Skeptic Magazine, and a prolific science writer with a monthly column in Scientific American and several book titles on subjects related to human beliefs. He has published a new book, called ‘Heavens on Earth: The Scientific search for the afterlife, immortality, and utopia’, and is here to talk with us about it.
Support us on Patreon!
African Flip Flop
Ancient burned huts reveal evidence of a cyclic pattern to magnetic field changes.
Early Photosynthesis
Did photosynthesis get it’s start a billion years earlier than thought?
That sinking feeling…
City of San Lantis
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hi Dr Kiki,
I have been a listener of the show since your appearance on Talk Nerdy and since then I have been wondering what story I should tell. Should I tell how I became a scientist and how I can help make medical procedures better? Should I tell about my first ever journey in an ambulance? But then this happened: My father had a major heart attack, he had an angiplasty and everything is fine. But that’s not what my story is! My story is about how science has given me critical thinking, because of which I could butt heads with my relatives whose “”alternative”” views would have affected the care that my father got. I come from India where the health industry is rife with homeopathy and alternative treatments. And without an exception EVERY relative said the same thing. “”I know this guy who had multiple blockages and he did not get an angioplasty and he is doing better than before!””. “”I know this guy who treated his heart problem with homeopathy””. No matter how much data you show them it seems impossible to change their views! And pat comes their reply “”But what would you say about the guy who it really helped!”” On top of that, its disheartening when the govt. proposes a “”bridge course”” to homeopaths which will allow them to practice normal medicine like a normal doctor! But well, in the end, I am content that I am able to take (at times force) decisions about my parents’ healthcare from all the scientific knowledge that I was able to gain with their support, help and encouragement ???? Happy Science to everyone!
-Ashish”
Pine Martens and Squirrels work together
Conservation tale as old as time, or Blair’s worst nightmare??
Natural pesticides are really the only way to farm.
Science says so! Now how to we get industrial agriculture on board with ditching the chemicals and recruiting birds of prey??
Making bones about it…
Did Amelia Earhart die on an island in the Pacific?
Tattoo Persistence
Science has discovered why tattoos last.
Killer Animals: Exposed!
…and it’s not sharks… or spiders… or snakes…
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, 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 agriculture, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, computer science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, evolution, forensics, genetics, geology, global warming, insects, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, technology, therapies, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
March 8th, 2018
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:14 — 104.1MB)
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It’s Alive!!!, Dry Life, Wet Life, Neanderthal Art, Flopper Ants, Dog Poo Eating, Ancient Smokers, Body Language, Seeing Thru Dust, Ciao Alcoholism!, Big Nose Monkeys, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The longer we wait for something
The more we either appreciate it
Or resent it for making us wait so long
Or long for it more for making us appreciate
how much we would otherwise be resentful
But obviously aren’t in this case
as here we are waiting for whatever it might be..
And whatever it is that you are waiting for…
Hopefully you will find right here on
This Week In Science,
coming up next…
It’s Alive!!!
Or, is it? Giant viruses having the genetic machinery to make all 20 amino acids deemed necessary for life blur the definition of “living”.
Dry Life
Microbes in the Atacama desert suggest life could be possible on Mars.
Wet Life
A species of methanogen extremeophile normally found near deep sea vents was able to thrive in lab conditions simulating the oceans of Enceladus.
Neanderthal Art
Cave paintings suggest Neanderthals were arty before Homo sapiens.
Why do dogs eat poop, and how can we stop them from doing it??
Well, a recent study suggests the only correlated factor is access to poop. So, there is an easy fix. The why is a bit more complicated…
Flopper Ant & Paramedic Ant: the unlisted Aesop’s Fable
African Matabele Ants not only care for their fallen comrades in battle, but they also only treat those that could make a full recovery! Now that is smart Iif a little cruel) military management.
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This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Hello!
I just started listening to your show and I LOVE IT. ?
My only wish is that you shorten the “”Disclaimer”” part… It’s irritatingly long haha.
But on to the actual message.
What has science done for me lately?
Well, it allows my daughter to progress in her lack of muscle and neurological growth. My daughter, who is now three suffers from hypo-thyroidism and has since age one when we were shocked to find out her diagnosis. After several years of therapy and regular oral thyroid doses, I’m proud to say she can now speak a little over 10 words clearly and is able to get around the house by scooting her butt across the floor (the cutest thing you will ever see).
