How to 3D print fully-formed robots
In this episode:00:46 Machine vision enables multi-material 3D printing3D printers are capable of producing complex shapes, but making functioning objects from multiple materials in a single print-run has proved challenging. To overcome this, a team has combined inkjet printing with an error-correction system guided by machine vision, to allow them to print sophisticated multi-material objects. They used this method to make a bio-inspired robotic hand that combines soft and rigid plastics to make mechanical bones, ligaments, and tendons, as well as a pump based on a mammalian heart.Research article: Buchner et al.News &...
Source: Nature Podcast - November 15, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts

Mysterious objects beyond Neptune, and how wildfire pollution behaves indoors
The Kuiper belt might be bigger than we thought, and managing the effects of wildfires on indoor pollution First up on this week’s show, the Kuiper belt—the circular field of icy bodies, including Pluto, that surrounds our Solar System—might be bigger than we thought. Staff Writer Paul Voosen joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss the distant Kuiper belt objects out past Neptune, and how they were identified by telescopes looking for new targets for a visit by the New Horizons spacecraft. Next up on the show, the impact of wildfire smoke indoors. Producer Kevin McLean talks with Delphine Farmer, a chemist at Colorado S...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - October 13, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Mysterious objects beyond Neptune, and how wildfire pollution behaves indoors
The Kuiper belt might be bigger than we thought, and managing the effects of wildfires on indoor pollution   First up on this week’s show, the Kuiper belt—the circular field of icy bodies, including Pluto, that surrounds our Solar System—might be bigger than we thought. Staff Writer Paul Voosen joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss the distant Kuiper belt objects out past Neptune, and how they were identified by telescopes looking for new targets for a visit by the New Horizons spacecraft.   Next up on the show, the impact of wildfire smoke indoors. Producer Kevin McLean talks with Delphine Farmer, a chemist at Co...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - October 12, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Astronomers are worried by a satellite brighter than most stars
In this episode:00:45 A bright satellite is concerning researchersSatellites reflect sunlight down to Earth, and some do so with such intensity it risks obscuring astronomers' observations from ground-based telescopes. A paper in Nature suggests that the telecommunications satellite called BlueWalker 3 at times outshines most stars visible from Earth. Astronomers worry about the increasing number of such bright satellites making astronomy more difficult, and so the team suggest that future launches should undergo impact assessments.Research article: Nandakumar et al.Nature News: Huge new satellite outshines nearly every st...
Source: Nature Podcast - October 4, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts

Why does cancer spread to the spine? Newly discovered stem cells might be the key
In this episode:00:45 A new insight into cancers' selective spreadCancer cells can spread to bones in the late stages of disease and in many cancers, cells actually preferentially metastasise to the spine. The reason for this has been a puzzle to researchers for years, but now a team has found a new kind of stem cell that may be involved in this process. The stem cell is found in mice and humans and could represent a clinical target in the treatment of cancer.Research article: Sun et al.News and Views: Stem cells provide clues to why vertebrae attract tumour cells09:55 Research HighlightsA preference for certain percussion...
Source: Nature Podcast - September 20, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts

A mussel-inspired glue for more sustainable sticking
In this episode:00:46 A sustainably-sourced, super-strong adhesiveThe modern world is held together by adhesives, but these fossil-fuel derived materials come at an environmental cost. To overcome this, a team have developed a soya-oil based adhesive, which also takes inspiration from the proteins that marine animals like mussels use to stick firmly to rocks. The researchers say their glue is strong, reversible, and less carbon intensive to produce than existing adhesives.Research article: Westerman et al.07:43 Research HighlightsWhy chemicals derived from wood could be sustainable alternatives to a common plastic building...
Source: Nature Podcast - September 13, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts

Our ancestors lost nearly 99% of their population, 900,000 years ago
In this episode:00:30 Early humans pushed to brink of extinctionAround 900,000 years ago the ancestors of modern humans were pushed to the brink of extinction, according to new research. Genetic studies suggest that the breeding population of our ancestors in Africa dropped to just 1,280 and didn’t expand again for another 117,000 years. This population crash would likely have had an impact on human genetic diversity, and may have driven the evolution of important features of modern humans, such as brain size.Nature News: Human ancestors nearly went extinct 900,000 years ago3:49 The pollution legacy of Antarctica’s res...
Source: Nature Podcast - September 6, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts

Reducing calculus trauma, and teaching AI to smell
How active learning improves calculus teaching, and using machine learning to map odors in the smell space   First up on this week’s show, Laird Kramer, a professor of physics and faculty in the STEM Transformation Institute at Florida International University (FIU), talks with host Sarah Crespi about students leaving STEM fields because of calculus and his research into improving instruction.   We also hear from some Science staffers about their own calculus trauma, from fear of spinning shapes to thinking twice about majoring in physics (featuring Kevin McLean, Paul Voosen, Lizzie Wade, Meagan Cantwell, and FIU s...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - August 31, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Reducing calculus trauma, and teaching AI to smell
How active learning improves calculus teaching, and using machine learning to map odors in the smell space   First up on this week’s show, Laird Kramer, a professor of physics and faculty in the STEM Transformation Institute at Florida International University (FIU), talks with host Sarah Crespi about students leaving STEM fields because of calculus and his research into improving instruction.   We also hear from some Science staffers about their own calculus trauma, from fear of spinning shapes to thinking twice about majoring in physics (featuring Kevin McLean, Paul Voosen, Lizzie Wade, Meagan Cantwell, and FIU s...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - August 31, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Molecular Biologist Seth Grant (BS 211)
Seth Grant (click image to play episode, right click to download) This episode of Brain Science features the return of molecular biologist Seth Grant. We briefly review his decades of research into the complexity of the protein structure of the synapse and then we focus on his most recent paper, which describes how the life-span of synapse proteins appears to change as animals age. Grant reflects of the significance of this finding both for animal research and human medicine.This episode is appropriate for listeners of all backgrounds.Seth Grant has previously appeared on Brain Scien...
Source: the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell - August 25, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Ginger Campbell, MD Tags: Addiction Brain Chemistry dopamine For Newbies Neuroscience Podcast Show Notes Synapses Source Type: podcasts

TWiV 1033: Freediving with nanobodies and interferon
TWiV notes the passing of Harald zur Hausen, dengue breaking records in the Americas, inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection and inflammation by modulation of type I IFN, and an armed nanobody that protects mice against influenza A and B disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Angela Mingarelli Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Position in Rosenfeld Laboratory (pdf) Paul and the Mosquitos (pdf, English) Other childrens books (SMVIROLOGIA) Dengue breaking records in Amer...
Source: This Week in Virology - MP3 Edition - August 6, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Source Type: podcasts

Basics of Neurotransmitters (BS 210)
click image to play episode, right click to download This episode is our first review of neurotransmitters since episode 8 way back in 2007. We start with some basics of neuron function and brain anatomy, but the meat of the episode is a discussion of neurotransmitters and how they work. The key idea is that a simple molecule, such as dopamine, can have a wide variety of effects because of the existence of multiple receptors.This episode is appropriate for listeners of all backgrounds, but might be a little challenging for new listeners. It will be a review episode for longtime liste...
Source: the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell - July 28, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Ginger Campbell, MD Tags: Addiction Brain Chemistry dopamine For Newbies Neuroscience Podcast Show Notes Synapses Source Type: podcasts

Audio long read: ‘Almost magical’ — chemists can now move single atoms in and out of a molecule’s core
In the past two years, there has been an explosion in the number of papers published relating to 'skeletal editing', a technique that allows chemists to precisely edit a molecule by deleting, adding or swapping single atoms in its core.Although many of these methods are early in development, researchers hope skeletal editing could revolutionize how organic chemists design molecules, dramatically speeding up the drug-discovery process.This is an audio version of our Feature: ‘Almost magical’: chemists can now move single atoms in and out of a molecule’s core Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Source: Nature Podcast - June 30, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts

Contraception for cats, and taking solvents out of chemistry
A single-shot cat contraceptive, and a close look at “dry” chemistry   First up this week: an innovation in cat contraception. Online News Editor David Grimm talks with host Sarah Crespi about a nonsurgical pregnancy prevention technique for cats and why such an approach has been a long-term goal for cat population control.   Also on this week’s show, we hear about new insights into mechanical chemistry—using physical force to push molecules together. Science Editor Jake Yeston and Yerzhan Zholdassov, a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at the City University of New York, join Sarah to discuss why pushing things t...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - June 8, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Contraception for cats, and taking solvents out of chemistry
A single-shot cat contraceptive, and a close look at “dry” chemistry   First up this week: an innovation in cat contraception. Online News Editor David Grimm talks with host Sarah Crespi about a nonsurgical pregnancy prevention technique for cats and why such an approach has been a long-term goal for cat population control.   Also on this week’s show, we hear about new insights into mechanical chemistry—using physical force to push molecules together. Science Editor Jake Yeston and Yerzhan Zholdassov, a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at the City University of New York, join Sarah to discuss why pushing things t...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - June 8, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts