Finding Genius Podcast

Can Covid-19 be understood through the lens of data analysis? By using artificial intelligence, variables previously going unused could be seen in a new light. Press play to learn: If viral load dictates how contagious an individual may be The accuracy of the initial data surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic The data gaps that still need to be explored  Sally Embrey, DataRobot’s Vice President of Public Health and Health Technologies, shares her experience using data modeling to better understand the Covid-19 pandemic. By focusing on viral loads and the variables in the pandemic that may cause asymptomatic spread, hotspots could start being identified before they became a threat. By understanding the chain of events from initial infection to the first signs of symptoms, populations under threat could better understand how to combat the virus within their community. Using data sources collected from publicly available databases from around the country and globally, the c...

Dr. Lee Merrirr Bio: Dr. Lee Merritt experienced medicine first hand at age four accompanying her father on housecalls along the back roads of Iowa.  She graduated in 1980 from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.  She completed an Orthopaedic Residency and served 10 years as a Physician and Surgeon in the United States Navy.  After completing a Spinal Surgery fellowship she spent over 25 years in private practice.  She served on the board of the Arizona Medical Association, and on the Naval Research Advisory Committee where she looked at medical defense issues for the military.  She is past president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, and has devoted her professional career to patient centered ethical medicine.  Was the Covid-19 virus upregulated in a lab? Whether it was manufactured or not, it may not be a natural virus and has implic...

That scene of an alien invader exploding from another life form's chest might be happening in your backyard. Entomologist Michael Strand says that, "virtually every insect on the planet is parasitized by some parasitoid wasps." He explains how this ubiquitous wasp has been so successful for millions of years through its evolved insect anatomy and physiology . Listen and learn How common parasitoid insect activity is, but also how diverse, How some species have endogenized viral particles in their genes and genetics that enable them to affect their host's behavior, and How they are used as biological control in pest management, taking advantage of the ecological role of insects to curb harmful pest populations. Michael R Strand is the H.M. Pulliam Chair at the University of Georgia and professor in the Entomology Department. He specializes in insect physiology and tells listeners about the life cycle, variety, and research interests around parasitoid wasps...

"These tumors actually becoming something that's very, very different in response to therapy. And this allows them then to survive and adapt," says David Goode, regarding current studies he's leading on cancer, specifically prostate. He adds that by changing cell type, these cancer cells evade treatment by altering what they need. He describes intricacies in cancer progression he's learned through computational biology work that could inform better treatment. Listen and learn How his lab utilizes genetics biology and cancer evolution nature to figure out what makes some tumors more aggressive than others, Why this type of cancer genetics and genomics work offers evolutionary clues regarding resistance development, How prostate cancer cells transdifferentiate into a neuro endocrine cell type so that they don't need testosterone anymore, and What "signatures of loss of multicellularity" means and why his lab studies the process in cancer cel...

How can specific clusters of individuals in populations in certain parts of the world further dementia research worldwide? New research shows that mutations present in younger group members can help prevent the early onset of symptoms. Listen up to learn: The specific mutation that causes a high concentration of early-onset dementia If regional diets can play a role in the onset of Alzheimer's Disease How the level of risk can be calculated based on the presence of genes Pierre N. Tariot, director of Banner Alzheimer's Institute, and Yakeel Quiroz-Gaviria, associate professor of psychology at Harvard University, share their work with genetic mutations that affect the onset of dementia. Due to a lack of understanding previously present in the communities where the genetic mutations have been present, research is only now uncovering the mysteries behind the cluster of high-density cases. Whether it be diet or other outside factors at play, the genetic mutations caused c...

Why do cancers rearrange their genomes, and how do their chromosome evolutions shift their development? Research into theories of growth may shed some light on areas previously cloaked in mystery. Listen up to learn: The atavistic cancer hypothesis If tumors have localized microbiomes How altering the structure of tumors can play a role in defending them within the body? Kimberly Bussey, Assistant Professor of Precision Medicine at Midwestern University, shares her research into cancer genomes, their growth methods, and changes over evolutions. Some genes that may be essential for multicellular organisms may not be so for unicellular organisms. New research into single cancer cells may yield the discovery that essentialism could hold a fundamental discovery into what genes are genuinely essential in the proliferation and functions of cancer cells. Tumors appear to have a localized microbiome, making it more difficult for the body to fight the rogue cells, enhancing the envi...

What governs the shape of organs and tissues in the human body and beyond. Research is being carried out to determine coordinating factors within the body. Press play to learn: The events that have the most significant impact on shaping an organism.  How cell division is oriented in a particular direction. The role mathematic models play in predicting shapes that form within an organism Group leader at MRC Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology at University College London, Yanlan Mao, shares their research into the formation and growth orientation of organisms.  Cell proliferation determines how organisms grow and divide, and the rate of proliferation can lead to the formation of specific shapes or disorders as development continues. If cells have traits that can orient the direction of the division, shapes can morph from spherical to oblong, and finally into recognizable figures. Fruit flies are invaluable resources in discovering genetic predispositions in cell gro...

"My knowledge outpaced the proliferation of the cancer," says Dr. Nasha Winters. After numerous, debilitating health challenges including an ovarian cancer diagnoses at nineteen, she collected information from around the world for healing methods beyond Western medicine. A doctor and cancer survivor , she tells her story, sharing How she faced a dire ovarian cancer diagnosis at a young age, Why her early cancer symptoms were hidden within other health issues like celiac disease, What imaging alternatives she's discovered that don't involve kidney-damaging dyes, and How her diet and self-treatment methods evolved over time and solidified into a healthful therapeutic diet and approach that she shares with patients. Physician and author Nasha Winters has faced a twenty-seven year journey alongside cancer. She calls it the "classic pain-to-purpose story," and it begins with her teen years, when she suffered from numerous debilitating conditions, incl...

Food poisoning, pollution, infection, radiation: cell damage is happening in our bodies on an almost continuous basis, from so many sources. If the damage doesn’t result in cell death, then the cell will adapt to the damage. But what happens when, in the process of adapting, a cell creates its own insult, becoming a “victim of itself”? Saverio Gentile, PhD, explains this and more, including: What differs between the vascularization of tumor tissues and vascularization during normal development Where the inhibition of cell proliferation comes from Whether cancer is a maladaptation to chronic insult, random, or both Why cancer cells which recur after chemotherapy are particularly dangerous Gentile is a research assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine who joins the show to offer insight on a number of compelling questions about cancer, and share his research findings on the manipulation of ion channels in treating differe...

Think you're a supinator? Well, you might be wrong. Dr. Dombroski says that people are actually poor at predicating the mechanics of their own gait and foot type. That's where he comes in. He shares What causes plantar fasciitis and some solutions he recommends, Why he performs gait analyses and individual training for patients,  What are some simple, effective foot exercises, and What he thinks about orthotics, toe spreaders, and other common treatment methods. Foot Specialist Dr. Colin Dombroski is the author of The Foot Strength Plan and The Plantar Fasciitis Plan . He has a PhD in health and rehabilitation science and practices in London, Ontario. When he was young, a disorder called vascular necrosis led to hip replacement surgery, which in turn caused a two-inch leg length discrepancy and resulting back pain. But a design-trained pedorthist fitted him with a heightening orthotic that changed his life by eliminating the pain. The impact was so profound, he decide...

Can the human species begin to unravel the cosmic mysteries our planet is surrounded by? Physics may give us a peek behind the curtain of the universe. Listen in to learn: How humans define life outside of our planet If species can re-evolve Whether extraterrestrial life can be expected to have features similar to humans Associate Professor at The Australian National University, Charley Lineweaver, discusses the possibilities and implications of life outside of our universe. To begin understanding the origin of life, we cannot keep the definition tethered to a human's understanding of our lives and history. Opening the constraints allows for an examination of time or life before our species was present. By loosening the criteria for a specific trait, species-specific characteristics are removed, which can broaden the possibilities for life. This may open the path to trace all of life back to a single organism. For more information, search for Charley Lineweaver on Goog...

“…Science progresses one funeral at a time, and…in another 10 to 20 years, people will look back on this time…and say, what were they thinking ?” So, what ideas will be in the next coffin of science? Tune in for a compelling answer, and to learn: How the historical periods before and after behaviorism differ greatly, and impact the way we view cognition today How and where an understanding of cognition and cancer overlap   To what degree an individual cell has freedom in decision-making Dr. Pamela Lyon is a visiting research fellow at Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity in Adelaide, Australia. Her research into this topic began as a result of a cross-cultural comparison of philosophical propositions grounded in accounts of the mind. Much to her surprise, she discovered that in western cognitive science, cognition has been relegated to the realm of the human brain and machinery (robots, missiles, etc.), without any attention given to the idea of cognition as ...

                                  Mary T Newport, M.D.                                    Brief Biography and Links  Mary Newport, M.D. was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated from Xavier University (humanities and pre-medicine) and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.  She completed her training in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in neonatology at the Medical University Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, and is board certified in pediatrics and neonatology, the care of sick and premature newborns. She practiced neonatology for thirty years and was founding medical director for two newborn intensive care units in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.   More recently, she has gained experience at the opposite end of the spectrum while mak...

That yawn could be telling you more about your health than you realize. Innovator Jeff Kahn believes lack of quality sleep may be the most underappreciated health concern in society, and his company is working to change that through sleep behavior modification . He tells listeners Why sleep is the "biggest lever you have in your control," How he ties sleep problems and effective sleep to relationships and solving some of the world's biggest challenges, What's the two-factor model of sleep and wake regulation, and How the Rise Science app for sleep works for technology-enabled sleep behavior. Jeff Kahn is a cofounder and CEO of Rise Science, a company that harnesses technology for better sleep . He studied science, design, and engineering in graduate school and his own struggles with sleep brought him into the university's sleep department; that's where it all began. Since then, research has only increased on the side of the importance of sleep. He s...

How can you ensure the health of a baby before even considering conception? Saliva can hold many answers and insights into a child's future. Listen in to learn:  If a predisposition is the same as a diagnosis The aspects which can be determined about the health of a child before they are born If certain predispositions are more common than others CEO and founder of Orchid Health, Noor Siddiqui, stops by to share her experience in preimplantation genetic testing. Understanding genetic risk can drastically impact one's lifestyle or choices and may change the course of any possible ailments. Testing before a child is conceived gives the best chance of mitigating risk. Many parents are motivated to help their children avoid suffering from similar conditions they have dealt with during their lives. By enabling parents to be more confident in limiting as many risk factors as possible, more couples can feel able to have their children with a renewed peace of mind. To learn ...

"A tumor grows out of what's, at default, a state of cooperation," says researcher Carlo Maley. His research interest centers on the intersection of cancer and evolution and ways to use that understanding to treat cancer. He shares fascinating studies and theories with listeners, exploring How growing a tumor in vitro into a spheroid allows researchers to study it as an organism, How cancer cells transitioning from epithelial to mesenchymal tissue enables mobility, What the "Big Bang" hypothesis means in cancer research, and Why understanding the low cancer rate in whales might help our own treatment. Carlo Maley is an associate professor with the Biodesign Institute in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University and is the director of the Arizona Cancer and Evolution Center. He specializes in cancer , evolution, and computational biology. He explains that cancer and evolution intersect on two different levels. First, within our bodies, c...

You can tell a lot by someone's cortisol rhythm," says chiropractor Stacey Smith. She noticed that some of her patients improved and some didn't despite the same treatment and wanted to understand why. The answer centered on adrenal fatigue and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). She discusses this and how to achieve stress recovery, explaining How stress-related dysfunction actually starts upstream from the adrenal glands in the brain and nervous system, Why this stress cascade affects everything from blood sugar control to circadian rhythms via the HPA axis dysfunction, and What four key stressors she identifies and how their Lifestyle Matrix Education System addresses these issues. Stacey Smith is the SOS Clinical Brand Manager of Ortho Molecular Products, Inc. and is a practicing chiropractor. After observing the variety of recovery efficacy among her patients, she started researching stress-related dysfunctions and our HPA axis. This brought he...

“It’s the best time in our lives to have breast cancer,” says Dr. Rabia Bhatti, which is good news for many, since the average woman’s risk of developing breast cancer in the U.S. is about 13 percent. In this episode, you’ll discover: Whether the use of multiple treatment modalities for breast cancer could altogether eliminate the need for surgery How hormone-positive cancers differ from triple-negative cancers in terms of the time between primary tumor resection and return of the cancer What it means to have “dense” breasts, how this impacts cancer detection, and what new technology is being utilized for better detection What foods should be avoided and which should be consumed in order to lower the risk of developing breast cancer Dr. Bhatti is a breast surgeon at West Suburban Medical Center and Medical Director of the River Forest Breast Care Center. Her evolution as a general surgeon brought her to the breast cancer specialization, where she saw an opportunity to not only ...

About 40 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraines . Yet, migraine mechanisms are only just now understood. That's good news for better medicines, and Charlie Conway of Biohaven Pharmaceuticals discusses how his corner of pharma has developed a targeted therapy with great promise. Listen and learn How migraine headaches and related symptoms result from an over-activated trigeminal nerve in the brain that releases CGRP; Why CGRP causes debilitating symptoms including pulsing headaches, light and sound hypersensitivity, and nausea; and How they've developed CGRP-targeted therapies that either block the receptors or absorb the excess. Charlie Conway is the Chief Scientific Officer at Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. His background includes a postdoc on neuroscience and pain sensing. He brings listeners up to speed on the latest research on brain cells and migraines , including how the physiology leads to overactive nerve cells and debilitating pain. It starts with a tr...

What's a stinging tree? Hikers in Australia are familiar with this needle-covered plant that can cause hours of pain. Researcher Sam Robinson has been studying how this tree's sting causes pain, and found a connection to chemotherapy-associated pain that may help researchers find a solution. His work includes the study of numerous toxic plants and animals and the chemistry behind our painful biological reaction. He discusses Some fascinating examples of organisms and their toxins, The two main categories of toxins and how they work on a broad scale, and The benefits of deconstructing how these toxins work on detailed level for potential chronic pain management and pharmacology. Dr. Sam Robinson is a research fellow at the Institute for Molecular Biological Science at the University of Queensland in Australia. It took a walk on the beach and a jellyfish sighting to get his curiosity in gear for researching how toxins cause pain. He's focused on exploring painful toxins...

How can companies make educated decisions on how and where to operate their business? Information data can steer them in the right direction. Listen up to learn: How accurate data can be ensured after collection What data is collected from users Which businesses can benefit from data collection CEO of Premise, Maury Blackman, shares his expertise in collecting data and using it to guide business decisions worldwide. Collecting data from users and contributors around the world can be the first step in helping businesses operate more intelligently. By ensuring this data is accurate, directives can be established to guide smart decision-making. Organizing data collectors allows data sets to be comprehensive and diverse. Since different people perceive the world around them in different ways, the most accurate sets of data can be gleaned from their experience. To learn more, visit https://www.premise.com. Check out this episode!

Does sodium chloride play a role in how and why our bodies contract viruses? Research may show that its presence can be a significant indicator. Listen up to learn: How vaccines are developed in real-time The difference between infection fatality rates and case fatality rates What happens to mRNA after it is used in the vaccine Ronald B. Brown, Ph.D., joins the conversation to discuss his research into the Covid-19 virus and how it interacts with our bodies. It can bring more harm than good by overreacting to early Covid-19 reports before understanding and defining statistics. By making hasty decisions on the advice of the World Health Organization, there may be lasting repercussions. The human body has a "virome," similar to the gut microbiome, which plays a role in maintaining overall health in the body. By making viruses internally, our bodies produce certain products at different times in the year, affecting our health in different ways. Search for Dr. Ronald...

Over 50 percent of people who are put on mechanical ventilation don’t survive. But for many, there is another option. Dr. Gutierrez explains. Press play to learn: How the use of high-flow nasal cannulas significantly reduces the concern of aerosolizing the COVID-19 virus and infecting healthcare workers Why it can be so dangerous, if not fatal, to place people on mechanical ventilators How high-flow nasal cannulas can be used as a replacement for mechanical ventilation in treating a number of diseases Dr. Eddy Gutierrez is a critical care specialist at Baptist Medical Center in Florida who joins the show to share his firsthand experience in treating COVID-19 patients, and the benefits of replacing mechanical ventilation with high-flow nasal cannulas. When COVID-19 first hit, Dr. Gutierrez and his colleagues were shocked by the high level of mortality and difficulty caring for those with the virus—especially since they always prioritized staying on the cutting edge of medicine a...

How can cancer cells be understood through a lens other than strictly biological? Mechanical factors may serve a function in the genes never before understood. Press play to learn: How normal cells respond to stressors on the body If organs as a whole change in response to the presence of cancer How an encapsulated tumor affects surgery Xi Huang, assistant professor in the department of molecular genetics at the University of Toronto, discusses his research on the mechanical aspects of cancer cells . Cancer tissue in an organ can alter the rigidity of the tissue around it. A more rigid environment can be conducive to forming new growths of cancer if the pathways in the area allow for it. Different stiffnesses in tissue can give clues into the stem cells of that specific cancer. If tumors of the same kind vary in stiffness, they may behave differently or have different impacts on the surrounding area. To learn more, visit http://www.moleculargenetics.utoronto.ca/faculty/2...

“Cancer…should be defined as a different system, almost like a different animal…cancer as a new system or new cellular species…is very provocative and some people find it hard to accept,” says Professor Henry Heng. Tune in to learn more and discover: Why some cancers return after primary tumor resection At what point cancer becomes its own “life form” Why genetic heterogeneity might be considered one of cancer’s most powerful strategies for growth and survival Professor Heng is part of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He joins the show to provide his knowledge and insight on a handful of challenging, compelling questions about cancer. These include whether cancer should be considered as a separate life form, how cancer cells differ genetically from host cells, how cancers and viruses behave in fundamentally different ways, how viruses can cause cancer, why the distinction between cancer stem cells and regular c...

How can you begin foraging for your own food? Many resources are available to help you take the first step. Listen in to learn: Is foraging for all needs viable globally? If plants are able to communicate Where new research into plant medicines is leading Herbalist and anthropologist, Dr. Nicole Apelian drops in shares her vast experience of living by foraging from the land all over the world. Cultures globally have been using the land surrounding them as their grocery stores and pharmacies throughout history. Necessities and holistic remedies can be found in abundance in many biomes and landscapes. By collecting information from herbalists, insights into health and the environment can be gained worldwide. Plant medicines may be able to give hope to people with ailments never previously thought to be treatable. Visit nicoleapelian.com for more information. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts:  apple.co/30PvU9C Check out this episode!

Can you smell disease? Believe it or not, you can, and pretty reliably at that. The problem is, you aren’t good at describing and quantifying what you smell, and definitely not at “diagnosing.” Aromyx is a company that’s doing something incredibly unique to circumvent this problem, while utilizing scent detection for all it’s worth. Press play to learn: How “smelling” something is actually an act of detecting distinct chemical metabolite signatures from tissues in the body By what percentage dogs have been shown to more accurately and sensitively detect prostate cancer than the status quo, FDA-approved test How the olfactory system could eventually hold the key to therapeutics for a range of diseases  Olfaction (the sense of smell) has been used for hundreds of years to detect disease—even the ancient Greeks practiced it. Josh Silverman is the CEO of Aromyx, a company that’s taking full advantage of this powerful sense . So, how are they doing it? By developing valid...

Microbial sciences are experiencing a "gold rush of research," says Seed co-founder and co-CEO Raja Dhir. He discusses how Seed is a part of that work with a multi-technology approach to all aspects of the microbiome, from gut health to coral reef protection. Listen and learn How Seed's biology research takes on microbial activity for the entire body, from the stomach to the scalp; How they've expanded their research to environmental issues like coral microbiomes, plastic degradation, soil microbiomes, and even honeybee microbiomes; How their products work to reach the center of our immune system without interference from stomach acid; and Why their innovations make a difference compared to other techniques, such as their functionally redundant microbial consortia and precision delivery system. Raja Dhir is a life science entrepreneur who helped co-found Seed along with Ara Katz. The company is a venture-backed microbiome group that's pioneering the appli...

Researcher Terry Hrubec found startling evidence that a common chemical in disinfectants can cause birth defects in mice. She explains the science, describes the ubiquitous use of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), and helps listeners understand the numerous concerns over this everyday disinfectant, especially with increased use as a COVID precaution. Listen and learn What effect Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides (BACs) had on the embryology of mice in her lab, What's the primary route of exposure for these compounds,  How numerous elements of human development might be affected, including fertility, and What are additional QAC unknown factors and how she is designing a study to find the answers.  Terry Hrubec is a professor of anatomy and embryology at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. In an experiment testing the effect of a pharmaceutical on development, she stumbled on increased neural tube defects on her control group of mice. After fi...

How could countries worldwide have handled the economic policies during the pandemic more effectively? The implementation of different strategies could have prevented further financial hardship, research shows. Press play to learn: How lockdowns affected the global economy If vaccine passports are in our near future If restrictions correlate with positive results in the age of Covid-19 Professor of economics at The University of New South Wales, Gigi Foster, discusses the detriments of lockdowns and the economic mishandling of the pandemic. Targeted protection could have been implemented early in the pandemic to avoid later restrictions that were more detrimental to the economy. Lockdowns may not have been the best solution for protecting human welfare while keeping economic principles in mind. While lockdowns feel safe and effective, they may do more harm than good. Public debate on rationality during this time may move approach towards a global agreement. For more informatio...

Is aquaponic agriculture the future of farming? Development in techniques shows the numerous advantages to soil agriculture. Tune in to learn: How solid particles affect an aquaponics system What the first indication of the disease may be within a tank How plant and animal species can be paired for the best results Dr. Bill McGraw joins the conversation to discuss the many benefits and future implications of aquaponic agriculture. Aquaponics are agricultural systems that have the potential to benefit both the animals and plants involved. By combining the farming of aquatic animals and plants with similar requirements, the system can significantly increase the potential for both. While there are specific factors that must be maintained at certain levels, aquaponics offers many solutions for the future of farming. By staggering crop production, there is the opportunity for consistent production and harvest of food year-round. To learn more, visit https://www.newaquatechpanama.co...

Can Clinical trials show what circumstances trigger the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of Dementia? Research shows that more factors may be at play than previously thought. Listen in to learn: The percent of clinical trials for Dementia which result in new and valuable discoveries If loneliness can play a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease How some individuals may be predisposed to Dementia and how this may benefit treatment Professor of neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Giulio Pasinetti, shares his vast experience researching Alzheimer's disease and Dementia and what he has learned. Even with the removal of plaque from the brain, patients still seem to suffer Dementia. Outside risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, diet, and more have all been shown to factor into the onset and severity of Alzheimer's disease. New techniques of targeting and identifying cells in the brain will revolutionize therapeutics treat...

Bees are socially sensitive, says researcher Clare Rittschof, and she's not referring to their pining away from rejection. Rather, honey bee social behavior includes an ability for a colony to band together in a sophisticated enough effort to fight off a hungry bear. Listen and learn How honey bee characteristics are formed by neurogenomics, or experiences that regulate aggressive behavior in addition to genetic propensity, How she's found that aggressive behavior in honey bees is paired with better health traits for those same bees as well, What roles different bees in the colony play, including guards that sniff entering bees, and how these behaviors may have developed, and What aspects of bee anatomy determine behavior, from how a Queen is made to which colony members can produce males. Clare Rittschof is an assistant professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky with an emphasis in behavioral ecology. She's fascinated by how animal behavior evolves: why a...

Bacteria can teach us how to clean our homes and other environments more eco-consciously and effectively. Press play to learn how, and discover: How people are affected by the use of common cleaning compounds versus the compounds being developed by Wuest and Minbiole What can be learned by studying bacteria that grow in soil, and the compounds they create to fend off pathogens What common foods (such as those left on restaurant tables) attract bacteria and promote their survival Today's guests are William Wuest, GRA Distinguished Investigator & Associate Professor at Emory University, and Kevin Minbiole, Professor and Chair at Villanova University. Their paths first crossed over a decade ago, when both were pursuing a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in a group that was largely focused on natural product total synthesis. When they both decided to move to Philadelphia, they decided to meet up and team together to work on an area of overlapping interest: crea...

How does the aging process lead to neurodegenerative diseases? Research shows that neuroinflammation may play a key role. Press play to learn: What a Tau protein is and how it plays a role in Alzheimer's disease How Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed How amyloid plaques alter your brain Professor of neuroscience and anatomy Gorin Šimić joins the conversation to discuss Alzheimer's disease and Dementia. Research shows that amyloid present in the brain for a short time can be beneficial, but if present for too long, can cause neurodegeneration. This has been discovered through a shift in the understanding of Dementia and has re-worked the criteria for diagnosis. Since Alzheimer's disease cannot be solved by evolution or natural selection, lifestyle can play a role until a certain age. However, past a certain point, genetic factors are the key in determining the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. To learn more, visit http://dementia.hiim.hr. Check out this episod...

What can be done to promote global prosperity? Press play for the answer, and to learn: What factors contribute to inflation in the U.S. What three structural weaknesses exist in developing countries that struggle with weak currencies What economic problems are worsened by tourists Why the U.S. may need to restart the basis of the U.S. economy in coming years Associate professor of economics at Denison University and President of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity, Fadhel Kaboub, has held research affiliations with Levy Economics Institute and the Harvard Kennedy School. As an expert on modern monetary theory (MMT), which includes the Green New Deal and job guarantee, Kaboub’s work is centered around the use of public policy to enhance monetary and economic sovereignty in the Global South. MMT is an approach that challenges the mainstream policy framework, which generally states that the government can only afford to pay for things that we can raise tax revenues ...

How can you find out if the products chemicals you use are safe? The Toxics Use Reduction Institute works to make production safer and inform manufacturers and the public on chemical toxicity. Listen in to learn: How many chemicals are used in manufacturing, and how many are cause for concern What criteria make a product dangerous How you can discover if products you are in contact with may be toxic Professor Joel A. Tickner and lab specialist Alicia M. McCarthy discuss reducing toxic chemicals in manufacturing and households around the country. Rather than identifying and banning dangerous chemicals, finding safer alternatives can be more beneficial in the long run. Many production companies do not have the in-house resources to do this research on their own. By examining manufacturing and measuring trends in data, you can find a reduction of toxic chemical use in each state. In most cases, companies that found safer alternatives to use in manufacturing ended up saving money c...

Cancer might be a third category of cell type, thinks clinician Doru Paul. He discusses the continuous interaction and communication between tumor cells versus normal cells that make cancer a disease of the macro environment. Listen and learn Why cancer is a multi-level disease, with influences beyond the cancer and genetics connection, What is known and unknown about the first cells that make cancer, How the metastatic process is primarily an epigenetic process and why that's significant, and What makes the role of cell metabolism and energy fundamental in understanding cancer.  Doru Paul is an associate professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. He brings a vivid understanding of the process of cancer cells in the human body as the disease grows and transforms. He adds that "the organism itself is giving, in a sense, birth to cancer," and compares the area of cancer growth as akin to placenta, altering to provide a suitable environment for...