So in conclusion, my daughter would not be where she is today without the help of modern medicine and physical therapy. She’s my sweet little angel and I only wish the best for her.
P.S. – Here’s hoping she’s able to walk independently by the age of five. ?
Thanks again for an awesome show. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Jordan Uhl”
Batty language skills
Deaf humans can become highly skilled echolocators.
Sex Sells
At least, sex sells to monkeys.
Tracking smokers back in time
Using dental plaques from ancient teeth tells a tale of culture over time.
Body Language
An analysis of Bonobo and Chimpanzee gestures found a preponderance of similarities suggesting that the two species could understand one another.
Seeing Thru Dust
Using infrared radiation and polarized light, astronomers are visualizing the magenetic field lines of the the Milky Way Galaxy.
Ciao, Alcoholism!
Genetic studies suggest we may be weeding out this nasty disease in our DNA.
Is it true what they say about a big nose?
That it is an indicator of testicular mass? For proboscis monkeys it is…
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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 animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, arthropods, astrobiology, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, astrophysics, biology, Black Holes, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, chemistry, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, cosmology, ecology, emergent behavior, evolution, galaxies, genetics, insects, mammals, microbiology, nutrition, paleontology, particle physics, physics, physiology, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, science, science and politics, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
February 22nd, 2018
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Interview w/ Dr. Ryan Kobrick, Let’s Talk Gender, Focus On Depression, Old DNA New News, Bacterial Bouncers, Snapping Shrimp Racket, Viral Hormones, Wine, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
Space…
The final frontier…
That and the microbiome…
One…
Lives in us…
The other…
We may one day live in…
And yes, yes, I know…
we already live in space
And are thriving as a species on a habitable planet in space…
But it wasn’t always so…
We spent billions of years evolving to make it habitable.
And when I say we,
I of course mean all the life forms that came before us…
For we are but the recipients of evolution’s bounty,
not the creators of it…
If we humans cast long shadows,
it is only because it is so late in the day.
Now we are reaching an age of opportunity…
To truly test what no one has tested before…
Can we survive on a less habitable planet?
An inhospitable planet?
Unaided by billions of years of habitable evolution,
Can we translate what we have learned here on Earth
To the rest of the cosmos?
If we are to try this,
if we are to make the attempt,
and if we are to succeed…
It will be because of This Week In Science,
Coming Up Next…
Interview w/ Dr. Ryan L. Kobrick
He is an Assistant Professor of Spaceflight Operations (formerly Commercial Space Operations) in the College of Aviation at +Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach and Principal Investigator of the ERAU Spacesuit Utilization of Innovative Technology Laboratory (S.U.I.T. Lab). He s the Chairman of the Board and President of Yuri’s Night, a USA 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the aim of connecting hundreds of thousands of people around the world to celebrate and honor the past of human spaceflight, while building a stairway to the future. And, he just recently participated as a crewmember in The Mars Society’s Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS).
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Thanks to Medical science and psychology, i am able to work as part of community. I am diagnosed with minor schizophrenia and without medicine and therapy, I really do not know where i would be without them.
Also as bonus, i would like to thank Computer Scientist and Engineer, to me able to use these things called computers and me have to able to gain a professional schooling in them.
I have paper as Datanome (Computer Information Technic, professional school degree)
But as i have schizophrenia i am not able to work in my schooled profession, but i am able to take advantage of it and work in socially rehabilitative work project as part of my therapy.
–Kosti Ranki”
Support us on Patreon!
Let’s Talk Gender
…and science. Why aren’t there more women in science? This data makes things even more confusing.
Focus On Depression
Chinese researchers discovered that a site in the brain called the lateral habenula might be responsible for some aspects of depression… in mice, but still, it’s interesting.
Ancient Human DNA O’plenty
Mining ancient DNA tells a new story of European heritage.
Bacterial bouncers could save toads!
The bacteria present on toad and frog skin could provide protection from the deadly chytrid fungus.
Snapping Shrimp make racket in new digs
Snapping shrimp have been observed for the first time in coastal, pacific northwest waters. What’s more, there is a clear correlation between these percussive crustaceans and feeding grey whales. But the whales don’t eat shrimp…?
Viruses And Diabetes
How much disease is the result of viruses influencing hormones rather than the immune system?
Wine Is Good
…for longevity!
Wine Thwarts Bugs
…that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Alcoholism Is Bad
It is highly correlated with dementia in France.
If You love TWIS, please consider making a donation below.
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Dr. Kirsten Sanford, Interview, 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 aerospace, amphibians, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, astrobiology, astronauts, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, Blair's Animal Corner, cell biology, chemistry, civilian space travel, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, crustaceans, ecology, emergent behavior, engineering, evolution, exploration, genetics, infectious diseases, KDVS, mammals, marine biology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, nutrition, oceanography, paleontology, pharmacology, physiology, planets, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, recreational drugs, science, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, technology, whales, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
February 15th, 2018
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How Many Loves?, Predictions Of Infidelity, Moving Mammoths, Loving The Flow, Femme Fatale Fireflies, Memory Is Sexy, Bunnies Abound, Pup Pituitary, Can’t Buy Love, Can Buy Happiness, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
To err is human
To learn from your mistakes…
Is divine…
Actually learning from mistakes is just what learning is…
And learning from the past mistakes of others…
Along with how others got it right…
Is only as good as the information they left behind.
The first time two rocks were banged together that produced a spark…
The world did not change in any significant way.
Not until the person who discovered this interesting effect showed it to others did this knowledge begin to spread.
At first, it may have been little more than a cave parlor trick.
Something to amuse ones peers with.
Then, one dry summers eve…
As the crowd oohed and aahed…
An errant spark caught in a whimsical wind swirled its way into a pile of flammable tinder…
And fire was invented…
If enough of the cave party survived the fire that is…
If not, then perhaps the discovery took a bit longer…
Thankfully we have found a collection of primitive parlor tricks gone awry where the parties survived to publish the tale.
On This Week in Science,
Coming Up Next…
How Many Loves?
An analysis of 50 languages found that there are at least 14 different kinds of love.
Predictions Of Infidelity
There are many factors involved in relationship success, two studies identify those factors in the hopes of improving fidelity.
Love with the lights on…
A breakthrough in flow battery technology might bring us more sustainable energy.
Moving Mammoths
Mammoths on the move, cared for one another.
Femme Fatale Fireflies
These ladies are savage, but they just do what they need to survive.
Memory is sexy
Especially when it leads you to the sweet sweet nectar… Mmmm….
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“Here are two more sonnets Blair. I’m not sure either is what you’re looking
for, so ignore them at your pleasure.
My Springtime Hell
Perth Winter rains dye all the pastures green
The Spring is close behind, where hell ensues
The views are plundered by a new regime
As wildflowers bloom in all their wondrous hues
East winds now rising from the low plateau
Lift pollen grains into the clear blue skies
They’re carried down on to the plains below
Instilling misery in countless eyes
But thanks to science, Spring I can endure
Non drowsy anti-histamines, the cure.
My Podcast Heaven
I eagerly await each episode
My ears are filled with science, day and night
A hundred podcasts to my phone download
Flash memory stores untold gigabytes
But list’ning hours are too few in each day
And science shows have grown in recent years
But I can change the speed at which they play
At 1.3 I’ve caught up on arrears
So thanks to science, I am entertained
As more of our vast cosmos is explained
–Stephen”
Bunnies abound
And, they have for a very long time.
Pituitary pups
A stress hormone released while in the womb may be entirely responsible for domesticated wolf traits.
Water Is Rising
At a faster pace than we thought. Turns out the acceleration of the pace of sea level rise is going to increase sea level by about 60 cm instead of the estimated 30 cm by 2100.
Can’t Buy Love
Relationships with high levels of materialism are rated as less satisfying, and have a higher chance of failure.
Can Buy Happiness
But, apparently, if you make $95,000 a year, you will be happy.
Entropy And Intelligence
Does an entropic brain correlate with intelligence? In this study it did.
Tesla Orbital Estimation
The Tesla vehicle is potentially settled into a stable orbit with a low probability of impact with the Earth or Venus over the next million years or so…
Lactation is for the birds!
