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The Unseen World Of SeaweedsChances are you don't give much thought to seaweed unless you're at the beach, or perhaps when you're considering a dinner menu. But the thousands of seaweed species around the world are a key part of our coastal ecosystems.Seaweeds photosynthesize, provide food and shelter for marine animals, stabilize the coastlines, and even contribute to making your ice cream creamier (through an ingredient called carrageenans, extracted from red seaweeds in the Rhodophyceae family). Increasingly, they're also being investigated as a source of biofuels and as biological factories, due to their fast-growing nature.Dr. John Bothwell, a phycologist at Durham University in the UK, has written a book in praise of seaweeds. In Seaweeds of the World: A Guide To Every Order, he highlights beautiful, unusual, and important species from each of the three seaweed lineages—green, red, and brown. In this segment, he talks with SciFri's Charles Bergquist about some of his favorite species, where the seaweeds fit into the web of life, and the importance of seaweeds to the global ecosystem.“Dark Fungi” Species Don't Get Names. Should They?Scientists have collected DNA samples of thousands of new fungus species over the past several decades. These fragments of fungal DNA are found nearly everywhere—in soil, decomposing logs, water, and even in the air. Mycologists have enough data to place these new species within the fungal family tree, but haven't collected physical samples of them or been able to grow them in a lab. This means that according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, these new species cannot receive scientific names.How can you understand a fungus that has no name? SciFri producer Shoshannah Buxbaum talks with fungal taxonomist Dr. David Hibbett, professor of biology at Clark University, about a proposal to give these “dark fungi” scientific names, and why naming living things might help us better protect the Earth's biodiversity.Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. To stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
Eyes In The Sky: The Science Behind Modern Balloons This month, the news cycle has been dominated by updates about suspicious objects being detected in the stratosphere. This bonanza started with a balloon from China, and escalated as four more objects—not all confirmed as balloons—have been shot down from the sky. Although this might sound like a new problem, there are probably thousands of balloons floating above us—some for spying, others for exploring near space, or studying weather patterns. Dr. David Stupples, professor of electronic and radio engineering and director of electronic warfare research at City University of London, joins Ira to talk about the science behind modern balloons: how they work, what they do, and just how common they are. Low Income Patients Hit Hardest By Cancer Treatment Costs Being told you have cancer is not only terrifying, it's expensive. In the year following a diagnosis, the average cost of cancer treatment is about $42,000, according to the National Cancer Institute. Some of the newer cutting-edge treatments may cost $1 million or more. While insurance may cover some or all of that cost, many people are uninsured or under-insured. And the bills add up. A quarter of patients with medical debt have declared bankruptcy or lost their home, according to an analysis conducted by KHN and NPR. While there's been remarkable progress in treating cancers in the past several decades, less attention has been paid to just how astronomical the price tags can be. Researchers at Augusta University wanted to track the results of the financial burden after patients' treatment was complete. They found that poorer patients were hit harder financially—which not only resulted in more bills, but also worse health outcomes. Ira talks with Dr. Jorge Cortes, co-author of this study and director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, about the importance of making cost part of the discussion in developing new cancer therapies. The Unseen World Of Seaweeds Chances are you don't give much thought to seaweed unless you're at the beach, or perhaps when you're considering a dinner menu. But the thousands of seaweed species around the world are a key part of our coastal ecosystems. Seaweeds photosynthesize, provide food and shelter for marine animals, stabilize the coastlines, and even contribute to making your ice cream creamier (through an ingredient called carrageenans, extracted from red seaweeds in the Rhodophyceae family). Increasingly, they're also being investigated as a source of biofuels and as biological factories, due to their fast-growing nature. Dr. John Bothwell, a phycologist at Durham University in the UK, has written a book in praise of seaweeds. In Seaweeds of the World: A Guide To Every Order, he highlights beautiful, unusual, and important species from each of the three seaweed lineages—green, red, and brown. In this segment, he talks with SciFri's Charles Bergquist about some of his favorite species, where the seaweeds fit into the web of life, and the importance of seaweeds to the global ecosystem. Why It Feels So Good To Eat Chocolate When you eat a piece of good chocolate, chances are you don't just bite down and chew away. There's a good chance you hold the chocolate in your mouth for a moment, feeling the silkiness as it softens, melting into a molten mass and mixing with your saliva. That gradual phase change process—as fats in the chocolate melt from solid to liquid—is a big part of the chocolate mouthfeel experience. Researchers at Leeds University in the UK have constructed an artificial tongue that doesn't focus on the taste of a food, but rather its texture, and how that texture changes over time. Using the artificial tongue, they explored the textures of materials that can change phase in the mouth, such as chocolate, butter, and ice cream. They reported their findings recently in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. The researchers found that in dark chocolate, the sensation in the mouth is governed largely by the fat content, as the surface of the chocolate begins to soften. A few moments later, as the chocolate melts completely and mixes with saliva, the fat content of the treat is less important to the mouthfeel experience. Dr. Anwesha Sarkar, an author of the report, joins Ira to talk about the research, the challenge of designing a lower-fat chocolate that might exploit these findings, and the importance of learning about textures to determine why people like—and don't like—certain foods. Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.
You're about to learn the secrets of what made Bugatti and Alfa Romeo so great. However you choose to translate it- be it "pure blood", or "thoroughbred"- Pur Sang can only mean the best; a winning combination of engineering and artistry.Pur Sang Argentina builds precise replicas of legendary cars including the Bugatti Type 35 and the Alfa Romeo 8C using the original techniques and methods that most of the world has left behind... but they're alive and well in South America.John Bothwell is Pur Sang's Director and a lifelong car enthusiast whose passions run toward the rides of a romantic and faraway era. From stories of his own Model T and Peerless cars to a Hawaiian steam locomotive and beyond, this episode will have you craving these mechanical marvels that made history.SUPPORT THE POD:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hpheritageSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:http://modelcitizendiecast.comhttps://drivetowardacure.orgFIND US ON THE WEB:https://www.horsepowerheritage.comInstagram: @horsepowerheritagePUR SANG:https://pursangargentina.comInstagram: @pursangargentinaJohn Bothwell's Instagram:@vitesse_collectionCover photo courtesy of Royce Rumseyhttps://roycer924.exposure.co
What would the state look like today if the capital wasn't Jefferson City? But Sedalia? That almost happened 120 years ago. Sedalia champion John Bothwell was determined to make Sedalia a state institution and for 30 years he was relentless trying to make the town something more than the location of four railroads and premiere brothels. Ultimately, he makes a play for the biggest state institution in a surreptitious political maneuver that surprises everyone.
John Bothwell of Pur Sang Argentina joins Adam and Matt to talk about replica cars, Adam's M3, and Bugatti.
John Bothwell is the Director at Pur Sang in Parana, Argentina where he and his talented team manufacture historic sports cars. Pur Sang builds over 20 cars a year in over 25 different models including Alfa Romeo and Mercedes with most popular being the Bugatti Type 35 B racecar. Those cars won over 1,000 races back in their day. Pur Sang was founded decades ago by Leonidas Jorge Anadón. He is a master restorer with a fascination for Bugatti. He copied a real Type 35 while restoring one and began making authentic reproductions. Pur Sang replicates all of the original manufacturing methods from the 20s and 30s to exacting, hand craftsmanship and their automobiles are truly works of art. You’ve most likely seen John on Jay Leno’s Garage and Jay owns several Pur Sang built cars.
John Bothwell is a cool guy with a really interesting job. John is the commercial director for Pur Sang US. If Pur Sang sounds familiar, you're either a fan of pre-war grand prix cars or you've seen one of Jay Leno's videos on the brand. If it doesn't sound familiar then Pur Sang is a company in Argentina that hand builds exact replicas of French, Italian and German grand prix cars. John came by the podcast to talk about Pur Sang and also his family's incredible history with cars. John is a great guy and we were super glad to have him on CarStories!
This week we're once again joined by Carlos Lago. Calos shares his thoughts on the Focus RS, GT350R, Camaro SS 1LE and the McLaren 570s. Matt's Mustang project has incurred yet another setback in the form of a broken distributor but that pain was slightly alleviated by getting to spend some quality time with John Bothwell and one of his insane Pur Sang Bugatti tributes. Additionally Matt and Carlos share their experience at the 2016 Woodward Dream Cruise.