Science Society

The Asgard archaea are a globally distributed group of microorganisms with significant links to eukaryotes. Despite their global presence and potential implications for our understanding of evolution, viruses that infect these organisms remain understudied and poorly understood.

In this episode, we discuss the fascinating work of Dr. Leao, who has shed light on the nature of these viruses. Using metagenome sequences from deep-sea hydrothermal sediments, Dr. Leao and his team characterized six relatively large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viral genomes that infect two Asgard archaeal phyla, Lokiarchaeota and Helarchaeota.

These Asgard viruses are intriguing as they show features of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses, suggesting a unique evolutionary history. They possess Caudovirales-like structural proteins and a percentage of their genes are associated with eukaryotic nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs). Furthermore, they appear to be capable of independent genome replication, repair, epigenetic modifications, and transcriptional regulation.

Dr. Leao's research offers fascinating insights into the genomic capabilities of these viruses, suggesting a complex interplay with their Asgard archaea hosts. Join us as we delve into the mysteries of the Asgard viruses and explore their potential impact on our understanding of viral evolution and infection mechanisms.

Keywords: Asgard Archaea, Viral Genomes, Lokiarchaeota, Helarchaeota, Dr. Leao, Prokaryotic Viruses, Eukaryotic Viruses, Metagenome Sequences.

Rambo, I.M., Langwig, M.V., Leão, P. et al. Genomes of six viruses that infect Asgard archaea from deep-sea sediments. Nat Microbiol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01150-8

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a diverse neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons and voluntary muscle control. Despite the identified mutations in specific genes defining different ALS subtypes, the potential impact of specific immune features on ALS heterogeneity remains poorly understood.

In this episode, we delve into the compelling work of Dr. Campisi, who explores ALS-4, an ALS subtype characterized by juvenile onset and slow progression. ALS4 is caused by mutations in the senataxin gene (SETX), and Dr. Campisi's study utilizing Setx knock-in mice reveals intriguing links between this ALS subtype and the immune system.

Dr. Campisi has identified an immunological signature in ALS4, consisting of clonally expanded, terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) CD8 T cells in the central nervous system and the blood of these mice. Intriguingly, these increased frequencies of antigen-specific CD8 T cells parallel the progression of motor neuron disease and correlate with anti-glioma immunity. Moreover, bone marrow transplantation experiments underscore the key role of the immune system in ALS4 neurodegeneration.

Join us as we discuss these breakthrough findings with Dr. Campisi and explore their potential implications for understanding ALS pathogenesis and identifying possible biomarkers for the disease state.

Keywords: ALS, ALS4, Senataxin gene, SETX, Immune system, CD8 T cells, Neurodegeneration, Dr. Campisi.

Campisi, L., Chizari, S., Ho, J.S.Y. et al. Clonally expanded CD8 T cells characterize amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-4. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04844-5

The intricate connection between peripheral metabolism and central nervous system functioning is a topic of growing interest in neuroscience. Phospholipids, a type of lipid crucial for cell membrane structure, play a significant role in synaptic regulation, glutamatergic transmission, and overall cortical excitability within the brain. However, how changes in peripheral metabolism might affect these brain lipid levels and, subsequently, cortical excitability is an area still in need of exploration.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Vogt, whose groundbreaking research is shedding light on this compelling question. His study discovered that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) type levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid are elevated after overnight fasting, leading to increased cortical excitability. This spike in LPA-related cortical excitability also enhances fasting-induced hyperphagia, a phenomenon that is reduced following the inhibition of LPA synthesis.

We delve into intriguing findings, like how mice with a human mutation (Prg-1R346T) leading to higher synaptic lipid-mediated cortical excitability displayed increased fasting-induced hyperphagia. This mutation in humans was linked to a higher body mass index and a greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Vogt further explores the critical role of hypothalamic agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons in regulating the effects of LPA after fasting. When AgRP-expressing cells were depleted in adult mice, the fasting-induced elevation of circulating LPAs and cortical excitability was decreased, effectively blunting hyperphagia.

Join us as we navigate these fascinating insights with Dr. Vogt, shedding light on a potentially transformative understanding of how the hypothalamus can impact the cortex and affect food intake through non-neuronal routes.

Keywords: Dr. Vogt, phospholipids, lysophosphatidic acid, cortical excitability, hyperphagia, peripheral metabolism, central nervous system, hypothalamic agouti-related peptide neurons, glutamatergic transmission, food intake, body mass index, type 2 diabetes.

Endle, H., Horta, G., Stutz, B. et al. AgRP neurons control feeding behavior at cortical synapses via peripherally derived lysophospholipids. Na (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00589-7

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifaceted neurological condition characterized by a variety of clinical and pathophysiological markers. Among the critical components under investigation is the locus coeruleus (LC), a small nucleus in the brainstem whose degeneration has been linked to AD. However, our understanding of the relationship between LC integrity and the stages of AD remains limited.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Cassidy, whose pioneering research uses neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI) to examine the role of the LC-norepinephrine system in AD. The study involved cognitively normal older adults, individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD patients. The researchers assessed the LC-norepinephrine system's integrity based on the contrast-to-noise ratio of the LC on NM-MRI images.

Dr. Cassidy and his team found that LC signal contrast decreased in tau-positive participants and negatively correlated with the Braak stage, a measure of tau pathology progression in AD. Remarkably, higher LC signal predicted the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), particularly impulse control symptoms, independent of tau burden, amyloid-β burden, and cortical gray matter volume.

Join us as we dive deep into these intriguing findings with Dr. Cassidy. We'll discuss how NM-MRI could serve as a practical biomarker, potentially predicting the risk of NPS or guiding their treatment in AD, and explore the implications of LC preservation in AD progression.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Locus coeruleus, Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, Tau protein, Amyloid-β, Neuropsychiatric symptoms, Dr. Cassidy.

Cassidy, C.M., et al. Association of locus coeruleus integrity with Braak stage and neuropsychiatric symptom severity in Alzheimer’s disease. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01293-6

The future of the quantum internet holds the promise of unprecedented power through the sharing of quantum information across networks. Quantum teleportation, a process that enables the reliable transfer of quantum information between distant nodes, even amid highly lossy network connections, is a key component of this innovative technological frontier.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Beukers and his team, who are leading the exploration of quantum teleportation. They discuss their groundbreaking work on quantum teleportation between remote, non-neighboring nodes in a quantum network. The network uses three optically connected nodes based on solid-state spin qubits.

Dr. Beukers et al. walk us through the preparation of the teleporter, the establishment of remote entanglement on the two links, the entanglement swapping on the middle node, and storage in a memory qubit. We delve into their findings that demonstrate that once successful preparation of the teleporter is heralded, arbitrary qubit states can be teleported with fidelity above the classical bound, even with unit efficiency.

Our conversation explores key innovations that made their work possible, including enhancements in the qubit readout procedure, active memory qubit protection during entanglement generation, and tailored heralding that reduces remote entanglement infidelities.

Join us as we delve into these cutting-edge developments with Dr. Beukers and his team. Their work not only provides a crucial building block for future quantum networks but also opens the door to exploring teleportation-based multi-node protocols and applications.

Keywords: Dr. Beukers, Quantum Teleportation, Quantum Internet, Quantum Networks, Solid-State Spin Qubits, Quantum Information, Remote Entanglement, Entanglement Swapping, Memory Qubit, Quantum Protocols.

Hermans, S.L.N., Pompili, M., Beukers, H.K.C. et al. Qubit teleportation between non-neighboring nodes in a quantum network. Nature 605, 663–668 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04697-y

Robotics has made significant strides in recent years, yet the ability for robots to touch and sense with the precision and sensitivity of human touch remains a complex challenge. In this episode, we delve into this challenge with Dr. Lepora, who is working at the forefront of developing biomimetic tactile sensors.

Dr. Lepora introduces us to the TacTip, a sensor that holds the potential to provide artificial analogs of tactile skin dynamics, afferent responses, and population encoding. This sensor, which is 3D-printed, is based on the physiology of the dermal-epidermal interface, complete with a mesh of biomimetic intermediate ridges and dermal papillae.

Dr. Lepora explains how they model slowly adapting SA-I activity and rapidly adapting RA-I activity using these sensors. We discuss how the biological plausibility of these artificial population codes was tested using three classic experiments for a natural touch, including response to normal pressure, response to bars, edges, and gratings, and discrimination of grating orientation.

Our conversation reveals how the TacTip shows a match between artificial and natural touch at single afferent, population, and perceptual levels, bringing the development of a biomimetic fingertip that demonstrates human sensitivity using the transduction principles of human touch closer to reality.

Join us in this fascinating discussion on the future of artificial tactile sensing with Dr. Lepora.

Keywords: Dr. Lepora, Tactile Sensor, Robotics, Artificial Touch, Biomimetic Sensor, TacTip, Tactile Skin Dynamics, Afferent Responses, Artificial Population Codes, 3D Printing, SA-I Activity, RA-I Activity, Grating Orientation.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif. A biomimetic fingertip that demonstrates human sensitivity using the transduction principles of human touch.

In the field of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), understanding the system's sensitivity to initial conditions can unlock a world of possibilities, including effective control mechanisms. Join us in this intriguing episode as we host Dr. Miyoshi and Dr. Sun, who delve into this chaotic yet fascinating world of NWP.

The duo discusses the Observing Systems Simulation Experiment (OSSE), a widely recognized approach for studying predictability where an independent NWP model run synthesizes "nature." They talk about their extension of the OSSE to design the control simulation experiment (CSE), where they apply a small signal to control "nature."

Through the lens of idealized experiments with the Lorenz-63 three-variable system, Dr. Miyoshi and Dr. Sun reveal that it's possible to control "nature" to remain in a chosen regime, thereby avoiding a shift to another. This happens by adding small perturbations to "nature." Even more fascinating is the fact that they achieve more effective control with a perturbation size of less than only 3 % of the observation error when using longer-lead-time forecasts.

The episode culminates in an insightful discussion of the possible applications of CSE in real-world NWP systems, including potential reductions in weather disaster risks. The applicability of CSE to other chaotic systems beyond NWP is also discussed.

Join us as we navigate the complex yet rewarding world of numerical weather prediction with Dr. Miyoshi and Dr. Sun.

Keywords: Dr. Miyoshi, Dr. Sun, Numerical Weather Prediction, NWP, Observing Systems Simulation Experiment, OSSE, Control Simulation Experiment, CSE, Lorenz-63, Chaotic Systems, Weather Disaster Risks.

https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-29-133-2022 Control simulation experiment with Lorenz’s butterfly attractor

We are thrilled to have renowned author Howard Bloom in this captivating episode. He is known for his critically acclaimed book "The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History."

Howard Bloom challenges the conventional wisdom of evolutionary theory, postulating that all life forms are parts of a global "learning machine" that has evolved since the beginning of time. From the formation of matter to the communal life of bees, Bloom explores the evidence for group selection and the concept of a networked global brain.

We dive deep into Bloom's unique perspective on evolution, where he likens the network of life on Earth to a "complex adaptive system" or a global brain. In this context, we all play roles, some conscious, some unknowing. Bloom also sheds light on how the World Wide Web is just the latest step in this global brain's development.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Howard Bloom as we explore the forces of history, evolution, and the interconnectivity of life. Though some of his ideas may require a leap of faith and are controversial, they stimulate thought-provoking discussions.

Keywords: Howard Bloom, The Lucifer Principle, Evolution, Global Learning Machine, Group Selection, Global Brain, World Wide Web, Interconnectivity, Forces of History.

Global Brain: The Evolution of Mass Mind from the Big Bang to the 21st Century. Bloom is the author of 7 books and founded 3 international scientific groups and the Space Development Steering Committee.

The fascinating world of Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs), macroscopic coherent matter waves that have greatly influenced quantum science and atomic physics, is the focus of today's episode. We are delighted to have Dr. Chen and his team, who share their groundbreaking work on continuous Bose–Einstein condensation.

BECs have a crucial role in quantum simulation and sensing, underlying atom interferometers in space, and enabling ambitious tests of Einstein’s equivalence principle. However, a persistent challenge has been the need for sequential cooling stages in quantum gas devices, confining these devices to pulsed operation.

Our esteemed guests showcase their breakthrough in overcoming this limitation by demonstrating a continuous-wave (CW) condensate of strontium atoms that persists indefinitely. This continuous condensation process is sustained by the Bose-stimulated gain of atoms from a thermal bath, which is constantly replenished. Dr. Chen's team's experiment is compared to the matter wave analog of a continuous wave optical laser with fully reflective cavity mirrors. This serves as a proof-of-principle demonstration, contributing a new component to atom optics and opening the door to constructing continuous coherent-matter-wave devices.

Join us on this enlightening journey as we delve into the groundbreaking work of Dr. Chen and his team in the intriguing world of Bose–Einstein condensates.

Keywords: Dr. Chen, Bose–Einstein condensates, BECs, Quantum Science, Atomic Physics, Quantum Simulation, Continuous-Wave Condensate, Atom Optics, Coherent Matter Wave, Quantum Gas Devices.

Chen, CC., González Escudero, R., Minář, J. et al. Continuous Bose–Einstein condensation. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04731-z could lead to continuous-wave atom lasers

In this insightful episode, we sit down with renowned scientist Dr. Spontak, whose pioneering work has aimed at combating the worldwide threat of drug-resistant microbes, a threat that intensifies the risk of deadly hospital-acquired infections. Dr. Spontak shares his research about the development of charged multiblock polymers with a selectively sulfonated midblock.

Dr. Spontak's groundbreaking work demonstrates that these polymers, which are hydrophilic and water-swellable, inherently provide self-sterilizing surfaces that act rapidly against a wide range of bacteria, including three antibiotic-resistant types. Remarkably, these polymers are capable of killing over 99.9999% of these harmful organisms in just 5 minutes.

We discuss the importance of this research for a variety of applications, including biomedical applications, smart textiles, separation membranes, commodity fixtures, and food packaging. In addition, we explore the mechanism behind this antimicrobial efficacy, the role of the midblock sulfonation, and how the polymers can be rejuvenated after exposure to electrolyte solutions.

This episode is a must-listen for those interested in the science of antimicrobial materials and the global challenge of combating drug-resistant microbes. Join us as we delve into this promising and inexpensive solution to a global healthcare threat.

Keywords: Drug-Resistant Microbes, Antimicrobial Materials, Healthcare, Infections, Multiblock Polymers, Sulfonation, Self-Sterilizing Surfaces, Dr. Spontak.

DOI: 10.1039/c9mh00726a Inherently self-sterilizing charged multiblock polymers that kill drug-resistant microbes in minutes