Living Room Logic

The world's most important climate conference to date, COP27, is on right now in Egypt. Why should I give a f**k!? You might ask. This is why: Humans have managed to increase Earth's temperature by 1.1 C since the late 1800s, and we're on a trajectory for 3 C warming by 2100, which would basically be Armageddon. But don't freak out just yet, 3 UN climate reports have come out in the last two years that give us CLEAR guidelines on what the world needs to do to stop the earth from warming past 1.5 degrees C and prevent catastrophe. In this bonus episode, Aidan (who just happens to be a climate change expert) breaks down everything we know about climate change and how to stop it using the UN 3 climate reports as a roadmap to victory.Sadly, this is Aidan's last episode as a co-host on Living Room Logic, which he explains at the end of the episode, prepare to cry. Tears aside, Aidan is moving on to greener pastures, and will keep the LRL memories close to his heart for many years to come!The patrons of this podcast keep the pod alive, and we are so grateful to them! If you 'd like to help us out, consider joining our patreon below! There's a few exclusive gifts you get as a reward as well! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of this award winning science podcast, Aidan interviews a social scientist and climate activist, Dr Clare Watson, who tells us why many people deny or ignore climate change, and how positivity and community engagement (with a little help from the government) can refresh people's mindsets towards less doom and gloom and more action and progress.This episode was supported by MaREI, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork. To find out more about MaREI visit https://www.marei.ie/.If you would to help keep the lights on, you can support us by joining our patreon, visit the link below to see the different patron options. Thank you! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of this award winning science podcast, Aidan interviews an expert in renewable energy, Dr Paul Deane, who explains why renewable energy could play a huge part globally in stabilising energy supplies, reducing costs and reducing carbon emissions massively. Paul has previously given TED talks about these issues and has won several awards for science communication, so he's definitely worth listening to, on top of his expert knowledge of his field.This episode was supported by MaREI, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork. To find out more about MaREI visit https://www.marei.ie/.If you would to help keep the lights on, you can support us by joining our patreon, visit the link below to see the different patron options. Thank you! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of this award winning science podcast, Aidan interviews an offshore wind energy expert Dr Frances Judge, to find out just how big offshore wind is getting, how to build Eiffel Tower sized structures in raging seas, and why offshore wind may be one of the worlds ways to curb rising energy costs and fight climate change.This episode was supported by MaREI, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork. To find out more about MaREI visit https://www.marei.ie/.If you would to help keep the lights on, you can support us by joining our patreon, visit the link below to see the different patron options. Thank you! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is more painful, a kick in the jewels or giving birth? Who REALLY experiences more pain: men or women? On today's show, we sit down with Dr Siobhain O' Mahony, a senior lecturer at University College Cork specializing in pain neuroscience, women's health, and the gut-brain axis. Dr. Siobhain starts the conversation by defining pain syndromes, different types of pains for both genders, and sex differences in how we perceive pain. She also expounds on the relationship between pain and estrogen level fluctuations, why high estrogen levels cause pain resistance, as well as how it's entangled with birth control methods. Finally, we explore her research on the role of gut microbiota on anti-inflammatory & anti-pain properties, brain-gut microbiota axis, and healthy dietary changes or supplements that can target pain disorders such as probiotic intake.  Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: ●     [01:09] Defining “pain syndrome/condition” ●     [02:27] Different types of pains ●     [04:29] Sex differences in how we perceive pain ●     [06:39] The science behind estrogen levels & pain ●     [11:36] Pain interaction with contraceptives ●     [13:55] Dr. Siobhain's investigative research on gut microbiota  ●     [19:59] Dietary changes to target pain disorders ●     [23:07] Sex difference pain in irritable bowel syndrome Key Quotes by Professor Dr. Siobhain O'Mahony:●     It's not the levels of estrogen that are important with regard to sexes & sex differences in pain. It's the fluctuation levels that we have.●     Maintaining a healthy gut microorganism environment is really key to well-being.