Science Night

This week we have a human evolution double feature. First, special guest hosts Dr. Briana Pobiner from the Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program and Ryan McRae from The George Washington University talk about the biggest discoveries from 2021 in human evolution. Next up, former guest turned returning champion Dr. Ellie McNutt returns to talk about her recent work at our favorite paleo pathway in Laetoli Tanzania. Also, be sure to check out our website, scinight.com, for tons of links to learn more about alllll the stuff covered in this episode

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This week Prof. Adam Taylor of Lancaster Univ. is talking to us about his attempts to teach the people of Britain more about their bodies, and his work on a very rare disease. In the news, we’re talking about fish cars and a check-in with our favorite autonomous submarine.

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Prof. Adam Taylor is the Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre & Professor in Anatomy at Lancaster Univ. He is an anatomist with a passion for understanding how the human body is formed and how it functions in both health and disease.

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This week we talk to Dr. Jen Verdolin, the host of the Wild Connection podcast, about her work studying prairie dogs and her recent visit to Glasgow in an attempt to...SAVE THE WORLD. In the news, we talk about delayed launches, solar satellites, forgotten freezer DNA, and we tease a future interview about our favorite paleo pathway.

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After the publication of her two nonfiction popular science books, Wild Connection and Raised by Animals, Jennifer has been using her expertise to contribute to the development and production of documentaries. From Animals in Love (Oxford Scientific Films) to Spy in the Wild (John Downer Productions) and Animal Social Networks (Rotating Planet Productions), Jennifer has been a scientific consultant, writer, researcher, and on-screen contributor. She also writes for Psychology Today and is an Assistant Professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona.

Aside from being sought after to contribute to media projects, Jennifer is an engaging speaker, delighting and sharing with audiences the lessons we can learn from other animals to improve our lives, relationships, and families. Her appearances have included places like the world-renowned 92nd St Y in New York City. Delivering engaging science is her specialty whether it’s in print, on the radio, on screen, or in front of a live audience.

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STRESS! Everyone experiences it, and most of us aren't the greatest at dealing with it. The question our guest, Dr. Zane Thayer from Dartmouth College, is trying to learn more about stress. Mainly how a history of stress can lead to long-term health effects. You'll also learn a few tips for dealing with stress in a healthy way. The news segment will definitely build those stress levels as we talk about bees that will make you think twice about where your honey comes from and a new biological robot that will probably not herald the end to civilization as we know it.

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Her overall research goal is to contribute findings of interest to both evolutionary anthropologists and public health professionals. She is strongly motivated to increase public understanding of evolution, developmental plasticity, and how the social construction of race/racism can create health inequities.

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This week, our friend Bill Sullivan returns to talk about his book Pleased to Meet Me. We talk about how the world around you can cause a ripple effect down to the genetic level. In the news segment, we're talking about Martian tomatoes along with their many uses, and the chilling revelation of frog teeth.

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BILL SULLIVAN is a professor of pharmacology and microbiology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he studies infectious disease and genetics. An award-winning researcher, teacher, and science communicator, Sullivan has been featured in a wide variety of outlets, including CNN, Fox & Friends, National Geographic, Scientific American, COSMOS magazine, Science Fantastic with Dr. Michio Kaku, The Naked Scientists, and The Scientist.

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Cannabis continues to spark conversations as popular opinion shifts and its future legal status is debated. However, a long history of stigmatization that led to current federal regulations make it difficult to study. This week, we're talking to Dr. Barb Kaplan, an Associate Professor for Mississippi State University, whose research looks at how cannabis alters the immune response. In the news segment, we talk about the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) scheduling process that limits cannabis access to researchers, as well as the science of fear, and the FDA's recent approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in ages 5 and older.

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The focus of Dr. Kaplan's lab is elucidation of the mechanisms by which drugs and chemicals alter immunity. Links to some of her work can be found on our website.

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Beware dear listener, this episode of the Science Night podcast is much spookier than our typical offering. We begin our descent into the strange by talking about the scientific origins of the lore of our favorite monsters with special guest, Bill Sullivan. Later, the bravest among you can stay tuned for a dramatic reading of "Bit" from the twisted mind of Cody Sullivan, host of fellow Riverpower Podcast Mill show, Pulp: From Beyond the Veil.

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"Bit"- Written by C.A. Sullivan

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Science isn't political. But that doesn’t mean that scientists don’t have influence in politics. Join us for our conversation with Dr. Naomi Charalambakis, Associate Director of Science Policy at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, to learn about how animal research informs human health and why it’s important for scientists to advocate for increased federal funding for science. Plus, is greener air travel on the horizon? And can photosynthesis be harnessed to restore nerve function? - these topics are covered in our news segment.

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There are plenty of stories about how social media can be used to popularize misinformation and create division. This week we’re taking a different approach and highlighting someone that is doing some great science communication on social media. Combining her passion for art with a talent for explaining science, Dr. Jen Ma has created Gentle Facts. This week, we talk to Jen about her work and her journey to compassionate science communication.

We also talk about how social media can be used to popularize misinformation and create division…and CRISPR!

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This week we're talking about all the ways humans express themselves including a stories about a recent find that may be the world's most ancient, and how the things we use to read affect our comprehension. The highlight is a conversation with David J. Peterson, a language creator that has helped build the languages that made the world your favorite shows and movies inhabit feel richer and more vibrant. The list of projects he has worked on is too long to list completely, but some of the highlights include the 2021 remake of Dune, Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon, HBO's Game of Thrones, Freeform's Motherland: Fort Salem, SyFy's Defiance, and many many many more.

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