Science (Video)

The Birch Aquarium celebrates the incredible contributions of women in the rich history of marine plankton research at Scripps. Judit Hersko performs part of her innovative series of visual narratives, "Pages from the Book of the Unknown Explorer," transporting you to Scripps’ early days through a cleverly imagined correspondence between Dr. Easter Cupp, Scripps' first female Ph.D. graduate, and a fictitious female explorer inspired by Hersko's research and field experience in Antarctica. Melissa Carter takes us on a journey through nearly a century of observations from Scripps Pier, bringing us to the present day. She provides an insider’s look at emerging research and observational technologies used on the pier and explores how these innovations drive new, groundbreaking discoveries in marine plankton research. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40595]

The rate of cancer and cancer malignancy differ greatly among mammalian species. The placental – maternal interface is also highly variable between placental mammals. This lecture will discuss recent advances that suggest that there is a causal connection between the evolution of placental biology and the biology and rate of cancer malignancy. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40694]

Menstruation is the cyclical shedding of the endometrium triggered by falling progesterone levels. Menstruation is a rare trait found in less than 2% of mammals and likely evolved independently at least 4 times. Why do some mammals menstruate while most do not? The leading hypothesis is that menstruation occurs as a nonadaptive consequence of spontaneous decidualization of the endometrium, which evolved to increase biosensoring of embryo quality. While the trait of spontaneous decidualization (and as a byproduct, menstruation) was likely shaped by natural selection, menstruation also disposes women to conditions such as endometriosis, pre-menstrual syndrome, and bleeding disorders, especially in the contemporary context. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40693]

William Lowry, Ph.D., discusses manipulating metabolic pathways in hair follicle stem cells to inhibit tumorigenesis. By blocking glycolysis and glutamine lysis simultaneously, they observed tumor regression, highlighting the complex interplay between metabolism and cancer. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39256]

Pressures of life on Earth experienced by our ancestors – as multicellular beings, as hosts to parasites, and as home to microbes – shaped the evolved structure and function of our immune systems.  Some of the traits favored by natural selection have conferred resistance against infections while opening vulnerabilities to autoimmune diseases.  I will illustrate why analysis of the deep-time origins of mammalian immune systems reveals general principles of optimal defense and helps to explain why hosts are so profoundly variable in their susceptibility to infectious and inflammatory diseases. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40692]

Superradiance: Embodying Earth is a multiscreen video and sound installation by artists Memo Akten and Katie Peyton Hofstader that serves as a centerpiece of Embodied Pacific: Oceans Unseen. Learn how collaboration-inspired immersive displays engage us and shape our understanding and appreciation of the ocean’s unseen mysteries. The Birch Aquarium hosts this Jeffery B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series for a conversation with the artists as they describe how they use art to engage us in science, evoking a visceral and intimate connection to our living planet! Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 40593]

Cancer is normal development spun out of control. It is the great plasticity and power of development, without the overarching controls that guide normal development toward an integrated adult form. Instead, whenever a newly developed kind of tissue acquires the ability to survive, grow, and resist control, there is nothing to stop it. That may be why normal adult cells are often terminally differentiated into a restricted cellular program. And it may be why wound healing, which releases the restricted cellular program and powerfully plastic tissue remodeling, is so tightly regulated and, when dysregulated, so often associates with cancer. With regard to evolutionary history, humans develop differently from their ape ancestors, and their lifestyle causes them to suffer different kinds of tissue damage. Those differences in development and wound healing likely led to new aspects of cancer disease over human history. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40691]

The human body has traits that evolved at different times, from 1.5 billion to 2 million years ago, each bringing health benefits and risks. Multicellularity enabled organs and cancer. The immune system defends us but can cause inflammation. Breastfeeding supports infant health but relates to breast cancer risk. Menstruation and invasive placentas improved reproduction but led to pain and cancer risks. Human-specific traits like bipedalism and aging brought new issues like back pain and childbirth problems. Hair loss and sweat glands helped us stay cool but increased skin cancer risk. Our hunter-gatherer past shaped our microbiome and health, but also made us prone to modern diseases from lifestyle changes. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40701]

Yaron Singer, Vice President of AI and Security at Cisco, co-founded a company specializing in artificial intelligence solutions, which was acquired by Cisco in 2024. They developed a firewall for artificial intelligence, a tool designed to protect AI from making critical mistakes. No matter how sophisticated AI is, errors can still happen, and these errors can have far-reaching consequences. The product is designed to detect and fix such mistakes. This technology was developed long before ChatGPT and its competitors burst onto the scene, making it the hottest industry in tech investment. Join Singer as he sits down with UC San Diego professor Mikhail Belkin to discuss his work and the continued effort to make artificial intelligence secure. Series: "Data Science Channel" [Science] [Show ID: 40265]

Metamaterials are special structures made of tiny components that give them unique electromagnetic properties not found in nature. One key feature is a negative refractive index, which enables technologies like "superlenses" for ultra-detailed imaging and "invisibility cloaks." The concept began when Sir John Pendry theorized special rings (SRRs) that could manipulate electromagnetic waves. Later, Sheldon Schultz and David Smith proved this idea with real experiments. Since then, research on metamaterials has rapidly expanded, covering everything from microwaves to visible light. In this talk, Professors Pendry and Smith will share their experiences and discuss how metamaterials have shaped science and technology over the past 25 years. Series: "Kyoto Prize Symposium" [Science] [Show ID: 40534]