December 11th, 2015
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Indie CRISPR Hacking w/ Josiah Zayner, Future Toxo Cure, Faulty Tardigrade Study?, Short Versus Long, Girl Complications, Tallness And Telomeres, Killer Kiwis, Cannibal Hippos, Metal Power!, Correlation Crazy, We Aren’t Holograms, And Much More!
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Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!
The following hour of programming contains explicit scientific content.
Graphic depictions of applied knowledge,
And gratuitous reference to recent research.
Young children and adults are strongly encouraged to attend.
And while you may think this sort of programming is,
or is not for you…
Please keep in mind that it does not matter what you think.
If you think, you will enjoy the show…
If you think, you will learn something…
If you think, you will like what you hear…
If you think, we want you for a listener…
If you think, there is nothing better you can do right now…
Than think along with us on
This week in Science…
Coming up next
We started the show with NASA synthetic biologist Josiah Zayner who has slam-dunked an IndieGogo campaign to create DIY CRISPR kits for home use. It’s pretty provocative stuff. Let us know what you think. Did you order a kit?
Meanwhile, the international gene-editing community holds off on editing human DNA.
Support us on Patreon!
Toxo has a cure!!!
Not now, but it may someday thanks to recent findings by Australian researchers into the living habits of human-infecting T. gondii.
Faulty Tardigrade Study?
A second paper by a different research team casts a doubtful light on the amazing findings of last week’s tardigrade study.
Short Versus Long
Rats and songbirds abilities to perform behavioral tasks are impaired differently depending upon whether they recieved brain lesions to a specific brain area or if that brain area was only transiently affected, suggesting that off-target effects might explain some research results in optogenetics and related efforts.
The love hormone may be different for girls
Female mice became less social and less engaged when given oxytocin, whereas for men, the hormone makes them less stressed and the life of the party. This is a good reminder that hormones should ALWAYS be tested on both genders!
Look, ma! No telomeres!
Scientists may have finally figured out why the towering Toms never live as long: your DNA has been working so hard duplicating to make you extra tall, that your telomeres have shrunken down to nothing. Maybe being big isn’t so great?
Kiwis: Tiny, flightless savages
For the first time ever, kiwis have been observed kicking robins out of their nest, leaving them to fall to ther doom. But why?
Shocking news from Africa: hippos may eat meat!!
Hippos may be more like their cousins the whales afterall…
A couple of corrolated studies…
Alcohol tax lowers STD’s and +size models make girls fat
Metal Power!
Imagine a car with no need for gas. Scientists are suggesting an iron powered external combustion engine with no CO2 released into the atmosphere. Still just an idea, we could use all the creative solutions people can come up with…
We Aren’t Holograms
An experiment at FermiLab has come up empty-handed for evidence supporting the Holographic Principle.
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, CRISPR, DIY Bio, Dr. Kiki, Josiah Zayner, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
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December 3rd, 2015
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Changing Climate, Power Over Temperature, Evidence Pouring In, Death From Suffocation, Coal World, Dino Vessels, Cuttle Tactics, Finch Fights, Planty Free Will, Beast Brain Genes, Grandmother Protection, Genetic Ethics, Sticky Webs, And Much More!
Buy A 2016 TWIS Blair’s Animal Corner Calendar now!!!
Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer!
The world is much older than mankind…
and for most of our human academic history
we have looked back through the history that preceded us and deemed it unsentient…
Life has evolved through chance and natural selection
and we humans are the first to have the power of will,
the advanced knowledge of cause and effect necessary to
impart our will upon the planet…
We make choices that benefit our survival,
while the rest of nature merely reacts…
But what if that isn’t entirely true?
What if other life forms have been doing this subtly throughout time?
