SciLux

Her collaboration with Drew Weissman led to the development of the mRNA vaccines and her story is a testament to perseverance and going against all odds: this month Hanna talked to Dr. Katalin Karikó. In the podcast, we discuss RNA research, but also creativity, learning, reading, academia vs. industry and Katalin's next goals (they are truly impressive). If you have time for only one podcast episode this month, this should be the one.

USEFUL LINKS

Katalin's book: Breaking Through: My Life in Science: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/123025953-breaking-through

I Was Considered Nobody - The Leap Podcast with Katalin Karikó: https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/the-leap-i-was-considered-a-nobody/

Breaking the Wall of Genetic Barriers at Falling Walls Science Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dxna7I3u6zJg&ved=2ahUKEwinj5Wd8_eWAxXAA9sEHRAFCCMQtwJ6BAgsEBI&usg=AOvVaw0rynZcMVymYELk3VA_VQcM

More about the Nobel Prize  Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman got: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2023/kariko/facts/

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In our fast-paced world, sleep often takes a backseat to our busy schedules. But what exactly is it and what compounds help us fall asleep or keep awake? In the latest episode of our podcast, we talked with Ulf Ellervik, a Swedish professor of bio-organic chemistry at Lund University and the author of 'The Science of Sleep.' 

As we explore the various stages of sleep – light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep – Ulf explains how each phase plays a vital role in our overall health. For instance, deep sleep is essential for physical recovery, while REM sleep is crucial for memory consolidation and creativity.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the discussion is the impact of modern inventions on our sleep patterns (also part of our usual pub quiz question!). Ulf notes that today, we sleep on average around two hours less than we did a hundred years ago – a figure widely cited in sleep research, though not without debate among some scientists.

Caffeine, a common go-to for many, is also discussed in detail. Ulf explains how caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, which are responsible for making us feel sleepy. While it can provide a temporary boost in alertness, it does not alleviate sleep pressure. This means that while we may feel awake, our bodies still crave rest. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding our circadian rhythms and the dangers of relying on sleep medications.

Ulf Ellervik's insights are not only informative but also serve as a reminder to prioritise our sleep in a world that often encourages us to do more and rest less. Tune in now to discover how you can improve your sleep and overall well-being!

USEFUL LINKS

More about Ulf Ellervik: https://portal.research.lu.se/en/persons/ulf-ellervik/

Ulf Ellervik's 'Science of Sleep': https://www.amazon.com/Science-Sleep-Ulf-Ellervik/dp/1493093363

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Can neuroscience shed light on why some individuals choose to obey harmful orders while others risk their lives to save others? In this SciLux episode Prof. Emilie Caspar at Ghent University shares her groundbreaking field research in Rwanda and Cambodia, exploring the mechanisms of obedience and resistance during genocides.

Throughout the episode, Emilie talks about her experiences of gaining trust within communities, working with NGOs, and the logistical hurdles of transporting EEG equipment to remote locations – all while making the case for the importance of field study. We also talk about the impact of empathy, sense of agency and the feeling of guilt, as well as the influence of group dynamics.

USEFUL LINKS

Emilie Caspar's blog: https://emiliecaspar.home.blog/

Emilie's book 'Just Following Orders': https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/just-following-orders/678F06FDADFE89B9155F3A4907AB5660

Milgram experiment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment

More about Rwandan genocide in Jean Hatzfeld's book 'Machete Season': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machete_Season

jingle track (get it) provided by mobygratis.

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Can a single drop of blood tell you whether you'll develop pancreatic cancer — before any symptoms appear? Prof. Eleonora Macchia is working to make that a reality. This week on SciLux, we dig into biosensors, the science of proteins, and the surprising path from organic transistors to clinical trials.

