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Interest and grave concern have been mounting over the impact of agriculture and the food choices we all make on the environment, particularly on climate change. With natural weather disasters occurring much more frequently and serious threats from warming of the atmosphere in general, it's natural to look for places to make change. One person who has thought a lot about this is our guest today, Dr. William Dietz of George Washington University. He's been a prominent voice in this space. Bill, you're one of the people in the field I respect most because our relationship goes back many years. Bill is professor and director of research and policy at the Global Food Institute at George Washington University. But especially pertinent to our discussion today is that Dr. Dietz was co-chair of the Lancet Commission on the global syndemic of obesity, under nutrition and climate change. Today, we'll focus on part of that discussion on beef in particular. Interview Summary Bill, let's start out with a basic question. What in the heck is a syndemic? A syndemic is a word that reflects the interaction of these three pandemics that we're facing. And those are obesity, under nutrition, and we've also called climate change a syndemic insofar as it affects human health. These three pandemics interact at both the biologic and social levels and have a synergistic adverse impact on each other. And they're driven by large scale social forces, which foster clustering and have a disparate impact on marginalized populations. Both in the developed and equally important, in the developing world. Here are a couple of examples of syndemics. So, increased greenhouse gases from high income countries reduce crop yields in the micronutrient content of crops, which in turn contribute to food insecurity and undernutrition in low and middle income countries. And eventually the reduction in crop yields and the micronutrient content of crops is going to affect high income countries. Beef production is a really important driver of the climate change, and we're a major contributor in terms of the US' contribution. And beef production drives both methane and nitrous oxide emissions, and in turn, the consumption of red and processed meat causes obesity, diabetes, colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease. And finally, obesity, stunting and nutrition insecurity occur in the same children and in the same population in low- and middle-income countries. Okay, so we'll come back to beef in a moment, but first, help us understand the importance of agriculture overall and our food choices in changing climate. Well, so I think we have to go back to where this, the increase in mean global surface temperatures began, in about 1950. Those temperatures have climbed in a linear fashion since then. And we're now approaching a key level of increase of 1.5 degrees centigrade. The increase in mean surface temperature is driven by increased greenhouse gases, and the US is particularly culpable in this respect. We're it's second only to China in terms of our greenhouse gas emissions. And on a per capita basis, we're in the top four with China, India, and Brazil and now the US. And in the US, agriculture contributes about 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, and about 30% of fossil fuels are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. But when you look at the actual contribution of car use among the fossil fuel use, it's pretty close to the contribution of greenhouse gases from agriculture. The important point here is each one degree increase centigrade in air temperatures associated with a 7% increase in water vapor. And this is responsible for the major adverse weather events that we're seeing today in terms of increased frequency and severity of hurricanes, the droughts. And I learned a new term from the New York Times a couple of days ago from the science section, which is atmospheric thirst. I had trouble understanding how climate change would contribute to drought, but that same effect in terms of absorbing moisture that occurs and drives the adverse weather events also dries out the land. So increasingly there's increased need for water use, which is driven by atmospheric thirst. But that increase in air temperature and the increase in water vapor, is what really drives these storms. Because in the Pacific and in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, this increase in air temperature is associated with an increase in water temperature, which further drives the increase in the severity of these storms. Thanks for that background. Now let's get to beef. You and I were not long ago at the Healthy Eating Research conference. And you gave what I thought was a very compelling talk on beef. We'll talk in a minute about how much beef figures into this overall picture, but first, tell us how beef production affects both climate and health. And you mentioned nitrous oxide and methane, but how does this all work? Cattle production is a big driver of the release of methane. And methane comes from cow burps. The important thing to understand about methane is that it's 80 times more powerful than CO2 in terms of its greenhouse gas emission. And that's because it has a very long half-life when it gets up into the atmosphere? Well, actually it's interesting because the half-life of methane is shorter than the half-life of nitrous oxide. So, it's an appropriate target for reduction. And the reduction has to occur by virtue of reduced beef consumption, which would reduce beef production. The other piece of this is that nitrous oxide is derived from fertilizer that's not absorbed by plants. And the application of fertilizer is a very wasteful process and a huge percent of fertilizer that's applied to crops is not absorbed by those plants. And it washes into the Mississippi River and down to the Gulf of Mexico. But also, increases the genesis of nitrous oxide. And nitrous oxide is an even more powerful greenhouse gas than methane. About 260 times more powerful than CO2 with a very, very long half-life. So, as a target, we really ought to be focused on methane, and if we're going to focus on methane, we need to focus on beef. You could imagine people who are opposed to these views on climate change making fun of cows burping. I mean, are there enough cows, burping enough where the methane that's coming out is a problem? Yes. Maybe a better term that we can use is enteric fermentation, which is in effect cow burps. But enteric fermentation is the major source of methane. And nitrous oxide, the same thing. The agricultural system which supports cattle production, like the feedlot fattening from corn and wheat. The genesis of nitrous oxide is a product of fertilizer use and fertilizer use is a real important source of nitrous oxide because of the amount of fertilizer which is not absorbed by plants. But which washes into the Mississippi River and causes the dead zone in the Gulf, but also generates an enormous amount of nitrous oxide. So, between those two, the enteric fermentation and the origin of nitrous oxide from fertilizer use, are a lethal combination in terms of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. And it's important to know that those greenhouse gas emissions are associated with important declines in crop yields. Crop yields have declined by about 5% for maize for wheat, for soybeans, and somewhat less for rice. These crop yields have yet to affect the US but are clearly a problem in the Global South. In your talk, you cited a paper by Scarborough and colleagues that was published in the Journal Nature Food that modeled the environmental impact of various diets. Could you please explain what they found? This was a really nice study of four diets in the United Kingdom. Actually it was five diets. They looked at vegans, vegetarians, low meat eaters, medium meat eaters and high meat eaters. And looked at the contribution of these diets to the genesis of methane, nitrous oxide, and also importantly, land use and water use. And the most expensive, and the most detrimental environmental impact of these diets, were the among the high meat eaters. These were substantially greater than than the genesis of for example, methane by vegans. For example, high meat eaters generated about 65 kilograms per day of methane compared to vegans, which generated only four kilograms per day of methane. And when you reduce beef, and there were two lower categories, these measures come much more into line with what we'd like to have. The low meat eaters generate about half of methane that the high meat eaters generate. This is also true for their genesis of nitrous oxide. And importantly, the land use among vegans and vegetarians is about a third of the land use required for the production of beef. And water use by meat production is about twice that generated by the water use by the production of plant-based diets. I think these are important data because they, they really reflect the importance of a lower meat consumption and higher plant-based diet. Not just in terms of greenhouse gases, but also in terms of land use and water use. Not to mention health. Not to mention health. Yes. I think it's important to continue to remind ourselves that beef consumption is associated with a variety of chronic diseases like obesity, like diabetes, like colon cancer and like cardiovascular disease. So, there's this double whammy from beef consumption, not only on the climate but also on human health. In your talk that I heard it was interesting to see how you interpreted this information because you weren't arguing for no beef consumption. Because you were saying there could be tremendous benefit from people going from the high beef consumption category to a lower category. If you could take all the people who are consuming beef and drop them down a category, it sounds like there would be tremendous benefits. People could still have their beef but just not have it as often. Right. I think that's an important observation that we're not talking about the elimination of beef. We're talking about the reduction in beef. And the Eat Lancet Commission pointed out that protein consumption in the US was six times what it should be in terms of human needs. And a lot of that protein comes from beef. And there's this belief, widespread, popular belief that beef is the most important source of protein. But comparisons of plant-based diets and plant-based proteins have an equivalent impact and equivalent absorption pattern like beef and are equally nourishing. That's a really important thing to make prominent because people are thinking more and more about protein and it's nice to know there are various healthier ways to get protein than from a traditional meat diet. Well, one of the, one of the important reports from the dietary guidelines advisory committee was to reclassify lentils, beans and peas as proteins rather than vegetables. And I think that's a, something which has not been widely appreciated, but it gives us a real important area to point to as an alternative protein to beef. Bill, on this calculus, how important is the way the cattle are raised? So, you know, you have big cattle farms that might have a hundred thousand cattle in a single place being raised in very close quarters. And it's industrial agriculture, the kind of the epitome of industrial agriculture. But more and more people are beginning to study or experiment with or actually implement regenerative agriculture methods. How much would that help the environment? That's kind of a complicated question. If we just start with beef production, we know that grass fed beef has a healthier fatty acid profile than feedlot fat and beef. But the total generation of greenhouse gases among grass fed beef is greater because they're fostered on land for a longer period of time than those cattle which are committed to feedlots. My understanding is that most of the cattle that go to feedlots are first raised on grass and then moved to feedlots where they're fed these commodity products of corn and wheat and, and maybe not soy. But that feedlot fattening is a critical step in beef production and is associated with overcrowding, antibiotic use, the generation of toxic dust really. An enormous amount of fecal material that needs to be adequately disposed of. It's the feedlot fattening of beef is what adds the adverse fatty acid content, and also contributes to the local environment and the damage to the local environment as a consequence of the cattle that are being raised. Appreciate you weighing in on that. Let's talk about what might be done. So how do we go about increasing awareness, and the action, for that matter, in response to the contributions of beef production to climate change? It begins