The Science Basement Podcast

The Science Basement Podcast

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The Science Basement Podcast episodes

  • 6.7 The Hidden Architecture of Sleep
    Why is getting a good night’s sleep so difficult? What actually happens in our brains while we sleep, and is deep sleep really the most important kind of sleep? In this episode of The Science Basement podcast, we sit down with Dr. Hanna Antila, an Academy Research Fellow at the Neuroscience Center at the University of Helsinki, to explore the science of sleep.
    Join us to learn about the different stages of sleep, including REM and non-REM sleep, how sleep influences brain plasticity, and why getting consistently good sleep can be so challenging. We also discuss what disrupts our sleep, why developing the “perfect” sleeping pill is so difficult, how melatonin works, and what sleep-tracking devices actually tell us about our sleep.
    Dr. Hanna Antila leads a research group studying the neuroscience of sleep, with a particular interest in how different sleep states influence brain function and plasticity.
    Guest: Hanna Antila
    Hosts: Aarti Venkatesan and Ernesta Nesta
    Sound editing: Ernesta Nesta
    Episode cover: Lasya Yellepeddi
    TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano.
    Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com
    Follow more about The Science Basement through our
    Website: www.thesciencebasement.org
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement
    Instagram: @sciencebasement
    Twitter: @ScienceBasement
    34 min
  • 6.7 Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Understanding Viruses from Wildlife to Humans
    What can wildlife viruses teach us about the next pandemic?
    In this episode, we’re joined by Vinaya Venkat, a doctoral researcher working on wildlife coronaviruses, virus surveillance, diagnostics and pandemic preparedness.
    From bats and rodents to AI and environmental change, we explore how scientists study viruses before they become a public health concern and why understanding nature may be one of our best tools for preparing for the future.
    52 min
  • 6.5 How Ultraprocessed Foods Rewire the Brain with Arsene Kanyamibwa
    Diet and obesity research has shifted dramatically over the past few decades, and ultraprocessed foods have taken center stage. In this episode of The Science Basement podcast, we sit down with Arsene Kanyamibwa from the O’Brain lab at the University of Helsinki to unpack the evolving world of diet, obesity, and nutrition. Join us as Arsene shares the story behind his research - from creating a specialized food picture bank that helped inform eating habits across Finland, to revealing the startling ways ultraprocessed foods impact structural brain composition.
    Arsene Kanyamibwa is a PhD researcher at the University of Helsinki whose work focuses on investigating how macronutrient content and composition affect food choice, reward processes and their underlying neural mechanisms in diet and obesity.
    Research mentioned in the episode:
    de Araujo et al. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-122216-011643
    DiFeliceantonio et al. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2018.05.018
    Hall et al. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2019.05.008
    Kanyamibwa (2026). https://www.thesciencebasement.org/is-obesity-a-choice/
    Kanyamibwa et al. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105512
    Monteiro et al. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018003762
    Morys et al. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00056-3
    Perszyk et al. (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041203
    Rauber et al. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.100948
    Rubino et al. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00316-4
    Small and DiFeliceantonio (2019). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav0556
    https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02754-w
    Arsene’s publications:
    Kanyamibwa et al. (2025): FinnFoodPics: A database of Finnish snack foods for investigating modern eating behaviors
    Morys et al. (2024): Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity
    1 hr 6 min
  • 6.4 Inside Muscle Recovery: The Science Behind Repair, Strength, and Ageing
    Episode 6.4 of Science Basement:
    Inside Muscle Recovery: The Science Behind Repair, Strength, and Ageing
    Have you ever wondered what actually happens inside your muscles after a workout? Why does recovery feel different over time, and what changes as we age?
    In this episode of The Science Basement, we sit down with Swetha Gopalakrishnan to explore the biology of skeletal muscle and the stem cells that drive its repair and regeneration. From understanding different muscle types to uncovering how “dormant” stem cells activate and make decisions, we dive into the cellular mechanisms that shape muscle function.
    We also discuss how metabolism influences stem cell behaviour, what happens during muscle injury and recovery, and whether exercise can influence stem cell populations. Beyond the science, Swetha shares insights from her journey from academia into entrepreneurship, and how research can be translated into real-world impact.
    Swetha Gopalakrishnan is a senior scientist working with Prof. Pekka Katajisto at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on skeletal muscle stem cells, their regulation, and their role in tissue regeneration.
    Hosts: Aarti Venkatesan and Ernesta Nesta
    Guest: Swetha Gopalakrishnan
    Sound editing: Ernesta Nesta
    Episode cover: Aarti Venkatesan
    TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano
    Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com
    Follow more about The Science Basement:
    Website: www.thesciencebasement.org
    Instagram: @sciencebasement
    LinkedIn: The Science Basement
    45 min
  • 6.3 The Science of Conversation
    Have you ever wondered what actually makes a conversation flow or fall apart? Why do some interactions feel effortless, while others feel awkward or draining?
    In Episode 6.3 of The Science Basement, we sit down with Ville Harjunen from the Interaction Analysis Lab to explore the hidden science of human conversations. From subtle cues like nodding and backchanneling to brain activity and attention, Ville’s research uncovers the moment-to-moment dynamics that shape how we connect with others. We also explore how factors like personality, culture, and even video calls influence the way we communicate, listen, and respond.
    Ville Harjunen is a researcher at the University of Helsinki whose work focuses on understanding social interaction through a combination of behavioral analysis, psychophysiology, and neuroscience.
    Recent publications:
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958825000351
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167876025000236
    https://sciety.org/articles/activity/10.31235/osf.io/hd6jw_v1
    https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.06.686308v2
    Hosts: Rhiannon Newman and Emmi
    Guest: Ville Harjunen
    Sound editing: Touqeer Gill
    Episode cover: Aarti Venkatesan
    TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano.
    Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com
    Follow more about The Science Basement through our
    Website: www.thesciencebasement.org
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement
    Instagram: @sciencebasement
    Twitter: @ScienceBasement
    1 hr 14 min
  • 6.2 The ghost-like particle: What are neutrinos and why are the so elusive?
    Episode 6.2 of Science Basement: The ghost-like particle: What are neutrinos and why are the so elusive?
    Have you ever wondered what a neutrino really is? How does it fit in with protons, neutrons and electrons? And why is it so ghost-like? In episode 6.2 of The Science Basement podcast we sit down with Dr. Timo Kärkkäinen, a particle physicist currently based at the University of Helsinki, to talk about his favourite particle: the neutrino! Join us to learn all about Timo’s research into testing new theories of the standard model of physics and why the neutrino might hold the key to the Universe.
    Dr. Timo Kärkkäinen has held postdoctoral positions in Hungary and Estonia and is currently a visiting researcher at the University of Helsinki. He is also writing a popular science book on neutrinos in Finnish.
    Your hosts for this episode are Aarti Venkatesan and Rhiannon Newman.
    Editing by Ernesta Nesta.
    Episode cover by Aarti Venkatesan.
    TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano.
    Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com
    Follow more about The Science Basement through our
    Website: www.thesciencebasement.org
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement
    Instagram: @sciencebasement
    Twitter: @ScienceBasement
    40 min
  • 6.1 The Science Basement Roundtable: 2025 in Review
    Episode 6.1 opens Season 6 of Science Basement with a roundtable discussion reflecting on the year 2025 in science. The hosts share their favourite scientific discoveries, influential papers, emerging research trends, and personal highlights from the past year. The conversation also looks ahead to 2026, discussing the questions, ideas, and developments that the team is most excited to follow in the coming year.
    This episode offers a reflective and forward-looking perspective on science beyond headlines, grounded in curiosity, context, and conversation.
    Hosts:
    Aarti Venkatesan
    Rhiannon Newman
    Sujai Banerji
    Touqeer Gill
    Sound editing: Ernesta Nesta
    Episode cover: Aarti Venkatesan
