The Science Basement Podcast

Cancer has long been one of the most formidable challenges in healthcare, with traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation often coming with severe side effects and limited effectiveness. But now, synthetic biology is offering new hope. By designing and engineering biological systems at the molecular level, researchers are pioneering therapies that target cancer cells with unprecedented precision. From programming immune cells to recognize and destroy tumors, to creating personalized treatments that adapt to individual patients' needs, synthetic biology is transforming how we understand and fight cancer. Join us as we explore the science behind these cutting-edge treatments, and hear from members of the Aalto-Helsinki iGem team, Nisa & Ardalan, working on these solutions. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a patient, or simply curious about the future of medicine, this episode is sure to provide fascinating insights into the role of synthetic biology in the fight against cancer.

Nisa Rashid is an MSc student at University of Helsinki in Genetic & Molecular Biosciences. Ardalan Rahimipour is an MSc student at Aalto University in Biotechnology.

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

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Scientific misinformation is all around us. How can we tell fact from fiction when it comes to our health? Where can we find clear and credible sources of information to help us answer our questions? Join us in this week’s episode of The Science Basement podcast as Rhiannon and Rose learn all about iHealthFacts, a platform developed to do just that. Alongside iHealthFacts lead researcher Paula Byrne, we learn what goes on behind the scenes of iHealthFacts and how a question submitted by the general public to iHealthFacts gets answered.

Dr. Paula Byrne is a senior postdoctoral researcher with Evidence Synthesis Ireland and HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network at the University of Galway, Ireland. She is the lead researcher on iHealthFacts; a health fact-checking website.

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

Editing by Iina Sivonen.

Episode cover by Sujai Banerji.

TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano.

Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com

Follow The Science Basement:

Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org

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To find out more about iHealthFacts or to submit your scientific queries visit https://ihealthfacts.ie/. Check out their social media at: @pbyrne82 and @iHealthFacts1.

Ever thought how your fruits and vegetables are transported from field to supermarket shelf? And how does packaging play its role in keeping produce fresh? Join us in this week’s episode of The Science Basement podcast as Rhiannon and Rose chat to Kateřina to learn all about her research into active packaging and its role in extending the shelf life of the fruit and vegetables we consume.

Kateřina Zítková is a Ph.D. student at the University of Helsinki.

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

Editing by Kerttu Kalander.

Episode cover by Sujai Banerji.

TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano.

Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com

Follow The Science Basement:

Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org

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Have you ever wondered how a COVID-19 or flu test works? Or how these types of biosensors are made? Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of biosensors and uncover why these tiny devices are revolutionizing healthcare and technology. In this episode, we explore the critical role of biosensors in monitoring health, the profound impact of the pandemic on their development and use, and the intricate challenges in making them both specific and sensitive. We'll also discuss the highly competitive landscape where only a few innovative ideas survive to become successful commercial products. Tune in to understand the science, the struggles, and the future potential of biosensors.

Your hosts this week are Rhiannon Newman & Katja Kaurinkoski

Editing by Kerttu Kalander

Episode cover by Sujai Banerji

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]

Ever wondered what happens within the first five days after conception? What genes are responsible for triggering the first few cell divisions of embryo development? And how can understanding this process lead to improved IVF success rates? Join this week's episode of The Science Basement podcast as Rhiannon and Rose chat to Nina Boskovic about her research into understanding the genetic mechanisms after fertilisation and the specialised techniques she uses to uncover this!

Nina Boskovic has an MSc in clinical Embryology from the University of Oxford and is currently working towards her PhD at Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) and University of Helsinki. Alongside her PhD, Nina has launched an IVF consultancy company, Nina Fertility, which aims to help people going through IVF treatment.

Nina Fertility's Instagram handle: https://www.instagram.com/nina.fertility?igsh=ZnR0Ym4wbWhhNXB0&utm_source=qr

Nina’s recent publications:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102357

https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10815-024-03038-4

Editing by Steven Simmonds.

Episode cover by Sujai Banerji.

TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano.

Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com

Follow The Science Basement:

Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org

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Email: [email protected]

Let's take a journey into the afterlife of your closet. What happens to the clothes that do not go to the charity shops or second hand retailers? Who manages that waste and who is impacted by it? Find out the answers in this episode of the science basement as the hosts Rhiannon and Sujai speak to Anubhuti. Together we look at the ongoing research activities trying to transition the textile sector from a take-make-waste approach to a more circular approach involving reduce-reuse-recycle thinking.

Anubhuti Bhatnagar has a DSc in Energy Engineering from Tampere University and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Aalto University working on social impact assessment of textile waste management.

Follow Anubhuti on https://twitter.com/banubhuti

Read about all the good work happening in the EU on textile sector at textile-platform.eu/eu-projects. Find like-minded people looking to extend clothing life through www.conferencemanager.dk/participatio…tion/program

Your hosts this week are Sujai Banerji and Rhiannon Newman

Edited by Kerttu Kalander

Episode cover by Marie-Noëlle Pauludetto

Description by Sujai Banerji

TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artiñano.

Jingle by Havelocke: thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com

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Instagram: @sciencebasement


Twitter: @ScienceBasement


Email: [email protected]

Explore Alzheimer's disease with us on this episode of The Science Basement Podcast! Hosts Giuliano and Pritakshi chat with Alejandra Castilla B. Together, we dive into what causes Alzheimer's disease and all the latest research surrounding the models to study the disease. From animal models to 'mini-brains' grown in the lab from patients' blood cells, we break down the science for you. Join us for a fascinating discussion on neurodegenerative diseases and the exciting developments in the field.

Alejandra Castilla B is a biomedical Engineer (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia) and Master in Neurophysiology (University of Regina, SK, Canada), lecturer and TEDx scientist in Alzheimer's disease, who is currently doing a Ph.D. in Medical Biophysics at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. She loves to study biomaterials and tissue engineering and has experience in academia as a researcher and laboratory instructor in neurosciences and biosciences, and in regulatory affairs for medical device approval. She is the designer of biomedical devices and software and the founder of Linkiu App, an application that aims to be the technological strategy to connect medical personnel with medical supply providers.

TEDx Talk Aljandra Castillo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYVT5fCupug&t=196s

Fun Fact, Rats giggling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-84UJpYFRM&pp=ygUMdGlja2xpc2ggcmF0

Ever stubbed your toe and questioned reality? Buckle up, because this episode dives deep into the "ouch" that binds us all! Join us as we unravel the mysteries of pain perception. Our guest, Helena Hartmann shares her insights into the intricate anatomy of agony, drawing from her extensive research employing neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and behavioral experiments. Beyond her scientific endeavors, Helena opens up about her journey with science communication.

So, tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that'll leave you appreciating (or maybe questioning?) the next time you bump your funny bone.

Helena is currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher at the Bingellab (Clinical Neurosciences) at the University Hospital Essen. Her research interests revolve around understanding the factors influencing how individuals perceive pain, both in themselves and in others. Her scientific approach strongly aligns with open scholarship principles. In addition to her research endeavors, she actively participates in and teaches science communication.

Helena’s Twitter: @helenahhartmann

More about Helena’s Science and Fiction project: https://scienceandfiction.net/

Your hosts this week are Pritakshi Das and Katja Kaurinkoski.

Edited by Steven Simmonds.

Episode cover by Katja Kaurinkoski

Description by Pritakshi Das

TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artiñano.

Jingle by Havelocke: thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com

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As another productive year is coming to an end, we are reflecting on all the wonderful topics we got to explore. In this episode, Eleanna, Rhiannon, Sujai, and Anastasiia are sharing their favourite The Science Basement episodes of 2023. Undoubtedly, the hardest choices they had to make the whole year!

Tell us what you think of our podcast!

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Your hosts this week are Anastasiia Marmyleva, Eleanna Asvestari, Rhiannon Newman, & Sujai Banerji.

Edited by Steven Simmonds.

Episode cover by Anastasiia Marmyleva.

TSB podcast logo by Tomàs Garnier Artiñano.

Jingle by Havelocke. thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com

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While being captivated by the constant chase for publications, researchers should not neglect other aspects of their work. Every project is driven by a noble goal to improve lives and futures of people. It is not uncommon for research to translate beyond the lab bench applications. It also possesses the power to influence policymakers.

To unwrap this topic, we invited two guests. Marjo Saastamoinen is an associate professor, Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE. And Kirsi Mikkonen is a Professor at the Department of Food and Nutrition, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science.

Tell us what you think of our podcast!

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Your hosts this week are Katja Kaurinkoski & Rhiannon Newman.

Edited by Kerttu Kalander.

Episode cover by Marie-Noëlle Paludetto & Anastasiia Marmyleva.

TSB podcast logo by Tomàs Garnier Artiñano.

Jingle by Havelocke. thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com

Follow The Science Basement:

Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org


Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement


Instagram: @sciencebasement


Twitter: @ScienceBasement


Email: [email protected]