with understanding about the contribution of beef production to climate change. This is not a well understood problem. For example, there was a study of 10 major news sources a couple of years ago which asked what the major contributions were of climate change. And they surveyed a hundred articles in each of 10 sources of information, which were popular press like New York Times, Washington Post, etc. And, at the top of that list, they characterize climate change as a consequence of fossil fuels. Whereas a recognition of the contribution of the agricultural system was at the bottom of that list and poorly covered. It's no surprise that people don't understand this and that's where we have to start. We have to improve people's perception of the contribution of beef. The other thing is that I don't think we can expect any kind of progress at the federal level. But in order to build the critical mass, a critical focus, we need to look at what we can personally change. First in our own behavior and then engaging family, peers and organizational networks to build the political will to begin to generate federal response. Now, this brings up a really critical point that I'm not sure we have the time to do this. I don't think we are facing the whole issue of climate change with the kind of emphasis and concern that it deserves. I mentioned at the outset that the mean surface temperature is increasing rapidly. And the expectation was, and the goal was to achieve no greater than a 1.5 degrees centigrade increase by 2050. Well, in 2024, there was already a report that the mean surface temperature had already increased in some places by 1.5 degrees centigrade. So there has to be an urgency to this that I don't think people, are aware of. Youth understand this and youth feel betrayed and hopeless. And I think one of the important characteristics of what we can personally change, in engaging our family and peers, is a way of beginning to generate hope that change can occur. Because we can see it if it's our family and if it's our peers. Another important and critical strategy at the institution and state level is procurement policies. These, I think, are the most powerful tool that we have to change production at the municipal or local level, or at the state level. And we were part of an effort to get the HHS to change their procurement policy for their agencies. And although at the very last minute in the Biden administration, they agreed to do this, that's been superseded now by the changes that Trump has instituted. Nonetheless, this can be a local issue and that's where local change has to occur if we're going to build political will from the ground up. Bill, tell me a little bit more about procurement because a lot of people don't even think about that term. But it turns out that the federal government and local and state governments buy lots of food. How is it that they buy lots of food and how they could have sway over the food environment just by their purchasing decisions? So, let's take schools. Schools are a logical place. They have large contracts with vendors and if they set standards for what those vendors were supplying, like insisted on alternative proteins in at least some of their meal services that would have a big impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from school meals. And would have a positive impact on the health of students in those schools. This is known as value-based purchasing. Purchasing of products related to values that have to do with not only greenhouse gases, but also animal husbandry and fair workers' rights, and strategies like that. These are possible. They should be beginning in our universities. And this is an effort that we have underway here at George Washington University. But there are even better examples where universities have used plants as a default option in their cafeterias, which has, shown that when you do that and when you make the plant-based option the only visible choice, people choose it. And, in three universities, Lehigh, Rensselaer at Polytech, and Tulane, when they made plant-based options the only visible option, although you could ask for the alternative, the choices went up to 50 to almost 60 to 80% when the plant-based option was offered. And these were things like a lentil olive and mushroom spaghetti, which has a very low greenhouse gas emission. In fact, the net effect of these choices was a 24% reduction in greenhouse gases on days when the default was offered. These are practical types of initiatives. We need to increase the demand for these options as an alternative to beef. Bill, I like how you're approaching this from kind of the big top level down, but also from the ground up. Because you talk about things that the federal government could do, for example, but also how important individual choices are. And how people can work with their families and friends and have an inspirational effect by changing their own behavior. Those sorts of things make me hopeful. But let me ask, how hopeful are you? Because I'm hearing from you this sort of dire picture that we might be too late, and that the climate change is happening so rapidly and that the social change needed to overcome that is painfully slow. But on the other hand, you're speaking some optimistic things. So how do you feel overall about where this is going? I'm moderately hopeful. And moderately hopeful because I think young people are engaged. And we need to address the hopelessness that many of them feel. They feel betrayed by us. They feel like the adults in this country have let them down and have not focused enough. That's understandable. Particularly now given the distractions of the new administration. And I think we're in a real crisis and things all of a sudden are very fluid in terms of national initiatives. They've been dominated by the Trump administration, but I think that's changing. And I think that the kind of despotism that led to the station of troops in California, in Los Angeles, is a case in point of overreach of the government. The kind of ICE activities really deserve resistance. And all of that, I think, plays into this notion that we're in a fluid time. This is not a time that people are necessarily going to focus on beef consumption. But the fact that all of these climate changes, clearly a major issue at least for those who admit it, means that we need to begin and continue to build the political will for changes in beef consumption as well as changes in transportation policy. I think that actually beef consumption is an easier target then changes in transportation policy, which is driven by the way our communities are constructed. And in many cases, the only way to get from one place to another is by car, which means that we're going to have a continued dependence on fossil fuels. I don't think we can say the same thing about beef consumption because if we institute reductions in beef consumption, I think we can have a very immediate and longer-term impact on greenhouse gas emissions and therefore on climate change. Bio William (Bill) Dietz is the Director of Research and Policy for the Global Food Institute and a Professor in the Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences. Dietz is a member of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) and serves as a consultant to the Roundtable on Obesity Solutions. He also is the Director of the STOP Obesity Alliance at The George Washington University. He served as Director of the The Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention & Wellness until June 30, 2024. He is Co-Chair of the Washington, DC Department of Health's Diabesity Committee, a Commissioner on the Washington, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education's Healthy Youth & Schools Commission, and Chair of its Subcommittee on Physical Activity. Dietz is also Co-Chair of The Lancet Commission on Obesity.
The Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewskiThe Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewski
3x Emmy Award Winner ~ How can we become a more positively peaceful being in a 24/7 Pop Culture-Social Media World? My Guest this week has some solutions.Dr. Carole Lieberman's multi-dimensional career as an internationally renowned "Media Psychiatrist" is always leading edge! Dr.Carole is "the doctor who helps you stay sane in an insane world!" On TV, Radio, the Internet, in Film, Print, as a Speaker and as the first Shrink on Board airline in-flight entertainment, Dr. Carole's insights help people seize the moment to live happier, more fulfilling lives. Today, called upon more than ever to help people cope with terrorism and other 21st century challenges… the doctor is in!Maintaining a star-studded practice in Beverly Hills, Dr. Lieberman is also well known as a psychiatric expert witness who testifies in high profile trials, and analyzes trials in the media Dr. Lieberman has testified before Congress on several occasions, as well, notably regarding the harmful impact of media violence.A three-time Honoree by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences & The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Daytime Emmy Awards, Dr. Carole Lieberman analyzes the psychological impact of world events, as a guest and/or host on all major media outlets. Her passionate commentary is far more than entertaining and exciting -- it dauntlessly cuts to the heart of the issue! Perhaps that explains why everyone from Oprah to Larry King, Katie Couric and countless others, think of Dr. Carole when they need a 'house call'. Viewers will recognize her from frequent appearances on CNN, BBC, "The Today Show", "Good Morning America", Court TV, "Entertainment Tonight" and many more.All Rights Reserved © 2025 Building Abundant Success!!Join Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASSpot Me on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yxuy23baAmazon Music ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy: https://tinyurl.com/BASAud
Albert Bierstadt’s story runs counter to the romanticized idea of a passionate starving artist. He was strategic in his career, selecting imagery that he knew would appeal to U.S. audiences, and monetizing his art outside of selling paintings. Research: Appman, Sarah Bean. “How One Building Turned Greenwich Village Into an Artists’ Mecca.” Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. August 6, 2019. https://www.villagepreservation.org/2019/08/06/how-one-building-turned-greenwich-village-into-an-artists-mecca/ “Albert Bierstadt Dead.” Indianapolis News. Feb. 19, 1902. https://www.newspapers.com/image/37784929/?match=1&terms=Albert%20Bierstadt Avery, Kevin J. “Hudson River School.” The Met. Oct. 1, 2004. https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/the-hudson-river-school “Bierstadt Painting Surfaces After 100 Years.” Greenville News. June 7, 1990. https://www.newspapers.com/image/192068392/?match=1&terms=Albert%20Bierstadt%20Lucerne “Dealer Gets Bargain on Lost Art.” The News Tribune. Oct. 14, 1990. https://www.newspapers.com/image/738127494/?match=1&terms=Albert%20Bierstadt%20Lucerne The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Düsseldorf school". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Mar. 2016, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dusseldorf-school “Fine Paintings.” Boston Evening Transcript. May 26, 1857. https://www.newspapers.com/image/734940677/?match=1&terms=Albert%20Bierstadt Hassrick, Peter H., et al. “Albert Bierstadt: Witness to a Changing West.” University of Oklahoma Press. 2018. “Jan. 7, 1830, Albert Bierstadt was born.” Boston Evening Transcript. Jan. 7, 1902. https://www.newspapers.com/image/735167933/?match=1&terms=Albert%20Bierstadt “Look at This.” Boston Evening Transcript. Dec. 19, 1850. https://www.newspapers.com/image/735037015/?match=1&terms=Albert%20Bierstadt “Meet the artists of the Hudson River School and visit the places in nature that they painted and made famous.” Hudson River School Art Trail. https://www.hudsonriverschool.org/artists “Albert Bierstadt.” The Art Story. https://www.theartstory.org/artist/bierstadt-albert/ “Mission.” National Academy of Design. https://nationalacademy.org/the-academy/about-us Quinn, Karen. “American Landscape Painting: Albert Bierstadt and the American Land.” Museum of Fine Arts Boston. February 13, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phAETFErwRU&t=9s “Roman Fish Market. Arch of Octavius.” Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. De Young Museum. https://www.famsf.org/artworks/roman-fish-market-arch-of-octavius See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We are in the thick of multiple sports seasons: the NBA finals are happening, and baseball and soccer are in full swing. For devoted fans, emotions can run pretty high during a game. Cognitive anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas has long been fascinated by that intensity — and how uniform it can be across fans. So, he and fellow researchers at the University of Connecticut decided to look into what exactly makes fans so deeply connected to their team and to fellow supporters. It turns out that connection may have less to do with actual gameplay and more to do with rituals. Their research was recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Questions about sports science? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Most marketers will remember Apple's 1984 ad. Many consider it the “greatest ad of all time”. But you probably don't know that just 12 months earlier, Apple released a similar ad that failed. Why? Today on Nudge, bestselling author and storytelling expert Will Storr explains why. --- Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/0d88279296 Read Will's book: https://shorturl.at/yUGRC Visit Will's website: https://www.thescienceofstorytelling.com/ Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ --- Sources: Bransford, J. D., & Johnson, M. K. (1972). Contextual prerequisites for understanding: Some investigations of comprehension and recall. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11(6), 717–726. Flock Associates – Recife Sport club: Immortal Fans. Integrated Campaign by Ogilvy Brazil. https://youtu.be/E99ijQScSB8?si=TS3poMArJIqb-FtE Muth, C., Pepperell, R., & Carbon, C.-C. (2013). Give me Gestalt! Preference for cubist artworks revealing high detectability of objects. Leonardo, 46(5), 488–489. Walker, R., & Glenn, J. (2009). Significant Objects. Retrieved from https://significantobjects.com/ Wiessner, P. W. (2014). Embers of society: Firelight talk among the Ju/'hoansi Bushmen. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 111(39), 14027–14035. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1404212111
Water and the possibility of life on Mars Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, researchers explain what we know about the potential for water and life on Mars and what we might learn from analysis of returned samples. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:04] Mark Thiemens explains the importance of bringing samples from Mars back to Earth. •[02:37] Arya Udry explains the current gaps and limitations in the geological record provided by Martian meteorites. •[03:55] Bruce Jakosky explains what we currently know about the presence and history of water on Mars. •[05:26] Monica Grady explains how analyzing volatile species in Martian samples could provide insight into the planet's past climate. •[06:58] Rachel Slank describes the potential presence of liquid brines on Mars. •[08:27] Vashan Wright used recordings from a seismometer onboard NASA's InSight lander to estimate the volumes of liquid water that might be contained in the Martian mid-crust. •[10:14] Mark Sephton explains what biomarkers are and what kinds we might expect to find in Martian samples. •[11:34] Caroline Freissinet describes the discovery of long-chain organic molecules on Mars and the difficulties of conclusively identifying organic molecules as biomarkers. •[13:32] Thiemens explains the potentially far-reaching value of continuing to support the Mars Sample Return mission. •[14:37] Final thoughts and conclusion. About Our Guest: Mark Thiemens Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California at San Diego Arya Udry Associate Professor – Graduate coordinator University of Nevada, Las Vegas Bruce Jakosky Professor Emeritus University of Colorado Boulder Monica Grady Professor Emirita Open University Rachel Slank Postdoctoral Fellow Lunar and Planetary Institute Vashan Wright Assistant Professor University of California, San Diego Mark Sephton Professor Imperial College London Caroline Freissinet Researcher Laboratory for Atmospheres, Observations, and Space French National Centre for Scientific Research View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2421996121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2415280121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2404254121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2321080121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2404260121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2321067121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2409983121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2404256121 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2420580122 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter
The Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewski
Dr. Laura Chávez-Moreno is an award-winning scholar, qualitative social scientist, and assistant professor in the Departments of Chicana/o & Central American Studies and Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education. Her book published by Harvard Education Press, won the 2025 American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education Early Career Book of the Year Award. Dr. Chávez-Moreno's research has been published in top-tier academic journals and recognized with prestigious awards from organizations such as the American Educational Research Association and the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation. In 2023, she received the Alan C. Purves Award from the National Council of Teachers of English for her article, “The continuum of racial literacies: Teacher practices countering whitestream bilingual education,” published in Research in the Teaching of English. This annual award honors the article deemed most significant in advancing the field. Dr. Chávez-Moreno has taught at all levels of schooling, from elementary and secondary to tertiary and older-adult education. Her five years as a high school Spanish teacher in the School District of Philadelphia included writing district curriculum and serving on boards of community organizations. https://latino.ucla.edu/person/laura-c-chavez-moreno/
If you've ever dreamed of what it would be like to be a marine biologist or marine ecologist, days spent scuba diving and swimming alongside sea turtles, all to better understand and protect our ocean, well then, you're about to meet one of your heroes. Today, we are bringing you an episode of the podcast Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. It's an award-winning show from our friends at Nature on PBS featuring some of the coolest champions of nature, including someone you are about to meet: marine ecologist Alannah Vellacott. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. Sea Change's executive producer is Carlyle Calhoun. Our theme music is by Jon Batiste, and our sound designer is Emily Jankowski. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. It's also supported by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
Discusses the responsible integration of AI into healthcare delivery. Our guest today is Dr. Yauheni Solad who is a Managing Partner at Dalos Partners, leading healthcare AI strategy and validation. Dr. Solad is a research affiliate at Yale University and a board-certified physician in clinical informatics. He formerly led digital health innovation at UC Davis Health and Yale, advancing FHIR interoperability, telemedicine, and responsible AI standards. Additional resources: ReAligned Healthcare podcast: https://realignedhealthcare.com/ Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association: https://academic.oup.com/jamia The Lancet Digital Health: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/home Deep Medicine: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/3350442 Request for Information on the Development of an AI Action Plan: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/06/2025-02305/request-for-information-on-the-development-of-an-artificial-intelligence-ai-action-plan WHO Harnessing AI for Health: https://www.who.int/teams/digital-health-and-innovation/harnessing-artificial-intelligence-for-health National Academy of Medicine AI and Emerging Technology: https://nam.edu/our-work/key-issues/artificial-intelligence-and-emerging-technology/ CITI Program's course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
The human brain is extremely complicated, but decades of careful neuroscientific research have revealed quite a bit about how it works, including how certain genes affect particular brain behaviors. Nevertheless, this progress has not led to quite as much improvement in the treatment of brain disorders as we might expect. I talk with neuroscientist Nicole Rust about why this is and how to improve the situation, as discussed in her new book Elusive Cures.Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025/06/09/317-nicole-rust-on-why-neuroscience-hasnt-solved-brain-disorders/Support Mindscape on Patreon.Nicole C. Rust received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from New York University. She is currently a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a contributing editor at The Transmitter and an editor at BrainFacts.org. Among her awards are the Troland Research Award from the National Academy of Sciences.Web siteUPenn web pageGoogle Scholar publicationsWikipediaBlueskySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Explore the science behind the claims Living Forever-ish is about living a little bit longer and a whole lot stronger! In this episode, we discuss the connection between muscle and longevity and glean insights on supportive research. Dr. David Allison joins Drs. Mike and Crystal to uncover the known and unknown health benefits of muscle, the difference between strength and functional training, and why stressing over protein may not be the best idea. #LELEARN David B. Allison, Ph.D. David B. Allison, Ph.D., is Dean, Distinguished Professor, and Provost Professor at the Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health-Bloomington. His research interests include obesity and nutrition, quantitative genetics, clinical trials, statistical and research methodology, and research rigor and integrity. Co-Chair of the National Academy of Sciences' Strategic Council for Research Excellence, Integrity, and Trust, he is known as an indefatigable champion for increased rigor in all of science and the unvarnished truthful communication of research.
Lorsqu'on parle à un bébé, on adopte souvent, sans même y penser, une voix douce, chantante, au ton exagéré. Ce type de langage, que les linguistes appellent « parler bébé » ou « motherese » (ou encore infant-directed speech en anglais), est bien loin d'être idiot ou inutile. En réalité, il s'agit d'un outil d'apprentissage sophistiqué que la nature a probablement sélectionné pour favoriser le développement du langage chez l'humain.Une réponse instinctive… et universelleDès les années 1980, des études menées aux États-Unis et au Japon ont montré que ce comportement est universel : quelle que soit la culture, les adultes (et même les enfants plus âgés) parlent aux bébés avec des intonations plus marquées, un débit plus lent, une articulation exagérée et un vocabulaire simplifié. Cette modulation vocale est spontanée et souvent irrépressible.Pourquoi cette voix « niaisement attendrie » ?Ce style de communication remplit plusieurs fonctions essentielles :1. Captiver l'attention du bébé : les bébés sont naturellement plus attentifs aux sons aigus et aux variations de tonalité. Ce type de voix attire leur regard et les aide à se concentrer.2. Faciliter la reconnaissance des mots : en articulant plus lentement et en marquant les syllabes, on rend les sons plus lisibles. Cela aide les nourrissons à segmenter le flux sonore et à repérer les unités de langage.3. Renforcer l'attachement affectif : la tonalité douce et exagérée crée une interaction chaleureuse et sécurisante, essentielle au bon développement affectif du bébé.4. Encourager l'imitation : les bébés tentent souvent de reproduire ces sons, ce qui stimule la production vocale et prépare à la parole.Des preuves scientifiquesUne étude publiée en 2014 dans Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences a montré que les bébés exposés régulièrement à ce type de langage développent plus rapidement leur capacité à distinguer les sons de leur langue maternelle. Plus récemment, une étude de l'Université de Cambridge (2020) a observé que les bébés réagissent plus fortement aux expressions faciales et aux voix typiques du baby talk, ce qui favorise les échanges précoces.ConclusionCe que l'on prend souvent pour une attitude « niaise » est en fait une stratégie d'apprentissage naturelle et efficace, qui maximise l'attention, le lien affectif et la compréhension. En d'autres termes, parler comme un guimauve attendri à un bébé n'est pas idiot : c'est profondément intelligent. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.
Germany's 2025 federal election saw the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) double its support to 20.8%, becoming the second largest party, while the Green Party fell from 14.8% to 11.6%. The AfD denies climate science and opposes environmental policies on economic grounds. This week, Alasdair interviews academic Felix Schulz, whose recent research has examined public attitudes toward climate policy across six countries - three in the global north and three in the global south. The research found that core values – particularly those derived from neoliberalism and free-market ideology – are more effective than socioeconomic factors in indicating how people will respond to climate policies. Felix and Alasdair discuss how neoliberal thinking has shaped public opinion, why climate policy must integrate social and economic considerations, and how job security concerns in industrial roles affect political support for climate action. Felix Schulz is a postdoctoral research fellow at Lund University researching public opinion and climate policy. Further reading: Why focusing on “climate change denial” is counterproductive, 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences People with neoliberal views are less likely to support climate-friendly policies, 2025, The Conversation Public support for climate policies and its ideological predictors across countries of the Global North and Global South, 2025, Ecological Economics Navigating sustainable futures: The role of terminal and instrumental values, 2024, Ecological Economics German elections: why most political parties aren't talking about the climate crisis, 2025, The Conversation Click here for our website to read all our most recent Land and Climate Review features and pieces.
The Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewskiThe Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewski
What is COF 999?UC Berkeley chemistry professor Dr. Omar Yaghi recently led a study which has the potential to be revolutionary in reducing the quantity of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. “Covalent organic framework number 999,” or COF 999, is a yellow, powder-like material that has billions of tiny holes. Inside of these holes, researchers in Dr. Yaghi's lab have installed molecular units that can seek out carbon dioxide, enabling the substance to suck in and capture the carbon dioxide. COF 999 has a huge capacity for absorbing emissions; half a pound of the powder can absorb as much carbon dioxide as a tree captures in a year.The carbon dioxide problemThe quantity of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached an all-time high, with a global average in 2023 of 419.3 parts per million. This immense amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from a number of human sources, the most common of which is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for energy. Carbon dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, and contributes significantly to global warming and other environmental issues, including ocean acidification.Applying COF 999 In an interview with Forbes, Dr. Yaghi described the way he sees COF 999 being implemented as a solution. The powder can be made into pellets or a coating, and then integrated into facilities where flue gas –the gas that is released from industrial processes –is released. “This flue gas would pass through the material and because it just plucks out CO2, it cleans CO2 from that flue before it reaches the atmosphere.” According to the San Francisco Standard, Dr. Yaghi says that the powder “requires no energy, shows no signs of degradation even after 100 uses, and is made from inexpensive, commercially available materials.” Another benefit is that the material only needs to be heated to 50 or 60 degrees Celsius, rather than to 120 like many other traditional materials necessary for carbon capture.In order to see significant change in the atmosphere's carbon dioxide concentration, we will need to couple preventing carbon dioxide emissions with direct air capture, which COF 999 can also do. According to Zihui Zhou, a UC Berkeley graduate student who worked in Dr. Yaghi's lab says, “Currently, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is more than 420 ppm, but that will increase to maybe 500 or 550 before we fully develop and employ flue gas capture. So if we want to decrease the concentration and go back to maybe 400 or 300 ppm, we have to use direct air capture.” It will take time, however, for scientists to be able to use COF 999 effectively. This is because the powder has not been tested in real-life scenarios, and therefore the costs and risks from the powder are largely unknown; for example, the powder might restrict air flow through filters when applied, reducing the practicality of the powder. About our guestDr. Omar Yaghi is a professor of chemistry at the University of California Berkeley, and the Founding Director of the Berkeley Global Science Institute, whose mission is to build centers of research in developing countries and provide opportunities for young scholars to discover and learn. He is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences as well as the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. ResourcesClimate.gov: Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon DioxideForbes: This Powder Could Be A Gamechanger For Capturing CO2The San Francisco Standard: The new solution to climate change? A yellow powder you can hold in your fingersUC Berkeley News: Capturing carbon from the air just got easierSmithsonian Magazine: This New, Yellow Powder Quickly Pulls Carbon Dioxide From the Air, and Researchers Say ‘There's Nothing Like It'For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/cof-999-carbon-capture-with-dr-omar-yaghi/
Die Amygdala ist unser Angstzentrum. Viele kennen sie auch als "Mandelkern". Diese Amygdala schrumpft und wächst, je nachdem, wie wir unser Gehirn benutzen. Und wir haben Einfluss darauf. **********Quellen aus der Folge:Maher, C., Tortolero, L., Jun, S., Cummins, D. D., Saad, A., Young, J., ... & Saez, I. (2025). Intracranial substrates of meditation-induced neuromodulation in the amygdala and hippocampus. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(6), e2409423122.Sato, W., Kochiyama, T., Uono, S., Sawada, R., & Yoshikawa, S. (2020). Amygdala activity related to perceived social support. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 2951. Sudimac, S., Sale, V., & Kühn, S. (2022).How nature nurtures: Amygdala activity decreases as the result of a one-hour walk in nature. Molecular psychiatry, 27(11), 4446-4452. Van Der Helm, E., Yao, J., Dutt, S., Rao, V., Saletin, J. M., & Walker, M. P. (2011). REM sleep depotentiates amygdala activity to previous emotional experiences. Current biology, 21(23), 2029-2023**********Mehr zum Thema bei Deutschlandfunk Nova:Neurowissenschaften: Was im Hirn passiert, wenn wir Angst habenWarum sich stressige Erlebnisse in unser Gehirn einbrennenNeurowissenschaften: Das Gehirn trainieren**********Den Artikel zum Stück findet ihr hier.**********Ihr könnt uns auch auf diesen Kanälen folgen: TikTok und Instagram .**********Ihr habt Anregungen, Ideen, Themenwünsche? Dann schreibt uns gern unter achtsam@deutschlandfunknova.de
Meet Professor Bryan Fry – Venom Scientist, Komodo Dragon Expert, and All-Around Adventure Seeker When your guest has an adrenaline molecule tattooed on his neck, you know you're in for a wild ride — and this episode absolutely delivers. Professor Bryan Fry is one of the world's leading experts on venom and Komodo dragons, and in this episode of The Fur Real Podcast, he breaks down the fascinating science behind what venom actually is (spoiler: it's not just poison!), how it evolves depending on a species' environment, and why the Komodo dragon's bite is way more complex — and deadly — than you might think. We explore how animals use venom not just for defense, but also for hunting, survival, and even communication. From snakes to sea creatures to the legendary Komodo dragon, Professor Fry shares jaw-dropping stories from his fieldwork that will make you see these creatures in a whole new light.
National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt, PhD, delivered the 2025 Commencement address at UMass Chan Medical School on June 3. Listen to Dr. McNutt's full speech in this podcast episode. Dr. McNutt and the others also received honorary degrees during the ceremony. Learn more about the recipients on UMass Chan news: https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2025/06/video-learn-about-umass-chans-2025-commencement-honorees/
Using reinforcement learning to plan for an uncertain climate future Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Ning Lin talks about how reinforcement learning methods plant to mitigate climate risk despite uncertainty in climate change risk forecasts. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[1:04] Civil engineer Ning Lin introduces why climate forecast uncertainty complicates risk management planning. •[02:41] Lin explains how reinforcement learning works. •[03:26] She talks about why the team studied risk management for Manhattan. •[04:54] Lin explains the results of the reinforcement learning study. •[05:40] She recounts the results that surprised her. •[07:25] Lin explains the takeaways from the study for emergency planners. •[09:00] She enumerates the caveats and limitations of the study. •[10:11] Conclusion. About Our Guest: Ning Lin Professor Princeton University View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2402826122 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Professor Maureen Cropper, Chair of the Economics Department at the University of Maryland and a leading environmental economist, about her recent research on the health and economic impacts of toxic chemicals in plastics.We explore how an economist came to study chemical exposures and what her research reveals about the true cost of common compounds found in everyday plastic products. The conversation focuses on three major groups of toxic chemicals (BPA, DEHP, and PBDEs) and the serious health risks linked to them. Professor Cropper explains where these chemicals are commonly found, who is most at risk, and how she estimated both the public health burden and the economic costs tied to ongoing exposure.You'll also hear about what she believes needs to change: the policy actions, regulatory strategies, and paradigm shifts necessary to move toward safer, healthier materials. If you're concerned about chemicals in consumer products, interested in environmental health policy, or curious how economists quantify health risks, this episode is a great listen! Professor Maureen Cropper is a Distinguished University Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland and Chair of the Economics Department. She is also a Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future and a former Lead Economist at the World Bank. Dr. Cropper is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Her research focuses on valuing environmental amenities, estimating consumer preferences for health and longevity improvements, and analyzing the trade-offs inherent in environmental regulations. Her recent work examines the public health and economic impacts of toxic chemicals found in plastics. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her monthly newsletter here.Support the show
This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen is joined by Dr. Sarah Case Lackner to explore the emerging risks and evolving opportunities at the intersection of artificial intelligence and nuclear security. With increasing attention on the resilience of global infrastructure, Dr. Case Lackner unpacks how AI is reshaping nuclear supply chains, the hidden dangers of counterfeit components, and the urgent need for cybersecurity preparedness across the sector.From predictive maintenance tools to the threat of ransomware and supply chain sabotage, this conversation highlights both the promise and peril of integrating AI into one of the world's most high-consequence industries. Dr. Case Lackner shares her insights on AI explainability, capacity building, the role of red-teaming in nuclear facilities, and the broader international risks facing today's critical infrastructure professionals.Dr. Sarah Case Lackner is a Senior Fellow at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP). She previously served as a Senior Nuclear Security Officer at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and held roles at the U.S. Department of State and the National Academy of Sciences. With a PhD in Physics from the University of Chicago, she brings both scientific expertise and extensive policy experience to the global nuclear security conversation.Related Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Nuclear Security and the Nuclear Supply Chain in the Age of Artificial Intelligence – Co-authored by Dr. Case Lackner, this report explores the intersection of AI technologies and nuclear security.Securing the Nuclear Supply Chain: A Handbook of Case Studies on Counterfeit, Fraudulent and Suspect Items – A key report mentioned in the episode, offering real-world examples of supply chain vulnerabilities.The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for all our great updates.Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly briefs.Tell us what you liked!