    38 min
  • 5.9 On Thin Ice: How Data and Models Reveal Antarctic Sea-Ice Thickness/ w Shreya Trivedi, Sujai & Touqeer
    Welcome to the last episode of this season! We dive beneath the flat maps of Antarctic sea ice and ask a deeper question: how thick is the ice—and why does that matter? As Antarctic sea ice reaches record lows, we explore why ice extent alone cannot capture the real state of the system. Joined by cryosphere scientist Dr. Shreya Trivedi, we unpack how satellites use radar and lasers to estimate sea-ice thickness, why winter remains the toughest season to observe, and how ice volume shapes climate, weather, ocean circulation, and polar ecosystems. A clear, engaging conversation on why thickness is the missing dimension in understanding Antarctic change.
    The guest for this episode were:
    Dr. Shreya Trivedi, Postdoctoral Program Fellow, at the Goddard Space Flight Centre, NASA (US)
    Hosts: Sujai Banerji & Touqeer Gill
    Editing by Touqeer Gill
    Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar
    TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano
    Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com
    Follow The Science Basement:
    Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement
    Instagram: @sciencebasement
    Twitter: @ScienceBasement
    56 min
  • 5.8 Journey from Junior Researcher to Principal Investigator- w/ Heli, Nidal, Veijo & Rhiannon
    Are you wondering what your next career step is and if academia is for you? Join us for our live podcast event for the 2nd HiLIFE science days where we explore the dynamic career path of three newly established principal investigators: Heli Mönttinen, Nidal Karagic, and Veijo Salo. Our guests share their personal experiences in the world of research, offering an inside look at the challenges, triumphs, and pivotal moments that shaped their careers. We discuss key topics including securing funding, building a team, and the key differences from PhD to Postdoc to PI. You'll gain practical advice and inspiration, whether you're a student, a postdoctoral fellow, or a researcher at any stage of your career.
    The guests for this episode were:
    Dr. Veijo Salo, Postdoctoral Researcher, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg (DE)
    Dr. Heli Mönttinen, Senior Researcher, University of Helsinki (FI)
    Dr. Nidal Karagic, Academy Research Fellow, University of Helsinki (FI)
    Editing by Kerttu Kalander
    Episode cover by Aarti Venkatesan
    TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano
    Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com
    Follow The Science Basement:
    Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement
    Instagram: @sciencebasement
    Twitter: @ScienceBasement
    57 min
  • 5.7 Seeds of the Sky: From Boreal Forests to Penguin Poop w/ Zoé, Matthew, Sujai & Touqeer
    In Episode 5.7, we journey into the hidden world of particles that shape the sky. We speak with Zoé Brasseur, who studies the rare ice nucleating particles drifting from boreal forests into clouds, and Matthew Boyer, who traces how distant penguin colonies in Antarctica release gases that spark the birth of new aerosol particles, tiny seeds of clouds.
    Together we travel from forest towers in Finland to the drifting ice of the Arctic and the frozen stations of Antarctica. We hear how these almost invisible specks decide when clouds freeze, rain, or snow, and how life on the ground can ripple upward to influence the climate above.
    Join us for a conversation that blends fieldwork adventure with discovery, revealing how the smallest of particles can shape the vastness of the atmosphere.
    Zoé Brasseur is a Scientific Integration and Data Officer at the Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System and has a doctorate from Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, Finland
    Matthew Boyer is a Post-doctoral Researcher at INAR, where he also received his doctoral degree.
    Read their amazing open access paper here: Penguin guano is an important source of climate-relevant aerosol particles in Antarctica (https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02312-2)
    Your hosts for this episode are Sujai Banerji & Touqeer Gill
    Editing by Touqeer Gill
    Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar
    TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano
    Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com
    Follow The Science Basement:
    Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement
    Instagram: @sciencebasement
    Twitter: @ScienceBasement
    38 min

About The Science Basement Podcast

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We are a team of scientists based in Helsinki and we want to show you how cool science is! Follow us having semi-serious conversations with our sci-guests. New episode every month.