In Episode #023 I explore everything from solar eclipses to new overheating iPhones and multiple Electric Vehicle battery fires reported in Australia. Has battery technology hit a bottleneck and should EV owners be worried about their safety?

Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:14) What causes lithium-ion battery fires?

(6:11) How rare are EV fires?

(7:40) How to build a better battery

(9:34) The basic components of a lithium-ion battery

(12:58) Recycling lithium ion batteries

Show notes:

What happens when batteries explode?

https://theconversation.com/what-causes-lithium-ion-battery-fires-why-are-they-so-intense-and-how-should-they-be-fought-an-expert-explains-214470

How rare are EV fires?

https://theconversation.com/electric-vehicle-fires-are-very-rare-the-risk-for-petrol-and-diesel-vehicles-is-at-least-20-times-higher-213468

How to build a better battery

https://www.vox.com/recode/23027110/solid-state-lithium-battery-tesla-gm-ford

Iphone 15 Pro overheating:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-iphone-15-pro-overheating-reports-still-too-hot-after-ios-17-0-3-and-fresh-issues-arise-after-the-update/

Recycling lithium ion batteries is complicated:

https://www.csiro.au/en/research/technology-space/energy/energy-in-the-circular-economy/battery-recycling

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"Quiet quitting" can be interpreted as putting in the minimum effort required of us in the workplace in an attempt to foster work-life balance. Why won't this work for Scientists, and is this a sign of systemic toxicity?

In Episode #022 I explore Steven Bartlett's Quitting framework, compare the difference between quiet vs loud quitting, and interpret 8 red flags of a toxic workplace through the lens of a scientist. It turns out that our threshold for punishing work conditions is higher than most, and this benefits and harms scientists in equal measure.

Chapters

* (0:00) Introduction

* (1:01) Steven Bartlett's Quitting Framework

* (4:34) Science is defined by failure

* (8:18) Quiet quitting vs loud quitting

* (13:05) 3 signs your boss is considering a "quiet cut"

* (15:57) 8 red flags of a toxic work environment

Show Notes:

* Steven Bartlett's Quitting Framework

* 3 millennials try to explain quiet quitting

* Is loud quitting worse than quiet quitting?

* What is quiet cutting?

* 8 Red flags of toxic workplaces

* The Happiest Job in the world?

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In Episode #021 we discuss the 2023 Nobel Prizes for Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine, and contemplate their value relative to the satirical and very much tongue-in-cheek Ig Nobel Prizes.

What can scientists and non-scientists alike learn from these historical breakthroughs?

Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:18) Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Quantum Dots

(5:21) Nobel Prize in Physics - Attoseconds

(9:00) Nobel Prize in Medicine - mRNA Vaccines

(18:09) Nobel vs Ig Nobel Prizes?

Show Notes:

Quantum Dots:

* https://theconversation.com/quantum-dots-are-part-of-a-revolution-in-engineering-atoms-in-useful-ways-nobel-prize-for-chemistry-recognizes-the-power-of-nanotechnology-215015

* https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/this-top-secret-prototype-display-will-blow-your-mind/

* https://www.dovepress.com/biomedical-applications-of-quantum-dots-overview-challenges-and-clinic-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN

Attosecond Revolution:

* https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2023/10/fig2_fy_en_23.pdf

mRNA Vaccines:

* https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2023/press-release/

* https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Understanding-COVID-19-mRNA-Vaccines

Ig Nobel Prizes:

* https://improbable.com/ig/winners/#ig2023

* https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-individual-to-win-both-a-nobel-and-ig-nobel-prize

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In Episode #020 I discuss 5 jobs scientists can do away from the lab, debate the evolving nature of remote work, and provide 2 concrete strategies to create career capital for your next role.

Oh and I (stupidly) try to respond to your conspiracy theories about science.

Chapters:

* (0:00) Introduction

* (1:38) 5 jobs scientists can do away from the lab

* (8:33) Zoom cancels working from home

* (10:54) Is it legal for employers to ban remote work?

* (13:03) How to get better at job interviews

* (17:40) Stand out with a Digital Visual Resume

* (20:38) Scientist reacts to your conspiracy theories

Show notes:

5 Jobs Scientists can do remotely/work from home

Zoom forces employees to come back to the office

Can your employer force you back to the office?

Tell me about yourself in a job interview

The value of Digital Visual Resumes

Thanks for reading BioLab Collective with Jack Wang! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit biolabcollective.substack.com

A Mushroom Cook and a family lunch that left 3 dead - can supermarket mushrooms be deadly? In Episode #019 I dive into the molecular machinations of Death Cap mushrooms, and whether nature or synthetic chemicals are more responsible for the deadliest poisons on the planet.

Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:59) Why Deathcap mushrooms are deadly

(6:04) An antidote is on the way?

(8:29) Should you be foraging for mushrooms in the wild?

(10:38) Your comments from previous episodes

(12:31) The 5 deadliest poisons on the planet

(19:13) Which is better - Natural or Synthetic?

Show notes:

* Deadly mushrooms: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mushroom-poisoning-australia-beef-wellington-b2395929.html

* Why are deathcap mushrooms so deadly? https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/10/victoria-death-cap-mushroom-poisoning-what-are-death-caps-deadly-toxic-poisonous-australia

* Antidote for Death cap mushrooms? https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/05/17/1175494500/new-hope-for-an-antidote-to-death-cap-mushrooms-and-other-poison-fungi

* Vic health departments advice on mushrooms: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/mushroom-poisoning

* Elementary mushroom episode: https://cbselementary.fandom.com/wiki/A_Study_in_Charlotte

* World’s Five deadliest poisons (only one is synthetic): https://theconversation.com/handle-with-care-the-worlds-five-deadliest-poisons-56089

* Natural vs synthetic chemicals is a gray matter: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/natural-vs-synthetic-chemicals-is-a-gray-matter/

* Are Natural Products best? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220614-synthetic-or-natural-which-is-best-for-climate-and-health

Thanks for reading BioLab Collective with Jack Wang! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit biolabcollective.substack.com

In Episode #018 I explore the economics behind the Netflix subscription model, its advantages when applied to Healthcare and Big Pharma, as well as its potential downsides. Is the Netflix model even working for Netflix?

Chapters

* (0:00) Introduction

* (0:35) What is the Netflix Model for Drugs?

* (1:57) The Netflix model for Hepatitis C drugs

* (3:54) Netflix stock takes a tumble

* (5:27) Hollywood strikes and Netflix

* (7:38) How Netflix spends and saves its money

* (8:37) NHS saves 7 billion pounds

* (11:24) What Big Pharma thinks about these savings

* (14:58) Adobe is vulnerable to disruption because of Netflix

* (18:17) Responding to viewer comments

Show Notes

* Netflix style subscription model for drugs in Big pharma

* Computer modelling for Pricing License Agreement (PLA/Netflix) in Hep C study

* Subs surged but stock tanked for Netflix

* How the Hollywood strikes are affecting Netflix

* Everything Netflix is cancelling

* Expensive Netflix Shows

* VPAS for UK saves 7 billion

* What does Big pharma think?

Thanks for reading BioLab Collective with Jack Wang! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit biolabcollective.substack.com

From nitrogen mustard gas to vaccines and immunotherapies - cancer treatment has changed dramatically over the past 50 years. Will we ever find a "cure" for cancer? In Episode #017 I dive into the advances in cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Chapters

* (0:00) Introduction

* (1:18) Cancer is not one disease

* (2:29) How Cancer Detection has changed over the years

* (7:01) What is Cancer Overdiagnosis?

* (8:49) Cancer risks - then vs now

* (15:25) The biggest problem with cancer therapies

* (18:39) The future of cancer treatment

* (21:42) Careers in cancer treatment and therapy

Show notes

Diagnosis Then:

* https://www.cancer.org/cancer/understanding-cancer/history-of-cancer/what-is-cancer.html#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20earliest%20evidence,ancient%20Egypt%2C%20and%20ancient%20manuscripts.

Diagnosis Now:

* https://www.cancer.gov/types https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-05/young-people-urged-to-look-for-bowel-cancer-symptoms-730/102558540

* https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-21/hairdressers-learn-how-to-spot-melanomas/102575262

* https://theconversation.com/how-englands-new-lung-cancer-screening-could-save-thousands-of-lives-expert-qanda-208867

* https://theconversation.com/ai-can-help-detect-breast-cancer-but-we-dont-yet-know-if-it-can-improve-survival-rates-210800

* https://theconversation.com/29-000-cancers-overdiagnosed-in-australia-in-a-single-year-127791

Risk Factors then:

* https://www.cancer.org/cancer/understanding-cancer/history-of-cancer/modern-knowledge-and-cancer-causes.html Risk Factors now:

* https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/policy-and-advocacy/prevention-policy/risk-factors https://theconversation.com/climb-the-stairs-lug-the-shopping-chase-the-kids-incidental-vigorous-activity-linked-to-lower-cancer-risks-210288 Baby powder caused cancer?

