Shows
Performance Anxiety PodcastEpisode 1-Kristen RukaFor our first episode, we are joined by Dr. Kristen Ruka!Kristen's Projects:Early Bird ScienceHeadshakeA Reptile Dysfunction EpisodeKeep up with Performance AnxietySee what our hosts Lauren & Tabi are also up to:Lauren Tabi
2021-10-0530 min
HeadshakeFasting and Furious [Lonely Brain vs. Hungry Brain]THE BRAIN IS HUNGRY FOR PEOPLE. Keeping in mind new experiences of isolation during the pandemic, recent research shows parallels between a socially-deprived brain craving people and a fasted brain craving food. Full notes at headshake.show/episodes/34
2021-05-032h 03
HeadshakeBologna Hammer [Spinal Reflexes]Here’s more involuntary neuroscience: spinal reflexes. They’re so involuntary, your brain doesn’t even know they happened. Full notes at headshake.show/episodes/33
2021-04-191h 57
HeadshakeInvoluntary Gravy [Synesthesia]The letter A is always red to some people. To others, the sound of a car horn might always smell like pie. Libby and Ruka sensually explore the rare but real condition of synesthesia. Full notes at headshake.show/episodes/32
2021-04-052h 10
HeadshakeTay Zonday Bit My Finger [Déjà Vu]Does it feel like you’ve heard this before? An episode on déjà vu. An episode on déjà vu. Full notes at headshake.show/episodes/31
2021-03-221h 59
HeadshakeThe Full Pamph [Action Potentials]Returning to the land of electrophysiology, Lord Nathan and Lady Kristen focus this time on action potentials, which neurons use to send electrical signals long distances in the body. God save the Baked Bean! Full notes at headshake.show/episodes/30
2021-03-081h 48
HeadshakeMy Friend Spikey [Phineas Gage]In 1848, Phineas Gage survived an unfortunate railroad accident that later informed science and medicine’s understanding of how the prefrontal cortex works. Supporting character: Spikey the tamping iron Full notes at headshake.show/episodes/29
2021-02-221h 34
HeadshakeHappy Trails [Seasonal Affective Disorder]It’s Headshake’s anniversary, and the finale of the Gap Junction Almanac. We hope you’ve had the “Time of Your Life,” and we’ll still be “Friends Forever.” Let’s cheer ourselves up with a discussion of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Key Words bipolar ii, circadian rhythm, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), depression, heritable, light box, light therapy, lux, major depression, melatonin, norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), psychotherapy, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), serotonin, summer pattern, vitamin D, winter pattern Old West Word of the Day...
2021-02-081h 52
HeadshakePaula Abducens [Nerves]“Nerves?” This is a neuroscience podcast. Haven’t we been talking about nerves the whole time??? Nope! Learn why. Key Words afferent, anopsia, anosmia, autonomic, axon, cardiac muscle, cardiovascular, caudal, central nervous system (CNS), cervical nerves, coccygeal nerves, cranial nerve, efferent, gastrointestinal (GI), innervate, larynx, lateral, lumbar nerves, mastication, medial, motor, nerve, nucleus ambiguus, peripheral nervous system (PNS), pharynx, ptosis, pulmonary, rostral, sacral nerves, sensory, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, somatic, spinal nerve, sternocleidomastoid, thoracic nerves, trapezius, trigeminal neuralgia CN I - Olfactory CN II - Optic CN III - Oculomotor CN IV...
2021-01-252h 05
HeadshakeThe Poopisode [Brain and Gut]There are two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of microbes in your gut. Are these little residents controlling your brain? If so, how? Poop Detectives Libby and Ruka are on the case. Key Words autism, bacteria, depression, enteroendocrine, fecal transplant, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), gastrointestinal (GI) system, gut flora, gut microbiome, immune cells, inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), kynurenine, neuropod cells, Parkinson’s disease, psychobiome, psychobiotics, schizophrenia, serotonin, tryptophan, Valsalva maneuver Old West Words of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) Yack Yam
2021-01-112h 04
HeadshakeEar Hair [Audition, Part 2]Hair cells in your inner ear and piano keys in your brain. This is our second episode on the sense of hearing. Libby and Ruka wrap up the year with thicker-than-usual Wisconsin accents. Happy birthday to Libby, and Happy New Year! Key Words amplitude, auditory cortex, basilar membrane, brain stem, calcium, cochlea, cochlear duct, cocktail party effect, cranial nerve viii (vestibulocochlear), decibels, depolarization, frequency, gating, glutamate, hair cells, helicotrema, inner hair cells, mechanically-gated, neurotransmitter, organ of Corti, outer hair cells, oval window, pitch, potassium, receptor, round window, scala tympani, scala vestibuli...
2020-12-281h 40
Early Bird ScienceWhy COVID-19 Vaccine Development Is Fast AND SafeThere is a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel in the U.S. The FDA is starting to grant emergency use authorization to COVID-19 vaccines! Kristen talks about how the current vaccines were developed so quickly without compromising safety. Abbreviated Reference List* COVID-19 Vaccines, FDA, Accessed December 16, 2020 Ensuring the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States, CDC, Accessed December 16, 2020 Graphic: Operation Warp Speed Accelerated Vaccine Process, DOD, Accessed December 16, 2020 Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker: Latest Updates, NYT, Updated December 17, 2020 *To view a full list, please visit https://www.earlybirdscience.com/ep...
2020-12-1934 min
HeadshakeLime in the Cochlea [Audition, Part 1]This is part one of two episodes about the auditory system. You could say it’s a “preliminary hearing.” Key Words amplitude, audition, auditory system, aurical, cochlea, cochlear duct, deaf, decibel, eardrum, endolymph, eustachian tube, external auditory canal, frequency, hearing impaired, hearing, helicotrema, incus, inner ear, malleus, middle ear, organ of Corti, outer ear, oval window, perilymph, pinna, pitch, round window, scala tympani, scala vestibuli, stapes, tympanic membrane, volume, zone of compression, zone of rarefaction Old West Words of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) Wearing the bustle wrong Wipe your c...
2020-12-142h 03
HeadshakeThe Reason for the Seizin' [Epilepsy]Bad news/good news: Grand mal got run over by a reindeer, BUT we got new microphones! In addition to learning what science does and doesn’t know about brain lightning storms (seizures), hear Libby’s seasonal reflections on the Little Drummer Boy. Key Words absence, amygdala, anticonvulsant, apoptosis, atonic, aura, benzodiazepine, carbamazepine (Tegretol), cellular signaling cascade, clonic, complex, cortex, cyanotic, diazepam (Valium), electroencephalogram (EEG), epilepsy, excitotoxicity, GABA, GABAA receptor, generalized, glucose, glutamate, grand mal, hippocampus, inhibitory surround, kindling, limbic, lorazepam (Ativan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), metabolism, motor, myoclonic, necrosis, negative symptom, occipital, oxygen, partial (foca...
2020-11-302h 01
Early Bird ScienceBusting Six Mask MythsWhere do the data stand on mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic? Kristen tackles six myths (start times): Masks don’t work (00:12:41) Masks are unsafe (00:40:48) Masks solve everything (00:52:34) My mask protects only me (00:58:10) Wear a mask only if you’re sick (01:03:35) Mask-wearers are afraid or virtue signaling (01:06:00) Guidelines on how to properly wear cloth masks begin at 01:09:06. Abbreviated Reference List* How to Protect Yourself & Others, CDC, Updated Oct 28, 2020 How to Select Masks, CDC, Updated Oct 29, 2020 Masks overview, WHO, Updated October 20, 2020 COVID-19: How much protection do face masks offer?, Mayo Clinic, Published Aug 20, 2020 5 Questions: Stanf...
2020-11-211h 23
HeadshakeTequila Naomi [Forgetting in Memory]Who are you?! Oh, right. Hi, Jeff! Sorry about that. Our forgetting neurons were working particularly hard last night. Yes, you have neurons that make you forget. Turns out they’re important in memory. This Episode’s Spotify Playlist Neuralized Key Words action potential, amygdala, anxiety, appetite, CA1, calcium transients, chemogenetics, consolidation, contextual fear conditioning (CFC), cued fear, dreams, electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), electrophysiology, fiber photometry, forget, GABA, GABA-ergic, glutamate, hippocampus, hypothalamus, immunohistochemistry, inhibitory post-synaptic current (IPSC), limbic, melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons, memory, microendoscopy, novel object recognition (NOR...
2020-11-162h 05
HeadshakePink Onesie [Sensation Seeking]IN CASE OF EMERGENCY BREAK GLASS. Libby and Ruka are busy or dead. Either way, you get to listen to this episode recorded as a backup for times like these. Hear their joy, and remember them as they were before the pandemic. Key Words boredom susceptibility, cortisol, disinhibition, dopamine, experience seeking, mindfulness, norepinephrine, sensation seeking, thrill and adventure seeking, zorbing The big five: Openness to experience Conscientiousness Agreeableness Extroversion Neuroticism Old West Words of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) Balls, Beef, Biff ...
2020-11-022h 03
HeadshakeThe Ol' Plazzle Dazzle [with Steve Gago]Headshake’s personal chef (a.k.a. Ruka’s spouse) is also an electrical and electronic engineer. Steven A. Gago helps Libby and Ruka tackle the mysteries of newly-developed microcircuit chips that could one day become implants to replace diseased neurons. Key Words Alzheimer's, analog, assimilate, bioimplant, Bötzinger region, brain stem, bursts, CA1, chip, circuit, current, digital, hardware, hippocampus, Hodgkin-Huxley model, medulla, model, pyramidal cells, respiratory neuron, solid state neuron, soma, transistor, very-large-scale integration (VLSI) Old West Words of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) There you ain’t Teapot
2020-10-192h 05
Headshake*Tiger Horse and Two Sex Bird* [Brain Sex Differences?]In this elephant-themed episode, Headshake’s male and female hosts talk about whether or not there are differences in the brain between the sexes. If there are, how do they get there, and do they even matter? Key Words ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, behavior, conduct disorder, corpus callosum, development, eating disorders, environmental, frontal lobe, gender, generalized anxiety disorder, genes, hormones, hypothalamus, innate, intersex, major depression disorder, parietal lobe, phrenology, plasticity, sex, social Old West Words of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) shote skittles slamgander slantindicular...
2020-10-051h 40
Early Bird ScienceMisinformationWelcome to Season 2! Kristen gets real about why a summer break was necessary, and also talks about what to expect this season. This extra-long episode provides a framework to empower you to minimize consumption and spread of misinformation. References and Resources Science audiences, misinformation, and fake news, PNAS Eight Ps: Fake news. It's complicated., Medium blog from First Draft contributor Information from researcher Kate Starbird How a Crisis Researcher Makes Sense of Covid-19 Misinformation, Medium Researchers are tracking another pandemic, too—of coronavirus misinformation, Science Magazine Spectrum of harm from 7 types of mis- and dis-information from Fi...
2020-10-0353 min
Headshake#Amish4Lyfe [Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic]Does listening to Headshake activate your fight or flight response? Or maybe it leaves you comfortably in your rest and digest state. Ruka and Libby talk about the differences between these systems while planning Libby’s self-eulogized Viking funeral. Key Words acetylcholine, adrenal medulla, adrenaline, afferent, autonomic motor, autonomic nervous system, blood pressure, central nervous system (CNS), cervical, collateral ganglia, efferent, enteric, epinephrine, fight or flight response, ganglion, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, glucose, heart rate, heart, homeostasis, innervate, liver, lumbar, norepinephrine, parasympathetic, peripheral nervous system (PNS), postganglionic, preganglionic, pupils, rest and digest state, sacral, somatic motor, so...
2020-09-211h 55
HeadshakeHalf Wits [Hemispherectomies]Want to lose 1.5 pounds fast? Get a hemispherectomy! Libby and Ruka discuss research on highly-functioning adults who, for medical reasons, had half their brains removed as kids. Key Words anatomical hemispherectomy, behavior, brain stem, cerebellum, cerebrum, chronic focal encephalitis, cognition, connectome, control/executive, cortical dysplasia, default, dorsal attention, emotion, functional hemispherectomy, intelligence, functional network, hemispherectomy, limbic, parcel, perinatal stroke, plasticity, Rasmussen encephalitis, salience/ventral attention, somatosensory/motor, visual Old West Word of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) Quincy Bonuses: puddin’ foot, prairie chips, pop your corn References an...
2020-09-071h 43
HeadshakeKooky Monkey Brains [Sleep Paralysis]Libby and Ruka learn about the strange but harmless experience of being awake and not being able to move. This episode is brought to you by the letter P and delicious chocolate frosted Kooky Monkey Brains: “They’re mentally delicious.” Key Words atonia, brain stem, general anxiety disorder, glycine, hallucinate, interneurons, jet lag, medulla, midbrain, narcolepsy, non-rem, panic disorder, pons, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), rapid eye movement (REM), REM-off, REM-on, shift work, sleep offset paralysis, sleep onset paralysis, sleep paralysis, sleep phase, spinal cord Old West Word of the Day (Gap Junction Almana...
2020-08-241h 34
HeadshakePart2itary [Hypothalamus and Anterior Pituitary]In an attempt to recover from the last episode’s derailment by boy bands, Ruka speeds through an overview of the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary. In the process, she discovers Libby’s deep past with the movie Cool Runnings. Key Words - New record: 46! adrenal cortex, adrenaline, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), anterior pituitary, biogenic amine, catecholamine, corticotropin, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), dopamine, endocrine feedback loop, epinephrine, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), germ cell, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), gonadotropins, gonads, growth hormone (GH), growth hormone release inhibiting hormone (GHRIH), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), homeostasis, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis...
2020-08-101h 44
HeadshakeTurkey Saddle [Hypothalamus and Posterior Pituitary]A discussion of the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary gets derailed when Libby uncovers Ruka’s painfully comprehensive reserve of 2000’s boy band knowledge. Key Words anterior pituitary, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), autonomic, Bader-Meinhof phenomenon, diencephalon, endocrine, epithalamus, frequency illusion, hypophysis, hypothalamo-hypophysial portal vessels, hypothalamus, infundibulum, lactation, magnocellular neuron, mammillary bodies, median eminence, nuclei, optic chiasm, osmolality, oxytocin, paraventricular nucleus, pituitary, portal vasculature, portal veins, posterior pituitary, recency illusion, sella turcica, somatic, sphenoid, supraoptic nucleus, thalamus, third ventricle, uterine contraction, vasopressin, viscerosensory transduction Old West Words of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) Nan...
2020-07-271h 40
HeadshakeArt or Nart? [AI Predicts Art Preferences]Libby and Ruka use their artificial artificial intelligence to discuss how actual artificial intelligence helps researchers understand the ways the human brain values art. Celebrate their first in-person recording in eight episodes! Key Words abstract, art preference, artificial intelligence (AI), association cortex, color field, cubism, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), impressionism, internal review board (IRB), lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC), mechanical Turk, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), neural network, posterior parietal cortex, prefrontal cortex (PFC), preprint, prepublication, valence, value, visual cortex Old West Words of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) Make a mash
2020-07-131h 50
Early Bird ScienceSummer Break 2020Early Bird Science is taking a break for the rest of the summer. Thank you for listening!
2020-07-0602 min
HeadshakeSputnik Ganglia [with Dr. Theanne Griffith]It’s Headshake’s first guest ever! Theanne Griffith, Ph.D. joins as a third host to discuss her neuroscience research on specialized ion channels in cold sensation, as well as her brand new STEM-themed children’s book series The Magnificent Makers! Dr. Griffith’s research starts at 00:23:47 The Magnificent Makers starts at 01:02:56 Key Words action potential, blocker, caliper, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, cold-sensitive neurons, diversity, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, F & P text level Q, firing, ganglia, genetic approaches, implicit bias, ion channel, labeled line theory, model, peripheral nervous system, pharmacological approach...
2020-06-291h 57
Early Bird ScienceRobots Made of Frog Cells & An Exclusive Sneak Peak of an Important Upcoming EpisodeThe creation of tiny, bio-based robots called xenobots could spark a future of biodegradable, self-replicating, self-repairing ‘bots. Stick around to the end of the episode for a sneak peak of the next Headshake episode with a very special guest! References and Resources Primary Paper: A scalable pipeline for designing reconfigurable organisms A Video of the Xenobots: UVM and Tufts Team Builds First Living Robots Article: Living robots built using frog cells Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT): headshake.show You will be able...
2020-06-2223 min
HeadshakeBall Change [Somatosensation]Can you feel it? Your pointer finger can. After a visit to the land of Complicatia, Libby and Ruka return to Gap Junction to discuss somatosensation and ask important personal questions about the little man living in your cortex. Key Words analgesia, anterolateral column, capsaicin, cation, contralateral, dorsal column, free neuron ending, gate, habituation, homunculus, hyperalgesia, insult, ion channel, ipsilateral, ligand, mechanoreceptor, Meissner’s corpuscle, menthol, Merkel’s corpuscle, modality, nociceptor, Pacinian corpuscle, pain, phantom limb, pressure, receptive field, referred pain, Ruffini corpuscle, sensory adaptation, somatosensation, somatosensory cortex, submodality, temperature, touch, transient receptor potential (TRP) prot...
2020-06-151h 40
Early Bird ScienceFriendship Bracelets for Glacier MiceGlacier mice are rare fuzzy little green balls that mysteriously move in herds atop some of the world’s glaciers. They are not mammals, but they are kind of cute and may be important parts of glacial ecosystems. Researchers are learning more about them. References and Resources Primary literature: Rolling stones gather moss: movement and longevity of moss balls on an Alaskan glacier If this link does not work for you use the link in the NPR article below Article: Herd Of Fuzzy Green 'Glacier Mice' Baffles Scientists (NPR) Cute Aggression: Why We Want to Squeeze Cu...
2020-06-0823 min
HeadshakeBrain LIGHTNING! [Electrophysiology]Your body isn’t strung with copper wire. So how does the nervous system send electrical signals? Libby and Ruka discuss this question and attempt to do math. When you’re done listening, remember to write that letter to your Nana Amps. She misses you. Key Words action potential, axon terminal, axon, cell membrane, current, electrical potential, excitatory, extracellular, gap junction, graded potential, inhibitory, intracellular, ions, leak channels, megaohms (mΩ), membrane potential, millivolts (mV), myelin, Na+/K+-ATPase, nanoamps (nA), negative charge, Ohm’s law, pacemaker potential, permeability, positive charge, potential difference, potential, propagation, receptor potentia...
2020-06-011h 22
Early Bird ScienceWhy Coffee Makes You PeeMost of us have experienced nature’s call shortly after having a cup of coffee. Why does that happen? Kristen talks about the kidneys and how water and caffeine affect them. References and Resources Mechanisms of Caffeine-Induced Diuresis Caffeine Ingestion and Fluid Balance: A Review Requirement of Intact Adenosine A1 Receptors for the Diuretic and Natriuretic Action of the Methylxanthines Theophylline and Caffeine Decreases in Portal Flow Trigger a Hepatorenal Reflex to Inhibit Renal Sodium and Water Excretion in Rats: Role of Adenosine Caffeine and diuresis during rest and exercise: A meta-analysis Caffeine: Is it dehydrating or...
2020-05-2527 min
HeadshakeCORVID-19 [Rodent Operated Vehicles]Fast cars, Froot Loops, and poops! This episode has it all, brought to you by psychology researchers who put rats in little rat-sized cars. Spoiler: Rats are better at learning how to drive if they’ve played with more toys and friends. Key Words corticosterone, cortisol, DHEA, emotional resilience, enrichment, fecal bolus, Froot Loops, group housing, hormones, maze, mental health, Morris water maze, neuroplasticity, pair housing, reward, rodent operated vehicle (ROV), stimulus, stress Old West Word of the Day (Gap Junction Almanac) I dad! Connect with us!...
2020-05-181h 29
Early Bird ScienceHow Does the Internet Work? With Steven GagoKristen and her software engineer spouse Steve Gago have been “safer at home” for weeks, so they decided to record an episode together while trying to stay sane. Steve is back on the show to talk about how the Internet works! Internet Concepts History Who made the Internet? - NOT Al Gore ARPANET (D)ARPA Circuit switching vs. packet switching World Wide Web, WWW Hypertext protocol Tim Berners-Lee, CERN Related technologies Browsers Client Server Packet Internet protocol (IP) address Media access control (MAC) address Router, switch Internet backbone Internet service provider (ISP) Fiber optics Hypertext transfer prot...
2020-05-1147 min
HeadshakeTwinkie Teaser [Learning and Memory]Remember us? We’re Libby and Ruka, and we’re going to talk about the fundamentals of memory. Where does it happen? How does it happen? How long does it last? Why is there a Pokemon shaped like garbage? Key Words ACTH, Alzheimer’s, amygdala, anterograde amnesia, association cortex, attention, basal nuclei, cerebellum, consolidation, declarative memory, epinephrine, explicit memory, hippocampus, implicit memory, learning, limbic, long-term depression, long-term memory, long-term potentiation, memory, opioid peptides, plasticity, procedural memory, reflexive memory, retrograde amnesia, sensorimotor cortex, short-term memory, vasopressin, working memory Old West Words of the Day ...
2020-05-041h 44
Early Bird ScienceGIANT FLYING REPTILESPTEROSAURS! Commonly known as pterodactyls, the most massive flyers in the fossil record could inform modern biomimetic aerospace engineering. Reference Volant Fossil Vertebrates: Potential for Bioinspired Flight Technology: https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(20)30080-X 4/30/20 CORRECTION: Pterosaurs were not dinosaurs. We therefore changed the episode title, which was originally “Dinosaur Flight.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-a-pterosaur-is-not-a-dinosaur-87082921/ Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions! Website: earlybirdscience.com Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience F...
2020-04-2723 min
HeadshakeEXTRA: The Hole TruthBONUS EPISODE! Ruka scored an EXCLUSIVE interview with the famous supermassive black hole M87*, the first ever black hole to be imaged on Earth only one year ago. Recorded in front of a live remote audience. Interview begins at 10 min 57 sec. Connect with us! FB @HeadshakeShow T @HeadshakeShow ‘Sta @HeadshakeNinja Site headshake.show OR headshake.ninja References https://eventhorizontelescope.org/press-release-april-10-2019-astronomers-capture-first-image-black-hole https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/news/black-hole-image-makes-history https://eventhorizontelescope.org/blog/award-winning-first-image-supermassive-black-hole-m87 https://eventhorizontelescope.org/blog/something-is-lurking-in-the-heart-of-quasar-3c-279 https://eventhorizontelescope.org/bl...
2020-04-2427 min
HeadshakeBlue Light Special [Circadian Rhythms]With many of our routines upended these days, our circadian rhythms are getting thrown off, causing what is known as social jet lag. Don’t get too sleepy listening to the soothing sounds of the second remote recording from Libby and Ruka. Key Words biorhythm, circadian rhythm, diurnal, endogenous, entrain, free-run, hypothalamus, jet lag, melatonin, nocturnal, pacemaker cells, phase advance, phase delay, phase shift, pineal gland, retina, retinohypothalamic tract, shift work, sleep/wake cycle, suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), zeitgeber Old West Words of the Day Go boil your shir...
2020-04-201h 26
Early Bird ScienceIce on Mercury?!Surprisingly, Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, which can reach daytime temperatures of 430 degrees C (about 800 degrees F), has ice! Kristen discusses research describing a newly-discovered mechanism for water formation and freezing on Mercury. References and Resources Primary Literature: A New In Situ Quasi-continuous Solar-wind Source of Molecular Water on Mercury https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab6bda Articles Science Daily: Mercury's scorching daytime heat may help it make its own ice at caps https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200313155329.htm The Daily Galaxy: “Vulcan Heat” –Mercury’s Gigantic Ice-Making Paradox https://dailygalaxy.com/2020/03/vulcan-heat-mercurys-gigantic-ice-making-paradox/ NASA Sci...
2020-04-1318 min
HeadshakeVelocirapture [Vestibular System]Motion sickness on a pre-apocalyptic cruise prompted Ruka to reflect extensively on the vestibular system. She talks with Libby about this sixth sense and how it affects the body’s balance, movement, and vision. Key Words acceleration, ampulla, aspartate, cochlea, cranial nerve VIII, crista, cupula, endolymph, glutamate, hair cell, macula, motion sickness, myelin, otoconia, otolithic membrane, saccade, saccule, semicircular canal, stereocilia, utricle, velocity, vestibular labyrinth, vestibular, vestibulo-ocular reflex, vestibulocochlear nerve Old West Word of the Day Funkify Connect with us! FB @HeadshakeShow T...
2020-04-061h 59
Early Bird ScienceTake Care of YourselfKristen discusses mental health during the pandemic. Wash your hands and be well.
2020-03-3016 min
HeadshakeAvogadro's Toast [Gray Matter vs. White Matter (Mostly Corrections)]This episode is beefy. It has A LOT of corrections/clarifications from Episodes 2, 3, and 4. Don’t worry, Ruka and Libby eventually get around to discussing gray vs. white matter. Learn about the little sweaters knit by your Grandma Glia. Key Words axon hillock, axon terminal, axon, dendrite, glia, gray matter, initial segment, neuron, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells, soma, ultracrepidarian, white matter Old West Word of the Day Exfluncticate Connect with us! FB @HeadshakeShow T @HeadshakeShow ‘Sta @HeadshakeNinja Site...
2020-03-231h 33
Early Bird ScienceEarly Bird Pseudoscience: "N-Rays"AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Yes, Kristen has had a busy couple of weeks and couldn't find time to record an episode of Early Bird Science for this morning. However, her Headshake co-host Nathan A. Libby has offered to take over the program (with Kristen's blessing, of course) and change the content over from real science to proven NON-science. Kristen will be back in two weeks with another regular episode of Early Bird Science, but for now, please enjoy some nonsense. Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and a...
2020-03-1615 min
HeadshakeA Reptile Dysfunction [Performance Anxiety]Theater is where Libby and Ruka met. It is also where the lizard brain causes stage fright. Learn about recent research into a strategy using an electromagnetic current as a possible tool to reduce performance anxiety. Key Words dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), limbic system, lizard brain, monitoring processes, neomammalian brain, operating processes, paleomammalian brain, performance anxiety, stage fright, transcranial magnetic stimulation Old West Words of the Day - You get two! Done brown Dull music Connect wit...
2020-03-091h 58
Early Bird ScienceCoronavirusThe coronavirus-caused disease COVID-19 has the potential to spread to pandemic levels. What are the facts? References and Resources World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 Situation Report Feb 26, 2020: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200226-sitrep-37-covid-19.pdf Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S. (Updated Feb 26, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary (Accessed Feb 25, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html What to Do If You Are Sick With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Accessed Fe...
2020-03-0224 min
HeadshakeIt’s Halloween Somewhere [Cerebrospinal Fluid]This episode goes to eleven on spinal taps and cerebrospinal fluid. Travel back in time to 2019, when Ruka and Libby recorded an episode for the first time. It was so long ago, the show didn’t have a title or an Old West word of the day. Happy Halloween! Key Words arachnoid mater, capillaries, cerebrospinal fluid, choroid plexus, dura mater, epidural, foramen of Monro, hydrocephalus, lumbar puncture, meninges, meningitis, pia mater, spinal cord, spinal tap, ventricle, vertebra Connect with us! FB @HeadshakeShow T @HeadshakeShow ‘S...
2020-02-241h 28
HeadshakeTwo Humps [Moar Chemistry]The hosts find themselves defending each other’s humps in the old west town of Gap Junction. Libby suffers chemical burns from the leftover cookie dough chemistry Ruka serves up. Ruka also makes corrections/clarifications on Episode 1. Libby tells a joke. Key Words acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase, adenosine, Alzheimer disease, amino acids, ATP, biogenic amines, carbon monoxide, central nervous system, cholinergic, dopamine, dynorphin, enzymes, epinephrine, excitatory, GABA, gap junction, glutamate, glycine, inhibitory, innervate, kisspeptin, KNDy neurons, LSD, neurokinin B, neuromuscular junction, neuropeptides, nitric oxide, norepinephrine, opioids, peripheral nervous system, purines, receptors, serotonin, SSRI, strychnine C...
2020-02-241h 24
HeadshakeBig Animal = Big Poops [Neurochemistry]Welcome to Headshake! We’re thrilled (and surprised) you’re here! Today, Ruka tries to teach co-host Libby about neurochemical signaling (cookie dough chemistry). They also explore each other’s knowledge holes. Key Words autocrine, chemistry, endocrine, epinephrine, neuromodulator, neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, paracrine, post-synaptic, pre-synaptic, synapse, vesicles Old West Word of the Day Backdoor trots Connect with us! FB @HeadshakeShow T @HeadshakeShow ‘Sta @HeadshakeNinja Site headshake.show OR headshake.ninja Reference Textbook...
2020-02-241h 16
Early Bird ScienceCalculating the Limits of Human EnduranceStudying long-term energy expenditure of athletes in sporting events ranging from 0.5 to 140 days long, researchers have calculated the limits of human endurance. Based on this research, it also turns out pregnant women are endurance masters! Kristen’s Headshake co-host Nathan A. Libby pays a visit. Check out the trailer for the new podcast Headshake, set to premiere February 24! https://headshake.show/episodes/0 References and Resources Article: Ultimate limit of human endurance found https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48527798 Primary Research: Extreme events reveal an alimentary limit on sustained maxi...
2020-02-1718 min
HeadshakeIt’s Supposed to be a Science Podcast [Trailer]Howdy, pardner! Headshake is a science podcast that is a little different. Listen to this trailer to acclimate. Connect with us! FB @HeadshakeShow T @HeadshakeShow ‘Sta @HeadshakeNinja Site headshake.show OR headshake.ninja Music Bushwick Tarantella by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300002 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Modified from original with volume fading and cuts
2020-02-0905 min
Early Bird ScienceAncient Stardust in an Old Meteorite - PLUS a Special Announcement!An ancient meteorite contains the oldest solid material ever found on Earth. Kristen makes an exciting announcement about an upcoming project! References and Resources Article “Meteorite contains the oldest material on Earth: 7-billion-year-old stardust” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200113153306.htm Primary Literature “Lifetimes of interstellar dust from cosmic ray exposure ages of presolar silicon carbide” https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/01/07/1904573117 Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions! Website: earlybirdscience.com Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
2020-02-0317 min
Early Bird ScienceFlex Those MusclesThe types of muscles you pump up at the gym are just one of three different muscle types in your body. Kristen introduces the muscle types skeletal, cardiac, and smooth, and discusses their differences in appearance, location, control, and contraction. She also explains why calcium is so important for you. References and Resources Textbook: Vander’s Human Physiology 13th Edition Calcium info https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/calcium-and-milk/calcium-full-story/ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/ Related Episodes EKGs https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/2 https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/3 Con...
2020-01-2018 min
Early Bird ScienceHow Do Computers Work? With Steven GagoHappy new year 2020! Steven Gago is the first human guest on Early Bird Science! He is an experienced software and firmware engineer, with a background in electrical and electronic engineering. Oh, yeah, he is also Kristen’s spouse. :-) He joins Kristen for this special, double-length episode to talk about how computers work. Concepts covered: Steve is NOT a morning person Ancient computers Processors Transistors Logic gates Boolean algebra, 1s and 0s John Von Neumann Fetch-execute cycle RAM Computer “mouses” vs. “mice” Analog vs. digital Quantum computing References and Resources from Steve...