We know now that epigenetics is an active partner in evolution…
Things encountered in one generation can have effects on future generations…
Like plant studies involving drought in one generation
leading to early blooming in future generations,
or how mice who encounter a smell associated with a shock in one generation,
heightens responses to that smell in future generations…
As though acting on cause and effect knowledge,
epigenetic memory is doing that thing we humans thought was reserved for us, and us alone…
This ability to strategize…
To make choices…
To take actions now, that can only benefit us later on…
And while this could mean that humanity isn’t entirely
unnatural in its ability to make choices based on previous knowledge…
It is quite natural that this ability has led you back here
for yet another episode of
This Week in Science…
Coming up Next…
Changing Climate
As the COP21 conference moves along in France, a poll reported by the BBC shows declining support for drastic efforts to curb carbon emissions globally. It’s thought that economic concerns have taken priority over climate in people’s minds.
Power Over Temperature
An analysis reported this week at COP21 in Paris calculates that should all plans for building coal-fired power plants proceed, there will be a 400% increase in carbon emissions that will force temerature to increase more than the agreed upon 2 degrees Celsius by 2030.
Evidence Pouring In
Glacial lakes are expanding on Mt. Everest as the glacier receeds and melts as a result of global warming, causing concerns about safety for populated areas that could be impacted if the lakes burst.
Death From Suffocation
Oh, and if rising temperatures and flooding aren’t enough, researchers think that increasing ocean temperatures will reduce oxygen production by phytoplankton, which means death by suffocation might be a more likely future for life on Earth.
Keep coal where it is…
Burning it really isn’t a good idea.
80 Million year old blood vessels
A new techniques lets scientists peer further back into the soft tissues of dinosaurs.
Cuttlefish are masters of disguise
Not only can they change colors to disappear, but they can also alter their posture to reduce their electromagnetic signiature, becoming invisible to sharks and their sixth sense to boot. Your move, sharks!
Finches quarrel over parental chores
Finches actually discuss why they got home late, and explanations actually have a great effect on whether their spouse decides to slight them for it or not. These birds may have a thing or two to teach us about relationships!
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Free Will in plants?
Well… plants making choices that effect their environement anyway…
Genes For Delay
The breast cancer gene BRAC1, which is also involved in DNA repair, was linked to Alzheimer’s disease in a recent study that looked at the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. The levels of the protein produced by the gene was up to 75% lower in diseased brains compared to controls.
Delaying Disease
The genes you have influence the age of Alzheimer’s onset, according to a recent study that looked at a population of individuals that unusually succumb to the disease earlier than average.
Grandmother Hypothesis
A gene variant of CD33 could explain why grandmothers keep their wits about them as they age.
A Global Discussion
To edit or not to edit? Experts from around the world are meeting in Washington DC this week to discuss the future of genetic editing technologies.
Editing The Editor
CAS-9 has been altered by MIT scientists to make it more efficient in its editing functions.
Sticky webs hold more than meats the eye
Black widow spider webs held genetic information not only for the spider, but also for their prey, for up to 10 days! There are so many webs out there, it’s a treasure trove of genetic data just waiting to be walked into by you first thing in the morning!
An Anniversary
100 years of relativity explained by David Tennant!
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
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December 1st, 2015
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Engineering Mosquitoes, Blue Origin Success!, High Power Beams!, Little Not Humans, Sperm Size Matters, Vampire Giving, Blue-Green Origin, Bugs To Brains, Future Vaccines, Head Games, Amazing Dancing Finches, Terrific Tardigrades, Robo-Bartenders, And Much More!
Disclaimer Disclaimer Disclaimer
It’s thanks giving time so its once again for giving thanks…
So here it goes…
Thanks to the scientists curious minds
Thanks to the method, control groups, and double blinds
Thanks to NASA, for telescopes and Mars missions
Thanks again NASA for Earth climate observations
Thanks to the Chemists, Botonists, Biologists
Thanks to the Physicists, Geologists, Archeologists
Thanks to the Geneticists, Neurologists, climatologists
And thanks to the Cosmologists, robotologists, and zoologists too…
Thanks to the Mathematicians, statisticians, funk musicians
Thanks to the engineers, research pioneers, and for all of you with ears
Thanks to the minions for listening
Thanks to the Patreons for giving
And a special thanks to the awakening awareness in the world
for the many bounties that await us each week here on
This week in Science,
Coming up Next…
Engineering Mosquitoes
Using the CRISPR gene-editing system, researchers have successfully engineered mosquitoes to produce malaria-targeting antibodies, which could lead to 100% resistance in the wild if released from the lab.
