The Abstract

MEET THE VET DETECTIVES:

https://www.inverse.com/science/meet-the-vet-detectives-chasing-the-worlds-next-covid-19

NASA ISOLATION STUDY:

https://www.inverse.com/science/nasa-isolation-study

As the number of Covid-19 cases grows, so too does a crucial need to understand the disease. 

With public health officials scrambling to stay ahead of its mutations and patterns of spread, researchers are doing everything possible to learn from the virus and stop the next Covid-19 from making the leap from animals to humans.

From the “vet detectives” scouring the globe to prevent the next Covid-19 to the scientists at NASA trying to better understand the psychological effects of the pandemic, some of the most important information gleaned comes from the narratives playing out just below the radar.

Tackling the physical, mental, and physiological effects one challenge at a time, rarely have scientists around the world been so united and laser-focused on one single problem. In the end, it will be science that gets us through the Covid-19 pandemic — teaching us valuable lessons along the way.

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host. 

Our first story is about the scientists and health workers who predict, prevent, and contain the world’s staggering number of zoonotic diseases — like the next Covid-19. Hoping to create a pandemic-free future, these veterinary epidemiologists roam animal habitats, markets, forests, and farms, learning how to prevent human disease from wild or domesticated animals.  

Our second story is about NASA’s spaceflight simulation study that aims to get a better understanding of the psychological and physiological effects of isolation and confinement on humans. Inviting a small group of people to live together in seclusion for eight months in Russia, NASA says studies like these will teach us to combat the toll of isolation and ways to mitigate its psychological effects. 

Read more at Inverse.com:

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

Subscribe to InverseDaily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Ali Pattillo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alipattillo

Follow Passant Rabie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/passantrabie

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Virtual reality can dramatically alter how we perceive ourselves -- and even how we treat others.

And artificial intelligence, when fed enough data, can correctly identify something dramatic -- and a little private -- about how we see ourselves. 

Today, we’ll explore each of those big ideas, via two mind-expanding pieces of research.

It’s time to better understand the mind.

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host. 

Our first story is about how virtual reality can change the human brain to make people more empathetic. Some of us have less capacity for empathy than others, but virtual reality therapy could change that. We’ll hear from neuroscientists who have discovered how the feelings of embodiment experienced in VR can positively affect feelings of connection to a virtual character. And that can translate to feelings of connection to real people.

Our second story reports on how artificial intelligence was shown to correctly predict something we think about privately — our own self-image. A.I. was shown in new research to identify a person’s self-described personality from their selfie alone. Scientists hope human personality perception can one-day help A.I improve human-to-human and A.I.-to-human interactions. 

Read more at Inverse.com:

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

VR INCREASES EMPATHY:

https://www.inverse.com/innovation/vr-increases-empathy

A.I. SELFIES:

https://www.inverse.com/innovation/ai-photo-judgment

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Sarah Wells on Twitter: https://twitter.com/saraheswells

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than three months after the Covid-19 pandemic effectively shut down the United States, scientists are still trying to answer questions about who, how, and why it hurts different people in different ways. 

From men and women, to dogs and cats, a growing body of research is shedding light on who exactly is the most at risk, and what we can do to protect our families, down to its furriest members. 

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host.

Our first story is about the latest research suggesting men are at higher risk of not recovering from Covid-19 than women. Providing the strongest evidence yet that sex is a risk factor, scientists reveal a stark coronavirus gender gap, with four theories on why males are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.

Our second story looks at the animals most susceptible to catching Covid-19. As more of them become infected, a research team that studied the risks for cats and dogs determines which pets are most at risk, and what you should do to make sure they stay safe.

Read more at Inverse.com:

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

WHY IS COVID-19 KILLING MORE MEN THAN WOMEN?

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/why-is-coronavirus-killing-more-men-than-women

CAN YOUR PET GET COVID-19?: 

https://www.inverse.com/science/pets-covid-19

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Nina Pullano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ninapullano

Follow Ali Pattillo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alipattillo

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos: https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If aliens have looked for signs of intelligent human life, they might hear sounds reminiscent of an underground party in a Brooklyn warehouse  — where the eerie sounds are both chill and intense. 

And the crafts they fly in to hear what Earth sounds like are also slightly eerie, we have learned through new declassified video footage.

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host.

