Science Society

In this compelling episode, we are joined by Dr. Muotri, a leading researcher investigating the intriguing dynamics of cortical organoid development. One of the mysteries of early brain maturation is whether functional network activity follows a fixed developmental program governed by genetics, similar to structural and transcriptional changes. Dr. Muotri's research harnesses human cortical organo...

Dr. Garin joins us in this episode to explore the intriguing world of the default mode network (DMN) and its relation to cognitive functions in primates. Resting-state fMRI studies reveal distinct differences in the DMN structure across humans and non-hominoid primates like macaques, marmosets, and mouse lemurs. Dr. Garin's research presents compelling evidence that the medial prefrontal cortex (m...

In this intriguing episode, we are privileged to host Dr. Chatterjee, a renowned expert studying the mechanisms of memory loss in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Despite extensive research, the underlying causes of memory loss associated with ADRD remain unclear, and effective treatments are currently non-existent. Dr. Chatterjee's groundbreaking work focuses on the nuclear recep...

We have a summary of speaker events and science news updates! Join us!!

The survival of honey bee colonies worldwide is threatened by the ectoparasite Varroa destructor. In this riveting episode, we host Dr. Thomas A. O’Shea-Wheller, who has dedicated his research to uncovering solutions to this pressing issue. O'Shea-Wheller presents an in-depth study of a Varroa-resistant honey bee stock, known as 'Pol-line', and its potential in tackling this parasite threat. The s...

In this captivating episode, we host Dr. McGuire, whose groundbreaking work in radio astronomy offers new insights into the presence and identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in space. PAHs are abundant in many astronomical objects as shown by mid-infrared spectroscopy, but the challenge of determining specific PAH molecules has been a longstanding issue in the field. Dr. McGui...

In this episode, we are thrilled to have Dr. Morrisey join us as he sheds light on his groundbreaking research into the human lung's unique structure and its implications on diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The human lung's architecture is markedly different from that of mice, particularly in its distal airway configuration and its interplay with the alveolar gas-exchang...

In this episode, we are delighted to host the renowned scientist Dr. James Tour, whose recent research offers a groundbreaking solution to two of the most urgent environmental problems we face today – plastic waste and escalating atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. Dr. Tour's team has demonstrated that the thermal treatment of plastic waste in the presence of potassium acetate can produce an...

In this illuminating episode, we welcome distinguished scientist Dr. O'Neill to discuss their critical research on repetitive elements in the human genome, their influence on our genetic variation and health, and the technological advancements facilitating this research. Repetitive elements like transposable elements (TEs), repeat expansions, and repeat-mediated structural rearrangements significa...

Join us for this summary episode, where we dive into the highlights from our recent guest speaker series. Each week, we hosted exceptional thought leaders and researchers from diverse fields, who shared their pioneering research, intriguing discoveries, and insightful perspectives. Our lineup featured some of the greatest minds in fields spanning from neuroscience and genomics to environmental sci...

In this enlightening episode, we welcome Dr. Cheng, a leading researcher in the field of machine learning (ML). We explore the innovative approach of ML in representing molecular-orbital-based (MOB) features for predicting post-Hartree–Fock correlation energies. Though previous applications of MOB-ML using Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) have shown promise, Dr. Cheng addresses the limitations of...

In a fascinating conversation with Dr. Guo, we delve into the world of canine emotion perception and their ability to understand both human and dog emotions. Domestic dogs, unlike many other species, have uniquely evolved to recognize and interpret the emotions of not only their own species but also those of humans, their closest companions. In this episode, Dr. Guo illuminates his research by emp...

In this fascinating episode, we welcome Dr. Ulijn, a pioneering researcher in the field of peptide sequence buildup and molecular adaptation. He delves into his groundbreaking study that illuminates the behavior of living systems and their distinctive ability to distribute stress among a vast number of covalent and noncovalent interactions in mixtures of molecules. Dr. Ulijn takes us on a journey...

In this intriguing episode, we welcome Dr. Gäbelein, a scientist at the forefront of cell biology, as he introduces us to a revolutionary approach for manipulating organelle structures within single live cells. This technique, based on FluidFM, involves atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy, and nanofluidics to achieve precision in force and volume control and provides real-time examination...

In this episode, we're thrilled to host Dr. Boolani, who delves into the intriguing scientific connections between our moods and our gut microbiome. The discussion kicks off with an exploration into how traits like energy and fatigue could be unique unipolar moods with their own mental and physical components. This sets the stage for a revealing exploration of Dr. Boolani's recent study that sough...

Join us in this enlightening episode with Dr. Bolton, who explores the fascinating relationships between early-life adversity (ELA), the maturation of stress-related brain circuits, and subsequent mental health vulnerabilities. Her recent study delves into the profound ways ELA influences brain development, specifically impacting the hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons. Dr....

In this insightful episode, we're delighted to welcome Dr. Felici, an innovator pushing the boundaries of sustainable energy production through nuclear fusion. Dr. Felici introduces us to the complex world of magnetic confinement in tokamak configurations, highlighting the promise and challenges this path toward sustainable energy presents. One of the core challenges in this field is shaping and m...

Join us for this summary episode, where we dive into the highlights from our recent guest speaker series. Each week, we hosted exceptional thought leaders and researchers from diverse fields, who shared their pioneering research, intriguing discoveries, and insightful perspectives. Our lineup featured some of the greatest minds in fields spanning from neuroscience and genomics to environmental sci...

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Soshany, a researcher delving into the realm of time travel and its potential paradoxes. If time travel were possible, it would seemingly lead to perplexing paradoxes, including the famous grandfather paradox and bootstrap paradoxes where creation appears to come from nothing. Dr. Soshany introduces us to his groundbreaking mathematical model for a spacetime w...

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Dr. Singh to discuss the future of sustainable energy via an artificial photosynthetic (AP) system. Dr. Singh guides us through the fascinating concept of artificial photosynthesis, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of capturing CO2 directly from dilute sources such as flue gas and air to produce fuels and chemicals. Delving into the core of...

In this episode, we're privileged to host Dr. Finger, a leading figure in the field of pancreatic islet transplantation. We explore the intricacies of this potentially life-altering treatment for diabetes, which, while promising, faces significant hurdles related to the supply chain and quality control of donor islets. Dr. Finger takes us through the transformative potential of cryopreservation to...

In this fascinating episode, we sit down with Dr. Spontak, an expert in polymeric membranes, to discuss the latest breakthroughs in carbon dioxide capture technology. As global climate change continues to dominate scientific and public discourse, the need for effective, low-cost, and scalable carbon capture solutions has never been greater. Dr. Spontak introduces us to a groundbreaking hybrid-inte...

Join us for the weekly recap! Did you miss our guest speaker talks? Do you still have unanswered questions? During the weekly recap we will summarize the guest speaker rooms we had the previous week.

In this insightful episode, we are joined by Dr. Sarwat from IBM Research, who introduces us to the groundbreaking realm of phase-change memtransistive synapses for neuromorphic computing. This new field is inspired by the biological nervous system's ability to adapt and learn, bringing transformative potential to the world of computing. Neuromorphic computing aims to recreate the functionalities...

In this enlightening episode, we are joined by Dr. Arlehamn as we delve into the complex world of Parkinson's Disease (PD), a multi-stage neurodegenerative disorder with largely unknown causes. Recently, T cells have been identified to play a significant role in the autoimmune features associated with PD. Dr. Arlehamn takes us through his team's cutting-edge research that involves RNA sequencing o...