Stanford University knows it needs to take bold action on environmental issues—it’s creating a new school focused on sustainability and climate change, it has plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050… So, why is it so hesitant to cut ties with the fossil fuel industry? In this episode of the Stanford SciCast, your hosts Ruby Gates and Vrinda Suresh unpack Stanford’s sustainability commitments, and its resistance to fossil fuel divestment, through conversations with student organizers and experts on climate science, climate denial, and the fossil fuel industry.

*Note: Ben Franta and Paul Edwards’ interviews were conducted on May 24 and May 27, respectively. When they reference court rulings that came out “today” or “the last couple of days,” they are referring to rulings that happened the week of May 23.

Additional Info:

Check out Fossil Free’s open letter to Stanford’s president: https://www.stanforddaily.com/2021/03/30/letter-to-the-university-president-the-school-of-sustainability-and-climate-should-refuse-funding-from-fossil-fuel-companies/

Sign their petition here: http://bit.ly/refuseffmoney

Dr. Ben Franta’s work on fossil fuel companies:

Early oil industry disinformation on global warming - Environmental Politics

Early oil industry knowledge of CO2 and global warming - Nature Climate Change

Shell and Exxon's secret 1980s climate change warnings - The Guardian

The Daily Brew Podcast Episode with Stephan Graham and Kam Moler: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VnPO17tkJ7GNI3vQK8T5q

Noam Bergman’s Paper

Bergman, Noam. 2018. "Impacts of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement: Effects on Finance, Policy and Public Discourse" Sustainability 10, no. 7: 2529. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072529

Music and Sounds:

Flutterbee by Podington Bear licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

Elephants on Parade by Podington Bear licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

Releasing the Sculpture by Podington Bear licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

New Skin by Podington Bear licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

Caterpillar Brigade by Podington Bear licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

Love Song #1 by Podington Bear licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

Record Scratch by luffy, licensed under CC BY 3.0

Drumroll by ddohler, licensed under CC BY 3.0

Image: Photo by Dean Chahim/Fossil Free Stanford, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Does it really matter if we're in the sixth mass extinction? Short answer: no. But it’s actually a little more complicated.

In this episode of the Stanford SciCast, Trevor Cambron and Keren Perla discuss the debate about whether or not we are currently in the sixth mass extinction, and what it would mean to be in one. We talk to Stanford’s own Dr. Jonathan Payne, paleobiologist in the Department of Geological Sciences, about what the geologic record tells us about our current loss of biodiversity, and how knowledge of the past can influence our actions in the present. We also talk to Peter Brannen, award-winning science journalist and author of “Earth Is Not In the Midst of the Sixth Mass Extinction” about how to communicate the current unprecedented human-caused destruction of biodiversity, and what you can do to help prevent it. The big picture: ignore the sensationalist headlines, but take serious action against biodiversity loss.

Resources:

“Earth is Not In the Midst of the Sixth Mass Extinction,” Peter Brannen

Jonathan Payne on Mass Extinction, Museum of Science, Boston

“How Humans Cause Mass Extinctions,” Paul and Anne Elrich

Credits:

Image - Yuri_B, via Pixabay

“Les Portes Du Futur,” Bill Vortex

“Andante,” Dee Yan Kee

“Waterfall,” Metre

“Blessed Horizons,” Ketsa

“Summer Rain,” Bio Unit

“Submersible.mp3,” Xylo-Ziko

“MidGrey Morning,” Niteffect

“Bam,” BioUnit

“Forces of Attraction,” Scott Holmes

“Missing,” Scott Holmes

“Space,” Chad Crouch

“Pterodactyl”, Tony Phillips

“Bomb Exploding”, Sound Explorer

“Tree Frogs and Birds”, Mike Koenig

With the world’s population expected to reach about 10 billion people by 2050, many are wondering what is the most sustainable way to feed the world. Also, as we are currently going through the worst pandemic in 100 years, many people are wondering what can be done to prevent the threat of another large pandemic. Surprisingly, a solution for both these problems, amongst others, may lie at our fingertips. It can be switching to a mostly plant based diet. 

However, getting people on board is a challenge. This is where alternative proteins, like plant-based meat, eggs and dairy come in.

In this episode we are talking about alternative meat. We will cover various topics including the need for alternative protein sources, the history of alternative meats in the United States, and the future of meat alternatives.  We are also joined by the lovely Amy Huang, University Research Manager at the Good Food Institute. She will talk directly to college students about their important role in the growing field of alternative proteins. So stick around, we hope that by the end of this episode, you will see your plate a little bit differently. 

For more Information on the resources and research labs that Amy mentioned visit: The Good Food Institute

You can subscribe to the Stanford Alt. Protein Project mailing list at:

Stanford Alt. Protein Project

Image from: https://www.freeimages.com/photo/grilled-seitan-1639825

Our bodies are powered by proteins. They convert the food we eat into energy, convert that energy into motion, and keep our cells, and therefore ourselves, alive and healthy. Proteins can also pose a danger to our wellbeing -- the proteins surrounding the SARS-CoV-2 virus are particularly well suited to recognize and bind to human cells, allowing the virus to infect us. Given that proteins underlie so many biological processes, researchers have been attempting to create new proteins that accomplish a specific function since the 1940s.

In this episode of Stanford SciCast, seniors Foster Birnbaum and Jack Ryan explore this decades-old challenge, known as the protein design problem. They explain how proteins fold, why that folding is important to a protein’s function, and how researchers use computational models of protein folding to facilitate protein design. Also, they interview Dr. Possu Huang, a professor in Stanford’s Department of Bioengineering, to discuss how his lab is applying artificial intelligence to protein folding and how solving the protein folding problem would affect society.

To learn more about protein design, visit Dr. Huang’s lab website at http://www.proteindesign.org/ or check out one of his most recent publications at https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.06.895466v1.

Music credits:

Upbeat Whistle - Unknown artist (https://freemusicarchive.org/track/Upbeat_Whistle/download)

Awake - Scott Holmes (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/cinematic-background-music/awake)

Space Travel - Borrtex (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Borrtex/Distant_Sphere/5_Space_Travel)

Algorithms - Chad Crouch (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Chad_Crouch/Arps/Algorithms)

Pretty Simple - Podington Bear (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Background/Pretty_Simple)

Firestorm - Sputnik Booster (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Sputnik_Booster/Robot_Science/04_-_Firestorm)

Beads was scattered - urupin (https://freesound.org/people/urupin/sounds/157688/)

Happy Theme - maxmakessounds (https://freesound.org/people/maxmakessounds/sounds/353543/)

We’re all familiar with heat waves on land, but did you know they can happen in the ocean as well? Marine heat waves, where ocean temperatures spike unusually high for a period of time, are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. They can impact a range of ecosystems, including kelp forests—beautiful, biodiverse, productive ecosystems that are often overlooked in discussions about climate change’s effect on the ocean.

In this episode of the Stanford SciCast, the hosts, Erin Cole and May Aye, dive into further details of exactly how marine heat waves impact kelp forests as they learn from their two guests. Jessica Benthuysen, a world-leading physical oceanographer based at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, helps us understand the physics of marine heat waves. Fiorenza Micheli, a marine ecologist based at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station, explains the effects of marine heat waves on kelp forests and the importance of protecting these ecosystems.

To read the inspiration for this podcast topic, visit https://science-sciencemag-org.stanford.idm.oclc.org/content/367/6478/635.1.

You can learn more about Dr. Micheli’s research at https://michelilab.stanford.edu/ and about Dr. Benthuysen’s research at https://www.aims.gov.au/our-people/dr-jessica-benthuysen.

Image Credit: "Kelp Forest" by NOAA's National Ocean Service is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Music Credit:

“Little Mermaids Tune” by Eardeer is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

“Curious Process” by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

“Epiphany” by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

“Playmate” by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

All audio clips used for educational purposes under Fair Use.

A new technology is redefining the way biologists approach science. Moving beyond simple cell cultures, scientists can now use human cells to create miniature models of organs. Dubbed organoids, these models can emulate any organ in the body. Organoids come closer to replicating the context and complexity of a human body than ever before–opening the door to more effective research for scientists and medical testing for everyone in the future.

In this episode of Stanford Science Podcast, Emily and Josh introduce this emergent technology, and dive into its capabilities, limitations, and future possibilities. Katarina Klett and Julien Roth, PhD students in the Heilshorn Lab in the Stanford Material Science Department, help give context to the current capabilities of organoids and address the potential ethical concerns. If you're an organoid expert or novice, this episode will give you a new appreciation for this interdisciplinary scientific technique.

