Ask A Biologist

Ask A Biologist

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The Ask A Biologist program originates from the ASU School of Life Sciences. The host of the show is Dr. Biology (a. k. a. CJ Kazilek). Each episode revolves around an interview with a scientist(s) and their work in the life sciences. Students from preschool to high school and beyond will enjoy this…

Dr. Biology - School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University


    • May 6, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 106 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Ask A Biologist

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 106 – Tiny Versus Mighty - with Guest Beth Pringle.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 27:25


    Have you heard the story about the ant, the elephant, and the acacia tree? No, it is not a children’s book story. Instead, it is a story about a battle for a tree between a tiny ant and one big elephant. It is also an interesting tale about how plants and animals can have a relationship that benefits both. Dr. Biology takes to Zoom to talk with biologist Beth Pringle. The two talk about this epic battle of tiny versus mighty along with some interesting twists and other characters.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 105 – What Makes You, You? - with Guest Irene Gallego Romero

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 33:38


    Nature versus nurture is topic you might have learned about in school. But what does it mean for us? In short it is what makes you the person you are today. However, this is not a simple topic where we have all the answers. Dr. Biology has the opportunity to talk about this amazing story with human evolutionary geneticist Irene Gallego Romero. Listen in as they start us off on the complex topic of what makes us who we are.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 104 – Living in Extreme Worlds - with Guest Mallika Sarma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 31:06


    The idea of humans traveling to the moon and Mars to live has captured our imagination. But beyond the idea of going where no one has gone before, these places are hostile and extreme environments for the human body. Planning for long space travel and life on other worlds will require more than solving some challenging engineering problems. It will require humans to think more about how we can survive in these conditions. Dr. Biology spends some time with Mallika Sarma an anthropologist who is exploring how humans cope in extreme environments and gives us an idea of what it will take for us to make other worlds our home.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 103 – Biology Explained by Cats - with Guest Fiona Naughton.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 27:42


    Beyond viral cat videos and the millions of cute pictures of our feline friends found on various social media channels, these four-legged animals might help us to better understand science. At least my guest thinks they can give us some insights into the world of bile acids, digestion, cholesterol, and drug therapies. Dr. Biology learns how Fiona Naughton's artistic side has introduced some fun and instructive insights using cute cat illustrations.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 102 –The Tasty Side of Science - with Guest Christy Spackman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2020 30:32


    Dr. Biology takes a bite into the world of food science with scientist Christy Spackman. The two venture into the realms of taste, smell, and texture. There is talk of burgers, some of them impossible. The two also talk about how we have been working towards what Christy calls “making nothing”, which by itself is really something.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 101 – The Dark Side of the Earth - with Bruce Strickrott

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2020 31:10


    Dr. Biology is out of the studio again and this time with his shoes off and inside the tiny, but powerful submarine named Alvin. He’s there to talk about what it is like to explore the deep ocean with Bruce Strickrott, the chief pilot of Alvin. Listen in as we explore the living world, including the one that remains mostly unknown and ready for the next generation of scientists to take their shoes off and dive into dark side of the Earth.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 100 – Superoxide, a Superhero or Supervillain? - with Guest Colleen Hansel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2019 26:58


    Diving deep into the ocean is likely the most extreme place someone can set out to collect data, but sometimes that is what scientists need to do. In this show, Dr. Biology finds himself on board the research ship Atlantis in the floating laboratory of Colleen Hansel who is teaming up with the deep sea submarine called Alvin to track down and capture an elusive molecule that might help us understand how corals are, or are not adjusting to the rising ocean temperature

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 099 – High Flying Science - with Guest Greg Asner

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2019 30:28


    For hundreds of years scientist have explored life on Earth with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Doing research was either in the laboratory, or out in the field. But in recent years exploring our planet has taken to the air. Dr. Biology gets to spend some time with ecologist Greg Asner to learn about his flying laboratory that is giving us a new view of our planet and new insights into many of our biomes.

    earth biology greg asner
    Ask-a-Biologist vol 098 – Why We Get Sick - with Guest Randy Nesse.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2019 30:21


    What can evolution to teach us about getting sick and how do we make use of what we are learning? Dr. Biology gets over a cold while visiting with Randy Nesse, psychiatrist and Founding Director of the ASU Center for Evolution & Medicine. The two talk about why we get sick and some of the amazing things our body can do to repair itself. All of this is part of the study and practice of evolutionary medicine.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 097 – Virus Quest - with Guest Arvind Varsani.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2019 28:32


    One of the benefits of being a biologist can be travel. There are some researchers who travel the globe as part of their work. Virologist Arvind Varsani is a molecular virologist who studies viruses found around the world. Dr. Biology was able to catch Arvind between trips to talk about his work, including his research in the Antarctic and some penguins that were missing feathers.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 096 – Microbes Living Inside Us - with Guest Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2019 30:17


    How many times do you get to say poop on a podcast and have it be scientific? Dr. Biology visits bioengineer Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown and the two talk about good microbes that live inside and outside of our bodies. Many of them live in our gut and that gives you hint why we are talking about poop.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 095 – History, Rabbits and a Deadly Virus - with Guest Grant McFadden.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2019 29:56


    This is the story of wild rabbits, humans, and a virus that might lead to a treatment for cancer. Twice humans moved wild rabbits from Europe to other parts of the world with dramatic consequences. It is also a lesson about learning from history and how a virus that is deadly to some rabbits could become a new cancer fighting tool for humans. In this episode, Dr. Biology has the opportunity to learn about the myxoma virus, its history, and the work of virologist Grant McFadden.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 094 – Who Do You Trust?- with Guest Joe Palca

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2018 30:58


    The evening news, your local paper, online websites, blogs, twitter, Facebook, and yes podcasts all are communicating the latest science news. In this mix of messages are often conflicting stories about what is good and bad for you. It seems that every day there is a cure for cancer or some other disease. With all this messaging, who do you trust? Dr. Biology has a chance to talk with longtime science correspondent, Joe Palca, about who we should trust and science communication.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 093 – Are Your Cells Cooperating or Cheating?- with Guest Biologist Athena Aktipis.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2018 29:41


    Our bodies are made up of 30 trillion cells – give or take a few cells. These cells like humans and some other animals need to cooperate to survive. There are also cells that like some humans are cheaters. They do not do their share of the work and cause a lot of other problems. These are cancer cells. Dr. Biology sits down with biologist Athena Aktipis to talk about her work in cooperation and cellular cheaters.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 092 – Life 3.0 - with Guest Scientist Max Tegmark.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2018 27:25


    Life in the year 2050, what will it look like? Will it be the age of intelligent computers? Physicist and author Max Tegmark talks about the future of artificial intelligence and how it might impact biological life on this planet. Dr. Biology learns about the future of smart computers. Will they become too smart for humankind? What precautions should we put in place to secure our place on earth and our future?

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 091 – Hacking Nature - with Guest Scientist Klaus Lackner

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2016 34:50


    Hacking is a word that is often tied to something bad. However, there are times when hacking can be for something good. Think of it as a tool that can be put to use for good or bad. We also think of hacking as something only done with computers, but can we hack other things? Dr. Biology has the opportunity to sit down with scientist Klaus Lackner to talk about how he is hacking the environment in order to pull carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air. If he succeeds, it could help reduce CO2 in atmosphere and redirect it towards better uses.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 090 – Drawn to Bones - with Guest Forensic Artist and Author Catyana Falsetti.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2016 30:14


    Television portrays the lives and work of forensic artists, but what is it like to really be a forensic artist? Are the tools you see on the big and little screen really used by the people who recreate the face of someone when there might only be a skull or parts of a scull to use as a starting point? Dr. Biology visits with forensic artist and author Catyana Falsetti to learn the answer to these questions and a lot more.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 089 – Why Is Life the Way It Is? - with Guest Biochemist and Author Nick Lane

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2016 31:06


    What would life be like on other planets? Life on Earth is tied to carbon and water, but would this be the same for life forms that evolved on other worlds? These are just a few of the questions that Biochemist and author Nick Lane talks about while visiting with Dr. Biology. Listen in as Nick explores not only life on our Earth, but also what it might be like on other planets. Nick also reads from his book, The Vital Question, and weighs in on the question of viruses - are they living or non-living?

