Podcasts about primate research

What's the best way to think about the brain? While most of us think of it as a dense gray matter that's separate from the physical body, that actually couldn't be further from the truth. Our brain is made up of 3 layers, and each layer not only directly impacts the other, but has control over the physical body and how you feel. The 3 functional layers of the brain are the reptilian brain, the limbic system, and the cerebral cortex. The reptilian brain controls the regulatory systems in your body like hormones, body temperature, blood pressure, and even hunger. The limbic system is the emotional function of your brain, making you feel fear, anger, joy, or gratitude. Finally, the cerebral cortex is the most evolved part of the brain that oversees impulse control, decision making, and long-term planning. With a better understanding of how each part of the brain functions, we can have more mindful thoughts that will influence more favorable decision-making and outcomes in life. For example, when you think of your favorite memory or something that makes you happy, your reptilian brain will quickly cool down your body and even lower your blood pressure. This can then lead to feeling less stressed, and finding more joy throughout the day. -------------------------------------------------------------------- About Robert M. Sapolsky: Robert M. Sapolsky holds degrees from Harvard and Rockefeller Universities and is currently a Professor of Biology and Neurology at Stanford University and a Research Associate with the Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya. His most recent book is Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How your biology and environment make your decisions for you, according to Dr. Robert Sapolsky. Robert Sapolsky, PhD is an author, researcher, and professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University. In this interview with Big Think's Editor-in-Chief, Robert Chapman Smith, Sapolsky discusses the content of his most recent book, “Determined: The Science of Life Without Free Will.” Being held as a child, growing up in a collectivist culture, or experiencing any sort of brain trauma – among hundreds of other things – can shape your internal biases and ultimately influence the decisions you make. This, explains Sapolsky, means that free will is not – and never has been – real. Even physiological factors like hunger can discreetly influence decision making, as discovered in a study that found judges were more likely to grant parole after they had eaten. This insight is key for interpreting human behavior, helping not only scientists but those who aim to evolve education systems, mental health research, and even policy making. --------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think: ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Robert Sapolsky: Robert M. Sapolsky holds degrees from Harvard and Rockefeller Universities and is currently a Professor of Biology and Neurology at Stanford University and a Research Associate with the Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya. His books include New York Times bestseller, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst and Determined. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Robert Sapolsky a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant winner and professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University has rankled the scientific and philosophic communities by arguing one simple point: There is no free will! We only THINK we're making our own decisions. Really, no really! When Jason and Peter heard this, they realized that they had absolutely no choice but to contact Dr. Sapolsky so they could get him to explain his thesis…in a simplistic way…that even they could understand. And he did! Dr. Robert Sapolsky is a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya, and the author of: Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone, Monkeyluv, and his latest is Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will. He is a regular contributor to Discover. IN THIS EPISODE: Why a 14-year-old Robert Sapolsky concluded there is no free will. Misunderstanding what free will is; Dr. Sapolsky provides his definition. Determinism verses anti-determinism. How our sense of smell can affect our beliefs and choices. Thanks mom! How your pregnant mother's elevated stress levels gave you a 20-fold likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. Minority Report's “pre-crime” idea is real and being implemented. Professor Sapolsky realizes that most philosophers and scientists reject his conclusions. Sapolsky says the world becomes more humane when we accept his hypothesis. Right, wrong, ethics, morality, compassion – What do we do with those concepts in a world without free will? Google-heim: No free will BUT the best things in life are free! (Sort of.) *** FOLLOW ROBERT: His latest book: “Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will” TikTok: @ aprimatestiktok *** FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads XSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Robert Sapolsky has accomplished so much in his life and career, including winning the MacArthur “genius” grant and authoring several best-selling books. But as he puts it himself in his most recent book: “I've been very lucky in my life, something which I certainly did not earn.” This sentiment is consistent with his view that we lack free will entirely, and in today's episode, Professor Sapolsky is going to make his argument to Hala as to why that is indeed the case.   Robert Sapolsky is a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University, who is an expert in several fields ranging from stress to baboon behavior to human evolution. His work has received many awards including the esteemed MacArthur Fellowship. He is also the best-selling author of several books including Behave, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, and The Trouble with Testosterone. His newest book is called Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.   In this episode, Hala and Robert will discuss: - Why free will doesn't exist - The epiphany he had as a 14-year-old - Is meritocracy an illusion? - The neuroscience of decision-making - The myth of grit - What predetermination means for entrepreneurs - Why Jeff Bezos was born to create Amazon - Does spontaneity exist? - How no free will impacts our morality - The science behind moral disgust - Why you can't reason someone out of an opinion - Why we should overhaul the criminal justice system - And other topics…   Robert Sapolsky is a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. Over the past thirty years, he has divided his time between the lab, where he studies how stress hormones can damage the brain, and in East Africa, where he studies the impact of chronic stress on the health of baboons. Sapolsky is the author of Behave, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, and The Trouble with Testosterone, and is a regular contributor to Discover. He has published articles about stress and health in magazines as diverse as Men's Health and The New Yorker. Sapolsky received the MacArthur Foundation's “genius” grant at age 30.   Resources Mentioned: Robert's Website: http://www.robertsapolskyrocks.com/ Robert's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsapolsky/ Robert's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Robert-Sapolsky/100063871383510/  Robert's new book Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will (2023): https://www.amazon.com/Determined-Science-Life-without-Free/dp/B0BVNSX4CQ/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1699016118&refinements=p_27%3ARobert+Sapolsky&s=books&sr=1-1    LinkedIn Secrets Masterclass, Have Job Security For Life: Use code ‘podcast' for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course.   Sponsored By: Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at youngandprofiting.co/shopify Greenlight - Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free when you go to greenlight.com/YAP MasterClass - Right now you can get Two Memberships for the Price of One at youngandprofiting.co/masterclass Articulate 360 - Visit articulate.com/360 to start a free 30-day trial of Articulate 360 Help Save Palestinian Lives:  Donate money for eSIM cards for the people of Gaza at https://youngandprofiting.co/DonateWHala   More About Young and Profiting Download Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com  Get Sponsorship Deals - youngandprofiting.com/sponsorships Leave a Review -  ratethispodcast.com/yap Watch Videos - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting   Follow Hala Taha LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@yapwithhala Twitter - twitter.com/yapwithhala   Learn more about YAP Media Agency Services - yapmedia.io/

