Science Society (Catarina Cunha)

Did you miss our rooms during the week? We will give a short summary of what we discussed with our guest speakers this week. Join us!

Welcome to another episode where we dive into the undercurrents of our world's oceans. Today, we're joined by Dr. Galloway, who will share fascinating insights into the ecosystem dynamics of the North American west coast.

Recently, a collapse in predatory sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) populations due to Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) has coincided with an explosive proliferation of sea urchin barrens, leading to a concerning decrease in kelp forests. Dr. Galloway's research tackles the potential role that recovering Pycnopodia populations could play in kelp forest regeneration by consuming nutritionally poor purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) typical of barrens.

Dr. Galloway's experiments reveal that Pycnopodia consume an average of 0.68 S. purpuratus per day, and interestingly, they seem unable to chemically distinguish between starved and fed urchins. They even demonstrate higher predation rates on starved urchins due to shorter handling times.

By using a model and sensitivity analysis, Dr. Galloway shows that even minor recoveries in Pycnopodia populations could lead to a reduction in sea urchin densities consistent with kelp-urchin coexistence. These findings emphasize the vital role of Pycnopodia in regulating purple sea urchin populations and maintaining healthy kelp forests through top-down control.

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of marine ecosystems, and learn how the recovery of predatory sunflower sea stars could be a key step towards restoring kelp forests at ecologically significant scales. Whether through natural means or human-assisted reintroductions, the return of this important predator might be the ray of hope these underwater forests need.

Sunflower sea star predation on urchins can facilitate kelp forest recovery https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.1897

Join us on a deep dive into the world of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with Dr. Khalsa. This episode unravels the intricacies of how our body perceives internal sensations, especially during heightened moments of anxiety. Why do some individuals feel their heart race or breath quicken more intensely than others? Using a groundbreaking study, Dr. Khalsa investigates how those with GAD respond to β-adrenergic stimulation, a key driver of such symptoms. Leveraging advanced neuroimaging, the research uncovers a distinct relationship between GAD, heart palpitations, dyspnea, and activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Discover the potential implications of these findings for future treatments, and gain a deeper understanding of the physiological and neural intricacies that characterize GAD. If you've ever been curious about the science behind anxiety or wondered about the internal mechanisms that shape our emotional experiences, this episode promises a captivating exploration into the heart of GAD. http://jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.4225

We often imagine bacteria as microscopic isolated cells or colonies. But what if some defy this common perception? Dr. Gros and Dr. Volland join us on this episode to discuss their discovery of an unusually large, sulfur-oxidizing bacterium with a complex membrane organization and predicted life cycle.

Located in a mangrove swamp, the bacterium, named Candidatus Thiomargarita magnifica, astounded the researchers. While most bacterial species have cells around 2 micrometers in length, this extraordinary bacterium has an average cell length exceeding 9000 micrometers, making it visible to the naked eye!

Through the application of various microscopy techniques and genome sequencing, Dr. Gros and Dr. Volland observed highly polyploid cells with DNA and ribosomes compartmentalized within membranes. They also discovered a fascinating dimorphic life cycle where chromosomes are asymmetrically segregated into daughter cells.

These groundbreaking findings challenge traditional concepts of bacterial cells. The scientists reveal how these characteristics, along with the compartmentalization of genomic material and ribosomes in translationally active organelles, indicate a gain of complexity in the Thiomargarita lineage.

Don't miss this intriguing episode exploring the boundaries of what we know about bacterial cells and their potential complexity.

Keywords: Dr. Gros, Dr. Volland, Candidatus Thiomargarita magnifica, Megabacterium, Polyploid cells, Bacterial cell complexity, Genome sequencing, Asymmetric segregation, Microscopy.

A centimeter-long bacterium with DNA contained in metabolically active, membrane-bound organelles https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb3634

In this episode, Dr. Cagan joins us to discuss his intriguing research on the rates and patterns of somatic mutation across a variety of mammalian species. Somatic mutation, the process of change in the DNA of an organism's cells other than sperm or egg cells, plays a key role in cancer and aging. However, the specifics of this process in non-human species have remained largely unknown.

Dr. Cagan and his team have shed light on the landscape of somatic mutation by conducting whole-genome sequencing of 208 intestinal crypts from 56 individuals across 16 mammalian species. They found that mutation is dominated by endogenous processes in all species, such as 5-methylcytosine deamination and oxidative damage. Interestingly, mutational signatures across species closely resemble those found in humans, though the contributions of each signature vary.

A key finding from Dr. Cagan's work is that the somatic mutation rate per year inversely correlates with species lifespan, suggesting an evolutionary constraint on somatic mutation rates. Despite the enormous variation in lifespan and body mass among the studied species, the somatic mutation burden at the end of lifespan only varied by a factor of around 3.

Join us as we delve into this fascinating research with Dr. Cagan, exploring the implications of these findings for our understanding of aging and evolution.

Keywords: Dr. Cagan, Somatic Mutation, Mammalian Species, Whole-Genome Sequencing, Aging, Cancer, Evolution, Lifespan.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04618-z Somatic mutation rates scale with lifespan across mammals

In a captivating conversation with Dr. Habchi and Dr. Jawed, we take a deep dive into the enigmatic world of spider ballooning. Using state-of-the-art three-dimensional numerical simulations and the discrete elastic rods method, they explore the hypothesis that spiders' ballooning mechanism is influenced by the electric charge dynamics between spider silk threads and the Earth's atmospheric electric potential. Validated with experimental data, their research examines two unique cases of electric charge distribution: uniformly spread across the threads and concentrated at the thread tip. Intriguing findings reveal how terminal ballooning velocity is affected differently in both cases, with a striking observation of a three-dimensional conical sheet formed due to the threads' electric charges preventing entanglement. This episode is an enlightening journey into the interplay of biology, physics, and nature's unmatched engineering prowess.

Keywords:

Spider ballooning

Three-dimensional simulations

Discrete elastic rods method

Electric charge

Earth's atmosphere

Terminal ballooning velocity

Elastic bending stiffness

Viscous forces

Coulomb repelling forces

Thread entanglement.

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.105.034401

Title: Navigating Sleep Cycles with Selective Thermal Stimulation: A Conversation with Dr. Haghayegh

Description: The intricate process of regulating sleep-wake cycles involves circadian Process C and homeostatic Process S. In this episode, we welcome Dr. Haghayegh to discuss his research on how selective thermal stimulation (STS) of the cervical spine region can enhance body heat dissipation, increase the distal-to-proximal skin gradient (DPG), and lower core body temperature (CBT). These changes can contribute to shorter sleep onset latency (SOL) and improved sleep quality.

Dr. Haghayegh's team conducted a study involving 11 young, healthy male participants who were challenged to go to bed two hours earlier than usual. They were subjected to treatment and control nighttime sleep sessions. The treatment session involved the use of a dual-temperature zone mattress and an STS pillow, which applied mild heating to the cervical spinal skin for 30 minutes after lights-off.

The study's results highlight a significant increase in blood flow and DPG and a significant decrease in CBT in the treatment night compared to the control. Most notably, SOL was significantly reduced, and subjective sleep quality significantly improved.

Join us as we delve into the findings and implications of this study with Dr. Haghayegh. We'll explore how innovative sleep facilitating systems like STS pillows and dual-temperature zone mattresses can influence sleep cycles and enhance overall sleep quality.

Keywords: Dr. Haghayegh, Sleep-wake Cycle, Selective Thermal Stimulation, Core Body Temperature, Distal-to-Proximal Skin Gradient, Sleep Onset Latency, Sleep Quality, Sleep Science, Sleep Technology, Circadian Process C, Homeostatic Process S.

High ambipolar mobility in cubic boron arsenide https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn4290

Join us in this engaging episode with Dr. Singh, who introduces us to an exciting application of machine learning in the realm of material science. He elucidates how chemical alloying can impact the formation enthalpy of rare-earth intermetallics.

The use of machine learning in rare-earth intermetallic design has been minimal, largely due to the limited availability of reliable datasets. To overcome this, Dr. Singh and his team have developed an extensive 'in-house' rare-earth database, containing over 600 compounds. Each entry in this database is enriched with formation enthalpy data and associated atomic features obtained using high-throughput density-functional theory (DFT).

With this resource at their disposal, Dr. Singh's team then applied the SISSO (Sure Independence Screening and Sparsifying Operator) based machine learning method to train and test the formation enthalpies of these rare-earth compounds. This approach enabled them to delve into the effects of transition metal alloying on the energy stability of Ce based cubic Laves phases (MgCu type).

The SISSO predictions, which align well with high-fidelity DFT calculations and X-ray powder diffraction measurements, provide invaluable quantitative guidance for compositional considerations within a machine-learning model. This contributes significantly to the discovery of new metastable materials.

To deepen our understanding, Dr. Singh also analyzes the electronic-structure of a Ce-Fe-Cu based compound, offering insights into the electronic origin of phase stability. This fusion of interpretable analytical models, density-functional theory, and experimental methods presents a quick and reliable design guide for discovering technologically useful materials.

Whether you're a materials scientist, a machine learning enthusiast, or just someone fascinated by the intersection of technology and science, this episode with Dr. Singh is a must-listen!

Keywords: Machine learning, Rare-earth intermetallics, Chemical alloying, Formation enthalpy, High-throughput density-functional theory (DFT), SISSO, Energy stability, Cubic Laves phases, Metastable materials, Electronic-structure, Phase stability, Material discovery.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2022.117759

This episode features a conversation with renowned scientist Dr. Levin who shares exciting updates from his lab’s groundbreaking work. Focusing on understanding and controlling complex pattern formation, Dr. Levin’s team explores the fascinating crossroads of molecular genetics, biophysics, and computational modeling.

The Levin lab operates at the forefront of scientific exploration, working with organisms such as frogs, flatworms, zebrafish, and even human tissues in culture. Their projects traverse a wide range of topics including regeneration, embryogenesis, cancer, and learning plasticity – all seen as instances of how cellular networks process information.

Dr. Levin's aim extends beyond just deciphering the necessary molecular mechanisms for morphogenesis. He is on a quest to unravel and harness the cooperative signaling dynamics that enable complex bodies to build and remodel themselves toward a correct structure in spite of unpredictable environmental disruptions.

This episode offers a deep dive into the quest to understand how individual cell behaviors are orchestrated toward appropriate large-scale outcomes, providing listeners with a glimpse into the future of biophysics and molecular genetics.

Keywords: Dr. Levin, Bioelectricity, Basal Cognition, Molecular Genetics, Biophysics, Computational Modeling, Pattern Formation, Regeneration, Embryogenesis, Cancer, Learning Plasticity, Cellular Networks, Morphogenesis.

Synthetic biology and bioengineering provide the opportunity to create novel embodied cognitive systems (otherwise known as minds) in a very wide variety of chimeric architectures combining evolved and designed material and software. These advances are disrupting familiar concepts in the philosophy of mind, and require new ways of thinking about and comparing truly diverse intelligences, whose composition and origin are not like any of the available natural model species. In this Perspective, I introduce TAME - Technological Approach to Mind Everywhere - a framework for understanding and manipulating cognition in unconventional substrates. TAME formalizes a non-binary (continuous), empirically-based approach to strongly embodied agency. When applied to regenerating/developmental systems, TAME suggests a perspective on morphogenesis as an example of basal cognition. The deep symmetry between problem-solving in anatomical, physiological, transcriptional, and 3D (traditional behavioral) spaces drives specific hypotheses by which cognitive capacities can scale during evolution. An important medium exploited by evolution for joining active subunits into greater agents is developmental bioelectricity, implemented by pre-neural use of ion channels and gap junctions to scale cell-level feedback loops into anatomical homeostasis. This architecture of multi-scale competency of biological systems has important implications for plasticity of bodies and minds, greatly potentiating evolvability. Considering classical and recent data from the perspectives of computational science, evolutionary biology, and basal cognition, reveals a rich research program with many implications for cognitive science, evolutionary biology, regenerative medicine, and artificial intelligence. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/t6e8p

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is emerging as an innovative treatment for a range of psychiatric disorders, but the current methods for identifying stimulation targets could be improved. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Balderston, who discusses his pioneering work on a novel targeting optimization approach for TMS treatments that combines whole-brain resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) and electric-field (e-field) modeling.

Dr. Balderston explains how this approach allows for more personalized, symptom-specific TMS targets. He shares results from a proof of concept study involving 91 anxious misery (AM) patients and 25 controls. Using principal component analysis (PCA) regression, his team predicted symptoms from rsFC and estimated the parameter vector for the e-field augmented model.

The potential applications of this method are vast, as it allows for the computation of predicted symptom changes for each site/orientation using the e-field augmented model. Notably, Dr. Balderston's findings suggest that left dlPFC stimulation, tailored to individual brain connectivity, could lead to better outcomes for depression treatment.

Join us as we delve into the intricate world of rsFC, e-field modeling, and the future of individualized TMS therapy with Dr. Balderston.

Keywords: Dr. Balderston, Resting State Functional Connectivity, rsFC, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, TMS, Electric-field Modelling, Depression Treatment, Anxious Misery, Individualized Therapy, BA9, Left dlPFC, M1.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01110-6 Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatments: using individualized TMS targeting to maximize the therapeutic impact.

Dr. Demirci joins us in this captivating episode to explore the use of pulsed light as an alternative antimicrobial intervention in the food industry.

The first part of his study was dedicated to defining the spectrum and energy characteristics of pulsed light. Following this, Dr. Demirci delved into investigating the germicidal response of a range of microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus (vegetative cells and endospores), Aspergillus niger spores, and Penicillium roqueforti spores to pulsed light treatments.

The organisms were treated using three different broad-spectrum xenon gas flashlamps and were subjected to up to 15 pulses. Each microorganism displayed a significant interaction of flashlamp type and treatment duration.

Further, Dr. Demirci treated E. coli with pulsed light using a type B flashlamp and light filters to selectively deliver visible, near-infrared, and combined visible-near-infrared radiation to the cells. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images were also obtained to observe physical effects on the cellular structures.

The findings of this study indicate that microbial sensitivity to pulsed light treatment varies across species and is predominantly attributed to the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. Join us as we delve into these results and discuss the potential of this technology for the food industry.

Keywords: Dr. Demirci, Pulsed Light, Antimicrobial Intervention, Food Industry, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium roqueforti, Xenon Gas Flashlamps, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Microbial Sensitivity, Ultraviolet Radiation.

Characterization of pulsed light for microbial inactivation https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2022.111152 Pulsed light treatment susceptibility differs for Gram -, Gram +, and spores/fungi.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Man Ho Chan presents his intriguing research that provides evidence for the existence of dark matter density spikes around stellar-mass black holes, specifically A0620-00 and XTE J1118+480. His team's work challenges the long-held notion that dark matter forms a density spike around a black hole, which until now lacked solid observational evidence. Their findings, based on the study of abnormally fast orbital decays in these binaries due to the dynamical friction between dark matter and companion stars, point towards the possible existence of dark matter density spikes. This episode underscores the importance of analyzing observational data from nearby black hole X-ray binaries as a promising avenue for further revealing the elusive nature of dark matter.

Dark Matter, Density Spikes, Black Holes, Stellar-Mass Black Holes, Orbital Decays, Dynamical Friction, Companion Stars, Stellar Heating Model, X-ray Binaries, A0620-00, XTE J1118+480.

Indirect Evidence for Dark Matter Density Spikes around Stellar-mass Black Holes DOI 10.3847/2041-8213/acaafa possible indirect evidence that dark matter forms a density spike around a black hole.

In this episode, we delve into the revolutionary work of Dr. Kireev, who is pushing the boundaries of health monitoring with wearable technology. The continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure (BP) in non-clinical or ambulatory settings plays a critical role in understanding various health conditions, especially cardiovascular diseases. Traditional ambulatory BP devices, while useful, can be cumbersome and intrusive, limiting their usability and comfort for the user.

Enter Dr. Kireev's cutting-edge research. He introduces a wearable continuous BP monitoring platform that is based on electrical bioimpedance, utilizing atomically thin, self-adhesive, lightweight, and unobtrusive graphene electronic tattoos as interfaces with the human body. This technology is able to monitor arterial BP continuously and non-invasively for over 300 minutes, a duration tenfold longer than previous studies.

The readings obtained show remarkable accuracy, equivalent to a Grade A classification, offering immense potential in medical diagnosis and disease correlation with individual behavior, daily habits, and lifestyle. This could potentially enable the analysis of root causes, prognosis, and disease prevention.

Join us as we discuss Dr. Kireev's groundbreaking work and explore the future of health monitoring.

Keywords: Dr. Kireev, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Wearable Technology, Graphene Electronic Tattoos, Electrical Bioimpedance, Cardiovascular Diseases, Health Monitoring, Ambulatory BP Monitoring.

Kireev, D., Sel, K., Ibrahim, B. et al. Continuous cuffless monitoring of arterial blood pressure via graphene bioimpedance tattoos. Nat. Nanotechnol. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01145-w

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Zhenqiu Huang from the Department of Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine delves into the intriguing world of lung cancer risk among smokers. While it's known that the risk is dependent on the dose of smoking, the mystery surrounding whether this increased risk is a result of an uptick in the rate of somatic mutation accumulation in normal lung cells remains. Through extensive research, including single-cell whole-genome sequencing and analysis of both age and smoking status, Dr. Huang and his team have unraveled some of these enigmas. Listen in to understand why most smokers never get lung cancer and discover the intrinsic factors that may attenuate lung cancer risk by reducing mutations.

Key Words:

Lung cancer, Somatic mutations, Smokers, Non-smokers

Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Single-cell whole-genome sequencing, DNA repair, Detoxification, Tobacco smoke, Mutation accumulation, Bronchial cells, Aging, AKR1C2, PAHs, DNA damage

Don't miss this insightful dive into the intricate relationship between smoking, aging, and the potential for developing lung cancer.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01035-w

Join us in this crucial discussion with Dr. Moseson as we delve into the unique barriers to abortion care that transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive (TGE) people face. Given these barriers, many TGE individuals have considered, and some have even attempted, abortion without clinical supervision.

In this episode, Dr. Moseson shares results from a 2019 online survey about sexual and reproductive health among TGE people assigned female or intersex at birth. The study uncovers a significant number of TGE people who have considered or attempted self-managed abortions. These methods varied, with participants reporting the use of herbs, physical trauma, vitamin C, and substance use.

Reasons for self-managed abortion included a desire for privacy, perceived efficiency, and, importantly, several structural issues such as lack of health insurance coverage, legal restrictions, denials of or mistreatment within clinical care, and cost.

Dr. Moseson highlights the urgent need for efforts to dismantle barriers to clinical abortion care and to provide TGE people with information on safe and effective methods of self-managed abortion. The goal is to ensure that TGE people can freely choose a safe and effective abortion, whether in a clinical setting or through self-management.

This episode offers an essential conversation about the intersection of gender identity, reproductive rights, and healthcare access.

Keywords: Dr. Moseson, Transgender, Nonbinary, Gender-Expansive, TGE, Abortion Care, Self-Managed Abortion, Reproductive Health, Healthcare Barriers, Privacy, Autonomy, Structural Issues, Health Insurance, Legal Restrictions, Clinical Care, Gender Identity, Reproductive Rights.

Moseson H, Fix L, Gerdts C, et al Abortion attempts without clinical supervision among transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive people in the US http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjsrh-2020-200966

Imagine a world where artificial neurons not only rival their biological counterparts in function but also exceed them in speed and scale. Dr. Onen takes us on a captivating journey through this very realm in our latest episode.

Biological neurons and synapses, though remarkably efficient, are constrained by the speed of information processing in the aqueous medium through which action potentials propagate. But what if we could transcend these limitations? Enter nanoscale protonic programmable resistors, artificial solid-state neurons that are not subject to the same time and voltage constraints as their biological analogs.

Dr. Onen delves into his groundbreaking work, where he and his team prototyped these resistors, crafting them to be 1000 times smaller than biological neurons and utilizing complementary metal-oxide semiconductor–compatible materials. These devices can withstand high electric fields and display energy-efficient modulation characteristics at room temperature, operating 10,000 times faster than biological synapses.

In this conversation, Dr. Onen elaborates on how these nanoscale devices pave the way for accelerated deep learning applications. Tune in to explore how these advancements can revolutionize artificial neural networks, offering a promising direction for implementing applications that can benefit from rapid ionic motion.

Keywords: Dr. Onen, Protonic Programmable Resistors, Nanoscale, Deep Learning, Artificial Neurons, Biological Neurons, Synapses, Solid-State Devices, Ionic Transport, Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor.

Nanosecond protonic programmable resistors for analog deep learning https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abp8064

In this enlightening episode, we welcome Dr. Andrés Cubillos-Ruiz, who takes us into the world of gut health and antibiotics. His pioneering research proposes a compelling solution to antibiotic-induced alterations in the gut microbiota—a problem that contributes to various metabolic and inflammatory diseases, increases the risk of secondary infections, and fuels the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. Cubillos-Ruiz introduces us to an engineered strain of Lactococcus lactis that selflessly degrades β-lactams—a widely used class of broad-spectrum antibiotics that disrupt gut flora—through the secretion and extracellular assembly of a heterodimeric β-lactamase. He explains the unique design of this β-lactamase-expression system, which neither confers β-lactam resistance to the producer cell nor is susceptible to dissemination by horizontal gene transfer.

The intriguing part is how this research plays out in vivo. In a mouse model treated with parenteral ampicillin, oral supplementation with this engineered live biotherapeutic minimized gut dysbiosis without affecting the ampicillin concentration in serum. It also prevented the enrichment of antimicrobial resistance genes in the gut microbiome and the loss of colonization resistance against Clostridioides difficile.

Join us as we delve into the potential of engineered live biotherapeutics that safely degrade antibiotics in the gut, a strategy that could revolutionize the prevention of dysbiosis and associated pathologies.

Keywords: Dr. Andrés Cubillos-Ruiz, Gut Microbiota, Antibiotics, β-lactams, Lactococcus lactis, β-lactamase, Dysbiosis, Antimicrobial Resistance, Biotherapeutics, Metabolic Diseases, Inflammatory Diseases.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-022-00871-9 An engineered live biotherapeutic protects the intestinal microbiome.

The fascinating world of Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs), macroscopic coherent matter waves that have greatly influenced quantum science and atomic physics, is the focus of today's episode. We are delighted to have Dr. Chen and his team, who share their groundbreaking work on continuous Bose–Einstein condensation.

BECs have a crucial role in quantum simulation and sensing, underlying atom interferometers in space, and enabling ambitious tests of Einstein’s equivalence principle. However, a persistent challenge has been the need for sequential cooling stages in quantum gas devices, confining these devices to pulsed operation.

Our esteemed guests showcase their breakthrough in overcoming this limitation by demonstrating a continuous-wave (CW) condensate of strontium atoms that persists indefinitely. This continuous condensation process is sustained by the Bose-stimulated gain of atoms from a thermal bath, which is constantly replenished. Dr. Chen's team's experiment is compared to the matter wave analog of a continuous wave optical laser with fully reflective cavity mirrors. This serves as a proof-of-principle demonstration, contributing a new component to atom optics and opening the door to constructing continuous coherent-matter-wave devices.

Join us on this enlightening journey as we delve into the groundbreaking work of Dr. Chen and his team in the intriguing world of Bose–Einstein condensates.

Keywords: Dr. Chen, Bose–Einstein condensates, BECs, Quantum Science, Atomic Physics, Quantum Simulation, Continuous-Wave Condensate, Atom Optics, Coherent Matter Wave, Quantum Gas Devices.

Chen, CC., González Escudero, R., Minář, J. et al. Continuous Bose–Einstein condensation. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04731-z could lead to continuous-wave atom lasers

Join us today with Dr. Pedram Roushan from Google Research as we dive deep into the world of quantum many-body systems. We'll explore the fascinating phenomena of dynamical phases and the concept of discrete time crystals (DTC), revealing the wonders of out-of-equilibrium quantum systems.

Nature's Non-equilibrium State:

Quantum many-body systems have rich phase structures in low-temperature equilibrium states.

However, nature often exists out-of-equilibrium, leading to intriguing dynamical phases not seen in equilibrium.

The Novelty of Dynamical Phases:

Recent predictions suggest dynamical phases might exist that are forbidden by conventional equilibrium thermodynamics.

A prime example is the discrete time crystal (DTC).

Understanding Eigenstate Order:

Dynamical phases in periodically driven many-body-localized (MBL) systems are defined via eigenstate order.

These MBL phases display quantum correlations and long-range order across the entire many-body spectrum, resulting in unique late-time dynamics.

Challenges and Experimental Achievements:

It's tough to differentiate stable phases from temporary phenomena in experiments.

Dr. Roushan's team utilized controlled-phase (CPHASE) gates on superconducting qubits, allowing them to observe an MBL-DTC and its unique spatiotemporal response.

Time-Reversal and Quantum Typicality:

The team employed a time-reversal protocol to gauge external decoherence effects.

Leveraging quantum typicality, they overcame the exponential challenge of sampling the eigenspectrum densely.

Discovering the Phase Transition:

The team identified the transition out of the DTC through a finite-size analysis, paving the way for future quantum processors.

Conclusion:

Dr. Pedram Roushan's groundbreaking work offers a fresh perspective on understanding quantum many-body systems and non-equilibrium phases of matter. By uncovering the mysteries of the discrete time crystal and its associated dynamical phases, we move a step closer to realizing the full potential of quantum processors.

Quantum mechanics never ceases to amaze, and with pioneers like Dr. Roushan leading the way, the future of quantum research looks brighter than ever. Stay with us for the next episode, where we continue our journey into the quantum realm.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04257-w

The value of Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in detecting and localizing focal interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) in epilepsy patients is undisputed. However, current cryogenic MEG systems present limitations, particularly for pediatric patients, due to their rigid helmet design. In this episode, we discuss these challenges and potential solutions with Dr. Feys, whose research focuses on on-scalp MEG technology using optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs).

Dr. Feys' team conducted a single-center study on school-aged children with either self-limited idiopathic or refractory focal epilepsy. The researchers compared IED detection and localization using traditional cryogenic MEG and the new on-scalp MEG method. Their results showed that the on-scalp MEG provided higher IED amplitudes, a better signal-to-noise ratio, and similar localization value, even with a limited number of sensors and scalp coverage.

Despite occasional motion artifacts from head movements, this pioneering study suggests that on-scalp MEG could alleviate the main limitations of cryogenic MEG, particularly in pediatric settings. Tune in as Dr. Feys takes us through his groundbreaking research and its potential implications for epilepsy treatment in children.

Keywords: Magnetoencephalography, Epilepsy, Pediatric Neurology, Dr. Feys, On-Scalp MEG, Optically Pumped Magnetometers, Interictal Epileptiform Discharges.

On-Scalp Optically Pumped Magnetometers versus Cryogenic Magnetoencephalography for Diagnostic Evaluation of Epilepsy in School-aged Children https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.212453

In this enlightening episode, we engage in a deep exploration of the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in learning processes, focusing particularly on fear-related learning, with Dr. Bredy. His breakthrough research has uncovered a substantial population of lncRNAs that respond in adult mice's infralimbic prefrontal cortex to fear-related learning.

Dr. Bredy and his team used an advanced technique called RNA Capture-seq to identify these lncRNAs, supplementing these findings with cell-type-specific ATAC-seq applied to neurons selectively activated by fear extinction learning. Through this approach, they discovered 434 inducible lncRNAs that originate from enhancer regions near protein-coding genes.

Among these lncRNAs, the team found an experience-induced lncRNA they named ADRAM (activity-dependent lncRNA associated with memory). ADRAM acts as a scaffold and a combinatorial guide, recruiting the brain-enriched chaperone protein 14-3-3 to the promoter of the memory-associated immediate-early gene Nr4a2. Notably, ADRAM is essential for the formation of fear extinction memory.

This conversation with Dr. Bredy provides a wealth of information about the involvement of lncRNA activity in the brain, and the key role that enhancer-derived RNAs (eRNAs) play in the epigenomic regulation of gene expression related to the formation of fear extinction memory. Whether you're a neuroscientist, a geneticist, or anyone interested in the incredible complexity and capabilities of the brain, this episode will offer fresh insights and food for thought.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110546

Join us in this fascinating episode with Dr. Araújo, a renowned paleontologist, as we delve into the mysteries of mammalian evolution and the crucial transition to endothermy. Endothermy, the ability of an organism to maintain its body temperature internally, is a feature that has played a significant role in the ecological dominance of mammals and birds. However, when and how this characteristic appeared during mammalian evolution has long been uncertain due to ambiguous fossil evidence.

Dr. Araújo presents his innovative approach to investigate this key evolutionary transition using the morphology of the semicircular ducts of the inner ear. These ducts, filled with endolymph, monitor head rotations and are vital for motor coordination, navigation, and spatial awareness. Changes in these structures could reflect the ectotherm-endotherm transition, as higher body temperatures would impact endolymph viscosity and semicircular duct biomechanics.

Dr. Araújo and his team developed the thermo-motility index, a proxy based on the bony canal morphology, to track morphofunctional changes across 56 extinct synapsid species. Their findings suggest an abrupt evolution of endothermy during the Late Triassic period in Mammaliamorpha, associated with a sharp increase in body temperature and an expansion of aerobic and anaerobic capacities.

This episode provides intriguing insights into the evolution of endothermy and the physiological characteristics that define mammals. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on the mysteries of our evolutionary past.

Keywords: Dr. Araújo, Mammalian Evolution, Endothermy, Semicircular Ducts, Inner Ear, Thermo-Motility Index, Late Triassic, Mammaliamorpha, Paleontology, Synapsid Species, Ectotherm-Endotherm Transition, Body Temperature, Aerobic Capacity, Anaerobic Capacity.

Araújo, R., David, R., Benoit, J. et al. Inner ear biomechanics reveals a Late Triassic origin for mammalian endothermy. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04963-z

The survival of honey bee colonies worldwide is threatened by the ectoparasite Varroa destructor. In this riveting episode, we host Dr. Thomas A. O’Shea-Wheller, who has dedicated his research to uncovering solutions to this pressing issue.

O'Shea-Wheller presents an in-depth study of a Varroa-resistant honey bee stock, known as 'Pol-line', and its potential in tackling this parasite threat. The study, conducted on a large scale and over an extended period, showed promising results. The 'Pol-line' demonstrated significantly reduced Varroa levels, lower titres of three major viruses vectored by the mite (DWV-A, DWV-B, and CBPV), and a notable increase in survival.

Interestingly, a fourth virus not associated with Varroa—BQCV—showed no differences between the stocks, hinting at the disruption of the transmission pathway. When Varroa levels were removed from the equation, viral titres did not significantly predict colony mortality risk, shedding new light on Varroa's etiology.

Join us as we delve into these promising findings and discuss the potential of derived stocks as a sustainable solution to the Varroa pandemic.

Keywords: Varroa destructor, honey bee, Apis mellifera, Varroa-resistant, Pol-line, DWV-A, DWV-B, CBPV, BQCV, Dr. Thomas A. O’Shea-Wheller.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08643-w The ectoparasite Varroa destructor is the greatest threat to managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies globally.

Cryopreservation has underpinned several scientific advancements, including assisted reproductive technology, stem cell therapies, and species preservation. However, current cryoprotective agents like dimethylsulfoxide and glycerol have notable limitations, including toxicity and inefficacy for numerous cell types and tissues. In this episode, we host Dr. Bryant, who has recently made a groundbreaking stride towards developing more effective cryoprotectants.

Dr. Bryant's team has been investigating the use of deep eutectic solvents as cryoprotective agents, and their research has provided promising results. They examined six deep eutectic solvents for their cryoprotective abilities for mammalian cells, studying their thermal properties, toxicity, and cell permeability. The researchers found a deep eutectic solvent made from proline and glycerol to be a particularly effective cryoprotective agent for all tested cell types, even with extended pre-freeze incubation.

The success of this solvent represents a significant leap forward in cryopreservation, as it exhibited less toxicity and higher effectiveness than its individual components, underlining the value of multi-component systems. The post-thaw cells were characterized using atomic force microscopy and confocal microscopy, with molecular dynamics simulations corroborating the biophysical parameters obtained experimentally.

Join us as Dr. Bryant walks us through the exciting potential of deep eutectic solvents in cryopreservation, opening doors for the development of thousands of new cryoprotective agents and potential advancements in organ and tissue preservation.

Keywords: Cryopreservation, Deep Eutectic Solvents, Dr. Bryant, Cryoprotective Agents, Proline, Glycerol, Organ Preservation, Tissue Preservation.

https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TB00573E

In this enlightening episode, we welcome Dr. Gottscho, a renowned expert in semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence, to unpack his groundbreaking study on the use of AI in streamlining semiconductor chip processes.

Dr. Gottscho delves into one of the major challenges in semiconductor chip production - the escalating cost and complexity involved in developing chemical plasma processes that form the transistors and memory storage cells. This process is currently manual, with expert engineers searching for a suitable combination of tool parameters that yield acceptable results on the silicon wafer.

The conversation takes an exciting turn as Dr. Gottscho discusses how AI, specifically Bayesian optimization algorithms, might help reduce the cost of developing complex semiconductor chip processes. He shares insights from his study that pitted human engineers against computer algorithms in a virtual process game designed for semiconductor fabrication.

The results? While human engineers excel in early-stage development, algorithms prove far more cost-efficient when nearing the precise tolerances of the target. Dr. Gottscho reveals that a synergistic strategy, pairing human expertise and AI algorithms, can potentially halve the cost-to-target compared to using only human designers.

Lastly, Dr. Gottscho highlights the cultural challenges inherent in blending human and machine efforts and discusses ways to navigate these when implementing AI in developing semiconductor processes.

Join us in this episode to explore the intersection of AI and semiconductor design. With Dr. Gottscho's expert perspective, we bridge the gap between humans and computers in the quest for more efficient chip production.

Kanarik, K.J., Osowiecki, W.T., Lu, Y.(. et al. Human–machine collaboration for improving semiconductor process development. Nature 616, 707–711 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05773-7

In a world where fungal pathogens wreak havoc on global food production, understanding their arsenal is of paramount importance. Enter the mysterious realm of Magnaporthe oryzae, a notorious fungal attacker, with Dr. Krasileva, our esteemed guest for today's episode.

Dive deep as we navigate the vast universe of the fungal pathogen's secreted proteins. Dr. Krasileva unravels her team's ambitious efforts to predict the structures of a whopping 1,854 proteins. Harnessing the power of machine learning and the revolutionary TrRosetta, they're able to map out the intricate designs of these proteins, laying bare potential effectors and virulence factors.

But this journey isn't just about numbers and predictions. As Dr. Krasileva artfully illustrates, structure-based clustering reveals hidden secrets about these proteins, uncovering relationships and parallels that go beyond mere sequences. Through her narrative, we uncover intriguing evolutionary tales, such as the fascinating evolution of ADP-ribose transferases.

Beyond the impressive science, there's a vital underlying message: the importance of computational structural genomics in the fight against phytopathogens. With pathogens constantly evolving and posing new threats, having a deep understanding of their molecular machinery is crucial for developing effective counter-strategies.

Whether you're a seasoned researcher, an aspiring biologist, or simply someone fascinated by the complex interplay of pathogens and their hosts, this episode with Dr. Krasileva promises a captivating journey. Uncover the hidden stories within Magnaporthe oryzae and explore how cutting-edge computational techniques are changing the game in the battle against fungal foes.

https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-03-21-0071-R

Embarking on the quest to unify quantum mechanics with general relativity has opened doors to a fascinating realm of theoretical physics. Dr. Rinaldi delves deep into the intricacies of matrix quantum mechanics—a tool pivotal for our understanding of quantum black holes and holographic duality. This episode dives into how new-age computational tools, like quantum computing and deep learning, maybe the game-changers we need to truly grasp and solve matrix models, shedding light on enigmas like quantum gravity and the role of entanglement. Join us as we explore how two specific matrix models, akin to those used to study black holes, are analyzed using cutting-edge quantum algorithms and neural networks. These groundbreaking methodologies might be our ticket to studying quantum gravity, not in the vast expanse of the universe, but right here in our labs and on our computers. Dive into the future of quantum physics with us!

http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PRXQuantum.3.010324

Dr. Van Zundert invites us on an enlightening journey into the intricate world of neurodegenerative diseases, specifically amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). These disorders have puzzled researchers for years, especially given the involvement of non-cell-autonomous mechanisms where toxic factors released by astrocytes lead to motorneuron (MN) damage. The heart of this mystery? A compound known as inorganic polyphosphate (polyP).

Delving deep into his research, Dr. Van Zundert unveils a startling discovery. Astrocytes derived from mice and patient-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with mutations linked to ALS/FTD (including SOD1, TARDBP, and C9ORF72) exhibit a spike in their intracellular polyP levels. The consequence? Elevated polyP levels in astrocyte-conditioned media (ACM), which, when presented to MNs, has devastating effects.

However, hope looms on the horizon. By degrading or neutralizing polyP, Dr. Van Zundert and his team can successfully stave off ACM-induced MN death. To compound this groundbreaking discovery, postmortem analyses of ALS spinal cords revealed amplified polyP staining signals, and an uptick in polyP concentrations was noted in ALS cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

This episode unravels the profound implications of these findings. Not only does excessive astrocyte-derived polyP emerge as a critical element in MN degeneration and a potential game-changer in ALS/FTD treatment, but polyP in CSF could revolutionize early detection, positioning itself as a pioneering biomarker for ALS/FTD.

Keyword List:

Neurodegenerative diseases

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)

Non-cell-autonomous mechanisms

Astrocytes

Motorneurons (MNs)

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP)

Astrocyte-conditioned media (ACM)

iPSC-derived astrocytes

ALS/FTD-linked mutations

Biomarker

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Therapeutic target

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.02.010

In this episode, we are delighted to host the renowned scientist Dr. James Tour, whose recent research offers a groundbreaking solution to two of the most urgent environmental problems we face today – plastic waste and escalating atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.

Dr. Tour's team has demonstrated that the thermal treatment of plastic waste in the presence of potassium acetate can produce an effective carbon sorbent capable of capturing CO2. Remarkably, this process works with single or mixed streams of polyolefin plastics. The resulting material possesses pores with a width of 0.7–1.4 nm, allowing for significant CO2 capture and easy regeneration upon reaching a temperature of 75 ± 5 °C.

This potentially revolutionary method offers a dual solution – it addresses the environmental menace of plastic waste while providing a viable and cost-effective means for CO2 capture. Indeed, the estimated cost of CO2 capture from flue gas using this technology is less than $21 per ton of CO2, making it highly competitive compared to other CO2 capture technologies.

Join us as we delve into this fascinating research with Dr. Tour and explore its implications for our global fight against climate change and plastic pollution.

Keywords: Plastic waste, atmospheric carbon dioxide, CO2 capture, Dr. James Tour, environmental concerns, carbon sorbent, polyolefin plastics, climate change, plastic pollution.

doi: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00955 Here, we show that the thermal treatment of PW in the presence of potassium acetate yields an effective carbon sorbent with pores width of 0.7-1.4 nm for CO2 capture.

In a groundbreaking episode, Dr. Dumke and his colleagues challenge the boundaries separating quantum mechanics and biological systems, two realms often seen as incompatible. Taking center stage is the tardigrade—a microscopic marvel known for its resilience against harsh conditions. Dr. Dumke's team leverages the tardigrade's unique ability to enter cryptobiosis, unveiling its potential to couple with a superconducting quantum bit and even achieve a state of entanglement. As the narrative unfolds, listeners will be captivated by the tale of this tiny creature's journey through extreme temperatures and pressures, culminating in its revival after a record-breaking stint in a quantum environment. Join us for a dive into a realm where the lines between life and quantum physics blur, challenging our understanding of both domains. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2112.07978

The ability to engineer biosensors for user-specified molecules could significantly advance numerous biological applications. In this episode, we have the privilege of hosting Dr. Whitehead, who has made strides towards a method for rapidly engineering such biosensors.

The team used PYR1, a plant abscisic acid (ABA) receptor known for its adaptable ligand-binding pocket and a requirement for ligand-induced heterodimerization, which aids in constructing sense-response functions. The researchers successfully evolved 21 sensors with sensitivities ranging from nanomolar to micromolar for various small molecules, including structurally diverse natural and synthetic cannabinoids and multiple organophosphates.

Through X-ray crystallography analysis, they revealed the mechanistic basis for new ligand recognition by an evolved cannabinoid receptor. Furthermore, the team demonstrated that the PYR1-derived receptors could be effectively ported to various ligand-responsive outputs, including ELISA-like assays, luminescence by protein-fragment complementation, and transcriptional circuits, all with picomolar to nanomolar sensitivity.

Join us as we dive into Dr. Whitehead's fascinating work with the PYR1 scaffold and how it could revolutionize the creation of new biosensors for a broad spectrum of sense-response applications.

Keywords: Biosensors, Engineering, Dr. Whitehead, PYR1, Abscisic Acid, Cannabinoids, Organophosphates, Ligand-responsive Outputs, ELISA, Protein-fragment Complementation, Transcriptional Circuits.

Beltrán, J., Steiner, P.J., Bedewitz, M. et al. Rapid biosensor development using plant hormone receptors as reprogrammable scaffolds. Nat Biotechnol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01364-5

In this compelling episode, Dr. Weijian Yang introduces us to a breakthrough in computational imaging: a compact and learnable lensless 3D camera capable of real-time photorealistic imaging. This technological innovation holds great promise in revolutionizing how we capture and interpret our world.

The device, developed by Dr. Yang and his team, replaces traditional bulky optics with customized thin optical masks, making it lightweight and portable. Contrary to existing lensless imaging methods that require extensive calibration and heavy computational resources, this lensless 3D camera overcomes these challenges. Dr. Yang discusses the custom design and fabrication of the optical phase mask, optimized for spatial frequency support and axial resolving ability.

The team has developed a robust physics-aware deep learning model with an adversarial learning module that allows for real-time depth-resolved photorealistic reconstructions. The ability of this lensless imager to resolve depth and "see-through" opaque obstacles offers transformative potential across a range of computational imaging applications.

Join us as we delve into the future of imaging technology and its implications for a variety of fields, from medical imaging to remote sensing and beyond.

Key Words: Computational Imaging, Lensless 3D Camera, Real-Time Imaging, Photorealistic Reconstruction, Optical Phase Mask, Physics-Aware Deep Learning, Adversarial Learning, Depth Resolution, See-Through Imaging.

Tian F, Yang W. Learned lensless 3D camera. Opt Express. 2022 Sep 12;30(19):34479-34496. doi: 10.1364/OE.465933. PMID: 36242459; PMCID: PMC9576281.

Individuals are constantly exposed to microbial organisms that may or may not colonize their gut microbiome, and newborn individuals assemble their microbiomes through a number of these acquisition events. Since microbiome composition has been shown to influence host physiology, a mechanistic understanding of community assembly has potentially therapeutic applications. In this paper we study microbiome acquisition in a highly controlled setting using germ-free fruit flies inoculated with specific bacterial species at known abundances. Our approach revealed that acquisition events are stochastic, and the colonization odds of different species in different contexts encode ecological information about interactions. These findings have consequences for microbiome-based therapies like fecal microbiota transplantation that attempt to modify a person’s gut microbiome by deliberately introducing foreign microbes. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2115877119

Today, we venture into the intricate world of creativity with Dr. Fletcher. As an essential source of innovation and adaptability, understanding creativity has become vital for numerous sectors. Join us as Dr. Fletcher introduces an alternative approach to understanding and training creativity through narrative theory.

Reevaluating Creativity Training:

Creativity's value is undisputed; yet, the foundational training technique, divergent thinking, has its limitations. Concerns include its incongruence with the creative processes observed in children and many adults, and its underwhelming results.

Introducing Narrative Theory to Creativity:

Dr. Fletcher proposes narrative theory as a fresh perspective to advance our understanding of creativity. It offers a comprehensive mechanism that aligns with J.P. Guilford's demystification of creativity but expands upon it.

Addressing Gaps in Current Creativity Theory:

Divergent thinking doesn't explain children's creative processes, leading to a schism between child and adult creativity research.

Narrative theory can bridge this gap and unify the field by translating insights from child creativity studies to adult contexts.

Practical Implications of Narrative Theory:

Narrative theory pinpoints divergent thinking's limitations while promoting existing methods that nurture children's creativity.

The approach suggests new, assessable training techniques. Early adoption by the U.S. military and other major institutions indicates its practical relevance.

Expanding the Horizons of Creativity Training:

Guilford's traditional divergent thinking approach remains valid; narrative theory simply offers an expansion, recognizing creativity's reach beyond computation.

Emphasizes the role of action-based neural processes in creativity, evident in children's "possibility thinking" and prevalent in adult innovations.

Conclusion:

Dr. Fletcher makes a compelling case for the integration of narrative theory into our understanding and training of creativity. By acknowledging the limitations of divergent thinking and the potential of narrative theory, we can reshape how we nurture creativity across all age groups, leading to transformative impacts in various domains, from national security to personal growth.

As we continue our exploration into the depths of human creativity, Dr. Fletcher's insights offer a beacon for future research and training methods. Stay tuned for our next episode where we unravel another exciting facet of human cognition.

https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14763

Dr. Garin joins us in this episode to explore the intriguing world of the default mode network (DMN) and its relation to cognitive functions in primates. Resting-state fMRI studies reveal distinct differences in the DMN structure across humans and non-hominoid primates like macaques, marmosets, and mouse lemurs.

Dr. Garin's research presents compelling evidence that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in non-hominoid primates does not engage with the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) as robustly as it does in humans. This finding is particularly significant as the strong correlated activity between the PCC and mPFC in humans is a key feature of the human DMN.

However, non-hominoid primates do consistently exhibit a fronto-temporal resting-state network involving the mPFC. Dr. Garin discusses these common functional features shared across non-hominoid primates and their implications for our understanding of cognitive functions in primates.

This episode promises to provide fascinating insights into the workings of the primate brain and the evolutionary gap in the organization of the DMN. Tune in for an engaging conversation on neuroscience, primate cognition, and the mysteries of the brain's resting state.

Keywords: Dr. Garin, Default Mode Network, fMRI, Non-hominoid Primates, Human Brain, Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Posterior Cingulate Cortex, Neuroscience, Cognitive Functions.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110669 Resting-state fMRI reveals DMN structure across four primate species

In this episode, we welcome marine biologist Dr. Heneghan for a deep-dive conversation on his recent study predicting the future dynamics of oceanic life, with a specific focus on zooplankton. This research sheds light on how shifting oceanic environments, particularly in tropical regions, could result in dominance by carnivorous and gelatinous filter-feeding zooplankton, pushing out omnivorous copepods and euphausiids.

Dr. Heneghan expertly outlines how these changes could create a more direct energy pathway from phytoplankton to fish, reshaping the energy flows within marine ecosystems. However, this shift also comes with drawbacks. With declining phytoplankton biomass and the rise of less nutritious food sources, the carrying capacity for future fish communities could decrease.

The conversation takes a worrying turn as Dr. Heneghan suggests these changes could slightly exacerbate the projected decline in small pelagic fish biomass in tropical regions by 2100. The model's implications extend beyond marine biology, touching on global fisheries, food security, and biodiversity issues.

In this episode, we invite you to explore the shifting tides of marine life under the influence of climate change. Be part of this captivating journey with Dr. Heneghan and gain a deeper understanding of our oceans' future. This is a crucial conversation for anyone passionate about the ocean, its life, and its future.

Heneghan, R.F., Everett, J.D., Blanchard, J.L. et al. Climate-driven zooplankton shifts cause large-scale declines in food quality for fish. Nat. Clim. Chang. 13, 470–477 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01630-7

The intricate connection between peripheral metabolism and central nervous system functioning is a topic of growing interest in neuroscience. Phospholipids, a type of lipid crucial for cell membrane structure, play a significant role in synaptic regulation, glutamatergic transmission, and overall cortical excitability within the brain. However, how changes in peripheral metabolism might affect these brain lipid levels and, subsequently, cortical excitability is an area still in need of exploration.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Vogt, whose groundbreaking research is shedding light on this compelling question. His study discovered that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) type levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid are elevated after overnight fasting, leading to increased cortical excitability. This spike in LPA-related cortical excitability also enhances fasting-induced hyperphagia, a phenomenon that is reduced following the inhibition of LPA synthesis.

We delve into intriguing findings, like how mice with a human mutation (Prg-1R346T) leading to higher synaptic lipid-mediated cortical excitability displayed increased fasting-induced hyperphagia. This mutation in humans was linked to a higher body mass index and a greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Vogt further explores the critical role of hypothalamic agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons in regulating the effects of LPA after fasting. When AgRP-expressing cells were depleted in adult mice, the fasting-induced elevation of circulating LPAs and cortical excitability was decreased, effectively blunting hyperphagia.

Join us as we navigate these fascinating insights with Dr. Vogt, shedding light on a potentially transformative understanding of how the hypothalamus can impact the cortex and affect food intake through non-neuronal routes.

Keywords: Dr. Vogt, phospholipids, lysophosphatidic acid, cortical excitability, hyperphagia, peripheral metabolism, central nervous system, hypothalamic agouti-related peptide neurons, glutamatergic transmission, food intake, body mass index, type 2 diabetes.

Endle, H., Horta, G., Stutz, B. et al. AgRP neurons control feeding behavior at cortical synapses via peripherally derived lysophospholipids. Na (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00589-7

In this riveting episode, Dr. Schwartz takes us on a journey into the intricate world of chemical element mapping—a tool vital for understanding complex materials. Traditional X-ray fluorescence methods, while powerful, are hampered by slow speeds and resolution constraints. Dr. Schwartz introduces a game-changing approach, leveraging computational ghost imaging and compressed sensing to sidestep these challenges. By eliminating the need for focusing and sample movement, his method boosts resolution and slashes measurement time. But that's just the tip of the iceberg! Listen as we explore how this technique can potentially revolutionize medical imaging by enhancing the visibility of soft tissues without upping radiation doses. Moreover, we delve into its potential applications in safeguarding passenger privacy in full-body scanners and pushing the boundaries of imaging resolution down to the nanoscale. Join us for a deep dive into the future of imaging, where speed, precision, and versatility take center stage. https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.441682

In this episode, Dr. Luque delves into the fascinating realm of exoplanets and their composition. With the majority of known temperate exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars, these celestial bodies present an intriguing field for exploration and research.

Dr. Luque and his colleague Pallé have been analyzing the masses and radii of these small transiting planets. Their research reveals three distinct populations - rocky, water-rich, and gas-rich. Contrary to the previously accepted bimodal radius distribution theory, which suggested atmospheric loss of a hydrogen/helium envelope, Dr. Luque proposes a new interpretation.

Their findings suggest a density gap that separates rocky exoplanets from water-rich ones. This division could shed light on the planets' formation, possibly linked to their location within their planetary systems before orbital migration. According to their model, rocky planets form within the snow line, while water-rich planets form outside it and later migrate inward.

Join us for an in-depth discussion with Dr. Luque as we delve into the intricacies of exoplanets, their formation, and the implications for our understanding of the universe.

Key Words: Exoplanets, Red Dwarf Stars, Planet Composition, Planet Formation, Orbital Migration, Density Gap.

Density, not radius, separates rocky and water-rich small planets orbiting M dwarf stars https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abl7164

In this episode, Dr. Lizebona discusses a fascinating development in the field of stem cell research: the targeted differentiation of stem cells through high-frequency mechanostimulation. Contrary to past research that saw little benefit in applying frequencies beyond 1 kHz, Dr. Lizebona's team shows that MHz-order mechanostimulation can successfully trigger the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells from various donor sources toward an osteoblast lineage.

By using nanoscale amplitude surface reflected bulk waves, they show that even short, early stimuli can induce long-term osteogenic commitment. Remarkably, rapid treatments of high-frequency (10 MHz) mechanostimulation have led to significant upregulation in early osteogenic markers and a sustained increase in late markers.

The team proposes this as a potential efficient technology for stem cell differentiation for regenerative medicine strategies due to the miniaturizability, low cost of the devices, and the potential for scaling the platform toward practical bioreactors. Tune in to explore how these new insights might revolutionize stem cell differentiation methods and their practical applications in the field of regenerative medicine.

https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202106823

In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Dr. Enright to explore the effects of mega-fires on soil microbiomes. Mega-fires, fires of tremendous size and intensity, have been increasing globally due to climate change, fire suppression practices, and developmental activities. These fires have significant implications for soil microbiomes, which play a critical role in plant regeneration and nutrient cycling post-fire.

Dr. Enright shares her team's unique research opportunities in the aftermath of the 2016 Soberanes mega-fire that severely affected established redwood–tanoak plots. Her study stands out as the first to scrutinize microbial fire response in redwood–tanoak forests, offering a wealth of insights into the transformation of the soil microbiome.

Join us as we discuss the compelling findings of their research, where they observed a substantial reduction in bacterial and fungal richness in burned plots while unburned plots remained unchanged. They found the fire selected for certain bacterial and fungal taxa that were phylogenetically conserved, indicating shared evolutionary traits that respond positively to fire.

We further delve into how their findings fit into a trait-based conceptual model that could help predict general microbial responses to fire. This is an intriguing discussion for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay between mega-fires, climate change, and soil microbiomes.

Keywords: Dr. Enright, Mega-Fires, Soil Microbiome, Climate Change, Redwood-Tanoak Forests, Bacterial and Fungal Richness, Phylogenetically Conserved Taxa, Trait-Based Conceptual Model, Fire Ecology.

https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16399 Soil microbiomes are critical for post-fire plant regeneration. We build a framework to predict generalizable microbial responses to fire.

Endocytic Clathrin Coats and Curvature: The episode kicks off with an introduction to endocytic clathrin coats. These are structures that form on a cell's surface to help internalize extracellular molecules. An essential step in this process involves curving a flat piece of the cell membrane into a vesicle, which the endocytosis machinery facilitates.

Initial Findings: Contrary to previous beliefs, the formation of clathrin pits doesn't depend on a late-stage flat-to-curved transition. The curvature actually starts developing from the early stages of their formation. This revelation challenges existing models of clathrin coat formation. Additionally, membrane tension, or the tautness of the cell surface, doesn't seem to affect how these clathrin pits generate curvature.

Use of Super-Resolved Imaging: Dr. Cocucci’s team employed advanced, super-resolved live cell fluorescence imaging to monitor clathrin-coated pit formation in real-time. This technique allowed them to observe these processes in both cultured cells and tissues of developing organisms with unparalleled clarity.

Flat-to-Curved Transition Models: Such models hypothesized that significant changes in clathrin coat structure were needed for vesicle formation. These changes would involve substantial alterations in the size (or "footprint") and brightness of the clathrin structures before domes and pits could form. However, Dr. Cocucci's observations challenge this idea. While they don't deny the possibility of such transitions, their data suggest a continuous curvature generation process from the outset of clathrin pit formation without any late-stage drastic transitions.

Role of CALM Adaptors: An intriguing observation was the distinct clustering of CALM adaptors beneath clathrin structures, while another protein, AP2, distributed more evenly. CALM is known to play a role in both detecting and driving curvature. The team proposes that these CALM clusters could increase local strain on the clathrin structures, potentially causing them to break and complete pit formation, especially at the edges.

Dr. Cocucci's groundbreaking work, backed by high-resolution imaging, offers a revised understanding of how clathrin-coated pits form and generate curvature on the cell membrane. By highlighting the early onset of curvature and the unique roles of CALM adaptors, this study has significant implications for our grasp of endocytosis and cell biology as a whole.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2021.10.019

Join us in this fascinating episode with Dr. Hawn as we delve into the realm of psychopathology, biological aging, and mortality. Psychopathology is often linked to faster biological aging and premature death. Dr. Hawn and her team's pioneering research have sought to better understand these relationships. They have examined associations between broad dimensions of psychopathology, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and GrimAge, a DNA methylation biomarker indicative of mortality risk relative to age. The research has also focused on understanding the neurobiological correlates of GrimAge, including neurocognitive functioning, inflammation, neuropathology, metabolic disease, and cortical thickness. Their findings show that externalizing psychopathology significantly predicts GrimAge, while PTSD appears to be linked to GrimAge in younger but not older cohorts. Also, GrimAge is associated with a variety of neurobiological variables, including cognitive disinhibition, memory recall, cardiometabolic pathology, oxidative stress, astrocyte damage, inflammation, and immune function. Tune in as we unpack these intriguing findings, and how they might aid in early disease identification and treatment.

Key Words: Psychopathology, biological aging, mortality risk, GrimAge, PTSD, neurobiological correlates, neurocognitive functioning, inflammation, neuropathology, metabolic disease, cortical thickness, cardiometabolic pathology, oxidative stress, astrocyte damage, immune functioning, emotion regulation, facial recognition, disease identification, disease treatment.

Hawn, et al. For whom the bell tolls: psychopathological and neurobiological correlates of a DNA methylation index of time-to-death. Transl Psychiatry(2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02164-w

In a fascinating conversation with Dr. Guo, we delve into the world of canine emotion perception and their ability to understand both human and dog emotions. Domestic dogs, unlike many other species, have uniquely evolved to recognize and interpret the emotions of not only their own species but also those of humans, their closest companions.

In this episode, Dr. Guo illuminates his research by employing a cross-modal preferential-looking paradigm to study dogs' reactions to different emotional expressions. Dogs were presented with either human or dog faces displaying varying emotional states—ranging from happiness and playfulness to anger and aggression. These visual cues were paired with vocalizations that either matched the emotion displayed or contradicted it, or with neutral Brownian noise.

Dr. Guo shares the intriguing finding that dogs spent significantly longer periods looking at the face that matched the emotional tone of the vocalization. This behavior was observed not only with other dogs but also with human emotions, indicating a level of emotional comprehension previously believed to be exclusive to humans.

This conversation provides insights into the incredible cognitive abilities of dogs, and how they can extract, integrate, and differentiate between positive and negative emotions from both humans and dogs. Tune in for an eye-opening discussion about the emotional intelligence of our canine companions.

Keywords: Canine emotion perception, cross-modal preferential looking paradigm, emotional valence, cognitive representation, bimodal sensory, emotional information, human emotions, dog emotions, animal behavior, animal cognition.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0883 Dogs can extract and integrate bimodal sensory emotional information and discriminate between positive and negative emotions from both humans and dogs.

Robotics has made significant strides in recent years, yet the ability for robots to touch and sense with the precision and sensitivity of human touch remains a complex challenge. In this episode, we delve into this challenge with Dr. Lepora, who is working at the forefront of developing biomimetic tactile sensors.

Dr. Lepora introduces us to the TacTip, a sensor that holds the potential to provide artificial analogs of tactile skin dynamics, afferent responses, and population encoding. This sensor, which is 3D-printed, is based on the physiology of the dermal-epidermal interface, complete with a mesh of biomimetic intermediate ridges and dermal papillae.

Dr. Lepora explains how they model slowly adapting SA-I activity and rapidly adapting RA-I activity using these sensors. We discuss how the biological plausibility of these artificial population codes was tested using three classic experiments for a natural touch, including response to normal pressure, response to bars, edges, and gratings, and discrimination of grating orientation.

Our conversation reveals how the TacTip shows a match between artificial and natural touch at single afferent, population, and perceptual levels, bringing the development of a biomimetic fingertip that demonstrates human sensitivity using the transduction principles of human touch closer to reality.

Join us in this fascinating discussion on the future of artificial tactile sensing with Dr. Lepora.

Keywords: Dr. Lepora, Tactile Sensor, Robotics, Artificial Touch, Biomimetic Sensor, TacTip, Tactile Skin Dynamics, Afferent Responses, Artificial Population Codes, 3D Printing, SA-I Activity, RA-I Activity, Grating Orientation.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif. A biomimetic fingertip that demonstrates human sensitivity using the transduction principles of human touch.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Sandra Stojić, Dr. Vanja Topić, and Prof. Zoltan Nadasdy as they delve into the fascinating world of time perception and its evolution from early childhood to adulthood. In this episode, they discuss their research on how individuals across different age groups attribute varying meanings to time when comparing durations. They explain their experiment, which involved comparing the durations of "eventful" and "uneventful" videos using hand gestures and observing the divergence in perception across pre-kindergarteners, school-age children, and adults. As the findings reveal, our understanding and interpretation of time evolve significantly as we grow, shedding light on the complex interplay of cognitive development and temporal perception. Whether you are a student of psychology, a cognitive science enthusiast, or just curious about the intricacies of the human mind, this episode promises to offer you valuable insights.

Key Words: Time Perception, Cognitive Development, Temporal Bias, Event Density, Observer-Independent Time, Heuristics, Temporal Duration, Pre-Kindergarteners, School-Age Children, Adults, Experimental Psychology.

Stojić, S., Topić, V. & Nadasdy, Z. Children and adults rely on different heuristics for estimation of durations. Sci Rep 13, 1077 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-27419-4

In this episode, we are joined by MD/Ph.D. Zuniga is at the forefront of research into the intricate mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. Alzheimer's patients often exhibit evidence of altered RNA processing. However, the causal link between these changes and neurodegeneration and the mechanics of how such alterations occur remain somewhat elusive.

Dr. Zuniga provides insight into these issues through her ground-breaking work using Drosophila melanogaster models of tauopathy. Her team discovered that the activity of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a key RNA quality control mechanism, is reduced in these models. Importantly, the manipulation of the NMD machinery could significantly alter tau-induced neurotoxicity, establishing a causal link between deficits in NMD and neurodegeneration.

The team identified the cause of NMD deficits to be aberrant RNA export and RNA accumulation within nuclear envelope invaginations in tauopathy. Significantly, they also identified a pharmacological activator of NMD that suppressed neurodegeneration in tau transgenic Drosophila, suggesting that these RNA quality control deficits can be targeted therapeutically.

Join us as Dr. Zuniga guides us through the complexities of her research and its implications for the potential treatment of tauopathies, providing a new perspective on these challenging neurodegenerative disorders.

Keywords: Dr. Zuniga, Alzheimer's Disease, Tauopathies, RNA Quality Control, Neurodegeneration, Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay, Drosophila Melanogaster, Tauopathy, Therapeutics.

doi: 10.1002/alz.12653. Our studies suggest that NMD activators should be explored for their potential therapeutic value to patients with tauopathies.

Dr. Leang and team have developed a pioneering carbon-negative fermentation technique to produce industrial chemicals, specifically acetone and isopropanol, using waste gases like industrial emissions and syngas. Through extensive metabolic engineering and optimization strategies, the team was able to achieve production rates of up to 3 g/L/h and selectivity of ~90%. The approach not only sidesteps the use of sugars (a common but economically challenging feedstock) but also has the added benefit of utilizing greenhouse gases, thus mitigating their environmental impact.

Key Points:

Waste Gases as Feedstock: While sugar fermentation has its limitations due to scale and economic challenges, utilizing waste gases allows decoupling from commodity prices. This innovative process converts waste into ethanol using the acetogen C. autoethanogenum, setting the stage for production of other chemicals.

Enhanced Productivity: The team achieved impressive production rates and selectivity for acetone and IPA using engineered strains of the acetogen. This proves that acetogens can be optimized for high-efficiency chemical production.

Optimization Strategy:

Pathway Design: The team delved into a vast genomic library to find the best biosynthetic genes, resulting in significantly enhanced production.

Strain Engineering: Advanced engineering techniques, including multiple genome modifications, enabled the creation of a highly productive strain.

Pathway Bottleneck Analysis: A blend of omics measurements, kinetic modeling, and systems biology led to insights into pathway bottlenecks and their subsequent mitigation.

Scale-Up Success: Successful scale-up was achieved using a 120-L field pilot, underlining the commercial viability of the approach. Despite the challenges inherent to gas fermentation scale-up, the process showed robustness and adaptability.

Environmental Benefits: This fermentation technique has a twofold environmental benefit. Not only does it produce chemicals without relying on fossil fuels, but it also captures and uses greenhouse gases, thus reducing their atmospheric release. Life Cycle Analysis confirmed that this process results in a negative carbon footprint for the produced chemicals.

Towards a Circular Economy: By transforming waste gases into valuable industrial chemicals, this process exemplifies the principles of a circular economy. Rather than extracting fresh fossil resources, it promotes the recycling of carbon from various waste streams, paving the way for a sustainable and environmentally friendly chemical industry.

Implications:

The success of this research signifies a significant stride towards sustainable chemical production. The ability to transform greenhouse gases into valuable commodities not only addresses environmental concerns but also offers promising economic prospects. By bridging innovation in biotechnology with environmental responsibility, such processes can revolutionize the future of the chemical industry.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-021-01195-w

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Dr. Singh to discuss the future of sustainable energy via an artificial photosynthetic (AP) system. Dr. Singh guides us through the fascinating concept of artificial photosynthesis, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of capturing CO2 directly from dilute sources such as flue gas and air to produce fuels and chemicals.

Delving into the core of his research, Dr. Singh introduces us to the design and evaluation of an integrated AP system that harnesses sunlight to convert captured CO2 into fuels. His work explores the solar-to-fuel (STF) efficiency of such a system, revealing promising thermodynamic limits ranging from 34% to 40% for a variety of products.

The conversation deepens as Dr. Singh describes two different integration schemes—integrated cascade systems and fully integrated systems. We learn how fully integrated systems can be significantly more efficient, as they bypass the need for additional energy for compression, separation, and recycling of CO2. These insights shed light on the synthesis of higher-electron products, their role in maintaining the robust operation of an integrated AP system, and their compatibility with different carbon capture processes.

Lastly, Dr. Singh proposes a design for a fully integrated AP system that uses a moisture gradient across an anion-exchange membrane to capture CO2 from the air, convert it directly to fuels using water and sunlight, and simultaneously reduce the CO2 level of the surrounding air.

This episode with Dr. Singh is a must-listen for anyone interested in sustainable energy solutions. His research offers an intriguing glimpse into the future where artificial photosynthesis systems could potentially outperform natural leaves by 14 times in efficiency, representing a quantum leap forward in our quest for sustainability.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b04969 Assessment of Artificial Photosynthetic Systems for Integrated Carbon Capture and Conversion

In this fascinating episode, we're joined by Dr. Mizuno, an expert in microbiology and biodiversity, who shares his recent discovery of a unique multicellular bacterium.

Dr. Mizuno and his team identified a bacterium, HS-3, from an underground stream, demonstrating an entirely new type of prokaryotic multicellularity. The bacterium self-organizes its filamentous cells into layer-structured colonies, exhibiting properties similar to a nematic liquid crystal.

The research team observed that these colonies mature into a semi-closed sphere containing clusters of coccobacillus daughter cells. Interestingly, the release of these cells is selective and happens upon contact with water.

This groundbreaking discovery challenges our understanding of bacterial multicellularity and indicates that a liquid-crystal status can support prokaryotic multicellular behavior.

Dr. Mizuno further delves into the ecological context of this phenomenon. He hypothesizes that the cyclic exposure of these colonies to the cave's water flow might have driven the evolutionary transition from unicellular to multicellular life forms.

The findings, while preliminary, have exciting implications for a wide range of scientific disciplines, including microbiology, evolutionary biology, geobiology, and biophysics.

Join us for this fascinating conversation as we explore the ecological contexts that foster multicellularity and the intriguing world of bacterial life with Dr. Mizuno.

Key Words: Multicellularity, Bacterial Life, Prokaryotes, Microbiology, Ecology, Evolution, Biophysics, Geobiology, HS-3 Bacterium, Liquid Crystal, Coccobacillus Daughter Cells.

Kouhei Mizuno et al. (2022) Novel multicellular prokaryote discovered next to an underground stream eLife 11:e71920 https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.71920

In this riveting episode, Dr. Brujic delves into the fascinating world of particle self-assembly. We discuss a groundbreaking model system of colloidal droplet chains that leverage programmable DNA interactions to direct their folding into distinct geometries. As Dr. Brujic explains, it is possible to watch these droplets in real time and space, enabling researchers to unravel the rules of folding.

Dr. Brujic describes the power of controlling the order in which interactions occur to guide folding into unique structures, termed "colloidal foldamers." We examine the capabilities of simple alternating sequences and explore how these sequences create a variety of foldamers in both two and three dimensions.

By optimizing droplet sequence and adding an extra 'flavor', researchers are able to encode a significant portion of the 619 possible two-dimensional geometries. The conversation delves into how foldamers can exhibit open structures with holes, a promising aspect for porous design.

The discussion also touches upon numerical simulations, which show that foldamers can interact to create complex supra colloidal architectures, including dimers, ribbons, and mosaics. Dr. Brujic emphasizes that their results have wide-ranging applications, from organic molecules to Rubik’s Snakes.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the implications of this work in materials science, particularly how it places folding at the forefront of materials self-assembly.

Keywords: Colloidal Self-Assembly, Foldamers, Programmable DNA Interactions, Material Science, Supracolloidal Architectures, Particle Self-Assembly, Porous Design.

McMullen, A., Muñoz Basagoiti, M., Zeravcic, Z. et al. Self-assembly of emulsion droplets through programmable folding. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05198-8

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Howard Salis, who has been pioneering research on the complex mechanisms governing transcription rates in bacteria. The focus of our discussion is his team's recent breakthrough in predicting site-specific transcription initiation rates for any σ70 promoter sequence in bacteria.

A critical challenge in the field has been understanding how non-canonical sequence motifs collectively control transcription rates. Dr. Salis' team ingeniously used a combination of massively parallel assays, biophysics, and machine learning to develop a 346-parameter model. This model, validated across 22,132 bacterial promoters with diverse sequences, holds the potential to unravel the intricate processes of gene regulation in natural genetic systems.

The model's application extends to predicting genetic context effects, designing σ70 promoters with specific transcription rates, and identifying undesired promoters within engineered genetic systems. This breakthrough provides a new level of precision in transcriptional control, which is crucial for the engineering of synthetic genetic systems.

Join us as Dr. Salis illuminates the world of bacterial transcription and the role it plays in both nature and the realm of synthetic biology.

Keywords: Bacterial Transcription, Gene Regulation, Synthetic Biology, Machine Learning, Biophysics, σ70 Promoter, Genetic Systems, Dr. Howard Salis.

Automated model-predictive design of synthetic promoters to control transcriptional profiles in bacteria. Nat Commun 13, 5159 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32829-5

The future of the quantum internet holds the promise of unprecedented power through the sharing of quantum information across networks. Quantum teleportation, a process that enables the reliable transfer of quantum information between distant nodes, even amid highly lossy network connections, is a key component of this innovative technological frontier.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Beukers and his team, who are leading the exploration of quantum teleportation. They discuss their groundbreaking work on quantum teleportation between remote, non-neighboring nodes in a quantum network. The network uses three optically connected nodes based on solid-state spin qubits.

Dr. Beukers et al. walk us through the preparation of the teleporter, the establishment of remote entanglement on the two links, the entanglement swapping on the middle node, and storage in a memory qubit. We delve into their findings that demonstrate that once successful preparation of the teleporter is heralded, arbitrary qubit states can be teleported with fidelity above the classical bound, even with unit efficiency.

Our conversation explores key innovations that made their work possible, including enhancements in the qubit readout procedure, active memory qubit protection during entanglement generation, and tailored heralding that reduces remote entanglement infidelities.

Join us as we delve into these cutting-edge developments with Dr. Beukers and his team. Their work not only provides a crucial building block for future quantum networks but also opens the door to exploring teleportation-based multi-node protocols and applications.

Keywords: Dr. Beukers, Quantum Teleportation, Quantum Internet, Quantum Networks, Solid-State Spin Qubits, Quantum Information, Remote Entanglement, Entanglement Swapping, Memory Qubit, Quantum Protocols.

Hermans, S.L.N., Pompili, M., Beukers, H.K.C. et al. Qubit teleportation between non-neighboring nodes in a quantum network. Nature 605, 663–668 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04697-y

Join us for the weekly recap! Did you miss our guest speaker talks? Do you still have unanswered questions? During the weekly recap we will summarize the guest speaker rooms we had the previous week.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a diverse neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons and voluntary muscle control. Despite the identified mutations in specific genes defining different ALS subtypes, the potential impact of specific immune features on ALS heterogeneity remains poorly understood.

In this episode, we delve into the compelling work of Dr. Campisi, who explores ALS-4, an ALS subtype characterized by juvenile onset and slow progression. ALS4 is caused by mutations in the senataxin gene (SETX), and Dr. Campisi's study utilizing Setx knock-in mice reveals intriguing links between this ALS subtype and the immune system.

Dr. Campisi has identified an immunological signature in ALS4, consisting of clonally expanded, terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) CD8 T cells in the central nervous system and the blood of these mice. Intriguingly, these increased frequencies of antigen-specific CD8 T cells parallel the progression of motor neuron disease and correlate with anti-glioma immunity. Moreover, bone marrow transplantation experiments underscore the key role of the immune system in ALS4 neurodegeneration.

Join us as we discuss these breakthrough findings with Dr. Campisi and explore their potential implications for understanding ALS pathogenesis and identifying possible biomarkers for the disease state.

Keywords: ALS, ALS4, Senataxin gene, SETX, Immune system, CD8 T cells, Neurodegeneration, Dr. Campisi.

Campisi, L., Chizari, S., Ho, J.S.Y. et al. Clonally expanded CD8 T cells characterize amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-4. Nature (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04844-5

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Taverna to delve into the mysterious world of magnetars—neutron stars with ultra-strong magnetic fields. While magnetars are primarily observed at x-ray wavelengths, the precise mechanisms and geometry of the emitting regions have remained a puzzle.

Dr. Taverna discusses their ground-breaking research that has taken a novel approach to studying these celestial bodies: measuring the x-ray polarization of the magnetar 4U 0142+61. These measurements revealed a fascinating and complex picture. The polarization degree and angle both change as a function of x-ray energy, pointing towards two distinct emission regions.

The conversation dives into the preferred model where most of the x-rays are emitted by an equatorial band on the neutron star's surface. Some photons then undergo scattering to higher energies due to collisions with electrons in the surrounding magnetic field. This reprocessing of thermal radiation provides new insights into the properties of the magnetar's magnetic fields and surface.

Join us as we uncover the secrets of magnetar emissions, guided by the intriguing insights drawn from x-ray polarization. It's an astronomical journey you don't want to miss!

Key Words: Magnetars, Neutron Stars, X-ray Polarization, Emission Regions, Magnetic Fields, Scattering, 4U 0142+61, Equatorial Band, Charged Particles, Magnetosphere.

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add0080

In this intriguing episode, we welcome Dr. Gäbelein, a scientist at the forefront of cell biology, as he introduces us to a revolutionary approach for manipulating organelle structures within single live cells. This technique, based on FluidFM, involves atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy, and nanofluidics to achieve precision in force and volume control and provides real-time examination capabilities.

Dr. Gäbelein walks us through the process of developing this innovative technology, highlighting the role of specially designed probes that facilitate minimal invasive entry into cells. He further elaborates on how optimizing fluid flow allows for the extraction of specific organelles.

Dr. Gäbelein shares fascinating findings from his study, particularly the transformation of mitochondria into a pearls-on-a-string phenotype when single or a specific number of mitochondria are extracted. He also explains how this process is calcium independent, leading to isolated, intact mitochondria.

Dr. Gäbelein sheds light on the successful transplantation of mitochondria into host cells, and how these fuse into the host cells' mitochondrial network. He shares intriguing results from a study involving the transplantation of healthy and drug-impaired mitochondria into primary keratinocytes and the monitoring of mitochondrial subpopulation rescue.

In conclusion, Dr. Gäbelein underscores the immense potential this approach holds for the study of organelle physiology and homeostasis, mechanobiology, synthetic biology, and therapeutic applications. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in cell biology and the future of biomedical research.

Keywords: Organelle Transplantation, Mitochondria, FluidFM, Atomic Force Microscopy, Nanofluidics, Cell Biology, Mechanobiology, Synthetic Biology.

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3001576

In this engaging episode, Dr. Olguín delves deep into the intricate connection between cardiac metabolism and heart failure, focusing on the crucial role of the enzyme lysine demethylase 8 (Kdm8). Dr. Olguín's groundbreaking research suggests that Kdm8 ensures the smooth functioning of the mitochondrial gene network by suppressing the gene Tbx15, thereby preventing dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that can lead to lethal heart failure. Through their work on mice, the research team found that a lack of Kdm8 increases a certain type of protein modification which activates Tbx15, subsequently leading to a drop in target genes within the NAD+ pathway before the onset of dilated cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, the team discovered that NAD+ supplementation could prevent dilated cardiomyopathy in Kdm8-deficient mice. Remarkably, KDM8 was found to be downregulated in human hearts afflicted by dilated cardiomyopathy. Higher TBX15 expression was found in a subgroup of these hearts, which were also strongly marked by the downregulation of genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. This in-depth discussion with Dr. Olguín not only reveals how KDM8 regulates TBX15 to maintain cardiac metabolism but also opens up a wider conversation on how the epigenetic dysregulation of metabolic gene networks might initiate deterioration of the myocardium, potentially underlying the heterogeneity of dilated cardiomyopathy. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in cutting-edge research on heart disease and the complex interplay between genetics, epigenetics, and metabolism.

Ahmed, A., et al. KDM8 epigenetically controls cardiac metabolism to prevent initiation of dilated cardiomyopathy. Nat Cardiovasc Res 2, 174–191 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44161-023-00214-0

Join us in this thought-provoking episode with Dr. Dumas, where we explore the fascinating world of the developing brain and its cognitive abilities. Dr. Dumas presents a neurocomputational model of the developing brain, outlining three tasks of increasing complexity, from visual recognition to cognitive manipulation and conscious percept management. She emphasizes two crucial mechanisms in the development of cognitive abilities in biological neural networks: synaptic epigenesis and self-organized dynamics. Dr. Dumas explains the concept of synaptic epigenesis, which involves Hebbian learning at the local scale and reinforcement learning at the global scale. She also elaborates on self-organized dynamics, emphasizing the role of spontaneous activity and a balanced excitatory/inhibitory ratio in neurons. The conversation further explores the implications of these findings on future developments in artificial intelligence, underlining the core features of human intelligence that could be used as guiding principles.

Keywords: Cognitive Abilities, Neurocomputational Model, Synaptic Epigenesis, Self-Organized Dynamics, Hebbian Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Human Intelligence, Neurodevelopmental.

Multilevel development of cognitive abilities in an artificial neural network https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2201304119 This could guide future development in artificial intelligence.

This episode delves into the fascinating world of host-associated microbiotas with renowned scientist Dr. Eisen. His groundbreaking research uncovers how microbiotas guide the trajectory of developmental programs and influence social behavior.

Dr. Eisen's team discovered that the zebrafish microbiota is required for normal social behavior, revealing a molecular pathway that connects the microbiota, microglial remodeling of neural circuits, and social behavior. This exploration was conducted using the experimentally tractable model vertebrate, the zebrafish.

We discuss in depth how the microbiota restrains neurite complexity and targets forebrain neurons necessary for normal social behavior. We also delve into how the microbiota is crucial for localizing forebrain microglia, brain-resident phagocytes that remodel neuronal arbors.

Dr. Eisen's research indicates that the microbiota influences microglial molecular functions, promoting the expression of the complement signaling pathway and the synaptic remodeling factor c1q. He shares with us his intriguing finding that several distinct bacterial taxa are individually sufficient for normal microglial and neuronal phenotypes, suggesting that host neuroimmune development is sensitive to a feature common among many bacteria.

In this illuminating conversation, we explore how understanding the connection between microbiota and social behavior can open up pathways for new interventions in multiple neurodevelopmental disorders. Join us as we navigate this complex and intriguing interplay between our microbiota and our brains.

Key Words: Microbiota, Neurodevelopment, Social Behavior, Microglial Remodeling, Neural Circuits, Zebrafish, Neurite Complexity, Forebrain Neurons, Neuroimmune Development, Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Eisen et al. (2022) The microbiota promotes social behavior by modulating microglial remodeling of forebrain neurons. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3001838

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Nik Kornder, MSc, as he enlightens us on the rather surprising self-cleaning mechanisms of the Caribbean tube sponge, Aplysina archeri. Contrary to common assumptions, these sponges actively move particle-trapping mucus against the direction of their internal water flow. This mucus-embedded waste is then expelled into the surrounding water through periodic surface contractions, colloquially known as "sneezing."

Kornder and his team used time-lapse video footage and meticulous analyses to uncover this intriguing phenomenon. Interestingly, this expulsion of waste results in a significant flux of detritus, which is actively consumed by sponge-associated fauna. Not only does this provide a fresh perspective on how these sponges prevent their filter system from clogging, but it also hints at the ecological significance of these "sneezes" on the nutrient cycling of Caribbean coral reefs.

Join us as we delve into this intriguing marine mystery and discuss the potential parallels of these sneezing mechanisms with other animals, including humans.

Keywords: Nik Kornder, Sponge Sneezing, Aplysina archeri, Self-cleaning mechanism, Mucus transport, Marine ecology, Caribbean coral reefs.

Sponges sneeze mucus to shed particulate waste from their seawater inlet pores https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.017 Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam

In this enlightening episode, we are joined by Dr. Felsche who explores the pressing issue of prolonged heat periods that have become a prominent feature of European climate. Despite their recurrence, knowledge about the dominant spatial patterns of heatwaves and their impact on moisture-related processes remains sparse. Dr. Felsche discusses how gaining insights into these patterns could significantly improve heatwave and drought prediction, and thus lead to effective mitigation strategies.

He describes how they used hierarchical agglomerative clustering to determine nine dominant spatial heatwave patterns based on a 50-member regional climate model (Canadian Regional Climate Model version 5, CRCM5-LE). Interestingly, these patterns align well with clusters derived from an observational dataset (E-OBS) and with records of extreme historical heatwave events.

Dr. Felsche then delves into the intricate relationship between the occurrence of heatwaves and the soil moisture deficit present both before and after these events. Discover how negative soil moisture anomalies in the preceding winter/spring can act as a predictor for heatwaves in Southern Europe, and how North Europe exhibits a negative correlation between the number of heatwave days in summer and autumn soil moisture content.

Join us as we unlock crucial understanding about the spatial patterns and environmental effects of heatwaves.

Heatwaves, European climate, Spatial patterns, Moisture-related processes, Hierarchical agglomerative clustering, Regional climate model, CRCM5-LE, E-OBS, Soil moisture deficit, Drought prediction, Climate mitigation strategies.

Felsche, E., Böhnisch, A. & Ludwig, R. Inter-seasonal connection of typical European heatwave patterns to soil moisture. npj Clim Atmos Sci 6, 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00330-5

In an engaging conversation with Dr. Titas Sengupta, we delve into the intricate processes guiding the placement of neurites in specific neural layers during brain development. Utilizing groundbreaking imaging techniques and advanced quantitative models, Dr. Sengupta unveils his findings on the embryonic development of the C. elegans brain neuropil. At the core of this exploration lies the profound role of differential adhesion, orchestrated by the interaction between IgCAM SYG-1 and its ligand partner, SYG-2. Rather than the anticipated outgrowth method, neurites are found to employ a unique "retrograde zippering" mechanism, which governs their precise placement. Through this study, Dr. Sengupta bridges the realm of biophysics with neural development, offering fresh perspectives on how synaptic specificity is achieved in the developing brain.

Keywords:

Neurites

Synaptic specificity

C. elegans brain neuropil

Differential adhesion

IgCAM SYG-1

SYG-2

Retrograde zippering

Neural development

Circuit formation

Biophysical principles

Neurite placement.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.71171.sa0

Today's episode welcomes Dr. Nathan Lents, who shares enlightening revelations about the genetic foundation of what sets humans apart from other apes. Using an array of advanced tools and methods, Dr. Lents and his team embarked on a journey to uncover the mysteries of the human genome.

The Quest for Human Uniqueness:

The genetic underpinnings of our unique human traits remain an area of profound intrigue in biological anthropology.

Approach and Methods:

By employing genome alignment tools, the team aimed to find islands of DNA sequences that aren't conserved among species.

Further, they engaged in theoretical and computational examinations of these regions via synteny sequence analysis.

Discoveries on Human Chromosome 21:

The study unveiled families of microRNA genes present only in humans, with no discernible counterparts in other African apes.

These genes potentially play roles in the embryonic development of our central nervous system, setting the stage for distinctive neural growth and processes.

Origin of These Unique Genes:

The team postulated a fascinating model: these microRNA genes likely originated from repeated segmental duplication events within a field of rRNA genes.

This suggests an evolutionary adaptation, where a series of duplications generated entirely new microRNA genes.

Evolutionary Implications:

The unique 21p11 region of our chromosome 21 has seen duplication events that brought forth novel microRNA genes.

The modulation of genes linked to embryonic development by these microRNA genes could have significantly impacted our evolutionary path, possibly accounting for certain human-specific traits or cognitive capacities.

Conclusion:

Dr. Nathan Lents provides a captivating window into our genomic past, proposing that certain microRNA genes, birthed from a series of genetic duplications, might have influenced the very essence of our human journey. Such discoveries not only unravel the tapestry of our evolutionary history but also shed light on the nuanced genetic mechanisms that have sculpted our species.

Stay tuned for more intriguing episodes as we continue to explore the fascinating realms of science and discovery. Join us next time, and always keep the flame of curiosity burning bright!

https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24504

In this compelling episode, we are joined by Dr. Muotri, a leading researcher investigating the intriguing dynamics of cortical organoid development. One of the mysteries of early brain maturation is whether functional network activity follows a fixed developmental program governed by genetics, similar to structural and transcriptional changes.

Dr. Muotri's research harnesses human cortical organoids that dynamically change cellular populations as they mature. Over several months, these organoids consistently display increases in electrical activity. Intriguingly, the spontaneous formation of these networks features regular oscillatory events that rely on both glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling. As the organoids continue to develop, these oscillations transition to more spatially and temporally irregular patterns. Remarkably, these synchronous network events mirror features seen in preterm human electroencephalography.

These findings suggest that the development of structured network activity in a human neocortex model may follow a stable genetic program. In our conversation, Dr. Muotri sheds light on these fascinating insights, providing new perspectives on the role of network activity in the developing human cortex and paving the way for future explorations in neuroscience.

Keywords: Dr. Muotri, Cortical Organoids, Network Activity, Brain Development, Genetics, Glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling, Electroencephalography, Neuroscience.

Complex Oscillatory Waves Emerging from Cortical Organoids Model Early Human Brain Network Development https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2019.08.002

In this episode, we're privileged to host Dr. Finger, a leading figure in the field of pancreatic islet transplantation. We explore the intricacies of this potentially life-altering treatment for diabetes, which, while promising, faces significant hurdles related to the supply chain and quality control of donor islets.

Dr. Finger takes us through the transformative potential of cryopreservation to solve these challenges. The key, he explains, lies in the meticulous optimization of cryoprotectant agent composition, loading and unloading conditions, and methods for vitrification and rewarming. This strategy can successfully preserve islets from a variety of sources, including mice, pigs, humans, and even human stem cell-derived beta cells.

Our discussion reveals that these post-cryopreservation islets maintain high viability, not only immediately after rewarming but also after extended cryogenic storage of up to 9 months. Dr. Finger outlines how these islets retain normal macroscopic, microscopic, and ultrastructural morphology and largely maintain cellular respiration and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion functionality.

The conversation takes an exciting turn as we explore the practical application of these findings. Dr. Finger shares insights into how cryopreserved islets behave in vivo, with examples from porcine and stem cell-derived beta cell xenotransplant models, as well as a mouse syngeneic transplant model. In these models, cryopreserved islets produced insulin and, impressively, restored normal blood sugar levels within 24-48 hours in a high percentage of cases.

Finally, we discuss the scalability of this approach and its implications for improving the transplantation outcomes for diabetes patients. Dr. Finger's research paints a bright future for the practicality of islet transplantation, offering hope to countless individuals living with diabetes. If you're curious about cutting-edge diabetes research and the transformative potential of cryopreservation, this episode with Dr. Finger is a must-listen.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01718-1 Pancreatic islet cryopreservation by vitrification achieves high viability, function, recovery, and clinical scalability for trans plantation

Origins of the Study: Researchers at Bar-Ilan University, including Dr. Hanna A. Alonim from the Weisfeld School of Social Work Continuing Education Unit, spearheaded two vital studies, focusing on early autism detection and intervention.

10-year Long Study with 110 Infants: Before being diagnosed with ASD at ages 2-3, video recordings of these infants during their first year, shot by unsuspecting parents, were examined. Several autism traits were discerned, such as an aversion to touch, delayed motor skills, erratic activity levels, limited reactions, an accelerated head growth rate, eating resistance, and lack of eye contact. Furthermore, the interplay between these symptoms was scrutinized.

Key Finding: A staggering 89% of autism indicators were evident when the infants were merely 4-6 months old. However, these signs often escaped the parents’ notice during filming.

Highlighting Early Intervention: The second study emphasized the value of early intervention, analyzing the effectiveness of the Mifne Approach on two toddler age groups: 1-2 and 2-3 years old. Rooted in family therapy and attachment theory, the Mifne Approach ensures comprehensive family support, encompassing physical, motor, sensory, emotional, and cognitive development.

Outcomes of Early Detection and Therapy: By narrowing the time between early diagnosis and therapy, neurodevelopment deviations can be significantly curbed.

Dr. Alonim’s Insight: Highlighting a pivotal "window of opportunity," Dr. Alonim asserts the profound impact of early detection and intervention on the swiftly evolving infant brain. She underscores the urgency of bridging the chasm between initial detection, assessment, and intervention for any infant at potential risk.

Expert Commentary: Mark Blakey, CEO of Autism Parenting Magazine, applauds the research, underscoring the potential of early intervention in fostering greater independence in later life. He encourages parents to explore this subject further and recommends their guide article on recognizing autism in babies and toddlers.

Conclusion: With groundbreaking studies, Dr. Alonim and her team have illuminated the promise of early autism detection and the profound, transformative power of timely intervention. Their research heralds a new dawn in autism care, pointing towards brighter futures for countless children.

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the realm of integrating neurons into digital systems with Dr. Kagan. Dr. Kagan presents his innovative development, DishBrain, which uses in vitro neural networks from human or rodent origins, integrated with in silico computing through a high-density multielectrode array. This fusion of biology and technology represents a significant leap towards creating synthetic biological intelligence.

By embedding these cultures in a simulated game world, mimicking the arcade game "Pong," Dr. Kagan and his team observe learning within five minutes of real-time gameplay that is not seen in control conditions. The research demonstrates the importance of closed-loop structured feedback in eliciting learning over time.

Dr. Kagan explains that these neural networks display the ability to self-organize activity in a goal-directed manner, responding to sparse sensory information about the consequences of their actions. This exploration of what the team has termed synthetic biological intelligence might offer valuable insights into the cellular correlates of intelligence, and it has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of both biological and artificial intelligence.

Key Words: Synthetic Biological Intelligence, Neuron Integration, Digital Systems, DishBrain, In Vitro Neural Networks, In Silico Computing, Multielectrode Array, Active Inference, Free Energy Principle, Cellular Correlates of Intelligence.

In vitro neurons learn and exhibit sentience when embodied in a simulated game world https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.001

In this groundbreaking episode, Dr. Tarazi reveals exciting insights into the world of synthetic embryos constructed from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in an ex-utero setup. This pioneering study provides an intriguing look into the future of developmental biology and biomedical research.

Dr. Tarazi's team demonstrated that naive ESCs could independently give rise to entire gastrulating embryo-like structures complete with embryonic and extraembryonic compartments. This significant feat was accomplished by adapting a recently established platform for the prolonged ex-utero growth of natural embryos.

The experiment involved co-aggregating non-transduced ESCs with naive ESCs transiently expressing Cdx2 or Gata4, crucial for promoting priming toward trophectoderm and primitive endoderm lineages, respectively. The result was the creation of post-gastrulation synthetic whole embryo models (sEmbryos).

These sEmbryos accomplished gastrulation and advanced through key developmental milestones, developing organ progenitors within complex extraembryonic compartments akin to E8.5 stage mouse embryos. This illuminating study underscores the remarkable potential of naive pluripotent cells to self-organize and functionally reconstitute and model the entire mammalian embryo beyond gastrulation.

Join us as we delve into this fascinating world of synthetic embryos with Dr. Tarazi.

Keywords: Dr. Tarazi, Synthetic Embryos, Embryonic Stem Cells, Ex Utero, Gastrulation, Embryo-like Structures, Naive ESCs, Cdx2, Gata4, Trophectoderm, Primitive Endoderm, Developmental Milestones, Biomedical Research.

Post-Gastrulation Synthetic Embryos Generated Ex Utero from Mouse Naïve ESCs by Shadi Tarazi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.07.028 Weizmann Institute of Science

This episode takes us on a journey into the vast world of Earth's microbial life with our distinguished guest, Dr. Averill. Microbes, particularly soil fungi, play an instrumental role in driving essential processes across diverse ecosystems - from our own bodies to vast forests. However, the biodiversity of these microscopic powerhouses is increasingly under threat. Dr. Averill's groundbreaking work advocates for the conservation, restoration, and active incorporation of soil microbes into managed landscapes. By analyzing data from 80 experiments, his team showed that restoring native soil microbiomes could accelerate plant biomass production by an average of 64% across ecosystems. Such restoration not only boosts and stabilizes yields in agriculture and forestry but also plays a critical role in preserving microbial biodiversity. As we navigate the emerging markets of ecosystem microbiome engineering, it's crucial to avoid past mistakes and prevent the creation of microbial monocultures. Join us as we delve into this exciting field of research, which holds the potential to revolutionize ecosystem management and conservation.

Key Words: Microbial life, biodiversity, microbiome, conservation, restoration, soil fungi, plant biomass, ecosystem management, agriculture, forestry, microbial biodiversity, ecosystem vulnerability, pathogens, extreme events, microbial monocultures, ecosystem microbiome engineering.

Averill, C., Anthony, M.A., Baldrian, P. et al. Defending Earth’s terrestrial microbiome. Nat Microbiol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01228-3

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Vales-Colomer, a leading researcher in the field of microbiome science. Our conversation revolves around the human microbiome, its integral role in health, and the profound influence of interpersonal relationships on its genetic makeup.

Dr. Vales-Colomer delves into his latest research, based on an analysis of over 9,700 human metagenomes. This study reveals the intricate patterns of bacterial strain transmission between individuals, demonstrating the significant role of mother-to-infant transmission, intra-household sharing, and intra-population patterns. His findings suggest that approximately half of the bacterial strains in an infant's gut microbiome are transmitted from their mother, and this transmission remains detectable even in later life stages.

The conversation also touches upon the oral microbiome and the horizontal transmission that largely defines its makeup. Dr. Vales-Colomer highlights how cohabitation length influences strain sharing more significantly than age or genetics. Fascinatingly, his research also shows that bacterial strain-sharing patterns can better illustrate host population structures than species-level profiles.

Finally, Dr. Vales-Colomer discusses the identification of specific taxa that appear efficient in spreading across different transmission modes and their associated bacterial phenotypes linked to out-of-host survival capabilities.

Tune in to this episode for a fascinating journey into the world of the human microbiome and learn about the deep interplay between our microbes and social dynamics.

Key Words: Human Microbiome, Health, Interpersonal Relationships, Bacterial Strain Transmission, Mother-to-Infant Transmission, Intra-Household Sharing, Intra-Population Patterns, Cohabitation, Host Population Structures.

Valles-Colomer, M., Blanco-Míguez, A., Manghi, P. et al. The person-to-person transmission landscape of the gut and oral microbiomes. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05620-1

Join us for an enlightening episode featuring Dr. Miller, who shares his research focusing on the impact of mitochondrial DNA variants, particularly mitochondrial SNP rs2853499, on Alzheimer's Disease (AD), neuroimaging, and transcriptomics.

Dr. Miller's team successfully mapped this SNP to a new mitochondrial small open reading frame called SHMOOSE, which has the potential to encode a microprotein. For the first time ever, they have detected two unique SHMOOSE-derived peptide fragments in mitochondria using mass spectrometry, marking an exciting breakthrough in the detection of mitochondrial-encoded microproteins.

We delve into how levels of SHMOOSE in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) correlate with age, CSF tau, and brain white matter volume, providing crucial insight into the potential role of this microprotein in the onset and progression of AD.

Dr. Miller also discusses the results of functional experiments his team conducted. These revealed that SHMOOSE acted on the brain following intracerebroventricular administration, influenced mitochondrial gene expression in multiple models, localized to mitochondria, bound the inner mitochondrial membrane protein mitofilin, and enhanced mitochondrial oxygen consumption.

In this episode, listeners will gain a comprehensive understanding of Dr. Miller's groundbreaking work and its profound implications for the fields of neurobiology, Alzheimer’s disease, and microproteins.

Keywords: Alzheimer's Disease, Mitochondria, Microproteins, Mitochondrial DNA variants, SHMOOSE, Neuroimaging, Transcriptomics, Mitofilin, Neurobiology.

Miller, B., et al. Mitochondrial DNA variation in Alzheimer’s disease reveals a unique microprotein called SHMOOSE. Mol Psychiatry (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01769-3

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Lanna, who sheds light on a novel mechanism of T-cell rejuvenation that could significantly impact our understanding of immune protection. Traditionally, it's thought that T lymphocytes activate telomerase to avoid senescence. However, Dr. Lanna introduces us to a distinct process independent of telomerase action, where certain T cells, primarily naive and central memory cells, elongate their telomeres by receiving telomere vesicles from antigen-presenting cells (APCs). She explains the fascinating process of how APCs degrade shelterin to donate telomeres, which are then cleaved by the telomere trimming factor TZAP and transferred to T cells via extracellular vesicles. We delve into how these telomere vesicles, retaining the Rad51 recombination factor, enable telomere fusion, effectively lengthening T-cell chromosome ends. Dr. Lanna discusses the implications of these antigen-specific T cell populations, whose aging decisions are based on telomere vesicle transfer, hinting at a potential mechanism for long-lasting immune protection.

Keywords: T Lymphocytes, Telomerase, Senescence, Antigen-Presenting Cells, Telomere Vesicles, TZAP, Rad51 Recombination Factor, Immune Protection, Telomere Elongation.

Lanna, A., et al. An intercellular transfer of telomeres rescues T cells from senescence and promotes long-term immunological memory. Nat Cell Biol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-00991-z

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Susanne Rafelski, a leading expert in cellular organization, to explore the complex interplay between gene expression and cellular phenotype. The challenge of understanding how a subset of expressed genes influences cellular phenotype is daunting due to the sheer number of involved molecules, their combinations, and the multitude of cellular behaviors they determine.

Dr. Rafelski's research reduces this complexity by focusing on cellular organization—a critical determinant and indicator of cell behavior. She introduces the WTC-11 hiPSC Single-Cell Image Dataset v1, a remarkable dataset containing over 200,000 live 3D cells across 25 key cellular structures. The scale and quality of this dataset have allowed for the creation of a comprehensive analysis framework to convert raw image data into dimensionally reduced, human-interpretable, quantitative measurements, promoting data exploration.

Dr. Rafelski talks us through how this framework harnesses the vast cell-to-cell variability seen within a normal population, integrates cell-by-cell structural data, and supports quantitative analyses of distinct aspects of organization within and across cell populations.

Her team found that the integrated intracellular organization of interphase cells remained robust amidst the wide range of variation in cell shape in the population. Furthermore, the average locations of some structures became polarized in cells at the colony edges while maintaining their 'wiring' with other structures.

Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of cellular organization and discover how changes in structure location during early mitotic reorganization are accompanied by changes in their wiring.

Key Words: Cellular Organization, Gene Expression, Cellular Phenotype, WTC-11 hiPSC Single-Cell Image Dataset v1, Data Analysis Framework, Cell Variability, Structural Data, Mitotic Reorganization.

Viana, M.P., Chen, J., Knijnenburg, T.A. et al. Integrated intracellular organization and its variations in human iPS cells. Nature 613, 345–354 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05563-7

Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VO2SUjtnPV-6GvXboP1Uap1G2hKtSux0PEUoQwT7760/edit#slide=id.p1

In this enlightening episode, we chat with Dr. Elinav about his fascinating research on the association of certain gut microbes with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and the potential use of phage therapy to combat these conditions.

Dr. Elinav's work focuses on a clade of Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) strains, found to be associated with the severity and exacerbation of IBD in four distinct geographical cohorts. These strains, unique in their antibiotics resistance and mobilome signature, were observed to enhance intestinal inflammation when transferred into colitis-prone, germ-free, and colonized mice.

Exploring the potential of phage therapy, Dr. Elinav and his team have designed a lytic five-phage combination that targets both sensitive and resistant members of the IBD-associated Kp clade, and effectively suppresses Kp in colitis-prone mice, leading to decreased inflammation and disease severity.

Our conversation also covers the proof-of-concept assessment of Kp-targeting phages in an artificial human gut and in healthy volunteers, demonstrating the resilience, safety, and viability of these phages in the lower gut.

Join us as we delve into the promise of phage therapy for managing gut microbes contributing to non-communicable diseases, a new frontier in IBD treatment.

Key Words: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Phage Therapy, Gut Microbiota, Pathobionts, Antibiotic Resistance, Non-Communicable Diseases.

Dr. Elinav et al.: Targeted suppression of human IBD-associated gut microbiota commensals by phage consortia for treatment of intestinal inflammation https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.07.003

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Martín-Zamora takes listeners on a deep dive into the complex world of larvae evolution and how temporal shifts in trunk formation underpin the diversification of larvae and bilaterian life cycles. Despite larvae's central role in animal evolution scenarios across all major animal lineages, the understanding of how larvae evolved remains elusive. Dr. Martín-Zamora's groundbreaking research seeks to fill this knowledge gap.

Dr. Martín-Zamora presents his study, where chromosome-scale genome sequencing was performed on the annelid Owenia fusiformis, combined with transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling during the life cycles of this species and two other annelids. His research reveals that trunk development in O. fusiformis is postponed to pre-metamorphic stages in the feeding larva, in contrast to the non-feeding larva of Capitella teleta and the directly developing embryo of Dimorphilus gyrociliatus where it begins post-gastrulation.

His findings also highlight that the embryos of O. fusiformis first develop into an enlarged anterior domain, forming larval tissues and the adult head. This is consistent with observations in the so-called 'head larvae' of other bilaterians, showing extensive transcriptomic similarities with the O. fusiformis larva.

Dr. Martín-Zamora posits that the temporal decoupling of head and trunk formation seen in head larvae may have facilitated larval evolution in Bilateria. This new perspective offers an intriguing departure from traditional theories that attribute larva and adult origins to co-option or innovation of gene regulatory programs.

Key Words: Larvae Evolution, Bilaterian Life Cycles, Temporal Shifts, Trunk Formation, Annelids, Owenia fusiformis, Genome Sequencing, Transcriptomic Profiling, Epigenomic Profiling, Head Larvae, Gene Regulatory Programs, Animal Evolution.

Martín-Zamora, F.M., Liang, Y., Guynes, K. et al. Annelid functional genomics reveals the origins of bilaterian life cycles. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05636-7

Step into the cutting-edge world of embryogenesis with Dr. Alejandro A-Castrejon from the Weizmann Institute of Science. While our grasp on the early stages of mammalian development has steadily grown over the years, the phase after implantation into the maternal uterus has remained somewhat elusive. But all that is about to change.

Dr. Alejandro A-Castrejon unveils groundbreaking platforms for the ex utero culture of post-implantation mouse embryos. This transformative approach allows researchers to mimic in utero development precisely from before gastrulation (at embryonic day, or E, 5.5) up until advanced organogenesis stages (E11) – all outside the womb. With a strategic mix of static and rotating bottle culture platforms, these embryos are nurtured in conditions that beautifully recreate their natural growth environment.

Dive into the nitty-gritty as we discuss how these cultured embryos, scrutinized via histological, molecular, and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses, mirror in utero development with unparalleled precision. This revolutionary method doesn’t just push the boundaries of what we thought was possible; it obliterates them, enabling researchers to undertake a slew of embryonic interventions and observations over six days, unfettered by the limitations of the uterine environment.

Beyond its scientific marvel, the system’s implications are vast and varied. From genetic modifications and chemical screens to tissue manipulation and advanced microscopy techniques, the doors to innovation swing wide open. By underlining the self-organizing prowess of embryos and expanding the realm of ex utero research across various mammalian species, Dr. A-Castrejon offers a tantalizing glimpse into the future of embryogenesis research.

Keyword List:

Weizmann Institute of Science

Embryogenesis

Ex utero culture

Post-implantation mouse embryos

Gastrulation

Organogenesis

Rotating bottle culture

Histological analysis

Single-cell RNA sequencing

Embryonic perturbations

Artificial embryogenesis

Mammalian species

In vitro recapitulation

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03416-3

Did you miss our rooms this week? Would like to have a short summary of our weekly guest speaker talks? Do you still have a question about a topic we discussed? Join us for the weekly recap!

Step into the captivating world of visual neuroscience with Dr. Bruce Hansen, a pioneering figure in neuroimaging techniques. The eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, but how exactly does our brain interpret the endless streams of visual information we encounter daily? Dive deep into the intricacies of how real-world scenes are processed within our minds. While traditional imaging methods like fMRI have offered insights, they often miss the dynamic aspect of the visual code. Enter the innovative DETI (Dynamic Electrode-to-Image) mapping, a technique that harnesses the power of EEG's high temporal resolution to give us a richer, more nuanced understanding of our visual world. Join us as Dr. Hansen unveils how DETI mapping reveals the nonuniform modifications our visual input undergoes and why understanding these transformations is crucial in understanding not just our visual perceptions but also the very fabric of our reality.

Keyword List:

Visual Neuroscience

Dr. Bruce Hansen

Neuroimaging

BOLD Signal

fMRI

EEG

Encoding Technique

Spatiotemporal Signature

Visual Code

Dynamic Electrode-to-Image (DETI) Mapping

Neural Modifications

Real-world Scenes

Spatial Frequencies

Feedforward and Recurrent Processes.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009456

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Xing to delve into the innovative use of machine learning in predicting the embryonic aneuploidy risk in female IVF patients. Infertility affects approximately 12% of women of reproductive age in the United States, with aneuploidy in eggs significantly contributing to early miscarriages and IVF failures.

Dr. Xing discusses his team's work in using whole-exome sequencing data to evaluate machine learning-based classifiers for predicting aneuploidy risk. Their efforts have achieved encouraging results with the area under the receiver operating curve of 0.77 and 0.68, respectively, across two exome datasets.

This discussion also sheds light on the potential aneuploidy risk genes identified, such as MCM5, FGGY, and DDX60L. These genes and their molecular interaction partners are enriched in meiotic-related gene ontology categories and pathways, like the microtubule organizing center and DNA recombination.

By demonstrating that sequencing data can help predict a patient's aneuploidy risk, Dr. Xing's work opens up new avenues for enhancing clinical diagnosis and provides promising targets for future aneuploidy studies.

Keywords: Dr. Xing, Machine Learning, Embryonic Aneuploidy Risk, Infertility, IVF, Whole-exome Sequencing Data, Receiver Operating Curve, MCM5, FGGY, DDX60L, Meiotic-related Gene Ontology Categories, DNA Recombination, Clinical Diagnosis.

Predicting embryonic aneuploidy rate in IVF patients using whole-exome sequencing https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-022-02450-z

Did you miss our rooms during the week? We will give a short summary of what we discussed with our guest speakers this week. Join us!

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Stoeger about one of the most profound phenomena in biology—aging. As a critical factor influencing morbidity and mortality, understanding the molecular mechanisms behind aging is of paramount importance.

Dr. Stoeger's research presents an intriguing perspective on this issue, revealing a strong relationship between transcript length and the transcriptional changes seen in aging in both mice and humans. It appears that as organisms age, there's a relative decrease in the abundance of long transcripts.

We delve into three compelling pieces of evidence that underscore the biological significance of this discovery. Firstly, this association of transcript length with aging is prevalent in vertebrates. Secondly, various anti-aging interventions have been shown to counter this length association, pointing to possible therapeutic avenues. Lastly, we learn about an intriguing enrichment pattern—genes with the longest transcripts are linked to lifespan extension, while those with the shortest transcripts are often associated with a shortened lifespan.

Join us as we unravel the secrets of aging and explore the complex organization of transcriptomes. It's an intriguing journey into the world of aging biology that you won't want to miss!

Key Words: Aging, Transcriptome, Transcript Length, Lifespan, Anti-Aging Interventions, Genes, Mice, Humans, Long Transcripts, Short Transcripts.

Stoeger, T., et al. Aging is associated with a systemic length-associated transcriptome imbalance. Nat Aging 2, 1191–1206 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-022-00317-6

Dr. Cunningham's findings throw fresh light on the enigmatic heavy-element pollution in white dwarf atmospheres. With the direct evidence from X-rays and the newly deduced accretion rates, the research reshapes our understanding of the processes at play in these ancient stellar remnants and suggests a need for refined models to fully capture the complexities unfolding in these stars.

White Dwarf Pollution: A significant number of white dwarf stars possess atmospheres tainted by heavy elements. These elements, intriguingly, should vanish from sight in a relatively short time due to gravitational settling.

Accretion Hypothesis: The presence of these heavy elements has long been thought to signify ongoing accretion (a process where matter accumulates onto a central body) of debris, possibly remnants of asteroids, comets, or even large planets. This theory gains strength from certain observations of debris discs and transiting planetary fragments near some white dwarfs.

Indirect Evidence: While these metals in a white dwarf's atmosphere hint towards accretion, they don't provide direct evidence. Relying on them to infer accretion rates or deduce the composition of the debris has its challenges and heavily leans on models of how these elements move and mix within the white dwarf's atmosphere.

X-ray Discovery from G29–38: Dr. Cunningham's breakthrough was the notable detection of X-rays emanating from a metal-polluted white dwarf named G29–38. This discovery allows for a more direct measure of the accretion rate, which turns out to be independent of the atmospheric models previously relied upon.

Accretion Rate: From these X-ray observations, they determined an instantaneous accretion rate. This rate surpasses previous estimations based on studying the white dwarf's surface heavy element concentrations.

Implications for Modelling: The higher-than-expected accretion rate might indicate that there's more happening beneath the visible layers of the white dwarf than currently understood. The mention of "convective overshoot" suggests that models may need to account for more vigorous mixing processes.

Low Plasma Temperature: They recorded a plasma temperature of around

0.5 ±0.2 keV 0.5±0.2keV, which backs up a theory suggesting that white dwarfs with low accretion rates are bombarded by incoming debris.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04300-w

Complex Nature of Vocal Pitch: Dr. Rhee reiterates that vocal pitch isn't just about the F0 (fundamental frequency). It encompasses both F0 and other acoustic cues, which are crucial for linguistic understanding.

Musicality and Pitch in Language Development: Recent studies suggest that musicality influences how learners develop pitch perception in sentence intonation and prosodic emphasis. Dr. Rhee’s research delves deep into this relationship, focusing on Mandarin—a tonal language.

Research Methodology: 43 Mandarin-speaking children (ages 4 to 6) were tested on tone production and musicality. The study measured how contrasting their tones were across age and musicality levels using acoustic cues.

Pitch Development Findings: While primary F0 cues show a gradual development from ages 3-8, the cues using spectral components or their integration with F0 show a more delayed progression. Notably, blending F0 and spectral cues doesn't significantly enhance tone contrast until age 6.

Musicality’s Influence on Pitch Development: Higher musicality boosts tone contrast in children aged 4 and 5, irrespective of pitch cue type. By age 6, this advantage dwindles, aligning with findings from other studies. Dr. Rhee posits that younger kids, who are still refining their vocal pitch control, might be more influenced by auditory feedback. This is where musicality, or pitch perception ability, could play a pivotal role in their tone production.

Considerations and Limitations: Dr. Rhee acknowledges potential pitfalls. The study's relatively small sample size, especially in the 4-5 age bracket, might not capture the full spectrum of development. Continuous variables like age and musicality were grouped into categories. Also, the study assessed musicality from a perceptual angle and linguistic pitch cues only in production, hinting at the need for a more holistic research approach in the future.

Conclusion: In a groundbreaking exploration, Dr. Rhee unravels the intricate web connecting musicality and linguistic pitch cue development. Young Mandarin-speaking kids with better musicality show accelerated lexical tone production growth. Given the importance of pitch in tonal languages, this discovery is monumental. Future studies are anticipated to expand on these insights, offering a more comprehensive view of musicality's role across various linguistic structures and languages.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.804042

In this enlightening episode, we invite Dr. Dow, a distinguished glaciologist, to talk about a fascinating yet largely underexplored facet of Antarctica's ice sheet dynamics – its subglacial hydrological systems. The contribution of ice sheets to sea level is significantly influenced by high-pressure water lubricating the base of the ice, thereby accelerating its flow into the ocean. Yet, the processes occurring beneath Antarctica's ice have largely remained shrouded in mystery, hindering our understanding of ice-sheet flow and its response to climate change.

Dr. Dow and his team have discovered extensive, dendritically organized subglacial hydrological systems that stretch up to 460 km from the ice-sheet interior to the grounded margin using advanced numerical modeling and geophysical data. He explains how these channels transport large volumes of freshwater at high pressure, potentially augmenting the ice flow above.

The most intriguing revelation, however, is the identification of specific locations where the water exits the ice sheet, seemingly driving ice-shelf melting in these critical areas that play a pivotal role in ice-sheet stability.

Dr. Dow underscores the importance of including catchment-scale basal hydrology in calculations of ice-sheet flow and ice-shelf melt assessments at grounding zones. The findings highlight that understanding the future changes in Antarctica's marginal regions necessitates knowledge of the processes operating within and emanating from the ice-sheet interior.

Dr. Dow, Antarctica, Ice Sheets, Subglacial Hydrological Systems, Climate Change, Ice-sheet Flow, Ice-shelf Melting, Numerical Modelling, Geophysical Data, Grounding Zones.

Dow, C.F., Ross, N., Jeofry, H., et al. Antarctic basal environment shaped by high-pressure flow through a subglacial river system. Nat. Geosci. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-022-01059-1

The phenomenon of migration is not only about physical movement from one location to another; it also involves the journey of the mind. In this enlightening episode, Dr. Ezenwa Olumba takes us through the concept of cognitive migration, sharing his personal experiences as an individual living abroad in the UK but feeling cognitively attached to his ancestral home in Igbo land.

Dr. Olumba presents the unique concept of cognitive immobility, exemplifying the internal conflict between longing for a place, the emotions of belonging to it, and the simultaneous desire to maintain a distance from it. It's about being physically mobile while feeling trapped in a particular place in the mind.

As he pushes for the recognition of this cognitive experience in migration studies, Dr. Olumba offers a new perspective to view experiences that have not received sufficient attention in the past. This episode is a valuable contribution to our understanding of cognitive migration processes and the emotional and mental experiences of those participating in human mobility.

Join us for this unique exploration of the less-examined aspects of migration and their implications on our understanding of human mobility.

Keywords: Dr. Ezenwa Olumba, cognitive migration, cognitive immobility, autoethnography, Igbo land, United Kingdom, migration studies, human mobility, mental journey.

The homeless mind in a mobile world: An autoethnographic approach on cognitive immobility in international migration. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1354067X221111456

Journey with Dr. Levy into the heart of cellular fate determination and the role of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in it. Histone 3 lysine 27 methylation (H3K27me3) marks, crucial for cellular bifurcation during development, have remained a mystery—until now. Dr. Levy introduces the cutting-edge EBdCas9 technology, a fusion of a computationally designed protein and the infamous dCas9, to shed light on this enigmatic process. When targeted at specific genes, this tool reveals precise locations where H3K27me3 and EZH2 operate, leading to fascinating insights such as the discovery of a functional distal TATA box upstream of the TBX18 transcription start site.

Dive deeper to understand the power of EBdCas9, from revealing the most significant H3K27me3 marks in promoter regions to controlling transcriptional activation organically. Dr. Levy’s work also paints a larger picture about the nature of H3K27me3 marks on promoter regions, challenging our previous understanding and suggesting that many broad marks might be indiscriminate. With an eye to the future, this episode discusses the potential of EBdCas9 not only as an invaluable research tool but also as a revolutionary method to treat diseases like cancer. This isn't just about decoding genes; it's about rewiring our understanding of epigenomic memory, and how we might shape it for the future of medicine.

Keyword List:

• Epigenomic Regulation
• PRC2
• Histone 3 lysine 27 methylation (H3K27me3)
• EBdCas9 Technology
• dCas9
• TATA Box
• TBX18
• Gene Activation
• Transcriptional Activation
• TBP Recruitment
• Epigenomic Memory
• Cellular Fate Determination
• Cancer Treatment Potential

doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110457. PMID: 35235780.

The Asgard archaea are a globally distributed group of microorganisms with significant links to eukaryotes. Despite their global presence and potential implications for our understanding of evolution, viruses that infect these organisms remain understudied and poorly understood.

In this episode, we discuss the fascinating work of Dr. Leao, who has shed light on the nature of these viruses. Using metagenome sequences from deep-sea hydrothermal sediments, Dr. Leao and his team characterized six relatively large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viral genomes that infect two Asgard archaeal phyla, Lokiarchaeota and Helarchaeota.

These Asgard viruses are intriguing as they show features of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses, suggesting a unique evolutionary history. They possess Caudovirales-like structural proteins and a percentage of their genes are associated with eukaryotic nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs). Furthermore, they appear to be capable of independent genome replication, repair, epigenetic modifications, and transcriptional regulation.

Dr. Leao's research offers fascinating insights into the genomic capabilities of these viruses, suggesting a complex interplay with their Asgard archaea hosts. Join us as we delve into the mysteries of the Asgard viruses and explore their potential impact on our understanding of viral evolution and infection mechanisms.

Keywords: Asgard Archaea, Viral Genomes, Lokiarchaeota, Helarchaeota, Dr. Leao, Prokaryotic Viruses, Eukaryotic Viruses, Metagenome Sequences.

Rambo, I.M., Langwig, M.V., Leão, P. et al. Genomes of six viruses that infect Asgard archaea from deep-sea sediments. Nat Microbiol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01150-8

In this enlightening episode, we welcome Dr. Piscicchia to scrutinize the Orch OR (Orchestrated Objective Reduction) consciousness theory in light of the latest experimental results derived from the search for spontaneous radiation. This radiation is predicted by the simplest version of gravity-related dynamical collapse models, and its search has potential implications for our understanding of consciousness and the universe itself.

Dr. Piscicchia provides a critical perspective on the Orch OR theory, highlighting the instances where the theory, when based on the simplest version of gravity-related dynamical collapse, is highly implausible. He shares the comprehensive analysis that led to these conclusions and elaborates on the broad implications of these findings.

Moreover, Dr. Piscicchia discusses the limitations of the current models and elaborates on the future plans towards the development of more realistic gravity-related collapse models. This conversation is not just a deep dive into the intricate intersections of quantum physics and consciousness theories, but also a journey towards understanding the potential future directions of this fascinating research area.

Keywords: Dr. Piscicchia, Orch OR Consciousness Theory, Gravity-Related Dynamical Collapse Models, Quantum Physics, Consciousness, Spontaneous Radiation.

“At the crossroad of the search for spontaneous radiation and the Orch OR consciousness theory”, a critical analysis of the Orch OR consciousness theory https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plrev.2022.05.004

Predicting what comes next is an innate human ability honed through our lifetime of experiences. Imagine hearing a siren and instinctively looking for an ambulance; this seemingly simple act involves intricate brain functions and neural mechanics. In today's episode, we journey into the depths of these mechanisms with Sounak Mohanta, an expert at the intersection of neuroscience, machine learning, and computational frameworks.

Using cutting-edge techniques like high-density EEG and Bayesian modeling, Mohanta's research unravels the intricate dance of frontal alpha activity and reaction times, shedding light on how our brains use past information to predict future events. Dive deeper to understand the pivotal role of α and β waves in facilitating these predictions.

But what happens when these prediction mechanisms are interrupted? With the introduction of ketamine, an NMDAR blocker, Mohanta uncovers startling revelations about how drugs can tamper with our predictive capabilities, potentially holding keys to understanding disorders like schizophrenia.

Join us as we traverse the neural pathways of predictions, delve into the role of oscillations in neural activity, and decode the significance of our brain's statistical learning. Whether you're a neuro-enthusiast or simply curious about the magic behind everyday human predictions, this episode promises a thrilling exploration into the world of expectation.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1311-21.2021

In this intriguing episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Ari Benjamin, focusing on the parallels between human sensory systems and artificial neural networks in terms of their sensitivity to common features in the environment.

Human sensory systems are notably more sensitive to common environmental features, and Dr. Benjamin's research reveals that artificial neural networks trained in object recognition demonstrate similar sensitivity patterns aligned with the statistics of image features.

Dr. Benjamin explains a mathematical interpretation of these findings, showing that learning with gradient descent in neural networks preferentially forms representations that are more sensitive to common features, a characteristic of efficient coding. This effect appears in systems with otherwise unconstrained coding resources and occurs when learning towards both supervised and unsupervised objectives.

Through our discussion, we delve into the notion that efficient codes can naturally emerge from gradient-like learning, highlighting the connections between human perception and AI learning mechanisms.

Key Words: Artificial Intelligence, Sensory Perception, Gradient Descent, Neural Networks, Efficient Coding, Object Recognition, Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning.

Benjamin, A.S., Zhang, LQ., Qiu, C. et al. Efficient neural codes naturally emerge through gradient descent learning. Nat Commun 13, 7972 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35659-7

In this episode, we delve deep into the world of cognitive control with Dr. Fradkin as we discuss how people deal with unwanted thoughts. Although much research has been focused on external interferences, we shift the focus to internal, unwanted thoughts, examining the balance between reactive and proactive control in mitigating these. We discuss how reactive thought control entails slower response times due to the need to reject and replace recurring thoughts. Proactive thought control, on the other hand, implies a constricted search space leading to faster response times. With the help of a computational model, we delve deeper into proactive thought control mechanisms, exploring how individuals can reduce the episodic strengthening of repeated thoughts and avoid looping in a repetitive thought cycle. We also touch upon the link between the control over unwanted thoughts and individual differences, which can contribute to our understanding of psychiatric conditions associated with intrusive thoughts. Lastly, we discuss how associative thinking and various control processes influence semantic fluency, decision-making, and creativity.

Keywords: Cognitive Control, Unwanted Thoughts, Reactive Control, Proactive Control, Associative Thinking, Episodic Strengthening, Repetitive Thoughts, Computational Model, Semantic Fluency, Decision-Making, Creativity, Psychiatric Conditions.

Fradkin I, If you don't let it in, you don't have to get it out: Thought preemption as a method to control unwanted thoughts. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010285. PMID: 35834438; PMCID: PMC9282588.

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Ghimire joins us to discuss his research on topological nanospasers, an emerging field of study with vast potential for applications in diverse areas including infrared spectroscopy, sensing, probing, and biomedical treatment.

A topological nanospaser, as Dr. Ghimire explains, is a system consisting of a silver nanospheroid and a MoS2 monolayer flake with a circular shape. The metal nanospheroid functions as a plasmonic nanoresonator, supporting two rotating modes, which are coupled to the corresponding valleys of MoS2. When external circularly polarized light is applied, it selectively pumps only one of the valleys of MoS2, and this interaction underpins the generation of the spaser dynamics.

Dr. Ghimire elaborates on how the generated spaser dynamics are strongly influenced by the size (radius) of the MoS2 nanoflake. For a small radius, the system has a single spasing regime where only the chirally matched plasmon mode is generated. However, as the size of the MoS2 increases, there can be two distinct regimes depending on the pump intensity. In one regime, only the chirally matched plasmon mode is generated, while in the other, both chirally matched and chirally mismatched modes can exist. Fascinatingly, these different spaser operation regimes have opposite handedness in the far-field radiated spaser system.

This episode provides a deep dive into the exciting world of topological nanospasers. Whether you're a physicist, a researcher, a student or simply interested in the latest breakthroughs in nanotechnology, this conversation with Dr. Ghimire is sure to captivate you.

Keywords: Topological nanospaser, Silver nanospheroid, MoS2 monolayer flake, Plasmonic nanoresonator, Rotating modes, Valleys, External circularly polarized light, Spaser dynamics, Chirally matched plasmon mode, Chirally mismatched mode, Infrared spectroscopy, Sensing, Probing, Biomedical treatment.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.0c01919

Welcome to another insightful episode, where today we have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Grinter, a leading authority on bacterial metabolism. Dr. Grinter will illuminate his latest research unraveling the process and mechanisms of atmospheric H2 oxidation in aerobic bacteria, a process with significant global implications, from regulating the composition of the atmosphere to driving primary production in extreme environments.

Dr. Grinter provides an in-depth explanation of his research on the Mycobacterium smegmatis hydrogenase Huc, a highly efficient oxygen-insensitive enzyme. His research team's success in determining the cryo-electron microscopy structure of this enzyme offers key insights into its function.

One of the most fascinating discoveries is the enzyme's unique capability to use narrow hydrophobic gas channels to selectively bind atmospheric H2 over O2 and the role of 3 [3Fe–4S] clusters in making atmospheric H2 oxidation energetically feasible. Further, he elaborates on how Huc couples the oxidation of atmospheric H2 to the hydrogenation of the respiratory electron carrier menaquinone.

Dr. Grinter delves into the intriguing octameric structure of the Huc catalytic subunits and its role in transporting and reducing menaquinone far from the membrane. His research uncovers a unique mode of energy coupling dependent on long-range quinone transport.

Join us in this enlightening episode to better understand the biogeochemically and ecologically critical process of atmospheric H2 oxidation. Dr. Grinter's research paves the way for the development of catalysts that oxidize H2 in ambient air, offering far-reaching implications for our understanding of bacterial metabolism and the broader field of biochemistry.

Grinter, R., Kropp, A., Venugopal, H. et al. Structural basis for bacterial energy extraction from atmospheric hydrogen. Nature 615, 541–547 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05781-7