Why some trees find one another repulsive, and why we don ’t know how much our hands weigh
First up on this week’s show, we hear about the skewed perception of our own hands, extremely weird giant viruses, champion regenerating flatworms, and more from Newsletter Editor Christie Wilcox. Christie also chats with host Sarah Crespi about her work on a daily newsletter and what it takes to do it 5 days a week. Read more newsletters and sign up for your daily dose of Science and science. Next on the show, AAAS Intern Andrew Saintsing learns about why trees are repulsive—to one another. Michael Kalyuzhny, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of integrative biology at the University of Texas at Austin, discusse...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - August 10, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine 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

AI-enhanced night-vision lets users see in the dark
In this episode:00:46 How to see in the dark like it’s daytimeThere are many methods for better night-vision, but often these rely on enhancing light, which may not be present, or using devices which can interfere with one another. One alternative solution is to use heat, but such infrared sensors struggle to distinguish between different objects. To overcome this, researchers have now combined such sensors with machine learning algorithms to make a system that grants day-like night-vision. They hope it will be useful in technologies such as self-driving cars.Research article: Bao et al.News and Views: Heat-assisted imag...
Source: Nature Podcast - July 26, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts

Adding thousands of languages to the AI lexicon, and the genes behind our bones
A massive effort by African volunteers is ensuring artificial intelligence understands their native languages, and measuring 40,000 skeletons Our AI summer continues with a look at how to get artificial intelligence to understand and translate the thousands of languages that don’t have large online sources of text and audio. Freelance journalist Sandeep Ravindran joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss Masakhane, a volunteer-based project dedicated to spurring growth in machine learning of African languages. See the whole special issue on AI here.   Also this week on the show, Eucharist Kun, a Ph.D. student at the Univers...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - July 20, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Adding thousands of languages to the AI lexicon, and the genes behind our bones
A massive effort by African volunteers is ensuring artificial intelligence understands their native languages, and measuring 40,000 skeletons Our AI summer continues with a look at how to get artificial intelligence to understand and translate the thousands of languages that don’t have large online sources of text and audio. Freelance journalist Sandeep Ravindran joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss Masakhane, a volunteer-based project dedicated to spurring growth in machine learning of African languages. See the whole special issue on AI here.   Also this week on the show, Eucharist Kun, a Ph.D. student at the Univers...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - July 20, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) supplements for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents
The Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group has produced approximately 200 reviews, with several relevant to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. One of these reviews, on the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids, was updated in April 2023. Here ' s lead author, Donna Gillies from the University of Sydney in Australia to tell us more. (Source: Podcasts from The Cochrane Library)
Source: Podcasts from The Cochrane Library - July 14, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Cochrane Source Type: podcasts

The AI special issue, adding empathy to robots, and scientists leaving Arecibo
Science’s NextGen voices share their thoughts on artificial intelligence, how to avoid creating sociopathic robots, and a visit to a historic observatory as researchers pack their bags   As part of a Science special issue on finding a place for artificial intelligence (AI) in science and society, Producer Kevin McLean shares voices from the next generation of researchers. We hear from students about how they think human scientists will still need to work alongside AI in the future.   Continuing the AI theme, we learn about instilling empathy to get better decisions from AI. Researcher Leonardo Christov-Moore, a neu...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - July 13, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