What you'll learn:

• Why the proteome is medicine's great unknown
• How current tests (ELISA, lateral flow) fail at ultra-low concentrations, and what SiMoT technology does differently
• What it actually means to detect a single molecule in a patient's blood sample
• Why AI in diagnostics is only as good as the physicist standing behind the data
• How chemometrics – AI's "old-fashioned cousin" –  underpins the whole approach

Key Themes:

• Frontier research and ERC funding advocacy
• Single-molecule biosensing and the SiMoT technology
• Preventive medicine vs. reactive diagnosis
• AI, chemometrics, and data quality
• Circular health and multidisciplinary science
• Gender balance in research careers

Guest: Prof. Eleonora Macchia, University of Bari & Åbo Akademi University

USEFUL LINKS

More about Prof. Eleonora Macchia: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tj6pKhAAAAAJ&hl=en

ERC Ambassadors: https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/network-ambassadors-erc-expands

More about SiMoT: https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/2024/articles/apr/the-single-molecule-sensor

University of Bari: https://www.uniba.it/en

Åbo Akademi University: https://www.abo.fi/en/

jingle track (get it) provided by mobygratis.

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This month SciLux sits down with Dr. Sophie Nuber, a Luxembourgish climate and marine scientist at the University of Washington and keynote speaker at the Young Women's Conference Luxembourg. Sophie specialises in using natural archives, including corals and foraminifera, to reconstruct historical climate data and better understand modern climate change.

What you'll hear about:

Marine archives and paleoclimate research – How coral skeletons and foraminifera shells preserve centuries of climate data, and why scientists rely on them to contextualise today's environmental changes.

Understanding climate change through history – Sophie explains why historical climate perspective is essential: without knowing where we've been, we can't fully grasp how far we've deviated from natural norms.

Climate communication and public emotion – Sophie addresses why climate science provokes fear, confusion, and denial – and how scientists can present evidence in ways that inform rather than overwhelm.

A call to action – Sophie encourages listeners to engage with climate science critically and empathetically, seek credible sources, and understand that informed citizens are the foundation of effective climate policy.

USEFUL LINKS

Sophie Nuber's profile: https://www.ocean.washington.edu/home/Sophie_Nuber

Young Women's Conference Luxembourg: https://www.ywc.lu/

More about La Benida Hui: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2025/05/24/2003837408

An Inconvenient Truth, film written by Al Gore: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Inconvenient_Truth

jingle track (get it) provided by mobygratis.

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In this episode, we sit down with Professor David Fernández Rivas from the University of Twente to talk about what engineering actually means – and why you don't need a formal qualification to think like one.

Professor Rivas then takes us through microfluidics and the science of bubbles – and how both are opening doors in medicine, from needle-free injections to medical tattoos.

We also talk about what it looks like when researchers take their work beyond the lab, and why Professor Rivas thinks there's a real responsibility to make sure discoveries actually reach the people who need them.

Key themes:

• What engineering really means, and who gets to call themselves one
• Why modern science needs people who can work across fields
• Microfluidics and its role in biomedical technology
• The science of bubbles and where it leads
• Needle-free injection systems – the challenges and the breakthroughs
• When scientists become entrepreneurs

USEFUL LINKS

David's website: https://david-fernandez-rivas.com/

University of Twente: https://www.utwente.nl/en/

David Fernández Rivas's Book: Empathic Entrepreneurial Engineering: https://empathic-engineering.com/

Bubble Gun, EU-NWO funded projects: https://bubble-gun.eu/

FlowBeams: https://flowbeams.com/

Events: https://futureunderourskin.com/

https://david-fernandez-rivas.com/initiatives-projects-fuos/

Frozen Bubbles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3Iy76DsDE

jingle track (get it) provided by mobygratis.

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Ever wondered why scientists keep talking about biodiversity? In this episode, Professor Ainhoa Magrach from Spain's BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change reveals why diverse ecosystems are the foundation of everything.

Think of biodiversity as nature's shock absorber. Professor Magrach uses a brilliant analogy: diversifying your ecosystem is like diversifying your investment portfolio – it protects against crashes. When heatwaves hit or droughts strike, diverse ecosystems bounce back while simplified ones collapse. That's not just good for nature; it's essential for human survival.

You'll discover surprising facts about the hidden world of pollinators (did you know hummingbirds are crucial pollinators too?), learn why monoculture farming is biodiversity's enemy, and find out what practical steps farmers and citizens can take right now to make a difference.