He's worked from Hanoi to Berlin to America's old-growth forests. “As a photographer, it's only in getting lost that you move forward.” As a civilian, when I get lost, I pretty much just get lost. Another reason to admire him. Produced with the National Academy of Design. Music: Stephanie Jenkins.
The Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewski
Copper State of Mind: public relations, media, and marketing in Arizona
Local news is facing serious challenges everywhere, with more than half the counties in the United States lacking any source of community reporting. Chris Kline, CEO of the Arizona Media Association, joins us to talk about the Arizona Community Collaborative and its efforts to revitalize local news in Arizona with a bold, statewide storytelling initiative focused on the topic of education solutions.Backed by a coalition of nearly 400 media brands, and with $2 million in philanthropy already raised, the Arizona Community Collaborative is expanding journalism coverage in local communities throughout the state to spark informed kitchen-table discussions about the biggest issues affecting Arizona's future.Read the transcript and notes for this episode on our website. Key Takeaways A new initiative in Arizona focuses on expanding local journalism specifically around "education solutions." The Arizona Community Collaborative is hiring dedicated journalists to report on educational topics throughout the state, enhancing community engagement and informed discussion. This initiative demonstrates the importance of nonpartisan, community-based journalism, and it's crucial for public relations professionals to invest in and support local newsrooms. About the GuestChris Kline is the President and CEO of the Arizona Media Association and the Arizona Local News Foundation. He leads a coalition of nearly 400 local radio, TV, print and digital brands with a focus on future-proofing local media and its critical role in community connection. Chris previously led the Arizona Broadcasters Association and spent 15 years working in Arizona local media at radio, TV and print operations plus at CNN in Washington, DC. Chris serves on boards at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, University of Arizona's Journalism School, Arizona's emergency communications committee, the Desert Botanical Gardens, the East Valley Institute of Technology, Arizona Talks, and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.Follow the podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen Need to hire a PR firm? We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors." CreditsCopper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is a project of
Es este episodio especial conversamos con Rolando González-José sobre la institucionalidad de la Antropología Biológica (y de la ciencia) en distintos contextos, en especial en la América Latina del presente. Rolando González José es Investigador Principal del CONICET (Argentina) y Coordinador del Programa de Referencia y Biobanco Genómico de la Población Argentina. Se graduó de Biólogo en la Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, y realizó su Doctorado en Biología Humana en la Universidad de Barcelona, España. Fue dos veces Vicedirector del Centro Nacional Patagónico, el mayor centro de investigación multidisciplinaria del CONICET en la Patagonia. También fue Director del Instituto Patagónico de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas. Fue presidente de la Asociación Argentina de Antropología Biológica entre 2009 y 2011, y Vicepresidente de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Antropología Biológica (entre 2013 y 2015). Presenta más de 120 publicaciones en distintas revistas científicas incluyendo Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), Nature Communications, Journal of Human Evolution, American Journal of Human Biology, PLoS Genetics, entre otras. En el año 2004 fundó el Grupo de Investigación en Biología Humana, integrado por 15 profesionales entre los que se cuentan antropólogos, genetistas, nutricionistas, biólogos, médicos e informáticos. Sus intereses de investigación giran en torno a la genética de poblaciones, la evolución de la variación craneofacial eh homínidos, el poblamiento Americano, las poblaciones cosmopolitas de Latinoamérica y el desarrollo de dispositivos basados en tecnología de imagen para aplicaciones biomédicas. Contact Dr. González-José: rolando@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar Twitter: @RoloGonzalezOK Facebook: facebook.com/rolando.gonzalezjose ------------------------------ Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association: Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc Cristina Gildee, Co-Host, SoS Producer, HBA Junior Fellow Website: cristinagildee.org, E-mail: cgildee@uw.edu, Twitter:@CristinaGildee Anahi Ruderman, Co-Host, SoS Co-Producer, HBA Junior Fellow E-mail: aniruderman@gmail.com, Twitter: @ani_ruderman Miguel Ochoa, Guest Co-Host E-mail: mochoa88@uw.edu,
In this video, Dr. Ettensohn examines the growing claim that Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is almost entirely genetic, offering a critical, clinically grounded reflection on what the current science actually supports—and where it falls short. He discusses how genetic contributions to personality traits are often misunderstood, and why claims of “hardwired narcissism” oversimplify a profoundly complex developmental process. Drawing from empirical research, neurodevelopmental theory, and clinical observation, Dr. Ettensohn explores how narcissistic pathology emerges not simply from temperament, but from early relational experiences—especially chronic emotional neglect, inconsistent attunement, and conditional regard. He addresses how brain plasticity, diagnostic controversies, and the misunderstood vulnerable core of NPD further complicate the genetic narrative. This video offers a nuanced perspective for anyone seeking to understand NPD beyond reductive models, emphasizing the importance of relational context, developmental history, and psychological depth. References: Brummelman, E., Thomaes, S., Nelemans, S. A., Orobio de Castro, B., Overbeek, G., & Bushman, B. J. (2015). Origins of narcissism in children. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(12), 3659–3662. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1420870112 Chen, Y., Jiang, X., Sun, Y., & Wang, Y. (2023). Neuroanatomical markers of social cognition in neglected adolescents. NeuroImage: Clinical, 38, 103501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103501 Gatz, M., Reynolds, C. A., Fratiglioni, L., Johansson, B., Mortimer, J. A., Berg, S., & Pedersen, N. L. (2006). Role of genes and environments for explaining Alzheimer disease. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(2), 168–174. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.2.168 Horton, R. S., Bleau, G., & Drwecki, B. (2006). Parenting Narcissus: What are the links between parenting and narcissism? Journal of Personality, 74(2), 345–376. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2005.00380.x Luo, Y. L. L., Cai, H., & Song, H. (2014). A behavioral genetic study of intrapersonal and interpersonal dimensions of narcissism. PLOS ONE, 9(4), e93403. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093403 Nenadić, I., Lorenz, C., & Gaser, C. (2021). Narcissistic personality traits and prefrontal brain structure. Scientific Reports, 11, 15707. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94920-z Otway, L. J., & Vignoles, V. L. (2006). Narcissism and childhood recollections: A quantitative test of psychoanalytic predictions. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32(1), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167205279907 Schulze, L., Dziobek, I., Vater, A., Heekeren, H. R., Bajbouj, M., Renneberg, B., & Roepke, S. (2013). Gray matter abnormalities in patients with narcissistic personality disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47(10), 1363–1369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.05.017 Skodol, A. E. (2012). The revision of personality disorder diagnosis in DSM-5: What's new? Current Psychiatry Reports, 14(1), 39–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-011-0243-2
What Does It Meant To Be A (Family) PhysicianPresented by Thomas L. Schwenk, MD, University of NevadaSTFM Annual Spring Conference 2025 General Session | Monday, May 5, 2025The enduring values of family medicine center on the compassionate, comprehensive care of patients over time. That care has defined family medicine and motivated family physicians for decades. Today, simply providing excellent care for patients may not be enough in the face of an extraordinarily perverse and dysfunctional health care system that often does everything in its power to make caring for patients difficult, stressful and discouraging. The regenerative power of the physician-patient relationship is often compromised and thwarted by a health care system that ranks as the worst in the world among developed countries. The health care system rides on the backs of family and other primary care physicians, and those backs are bending painfully under the system's weight.The solution lies in using the power of the physician-patient relationship as the source of motivation and energy to fight for the very soul of our profession, fight for the core of what it means to be a family physician, fight for operational changes that are designed for quality instead of efficiency, fight for informational and technological solutions that promote continuity, and fight for model operations that show our learners how attractive family medicine can be. This fight will require leadership at all levels of the discipline of family medicine. Through stories and personal anecdotes from his career, the presenter will illustrate the regenerative power of the physician-patient relationship and the power of the family physician's role as an agent for change.Learning ObjectivesAt the end of the session each participant should:Be exposed to the core importance and regenerative power of the physician-patient relationshipHave the opportunity to reflect on their own commitment to the core attributes of the physician-patient relationship as the motivation to fight for operational changes in the health care systemHave the opportunity to consider their role as a leader in preserving and supporting the physician-patient relationshipCopyright © Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2025Thomas L. Schwenk, MDThomas L. Schwenk, MD, holds an appointment as dean emeritus at the University of Nevada, Reno, having served as dean of the School of Medicine and Vice-President of Health Sciences from 2011–2021.Dr. Schwenk earned his B.S. degree in chemical engineering and M.D. from the University of Michigan. He trained at the University of Utah and practiced in Park City, Utah, before returning to the University of Michigan where he served as chair of the Department of Family Medicine from 1986–2011. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Family Medicine and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2002. He also served for four years on the Administrative Board of the Council of Deans of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Dr Schwenk's research has focused most recently on mental health and wellness in medical students, residents and physicians. He has co-authored over 160 publications, and has consulted to over 50 medical schools and teaching hospitals in various capacities. All Episodes
Today Justin sits dow with repeat guest John Lisle. John has a PhD in history from the University of Texas where he is now a professor of The History of Science. He's received research and writing awards from The National Academy of Sciences, The American Institute of Physics, and The National Endowment for the Humanities. His work has been published in Skeptic, Scientific American, Smithsonian Magazine, and elsewhere. If you are a longtime listener of the podcast, you might remember John from our fourth episode four years ago. Today he's back to discuss his newest book, Project Mind Control, which tells the tragic story of the CIA's MK Ultra experiments.Check out John's first appearance on Ep 4: Cyanide Pills and Glowing Foxes here.Connect with John:johnlislehistorian.comTwitter: @JohnLisleCheck out the book, Project Mind Control, here.https://a.co/d/0ncO4TsConnect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.OC Strategic AcademyLearn spy skills to hack your own reality. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to get 10% off any course!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
Since the mid-1990s, the U.S. social safety net has been geared towards policies that encourage and reward work. While steady jobs and decent wages are the surest routes out of poverty, evidence shows that safety-net work requirements rarely translate into higher employment among beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP–formerly known as “food stamps”). Diane Schanzenbach joins EconoFact Chats to explain how stricter mandates often push people off SNAP without pulling them into the labor market, a dynamic that becomes more relevant as Congress weighs bills that would make continued SNAP and Medicaid benefits contingent on having or actively seeking work. Diane is the Margaret Walker Alexander Professor of Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University. She is also a member of the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine. She recently testified in front of the House Committee on Agriculture on the issue of increasing SNAP's mandatory work requirements.
Riddle us this: Which animal is pink, curved beaked and a master of the physics required to create water tornadoes? If you guessed flamingos, you're right. New research out this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that across a range of harsh environments, flamingos have become masters — of physics, fluid dynamics and so much more — all in pursuit of their filter-fed prey. Short Wave host Regina G. Barber sits down with biomechanics researcher Victor Ortega Jiménez to hear all of the incredibly involved lengths these birds go through to get their prey. Want to hear about more physics or animal discoveries? Email us at shortwave@nprg.org to tell us what areas of science you'd be interested in.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Did you know that all of the growth in federal spending as a percentage of the national income is due to the growth of "uncontrollables"? In this interview, we discuss the following: ►What are "uncontrollables"? Why are they 'mandatory'? ►What are entitlements? How are they treated differently than discretionary budget spending? ►What was the Budget Resolution Process that was introduced in the 1970s? ►How did Pres. Cleveland, Roosevelt (FDR), Reagan and Clinton control government budget? ►Which president reduced our entitlement programs the most? ►What was FDR's biggest mistake, the consequences of which still impacts us? ►What are the 3 requirements for reducing the budget deficit? ►How would my guest advise a U.S. president in reducing our budget deficit?
Two weeks ago, we hosted a Sea Change live event at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. We wanted to talk about the science behind the massive land loss crisis we are experiencing, what it means to live in a vanishing landscape, and importantly, what we can do about it. But this is New Orleans, so we also wanted to celebrate! Celebrate the culture and joy of living in this special place.And while we can't share food through the airwaves, we can share music. Join us for an incredible concert and conversation with musicians and scientists about the future of Louisiana's coast. Last week we brought you the first part of the live event. Today, you'll hear the second.This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Eva Tesfaye. We'd like to thank the New Orleans Jazz Museum for hosting us for this great event and the Bywater Bakery for providing everyone with delicious food. And thank you to our amazing guests: Louis Michot, Tommy Michot, Cocoa Creppel, and Sam Bentley. Sea Change's sound designer is Emily Jankowski, and our theme music is by Jon Batiste. Our executive producer is Carlyle Calhoun.---Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. And to help others find our podcast, hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Sea Change is also supported by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
The chemical industry is big business in Louisiana. Companies here manufacture plastics, fuels, pesticides, and cleaning products. But one part of the chemical industry that's often overlooked is the fertilizer business. Today, you're going to hear the story of modern fertilizer, and how this powerful concoction of chemicals has radically reshaped how we farm and what we eat. In this episode, we follow the journey of fertilizer from Louisiana to the Midwest, then back down along the Mississippi River to a place it creates in the Gulf. A place called: The Dead Zone.This episode was produced in collaboration with the Food & Environment Reporting Network, an independent, nonprofit news organization. We also had support from the Mississippi River Basin Ag and Water Desk. This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and reported by Garrett Hazelwood and Eric Schmid. This episode was edited by Eve Abrams. Additional help from Carlyle Calhoun, Eva Tesfaye, Ryan Vasquez, Ted Ross, and Brent Cunningham. The episode was fact-checked by Naomi Barr. Sea Change's executive producer is Carlyle Calhoun. Our theme music is by Jon Batiste, and our sound designer is Emily Jankowski. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX.Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. It's also supported by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
The Capitalism and Freedom in the Twenty-First Century Podcast
Jon Hartley and Kenneth Rogoff discuss Ken's career as an academic economist, his time in international economic policy, rising sovereign debt burdens, monetary policy, the legacy of quantitative easing, exchange rate theories, tariffs, and the US dollar's status as the world reserve currency. Recorded on May 12, 2025. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Kenneth Rogoff is Thomas D. Cabot Professor at Harvard University. From 2001-2003, Rogoff served as Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund. His 2009 book with Carmen Reinhart, This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly, has been very widely cited by academics, policymakers, and journalists. One regularity that Reinhart and Rogoff illustrate is the remarkable quantitative similarities across time and countries in the run-up and the aftermath of severe financial crises. In general, they show that for financial crises, the differences between emerging markets and advanced countries are far less pronounced than previously believed. Rogoff is also known for his seminal work on exchange rates and on central bank independence. His treatise, Foundations of International Macroeconomics (joint with Maurice Obstfeld), is the standard graduate text in the field worldwide. His monthly syndicated column on global economic issues is published in over 50 countries. He serves on the Economic Advisory Panel of the New York Federal Reserve. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Rogoff is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Group of Thirty. Rogoff is among the top ten on RePEc's ranking of economists by scholarly citations. He is also an international grandmaster of chess. Jon Hartley is currently a Policy Fellow at the Hoover Institution, an economics PhD Candidate at Stanford University, a Research Fellow at the UT-Austin Civitas Institute, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and an Affiliated Scholar at the Mercatus Center. Jon is also the host of the Capitalism and Freedom in the 21st Century Podcast, an official podcast of the Hoover Institution, a member of the Canadian Group of Economists, and the chair of the Economic Club of Miami. Jon has previously worked at Goldman Sachs Asset Management as a Fixed Income Portfolio Construction and Risk Management Associate and as a Quantitative Investment Strategies Client Portfolio Management Senior Analyst and in various policy/governmental roles at the World Bank, IMF, Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Bank of Canada. Jon has also been a regular economics contributor for National Review Online, Forbes, and The Huffington Post and has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Globe and Mail, National Post, and Toronto Star, among other outlets. Jon has also appeared on CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News, Bloomberg, and NBC and was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 Law & Policy list, the 2017 Wharton 40 Under 40 list, and was previously a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. ABOUT THE SERIES: Each episode of Capitalism and Freedom in the 21st Century, a video podcast series and the official podcast of the Hoover Economic Policy Working Group, focuses on getting into the weeds of economics, finance, and public policy on important current topics through one-on-one interviews. Host Jon Hartley asks guests about their main ideas and contributions to academic research and policy. The podcast is titled after Milton Friedman‘s famous 1962 bestselling book Capitalism and Freedom, which after 60 years, remains prescient from its focus on various topics which are now at the forefront of economic debates, such as monetary policy and inflation, fiscal policy, occupational licensing, education vouchers, income share agreements, the distribution of income, and negative income taxes, among many other topics. For more information, visit: capitalismandfreedom.substack.com/
Send us a textIn today's episode, Matthew has a discussion with Dr. Jonathan Ripp. He is the Chief Wellness Officer and Dean of Well-Being and Resilience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Dr Ripp has authored many publications on the subject of healthcare provider wellness including many articles, a textbook, and National Academy of Medicine publications. They discuss the role of a Chief Wellness Officer, the culture of poor self-care in healthcare workers, and initiatives to improve the healthcare workplace. AANA Helpline: 800-654-5167Physician HelpLine:888-409-0141Suicide Hotline988QPR Traininghttps://qprinstitute.com/Please check back often for more episodes pertaining to health and wellness for healthcare providers and caregivers.Please send your questions to providerwellnesspodcast@gmail.comThanks for listening and please subscribe and share this episode.Please go to MatthewZinder.com to check out more offerings like workshops, wellness coaching, and lecture/public speaking topics.
The Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewskiThe Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewski
As the United States, led by the Trump administration, charts its course as a world power in AI, the nation's adversaries, particularly China, are taking major strides as well. And the decisions made today in this race to AI will define the character of competition and conflict for years to come. Ylli Bajraktari, president and CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project, joins the podcast to characterize this global competition from a defense and national security perspective ahead of his organization's massive AI + Expo June 2-4 at the Washington Convention Center. Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios criticized diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in federally funded research, calling them “close-minded” in a speech Monday. During remarks before the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, Kratsios called for a reduction of “red tape” in scientific research and fostering what the Trump administration is labeling “gold standard science.” Under that standard, there would be a “suspicion of blind consensus,” he said, arguing that there is a “crisis of confidence in scientists” that comes from fears that political biases are impacting research. Kratsios specifically pointed to DEI as antithetical to that mission, echoing a common refrain for the Trump administration, which has sought to rid the federal government of such programs, positions, offices and research. “DEI initiatives, in particular, degrade our scientific enterprise,” Kratsios said. “DEI represents an existential threat to the real diversity of thought that forms the foundation of the scientific community.” The remarks at the National Academy of Sciences — a nongovernmental membership organization aimed at promoting good scientific principles — come as the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the federal government have impacted federally funded research. The General Services Administration has entered a governmentwide buying agreement with Salesforce, the parent company of Slack, to reduce the price of the enterprise version of the workplace productivity and collaboration tool by 90% per user for federal agencies. GSA said in a press release Monday that it renegotiated “lower, fragmented discounts from individual agency deals” for a deal based on “total government purchasing volume” for Slack Enterprise Grid, resulting in a steep discount for agencies that will expire Nov. 30. The two parties also reached an agreement that will lower the price of Slack AI for Enterprise for agencies by “almost 70% off per user.” Salesforce, which acquired Slack in 2021 for $27.7 billion, is the latest commercial software vendor to reach a governmentwide purchasing agreement with GSA this year, resulting in lower costs for agencies. Google and Adobe also entered into agreements with the Trump administration since its inauguration. GSA and Microsoft arranged a similar deal that came just days before the Trump administration entered office. Also in this episode: Salesforce Executive Vice President for Global Public Sector Paul Tatum joins SNG host Wyatt Kash in a sponsored podcast discussion on how AI agents can help government agencies improve service delivery and internal workflows. This segment was sponsored by Salesforce. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.
Over 160 million Americans are served by Optum, yet many still don't fully understand what it actually does—or why it matters.Dr. Patrick Conway, newly appointed CEO of Optum and former head of CMS Innovation Center and Blue Cross NC, joins Steve for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of healthcare delivery, affordability, and the potential of value-based care at a national scale. With experience spanning the frontlines of medicine to top government and corporate leadership, Conway breaks down how Optum aims to improve care while controlling costs—and why he continues to practice as a pediatric hospitalist on weekends.We cover:
Insights in route planning from London taxi drivers Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, Hugo Spiers, Pablo Fernández Velasco, and Eva-Marie Griesbauer share what they learned about human route planning from talking with London taxi drivers. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:59] Cognitive neuroscientist Hugo Spiers reviews previous studies on human route planning. •[01:29] Cognitive scientist and philosopher Pablo Fernández Velasco talks about why they chose to study London taxi drivers. •[01:49] Spiers describes the test that qualifies London taxi drivers. •[02:39] Spiers explains the experimental procedure. •[04:01] A recording of a taxi driver describing a route. •[04:57] Fernández talks about the data analysis. •[05:22] Psychologist Eva-Maria Griesbauer talks about the experience of interviewing taxi drivers. •[05:56] Fernández, Spiers, and Griesbauer recount the results of the study. •[08:43] Fernández and Spiers talk about the implications for the study of human route planning. •[10:22] Fernández describes the caveats and limitations of the study. •[11:15] Conclusion. About Our Guests: Hugo Spiers Professor University College London Pablo Fernández Velasco Postdoctoral researcher University of York Eva-Maria Griesbauer Postdoctoral researcher University College London View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2407814122 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter
The gang tries to discuss two papers that look at the evolutionary impacts of the K-Pg mass extinction. Specifically, they look at one paper that estimates sampling probability throughout the late Cretaceous to determine if record bias influences our understanding of the extinction, and another paper that looks at species area relationships to investigate ecological shifts in response to the event. However, the gang gets completely lost and sidetracked throughout. They starting talking about the papers around 18 minutes in… and very quickly lose track again. It's going to be one of those podcasts. Up-Goer Five (Curt Edition): The friends do a real bad job of talking about two papers that look at what happened when a big rock fell from the sky a long time ago. The first paper looks at the rocks we have from that time and tries to see how well we know what was happening and what was going on with the animals that were around at that time. Given the rocks we have, how sure are we that we know where animals were and how many of those things were around. It turns out that just before the big rock hit, we do not have a good idea of what things were around and where they were. The second paper looks at how the places where things were living in the past changed before and after the big rock hit. The idea is that some animals may have done well because they could go to all of the places when things get bad because they do well when things go bad. This paper says that this is not happening and that there is way more going on with these groups that were doing well after the big rock hit. References: Close, Roger Adam, and Bouwe Rutger Reijenga. "Tetrapod species–area relationships across the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122.13 (2025): e2419052122. Dean, Christopher D., et al. "The structure of the end-Cretaceous dinosaur fossil record in North America." Current Biology (2025).
John Holdren is the Teresa and John Heinz Research Professor for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and co-director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. He is a former Professor of Environmental Science and Policy in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Affiliated Professor in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science. He is also President Emeritus and Senior Advisor to the President at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, a pre-eminent, independent, environmental-research organization. From 2009 to 2017, Holdren was President Obama's Science Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, becoming the longest-serving Science Advisor to the President in the history of the position. Before joining Harvard, was a professor of energy resources at the University of California, Berkeley, where he founded and led the interdisciplinary graduate-degree program in energy and resources. Prior to that he was a theoretical physicist in the Theory Group of the Magnetic Fusion Energy Division at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a Senior Research Fellow at Caltech. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the MacArthur Foundation and Chairman of the Committee on International Security and Arms Control at the National Academy of Sciences. During the Clinton Administration, he served for both terms on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, leading multiple studies on energy-technology innovation and nuclear arms control. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Academy of Political and Social Science, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a foreign member of the Royal Society of London and the Indian National Academy of Engineering and a former President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His many honors include one of the first MacArthur Prize Fellowships (1981) and the Moynihan Prize of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences. In 1995, he gave the acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, an international organization of scientists and public figures. He holds SB and SM degrees from MIT in aeronautics and astronautics and a Ph.D. from Stanford in aeronautics and astronautics and theoretical plasma physics.Jennifer Spence is the Director of the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, with expertise related to sustainable development, international governance, institutional effectiveness, and public policy. Spence currently co-chairs the Arctic Research Cooperation and Diplomacy Research Priority Team for the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV), participates as a member of the Climate Expert Group for the Arctic Council's Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, and sits as a member of the Yukon Arctic Security Advisory Council. Spence was the Executive Secretary of the Arctic Council's Sustainable Development Working Group from 2019-2023. Previously, she taught and conducted research at Carleton University and worked for a 2-year term at the United Nations Development Programme. She also worked for 18 years with the Government of Canada in senior positions related to resource management, conflict and change management, strategic planning, and leadership development. Spence holds a Ph.D. in public policy from Carleton University, a MA from Royal Roads University in conflict management and analysis, and a BA in political science from the University of British Columbia.Ralph Ranalli of the HKS Office of Communications and Public Affairs is the host, producer, and editor of HKS PolicyCast. A former journalist, public television producer, and entrepreneur, he holds an BA in political science from UCLA and a master's in journalism from Columbia University.Scheduling and logistical support for PolicyCast is provided by Lilian Wainaina.Design and graphics support is provided by Laura King and the OCPA Design Team. Web design and social media promotion support is provided by Catherine Santrock and Natalie Montaner. Editorial support is provided by Nora Delaney and Robert O'Neill.
Today on Louisiana Considered, we bring you a special episode of the coastal podcast Sea Change. Live from the New Orleans Jazz Museum, we hear conversations and songs about the intersection between climate and culture from scientists, tribe leaders and musicians. Hosts Carlyle Calhoun and Eva Tesfaye are joined by musician Louis Michot; his father and musician and scientist and coastal researcher, Tommy Michot; musician and former Chief of the Houma Nation, Cocoa Creppel; and Professor of Sedimentary Geology, Sam Bentley.—Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network and distributed by PRX. And to help others find our podcast, hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Sea Change is made possible with major support from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Sea Change is also supported by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans. WWNO's Coastal Desk is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Meraux Foundation, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
In medicine, failure can be catastrophic. It can also produce discoveries that save millions of lives. Tales from the front line, the lab, and the I.T. department. SOURCES:Amy Edmondson, professor of leadership management at Harvard Business School.Carole Hemmelgarn, co-founder of Patients for Patient Safety U.S. and director of the Clinical Quality, Safety & Leadership Master's program at Georgetown University.Gary Klein, cognitive psychologist and pioneer in the field of naturalistic decision making.Robert Langer, institute professor and head of the Langer Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.John Van Reenen, professor at the London School of Economics. RESOURCES:Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, by Amy Edmondson (2023).“Reconsidering the Application of Systems Thinking in Healthcare: The RaDonda Vaught Case,” by Connor Lusk, Elise DeForest, Gabriel Segarra, David M. Neyens, James H. Abernathy III, and Ken Catchpole (British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2022)."Estimates of preventable hospital deaths are too high, new study shows," by Bill Hathaway (Yale News, 2020).“Dispelling the Myth That Organizations Learn From Failure,” by Jeffrey Ray (SSRN, 2016).“A New, Evidence-Based Estimate of Patient Harms Associated With Hospital Care,” by John T. James (Journal of Patient Safety, 2013).To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, by the National Academy of Sciences (1999).“Polymers for the Sustained Release of Proteins and Other Macromolecules,” by Robert Langer and Judah Folkman (Nature, 1976).The Innovation and Diffusion Podcast, by John Van Reenen and Ruveyda Gozen. EXTRAS:"The Curious, Brilliant, Vanishing Mr. Feynman," series by Freakonomics Radio (2024).“Will a Covid-19 Vaccine Change the Future of Medical Research?” by Freakonomics Radio (2020).“Bad Medicine, Part 3: Death by Diagnosis,” by Freakonomics Radio (2016).