Today we welcome Robert Sapolsky to the podcast. ​​Robert is professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. His research has been featured in the National Geographic documentary "Stress: Portrait of a Killer". At age 30, Robert received the MacArthur Foundation's "genius" grant. He is author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone and Monkeyluv. His latest book is called Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.In this episode, I talk to Robert Sapolsky about life without free will. Humans like the idea of having control over their lives, but Robert asserts that free will is just an illusion. Life beyond free will may sound unpleasant, but Robert explains the profound consequences of this belief in reforming the justice system, meritocracy, and education. We also touch on the topics of philosophy, quantum physics, mindfulness, grit, and responsibility.LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robertsapolsky/ Topics02:38 Robert's background and upbringing05:43 Life without free will13:16 Believing in free will24:05 Responsibility and punishment33:14 The future cannot be determined43:45 Mindfulness - a form of free will?48:37 The human experience53:41 Abolish the justice system and meritocracy1:04:03 Statistical guilt1:07:21 Effort, grit and taking credit1:16:40 Nobody is more “worthy” 1:23:29 Life is worth living

On this episode, neuroscientist and author Robert Sapolsky joins Nate to discuss the structure of the human brain and its implication on behavior and our ability to change. Dr. Sapolsky also unpacks how the innate quality of a biological organism shaped by evolution and the surrounding environment - meaning all animals, including humans - leads him to believe that there is no such thing as free will, at least how we think about it today. How do our past and present hormone levels, hunger, stress, and more affect the way we make decisions? What implications does this have in a future headed towards lower energy and resource availability? How can our species manage the mismatch of our evolutionary biology with our modern day challenges - and navigate through a ‘determined' future? About Robert Sapolsky: Robert Sapolsky is professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. Over the past thirty years, he has divided his time between the lab, where he studies how stress hormones can damage the brain, and in East Africa, where he studies the impact of chronic stress on the health of baboons. Sapolsky is author of several books, including Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, and his newest book coming out in October, Determined: Life Without Free Will. He lives with his family in San Francisco. Watch this video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xhobcj2K9v4 For Show Notes and More visit: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/88-robert-sapolksy 

Topics include: 1) Chinese company Joinn Laboratories buys farmland in Levy County, Fl for primate research; 2)China launches police station in New York City; 3)Election software exec in Michigan arrested for alleged personal ID theft, storing data in China and 4) 5 myths about China that will get Americans killed. More: www.Carljacksonshow.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradioTwitter:https://twitter.com/carljacksonshowParler: https://parler.com/carljacksonshowhttp://www.TheCarlJacksonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Topics include: 1) Chinese company Joinn Laboratories buys farmland in Levy County, Fl for primate research; 2)China launches police station in New York City; 3)Election software exec in Michigan arrested for alleged personal ID theft, storing data in China and 4) 5 myths about China that will get Americans killed. More: www.Carljacksonshow.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradioTwitter:https://twitter.com/carljacksonshowParler: https://parler.com/carljacksonshowhttp://www.TheCarlJacksonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protesting Primate Research https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/mesa/2021/10/09/animal-rights-activists-hazmat-suits-protest-monkey-farm-conditions/6047693001/ #peoplearerevolting twitter.com/peoplerevolting Peoplearerevolting.com movingtrainradio.com

The Washington National Primate Research Center in Seattle has been moving sick monkeys around this country for use in labs,  according to documents obtained by PETA through an open records law request. Dr.Lisa Jones Engel, a former WaNPRC employee, now PETA's senior scientific advisor for primate experimentation, has reviewed the documents and filed complaints with state and federal authorities. The documents specifically show how the WaNPRC accepted and moved infected monkeys without alerting authorities. This not only causes public health issues but also renders any science from the monkeys unusable. Go to PETA.org for more. Click to see the video. The PETA Podcast PETA, the world's largest animal rights organization, is 6.5 million strong and growing. This is the place to find out why. Hear from insiders, thought leaders, activists, investigators, politicians, and others why animals need more than kindness—they have the right not to be abused or exploited in any way. Hosted by Emil Guillermo. Powered by PETA activism. Contact us at PETA.org Listen to the very first PETA podcast with Ingrid Newkirk Music provided by CarbonWorks. Go to Apple podcasts and subscribe. Contact and follow host Emil Guillermo on Twitter @emilamok Or at www.amok.com Please subscribe, rate and review wherever you get your podcasts. Help us grow the podcast by taking this short survey. Thanks for listening to THE PETA PODCAST! Originally released June 2, 2021

To test COVID-19 vaccines and treatments you need primates, and the United States had a shortage even before the pandemic. Jay Rappaport, principal investigator and director of the Tulane National Primate Research Center talks about the national partnership the center is leading to coordinate primate centers like never before in order to move new vaccines and treatments forward as efficiently as possible. He also shares a bit about the surprising scope of COVID-19 research the center is doing right here in Covington, including on the virus's long-term effects and emerging variants. Plus, are you or someone you know apprehensive about the current vaccines? Rappaport addresses the concerns many have about the speed of their development and their safety and shares his thoughts on what we can expect in the next few months and years.