Blue Origin Success!
Jeff Bezos’ company, Blue Origin, successfully launched a rocket into sub-orbital space and landed it back on the launchpad in an upright position. Is this a win for private space exploration?
High Power Beams!
CERN’s LHC has started smashing lead atoms to investigate quark gluon plasma, and the behavior of matter at incredibly high temperatures. The collisions exert a massive Peta-electron volt of energy.
Old Teeth, New Species?
Dental analysis suggests Homo floresiensis was a separate species from modern man
Sperm: does size matter?
It turns out that it depends on how big you are. Or rather, how big a female’s reproductive tract is. For larger animals like whales, it is the sheer amount of sperm, hoping some will reach the egg. For smaller critters like mice, the longer and bigger the spem, the faster they are, and therefore more successful. Sex is complicated…
What goes around comes around for vampire bats
Bats will regurgitate blood into each other’s mouths when the going gets tough, with the understanding that they will receive the same kindness when their luck runs out. Is this a case of bat guilt? Morality? Or just a good survival skill?
Support us on Patreon!
Blue-Green Origin (oxygen!)
The oxygen on planet Earth might have originated from blue-green algae.
Bugs Say No
Bacteria in your gut might be responsible for signalling fullness, and triggering you to stop eating.
Just add water
The vaccines of the future could be freeze-dried for rapid production in all areas of the world.
Head Games
Tuft University researchers have used electrical signalling to force a species of flatworm to grow their heads in the shapes of other closely-related flatworm species.
Amazing dancing finches!
High-speed footage shows that finches are doing more than hopping – they are tap dancing for their mate!
Robo-bartenders
Scientists are teaching robots how to be efficient bartenders.
Tardigrade Genomes
Turns out that the indestructible tardigrade is chock full of other organism’s genes, and has lots of genes for stress resilience.
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, blood-sucking creatures of the night, 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
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November 20th, 2015
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An End Ahead, California’s Textbooks, Magnet-o-heads, Pre-pre Clovis, Sex or Food?, Crabs Feel Pain, Earwig Momma Dramas, Being Social, A Drug For Aging, Just Drink Coffee, Coconuts Versus Candida, Stretch Mark Science, Exoplanetary Excitement, Blood Jellies, And Much More…
Disclaimer Disclaimer Disclaimer!
In Paris this week…
Yet another act of terrorism…
an act of violence in the name of hate…
in the name of a religion…
in the name of an ideology…
in the name of ignorance…
And what is the world to make of such a gesture?
The act is itself an invitation…
An invitation to be afraid… or to hate…
an invitation to respond with clarity or with ignorance…
It is in how we answer this invitation that will determine the outcome of such attacks…
Though we are invited to respond however we choose…
And despite the best efforts of this and other theocratic fundamentalist religious ideologies…
They cannot kill the knowledge held by a world that does not rely upon their god…
And while gods may come and go…
open to interpretation as they are…
No bullet, no bomb, no words of hate…
will ever replace the laws of physics…
No bullet, no bomb, no words of hate…
will deter the free thinker from thinking freely…
No bullet, no bomb, no words of hate…
will take away the advances gained in free pursuit of knowledge…
Truth, free thinking and free people will not be silenced by such acts…
So instead of any moments of silence we offer you…
This Week in Science…
Coming up next…
An End Ahead
A leaked memo from NIH head Francis Collins suggests that the NIH will be phasing out all support for invasive chimpanzee research.
California’s Textbooks
An analysis of four science textbooks from two publishers determined that the language they use to teach about climate change sews confusion about the evidence. That said the books are from 2007 and 2008. Perhaps newer books will be more accurate.