The Diet Doc, LLC, is the parent company to many health, fitness, nutrition, and behavioral projects. Founded 25 years ago by Joe Klemczewski, PhD, known as the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, The Diet Doc is equipping the next generation of nutrition coaches. Joe has created the Flexible Dieting Institute, the FDI Professional Coach Association, the National Academy of Metabolic Science, the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind, the Life Mastery Podcast, Contest Prep University, and the Mind-Muscle Connection. Whether you're listening to a podcast or interview as a life transformation client, a physique sport competitor, a performance athlete, a fitness entrepreneur, or just need some life motivation, Joe won't disappoint! We hope you will explore what we offer and look for our free videos and articles at https://thedietdoc.com THE FLEXIBLE DIETING INSTITUTE playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHMDbJ2EZgGv6R_Ou_nEMQwZ THE SCIENCE OF STAGE-READY: CONTEST PREP UNIVERSITY playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaFD0Y6EtWHOqNOa5UFFs1QOH2CTrWw2W THE MIND-MUSCLE CONNECTION playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ist=PLaFD0Y6EtWHNAvcX9hmj7FHBNdWUa1GvE THE DIET DOC CONTEST PREP PROGRAM OPTIONS: https://thedietdoc.com/contest-prep SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thedietdocweightloss HOW WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR FITNESS CAREER! * Become a member of the Flexible Dieting Institute Professional Coach Association and let us help you build an amazing career! www.fdi.coach * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Certified Nutrition Consultant: www.namscoach.com * Become a National Academy of Metabolic Science Physique Sport & Transformation Coach: www.namscoach.com LET'S CONNECT! Website: https://www.thedietdoc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.klemczewski Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDietDoc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeklemczewski
Cancer is among the most common and feared diseases in the modern world. Dr. Selwyn Vickers—president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center—joins host Mark Labberton to discuss how precision oncology, data, and faith are transforming cancer treatment. A distinguished cancer surgeon and pancreatic cancer researcher, Vickers explains how groundbreaking advances in genomics, immunotherapy, and AI are transforming once-lethal diagnoses into survivable and even chronic conditions. Together, they explore not only the cutting-edge science of cancer care but also the spiritual, emotional, and social dimensions that affect every patient and caregiver. Resonating with themes of suffering, hope, and resurrection, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and courage for all who are affected by cancer—from those newly diagnosed, to medical professionals, to grieving families and curious listeners. Episode Highlights “We're getting to a point where we will, in the next five to seven years, have a much better chance to cure people—and to make pancreatic cancer a chronic illness.” “We are in what's somewhat coined the golden age of cancer research.” “Cancer is a disease that creates an existential threat in ways no other illness does.” “If a tumour forms, it means your body's immune system has made a social contract with the cancer.” “We changed the diagnosis in 10–12 percent of the patients who come to us—sometimes from cancer to no cancer.” “Cancer care is a team sport. And our patients often inspire us more than we help them.” Helpful Links & Resources Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center BioNTech – creators of mRNA vaccines for COVID and cancer CAR T-Cell Therapy Overview (Cancer.gov) Tim Keller on cancer and hope Emma Thompson's Wit (HBO) BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes and Cancer Risk MSK-IMPACT: Next-Gen Tumor Profiling About Selwyn Vickers Selwyn M. Vickers, MD, FACS, is the president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and the incumbent of the Douglas A. Warner III Chair. He assumed the role on September 19, 2022. Vickers is an internationally recognized pancreatic cancer surgeon, pancreatic cancer researcher, and pioneer in health disparities research. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. He has served on the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Board of Trustees and the Johns Hopkins University Board of Trustees. Additionally, he has served as president of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract and the Southern Surgical Association. Vickers is the immediate past president of the American Surgical Association. He also continues to see patients. In 1994, he joined the faculty of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, where he was later appointed to professor and the John H. Blue Chair of General Surgery. In 2006, Vickers left UAB to become the Jay Phillips Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Born in Demopolis, Alabama, Vickers grew up in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville. He earned baccalaureate and medical degrees and completed his surgical training (including a chief residency and surgical oncology fellowship) at the Johns Hopkins University. Vickers completed two postgraduate research fellowships with the National Institutes of Health and international surgical training at John Radcliffe Hospital of Oxford University, England. Vickers and his wife, Janice, who is also from Alabama, have been married since 1988. They have four children. Show Notes The ongoing threat and fear of cancer How Selwyn Vickers got into medicine Pancreatic cancer: Vickers's expertise “We are in what's somewhat coined the golden age of cancer research.” Sequencing the human genome “Is there a drug that might target the mutation that ended up creating your cancer?” Cancer as both a medical and existential diagnosis The revolution of precision oncology through human genome sequencing ”It takes a billion cells to have a one centimetre tumor.” Immunotherapy: checkpoint inhibition, CAR T-cell therapy, and vaccines Cellular therapy: ”Taking a set of their normal cells and re-engineering them to actually go back and target and attack their tumors. … We've seen patients who had initially a 30 percent chance of survival converted to an 80 percent chance of survival.” “We know in many tumours there's something called minimal residual disease.” “Immunizing yourself against cancer is a significant future opportunity.” Managing the power of data with AI and computational oncology Cancer-care data explosion: the role of computational oncologists Cancer vaccines: breakthrough mRNA treatment for pancreatic cancer ”Didn't ultimately win. We had to suffer through her losing her life, but was so appreciative that she got much more than the six months she was promised.” Tumour misdiagnoses and the importance of specialized expertise Pancreatic cancer challenges: immune cloaking and late-stage detection In the past, one in four would die from the operation for removing pancreatic cancer Long-term survival Future of cancer detection: AI-based medical record analysis and blood biopsies More accurate blood tests to confirm conditions Using AI to select those who are high-risk for cancer Pastor Tim Keller died of pancreatic cancer. In the past, “your doctor … helped you learn how to die.” ”[God's] given man the privilege to discover those things that have been hidden. And over time we've gradually uncovered huge opportunities to impact people's lives.” The state of breast cancer research and treatment “If you get the diagnosis of breast cancer, you have a 90 percent chance to survive and beat it over a five-year period of time.” ”In general, we're in a great state of understanding how to treat breast cancer, how to detect it early, and then have selective and targeted mechanisms to prevent it from coming back.” Prostate cancer research and treatment Theranostics: using a specific antibody to target cancer cells specifically Pediatric cancer: ”We actually treat more children for cancer than any hospital in America now, but in general, the survival for pediatric cancers is greater than 80 percent.” Emotional, psychological, and spiritual toll of cancer: importance of psycho-oncology How Sloan Kettering developed psycho-oncology to help cancer patients with mental and spiritual health Personal story: how a cafeteria worker empowers patients through food choices “We give back to them the right to choose what they get to have on their tray.” Cancer treatment is a team sport. Wit (film, Broadway play)—actress Emma Thompson plays a cancer patient studying the work of John Donne on death Socioeconomic and racial disparities in cancer care outcomes The healing role of community, support teams, and compassionate listening The importance of listening to cancer patients who are preparing to die The spiritual courage of patients and the transformative power of faith “Our patients often help us. We see the grace with which they often handle that journey.” The inspiration behind becoming a doctor: family legacy and human impact Terminal care: the sacred responsibility of walking with patients to the end Cancer research and treatment as a Christian vocation and expression of humanity Production Credits
A new study has proven that ancient iguanas rafted over sea all the way from North America to Fiji, a staggering 8,000 km away. We discuss this epic voyage, and then turn our attention to a colourful new species of wolf snake from Myanmar. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Scarpetta SG, Fisher RN, Karin BR, Niukula JB, Corl A, Jackman TR, McGuire JA. 2025. Iguanas rafted more than 8,000 km from North America to Fiji. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122:e2318622122. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318622122. Species of the Bi-Week: Van Nguyen T, Lee Jl, Jiang K, Ding L, Chit Mat, Poyarkov Na, Vogel G. 2025. A new species of wolf snake Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 from China and Myanmar (Squamata: Colubridae), and new data on Lycodon gongshan Vogel & Luo, 2011. Zootaxa 5621:1–51. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5621.1.1. Other Links/Mentions: Bakar F. 2019.Frogs who married “to bring rain” to Indian village get divorced. Available at https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/15/frogs-who-married-to-bring-rain-to-indian-village-get-divorced-because-of-too-much-downpour-10745884/ (accessed April 30, 2025). Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
Millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation. Also, the marine reptile's fossilized fetus is cluing paleontologists into the lives of ancient sea creatures.Ancient Iguanas Floated 5,000 Miles Across The PacificIf you picture iguanas, you might imagine them sunbathing on hot sand in the Caribbean or skittering around the Mojave Desert. But far, far away from where these iguanas are found is another group of iguanas living on the islands of Fiji and Tonga in the South Pacific—closer to New Zealand than the Americas. And it raises the question: How in the world did these iguanas end up all alone, on the other side of the ocean? In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in March, scientists suggest that millions of years ago, iguanas hitched a ride on a raft and accidentally sailed all the way across the ocean before washing ashore and starting a new life. Host Flora Lichtman discusses the iguanas' intrepid adventure with lead author Dr. Simon Scarpetta, evolutionary biologist and assistant professor at the University of San Francisco in California.Meet Fiona, The Pregnant Icthyosaur FossilIn the Patagonia region of Chile, Torres del Paine National Park is a graveyard of ichthyosaurs—ancient, dolphin-like reptiles that roamed the oceans when dinosaurs dominated the land. Nearly 90 of these giant reptiles' fossils have been found amongst the glaciers. But the standout in the bone heap is Fiona, an ichthyosaur that lived 131 million years ago. She's in pristine condition, the only fully preserved ichthyosaur in Chile. And, she died pregnant. She's teaching paleontologists about the evolution of her species. And some of those findings were recently published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Host Flora Lichtman talks with lead author Dr. Judith Pardo-Pérez, paleontologist at the University of Magallanes in Chile.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
Medical science is advancing at an astonishing rate. Today we talk with leading expert Eric Topol about two aspects of this story. First, the use of artificial intelligence in medicine, especially in diagnostics. This is an area that is a perfect match between an important question and the capabilities of machine learning, to the point where AI can out-perform human doctors. And second, our understanding of aging and what to do about it. Eric even gives some actionable advice on how to live more healthily into our golden years.Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025/05/05/episode-313-eric-topol-on-the-changing-face-of-medicine-and-aging/Support Mindscape on Patreon.Eric Topol received and M.D. from the University of Rochester. He is currently the Gary and Mary West Chair of Innovative Medicine in the Department of Translational Medicine at Scripps Research. He is also the Founder, Scripps Research Translational Institute, and Senior Consultant, Scripps Clinic, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases. Among his awards are the Hutchinson Medal from the University of Rochester and membership in the National Academy of Sciences. His books include Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again, and Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity.Web siteScripps web pageGoogle Scholar publicationsWikipediaSubstackBlueskySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.