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
AI identifies gene interactions to speed up search for treatment targets
In this episode:00:46 An AI that predicts gene interactionsMapping the network of genes that control cellular processes can be difficult to do when gene-expression data is sparse, such as in rare diseases or those affecting tissues that are hard to clinically sample. To overcome this, a team has developed an artificial intelligence system trained on a large, general dataset, and used it to make predictions about gene interactions in data-limited situations. As a test-case they look at the heart condition cardiomyopathy, and show that the system can identify potential interactions that could represent new therapeutic target...
Source: Nature Podcast - May 31, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
New worries about Earth ’s asteroid risk, and harnessing plants’ chemical factories
On this week’s show: Earth’s youngest impact craters could be vastly underestimated in size, and remaking a plant’s process for a creating a complex compound
First up this week, have we been measuring asteroid impact craters wrong? Staff Writer Paul Voosen talks with host Sarah Crespi about new approaches to measuring the diameter of impact craters. They discuss the new measurements which, if confirmed, might require us to rethink just how often Earth gets hit with large asteroids. Paul also shares more news from the recent Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Texas.
Next up, pulling together all the e...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - March 23, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
New worries about Earth ’s asteroid risk, and harnessing plants’ chemical factories
On this week’s show: Earth’s youngest impact craters could be vastly underestimated in size, and remaking a plant’s process for a creating a complex compound
First up this week, have we been measuring asteroid impact craters wrong? Staff Writer Paul Voosen talks with host Sarah Crespi about new approaches to measuring the diameter of impact craters. They discuss the new measurements which, if confirmed, might require us to rethink just how often Earth gets hit with large asteroids. Paul also shares more news from the recent Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Texas.
Next up, pulling together all the e...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - March 23, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
How the Australian wildfires devastated the ozone layer
00:47 Wildfire smoke’s chemical composition enhances ozone depletionSmoke from the devastating Australian wildfires of 2019-2020 led to a reduction in ozone levels in the upper atmosphere, but it’s been unclear how. Now, a team proposes that smoke’s particulate matter can enhance the production of ozone depleting chemicals, matching satellite observations during the Australian fires. The results spark concerns that future wildfires, which are set to grow more frequent with ongoing climate change, will undo much of the progress towards restoration of the ozone layer.Research article: Solomon et al.News & Views: Ho...
Source: Nature Podcast - March 8, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
Using sharks to study ocean oxygen, and what ancient minerals teach us about early Earth
On this week’s show: Shark tags to measure ocean deoxygenation, and zircons and the chemistry of early Earth
First up this week: using sharks to measure ocean deoxygenation. Contributing Correspondent Warren Cornwall joins us to talk about a group of researchers putting data logging tags on sharks in order to study how climate change is affecting oxygen levels in some of the ocean’s darkest depths.
Next up, what can 4-billion-year-old minerals teach us about chemistry on early Earth? Producer Meagan Cantwell talks to geochemist Dustin Trail about using minerals called zircons to deduce the chemical properties of the ...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - February 9, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
Using sharks to study ocean oxygen, and what ancient minerals teach us about early Earth
On this week’s show: Shark tags to measure ocean deoxygenation, and zircons and the chemistry of early Earth
First up this week: using sharks to measure ocean deoxygenation. Contributing Correspondent Warren Cornwall joins us to talk about a group of researchers putting data logging tags on sharks in order to study how climate change is affecting oxygen levels in some of the ocean’s darkest depths.
Next up, what can 4-billion-year-old minerals teach us about chemistry on early Earth? Producer Meagan Cantwell talks to geochemist Dustin Trail about using minerals called zircons to deduce the chemical properties of the ...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - February 9, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
Visiting a mummy factory, and improving the IQ of … toilets
On this week’s show: New clues to the chemicals used for mummification, and the benefits and barriers to smart toilets
First up this week: What can we learn from a mummy factory? Contributing Correspondent Andrew Curry talks with host Sarah Crespi about mummy chemistry and why we don’t know much about what was used to preserve these ancient bodies. Online News Editor Michael Price makes a special appearance.
