Shows
ResearchPodFuzzy Logic and the Human Side of Artificial IntelligenceArtificial intelligence often struggles with the ambiguity, nuance, and shifting context that defines human reasoning. Fuzzy logic offers an alternative, by modelling meaning in degrees rather than absolutes.In this roundtable episode, ResearchPod speaks with Professors Edy Portmann, Irina Perfilieva, Vilem Novak, Cristina Puente, and José María Alonso about how fuzzy systems capture perception, language, social cues, and uncertainty. Their insights contribute to the upcoming FMsquare Foundation booklet on fuzzy logic, exploring the role of uncertainty-aware reasoning in the future of AI.You can read the previous booklet from this series here: Fuz...
2025-11-0752 minResearchPodFuzzy Logic and the Human Side of Artificial IntelligenceArtificial intelligence often struggles with the ambiguity, nuance, and shifting context that defines human reasoning. Fuzzy logic offers an alternative, by modelling meaning in degrees rather than absolutes.In this roundtable episode, ResearchPod speaks with Professors Edy Portmann, Irina Perfilieva, Vilem Novak, Cristina Puente, and José María Alonso about how fuzzy systems capture perception, language, social cues, and uncertainty. Their insights contribute to the upcoming FMsquare Foundation booklet on fuzzy logic, exploring the role of uncertainty-aware reasoning in the future of AI.You can read the previous booklet from this series here: Fuz...
2025-11-0752 min
ResearchPodStory Telling Week: Spirited Cross-ExaminationFor Story Telling Week 2024, we've revisited some past episodes to see how else stories can help summarise science.Listen to the original episode of Dr Angelica Hagsand of the University of Gothenburg here: https://researchpod.org/behavioural-sciences/eyewitness-testimony-much-alcohol-too-much Read their original article: https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2021.1929978Read more in Research Outreach
2024-02-0104 minResearchPodStory Telling Week: Spirited Cross-ExaminationFor Story Telling Week 2024, we've revisited some past episodes to see how else stories can help summarise science.Listen to the original episode of Dr Angelica Hagsand of the University of Gothenburg here: https://researchpod.org/behavioural-sciences/eyewitness-testimony-much-alcohol-too-much Read their original article: https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2021.1929978Read more in Research Outreach
2024-02-0104 minResearchPodThe financial toxicity of multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic autoimmune disease that is a lifelong condition with high medical costs. As a result, many patients do not adhere to treatment plan, which further reduces their quality of life. There are also non-medical costs to consider, such as loss of productivity at work and early retirement. Research led by Professor Carl Asche, at the University of Illinois, explores the financial burdens and advocates for improved strategies to reduce the cost burden of the disease. Read more in Research OutreachRead the original article: https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2010.16.9.703
2021-11-1713 minResearchPodEffects of training on blood brain flowBrains, blood and beating heart are top of the list when it comes to thinking about your body, and your health. Understanding blood flow to and around the brain is part of research into brain ageing, and part of the work of Dr Lucy Beishon and Dr Jatinder Minhas at the Cerebral Haemodynamics in Ageing and Stroke Medicine , or CHIASM, lab in Leicester Royal Infirmary. Today, we’re chatting about some of their research into developing methods to help offset the progression of diseases such as stroke and dementia, helping patients to keep their edge as long as...
2021-11-1030 minResearchPodEyewitness testimony: how much alcohol is too much?Alcohol is widely considered to be the most popular, most harmful drug, often leading to psychological or physical harm to the user and those around them. and with a strong association between alcohol consumption and crime.With a high rate of alcohol intoxication in witnesses, suspects, and even victims of crime, it is critical to understand how police officers perceive and interact with intoxicated individuals.Dr Angelica Hagsand of the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) conducts research to understand how alcohol influences the reliability of eyewitness testimonies. Read more in Research Outreach...
