Science Society

The three-dimensional folding of genes within the nuclear space is integral to understanding gene function and regulation, moving beyond the linear DNA sequence. Dr. Neguembor presents immuno-OligoSTORM, a revolutionary imaging strategy that super-resolves the distribution of nucleosomes within specific genes by simultaneously visualizing DNA and histones. In this episode, we dive into the technol...

Title: "Exploring Tumour Neo-Innervation and Anti-Tumour Immunity with Dr. Talbot" Description: The innervation of solid tumors by pain-initiating sensory neurons or nociceptors and its implications on cancer immunosurveillance is a subject of immense interest. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Talbot, who discusses how melanoma cells interact with nociceptors, leading to their increased neurit...

The long childhood characteristic of our species is hypothesized to have evolved for learning complex foraging skills. This episode features Dr. Ilaria Pretelli, who investigates the connection between the development of foraging proficiency and the complexity of the foraging niche. Using published records of child and adolescent foragers from 28 different societies, Dr. Pretelli explores how skil...

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the realm of integrating neurons into digital systems with Dr. Kagan. Dr. Kagan presents his innovative development, DishBrain, which uses in vitro neural networks from human or rodent origins, integrated with in silico computing through a high-density multielectrode array. This fusion of biology and technology represents a significant leap towards creat...

In this compelling episode, Dr. Weijian Yang introduces us to a breakthrough in computational imaging: a compact and learnable lensless 3D camera capable of real-time photorealistic imaging. This technological innovation holds great promise in revolutionizing how we capture and interpret our world. The device, developed by Dr. Yang and his team, replaces traditional bulky optics with customized th...

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Ceren Kabukcu takes us back to the Paleolithic era as she shares her groundbreaking research on hunter-gatherer diets. While the predominant narrative has focused on the consumption of animals, Dr. Kabukcu sheds light on the significant role plants, particularly those with bitter and astringent tastes, played in ancient cuisine. Her team conducted an in-depth anal...

In this enlightening episode, we travel back in time to unravel the mysteries of ancient Greek astronomy with Dr. Victor Gysembergh, a leading expert on the subject. The focus of our conversation is the recently discovered evidence for Hipparchus’ lost Star Catalogue, a breakthrough made possible through advanced multispectral imaging and meticulous interpretation of a palimpsest manuscript. Dr. G...

This episode delves into the fascinating world of host-associated microbiotas with renowned scientist Dr. Eisen. His groundbreaking research uncovers how microbiotas guide the trajectory of developmental programs and influence social behavior. Dr. Eisen's team discovered that the zebrafish microbiota is required for normal social behavior, revealing a molecular pathway that connects the microbiota...

In this fascinating episode, we dive into the world of insects with Dr. Emonet, an expert in sensory processing and behavior. We explore how insects like Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as the fruit fly, utilize odor plumes to navigate complex and rapidly changing environments in their quest for food and mates. Odour plumes, Dr. Emonet explains, are volatile, multidimensional signals carri...

In this fascinating episode, we're joined by Dr. Mizuno, an expert in microbiology and biodiversity, who shares his recent discovery of a unique multicellular bacterium. Dr. Mizuno and his team identified a bacterium, HS-3, from an underground stream, demonstrating an entirely new type of prokaryotic multicellularity. The bacterium self-organizes its filamentous cells into layer-structured colonie...

In this episode, we are thrilled to have Dr. Xie, a notable figure in the intersection of computational biology and personalized medicine. His groundbreaking work focuses on developing innovative machine-learning models to predict patient-specific responses to new compounds, a key aspect of personalized drug discovery and development. The main hurdle in this field is the scarcity of patient data,...

In this riveting episode, we host Dr. Qiu, a distinguished researcher whose work focuses on understanding the unique developmental differentiation within ant colonies. Ant colonies, much like higher-level organisms, consist of specialized reproductive and non-reproductive individuals, a phenomenon Dr. Qiu compares to germ-soma segregation in bilateral Metazoa. Dr. Qiu and his team have assembled m...

We are excited to welcome Dr. Ando, an expert in phylogenetic reconstruction and evolutionary biology, in this episode. Dr. Ando's intriguing work centers on Ribonucleotide Reductases (RNRs) - essential enzymes used by all free-living organisms and many viruses in the biosynthesis of DNA precursors. RNRs exhibit tremendous diversity in terms of primary sequence and cofactor requirements while reta...

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Cohen, a pioneer in the fascinating world of microscopic robots. Dr. Cohen's work aims to revolutionize fields such as medicine and environmental remediation by developing autonomous robots on a microscopic scale. These tiny systems, guided by onboard complementary metal oxide semiconductor electronics, have the potential to significantly impact a broad range of ind...

In this episode, we are joined by the renowned scientist Dr. Jack Feldman, whose work on the complex neural control system of breathing has been groundbreaking. Breathing, though seemingly simple, is a rhythmically regulated behavior vital for life and has profound influences on our brain and body. Dr. Feldman delves into the intricacies of the breathing central pattern generator (bCPG), a complex...

In this episode, we're delighted to welcome Abbigail Elms, who has been studying some of the coolest white dwarf stars known to date. Abbigail shares insights into two fascinating celestial bodies, WD J2147−4035 and WD J1922+0233, which are ultra-cool, metal-polluted (DZ) white dwarfs with surprisingly low temperatures. We discuss the intriguing features of these stars, including their unusually b...

In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of animal memory and decision-making with our esteemed guest, Dr. Clint Sergi. He sheds light on his fascinating research involving the memory capacity of the West black widow spider. Through an innovative experiment, Dr. Sergi and his team triggered search behaviors in these spiders by removing their prey from different areas of their webs, effec...

This episode takes us on a journey into the vast world of Earth's microbial life with our distinguished guest, Dr. Averill. Microbes, particularly soil fungi, play an instrumental role in driving essential processes across diverse ecosystems - from our own bodies to vast forests. However, the biodiversity of these microscopic powerhouses is increasingly under threat. Dr. Averill's groundbreaking w...

Join us in this fascinating episode with Dr. Hawn as we delve into the realm of psychopathology, biological aging, and mortality. Psychopathology is often linked to faster biological aging and premature death. Dr. Hawn and her team's pioneering research have sought to better understand these relationships. They have examined associations between broad dimensions of psychopathology, post-traumatic...

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Dr. Longo to explore the intriguing role of fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) cycles in reducing Alzheimer's Disease (AD) symptoms and cognitive decline. The FMD cycles have demonstrated considerable potential in decreasing various aging and disease risk factors. As discussed by Dr. Longo, recent studies reveal that these diet cycles can reduce cognitive d...

Join us in this episode as we engage with Dr. Budson in discussing the evolution and complex roles of consciousness and memory. There is often a mix-up between why consciousness developed and the additional roles it has adopted over continued evolution. Dr. Budson proposes that consciousness originally evolved as part of the episodic memory system, likely to enable the flexible combination and rea...

In this insightful episode, we delve into the complex realm of epigenetics with Dr. Kaneshiro, exploring how parental epigenomes can significantly influence offspring development and health. Utilizing the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans, Dr. Kaneshiro elaborates on the role of sperm-inherited histone marking in shaping offspring gene expression. Remarkably, the absence of the repressive mar...

Dr. Sudimac joins us in this episode to unravel the intriguing relationship between urban living, natural environments, and mental health. As city living is often associated with an increased risk for mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, understanding how exposure to different environments influences mental health is crucial. Dr. Sudimac presents an intervention study e...

In this captivating episode, Dr. Tarduno delves into the mysteries of Earth's inner core, its structure, and how it began to crystallize. Through the lens of paleomagnetism, we explore the evolution of Earth's magnetic field, deciphering changes in its strength and understanding how these shifts provide clues about the core's history. Dr. Tarduno presents intriguing findings from single crystal pa...

Delve into the intriguing world of prebiotic chemistry with Dr. Krishnamurthy as we explore the origins of α-amino acids and the evolutionary shift from the Strecker reaction to modern biological pathways. We discuss how α-ketoacids, through the Bucherer–Bergs pathway, react with cyanide and ammonia to form corresponding α-amino acids, highlighting the prebiotic transformation of oxaloacetate to a...