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 088 – Monster DNA - with Guest Computational Biologist Melissa Wilson Sayres

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2016 31:27


    In the tiny world of DNA, we might call genomes monsters. These huge sets of information include all the codes for all the genes present in an organism. From genomes, we can learn about the traits, diseases, and evolution of a species, and that’s just a start. What might such a monster set of data do for us if it was about our very own North American monster – the Gila monster? Computational biologist Melissa Wilson Sayres tells Dr. Biology about the Gila monster, the life-saving venom in its saliva, and what we might learn from the monster genome.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 087 – Ocean Winds and Climate - with Guest Geoscientist/Oceanographer Joellen Russell.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2016 30:32


    Did you know the westerly winds in the Southern Ocean have been helping to keep our planet livable? Yes, they have been responsible for soaking up half of the human-made carbon dioxide (CO2) along with a whole lot of excess heat. Dr. Biology has the opportunity to talk with geoscientist Joellen Russel about the research she and a group of scientists have been doing in the southern hemisphere that tells us how important these winds and ocean are for regulating the temperature of the planet.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 086 – Skeleton Secrets - with Guest Forensic Anthropologist Tony Falsetti.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2016 26:55


    Dead men tell no tales, but their bones can. It just takes a particular kind of scientist to read the clues that tell the story. Dr. Biology sits down with guest Tony Falsetti a forensic anthropologist who knows his way around a skeleton. They talk about the role of forensic anthropology and some of the historical mysteries Tony has helped to solve.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 085 – Insect Infatuation - with Guest Conservation Specialist Gail Morris

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2016 29:42


    These fluttering icons of North America are a favorite of many people across the world, but they may be having some population problems. Don’t worry though, there are ways you can help. Conservation specialist Gail Morris talks with our student guest host Kayna Lantz about these colorful insects, their identification, migration, and the many groups that are working to better understand them.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 084 – One Wormy World - with Guest Evolutionary Ecologist Andrea Graham

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2015 29:04


    Around 4,000 years ago, on the wind-swept island of St. Kilda, Scotland, people started creating a food storage of sorts. They moved a population of sheep to the island, likely as a back-up food resource for when times were tough. Little did they know that their actions would affect 21st century science. Today, rather than ending up as a meal, sheep from this isolated population are the subjects of research on immune function. Evolutionary Ecologist Andrea Graham takes Dr. Biology on a trip of exploration through the dangerous cliffs, windy conditions, and wormy world that the Soay sheep deal with on St. Kilda.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 083 – Cybertaxonomy - with Guest Kelly Miller

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2015 31:12


    The race is on. It is one where scientists and citizen scientists are working as quickly as possible to find and identify all the species on Earth before some go extinct. It might not seem like an important race, but we learn from entomologist Kelly Miller, that not knowing what species we are losing might be more important than we think.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 082 – Time Traveling Paleoentomologist- with Guest Bruce Archibald

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2015 31:52


    If you could travel back in time what would you find 50 million years ago? What was the climate like and what plants and animals were crawling, walking, and flying around? Paleoentomologist Bruce Archibald takes Dr. Biology back in time to explore the planet during the Eocene Epoch where things were a bit different than today – including things like giant flying ants.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 081 – Inner Space the Final Frontier- with Guests Angela Goodacre and Doug Chandler

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2015 31:41


    You hear that space is the final frontier, but could we have another frontier right here on Earth? The microscopic world offers a limitless opportunity to explore amazing places and life forms. You just need the right tool for the trip – a microscope.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 080 – Rebooting the Immune System- with Guest Paul Turke

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2015 31:30


    Remember your last paper cut, or the bad cold that had you coughing and blowing your nose? It was your immune system that was busy battling the bacteria or virus that was attacking your body so you could get well. How your immune system works is the discussion Dr. Biology has with pediatrician Paul Turke. They also about how our immune system has to reboot to keep up with evolving bacteria and viruses.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 079 – Swarm Science- with Guest Arianne Cease

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2015 30:37


    During a plague year, locusts can swarm over 20 percent of the world’s landmass, affecting one out of every 10 people on the planet. Sounds bad – right? Enter biologist Arianne Cease who has been studying why these insects swarm and how to control them.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 078 – The Queen Switcharoo- with Guest Raghavendra Gadagkar

