Recent Episodes
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Extending life with Pig Organs
In the book, Charlotte's Web by EB White, Charlotte the spider says, “After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die.” True, but science is trying to extend life even if just a bit with xenotransplantation. That means placing organs from another animal species into humans. And the research into pig organs has been ongoing for years. Among the most promising is its heart. ... More » }
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More Ouchless Vaccines
While refusing to vaccinate is one way people show their political leanings, but for one group of folks, the reason is just good old fashioned trypanophobia. That's the scientific term for fear of needles. And that's a shame because vaccines protect us against a number of deadly diseases such as chicken pox, measles, tetanus, pneumonia, flu and COVID. Luckily, there are alternatives to needle sticks. Some can be delivered nasally or into the muscle with compressed air. One being developed uses a Velcro-like patch to deliver vaccines.... More » }
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Your Genes and Cannabis
So far, 37 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, while 19 states and the District of Columbia have also legalized its recreational use. But recent reports show up to one-third of cannabis users get Canabis Use Disorder or CanUD, that's cannabis addiction or using cannabis in a way that damages their health. ... More » }
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Life Expectancy – We Have Come a Long Way
As science has advanced, so has life expectancy, but in parts of the world including the US, that number fell during the pandemic. So, has our lifespan rebounded since then? It has. But first consider that a child born in 1900 could only expect to live32 years. In just over a century, the average had more than doubled to 71 years in 2021.... More » }
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Brain Atlas: A New (R)evolution for Neuroscience
The first thing a lot of us do before heading to a new place is consult a map. We can see how the city is laid out, its central hub, and general features and properties. The more complex the area the more help it is as a starting point. Scientists are using the same approach to the human brain. A new “brain atlas” can provide an incredible amount of detail that can help with a fundamental understanding of this complex organ. ... More » }