Our first story is about the interstellar objects recently found zipping through our solar system.  In the spring of 2020, when the Pentagon released videos taken by US Navy pilots showing an "unidentified aerial phenomenon,” it caused a stir among UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike. The strange phenomenon, unlike anything the Navy pilots had seen before, remains "unidentified,” but questions about the bizarre footage remain. 

Our second story is about what aliens would actually hear if they flew by Earth. By capturing the sound of the Earth in five recordings, the spacecraft BepiColombo discovered a new understanding of space instruments and data collection —not to mention the perfect trippy space sounds to unwind to after a night of crop circling in Middle America.

Read more at Inverse.com:

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

UFO PENTAGON VIDEO:https://www.inverse.com/science/pentagon-ufo-video

EARTH TONES: https://www.inverse.com/science/bepicolombo-earth-sounds

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Passant Rabie on Twitter:

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just as we begin to recover from 2020’s tidal wave of perpetual pandemic panic, experts warn about a potential “second wave” of coronavirus.  However, you may not have to restock on the extra toilet paper, alcohol, and video games just yet. Luckily, a resurgence isn't totally inevitable or out of our control. 

As public health experts keep reminding us, there is a cheap but powerful tool in our arsenal to stop this dreaded boomerang effect in its tracks: face masks.   While viral mask movements call for immediate, universal adoption of face masks by the public, science confirms that if only half the population covered up, a second wave of Covid-19 could be entirely prevented. 

Welcome to the Abstract podcast. I’m Tanya Bustos,  your host. 

Our first story is about the research showing face masks can dramatically curb Covid-19 cases if at least 50% of people wear them.  While masks aren’t a catch-all, experts stress they’re one of the most effective, practical tools to beat back Covid-19 — especially in resource-strapped areas of the world.

Our second story looks at how to further get this mask-message across.  Through a series of interconnected pro-mask initiatives that stretch from the United States to Czech Republic, viral movements are looking to change mask policies around the world — and some are succeeding. 

Read more at Inverse.com:

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

FACE MASKS FIGHT VIRUS:

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/face-masks-to-fight-coronavirus-second-wave

MASK MOVEMENT:

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/social-media-pro-mask-movement-coronavirus

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Emma Betuel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmakbetuel

Follow Ali Pattillo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alipattillo

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

ust as murder hornets started to infiltrate the Pacific Northwest, buzzing cicadas emerged from a 17-year nap to spread across the Eastern US. All the while, a swarm of bumblebees has been perfecting ways to biohack their own resources — plants.

You may think you're living in some alternative, apocalyptic universe, but fittingly enough, it's just the summer of 2020.  

As bees beat the system and cicadas cracked a new code, scientists have discovered new ways the creatures of spring hacked their ecosystem in fascinating style.

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host.

Our first story is about the arrival of Brood IX and why 2020's cicada visit will be different. Springing to life from the ground after 17 years, the latest batch brings multiple species to the big event, leaving scientists buzzing about an evolutionary phenomenon that's emerged with the fleeting life of Brood IX. 

Our second story takes a closer look at the bumblebees who, like Brood IX, are forced to adapt their behavior to an ever-changing climate. Faced with a bleak future and scarcity of pollen, these bees are making their own luck — turning flower-making on its head and drastically influencing our natural resources.

Read more at Inverse.com: 

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

BROOD IX: WHY THE 2020 CICADA VISIT WILL BE DIFFERENT: 

https://www.inverse.com/science/brood-ix-cicadas-2020

BUMBLEBEES HACK PLANTS:

https://www.inverse.com/science/bumblebees-are-hacking-nature-to-surviveRead more at Inverse.com:

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Nina Pullano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ninapullano

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If Covid-19 had an official glossary, words like “quarantinis,” and phrases like “flattening the curve” and “zoom call” would all be included. But if there is one phrase that defines the zeitgeist of 2020’s global pandemic, perhaps it’s “social distancing.” 

Now that we’ve gotten used to the term, we might as well settle into the practice. With scientists suggesting we'll be intermittent social distancing until about 2022, Americans will have a lot of time to fill.  Luckily, isolation doesn't mean you can't broaden your horizons -- some new skills may be just what you need to go the distance.  

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host.

Our first story examines the strange middle-ground between quarantine and regular life.  As governments begin to "reopen" the country, scientists say that life won't be normal in the short-term, possibly not even until 2022.  In order to make it to that future, models suggest we'll have to “intermittent social distance” —  toggling between switching the practice "on" and "off.” 

Our second story looks at how to bide your time until we make it to this “new normal.” With the help of some essential at-home tips, you can make the best of your socially distant existence by sharpening your skill set and staving off boredom. 

Read more at Inverse.com

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

INTERMITTENT SOCIAL DISTANCING UNTIL 2022

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/intermittenet-social-distancing-2022-study

SOCIAL DISTANCE SKILLS:

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/stave-off-social-distancing-boredom-learn-7-new-skills-for-free

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Emma Betuel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmakbetuel

Follow Sarah Sloat on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarah_sloat_

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If the anxiety you felt while watching someone shake hands is any indication, Covid-19 has made what used to be everyday customs seem like dangerous, antiquated behavior.  From exchanging cash to boarding a plane, many Americans are rethinking every facet of everyday life, and bracing themselves for the changes yet to come. Whether it’s upending the future of travel, opting for Apple or Google Pay instead of cash, Covid-19 continues to kickstart change, and forecast the future. 

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host.

Our first story is about how Covid-19 has drastically transformed air travel both logistically and emotionally. As pilots predict eerie skies ahead, some say the future of flying may never be the same — even after the virus is contained. 

Our second story looks at the pandemic’s part in completing a slowly unrolling prophecy: the end of cash.  While economists have been forecasting the death of the dollar for almost two decades, Covid-19 may have already changed one common American behavior forever.

Read more at Inverse.com:

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

WILL COVID KILL CASH?

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/will-the-coronavirus-kill-cash

FUTURE OF FLYING:

https://www.inverse.com/culture/flying-during-coronavirus

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Emma Betuel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmakbetuel

Follow Ali Pattillo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alipattillo

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The first half of 2020 has been a torrential stress storm that Americans are working harder than ever to weather. 

The extra shot of Covid-19 mixed into our already hectic work lives, and the social unrest has turned us into a cocktail of stress and anxiety.

However, there are scientific steps you can take to alleviate all kinds of mental and physical pressure if you’re over-stressed, overworked — and over it already.

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host.

Our first story is about how to deal with life’s daily diet of stress. With an extra serving of a global pandemic on our plates, new research says you can better cope with the barrage of stressors life hurls at you by incorporating two strategies into daily life: proactive coping and mindfulness. The key is to balance "plans for the future with living in the moment.” 

Our second story looks at a new downside of working long hours. With research adding hypothyroidism to a growing list of health risks, scientists have reached one conclusion that might be particularly helpful in warding off extra work: ”Free time should be free time.” As we adapt to new job schedules, the question now becomes: How does working from home put us at risk for work-related health complications?

Read more at Inverse.com

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

COMBAT DAILY STRESS: https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/psychologists-recommend-combining-2-strategies-to-combat-daily-stress

NEW DOWNSIDE TO WORKING TOO MUCH:

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/health-problems-from-working-too-much

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Emma Betuel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmakbetuel

Follow Sarah Sloat on Twitter: https://twitter.com/@sarah_sloat_

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is humankind’s biggest scientific mystery to date? Humankind. 

What sets us apart from our neighboring species is an organ that we’re only beginning to understand: the human brain. 

While modern, scientific understanding of this complex network of neurons between our ears really only began in the few decades, we’ve already learned a lot about the body’s control center -- and have been given a lot to think about.

Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host.

Our first story is about groundbreaking research in brain-computer interfaces that’s offering new hope for those who have lost their sense of touch. By decoding neural signals from the brain, researchers were able to create movement and sensory perception in paralyzed limbs. Innovations like these in sense-restoring technology could be life-changing for spinal cord patients, and make a devastating loss of sensation reversible.

Our second story tackles a different kind of feeling  — our emotions. By analyzing various neural regions in marmosets, scientists have untangled the root of anxiety in the human brain, unlocking the door to faster and more effective anxiety treatment in the future. 

Read more at Inverse.com:

BRAIN RESTORES SENSE OF TOUCH:

https://www.inverse.com/innovation/computer-restores-sense-of-touch

WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE PRONE TO ANXIETY

https://www.inverse.com/science/why-are-some-people-more-prone-to-anxiety

Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract

Subscribe to Inverse Daily, our free weekday email with the latest science and innovation news at inverse.com/newsletter

Follow Ali Pattillo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alipattillo

Follow Sarah Wells on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahESWells

Follow Inverse on Twitter: https://twitter.com/inversedotcom

We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos https://twitter.com/tanyapodcasts

Thank you for listening!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.