The AI special issue, adding empathy to robots, and scientists leaving Arecibo
Science’s NextGen voices share their thoughts on artificial intelligence, how to avoid creating sociopathic robots, and a visit to a historic observatory as researchers pack their bags   As part of a Science special issue on finding a place for artificial intelligence (AI) in science and society, Producer Kevin McLean shares voices from the next generation of researchers. We hear from students about how they think human scientists will still need to work alongside AI in the future.   Continuing the AI theme, we learn about instilling empathy to get better decisions from AI. Researcher Leonardo Christov-Moore, a neu...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - July 13, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Putting the man-hunter and woman-gatherer myth to the sword, and the electron's dipole moment gets closer to zero
Worldwide survey kills the myth of “Man the Hunter,” and tightly constraining the electric dipole moment of the electron   First up this week on the show, freelance science writer Bridget Alex joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss busting the long-standing myth that in our deep past, virtually all hunters were men and women tended to be gatherers. It turns out women hunt in the vast majority of foraging societies, upending old stereotypes.   After that, we learn about a hunt for zero. Tanya Roussy, a recent Ph.D. graduate in quantum physics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, discusses her work trying to const...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - July 6, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Putting the man-hunter and woman-gatherer myth to the sword, and the electron's dipole moment gets closer to zero
Worldwide survey kills the myth of “Man the Hunter,” and tightly constraining the electric dipole moment of the electron   First up this week on the show, freelance science writer Bridget Alex joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss busting the long-standing myth that in our deep past, virtually all hunters were men and women tended to be gatherers. It turns out women hunt in the vast majority of foraging societies, upending old stereotypes.   After that, we learn about a hunt for zero. Tanya Roussy, a recent Ph.D. graduate in quantum physics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, discusses her work trying to const...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - July 6, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Putting organs into the deep freeze, a scavenger hunt for robots, and a book on race and reproduction
On this week’s show: Improvements in cryopreservation technology, teaching robots to navigate new places, and the latest book in our series on sex and gender   First up this week on the show, scientists are learning how to “cryopreserve” tissues—from donor kidneys to coral larvae. Contributing Correspondent Warren Cornwall joins host Sarah Crespi to talk about the latest in freezing and thawing technology.   Next up: How much does a robot need to “know” about the world to navigate it? Theophile Gervet, a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University, discusses a scavenger hunt–style experiment that involv...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - June 29, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

Putting organs into the deep freeze, a scavenger hunt for robots, and a book on race and reproduction
On this week’s show: Improvements in cryopreservation technology, teaching robots to navigate new places, and the latest book in our series on sex and gender   First up this week on the show, scientists are learning how to “cryopreserve” tissues—from donor kidneys to coral larvae. Contributing Correspondent Warren Cornwall joins host Sarah Crespi to talk about the latest in freezing and thawing technology.   Next up: How much does a robot need to “know” about the world to navigate it? Theophile Gervet, a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University, discusses a scavenger hunt–style experiment that involv...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - June 29, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

"The Entangled Brain" with Luiz Pessoa (BS 209)
Luiz Pessoa; L click to play, R click to download This month's episode of Brain Science is an interview with Luiz Pessoa, author of The Entangled Brain: How Perception, Cognition, and Emotion Are Woven Together.This is Pessoa's first book aimed at a general audience and it provides a concise overview of our current understanding of basic brain function. However, he also explains the limitations of the traditional modular view of the brain. A key take home point is that emotion and cognition are deeply intertwined at every level. Listen now Free transcript e...
Source: the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell - June 23, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Ginger Campbell, MD Tags: Limbic System Books Brain Research Cognitive Science For Newbies Interviews Neuroscience Podcast Show Notes Source Type: podcasts

A space-based telescope to hunt dark energy, and what we can learn from scaleless snakes
On this week’s show: Euclid, a powerful platform for detecting dark energy, and a slithery segment on how snakes make scales   First up on the show this week, we’re taking the hunt for dark energy to space. Staff Writer Daniel Clery joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss a new space-based telescope called Euclid, set to launch next month. Euclid will kick off a new phase in the search for dark energy, the mysterious force that is accelerating the expansion of the universe.   Also on this week’s show, snakes reveal a new way to pattern the body. Athanasia Tzika, a senior lecturer in the genetics and evolution depart...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - June 22, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts

A space-based telescope to hunt dark energy, and what we can learn from scaleless snakes
On this week’s show: Euclid, a powerful platform for detecting dark energy, and a slithery segment on how snakes make scales   First up on the show this week, we’re taking the hunt for dark energy to space. Staff Writer Daniel Clery joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss a new space-based telescope called Euclid, set to launch next month. Euclid will kick off a new phase in the search for dark energy, the mysterious force that is accelerating the expansion of the universe.   Also on this week’s show, snakes reveal a new way to pattern the body. Athanasia Tzika, a senior lecturer in the genetics and evolution depart...
Source: Science Magazine Podcast - June 22, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Science Magazine Source Type: podcasts