Articles to give further context on organoids:

https://hsci.harvard.edu/organoids

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01395-z

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41576-018-0051-9

Image: "Brain Organoid" is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Music: Night Vibes by JBlanked is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

As crypto-currency meets meme-culture, sensationalist headlines and bold claims by bitcoin-bros drive mainstream perception of the space. But there is much more to the blockchain than market speculation and bitcoin billionaires. In reality, most legitimate coins exist to accomplish specific objectives. Many have huge aspirations for improving societal access to resources. The Stellar Lumen is such a coin.

In this podcast, we’ll talk to Stellar co-founder and Chief Scientist, David Mazierez to learn about Stellar. Additionally, we’ll discuss Bitcoin’s blockchain, see how Stellar is different, and understand Stellars’ vision for a world where sending money is as easy as sending an email.

Mazieres et. al. “Fast and Secured Global Payments with Stellar”

Nakamoto, Satoshi. “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.”

Stellar.org is an excellent resource for understanding more about Stellar, what it is, and how it works.

When the world shut down this past year, sports came to a halt as well. Without the sport they love, what did the day to day life of these athletes look like? How did athletes adapt and find new ways to train? Most importantly, what did altered training regimens mean for their mental health?

In this episode, hosts Abby Converse and Floranne Carroll break down the impact of the pandemic on high-level athletes. They are joined by fellow Stanford student-athlete Amelia Smith, beach volleyball Olympian Lauren Fendrick, and future water polo Olympian and Stanford alumna Gurpreet Sohi. The hosts will also discuss a Stanford study on effects of the pandemic on the well-being of high-level athletes through Strava, an organization that connects athletes around the world, tracking their training. Dr. Megan Roche, a researcher who conducted the joint study this fall, stops by to share her findings and explore the study’s impacts on future training in collegiate and professional athletics.

Strava and Stanford Survey Study: https://1n4rcn88bk4ziht713dla5ub-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Strava_OnePager_FINAL.pdf

NCAA Well-Being Study: https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/ncaa-student-athlete-well-being-study

More on Our Guests:

Amelia Smith: https://gostanford.com/sports/womens-beach-volleyball/roster/amelia-smith/17864

Lauren Fendrick: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/athletes/lauren-fendrick

Dr. Megan Roche: https://longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle-medicine-2/lifestyle-team/lifestyle-medicine-2-roche/

https://open.spotify.com/show/3AaJYZngimocFf8aztKTcO

Gurpreet Sohi: https://www.waterpolo.ca/TeamPlayerBio46.aspx

Music:

Man Outta Town (Instrumental) by Forget the Whale, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0

10 Days by Forget the Whale, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0

Ghost (Instrumental) by Forget the Whale, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0

Dream Guitar Loop by YellowTree, licensed under Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Soft Echo Sweep by Rob_Marion

Echo Chromatic Riser by Suburbanwizard

Image Credit: Lauren Fendrick licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

New episodes of the Stanford Science Podcast will be released starting Wednesday, July 28 and continuing every week through September 15th.

These podcasts are reported, written, and produced by students taking a course offered by the Program in Writing and Rhetoric at Stanford University.

Music credit: Basketliner by Blue Dot Sessions

Nicotine addiction is coming back with a vengeance. With e-cigarette companies like Juul capturing the attention of teens, we are experiencing the second wave of Big Tobacco through vaping. But what happens when a company’s mission statement and its actions are at odds?

James Monsees and Adam Bowen, founders of Juul, were once Product Design Masters students here at Stanford. They claimed to have created a product that can transition smokers to their less harmful alternative, Juul. Although the product is used by ex-smokers, it is also used frequently by almost one million teens in the U.S.

In this episode of Stanford SciCast, Ruth Adu-Daako, MBA-MS student and Brook Getachew, a former researcher on Juul, explore the relationship between design and ethics by using Juul as a case study. To understand this link, they interview Dr. Robert Jackler, head of the Stanford Research into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising, James Patell, a Herbert Hoover Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Ken Shotts, a professor of Ethics and Political Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a teen Juul user.

Through these interviews, Ruth and Brook explore the balance between innovation and creating a product that, whether intentional or not, harms younger users.

To learn more about the history of Juul, visit http://tobacco.stanford.edu/tobacco_main/publications/JUUL_Marketing_Stanford.pdf

*Note: This episode was produced before the recent illnesses and deaths linked to vaping.

Image Credit: Holding a juul device up close by Sarah Johnson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.