Podcasts about curioscity

Yet another long promised episode! Curioscity’s inaugural book club starts with an important piece of literature: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Who was Henrietta Lacks, and how does she outweigh hundreds of millions of people today in mass? How did she contribute to the discussion of body autonomy and medical rights? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

This podcast has been running for nearly two years, and over its tenure we’ve acquired some questions about the program and the participants. Today, we take some time to discuss frequently asked questions about Curioscity. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

While today’s research often has a bias of being primarily for the benefit of humankind, there are many pathogens that negatively affect other organisms on Earth. Today, we’ll discuss zoonosis and how transfer of a pathogen from one organism to another can shape global health. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

With a name like Nucleic Acids I, you’ve have expected more discussion about RNA in episode 8: unfortunately, that episode was chock full of DNA. Today, we’ll discuss the real GOAT nucleic acid: RNA. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

This is Curioscity, the show about viruses – the kind that make your computer sick. What is a computer virus? How is a computer virus different than malware? Does this episode justify having a laptop on the season 2 artwork? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Many scientists have adapted Hollywood’s traditional “elevator pitch”: a brief, persuasive spiel that you use to spark interest in you, your organization, or your product. Today, we’ll take that elevator pitch to its roots to compete for who can propose a ‘better’ science television show for a non-scientist audience. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational.   For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Let’s face it: we all spend time trying to think about our favorite unicellular eukaryotes. Today, we’ll discuss the fungus kingdom and what yeast actually is. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

As an attempt to understand the vastness of nature, humans have decided to try to organize the organisms of the world into neat, tidy groups. How simple is the classification of organisms? Is there any debate to how it’s done? What are some of the different schools of thought? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

There are a variety of career paths for a scientist, but those paths might not be immediately clear. What is industry? What are some benefits and consequences to a career in industry? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Some of my earliest memories of science were simply hunting for the elusive Pacific giant salamander in the coastal northwest. Today, we’ll talk about these slimy amphibians and how they contribute to scientific research. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

This episode is all about bad bugs.  Specifically, a flesh-eating bacteria strain called Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus).  S. aureus is a very common bacteria that's best known for becoming resistant to antibiotics, and becoming MRSA.  Bacteria and the immune system are always at war with each other.  Antibiotics can give the body the edge in this battle, but common resistance is making this much harder in hospitals and homes across the world.  Bacteria survive these antibiotics and the immune system is left to clean up the mess.  Currently, S. aureus is a major cause of death for bacterial infections. To make things worse, S. aureus and other bacteria can survive more than just antibiotics:  Jenna Beam and the Conlon Lab study how bacteria escape and survive the immune system, and what we can do to stop bacteria in general.  All that and more on this episode!  Make sure to check out the full video on our new Youtube Channel!  Jenna and the Conlon Lab just published a paper on this very topic!       You can hear more about bacterial resistance mechanisms in general from a recent episode Dr. Brian Conlon did with Curioscity- check it out here.    

Human Immunodeficiency virus is a virus that functions within the cell differently than any virus we’ve discussed before. HIV has led to Nobel prizes, societal discussion and discrimination, and significant morbidity and mortality, and was only first named in 1986. Today we’ll discuss HIV and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Antibiotics are pharmaceuticals that can prevent certain types of bacterial infection. Recognized with a 1945 Nobel Prize in Medicine, humans have previously used antibiotics for millennia to treat infections without having even known what caused those infections. What are the benefits to antibiotics? What are the consequences? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Some topics are short and sweet, but do not warrant an entire episode of conversation. There have been many requests for smaller topics to be discussed: thusly, establishment of the grab bag is a proper solution. Today we’ll discuss dry ice; women’s representation in film; and science communication to allow us to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film. What creative liberties do filmmakers take to make their masterpiece, and what do they get right?  Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational.   For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

The liver is an organ that is mostly indispensable for life as animals know it. What are organs? Why do we need them? What is the liver? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Drug discovery has helped ease pain, prevent disease, and save lives. However, humans are new to the game at designing molecules to aid human health. What are pharmaceuticals? What are side-effects? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

People who have years of experience with Crohn’s disease under their belt know it’s no joke. What is the digestive tract? What happens when your immune system picks on it unfairly? What is the current course of treatment for these disorders? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Boo! Did I scare you? What is it to be scared? Can we define emotions, and how do emotions like fear tie into our daily life nowadays? How are fear and anxiety related? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Creating molecules that are relevant for life is a challenge that humans are only just dipping their feet into. There is a demand for creating molecules related to medicine, agriculture, or materials. How does one do chemical synthesis? What are limitations? What are some examples of scaled chemical reactions? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Great! I’m a primate. We conclude this year’s series on model organisms by talking about non-human primates. What is a good model? What are the benefits and consequences of non-human primates? What are the ethical dilemmas attached to any model system? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Science accessibility has gotten better and better over the last few decades, and standardizing the tools to be able to do it has been a huge part. Today, we will discuss how a high school in the Chapel Hill area contributes to the scientific field of synthetic biology in a global fashion. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Science accessibility has gotten better and better over the last few decades, and standardizing the tools to be able to do it has been a huge part. Today, we will discuss how a high school in the Chapel Hill area got started in the scientific field of synthetic biology, and how you could do it next. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Some topics are short and sweet, but do not warrant an entire episode of conversation. There have been many requests for smaller topics to be discussed: thusly, establishment of the grab bag is a proper solution. Today we’ll discuss nutrients at the seafloor; gain of function mutations spurred by the atom; the countless combinations of colors in your typical Rubik’s cube; and, cultural understanding at the turn of the 20th century to allow us to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Jared Diamond once wrote an article in 1987 entitled “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race”: how humans’ advent of agriculture might have been an excellent development for us, but also a terrible curse. Today, we will explore a cousin strategy to typical agriculture: permaculture.  Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Home to near two thousand different currencies at the time of recording, cryptocurrency has pushed the boundaries on currency exchange within the last fifteen years. What is cryptocurrency? Where did the idea begin? Should you buy in? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Chemical reactions define the world around us with invisible elements and symbols. While atoms can neither be created nor destroyed, the identities of the compounds they make up are constantly changing. What is a chemical reaction? How can it proceed? What is a catalyst? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Science is often intrinsically linked to quantification; the ability to report accurate data to peers and colleagues provides the basis for reproducibility. What are some simple ways that we think about measurements and error? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Scientists support their ideas with data, but it can become challenging to explain data when you’re not familiar with the field or it is presented in a confusing way. Are there other ways that one can show data and support their arguments? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

The formal title doctor can refer to a variety of different research or professional degrees. To achieve one is a huge accomplishment; but is there a utility to having two? What kind of doctorates are there? What are the benefits or consequences of having more than one? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational.   For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film. What creative liberties do filmmakers take to make their masterpiece, and what do they get right?  Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational.   For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

If one completes a college degree but doesn’t have a fully solidified next step, it can look to the casual observer that the logical place to go is a research or professional degree. How are these degrees dissimilar from a bachelor’s degree? What are some common complaints and issues for graduate students today? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Repel! I’m a cell. The word may be a bit nebulous, but cells are the smallest unit of life that we can define, and all living things are made up of cells. Today, we’ll discuss using human cells as models for research and how those “cells-in-dishes” are different than the cells in our very own bodies. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

This show has previously discussed the concept of evolution, but it’s time to put it into practice with our own species. Humankind as we understand it only developed a few hundred thousand years ago and was surrounded by “cousin” hominids from genetic ancestors. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

A common way to learn is seek higher education, which today is often provided by universities across the world. Most learn to thank their professors, teachers, and mentors, but it may be unclear how important it is to have a dedicated administration at those same educational institutions. Today, we’ll discuss a journey from a bachelor degree to being a university president. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational.   For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

From ASM Microbe 2019, Vincent, Brianne and Calvin meet up with Craig Cameron to discuss his career and his work exploring RNA-dependent RNA synthesis and single cell virology. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Brianne Barker, and Calvin Yeager Guest: Craig Cameron Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Cameron laboratory Curioscity podcast Ribavirin is an RNA virus mutagen (Nat Med) RNA virus error catastrophe: test using ribavirin (PNAS) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

From ASM Microbe 2019, Vincent, Brianne and Calvin meet up with Craig Cameron to discuss his career and his work exploring RNA-dependent RNA synthesis and single cell virology. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Brianne Barker, and Calvin Yeager Guest: Craig Cameron Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Cameron laboratory Curioscity podcast Ribavirin is an RNA virus mutagen (Nat Med) RNA virus error catastrophe: test using ribavirin (PNAS) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In the United States, the fourth of July is commonly associated with fireworks, but the technology of gunpowder came from much earlier. What is the chemistry of the firework, and what is the historical basis? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Some topics are short and sweet, but do not warrant an entire episode of conversation. There have been many requests for smaller topics to be discussed: thusly, establishment of the grab bag is a proper solution. Today we’ll discuss ethics in science and the case study of head transplants; similarities and dissimilarities of diversity and race; and how overcoming adversity allows us to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Much like myself, many animals that live deep within caves have no skin pigment, eyesight, and have slow metabolism. What is the importance of these habitats? What is limestone? How are caves formed? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

What scientists understand as the basic unit of a chemical element has been heavily scrutinized for over one hundred years. What are the fundamental components of an atom? What are elements? How did philosophy and science work together for the discovery of the atom? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Survival of the fittest is a famous anecdote but isn’t always the best way of describing natural selection. Who was Charles Darwin? Whose shoulders did he stand on? What is evolution? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

If I told you that hummingbird flight muscle was one of the richest known sources of mitochondria, could you guess as to what a mitochondrial function is? Today we will discuss the endosymbiotic hypothesis in terms of mitochondria while keeping in mind that the process is equally applicable to chloroplasts. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

More and more fields collect as much data as possible in order to draw the most principled and specific conclusions possible. Still, without analyzing these data, there is no simple way to draw a conclusion. How do humans use computational resources to analyze data? What is big data and machine learning? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