2021-11-0312 minResearchPodSecuring Smart Contracts with AI and Machine LearningBlockchain technology and smart contracts, the backbone of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Doge and more, is a method of recording and storing electronic information, such as financial transactions, in a way that they are either impossible or difficult to alter. In short, a digital permanent record. But if a smart contract has mistakes or bugs in its code that can be exploited, it can result in huge financial losses .Dr. Lingxiao Jiang, an associate professor of Computer Science at Singapore Management University, researches the challenges, and opportunities, for the growing use of smart contracts...
2021-10-2711 minResearchPodTransient dynamics in complex systemsWhat is behind phenomena such as the sudden extinction of species in population dynamics? What generates the spiral patterns that appear in density profiles or travelling waves? Professor Meyer-Ortmanns studies complex systems with methods from nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics. One current research topic is heteroclinic dynamics, another one is the impact of stochastic fluctuations.Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.043097
2021-10-2014 minResearchPodCould pollution from sweeteners be souring our environment?Acesulfame potassium is one of several low- and no-calorie sweeteners used as a healthy alternative to sugar. But what if there is a price to pay for a calorie-free sweetness? Dr Patrick Guiney investigates the environmental fate and effects of sweeteners and applies ecological risk assessment methods to establish their environmental safety profiles. Read more in Research OutreachRead the original article: https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4248
2021-10-1311 minResearchPodPreventing opioid addiction in pain management with dopamine co-treatmentWhat if there was a way to deliver on the painkilling potential of opioids while reducing the likelihood of addiction?Dr Stefan Clemens and Dr Kori Brewers' work at East Carolina University could mark a turning point in pain management and drug addiction.Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172935
2021-10-0632 minResearchPodCan mission statement language influence workplace discrimination?Whether it’s a just few sentences or a full paragraph outlining the way your organisation pursues goals like delivering on time or anticipating customer needs, a mission statement is a guide to how a company operates and the values it holds dear.Research led by Dana Kanze from London Business School now shows that your mission statements can also motivate your employees to embrace or disregard ethical standards—the decisions they choose depend upon the language you use.Read the original publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2019.04.002 Read the HBR article: https://hbr.or...
2021-09-2713 minResearchPodHow did bacterial glycogen branching enzymes evolve?Glycogen plays important roles in carbon and energy storage in bacteria, with highly branched structures linked with bacterial environmental durability, including the ability to survive in deep sea vents. Dr Liang Wang at the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai & Ms Qing-Hua Liu at Macau University of Science and Technology aim to better understand the structure and evolution of glycogen branching enzyme in bacteria, uncovering a new, third type of structure.Read more about their research in Research Outreach.Read their original article at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.03354
2021-09-2209 minResearchPodUnravelling the Mysteries of Deep-Blue LuminescenceIn the deepest, darkest parts of our oceans live creatures that have mastered bioluminescence. Out of all these creatures and their colourful displays, what makes it so challenging to find species that emit light in the deep-blue region?Dr Masahito Oh-e at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, together with his collaborator Dr Akira Nagasawa, Professor Emeritus of Saitama University in Japan, uses computational chemistry modelling approaches to investigate.Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.0c00506
2021-09-1713 minResearchPodPNIRS Asia-Pacific: Building bridges between East and WestThe field of psychoneuroimmunology - the study of relationships between the nervous and immune systems – has pioneered significant discoveries in areas like stress, mindfulness, ancient exercise and dietary interventions. Keith W. Kelley of the University of Illinois, and collaborators, review the growth of the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS) across Asia-Oceania, and member countries contributions to biomedical research.Original article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.026
2021-09-1513 minResearchPodInvestigating Sexual and Reproductive InjusticeThe recent global pandemic has highlighted health inequities across the world. Despite rapid medical and social advances in recent years, inequities related to reproductive choices and rights remain, especially for women in marginalised sectors of society. Dr Tracy Morison, a health psychologist at Massey University in New Zealand, focuses on the complexities around contraception choice and uptake.Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12605
2021-09-0814 minResearchPodUnderstanding Critical Race Theory and Anti-RacismTo understand some of what Critical Race Theory means as a term, and means in educational practice, we are joined again by Dr Jen Neitzel, Executive Director at the Educational Equity Institute, to discuss the past, present, and possible future of media discussions around race and racism in America.Listen to her previous interview here.