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2015 31:25


    According to an old German proverb the animal that is the subject of this show was made by the devil. Dr. Biology gets a lesson about this devilish study subject from biologist Raghavendra Gadagkar. They talk about what he has learned from years of observing these misunderstood animals. There is even a surprise ending that we call the 'Queen Switcharoo'.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 077 – Science Powered Games - with Guest David McConville

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2015 31:34


    What is a media artist doing developing games based on large science data sets? It turns out he is looking into how the planet ticks and also what David McConville calls global weirding. Listen as Dr. Biology learns how a media artist makes his home in the world of science, biology, and and mountains of scientific data, which we call big data.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 076 – Tobacco Plants to the Rescue - with Guest Charlie Arntzen

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2015 29:32


    If you are a tobacco plant, you have a bad reputation. The link to cancer and other health related diseases is cause for any person to avoid you. But there is another side to this plant. Dr. Biology sits down with biologist Charlie Arntzen to talk about how tobacco plants are helping scientists produce treatments for viruses like Ebola.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 075 – Termites – Earth’s Green Machines - with Guest Barbara Thorn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2015 29:22


    "Your home has termites" – is not something anyone wants to hear. But these insects are really important for our survival. Dr. Biology learns about these insects from entomologist, Barbara Thorn. It turns out that these critters are like tiny 'green machines' and one of the best recyclers for the planet.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 074 - Topic: The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum with Guest Richard Fortey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2015 24:06


    Natural history museums may not come to life as they do in a Hollywood movie, but they do have some amazing stories. They also have all kinds of cool stuff that many of us never get to see. Paleontologist Richard Fortey talks about the life and some of the treasures hidden behind locked doors at natural history museums that are also part of his book Dry Store Room No.1.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 073 - Topic: Putting the Touch into Biology with Guest Ashleigh Gonzales

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2015 30:27


    If you think of the instruments used to study and explore the world of biology it is clear that most are visual. So what if you cannot see? How would you understand the structure of – say a cell? Dr. Biology discusses a new tool for learning about biology with newly graduated student and biologist Ashleigh Gonzales.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 072 - Topic: Space Physiology with Guest Scott Parazynski

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2015 32:01


    Extreme environments can be found on Earth, in space, and in the depths of the ocean. Dr. Biology and physiologist, astronaut, and mountain climber Scott Parazynski sit down and talk about what life is like to explore these environments. So hold on to your seat as we blast off for a fun trip. Did we mention the Vomit Comet?

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 071 - Topic: Zombie Ants with Guest David Hughes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2015 26:14


    So you think zombies are only on television and in the movies, think again. Dr. Biology learns the details of a nasty fungus and something called the "death grip" from biologist David Hughes. It turns out there are real live, well maybe not live, zombies. The good news is this fungus attacks ants and not humans.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 070 - Topic: Darwin's finches with Guests Peter and Rosemary Grant

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2015 31:26


    with biology? You get an adventure that has filled many lifetimes (bird lifetimes). Dr. Biology had the opportunity to sit down with Peter and Rosemary Grant to talk about the more than 30 years they spent studying what have come to be called Darwin’s finches.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 069 - Topic: Food for Thought About GMOs with Guest Kevin Folta

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2015 28:07


    What is a genetically modified organism (GMO)? How do you make something that is a GMO? Are they safe? These are just a few of the things Dr. Biology discusses with biologist Kevin Folta. The two also talk about how and where you can find information about science that you can trust to be the most accurate.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 068 - Topic: Cute Colorful Poison Dart Frogs and their Mimics with Guest Molly Cummings

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2015 28:42


    They might be colorful. They might be cute to some people. But don’t let that fool you. These bright colored frogs are poisonous. Dr. Biology talks with biologist Molly Cummings to learn about her work with some frogs that advertise to predators to stay away and other frogs that take advantage of this signal by copying the colors of their poisonous cousins.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 067 - Topic: Looking into Lucy - Guest Don Johanson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2015 26:59


    Looking into the past can be strange and exciting. To understand a past that goes back millions of years, we often depend on the stories told by fossils. Dr. Biology talks with anthropologist Donald Johanson about Lucy, a fossil of human ancestors that has taught us some interesting things about the human-like species that existed before us.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 066 - Topic: A Hiking Adventure with Guests Liz Smith and Justin Olson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2013 35:25