Next up, how having a smart toilet can contribute to your health. Seung-Min Park, an instructor in the Department of Urology at Stanford University School of Medicine, wrote this week in Science Translational Med...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - February 2, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
Visiting a mummy factory, and improving the IQ of … toilets
On this week’s show: New clues to the chemicals used for mummification, and the benefits and barriers to smart toilets
First up this week: What can we learn from a mummy factory? Contributing Correspondent Andrew Curry talks with host Sarah Crespi about mummy chemistry and why we don’t know much about what was used to preserve these ancient bodies. Online News Editor Michael Price makes a special appearance.
Next up, how having a smart toilet can contribute to your health. Seung-Min Park, an instructor in the Department of Urology at Stanford University School of Medicine, wrote this week in Science Translational Med...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - February 2, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
How mummies were prepared: Ancient Egyptian pots spill secrets
In this episode:00:47 Chemical analysis of ancient embalming materialsMummification was a significant part of ancient Egyptian culture but, despite decades of research, much is unknown about the substances and methods used during the process. Now a team have analysed the contents of ceramic vessels uncovered in an embalming workshop that dates back to around 600 BC. The results reveal that some substances assumed to be a single thing were actually mixtures, while some came from far outside Egypt, providing a clearer picture of ancient mummification practices.Research article: Rageot et al.News and Views: Recipes for ancien...
Source: Nature Podcast - February 1, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
Wolves hunting otters, and chemical weathering in a warming world
On this week’s show: When deer are scarce these wolves turn to sea otters, and chemical weathering of silicates acts as a geological thermostat
First up on this week’s show we have a story about a group of Alaskan wolves that has switched to eating sea otters as deer populations have dwindled. Science journalist Jack Tamisiea tells host Sarah Crespi about some of the recently published work on this diet shift, and wildlife biologist Gretchen Roffler weighs in on the conditions on the island where this is happening.
Also on this week’s show: Chemical weathering and the global carbon cycle. Sarah speaks with Susan Br...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - January 26, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
Wolves hunting otters, and chemical weathering in a warming world
On this week’s show: When deer are scarce these wolves turn to sea otters, and chemical weathering of silicates acts as a geological thermostat
First up on this week’s show we have a story about a group of Alaskan wolves that has switched to eating sea otters as deer populations have dwindled. Science journalist Jack Tamisiea tells host Sarah Crespi about some of the recently published work on this diet shift, and wildlife biologist Gretchen Roffler weighs in on the conditions on the island where this is happening.
Also on this week’s show: Chemical weathering and the global carbon cycle. Sarah speaks with Susan Br...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - January 26, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
The satellite-free alternative to GPS
00:45 Precision positioning without satellitesSatellite navigation has revolutionized how humans find their way. However, these systems often struggle in urban areas, where buildings can interfere with weak satellite signals. To counter this, a team has developed an alternative, satellite-free system, which could improve applications that require precise positioning in cities, such as self-driving cars.Research Article: Koelemeij et al.News and Views: Phone signals can help you find your way in cities even without GPS09:19 Research HighlightsHow deforestation is the biggest threat to a rare lemur’s existence, and ultravi...
Source: Nature Podcast - November 23, 2022 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
Space-based solar power gets serious, AI helps optimize chemistry, and a book on food extinction
On this week’s show: Cheaper launches could make solar power satellites a reality, machine learning helps chemists make small organic molecules, and a book on the extinction of foods
First up on the podcast, space-based solar power gets closer to launch. Staff Writer Daniel Clery talks with host Sarah Crespi about how reusable rockets bring the possibility of giant solar array satellites that beam down gigawatts of uninterrupted power from space.
After that, we hear about small organic molecule synthesis. Making large organic molecules such as proteins and DNA can be a cinch for chemists, but making new smaller organic...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - October 27, 2022 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts
