Springer Nature

Listen to January's Pediapod episode: Conversation With Senior Investigator Karin Nelson

Katja Guschanski discusses working with mammal evolution, museomics and her plenary talk at Popgroup 2025

The scientific literature has shown that females demonstrate more aversion to risk-taking than males. Studies have also demonstrated that the basal lateral amygdala, or BLA, is a critical hub for processing risk and reward information. And yet further research has shown that activity in the amygdala differs between males and females, and that the expression of particular dopamine receptors called D2 receptors are greater in females than in males. The authors hypothesized that one mediating mechanism that leads to greater risk aversion in females is differential activity of dopamine in the basal lateral amygdala.

Caitlin Orsini is an assistant professor in the departments of psychology and neurology at UT Austin.

Meet Heredity editor Bastiaan Star (University of Oslo), we talk about his work with ancient fish DNA and why he enjoys working with Heredity.

In the final episode of this series, Dr. Niklas Lidströmer, co-editor of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, looks at future trends of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM). Niklas covers major innovations ahead and their potential impacts on treatment and the patient and doctor relationship. In addition, he discusses the current global applications of AIM and his forthcoming title on Artificial Intelligence and the COVID-19 pandemic. Last, Niklas considers how librarianship will fit into the increased availability of medical data, including more advanced patron requests and co-authorship between librarians and researchers.

In this third episode, Dr. Niklas Lidströmer, co-editor of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, tackles the complexities of ethics in AIM. He first discusses issues of safety and privacy when handling sensitive medical data, highlighting solutions like encryption, decentralized storage, and sharing algorithms rather than raw data. Next, Niklas addresses how bias and prejudice affect AIM, and the importance of recognizing how this can impact treatment. Last, he digs into transparency practices in AI decision-making, and the through line in data protection between AIM and librarianship.

In this second episode, Dr. Niklas Lidströmer, co-editor of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, discusses the benefits and challenges of AI in medicine. First, Niklas digs into how AIM allows for a progressiveness that could leave non-AI inclusive doctors behind. He also touches on the process of creating standardized, global practices for medical data processing, the significance of empowering the patient with their own medical information, and how AIM could transform the doctor-patient relationship for the better.

Human activity has undoubtedly impacted our planet’s systems. With deforestation, air pollution, and plastic waste, can we still call the natural sciences “natural”? Or have humans changed the planet so much that the “natural” and “human” worlds are now indistinguishable? Could seeing ourselves as part of the earth’s systems help bring more urgency to the climate crisis?

In the final episode of this four-part series, Bob Brinkmann, author of Practical Sustainability: A Guide to a More Sustainable Life, discusses the dynamic field of earth sciences. As humans continue to impact the “natural” world, the earth science disciplines must come together to study major issues like climate change and sustainability—not get bogged down by the silos or traditions of higher education. In addition, Bob digs into how librarians can assist in sustainability research through the available data in special collections and frequent communication with scholars. Last, he emphasizes the importance of measurable outcomes in the sustainability movement, along with becoming an advocate and evangelist for this kind of lifelong work.

In this four-part series, Bob discusses breaking down the complexity of sustainable living, the pitfalls of greenwashing, and why sustainability should be treated as a “no judgement zone.” In addition, Bob tackles complicated issues like corporate lobbying power and how income and race are inextricably linked to environmental policies.

From metal straws to veganism, our choices impact the environment. But when large corporations make environmentally-damning decisions, it can feel like our choices don’t matter. How can we take back control in our own lives by building greener habits? Further, how does environmental racism and classism act as barriers toward making the world a more environmentally sustainable place?

In this third episode, Bob Brinkmann, author of Practical Sustainability: A Guide to a More Sustainable Life, speaks to individual environmental responsibility in the face of corporate lobbying power, greenwashing, and generational apathy. Bob chats about the process and effectiveness of his Thirty-Day Sustainability Challenge, and the importance of representing sustainability as a “no judgement zone.” Last, Bob surfaces the national and global issues of environmental racism, and how communities can enact greater change through municipal appointments and local economic investments.

In this first episode, Niklas introduces his research and the inspiration behind his co-edited title Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, one of the first references works available on AIM. In addition, he provides an overview on how artificial intelligence is currently being used in medicine, and how AI can impact librarianship, such as in administrative support and citation use.