Magnet-o-heads
What gives insects and animals their magnetic field sensing abilities? Maybe a protein complex in the eyes! A new study discovered that when a protein they called MagR gets paired with chryptochrome, the complex aligns with magnetic fields.
Earlier Earliest Americans may not have gotten the worm
Study pushing back American settlement suggests that their earlier isn’t as early as its gonna get.
Sex or Food?
A new study shows that great tits will choose to stay with their mate and their mate’s flock, even when it means reduced accessibility to food. Now that’s dedication.
Crabs feel pain
Next time you are about to drop a crab or lobster into that boiling water, remember this research, which indicates that these tasty invertebrates most likely do feel pain.
Face it, you will most likely turn into your parents.
Earwigs that were abandoned by their mothers were more likely to leave their own children to their own devices, though they did usually grow bigger. Is it worth the trade-off? Probably not…
Support us on Patreon!
Cell phone stranger danger?
Online isn’t anti-social for social teens
A Drug For Aging
J147, an experimental drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease, was recently administered to rapidly aging mice, and seen to improve multiple measurements related to brain health and aging.
Just Drink Coffee
An observational study of around 200,000 people found a link between coffee consumption and decreased mortality risk.
Anti-fungal coconut oil…
Coconut oil fights off Candida. Who knew?
What the heck is a stretch mark?
Research delves into the microscopic happenings in your skin. Turns out that no lotion or cream will fix that mark.
Exoplanetary Excitement
A distant planet is surrounded by toxic gases whirling at 8500 km/h. AND, Much closer to home, relatively speaking, is a rocky exoplanet with an atmosphere that we can observe.
Jellies in your blood!!
Myxozoans, microscopic parasitic organisms that live inside of animals turn out to be animals themselves. They are cnidarians, like jellies, and cause us to look at how we define the word “animal” a bit closer.
Men Eat For Ladies
The opposite of the female date dining habit appears to be true for males.
Wingy Swingy
Bats use their wings for landing leverage.
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November 12th, 2015
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Pluvian Ice Volcanoes?,Far-out Planetoid, Martian Offgassing, Magic Thinking, Self-Cleaning Animals, Sexy Sons, Hunger Memories, Dispersing The Microbes, What Is Beauty?, Sea Salt Sampling, Micro-Fluids For Brains, Trident Launch, No Alien Signals, Crow Cooler, And Much More…
Disclaimer Disclaimer Disclaimer!!!
There are many mysteries of the universe that we have yet to crack.
There are also mysteries we have cracked wide open through science…
And despite what certain candidates for president of the United States might think…
Global warming is really occurring, and really is man made…
Vaccines do not cause autism…
The big bang is not a fairy tale invented to counter the story of creation…
Evolution happened, happens even today…
and to the best of my knowledge,
the theory was not encouraged by the Devil…
though I don’t have the direct line to know such things…
Oh…
and the pyramids were not built as grain silos…
And while the majority of candidates find themselves in
conflict with science on one, or two, or even a multitude of issues…
It is important to remember that knowledge is power…
And if the leader of the free world denies the evidence acquired by knowledge,
the free world will be less powerful…
Whether the free people of the free world make good choices
in the next election is a matter to be determined,
in the meantime we will focus on making you more powerful
as we fill your head with knowledge on
This Week in Science…
Coming up next…
Pluvian Ice Volcanoes?
They aren’t confirmed yet, but images suggest that the surface of Pluto is marked by giant ice volcanoes.
Far-out Planetoid
Astronomers reported finding that most distant object in our solar system, named V774104. More observation is needed to determine its orbit, which will inform the scientists about not only its origins, but the formation of our system.
Martian Offgassing
Solar winds wick away the Martian atmosphere, according to a new analysis of MAVEN data.
Magical thinking
A new look at magical thinking in people determines that there are two processes at work in our psyche when we decide to believe the irrational: detection and correction. So, you might realize that your belief is superstition, but you might not do anything to change it.
