Last week we spoke of bacteria, a major contributor to biofilms. What are biofilms and why do microbes make them? How is human health impacted by this mechanism of microbial life? Why do my teeth feel so fuzzy? Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

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Imagine having a twin split out of you in twenty minutes flat; each of you split again in another twenty minutes. In a scant few hours, there are billions of you. This happens with bacteria every day in almost every environment one can imagine. Just what is this domain of life? Why are bacteria important to our global ecosystem? Are they always dangerous? Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

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It's hard to believe that something as generically described as cholesterol could be so important. High levels of "a waxy substance" result in no side effects until a heart attack or a stroke. What are lipids, or fats? How does the human body get fats? What are relevant pharmaceuticals related to cholesterol? Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

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The sheer reduction of poliomyelitis-ridden individuals is a testament to how effective the poliovirus vaccines are. Still, related viruses like rhinoviruses, coxsackieviruses, and enteroviruses cause significant burden to public health. What are picornaviruses? Why is there a need for researching viruses like EV-D68 and EV-A71? Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

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Listerine was not made by Joseph Lister, but was named in his honor. What is the purpose of mouthwash? Why are we urged to wash our hands? Who were some of the physicians responsible for reducing mortality of surgery and hospital living? How are things sterilized now? Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

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To be a Nobel Laureate is one of the greatest honors that can be given. What does this prize represent? Where are the Prizes origins? Why are there fewer prizes in economics than other prizes? What are the complications with the Nobel Prize in today's society? Was Alfred Nobel the last great Alfred? Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

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My earliest memories of life were whistling air and gentle clouds as the stork delivered me to my humble home: a wolfpack! As I grew older, I puzzled over the importance of reproduction and how genetic diversity played into the population-at-large around me. Today, we'll discuss some of the reasons that DNA is important in acting as a blueprint; different ways that life has discovered to be able to reproduce; and some crazy folktales that have helped explain the birds and the bees. Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

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Why can't I give birth to an elephant? Why do each of my feet have five toes and not three toes and two conjoined toes? What is DNA and how is it so fundamentally important to how each of us develop? Today, we'll discuss DNA, the central dogma, and twins. Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

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Some topics are short and sweet, but do not warrant an entire episode of conversation. There have been many requests for smaller topics to be discussed: thusly, establishment of the grab bag is a proper solution. Today we'll discuss individuals who think they're more capable than they are; how one determines what reputable information is; coffee without a filter; and, how to be scientifically conversational.

For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.

James Hetfield might have said it best when he said "Battery is here to stay". Much of humankind has become increasingly more dependent on portable electrical energy. What is a battery? What makes a better battery? How are current researchers looking to improve the battery? Let's learn to be scientifically conversational.

For all references and supplemental information, you can navigate to ascienceshow.com.