2020-01-0641 min
Early Bird ScienceEvergreen for the HolidaysEvergreen trees keep their green leaves all year long. What benefits and challenges do they experience as a result? Kristen discusses this topic and wraps up 2019, the Year of the Periodic Table. Happy holidays! Episode References and Resources Why do evergreens stay green in the winter? Article written by a Biology professor: https://theconversation.com/why-dont-evergreens-change-color-and-drop-their-leaves-every-fall-123744 Even evergreens take a break from photosynthesis in the winter: “Photoprotective Strategies of Overwintering Evergreens” https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/54/1/41/234579 How non-evergreen trees lose their leaves in the winter: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/why-do-leaves-fall-off-trees
2019-12-2322 min
Early Bird ScienceIs Blood Blue?Kristen addresses the argument over whether human blood is blue. She talks about common misconceptions and what gives blood its color. As a bonus, she also talks about the variations in colors of blood in other animals. CORRECTION: In this episode, Kristen says “octopi” to indicate the plural of “octopus.” Because “octopus” originated from Greek and not Latin (which does use “i” to pluralize words) and because “octopus” has been a word in English for a long time, Kristen would have preferred to pluralize the word using English rules: “octopuses.” Correction references and other neat facts about octopuse...
2019-12-0913 min
Early Bird ScienceSelf-driving Cars and Motion SicknessSelf-driving, or autonomous, cars are an appealing technology with tons of transportation potential, but one major barrier that may afflict many future drivers-turned-passengers is motion sickness. Kristen discusses this challenge, as well as early-stage research from University of Michigan’s Mcity Test Facility that is working to address it. References and Resources News article and white paper https://news.umich.edu/measuring-motion-sickness-in-driverless-cars/ https://mcity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/mcity-whitepaper-motion-v6.pdf Mcity: https://mcity.umich.edu/our-work/mcity-test-facility/ Motion Sickness: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12782-motion-sickness Connect - Leave comments, suggest topi...
2019-11-2519 min
Early Bird ScienceSnail Slime Inspires SuperglueKristen discusses a new superglue from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania that imitates the way snail slime works. The adhesive is not only super strong - It stuck a human to the ceiling! - but is also reversible, a combination of properties that is currently rare and in-demand in areas like auto manufacturing, household use, robotics, research, and medicine. Kristen also gives an overview of how this new invention could make it to you as a consumer in the future through a process called “technology transfer.” References and Resources More details and video of a...
2019-11-1119 min
Early Bird ScienceIndia’s First Lunar Lander: Why Loss of Contact Is a Bummer but Also Brings HopeTo the moon! ...Almost! Kristen discusses what happened during the Chandrayaan 2 mission on September 7, 2019 when the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) lost contact with their spacecraft as they were trying to land it on the moon. She talks about why the setback is a bummer but also gives her opinion on why this mission and others like it bring hope for space exploration and even human purpose. References and Resources Articles: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02697-z https://www.sciencenews.org/article/india-lost-contact-chandrayaan-lunar-lander-before-touchdown-moon "As Tricky As Holding A Newborn": I...
2019-10-2816 min
Early Bird ScienceEKGs Part 2 of 2Have you ever wondered what those squiggly lines mean on heart monitors in the hospital or on TV? More importantly, has a friend of yours ever gotten a heart beat tattoo, and you really wanted to critique it? This episode is part 2 of 2 on EKGs, so if you haven’t yet listened to Part 1, we encourage you to go back one episode to get caught up. In Part 2 Kristen discusses: Parts of an EKG signal Heart electrophysiology What doctors can tell from EKG signals, and Examples of unhealthy signals References and Resources T...
2019-10-1411 min
Early Bird ScienceEKGs Part 1 of 2Have you ever wondered what those squiggly lines mean on heart monitors in the hospital or on TV? More importantly, has a friend of yours ever gotten a heart beat tattoo, and you really wanted to critique it? In this episode, Kristen talks about what you’re seeing when you look at an EKG. As AV explains, Kristen got a bit carried away recording this topic, so it is split into two parts. Part 1 discusses: What an EKG looks like A brief review of anatomy of the heart What an EKG is and is not recording Th...
2019-09-3014 min
Early Bird ScienceBees Can Count to ZeroKristen welcomes you to the first ever episode of Early Bird Science! She gives an introduction to the show and what you can expect from future episodes. Then Kristen talks about a scientific discovery that bees can recognize zero. She discusses the experiments researchers did to make this discovery, as well as why it is a big deal. We hope you are BUZZing with excitement! References and Resources Primary publication http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6393/1124 Why zero is important https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/what-zero-and-why-it-so-important/ Other references https://w...
2019-09-1617 min
Early Bird ScienceComing Soon!Early Bird Science is coming soon! Kristen and AV tell you how to find out the moment Episode 1 is available. earlybirdscience.com
2019-08-3102 min