Discovery Matters

What's the science behind apps like Duolingo and Yousician? Gamification! And what happens when you apply this science to ... scientific discoveries?

Join Dodi and Conor and their guests, Zoran Popovic, University of Washington and Helen Spiers, Zooniverse.

Reading material: 

Transcript

Keywords: game, gamification, protein, puzzles, Foldit, Zooniverse, COVID, MOSAK, dopamine, Endoplasmic Reticulum.

Scientists love asking “why?” But they often have intensely personal reasons for solving challenges too. Meet Dorraya El-Ashry, scientist and trailblazer whose work on breast cancer is making the world a better, healthier place. Dorraya is using her three decades of research experience to direct the fight against this deadly disease. 

Look out, breast cancer.

Transcript

Keywords: breast cancer, discovery maker, triple negative, breast cancer research, immunotherapy, breast cancer research foundation, metastatic cancer, research funding, estrogen receptor, tumor microenvironment.

This episode almost became a 3 hour long one - Robert "Bob" Lefkowitz, PhD., is a phenomenal, infinite source of knowledge. Dodi and Conor are still an awe and deep appreciation for the time spent with the 2012 Nobel Prize laureate for Chemistry (shared with Brian Kobilka). 

Dive in and listen to the #discoverymakers story of Bob Lefkowitz talking about humor, creativity and resilience in science discoveries. 

Transcript

Keywords: Robert Lefkowitz, Brian Kobilka, Nobel prize, chemistry podcast, science podcast, discovery podcast, science discoveries, curiosity.

In this episode of Discovery Matters, Dodi and Conor meet a professor of biomedical materials and regenerative medicine at Imperial College, a brilliant #DiscoveryMaker who heads the Stevens Group: a diverse band of researchers working at the frontier between living and non-living matter.

Meet Molly Stevens. A scientist exploring the frontier between living and non-living matter. Molly works at the nanoscale, a million times beyond the range of the human eye, to boost the body’s powers of repair. In this strange world, a million times beyond the range of the naked eye, Molly and her team design materials that help the body heal itself. 

Remember our first episode on oligonucleotides, telling the story of Roy living with spinal muscular atrophy? We were so amazed by this technology, we promised to follow up at a later date - and today is the day! Listen to find out how Roy is doing today, and hear from Harvard medical doctor and researcher, Tim Yu and Nikki Reyes-McIntosh, mother of Miles who also lives with SMA and is treated by oligos.

Transcript

Keywords: oligo, oligonucleotide, spinal muscular atrophy, science podcast, oligo podcast, SMA, rare diseases.

Longer episode than we're usually used to, but we think it's worth it. Why does science denial exist, how does it work and what's the antidote? 

Join Conor, Dodi and their guests: Haafizah Hoosen, Ask for Evidence Ambassador at Sense about Science +  Dr. Danna Young, Associate Prof Communication & Political Science at University of Delaware. 

Looking for further reading? Conor recommends this article from VOX. This is a first-person essay with a unique perspective on a complicated issue.

Enjoy, share and remember to rate us on your favorite podcast player!

Transcript

Keywords: covid vaccine, science denial, anti-vaxxer, covid, covid-19, coronavirus, pandemic, conspiracy theories, science podcast

Conor finally brings the 15 minutes of fame to fungi - mushrooms being second only to his "microbiomania". We invite you to the beginning of the journey to understand the importance of fungi and mushrooms. 

Guests are Clare Blencowe, an amateur mycologist and manager at Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, and Merlin Sheldrake, a biologist and a writer with a background in plant sciences, microbiology, ecology, and the history and philosophy of science.

If you want to go down the rabbit whole yourself, follow the #MycoBookClub on Twitter.

Transcript

Keywords: fungi, fungus, mushroom, life science, microbiome, ecology.

2020 wasn't all bad!  We met some fascinating scientists during the year who helped us understand topics like quantum biology, how baking bread helps us make medicines, and why we embrace the very, very cold.  We hope you have enjoyed Discovery Matters in 2020 and that you'll let us know what you want to hear in 2021!  As Conor says, "every day is a school day."

Transcript

Keywords: Discovery Matters, science, quantum biology, podcast, immune system, biology.

How do we find our way? Consulting a map is the age-old answer, at least geographically. But the art of mapping - considered a superpower by one of this episode's guests - extends to anything we want to understand better. Join Conor and Dodi on this exploration of data visualization. Your challenge at the end of the episode - spend time on these sites:

Thanks to our guests Paul Goodwin from Cytiva and Katy Borner at the Indiana University.

Transcript

Keywords: tumor, tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy, cancer treatment, anatomy.

This episode is easily one of our favorites: everything from design of experiments, to AI-powered math simulations, to existential questions. Conor and Dodi welcomed Tobias Hahn from GoSilico, alongside two of their colleagues from Cytiva - principal scientist Gunnar Malmquist and advanced chromatography specialist, John Scibetta. 

Have a listen, share this gem and rate us on your favorite podcast.

Transcript

Keywords: computer simulation, biopharma, math, biochemistry, biotherapeutic, chromatography, process development.