How to clean a fruit fly
Animal surface area and how they stay so clean.
Which came first? The sexy son or the monotone mother?
Sexual selection is most likely not the whole story when it comes to colorful plumage in perching birds. Did the drab become beautiful, or the other way around?
From hardship comes obesity – at least for birds
Birds that had a hard time getting enough as chicks were more likely to binge on food when available. Could this be true for our impoverished citizens who can often exhibit poor food choices?
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Dispersants meant to stimulate microbial crude oil degradation… fail
The data suggests that dispersants significantly decrease the native microbial populations.
What Is Beauty?
Researchers attempt to quantify astethic beauty in an effort to determine health of coral ecosystems.
Sea Salt Sampling
Sea salts available for sale in China are contaminated with microplastics.
Micro Fluids
Using a spiraling micro-fluidic cell sorting system, researchers were able to isolate neural stem cells for the first time. This will allow research on this type of cell without reliance on an embryonic source for the cells.
Trident Launch
Rather than a UFO, a trident missile launch threw people into a tizzy.
No Alien Signals
After listening to distant star, SETI found no evidence of alien activity that would suggest a megastructure built by an advanced civilization.
Crows gather ’round the water cooler
Or, rotting log, as the case may be…
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November 6th, 2015
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Antarctica Is Doomed, Antarctica Is Fine, Vampiric Microbes, Social Anti-Matter, Popeye Quack frog Sex, Cowbirds Get Out, Oxytocin Social, Dopamine Damage, New World Pompeii, Dating Mass Extinction, Viral Skin, How To Astronaut, Redaction, Sex Change Tree, Poop For Power, And Much More…
Disclaimer Disclaimer Disclaimer!
If you have ever gazed upwards on a starry night,
and wanted a closer look at the twinkling lights…
If you have ever noticed how sounds change as they approach and then depart…
If you have ever touched something rough or smooth or warm or wet
and wondered why it feels the way it does…
If you have ever pondered why some things taste sweet,
while others are bitter…
And why is it when I throw a ball in the air, it falls down…
every time… without exception…
The answers we are accustomed to accepting tell us little about why…
The twinkling lights are stars,
things that are wet feel wet because they are wet…
Things that are heated up feel hot…
ice cream feels cold and tastes sweet because it is frozen
and has sugar in it…
and when you throw something into the air it falls down
because that’s what down means…
or does… something about gravity…
If you have ever wondered what the world is like beyond your senses,
and beyond the simple answers…
Then you have within you the makings of a scientist…
Because that is what all of science is at its core,
a curious mind asking why, even after a simple answer is provided…
Each and every week we bring you the latest discoveries by
curious minds who have never tired of asking why…
and never feared the more complicated answer…
And together we will learn things we never even thought to question
Here on This Week in Science…
Coming Up Next
Antarctica Is Doomed
A computer simulation of the collapse of the Western Antarctic ice sheet finds that due to melting over the next few decades, it will collapse within several centuries and lead to at least 3 meters of sea level rise.
Antarctica Is Fine
An outlier study using new measurement and analysis techniques found that ice is increasing on the southern continent. The result is discussion and concern among the climate research community — most people do not agree with the result.
Vampiric Microbes
Who lurked in the seas 750 million years ago? According to a study of fossil micro-organisms, possibly vampire-like cellular predators that punctured their prey to suck out their juicy innards.
Anti-matter not anti-social
Turns out it likes its own kind just as much and at the same distances as regular matter.
Frog sex is complicated…
Muscular dudes wrestle their competitors and win the chance to mate, unless there are so many they don’t have a chance to fight them all. Then, it’s the guy with the biggest… Sperm?
Cowbirds avoid their false mother so as not to get confused
It was suspected that baby cowbirds followed their mother out of their host warbler’s nest to maintain their identity, but it turns out they go on nocturnal adventures all on their own.
Support us on Patreon!