The same hormone responsible for lactation in humans may be linked to parental care in zebra finches. See? This story had absolutley nothing to do with a bird with udders. Now try to get that image out of your head. Oops!
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, 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 alternative energy, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, arthropods, biology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, chemistry, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, energy, engineering, evolution, global warming, insects, KDVS, linguistics, mammals, NASA, neuroscience, oceanography, paleontology, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, science, Science Education, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, technology, z-Broadcasts | 2 Comments »
February 8th, 2018
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:49:35 — 100.8MB)
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Falcon Launch Success, TRAPPIST-1 Planets, Outside The Galaxy, Dead Vikings, Blue Malaria Urine, Barter Rats, Woodpecker Brain Damage, India Antibiotic Trouble, Urine Isn’t Sterile, Thermometers For Everyone, Naked Mole Bat, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
The greatest discovery…
Might be hiding right under your nose.
No, it’s not a mustache, lips or even an adorable chin…
But it could be that some of our greatest scientific finds,
are already well within our grasp…
Just waiting for us to notice them…
And when we do, we often wonder why we didn’t before.
So much of what we discover seems obvious in retrospect,
that we often forget how much work went in to making is so…
But that’s what science does…
An endless pursuit of the obvious
Confounded at every turn by a universe that makes no sense
Until, by keen observation, it obviously does…
And the result of a billion keen observations is what the modern age is made of…
That and…
This Week In Science,
Coming Up Next…
Falcon Heavy Launch Success
February 6th, 2018, SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket into space, and jettisonned its cargo – a spacesuit driving a Tesla – into a tragectory that will end up in the asteroid belt past Mars. Regardless of the folly involved in putting a car in space, the launch demonstrated the feasibility of private missions to the asteroid belt and possibly beyond for the first time, and put space well within our grasp.
TRAPPIST-1 Planets
The consensus is that the planets within the habitable zone likely have atmospheres dominated by heavier gases, which is promising for the existence of water.
Outside The Galaxy
A technique called microlensing has allowed astronomers to make what they say is the first extra-galactic observations of exoplanets.
The Viking Great Army
Radiocarbon dating suggests buried bones are Viking.
Cell Culture Dye
Kills malaria parasites at speed not seen before
What do rats and sororities have in common?
They pay for their friends: Rats that have shared food are more likely to receive grooming behavior from a food recipient. How is this different from payment? How is it like reciprocation? How is it both… or neither? WHAT IS MONEY, ANYWAY???
Woodpecker brain damage
Woodpeckers have evidence of what looks like brain damage throughout their family. But then why do they peck, or is it brain damage at all? And what does this mean for the superbowl??
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done for me Lately?!?
“I have what used to be called Asperger’s and is now known as High Functioning Autism. One of my conditions is I have a lot of issues with directions, my wife called me Directionally Challenge. I must stop and think before I know my left from my right. When it comes to travel, I need to travel a path several times before I learn how to get there on my own. GPS has been a great advantage to me, helping me get to work, home and many other places without a personal navigator. Thanks to GPS, I have been able to see Gettysburg, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. –Brian Von Wert”
Antibiotic Trouble
How India is brewing the next wave of patient zeros
Urine Isn’t Sterile
In fact, it’s teeming with life and the viruses that go along with it.
Thermometers for everyone
Melting permafrost might unleash a toxic supply of mercury into the world.
Cancer & Mole Rats
They just don’t really get it, but why?
Long-lived bats
It’s in the telomeres.
Cloned Crayfish
It’s an invasion of clones!
Uh oh… We’re boned.
Plastic pollution is prevalent on land, not just in the ocean. And it’s far worse than we thought. At what point will I become more plastic than human? Am I already?? AHHHH!!!!