Key themes:

• The biodiversity-stability connection explained simply
• Why native species matter for your local ecosystem
• The fascinating world of pollinators beyond honeybees
• Agricultural practices that harm vs. help biodiversity
• What REDD+ means for forest conservation
• How citizen science empowers everyday people
• Your power to influence environmental policy

USEFUL LINKS

Basque Centre for Climate Change: https://www.bc3research.org/en/

Ainhoa's website: https://www.ainhoamagrach.com/ 

iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/

eBird: https://ebird.org/home

jingle track (get it) provided by mobygratis.

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The AI research landscape may be fracturing along geopolitical lines. What does this mean for European innovation?

Professor Søren Hauberg from Danish Technical University tackles these questions in our latest episode, recorded live at EurIPS, a community-driven conference that made world-class AI research accessible to Europe by showcasing papers accepted at NeurIPS. The gap between machine learning research and deployment has collapsed to months, creating unprecedented opportunities. And that's why organising such a conference as EurIPS and having Søren on our show is very timely.

Topics covered:

• European AI research
• Research-to-deployment pipelines in machine learning
• Computer vision vs. machine learning
• Academia-industry partnerships in AI development
• AI ethics and rapid deployment risks
• Public engagement and AI researchers
• ERC Consolidator Grant

Recorded live at the inaugural EurIPS conference, this conversation connects technical AI research with policy implications.

USEFUL LINKS

EurIPS: https://eurips.cc/

NeurIPS: https://neurips.cc/

More about Søren Hauberg: https://www2.compute.dtu.dk/~sohau/

jingle track (get it) provided by mobygratis.

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In this episode, we look into the complexities of endometriosis with Dr. Marina Kvaskoff, a researcher who works in the Epidemiology of Gynecological Health Team of the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in Villejuif, France. Dr. Kvaskoff explains what endometriosis is, how it affects women's lives, and the significant delay in diagnosis that many women face. She elaborates on the various symptoms, the impact on quality of life, and the misconceptions surrounding menstrual pain.

Dr. Kvaskoff also discusses the importance of awareness and education regarding the menstrual cycle, as well as the need for better training for healthcare professionals. We explore the various treatment options available, the role of lifestyle adjustments, and the significance of research in understanding the disease. With insights into the current state of endometriosis research, including the challenges of funding and the importance of patient participation, this episode takes a closer look at a condition that affects approximately 1 in 10 women.

USEFUL LINKS

More about Dr. Marina Kvaskoff: https://www.marinakvaskoff.com/index.php/en-us/

Endometriosis Foundation: https://www.theendometriosisfoundation.org/

World Endometriosis Society: https://www.worldendosociety.org/

ESHRE, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology: https://www.eshre.eu/

Participate in the COMPARE endometriosis cohort: https://compare.aphp.fr/endometriose/

EPHect, Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project: https://ephect.org/

WES Mentoring Programme: https://www.worldendosociety.org/mentoring-grants-awards/mentoring

Caroline Criado-Perez "Invisible Women": https://carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/

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In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jácome (Jay) Armas, a theoretical physicist who works at the Niels Bohr Institute (University of Copenhagen) and the University of Amsterdam.

We spend time on the concept of emergence: how complex behaviour can arise from simple underlying rules in ways you couldn't predict just by looking at the components. Dr. Armas connects this to everything from physics to biology to social systems.

The conversation also covers string theory and why some physicists moved from thinking about particles as points to viewing them as strings. We also get into why gravity is so hard to study at small scales and what we really know about black holes.

And what a surprising pub quiz question Jay prepared for us!

USEFUL LINKS

More about Jay Armas: https://jacomearmas.org/

Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen: https://nbi.ku.dk/english/

University of Amsterdam: https://www.uva.nl/en

Institute of Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam: https://ias.uva.nl/research-themes/foundations-and-methods/emergence/emergent-phenomena.html

Science and Cocktails: http://www.scienceandcocktails.org/

Jay Armas' book about quantum gravity: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/conversations-on-quantum-gravity/09DF54D24DE7477F6459432540121B28

RELATED EPISODES

Thermodynamics and Chemical Engines with Prof. Massimiliano Esposito and Dr. Emanuele Penocchio: https://www.scilux.eu/episodes/thermodynamics

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