Oxytocin For Socializing
It appears that oxytocin increases levels of an endocannabinoid called anandamide in a part of the reward circuit called the nucleus accumbens. So does socializing. As a result, researchers think a drug could make people better at socializing.
Insulin For Reward
It has been confirmed that insulin stimulates dopamine-releasing neurons in the brain. In fact, the more insulin is in the brain, the more dopamine is released. So, seeking out food that contains glucose will release more dopamine, like a drug. The study authors suggest that this might explain why individuals with Type-2 diabetes continue to express unhealthy eating habits even though it would behoove them to consume less sugar.
New World Pompeii
The Mayan people experienced a volcanic eruption on the scale of Pompeii, and archaeologists are slowly unearthing a small city to discover more of their secrets.
New dating of mass extinction
A layer of ash has given geologists new information about the timing of the largest mass extinction to occur on Earth.
Viral Skin
A recent study confirmed that we are covered in viruses — most of which had never before been identified. Thankfully, the majority of these virii were bacteria-infecting pages.
How to be an astronaut
You need to apply, but you may or may not be able to go anywhere.
Sex changing tree:
An ancient tree in Great Britian thousands of years old is suddenly sprouting berries, after spending all of its recorded life as a male.
Redaction:
The study reported earlier this year where chimps learned each others’ term for “apple” was overstated and flawed. Whoops!
Poop For Power
We could use people poop to power homes around the developing world.
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, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in alternative energy, amphibians, animals, anthropology, archeology, astronauts, biology, birds, cell biology, chemistry, cognitive psychology, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, end of the world, endangered animals, energy, engineering, evolution, exploration, geology, global warming, ISS, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, NASA, neuroscience, paleontology, particle physics, pharmacology, physics, physiology, podcast, psychology, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, spacecraft, technology, therapies, z-Broadcasts | 4 Comments »
October 29th, 2015
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Scariest Meat, Venomous Bandages, Blackest Black, Mummies In Europe!!!, Zombies!!!!, Furry Wolfmice, Shriek For Danger, Anty-Oobleck, Spider Glue, Drunk Comet, Tracking You, The Black Death, Zeno Confirmed, And Much More…
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Thrice the toxo cat hath mew’d.
As Blair brought invertebrate sex news
Kiki cries:—’twis time! ’twis time!
So round up the minions… go;
And In the science stories throw.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Let the science cauldron bubble.
Scale of Dino, Neander tooth
Evolution finds its proof
Idea of Newton, brain of bird,
Of what dark matter, have you heard
Double, double toil and trouble;
Let the science cauldron bubble.
Vision of Bat, Martian fog,
Growing livers in a hog
Giraffe necks up for debate
Global Warming it’s not too late
Double, double toil and trouble;
Let the science cauldron bubble.
And while the haunting hollowed eve grows near
The minions favorite hour is here
As lively as a witches hex
It’s This Week in Science
Coming up next…
Scariest Meat
The WHO decreed processed meat is cancerous. It is, just not as bad as smoking.
Venomous Bandages
Researchers at Rice University combined two things, snake venom and hydrogel nanofibers, in a unique way to create a topical gel that could be used to aid in blood clotting.
Blackest Black
Scientists at a Saudi Arabian university have created a nano-structured material that absorbs 98-99% of light within the 400-1400nm wavelength range, irrepective of angle or polarization, which makes it the blackest blackbody material to date.
Mummies in Europe!!!
European mummification was likely a pretty common thing.
Zombies!!!!
Zombie plants are real.
How the wolfman got his fur back…
Researchers discovered how to grow hair everywhere and anywhere on a rat.
A shriek for help could set you free
Sending out a distress call allows the victim to get away, by attracting other predators to fight it out for the prey!
Who would like an ant milkshake?
A new study shows ants act as both liquid and solid when subjected to environmental pressures.
Spider silk and eye of newt
That could be the ingredients list in your new household glue! Well… not the eye of newt…
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The black death
We gave it to the rats.
Tracking You
Using wireless radio transmissions commonly used in homes today, researchers at MIT have succeeded in tracking people and identifying individuals through walls.
Drunk comet…
Comet Shoemaker-Levy seems to be having a party… at least, it’s giving out lots of alcohol.
Zeno Confirmed
There is no quantum motion, or tunnelling, by atoms in a super-cooled arrangement when they are observed.
Sing to your baby!!
Singing keeps a baby calm longer than speaking to it, so swallow your pride and croon away!
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Tags: Blair Bazdarich, Dr. Kiki, Justin Jackson, Kirsten Sanford, new media, news, Patreon, podcast, radio, science, science news, science podcast, science radio, talk, technology, This Week in Science, TWIS
Posted in alternative energy, animals, anthropology, archeology, arthropods, astrobiology, astronomy, biology, biotechnology, botany, cancer, cell biology, chemistry, ecology, emergent behavior, energy, engineering, fish, genetics, insects, KDVS, mammals, marine biology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, nanotechnology, NASA, nutrition, paleontology, pharmacology, physics, physiology, podcast, psychology, quantum physics, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexy scientists, solar power, space, technology, theoretical physics, therapies, z-Broadcasts | 2 Comments »
October 22nd, 2015
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Interview w/ Dr. Matthew Francis on the question: What Is Life?, Ovulating Dino Examined, Twitterpated Marmosets, Sunscreen Kills… Corals, Distraction Control, Bacterial Communication, Into Africa, Tooth Regen, And Much More…
Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer…
This Week in Science… coming up next!
Life on Earth started early
An analysis of ancient zircons found carbon particles likely produced via photosynthesis, which suggests that life bagan almost immediately on our planet.
Earth came early to party
A theoretical investigation posits that many earth-like planets have not yet formed.
Dr. Matthew Francis
is a physicist, science writer, and Director of CosmoAcademy. He is also knwon to wear jaunty hats. He recently wrote an article for Mosaic about life itself in which he investigated the study of life, how exactly we define it, and how that influences our ability to recognize it.
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Ovulating dino examined
Using chemical signatures in egg shells as a proxy for body temperature, paleontologists were able to determine that some dinosaurs were more endothermic than others.
Twitterpated marmosets bring extra allure
Monkeys given a boost of oxytocin received more attention form their mate, without asking for it. How do they know??
Sunscreen: the silent coral killer
A common chemical found in sunscreen has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor, DNA damager, and overall bad influence on corals. Next time, wear a hat instead of slopping on that spf!
Distraction Control
New research highlights how the thalamus might act as your attentional spotlight to inhibit distracting sensory information, and help you focus.
Bacteria Talk Like Neurons
A study showed that bacteria in biofilms use membrane ion channels to cause oscillations in electrochemical membrane potential that could spread between bacteria as a form of communication.
Into Africa theory…
It looks as though human ancestors not only left Africa, but also returned to it. Genetic evidence suggests that there was a lot of Eurasian mixing with African populations.
Stop brushing your teeth – soon you’ll be able to just grow more
Cichlid research has helped us see how the line between taste buds and teeth is more blurred than we previously thought. This could lead to research that could allow humans to grow new sets of teeth when dental problems loom.
Diet And MS
The fats you eat might influence your risk for disease and its progression.
Pregnancy No No’s
In addition to alcohol, put marijuana on your list of things to avoid while pregnant.
Rewarding memories
How my high school history teacher was ahead of her time.
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Posted in animals, anthropology, archeology, astrobiology, astronomy, astronomy, astrophysics, biology, biotechnology, cell biology, chemistry, cognitive science, conservationism, ecology, emergent behavior, endangered animals, engineering, evolution, exploration, extrasolar planets, fish, galaxies, genetics, geology, KDVS, mammals, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, nutrition, paleontology, physicists, physics, physiology, planets, podcast, psychology, reptiles, robots, science, science and politics, Science Education, science history, Science Music, sexuality, sexy scientists, space, space exploration, stars, technology, theoretical physics, z-Broadcasts | No Comments »