●     Women have a lower threshold & lower tolerance to pain stimulation than men.  https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we sit down with Dr. Caoimhe Rooney, a research scientist at NASA whose areas of expertise include mathematical modelling of complex engineering systems, planetary science, public communication and mission design. She has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2022. Listen in as Dr. Rooney discusses how participating in Oxford's Industrially Focused Mathematical Modelling program paved the way for a career in applied mathematics at NASA. She speaks on the delicate balance between performing technical analysis and accepting uncertainty in the field of exoplanet characterisation. Dr. Rooney also talks about the goals of mathematical modelling at NASA and how she typically goes about collecting and applying data in her work. She shares her uniquely challenging experience as the only mathematician on a team of physicists, alongside having to navigate a considerable time difference. Finally, Dr. Rooney speaks on her future goals as well as her initiative to get more women into the field of mathematics via the Mathematigals platform. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: ●      [02:43] Why Dr. Rooney chose space ●      [07:42] About Dr. Rooney's PhD thesis ●      [12:50] Applying mathematical modelling to planetary science ●      [17:10] Factoring clouds into mathematical models ●      [21:52] The goals of mathematical modelling at NASA ●      [27:50] How Dr. Rooney collects data ●      [31:11] Being the only mathematician on a team of physicists ●      [34:57] About Mathematigals ●      [38:46] Dr. Rooney's goals for the future of her career Key Quotes by Dr. Caoimhe Rooney:●      Something that you might not be able to physically touch or put your hands on will still be underpinned by some sort of mathematical equation. There is always a way that you can take something physical and put it on paper in the form of equations and physics principles. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the menstrual cycle impact performance? What about the contraceptive pill? How does a history of research in men, impact how we advise women to exercise? This week Andrew speaks to David Nolan, a fantastic PhD candidate in applied sports sciences under the supervision of Dr. Brendan Egan at Dublin City University.David is an experienced sports science practitioner and academic. Currently an assistant lecturer in physical activity and health science at the Technological University of the Shannon and Program Lead on the MSc. in Sports Performance Analysis at the Portobello Institute. Founder of Synapse Performance which aims to educate in the areas of health, nutrition, and human performance through interactive seminars/workshops and media content production, and offer corporate consulting services to enterprises in the sports science and technology sector. Host of the Synapse Performance Podcast which is a collection of interviews with leading experts and researchers in the area of strength and conditioning / human performance. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we sit down with Alan Kelly, a professor in the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences at University College Cork. Listen in as Professor Alan deep dive into the various myths and misconceptions around processed food. Defining “processing” as the transformation of raw material, he sheds some light on what is actually done to food before it reaches consumers and how we can make more informed choices about what we put into our body. He kicks off the conversation with a brief history of processed food and how various preservation techniques have helped human beings to survive harsh climates and even allowed civilization to make the transition from farms to cities. Professor Alan goes on to make the case that many—even modern—food processing techniques do not necessarily make what we're eating “unhealthy”. He speaks on the achievement of minimal processing in particular and how current and future technologies are geared towards finding better ways to keep our food safe and stable. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: ●    [01:44] Defining “processed food” ●    [05:46] Why processed food allowed civilization to evolve ●    [10:14] The development of preservation techniques for the purpose of survival ●    [13:17] How to look at processing techniques in the modern world ●    [16:06] The regulation of food ●    [18:42] Achieving “minimal processing” ●    [25:48] The pros of preserving food ●    [30:00] Social perceptions of food processing techniques ●    [35:45] Future food processing technologies Key Quotes by Professor Alan Kelly:●    Over thousands of years, we figured out that, to be good for us to eat, to be safe, to be stable, food has to be transformed one way or another.●    Learning how to process food was key to the evolution of cities.●    We need to have confidence that food is one of the most regulated parts of our daily lives.●    Science, food science being no exception, is about solving problems. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes one persons bad day, another persons trauma? This week we go through the extraordinarily complex concepts which are as complex as any individual but Dr Samantha Dockray breaks it down. Dr. Samantha Dockray is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork. Her key interests relate to the application of psychobiological models of behaviour and emotions, including diatheses-stress frameworks to understand adolescent health and development. Samantha has a particular interest in how puberty contributes to health, as well as in stress and allostatic load in adolescents. Samantha's research and other activities are described at beats-lab.com. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Madness, insanity, and being mental are core to the stigma around mental health. Whilst the depression and anxiety have become more accepted, much of mental health is still poorly understood and draped in stigma, such as psychosis. To get to the core of this Andrew spoke to Clinical Psychologist and associate professor in UCD Dr Keith Gaynor. He is an expert on psychosis and mental health, particularly in young adults. We perceive mental health as normal emotions gone awry, and as such, we discussed psychosis in typical terms of our daily life.An excellent example which Keith describes is how one day a colleague was finishing a project and on the final stroke, their computer crashed. In a moment of despair, they said "the computer department are out to get me'. We have all experienced this to some degree, but how is your understanding of psychosis? Of how it happens, how it has previously been studied and the history of treatments, understanding and stigma. We discuss it all in the season 4 opener! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew has been nominated as a rising star in Irish podcasting. Wild. In this episode he talks about how he thinks about talking science, who he looks up to, how the nomination makes him feel as well as sharing his best bits so far!You can vote for Living Room Logic in the public vote for the Irish podcast awards, you can support us on Patreon and we will let you know how Andrew gets on as he and Aidan suit up for the awards night in Dublin on September 16th! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season finale warning that will blow your butt off,but.. we might have just the treatment in mind. This week we interviewed the brilliant Dr Katie Guzzetta, former UCC PhD student and current Harvard visiting research fellow. One big paper from her PhD was published in one of the biggest journals in the world where she found that giving old mice a 'fecal implant' from younger mice rejuvenated them! What!!! We go through the study, talked about how the hell this even works, what this means for the future of aging and answer the question if you should be freezing your poo for future you!Thank you everyone for supporting the podcast - we just passed 10'000 listens and we are so proud of how the project has done and we are so grateful to each of you! See you soon :) https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The James Webb Space Telescope is nearing its destination 1 million miles away from earth. In the run-up to it's first images of what the universe was like as far back as 50 million years after the start of time, Aidan interviews optics engineer Louis Martin, an expert in telescope instrumentation.This episode, Louis explains why the Webb is so important to our understanding of how the universe and everything within it forms, and how it will be able to detect water and life on distant planets. The only question is whether the life is there or not. Living Room Logic is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon who make this all possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Everyone has seen a jellyfish flattened on the beach, or swam frantically away from one from fear of getting a nasty sting. But there's a lot more to jellyfish than meets the eye....Outside Aidan's time as a co-host of the podcast, he's actually an experienced marine researcher, and did his PhD on jellyfish in the North Atlantic ocean. This episode, Andrew dives into aidan's gelatinous bank of knowledge and asks him about the importance of jellyfish, why you should be interested in them and whether or not they are increasing in the world's oceans.Living Room Logic is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon who make this all possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Women are consistently receiving worse treatment from doctors, getting less care for painful procedures and having more significant side effects from drugs than men.This episode Andrew speaks about his research into deciphering women's place in medicine. Unravelling the origin of sex differences in disease incidence such as Alzheimer's disease (2x more women), multiple sclerosis (3x more women) and autism (3.5x more men).If you like what we do, come find us on Instagram or TikTok and you can support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Everybody loves Salmon right? Turns out they're not doing too good. In a shocking turn of events, Atlantic Salmon have been tangled up in a story of illegality and black market activity on the high seas that would make Jack Sparrow quiver in his boots, that's led to an Atlantic-wide collapse in their stocks. How do boats get away with doing questionable things in the high seas? Turns out its simple: Flags of Convenience. That is, more than 70% of all merchant ships in the world have registered to a mere 5 countries in the world, for all the wrong reasons. Living Room Logic is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon who make this all possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jurassic Park was great, but Steven Spielberg got it wrong. Dinosaurs have fascinated scientists and the public alike for centuries, and only recently have we been able to shed light on a heated debate surrounding these mysterious creatures - did Dinosaurs have feathers? This raises the question of whether dinosaurs were like lumbering lizards or active ancient birds?This episode, we dive into the most recent understanding of what dinos looked like, how they behaved and how they may have been more intelligent than you would think.Living Room Logic is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon who make this all possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There is a subtle but massive difference between, “what time is it?” and “what is time?”. Have you thought about it? It's a bit like eating a clock… Time consuming.We can't hold time or see it, but we are all a slave to it. We experience it but cannot say what it is exactly. This episode, Andrew and Aidan discuss this idea. They share what scientists have said about time over the past 100 years and how it influences physics from the largest black holes to the smallest quantum scale.Living Room Logic is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon who make this all possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's at the bottom of the ocean. It's in the food we eat. It's in our cells. It's on the beach, or floating in the ocean. It's in your home, on the street and surrounds you in shops. It's plastic.Single use plastic has revolutionized much of our society, but at what cost? We have been making more plastic year on year since the 50s, none of which has degraded. Today we explore where the billions of tonnes of plastic end up, and how our environment is paying the ultimate price.Living Room Logic is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon who make this all possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why do humans get sad?Our emotions are regulated in our brain and sometimes we are happy and sometimes we are sad. Mental health issues are a result of this process becoming dysregulated. For example, depression could be simplified as a sadness which does not return to neutral. Rather, your neutral mood is overall reduced and you can feel significant sadness for long periods of time and even anhedonia, the inability to feel happy. This episode Andrew, a Neuroscience researcher, goes through the origins of emotions, how our body regulates them and what is missing in society today leading to the current mental health crisis. Give each other compassion, we've all just been through hell.Living Room Logic is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon who make this all possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's season 3! The $10bn James Webb telescope, named after the 1960s leader of NASA who saw the moon landing through, has been in the works since the 1990s and astronomy has laid all of their eggs in this basket. Science enthusiasts everywhere are delighted to have a distraction from that which shall not be named and return to blissful ignorance in the face of the sheer vastness of the universe - and we will see things we never have seen before.Will we see the birth of galaxies and the universe? Maybe learn about the origin of dark matter and gain a better understanding of our context of the universe. This episode Andrew and Aidan get excited about the biggest project in science, come and catch our buzz!Living Room Logic is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon who make this all possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One of the worst things about COVID-19 has been the uncertainty of what happens next. Professor Walsh is a member of the disease modeling team that projects cases and hospitalizations for NPHET. These models have been a critical tool in NPHETs decision making but has their value been miscommunicated?In this conversation I ask Professor Walsh how they project what will happen. What are the parameters they use and what are the parameters they don't have? Can they quantify the value of masks, vaccines or the COVID pass in reducing transmission? And why are the public not given updated models which may help us with the uncertainty of the weeks ahead? This podcast is run by PhD Fellow Andrew McGovern and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Aidan Long. We would like to thank each of our patrons on patreon which make this possible. If you would like to support the podcast, we welcome you to support us on Patreon.com/livingroomlogic. Also, SEASON 3, coming out on January 17th! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Omicron is the latest thing COVID-19 has dumped on our windscreen just as we thought we left the driveway and were going places. This episode Andrew talks through the science of the most mutated variant yet Omicron after Ireland's first case, how our defenses will manage and what the future of Ireland will look like with COVID.Much of mainstream media has caused quite a stir and Andrew thinks things are much more mild than they appear. Admitting we should be cautious, he is not concerned that Ireland has strong defenses built to handle anything the virus throws at us. The future is bright and everyone can take a sigh of relief. Oh, and get vaccinated. It's great! It looks like third doses will be needed and early data is showing that it is solid.Although NPHET and the government have reintroduced new restrictions, Andrew does not see this as a disaster but as a a cautious move in the face of the new variant and following the disastrous third wave last year.I hope you enjoy this episode and that it is clear. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The climate is changing, and as this episode airs, world leaders are deciding the global plan for climate action at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. In the episode, Andrew sits nervously as Aidan walks him and YOU through the most important facts from the latest UN climate report that came out in August 2021. These are the facts that world leaders were told before attending COP26. These are the facts that might change the course of our global society towards safety, sustainability and most importantly, may prevent future generations from suffering due to our mistakes.If you like what you hear, give the episode a like or follow/subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening from. If you want to hear more from us, join us on instagram, twitter, FB and tiktok @livingroomlogic. If you want to support us further, join our patreon (link below) for exclusive content and LRL goodies.Let's make a change for good! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It is unequivocal that humans have changed the earth's climate. For this season finale, Dr Aidan puts his climate expert cap on and guides Andrew through this contentious and misunderstood topic. Together, the lads explore the many times the earth's climate has changed in the past, how humans are changing the climate today, and what we can do to solve the climate crisis.We are very grateful to all the experts who gave up their time to come on the podcast, and so thankful to our patrons and supporters for their help. To our listeners and followers, thank you for believing in us, hopefully you've learned a few things over the last 2 seasons! See you for season 3 ;)This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Daniel Jolley is a social psychologist who studies why people believe conspiracy theories and if they are worth worrying about. From 5G to jet fuel melting steel beams to Bill Gates microchipping the world, we talk through all the questions you want answered. This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ever worry about genetically modified food? What about genetically modified humans!? This episode Andrew and Aidan explore the ways humans have tweaked the genetics of many organisms for our benefit, and the promising but morally grey future of genetic modification from recent scientific breakthroughs.This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To make the science of appliance even more fun, Andrew and Aidan crack out some facts, splutter how unnecessarily complicated some appliances are and get absolutely smashed. This history of appliances inspires intrigue with references to Ice Man, how one of the worlds biggest defense companies started out making microwaves and how light bulbs and toasters are effectively the exact same thing.This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode, Andrew and Aidan cover a difficult, but important topic - today we talk about cancer. We explore the many ways cancers have been treated through time, how far our understanding of cancers have come, and why finding the cure to cancer is a lot harder than it sounds. Some promising new research may have the answers we are all looking for.This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode, Aidan interviews US Army Sergeant Emmet Long about Guns - breaking down how guns work, why they've changed over time, and how this has redefined the way wars are fought today.This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we talk about Percy and his adventure to Mars. From drones on mars to the future of colinising the red planet, from Matt Damon in the martian or alien volcanoes, this week we wander thought the science.This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For the second half of this two-part topic, Andrew and Aidan chat about the history of addictive disorders in humans, and how these issues have flowed well into the modern age.This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For the first of this two-part topic, Aidan and Andrew discuss the science of addiction, its links toour brain's evolutionary history, and why happy rats don't want cocaine.This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this weeks episode, Andrew interviews Dr Fiona Gallagher about the last pandemic which ravaged Ireland. How the country responded, the formation of the Irish medical board (an ancient NPHET) and how they managed the spread of Cholera when they didn't even know what a bacteria was in 1832. Closing ports for safety and then opening them up again for business sounds familiar right? Dr Gallagher is an incredible speaker and has a wealth of knowledge, enjoy!This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Season 2 has landed with the biggest bang in space and time!To kick off this freshly cooked season, Andrew and Aidan retell the origin story of the entire universe using some of the most supported theories in science, all of which involve a cosmic egg and zero chickens! We explain what stuff the universe is made up of, and how our understanding of this may help us foresee if, and how, the universe as we know it may end.This season is supported by FameLab Ireland. FameLab is the world's leading science communication competition, designed to inspire, motivate and develop scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. Created by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, in Ireland the competition is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and managed by the British Council in partnership with universities and science research centres across the country. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We are back! Launching on Monday July 12th we will start releasing episodes weekly for the next 10 weeks. We have loads of great stories and interviews which revolve around the world of science and technology, from the creation of time to vacuum cleaners, we have a jam packed season ahead of us! A huge shout out to our supporters on patreon and of course to this seasons main supporter, FameLab Ireland, you legends. This would not have been possible without your help. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode marks the end of Spread the Good, a miniseries that has hopefully helped you digest the last 8 weeks of everything COVID-19 related, and get through the final weeks of Ireland's lockdown. For the finale, Andrew shows us how far we've come in cold hard numbers since the last covid wave. The lads then chat about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, and how it's helped them during this difficult time. As a bonus, Aidan has written a mindful walking meditation that Andrew guides you through with his luscious voice. Get outside and Spread the Good!We hope you enjoyed this topical miniseries, get excited for season 2 of Living Room Logic coming out in July 2021!Andrew is actively working with the department of health and meeting members of NPHET weekly to discuss the communication of COVID-19, vaccines, guidelines and mental health to young adults - essentially getting his facts from the source. Check out @scicommcollective_ire on Instagram and TikTok for more. Spread some good this week! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Andrew spends the vast 7 minutes of this episode of spread the good going through the news of the week. In a fantastic turn of events, there is little to talk about. We did around 300'000 vaccinations last week, 45% of adults have their first dose and and the hospitalization situation is stable. Oh, and the Indian variant isn't the end of the world either - just need everyone to get both doses and be grand. Sure look, no news is good news and I am delighted to have nothing to say! Next week is the finale of spread the good whilst we prepare to get back to normalcy ourselves with the release of season 2 in July!Andrew is actively working with the department of health and meeting members of NPHET weekly to discuss the communication of COVID-19, vaccines, guidelines and mental health to young adults - essentially getting his facts from the source. Check out @scicommcollective_ire on Instagram and TikTok for more. Spread some good this week! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Andrew talks through the latest stats for Ireland on COVID-19. He also dives into the complexity of antigen testing. Their use, why LIDL and Tony Hoolahan are butting heads, where Dr Ronan Glynn stands on it and what does antigen test results actually tell you? It is certainly a complex issue with nobody fully right or wrong but it helps to stay informed.Andrew is actively working with the department of health and meeting members of NPHET weekly to discuss the communication of COVID-19, vaccines, guidelines and mental health to young adults - essentially getting his facts from the source. Spread some good this week! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode Andrew has more good news about Ireland's fight against covid, and describes the balance we are finding between the vaccine rollout and reopening the country. Aidan highlights the balance we will also need to find between our physical and digital lives as things return to normalcy.Andrew is actively working with the department of health and meeting members of NPHET weekly to discuss the communication of COVID-19, vaccines, guidelines and mental health to young adults - essentially getting his facts from the source. Spread some good this week! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode Andrew talks through the latest stats and NPHET models, the road to reopening the country and appreciates the weight that is slowly being lifted. Go get a nights sleep, eat well and spend time outside.Andrew is actively working with the department of health and meeting members of NPHET weekly to discuss the communication of COVID-19, vaccines, guidelines and mental health to young adults - essentially getting his facts from the source. Spread some good this week! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode we explain some key changes that occurred in the case numbers last week that bring great hope, and a sprinkle of caution. Inspired by an interview that Brezzie had with An Taoiseach Micheal Martin, the lads also discuss a mental health action plan that our youth will need to overcome the trauma of the pandemic, even after this is all over. AND of course, we answer questions from our social media @livingroomlogic.Andrew is actively working with the department of health and meeting members of NPHET weekly to discuss the communication of COVID-19, vaccines, guidelines and mental health to young adults - essentially getting his facts from the source. Spread some good this week! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week cases went down and vaccinations went up. What is the origin of sars-cov-2? Should you be worried about variants? In this weekly mini-series we focus on the GOOD! Updates on progress towards normalcy, the importance of compassion in getting through the next 8-12 weeks and we answer your questions from our socials.Andrew is actively working with the department of health and meeting members of NPHET weekly to discuss the communication of COVID-19, vaccines, guidelines and mental health to young adults - essentially getting his facts from the source mixed with a dash of his own pazaz. This week Andrew was informed by Dr Cillian de Gascun, the director of the virus laboratory in Ireland. This series will be weekly and aimed at updating everyone with the good. Spread some good this week! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How will the AstraZenica vaccine side effects impact vaccine roll-out? When does NPHET see normalcy returning? What can you do to get through this last lockdown? In this weekly mini-series we focus on the GOOD! Updates on progress towards normalcy, the importance of compassion in getting through the next 8-12 weeks and we answer your questions from our socials. Andrew is actively working with the department of health and meeting members of NPHET weekly to discuss the communication of COVID-19, vaccines, guidelines and mental health to young adults - essentially getting his facts from the source mixed with a dash of his own pazaz. This series will be weekly and aimed at updating everyone with the good. Spread some good this week! https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The U.S.A. used A.I. supercomputers to win one of the final cold war battlefields: Chess. This episode, Andrew and Aidan discuss the history of intelligence, why our global perception of it changed over time, and how we now find ourselves losing to machines. Did you know that China uses artificial intelligence to monitor and rate its citizens? Or that it might be quite stupid to model super-intelligent A.I. beings using humans as a blueprint?We really hope you enjoyed the season finale. If you want to support two humble young scientists producing season 2, you can find us on patreon where all of your support is reinvested back into the podcast to make it bigger and better. Thank you so much. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

70,000 years ago, the eruption of an Indonesian supervolcano whittled the human population down to a few thousand globally. This episode, we walk our way along our evolutionary path from the last known common ancestor of apes and homo sapiens to us: Modern humans. Did you know that scientists found a single pinky bone in a Siberian cave which uncovered an ancient homonin species that once ruled Eurasia? What about the footprints of an earlier hominin species that were cemented in time by a perfect storm?We really hope you enjoy the episode. If you want to support two humble young scientists, follow the show on Spotify or subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, and leave a review if you can. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Einstein once called quantum physics spooky, listen in to find out why! This part 2 we explore some of the biggest mysteries in physics, the shoelaces that may define the universe and the Irish scientist John Bell that proved Einstein wrong. Do you know that Heisenberg wasn't just the one who knocks? Or that quantum entanglement isn't just used by actors to seem smarty pants?We really hope you enjoy the episode. If you want to support two humble young scientists, follow the show on Spotify or subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, and leave a review if you can. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two greeks first once asked if we kept cutting an object in half, would we find the smallest building block of the universe? This episode we discuss how after an age of cosmic exploration through telescopes physicists began looking for the smallest of things, some of the biggest discoveries of 20th century physics and the god particle itself. Do you know how discovering the most elusive particles in existence could impact you and your future?We really hope you enjoy the episode. If you want to support two humble young scientists, follow the show on Spotify or subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, and leave a review if you can. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

99% of all the species that have ever lived are now extinct, making all life that's still on earth the lucky 1%. This episode, Andrew and Aidan walk through the biggest extinction events in the fossil record. From that time when dinosaurs got wrecked by a giant space pebble, to when a Siberian supervolcano killed 90% of all life on earth at the time. Do you remember when the entire ocean was the same temperature as a hot tub, or had the pH of an acid bath? Do you realise how lucky we are to be here?We really hope you enjoy the episode. If you want to support two humble young scientists, follow the show on Spotify or subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, and leave a review if you can. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode we interview a vaccine specialist and immune system expert, Dr Liz Ryan. What makes  COVID-19 so unique that it caused a pandemic? What actually makes the elderly vulnerable? Should we be concerned about new strains? Should we be concerned about how fast the vaccines have been developed? All is discussed in this week's episode.This episode was recorded in the middle of January 2021 so not all information regarding the current state of the pandemic is up to date. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Albatross pairs mate for life. Garter snakes mate in 100+ orgies. Whether you were together, apart or alone this Valentine's day, our tales of love in the wild will send you swooning. We describe the different ways animals show their affections, the many hormones which make us addicted to each other and the promiscuous past of humans. Did you know that there is a sexual arms race amongst male and female ducks? Have you ever lied restless in bed thinking about the wording of a message?We really hope you enjoy the episode. If you want to support two humble young scientists, follow the show on Spotify or subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, and leave a review if you can. https://www.patreon.com/LivingRoomLogic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.