Old Fish…
found dead
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, 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 aerospace, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, astrobiology, astronomy, astronomy, bioethics, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, cancer, chemistry, civilian space travel, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, engineering, evolution, exploration, extrasolar planets, fish, galaxies, genetics, global warming, infectious diseases, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, paleontology, pharmacology, physiology, planets, podcast, science, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, spacecraft, stars, technology, therapies, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
February 1st, 2018
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:46:09 — 97.7MB)
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Naked Mole Rat Longevity, Genetic Jitters, Eureka!, Horse Toes, Rooster Roadies, Rolling The Dice, Muscle Memory, Cancer vaccine!, Genetic Nurture, Genome Sequencing, Plastics R Bad, Voynich AI Crack, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
What you put in determines what you can get out…
And it doesn’t really matter what stuff you are putting in…
Or what you are putting that stuff into…
Putting a decent effort into something
will get a different result than putting in no effort at all…
Inputting reliable data will result in more reliable data out…
Placing potatoes in a pot of boiling water
is much more likely to get you a pot of boiled potatoes
than if you had filled your pot with onions…
And while this may seem obvious to all…
It is not what we often practice.
For all around us all the time
people are placing onions in pots of boiling water
and expecting boiled potatoes as a result…
Like relaxing your way to getting fit…
Or eating junk food and still wishing to lose weight…
Or staying up too late and still hoping to be well rested…
Or tuning in to nonsense shows yet still wanting to become more intelligent…
But all they end up with are boiled onions…
Which, if covered in melted cheese
with a dollop of sour cream
is still a great snack to relax with for a late night Netflix binge on the couch…
And yet!
You have found your way here…
to the place that will put potatoes into your pot…
Or in this case, science into your brain…
so that you can achieve the result you actually desire…
To know what’s happening…
This Week In Science,
Coming Up Next…
Naked Mole Rat Longevity
May you live long, like a naked mole rat. Naked mole rats don’t follow the usual mortality pattern seen in mammals. Somehow they manage to age without aging, without their odds of mortality increasing over time.
Genetic Jitters
A paper in Nature supports a postulate originally made by Watson and Crick, suggesting that genetic mutations, which are essentially the result of cellular machinery copying errors, are due to ‘quantum jitters’ in which DNA bases shift their shape for just long enough to become incorrectly incorporated into the DNA strand. These occurred at the same rate that such mutations occur naturally, and provides a mechanism for the genetic mistakes.
Eureka!
There’s gold in them there microbes!
We were wrong about the horses, all along!
Horses and similar hoofed critters may have a complete set of digits, after-all.
Why would a rooster make the perfect roadie?
Because they have built-in earplugs!
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done For Me Lately
“Science gave me a frame of reference in which to view the world. I was trained as a biochemist and eventually became a database designer.
For me, I am able to view an entire system and break it down to individual components. When something goes wrong I use the scientific method to analyze what is working and not working.
I use enzymology to view data flow like enzyme reactions in a biochemical pathway. Finding optimal paths and identifying bottlenecks.
The tools I learned as a scientist help me identify problems, and figure them out helps me every day. You don’t have to be a scientist to thing like a scientist.
Jerry Salem
Love the show. I mention it at least once a week to my friends and family!
–Jerry Salem Ph.D.”
Rolling the dice to rid the world of fate
How dice and psychology progressed hand in hand.
Muscle Memory
Scientists report a change in epigenetic tags on genes related to muscle growth as a result of exercise and muscle growth that remain after muscle shrinks and affect later growth.
Cancer vaccine! for mice
A promising cancer treatment essentially cured mice of cancer and protected them from future outbreaks. Clinical human trials are currently underway.
Genetic Nurture
The genes you did not inherit from your parents have about 30% the influence of the genes you did inherit, but what does this really tell us about nature versus nurture?
Genome Sequencing Advance
The entire human genome was sequenced using a miniION nanopore sequencer… there was a bit of tweaking involved, but they did it.
Plastics are bad, mmkay?
Plastics present in and around corals ruin their general health, and decrease their chance of survival. So no, DON’T TAKE THAT DISPOSABLE STRAW, KAREN!
Voynich AI Crack
An AI algorithm might have succeeded where decades of human analysis has failed, and cracked the code of the Voynich manuscript.
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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, 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 animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, artificial intelligence, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, cancer, cell biology, chemistry, clinical trials, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, computer science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, endangered animals, evolution, genetics, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, pharmacology, physiology, podcast, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, technology, therapies, z-Broadcasts | 2 Comments »
January 26th, 2018
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Baby Clone Monkeys, Humanity Is In The Brain, Arctic Archaeology, Shrinking Birds, The Bee Buzz, Supplemental News, Smart Contact Lenses, BPA Won’t Go, God Helmet Placebo, Curry FTW!, Space Disco, And Much More…
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DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER, DISCLAIMER!!!
There is a way of looking at the world in which you can ignore the details…
A vision of everything based on how you assume it.
Just read the headlines,
you’ll get the drift…
Think something you know nothing about works a certain way?
That’s exactly how it works…
The label on the bottle claims to do this or that?
Good enough reason to end all further inquiry…
Why every day is a brand new opportunity to know what the whole wide world is doing…
Without even giving it a first look…
And while this way of existing in a world bereft of thought…
Is exactly how I imagine most of the people of the earth are going about things…
I haven’t really looked into it
as I’ve been far too busy getting excited to hear what’s new on
This Week In Science,
Coming up Next…
Baby Clone Monkeys
The first primate clones have been produced in China – two cutie-pie rhesus macaques.
Humanity Is In The Brain
An analysis of human fossil brain shape and size determined that shape is probably an indicator of cognitive development.
Arctic Archeology
It goes way back…
Bee metropolises aren’t buzzing
Bee colonies get quieter as they grow, contrary to expectation. If only we could harness the quiet for ourselves!
The birds are shrinking!
Climate change is the likely cause of smaller birds. so add that to the list of weird side effects …
Support us on Patreon!
This Week in What Has Science Done For Me Lately
“Hey, dr. Kiki
Ever since you created this new segment, I’ve been wanting to write about something science has done for me lately. However, I couldn’t think of anything but the obvious: technology/medicine/everything science-y surrounding me and most of your audience at home. And then today, as I was going through my morning ritual, it hit me.
I have a long-running career in IT, and for the past seven I’ve had a great job at a worldwide tech company. I’m not rich, but I have a pretty comfortable life. Around four years ago I decided to study drawing and painting as a hobby. This year I started selling art as a side thing, and I’m planning on expanding it in 2018. Overall, things are doing just fine, and I believe I can be considered a successful person.
Here’s the plot twist, though: I suffer from type two bipolar disorder. When I was diagnosed in my early twenties, it had been crippling me for years. I wasn’t able to do anything for longer than a couple of months. Relationships, jobs, plans, college, anything I started went down the drain after a short period. And when the depression part of the cycle hit, it hit hard. I didn’t know I had a diagnose, I just thought I was a failure, and I was on the edge of becoming an alcoholic more than once just trying to cope with not being able to function. All the things I mentioned above – having a long-running career, studying, even planning for the future – were unthinkable back then.
This was sixteen years ago. Then I got diagnosed and treated, and once the medication was adjusted and started to kick in, things started to get better. It was a long process, but I’ve been stable and free of episodes for the past ten years. And that because of my morning ritual – wake up, have breakfast and take an affordable little pill that keeps my brain working properly. I’ve been doing it for so long that I don’t even notice it anymore and take it for granted. I shouldn’t, though.
So, what has science done for me lately? Well, I have neuroscientists, doctors, therapists, SCARY BIG PHARMA and a small pill to thank for pretty much my entire adult life. Science kept me going lately, it kept me going in the past 16 years and it will keep me going in the future. That’s kind of a big deal.
Have a great new year,
–RR”
Whatchya taking there?
New resources from NIH cut the confusion on dietary supplements.
Smart Contact Lenses
Soft, smart contact lenses have been developed for non-invasive glucose sensing in diabetics.
BPA’s not yet gone away
It’s in your receipts.
God Helmet Placebo
It’s not the alcohol, but personal spirituality that predicts a placebo effect of weird mental experience with use of the ‘God Helmet’ at a music festival.
Curry For The Win!
A study out of UCLA gave curcumin supplements to 40 50-90 year olds who complained of minor memory issues, but did not have dementia. Over the course of 18 months, memory improved across the board as did measures of tangles and plaques indicative of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Space Disco
A New Zealand space company put a disco ball in space. Of course they did.
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, Justin Jackson, KDVS, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science policy, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in aerospace, animal behavior, animals, anthropology, archeology, astronomy, bioethics, bioethics, biology, biotechnology, birds, Blair's Animal Corner, civilian space travel, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, exploration, insects, mammals, medicine, molecular biology, neuroscience, nutrition, physiology, podcast, psychobiology, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, spacecraft, technology, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