It is clear that not all scientists are the lone, white coated figure surrounded by multicolored vials in the depths of the laboratory. To have an effective scientific community, a diverse and skilled group of individuals are required. What are some less stereotypical scientific careers? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Last week we discussed seeing objects that are atomically small. Seemingly atomically small from our naked eyes on Earth, it can be incredibly challenging to see entire planets in the universe. Today, we will discuss astronomy, planets and stars, current ways to see these objects, and how round the Earth is. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

A picture is worth 1,000 words and scientists’ pictures tend to be crystal structures. What are ways that that scientists can see very small things? How are these techniques different for material science, biology, chemistry, or physics? What is crystallography? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Invasive species challenge the natural environment of many places they once did not call home. Why are invasive species dangerous? What are invasive species contributions to ecology, geomorphology, the economy, human health, or biodiversity? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Squirm! I’m a worm. With a name as long as Caenorhabditis elegans, you might expect this model organism to be larger. What is a model organism? Why would a researcher use a worm to represent research as a model? What is the historical basis of C. elegans research? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Last week we spoke of bacteria, a major contributor to biofilms. What are biofilms and why do microbes make them? How is human health impacted by this mechanism of microbial life? Why do my teeth feel so fuzzy? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Imagine having a twin split out of you in twenty minutes flat; each of you split again in another twenty minutes. In a scant few hours, there are billions of you. This happens with bacteria every day in almost every environment one can imagine. Just what is this domain of life? Why are bacteria important to our global ecosystem? Are they always dangerous? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

It’s hard to believe that something as generically described as cholesterol could be so important. High levels of “a waxy substance” result in no side effects until a heart attack or a stroke. What are lipids, or fats? How does the human body get fats? What are relevant pharmaceuticals related to cholesterol? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

The sheer reduction of poliomyelitis-ridden individuals is a testament to how effective the poliovirus vaccines are. Still, related viruses like rhinoviruses, coxsackieviruses, and enteroviruses cause significant burden to public health. What are picornaviruses? Why is there a need for researching viruses like EV-D68 and EV-A71? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.  

Listerine was not made by Joseph Lister, but was named in his honor. What is the purpose of mouthwash? Why are we urged to wash our hands? Who were some of the physicians responsible for reducing mortality of surgery and hospital living? How are things sterilized now? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational.   For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

To be a Nobel Laureate is one of the greatest honors that can be given. What does this prize represent? Where are the Prizes origins? Why are there fewer prizes in economics than other prizes? What are the complications with the Nobel Prize in today’s society? Was Alfred Nobel the last great Alfred? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

My earliest memories of life were whistling air and gentle clouds as the stork delivered me to my humble home: a wolfpack! As I grew older, I puzzled over the importance of reproduction and how genetic diversity played into the population-at-large around me. Today, we’ll discuss some of the reasons that DNA is important in acting as a blueprint; different ways that life has discovered to be able to reproduce; and some crazy folktales that have helped explain the birds and the bees. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Why can’t I give birth to an elephant? Why do each of my feet have five toes and not three toes and two conjoined toes? What is DNA and how is it so fundamentally important to how each of us develop? Today, we’ll discuss DNA, the central dogma, and twins. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Some topics are short and sweet, but do not warrant an entire episode of conversation. There have been many requests for smaller topics to be discussed: thusly, establishment of the grab bag is a proper solution. Today we’ll discuss individuals who think they’re more capable than they are; how one determines what reputable information is; coffee without a filter; and, how to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

James Hetfield might have said it best when he said “Battery is here to stay”. Much of humankind has become increasingly more dependent on portable electrical energy. What is a battery? What makes a better battery? How are current researchers looking to improve the battery? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Ferns are boring and they look like old houseplants! Well, slow your roll there. Some of these plants' relatives were around before the mega-continent Pangea broke apart. Ferns apply to today’s research. Ferns give you an excuse to use words like fiddlehead, pteridology, and give each of us the chance to become a frond friend. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Squeak! It’s me, a mouse in your domicile. Did you know we mice and humans have an awfully long-standing relationship? Today, we will discuss some important concepts about using mice as model organisms. What’s a mouse? Why would humans use mice as model organisms? What’s the scientific historical basis? Are mice good model organisms? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Many of us have experienced the flu: fever, cough, lethargy, fatigue, vomiting, so on. Likely, less of us have experienced getting the flu shot each year. Whether it be white coat syndrome and a fear of needles, disbelief in vaccinations, or whatever else, only roughly 40% of adults in the United States get the flu shot each year (according to the CDC). In today’s episode, we will discuss influenza and some subtleties of the flu vaccine. What is the flu? What is the vaccine and who designs it? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

Three years of Nobel Prizes were directly related to insulin. Today, we’ll discuss what insulin is and why it’s important. Why did the world need a steady supply of insulin? Why did insulin lead to a 1923 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology? How does diabetes play into all of this? Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

On this inaugural episode of Curioscity, we delve into a simple question: do scientists always agree? What is a scientist and what does that person do? Are there any misrepresentations of science or the work done by scientists? Are there examples where scientists disagreed, and it was a good thing?  Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational. Andrew Woodman earned a Ph.D. from The University of Warwick and is currently working as a post-doctoral fellow in Craig Cameron's lab at The Pennsylvania State University. For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.