    Not everyone has been on a hike and very few have hiked with a park ranger. Dr. Biology hikes South Mountain Park with not one but two park rangers. Park Rangers Liz Smith and Justin Olson are our guides for the 2.5 mile trip up Holbert Trail. This episode provides hiking tips and a preview of what treasures await those who hike this park.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 065 - Topic: Ant Life Part 2 - Guest: Jennifer Fewell - Cohost: Jane Rector

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2012 26:28


    Wait - there's more! Dr. Biology and co-host Jane Rector continue their visit with Jennifer Fewell, a biologist who is exploring the world of social insects including ants. There is even some talk of how professional basketball teams could learn a thing or two from these six-legged insects. Not that we are saying there are tiny basketball games taking place inside ant colonies.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 064 - Topic: Ant Life Part 1 - Guest: Jennifer Fewell - Cohost: Jane Rector

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2012 28:26


    As scientists study the amazing social network of ants they are discovering we could learn a lot from these tiny animals. Dr. Biology and co-host Jane Rector visit with Jennifer Fewell, a biologist who is exploring the world of social insects including ants. They learn a lot about this female dominated world and just what leafcutter ants are doing with all those leaves.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 063 - Topic: Young Women In Science Part 2 - Guest: Susan Holechek

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2012 15:13


    Young scientists, Farah Eltohamy, Amanda Benedetto and Sarah Sakha, three of the top winners at the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair talk about their work and interview ASU biologist Susan Holechek. Pauline Davies hosts the show as Dr. Biology is exploring the Panama rainforest to bring back fun and exciting stories.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 062 - Topic: Young Women In Science Part 1 - Guest: Kiona Ogle

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2012 11:51


    Young scientists, CG Schultz and Jessica Mathews, two of the top winners at the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair talk about their work and interview ASU ecologist Kiona Ogle. Pauline Davies hosts the show as Dr. Biology is exploring the Panama rainforest to bring back fun and exciting stories.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 061 - Topic: Biology Business - Guest: Bruce Hammock

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2011 26:52


    Have you ever thought of biology as career path to running a multi-million-dollar project? Biologist Bruce Hammock talks about life as a biologist, being a businessman and mountain climbing. Listen in as Dr. Biology learns how biology, being a businessman and mountain climbing all fit together?

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 060 - Topic: Strange Cricket Silence - Guest: Marlene Zuk

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2011 23:51


    Love them or hate them, something is going on with male crickets on the island of Kauai. Once evenings filled with a chorus of these tiny singers has become strangely silent. Dr. Biology talks with biologist Marlene Zuk about how things are changing fast – maybe the fastest observed evolutionary change in an animal in the wild.

    love biology kauai marlene zuk
    Ask-a-Biologist vol 059 - Topic: Been There Dung That - Guest: Mary Liz Jameson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2011 28:55


    Are there really flesh-eatting scarab beetles or is it a movie myth? Just what are dung beetles doing with all the poop they gather in big balls? These are a few of the questions that biologist Mary Liz Jameson answers on this fun-filled podcast. Did we mention the show includes insect recipes fit for humans. Try one on you next pot-luck or dinner.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 058 - Topic: Dear Aliens - Guest: Lucy Hawking

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2011 29:53


    If aliens were to contact us, what would you say? How would you say it? These are just a few of the questions that Dr. Biology talks about with guest Lucy Hawking. The two have fun with these ideas and more as part of the Dear Aliens essay contest. This episode includes a fun reading by Lucy Hawking from "George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt."

    biology lucy hawking
    Ask-a-Biologist vol 057 - Topic: Micronauts and Beyond - Guest: Page Baluch

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2010 20:37


    Three inquisitive young co-hosts, Stephanie Galindo, Anthony Delgado and Raenesha Willis visit with biologist and microscopist Page Baluch. Together with Dr. Biology they explore the tiny world of inner space and learn that there is more to a flower than can be seen with only the eye.

    Ask-a-Biologist vol 056 - Topic: Skin - Guest: Nina Jablonski

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2010 30:44


    Dr. Biology gets the skinny on our largest organ - our skin. Professor and author Nina Jablonski talks about the important ways our skin works for us each day. Learn some fun facts like - did you know you are not wearing the same skin from last year?

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