PETA has released new video showing the horrible conditions monkeys must endure at the multi-million dollar primate facilities at the University of Washington's Washington Primate Research Center. After spending most of her career researching monkeys Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel found she couldn't in good conscience continue her work at the center. Now she works at PETA and advocates the shutting down of the center and the six other primate research centers in the nation. She talks of her ethical journey and the revelations that made her fight for the animals she used to research. She joins Emil Guillermo on the PETA Podcast. For more go to PETA.org You may also contact us at PETA.org The PETA Podcast PETA, the world's largest animal rights organization, is 6.5 million strong and growing. This is the place to find out why. Hear from insiders, thought leaders, activists, investigators, politicians, and others why animals need more than kindness—they have the right not to be abused or exploited in any way. Hosted by Emil Guillermo. Powered by PETA activism. Contact us at PETA.org Listen to the very first PETA podcast with Ingrid Newkirk Music provided by CarbonWorks. Go to Apple podcasts and subscribe. Contact and follow host Emil Guillermo on Twitter @emilamok Or at www.amok.com Please subscribe, rate and review wherever you get your podcasts. Help us grow the podcast by taking this short survey. Thanks for listening to THE PETA PODCAST! (Originally published Nov.18, 2020) 

“You don't have to choose between being scientific and being compassionate.” -- Robert M. Sapolsky  Dr. Robert M. Sapolsky is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Stanford University and Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Stanford's School of Medicine. He is also a research associate at the Institute of Primate Research operated by the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi and a recipient of a MacArthur genius fellowship. His teaching awards include Stanford University's Bing Award for Teaching Excellence and an award for outstanding teaching from the Associated Students of Stanford University.  Overall, I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to better understand the neuroscience and biology behind behavioural and social psychology and put it into both contemporary and historic context. If you're like me, you might want to consider having a hard copy to highlight and stick notes in, because Sapolsky covers so much ground. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35428942-behave (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35428942-behave) YouTube: https://youtu.be/A0HvUGCucic (https://youtu.be/A0HvUGCucic) Audio production by Graham Stephenson Episode music: Caprese by https://www.sessions.blue/ (Blue Dot Sessions) Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Anchor, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, and Spotify

“You don’t have to choose between being scientific and being compassionate.” -- Robert M. Sapolsky Dr. Robert M. Sapolsky is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Stanford University and Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Stanford's School of Medicine. He is also a research associate at the Institute of Primate Research operated by the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi and a recipient of a MacArthur genius fellowship. His teaching awards include Stanford University's Bing Award for Teaching Excellence and an award for outstanding teaching from the Associated Students of Stanford University. Overall, I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to better understand the neuroscience and biology behind behavioural and social psychology and put it into both contemporary and historic context. If you’re like me, you might want to consider having a hard copy to highlight and stick notes in, because Sapolsky covers so much ground. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35428942-behave YouTube: https://youtu.be/A0HvUGCucic Audio production by Graham Stephenson Episode music: Caprese by Blue Dot Sessions Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Anchor, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, and Spotify

