Breaking Bad Science

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There are few things more terrifying than considering the possibility of developing Alzheimer's towards the end of one's life. With modern medicine the way it is there could be little doubt we've made great advances in the treatment of this disease. So it might surprise you to hear that the recent Biogen news means that the FDA has approved the first drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s in twenty years. Turns out, though, that's not actually what makes it such big news. Join hosts Shanti and Danny as we talk about what’s going on with aducanumab, Biogen, and some strange moves by the FDA.

References

1. Lovelace, B.; Third Member of the Prestigious FDA Panel Resigns Over Approval of Biogen’s Alzheimer’s Drug. CNBC. 10-Jun-2021.  https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/10/third-member-of-prestigious-fda-panel-resigns-over-approval-of-biogens-alzheimers-drug.html
2. Knopman, D., et. al.; Failure to Demonstrate Efficacy of Aducanumab: An Analysis of the EMERGE and ENGAGE Trials as Reported by Biogen, December 2019. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 10-Nov-2020. 17:4 (696 - 701). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12213
3. Shankar, G., et. al.; Amyloid B-Protein Dimers Isolated Directly from Alzheimer Brains Impair Synaptic Plasticity and Memory. Nature Medicine. 22-Jun-2008. 14:8 (837 - 842). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1782

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What happens when the family you've always known or the story about them turns out to be, I dunno a lie or maybe a confused misconception repeated through generations? If you listened to the intro, you know that I'm a firm believer in the fact that people as a whole, sometimes lie. The beauty and the danger with this is that science can be misconstrued or misinterpreted, but the science itself doesn't lie. So why then, are there so many questions about our DNA ancestry? Join hosts Shanti and Danny as we welcome back Dr. Sonya Iverson and discuss genetic heritage, DNA ancestry, and the mailman.

References

1. Zimmer, C.; She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity. Dutton. 29-May-2018. ISBN-10: 1101984597
2. Rosenfield, J.; ‘I Was Numb’: Family Secrets Come to Light as DNA Testing Gains Popularity. NBCPhiladelphia. 04-Nov-2019. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/investigators/i-was-numb-family-secrets-come-to-light-as-dna-testing-gains-popularity/2117880/
3. Grayson, G.; My Grandmother Was Italian. Why Aren’t My Genes Italian?. WBUR.org. 22-Jan-2018. https://www.wbur.org/npr/578293890/my-grandmother-was-italian-why-arent-my-genes-italian
4. Sykes, B.; The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry. W.W. Norton & Company. 17-May-2002. ISBN-10: 0393323145
5. Loogvali, E., et. al.; Disuniting Uniformity: A Pied Cladistic Canvas of mtDNA Haplogroup H in Eurasia. Molecular Biology and Evolution. Nov-2004. 21:11 (2012 - 2021). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msh209
6. Harrington, C.; Your ‘Ethnicity Estimate’ Doesn’t Mean What you Think it Does. Wired.com. 02-Oct-2020. https://www.wired.com/story/your-ethnicity-estimate-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-does/

Kirkpatrick, B., Rashkin, M.; Ancestry Testing and the Practice of Genetic Counseling. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 04-Oct-2016. 26:1 (6 - 20). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-016-0014-2

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Ghengis Khan had some pretty brutal war tactics, but did he once use biology as a weapon? How is Ted Kaczyinski tied to chemical warfare experimentation? Has a biological weapon ever been used intentionally? Are either of these even scientifically practical? When was the last time chemical weapons were employed? Is the fear of biological and chemical weapons just a great premise for video games and TV or are these as terrifying as they seem? Join hosts Shanti and Danny as we discuss the legitimacy of biological and chemical warfare and why the practice is virtually teeming with conspiracy theories and rumors.

References

1. Kaminski, J., Et. al.; Evolution of Facial Muscle Anatomy in Dogs. PNAS. 16-Jul-2019. 116: 29 (14677-14681). Doi:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1820653116
2. IHL. Rule 74. The Use of Chemical Weapons is Prohibited. IHL Database. 2: 24 (Section A) Doi: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule74
3. IHL. Rule 73. The Use of Biological Weapons is Prohibited. IHL Database. 2: 23 Doi: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule73
4. Wheelies, M. Biological Warfare at the 1346 Siege of Caffa. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Sep-2002 8:9 (971-975) Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3201%2Feid0809.010536
5. Kiger, P.; Did Colonists Give Infected Blankets to Native Americans as Biological Warfare?. History.com. 25-Nov-2019. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.history.com/.amp/news/colonists-native-americans-smallpox-blankets
6. Carlton, J.; Of Microbes and Mock Attacks: Years Ago, the Military Sprayed Germs on US Cities. Wall Street Journal. 22-Oct-2001. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1003703226697496080
7. Nofil, B.; The CIAs Appalling Human Experiments with Mind Control. History.com. https://www.history.com/mkultra-operation-midnight-climax-cia-lsd-experiments
8. Technical Secretariat; Report of the Fact-Finding Mission Regarding the Incident of Alleged Use of Toxic Chemicals as a Weapon in Duoma, Syrian Arab Republic on 7 April 2018. 01-Mar-2019. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/03/s-1731-2019%28e%29.pdf

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As a scientist, obviously Danny knows plenty about the creatures from Klyntar and their partnerships with other species. Well, did we say scientist? I guess we meant nerd. Venom and Marvel's other symbiotes do certainly portray a practice that has been fascinating scientists for centuries, though. Symbiosis and more importantly mutualism is the pinnacle of interspecies relationships, but what is it, what do we know about it and what other interspecies relationships exist. Join hosts Shanti and Danny as we discuss how some species can be so intricately tied together that separation could mean certain extinction for both. 

References

1. Paracer, S. Ahmadjian, V.; Symbiosis: An Introduction to Biological Associations by Surindar Paracer. Oxford University Press. 01-Jan-1867. ISBN: 978-0-19-511806-3
2. Mougi, A.; The Role of Amensalistic and Commensalistic Interactions in Large Ecological Network Stability. Scientific Reports. 13-Jul-2016. 6:29929. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep29929
3. Yarlagagadda, T.; 10 Images of Unlikely Animal Relationships. Inverse. 11-Apr-2021. https://www.inverse.com/science/unlikely-animal-relationships-science/amp
4. Special RElationships: Keeping Pistol Shrimps and Gobies. Practical Fishkeeping. https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/special-relationships-keeping-pistol-shrimps-and-gobies/
5. Willmer, P., Stone, G.; How Aggressive Ant-Guards Assist Seed-Set in Acacia Flowers. Nature. 10-Jul-1997. 388 (165 - 167). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/40610
6. English Ivy. Invasive.org. https://www.invasive.org/alien/pubs/midatlantic/hehe.htm

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What happens when toxic males go out into the wild, propagate more toxic males, and kill every female progeny they produce? Well...Florida is working on finding out. That is, at least, with their mosquito population. Genetically Engineered mosquitoes, can they accomplish what the aliens in Lilo and Stitch worked so hard to prevent? Both kudos and my apologies for those of you who get that reference. What does it mean to have these creatures in the wild? Is it a concern and is it even the first time something like this has been done? Join hosts Shanti and Danny as we discuss the recent news that Florida has released genetically engineered mosquitoes into the wild.

References

1. Waltz, E.; First Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Released in the United States. Nature. 03-May-2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01186-6
2. Waltz, E.; Oxitec Trials GM Sterile Moth to Combat Agricultural Infestations. Nature Biotechnology. 07-Aug-2015. 33 (792 - 793). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0815-792c
3. Fang, J.; Ecology: A World Without Mosquitoes. Nature. 21-Jul-2010. 466: (432 - 434) Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/466432a

Ploetz, R.; Panama Disease: An Old Nemesis Rears Its Ugly Head Part 1. The Beginning of the Banana Export Trade. Plant Management Network. 17-Oct-2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821194641/https://www.apsnet.org/publications/apsnetfeatures/Pages/PanamaDiseasePart1.aspx

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If you listen to David Icke, the whole world is a simulation controlled by the lizard people using the moon..you know...the moon matrix. But can we create a whole new virtual world? Could we remake our world virtually? What is VR? What is AR? Training, gaming, and just making the world more convenient; how far has this technology come and what is the future? 

References

1. Center for Near Earth Object Studies.Planetary Defense Conference Exercise - 2021: The 2021 PDC Hypothetical Asteroid Impact Scenario. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/pd/cs/pdc21/
2.  Baig, E.; View-Master Rides Googld Cardboard into Virtual REality. USAToday. 13-Feb-2015. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2015/02/13/view-master--of-old-uses-google-cardboard-vr/23297205/
3. Maw, I.; How Lockheed Martin is Using Augmented Reality in Aerospace Manufacturing. Engineering.com. 13-Aug-2019. https://www.engineering.com/story/how-lockheed-martin-is-using-augmented-reality-in-aerospace-manufacturing
4. Newberry, J.; How to Watch Sports Events in VR. The Sports Daily. 27-Nov-2020. https://thesportsdaily.com/2020/11/27/how-to-watch-sports-events-in-vr/

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Is war an exclusively human practice? How about sexual behavior and pair-bonding among members of the same sex? Is the heat of the surface of the sun just an everyday experience for some in nature? Is one-punch man alive and well in the animal kingdom? Join hosts Shanti and Danny as we discuss. Emu wars, chimpanzees, and the terrifying creatures of the deep and talk about what makes nature so much stranger than even the fiction we imagine.

References

1. Johnson, M.; ‘Feathered Foes’: Soldier Settlers and Western Australia’s ‘Emu War’ of 1932. Journal of Australian Studies. 18-May-2009. 88 (147 - 157). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14443050609388083
2. Wilson, M., et. al.; Lethal Aggression in Pan is Better Explained by Adaptive Strategies than Human Impacts. Nature. 18-Sep-2014. 513 (414 - 417). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13727
3. Poiani, A.; Animal Homosexuality A Biosocial Perspective. Cambridge University Press. 2010. ISBN: 978-0-521-19675
4. Versluis, M., et. al.; How Snapping Shrimp Snap: Through Cavitating Bubbles. Science. 22-Sep-2000. 289: 5487 (2114 - 2117). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5487.2114
5. Patek, S., et. al.; Deadly Strike Mechanism of a Mantis Shrimp. Nature. 22-Apr-2004. 428 (819 - 820). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/428819a
6. Baum-Haines, S.; These Bizarre Animal Behaviors Prove that Mother Nature is Insane. 03-Nov-2020. Science101. https://www.science101.com/bizarre-animal-behaviors-prove-nature-metal/

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In the past, we discussed the idea of reversing the aging process. The concept that in the future we might be able to end a human's tendency to die simply because we survived for too many years. What about the issues that arise simply from trying to live. What if our organs fail or get damaged, or what if we lose large sections of bone? From 3D printing to organ-on-a-chip, what does the future look like when we consider where medicine is going?

References

1. Abrams, M.; 3D Printing Bones. 14-Jan-2016. American Society of Mechanical Engineering. https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/3d-printing-bones
2. Hanaphy, P.; University of Minnesota Researchers Use 3D Bioprinting to Create Beating Human Heart. 3D Printing Industry. 07-Jul-2020. https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/university-of-minnesota-researchers-use-3d-bioprinting-to-create-beating-human-heart-173210/
3. Rajkumar, S.; The High Cost of Insulin in the United States: An Urgent Call to Action. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 01-Jan-2020. 95:1 (22 - 28). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.11.013
4. Everett, H.; Aldershof Startup Develops Novel Dual-Color Volumetric 3D Printing Method. 3D Printing Industry. 08-Jan-2021. https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/aldershof-startup-develops-novel-dual-color-volumetric-3d-printing-method-182018/#:~:text=Volumetric%203D%20printing%20is%20regarded,in%20a%20matter%20of%20seconds.
5. Carneiro Neto, A., Malta, O.; Glowing Nanocrystals Enable 3D X-Ray Imaging. Nature. 17-Feb-2021. 590 (396 - 397). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00350-2
6. Nillesen, S., et. al.; Increased Angiogenesis and Blood Vessel Maturation in Acellular Collagen-Heparin Scaffolds Containing Both FGF2 and VEGF. Biomaterials. 20-Nov-2006. 28:6 (1123 - 1131). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2006.10.029

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Every week we look at a new scientific concept and delve into the science behind it. How do we go about that? What does it take to look at information that someone presents and evaluate its quality? Join hosts Shanti and Danny as we dive into Shanti’s fitness background and evaluate the work of Dr. Mike Israetel who influenced our co-host in his training days.

References

1. Israetel, M., Hoffman, J., et. al.; The Renaissance Diet. Renaissance Periodization. 09-Feb-2019. ASIN: B07NKTD9MS.
2. Hall, K.; What is the Required Energy Deficit Per Unit Weight Loss?. International Journal of Obesity. 11-Sep-2007. 32:3 (573 - 576). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803720
3. Forbes, G.; Body Fat Content Influences the Body Composition Response to Nutrition and Exercise. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 25-Jan-2006. 904:1 (359 - 365). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb06482.x
4. Drazin, B, et. al.; Effect of Dietary Macronutrient Composition on AMPK and SIRT1 Expression and Activity in Human Skeletal Muscle. Hormone and Metabolic Research. 06-Jun-2012. 44:9 (650 - 655). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1312656

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We all understand what it means to be dirty, more importantly we understand how something becomes clean. But what about energy? How do we clean energy? What is clean energy? Is it achievable? Do we even have any energy that can be considered clean? What is lithium mining? Why does it come up in this discussion. What does the word fossil fuel even mean?

References

1. Sato, M.; Thermochemistry of the Formation of Fossil Fuels. Fluid-Mineral Interactions The Geochemical Society. 1990. Special Publication #2. https://www.geochemsoc.org/files/6214/1261/1770/SP-2_271-284_Sato.pdf
2. Ellabban, O., et. al.; Renewable Energy Resources: Current Status, Future Prospects and Their Enabling Technology. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Nov-2014. 39 (748 - 764). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.113
3. Early, C.; The New ‘Gold Rush’ for Green Lithium. BBC. 24-Nov-2020. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201124-how-geothermal-lithium-could-revolutionise-green-energy
4. Ritchie, H., Roser, M.; Fossil Fuels. Our World in Data. 2017. https://ourworldindata.org/fossil-fuels
5. Jacoby, M.; It’s Time to Get Serious About Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries. Chemical and Engineering News. 14-Jul-2019. 97:28. https://cen.acs.org/materials/energy-storage/time-serious-recycling-lithium/97/i28
6. Battery Technology. MIT Technology Review. https://www.technologyreview.com/topic/climate-change/battery-technology/

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