* https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-19/johnson-must-pay-damages-to-cancer-patient-in-baby-powder-suit/102619178

Treatment then:

* https://www.cancer.gov/research/progress/250-years-milestones

* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29649739/

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminopterin

Treatment now:

* https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv-vaccine.html https://www.mdanderson.org/treatment-options/car-t-cell-therapy.html

Thanks for reading BioLab Collective with Jack Wang! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit biolabcollective.substack.com

In Episode #016 I dive into the future of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare by looking to the past. Who has tried this before, and why did it fail spectacularly?

Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:25) AI in healthcare needs to be medical grade

(5:18) AI needs human doctors to work in healthcare

(8:35) IBM's attempt at an AI healthcare takeover

(13:45) 3 problems that AI can't overcome in healthcare yet

(17:14) When you lose explainability all that is left is culpability

(19:39) Audience comments from previous episodes

Show notes:

AI-powered personalised medicine can revolutionise healthcare

Not all AI is medical grade

It’s failed before: IBM’s Watson

3 big issues with AI in healthcare

When there’s no explainability, culpability is all that’s left (Charlie Teo)

Thanks for reading BioLab Collective with Jack Wang! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit biolabcollective.substack.com

After decades of failed drug trials, two new drugs have emerged in slowing memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease: Leqembi and Donanemab. In Episode #015 I deep dive into novel Alzheimer's therapies to discuss their effectiveness, safety, and how to find out if you're at risk.

Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:00) Who's most at risk of Alzheimer's Disease?

(5:52) The Amyloid Hypothesis

(7:14) Leqembi approved by FDA

(9:16) Donanenmab may be next

(12:10) Alzheimer's drugs, brain bleeding, and death

(16:01) How do you know if you have Alzheimer's?

(21:20) Dementia and CTE

(22:49) Do taking smart drugs make us more productive? Is it worth the risk?

(27:00) The Connect - viewers' comments from previous episodes

Show Notes:

Alzheimer’s drug being tested Leqembi or Lecanemab

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-07/alzheimer-s-disease-drug-leqembi-gets-green-light-in-us/102575974

Donanemab:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-04/eli-lilly-drug-alzheimer-cognitive-decline-by-35-per-cent/102301474

Systematic failure of Alzheimer’s drug trials:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-02-26/alzheimers-drug-failure-raises-questions-about-research/11996258

Are these drugs safe?

https://www.science.org/content/article/alzheimer-s-trial-shows-clear-benefits-and-significant-risks-eli-lilly-antibody

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s:

https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/types-of-dementia/alzheimers-disease?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzdOlBhCNARIsAPMwjbz46yEPHVQnD-rqxwHOQrtlHnD2gWQdBRIGW9fc-bDlQzjxd2M-TfgaAvMOEALw_wcB

Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)

https://cgatoolkit.ca/Uploads/ContentDocuments/MMSE.pdf

CTE in female athlete:

https://theconversation.com/australian-researchers-confirm-worlds-first-case-of-dementia-linked-to-repetitive-brain-trauma-in-a-female-athlete-208929

Smart drugs make you dumb:

https://theconversation.com/smart-drugs-make-you-worse-at-solving-complex-problems-new-study-finds-207711

Thanks for reading BioLab Collective with Jack Wang! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit biolabcollective.substack.com

In Episode #014 I dive into the Opioid Addiction Crisis and explore the moral ambiguities associated with R&D.

Chapters

(0:00) Introduction

(0:50) The Origins of the Opioid Epidemic

(5:38) Should you use Opioids for Back or Neck Pain?

(10:03) Australia's Fentanyl Explosion

(14:02) Purdue Pharmaceutical's $6 Billion settlement

(15:44) Why is Fentanyl so addictive?

(19:42) Dealing with moral ambiguities in Science

(22:58) The positive impact of synthetic biology

Show notes:

The Origins of the Opioid epidemic: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/the-origins-of-the-opioid-epidemic/

Opioids don’t help acute pain: https://theconversation.com/opioids-dont-relieve-acute-low-back-or-neck-pain-and-can-result-in-worse-pain-new-study-finds-203244

Australia's Fentanyl Explosion: https://amp.9news.com.au/article/c732a2e6-9790-443f-a1e0-2a7f96cddec4

Purdue Pharma settle for $6 billion https://www.npr.org/2022/03/03/1084163626/purdue-sacklers-oxycontin-settlement

How does Fentanyl work? Why is it so potent? https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl

How to Make Synthetic Insulin: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/fromdnatobeer/exhibition-interactive/recombinant-DNA/recombinant-dna-technology-alternative.html

Thanks for reading BioLab Collective with Jack Wang! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit biolabcollective.substack.com