The world is experiencing a pandemic from COVID-19. So research is looking at every which way various physiologic states might be protective or increase vulnerability. Across the world males seem more susceptible, compared to women (especially premenopausal women) to getting COVID. Once they get it, they are more susceptible to severe outcomes as well as fatalities, once again compared to younger women. It has been suggested that estrogen may be protective against COVID-19 in females and/or that androgens (like testosterone) worsen COVID-19 in men. As of this date, there are three studies being done giving males and menopausal females "estrogen" and/or "progesterone" replacement as it "may" be protective against COVID-19. In This Show You will Hear About Estrogen Is estrogen protective against COVID? Estrogen signals are critical in both innate and adaptive immune responses as well as in tissue repairing processes during respiratory virus infection. Estrogens can regulate the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a key component for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cell entry. So estrogen may play a role as a protective COVID “gate-keeper”. The paper that discusses this is: Estrogen regulates the expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in differentiated airway epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2020;318(6):L1280-L1281. doi:10.1152/ajplung.00153.2020 In animal experiments, estrogen treatment silences the inflammatory reactions and decreases virus titers leading to improved survival rate. One article even said stated in it abstract, “Premarin (commercial patented estrogen from horse’s urine) is capable of stopping the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Prevention and therapy of COVID-19 via exogenous estrogen treatment for both male and female patients. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2020;23(1):75-85. doi:10.18433/jpps31069) Estrogen (and progesterone) may be helpful as "anti-COVID-19 agents" for people with a high risk of cell stress like the elderly, cancer patients, and front-line medical staff. Doctors at the Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University in New York are conducting a randomized trial to determine if the use of a “transdermal estrogen patch” for 7 days in patients with COVID-19 might reduce the need for intubation in men and older women infected with COVID-19. What About Progesterone? Many of the sickest patients with COVID-19 have high levels of immune system proteins called cytokines in their blood. “Cytokine storm” is an overactive immune response to a viral infection and is one of the most devastating complications of COVID-19 infections. Cytokine storms are known to happen in autoimmune diseases. One study of patients who died of H1N1 influenza, for example, found that 81% had features of a cytokine storm. Researchers have looked at the anti-inflammatory properties of progesterone. Pregnant women, who usually have high levels of progesterone, tend to have milder courses of COVID-19. A new study will assess the use of a short course of progesterone therapy in hospitalized men diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. What About Androgens? In January, one of the first publications on those sickened by the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, reported that three out of every four hospitalized patients were male. But many men in China smoke while women don’t, so it wasn’t completely known if androgens (male hormones) were the issue, or smoking. But data from around the world have since confirmed that men face a greater risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 than women. Androgens—male hormones such as testosterone—appear to boost the virus’ ability to get inside cells. Preliminary observations from Spain suggest that a disproportionate number of men with male pattern baldness—which is linked to a powerful androgen—end up in hospitals with COVID-19. Epidemiological data from around the world have confirmed the early reports of male vulnerability. In Lombardy in Italy, for example, men comprised 82% of 1591 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) from 20 February to 18 March, according to a JAMA paper. And male mortality exceeded that of women in every adult age group in another JAMA study of 5700 New York City patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Several studies link baldness to higher risk of COVID and more severe cases. Baldness is associated with higher levels of the most aggressive metabolites of testosterone (DHT). Two small studies have reported that men with male pattern baldness are overrepresented among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.   A paper by Markus Hoffmann of the Leibniz Institute for Primate Research and colleagues in CELL, sent a lightning bolt through scientific community. This work showed Covid can gain entry into the body more easily by the action of an enzyme called TMPRSS2, a membrane-bound enzyme. The enzyme cleaves the “spike” protein on the coronavirus’ surface, allowing the virus to fuse with the host cell’s membrane and get inside the cell. Male hormones turn this enzyme on. In the prostate, TMPRSS2 is produced when male hormones bind to the androgen receptor. Researchers haven’t established if androgens control TMPRSS2 in the lungs as they have in the prostate. But Andrea Alimonti, head of molecular oncology at Università della Svizzera italiana, looked at data on more than 42,000 men with prostate cancer in Italy. He and colleagues found that patients on androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT)—drugs that slash levels of testosterone—were only one-quarter as likely to contract COVID-19 as men with prostate cancer not on ADT. Men on ADT were also less likely to be hospitalized and to die. In one Italian study, men with prostate cancer who received drugs that suppress androgens were much less likely to be infected with COVID. Prostate cancer researcher Catherine Marshall of Johns Hopkins University is preparing a trial of bicalutamide, an older, inexpensive androgen receptor blocker, in 20 patients hospitalized within 3 days after they tested positive for COVID-19. Women are being included in the trial, she adds, because they have androgens, too, although at lower levels than men. What You will Learn Overall Estrogens help heal acute lung injury. Progesterone tamps down inflammatory cytokines. Androgens might help the virus’s spike protein take grip inside the body. But does this mean high androgens compared to healthy normal levels? We don’t know yet. Drugs ( finasteride and dutasteride) that block the conversion of testosterone to DHT, the most powerful form of testosterone, seem to reduce ACE2 levels in healthy human lung alveolar cells. Androgen sensitivity would explain severe cases in female patients who present with metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or who are using birth control methods that include the use of hormones that bind to an androgen receptor (such as levonorgestrel and norethisterone). There is a lot we don’t know, but in this show you will hear the latest about the link between hormones and COVID!

Dr Alison Behie is the Head of Biological Anthropology and the Deputy Head of the ANU School of Archaeology and Anthropology. Her research focuses on how all primates (human and non-human) adapt in the face of severe environmental change. She was awarded an ARC DECRA fellowship for a part of this work that explores how non-human primates adapt their behaviour and distribution to survive following severe weather events – with some of this work featured in her paper “Hurricanes and Coastlines: The role of natural disaster in the speciation of howler monkeys” and her most recent book "Primate Research and Conservation in the Anthropocene". Another key area to her work is to understand how stress during pregnancy in Australian women, caused by environmental disasters and other sources, impacts the development of children and their birth outcomes. This work has been published in papers including “Prenatal smoking and age at menarche: influence of the prenatal environment on the timing of puberty” and media outlets including the ABC ("What happens to pregnant women when disaster strikes"). This work hits close to home for Alison as she underwent two years of IVF to conceive her second child while maintaining her academic career and conducting research on pregnancy and child development. While doing both at the same time was often challenging, it has given her a new perspective on both her own work and the importance of work-life balance, for which she is an advocate. Follow Alison on Twitter @BioanthBehie … The theme music for This Academic’s Life is “Snow Blower” by Flower Crown. Other music used in this episode: “Curious” and “Discovery” by Jon Luc Hefferman; “Danse Morialta” by Kevin MacLeod; and “In Paler Skies” by Blue Dot Sessions. This Academic’s Life is a production of the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences. It’s produced by Evana Ho. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @ANUCASS.

Dr. Robert Sapolsky discusses his work as professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and as a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. His enviable gift for storytelling led the New York Times to print, "If you crossed Jane Goodall with a borscht-belt comedian, she might have written a book like A Primate's Memoir." Dr. Sapolsky's account of his early years as a field biologist. He is sure to dazzle and delight with tales of what it means to be human.

Robert Sapolsky is a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University, and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. We talked to Sapolsky about what it means to be human, what we humans can learn from other species, and why he—despite being a self-described pessimist—feels optimistic about our prospects as a species. This week’s episode was recorded live in San Francisco for the 2015 Bay Area Science Festival and was produced in collaboration with The Leakey Foundation and their podcast Origin Stories.http://leakeyfoundation.org/http://leakeyfoundation.org/originstorieshttp://patreon.com/inquiringminds

A hard-won political victory for primate research is at risk of unravelling in pockets of Europe, by Alison Abbott

A hard-won political victory for primate research is at risk of unravelling in pockets of Europe, by Alison Abbott

Karen Strier, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and Susan Alberts, Duke University, USA and Institute of Primate Research, Kenya, talk with Graziella Iossa, MEE Journal Co-ordinator, about their work with co-authors: The Primate Life History Database. This online database is based on long-term datasets that researchers at several institutions in North America have created to make data comparable across studies. It will aid future comparative analyses of primate data and the creation of easily archivable output. The most important features of this database, as Susan points out, are its structure and the use of a common vocabulary. Karen and Susan hope that it will be applicable to studies of most vertabrates and certainly of mammals. Read the article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2041-210X.2010.00023.x/full

The chilling 13th episode, Simon is a creepy sitcom character, G defends Seals in court, Man bites back at snake crime gangs, Investigating Takeshi's Castle and Primate Research Institute, Listening to Paranormal Late-night Midlands Talk Radio, insects making ghosts, spider hauntings, The best Disney soundtracks, Peruvian street bands and being some kind of Hispanic, Exposing Sam and the Womp as musical frauds and Rush are still amazing but need to stop so Neal Peart can finish his plastering. The Errand of Mercy, we're too ignorant to be racist