Life Sciences

Believing that every human has the right to flourish, to have dignity and to thrive is at the centre of humanism. In this podcast I outline some of the kinks in our evolution that have enabled us to care, nurture and soothe for those around us and how stepping out of the societal and gender roles this evolution has created for us can be our new survival strategy as a species. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 300 million people suffer from depression, which is now the world’s leading cause of disability. Whilst there are two major facets to this disease, psychology and biology, this podcast sheds light on the neurobiology behind depression and why it can be so debilitating with little to no trigger. Understanding the science behind this crippling illness can help us to be conscious of the feelings those with depression experience and how to show consideration to that.  Get in touch with me via email - [email protected] if you have any questions or thoughts. 

Basic research is a public good. Everyone will benefit from it at some stage. The word basic however, implies that we can’t immediately make a profit from it and that is the reason why it can’t be left to the private sector to fund. Much of what we enjoy today would be inconceivable if it weren’t for the advances of science and technology in years gone by. If we fund basic scientific research we can address some of the worlds most pressing challenges whilst inspiring the next generation. 

It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the US experience persistent pain - whether that’s down to a chronic illness or a primary pain syndrome like migraines. Despite the fact many of us will experience a great deal of pain in our lives, there is one pain myth that lingers. This myth can be bust by science though, no need to call in Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman. 

What is life? Let’s face it, we still don’t agree on the answer. 4 billion years ago, conditions on earth were perfect to allow a few chemicals to get together and make biology. We, as humans, are intrinsically linked by evolution to these early biological molecules. But what happened to allow these chemical reactions to occur, ultimately leading to the creation of complex life? Some hypothesised that the emergence of life on earth may have been down to directed panspermia, others believe it was meteorites hitting the sea. 

This episode is all about the biology of human behaviour and behavioural evolution. This podcast will probably give you pause for thought as I discuss how we use our physiology in unrecognisable ways whilst maintaining the same boring physiology as most other organisms out there. Although, the question remains - How genetic is behaviour? 

The development of a COVID-19 vaccine has been at the forefront of scientific research since the first outbreak of the virus in 2019. In this episode, I discuss the the story of the race to solve this medical mystery and detail the results of some clinical trials occurring across the globe. 

This episode explores the science behind learning and memory. Throughout this podcast I allude to the first working model of memory as well as the experiments and case studies that have led us to our understanding of synaptic plasticity as we know it, colloquially known as the art of 'remembering' and 'forgetting.' Thank you to John Moynihan for producing this episode and to Cathal O'Gara for the artwork.