The Science Basement Podcast

Have you ever wondered what fossils really are? And how can looking into the past tell us anything about our future? In this episode of The Science Basement, we talk with Professor David Polly, a palaeontologist based at Indiana University, who studies ancient carnivores and the environments that shaped them. Join us to unpack what fossils are (and aren’t), how they record evolution, and how fossils can be used to predict future landscapes and the effects of climate change.

Prof David Polly is the Chair of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS)

Your hosts for this episode are Emmi Olkkonen and Rhiannon Newman.

Editing by Kerttu Kalander.

Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar.

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

Email: [email protected]

How do you know if you should pursue an advanced degree in science—and once you do, how do you set yourself up for success?

In this episode of The Science Basement, we sit down with Dr. Victor Oria, to explore the real challenges and rewards of life in research.

From growing up in rural Kenya to conducting research across the UK, Germany, the USA, and now Denmark, Victor shares his inspiring journey through academia, and opens up about:

🔹 Navigating self-doubt in academia

🔹 Building resilience through failure

🔹 Why work-life balance is essential to scientific creativity

He says “Research can be tough, but if it was easy, everyone would do it.”

This episode is especially valuable for early-career researchers and students starting their scientific journey. Tune in for honest reflections and practical tips for traversing your scientific path.

Dr. Victor Oria is an Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Your host for this episode is Roselydiah Makunja with help in pre-production from Emmi Olkkonen.

Editing by Kerttu Kalander.

Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar.

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

Email: [email protected]

Have you ever wondered why breastfeeding is so highly recommended for newborns? What makes breast milk truly special compared to formula? In this episode of the Science Basement podcast, we sit down with Dr. Dollwin Matharu, who specializes in the infant gut microbiome. Dr. Matharu shares her findings about human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)—the unique sugars found only in breast milk—and explains how these molecules support babies’ immune systems and overall development.

She also highlights how her research connects HMOs with the developing infant microbiome, helping us understand the early foundations of long-term health.

Dr. Dollwin Matharu is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki.

Your hosts for this episode are Roselydiah Makunja & Rhiannon Newman.

Editing by Touqeer Gill.

Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar.

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

Email: [email protected]

The last decade has been called the decade of the reproducibility crisis—but this isn’t just a temporary flare-up. It’s a chronic, structural issue that cuts across disciplines and impacts the very foundation of how we produce and trust scientific knowledge. In this episode, we speak with members of the ReproducibiliTea Journal Club, a grassroots movement that empowers early-career researchers to tackle problems in reproducibility head-on by building local communities focused on open, transparent science.

Together, we explore how flawed incentives, poor data practices, and a culture of publishing over precision have led to a growing erosion of trust in science—from questionable p-values to the exclusion of inconvenient data. And while some of this is driven by pressure or lack of funding rather than bad faith, the consequences are real—especially in fields like biomedicine, where shaky evidence can risk patient lives.

But it’s not all bad news. By reading and discussing papers that critically engage with the replication crisis, this journal club is quietly shifting research culture—one department, one cup of tea at a time.

Vootele Voiker is Research Coordinator in Mouse Behavioural Phenotyping Facility at the Animal Center Lab in University of Helsinki

Anastasiia Marmyleva is doctoral researcher working in the field of mitochondria and metabolism at the University of Helsinki

Find their podcast to learn more: https://soundcloud.com/reproducibilitea

Your host for this episode is Sujai Banerji

Editing by Kerttu Kalander

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

Email: [email protected]

Puberty, a process nearly all of us are familiar with - voice cracks and growth spurts to sudden mood swings and acne surprises all included! But how does puberty actually begin? In this episode, Rhianon and Uka sit down with Nidhi Madhusudan, to talk about the key to puberty - Gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH). Join us to dive into how GnRH triggers puberty from within the brain, what it takes to study such processes in the lab and some exciting findings from Nidhi’s research to date.

Nidhi Madhusudan has an MSc in Neuroscience from Graduate school of Systemic Neurosciences LMU Munich and is currently a doctoral researcher in the Raivio lab at The University of Helsinki.

Your hosts for this episode are Rhiannon Newman & Uranbaigal Turmunkh

Editing by Rhiannon Newman

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

Email: [email protected]

We’re kicking off Season 5 with a roundtable chat between the hosts! In this episode, we look back at some of the most interesting research we’ve come across over the past year—those discoveries that made us say, “Whoa, that’s amazing!” From scavenger birds and learning bees to tackling sustainability challenges, we’re covering a little bit of everything.

But that’s not all—we’re also pulling back the curtain on our own research. Each of us shares what we’ve been working on and what’s coming next. Whether it’s finishing a thesis, communicating science, or chasing new ideas, we’re giving you an inside look at the work we do when we’re away from the mic.

Plus, we dive into the bigger picture: how science intersects with politics, sustainability, and society. Where is research heading? What should we be paying attention to in the coming year? Join us for a fun, insightful, and curiosity-fueled conversation to kick off Season 5!

The guests for this episode were:

Sujai Banerji, PhD student in the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki

Uranbaigal Turmunkh, Master's Student in Urban Studies & Planning, University of Helsinki

Emmi Olkkonen, Ph.D. student in Helsinki Institute of Life Science

Editing by Kerttu Kalander

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

Email: [email protected]

In our final episode of TSB x HiLife series, we discuss how to translate research into impactful innovations. We spoke to Sarah O’Keefe, a passionate scientist and innovator, about practical strategies for bridging the gap between academia and real-world applications.

Drawing from her own journey of developing 'mitoguarder,' Sarah shares actionable insights, personal experiences, and real-world examples to guide you in identifying opportunities, overcoming challenges, and creating meaningful impact through your research. Whether you're just beginning to think about innovation or ready to take the leap, this podcast will inspire and equip you to to turn your research into a real world solution.

Dr Sarah O' Keefe is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme in University of Helsinki, Finland

Find her research on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-o-keefe-81b602b4/

X (formerly twitter): @sokeefe91

Learn everything about Mitoguarder on: www.linkedin.com/company/mitoguarder

Your hosts for this episode are Rhiannon Newman & Rose Lydiah Makunja

Editing by Alexis Engrand

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

Email: [email protected]

What does it take to study the natural world up close? In this episode, your hosts, Sujai & Emmi, explore the dual challenges of understanding species’ remarkable adaptations to environmental change and navigating the risks of fieldwork. Our guest, Dr Katja Rönkä, shares fascinating insights into the behavioral and evolutionary strategies animals use to survive, from cuckoos outsmarting their hosts to predators learning to avoid toxic prey.

Katja also dives into the realities of field research—staying calm in disorienting reeds, avoiding encounters with moose and ticks, and the life-saving magic of duct tape! This episode is packed with stories and advice for aspiring field biologists and nature enthusiasts alike.

Dr Katja Rönkä is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences in University of Helsinki, Finland

Your hosts for this episode are Sujai Banerji & Emmi Olkkonen

Editing by Iina Sivonen

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

Email: [email protected]

This episode kicks off our TSB x HiLIFE mini-series collaboration: Experience the thrill of discovery. In this first episode of the podcast our hosts, Rhiannon & Sujai, dive into the intersection of scientific publishing and impact with two insightful guests, Pekka & Rafael. Together, they share their personal reflections on how studies evolve from small beginnings to larger, impactful projects, and how chasing high impact from the start can often lead to frustration. The conversation touches on the unpredictability of research relevance, including the role of timing or "luck" in publishing. Join us for a candid discussion on redefining success in academia and the complex relationship between quality, impact, and personal fulfillment in research.

Pekka Vartiainen is an MD-PhD, resident doctor in pediatrics from University of Helsinki currently studying the risk factors and consequences of children’s infections, in Norwegian Institute for Public Health, Oslo.

Rafael Moliner is a PhD researcher in Neuroscience at the University of Helsinki.

Find their publications here:

Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB | Nature Neuroscience [https://shorturl.at/RxF6M]

Risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus infection during the first year of life: development and validation of a clinical prediction model [https://shorturl.at/Pz8CO]

Your hosts for this episode are Rhiannon Newman & Sujai Banerji

Editing by Kerttu Kalander

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

Email: [email protected]

How do shapes transform when stretched, twisted, or deformed, yet still retain key properties? In this episode, Sujai and Rhiannon sit down with Jonathan Pim, a curious doctoral student trying to figure out just this. Together, they explore how quasi-conformal geometry allows mathematicians to map and manipulate spaces in unique ways. They also talk about what a day in the life of a mathematics PhD student looks like, and how did he end up working on this fascinating topic. Tune in and listen to them bring some abstract ideas to life.

Jonathan Pim is a PhD student in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Your hosts for this episode are Sujai Banerji & Rhiannon Newman

Editing by Kerttu Kalander

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

Email: [email protected]