2021-09-0131 minResearchPodRobotic gastric bypass surgeryThe use of robotic technology in gastric bypass surgery is increasing and heralds a major turning point in bariatric surgery. However, robotic bariatric surgery must be proven feasible and safe.Dr Rodolfo Oviedo has set out to demonstrate that robotic gastric bypass surgery provides numerous advantages to both patients and surgeons in terms of its safety profile and cost efficiency when performed at a high-volume, experienced bariatric centre or even in rural community hospitals.Read more in Research FeaturesRead the original article: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-021-01193-9
2021-08-2511 minResearchPodInncelly Experimentation Chambers: Novel imaging of biological interactionsDr Alexander Lichius and colleagues from the University of Innsbruck in Austria have developed the inncelly experimentation chambers to closely study the fungal cell biology of mycoparasites in fungus-fungus-plant interactions. You can find more information on www.inncellys.com. Read more about their research in Research Features. Read the original article: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390%2Fjof7050365
2021-08-1811 minResearchPod‘Rock Star’ Theory: How to Explain and Predict Entrepreneurial SuccessWhat do Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk have in common? In addition to being founders of multi-billion-dollar companies, they are also outliers. wielding disproportionate influences on both the business world and society. Their inputs and outputs, either qualitative or quantitative in nature, represents an exception to the normal rules. Dr G. Christopher Crawford at Rutgers Business School explains which factors drive the performance of the most successful entrepreneurs and businesses.Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2015.01.001
2021-08-1113 minResearchPodWill podcasts and social media replace academic journals?"Will Podcasting and Social Media Replace Journals and Traditional Science Communication? No, but..." is the perhaps controversially titled paper by Prof Matt Fox and a team at Boston University School for Public Health. And, if the answer is no, what role can they play in the future?In this episode, we talk about the current state of academic publishing, the risks and opportunities of social networks for science, and integrating digital outreach into scientific practice.Listen to Matt on The Free Associations Podcast and Serious Epidemiology Podcast, or follow him on Twitter.Original A...
2021-08-0426 minResearchPodA new practice for improving subsoil health and crop yieldsWith the global population growing rapidly every year and with millions already having limited access to enough food, where are the new productivity-enhancing farming practices that will enable the world to produce enough food to feed 9 billion people by 2050? One new farming practice with the potential to improve crop yields is called ‘subsoil manuring’, developed by Peter Sale and his team at La Trobe University, Melbourne, to improve subsoils for crop growth.Read more: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2020.08.003
2021-07-2810 minResearchPodLoneliness, Sense of Control, and Risk of Dementia in Healthy Older AdultsThere are said to be 50 million people living with dementia globally and this is expected to triple by 2050. Research conducted by Dr Hwajin Yang, Associate Professor at Singapore Management University, and colleagues, examines how the risk of developing dementia is affected by one’s sense of loneliness and sense of control. Read the original paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2020.1799891
2021-07-2109 minResearchPodInvestigating sexuality and consent in New Zealand’s residential aged careSexuality is an intrinsic part of identity. However, intimacy and sexuality in residential aged care are often contested issues, particularly in the case of people living with different types of dementia. Professor Mark Henrickson, Dr Catherine Cook, Dr Vanessa Schouten and Ms Sandra McDonald are researching consent in this domain.Read more about their research in Research Features.Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2021.1871649
2021-07-1411 minResearchPodQuantum society: The logic of decision making, economics and relationshipsCan the decisions, personal ties and politics underlying society be understood mathematically? And do irrational choices make sense when viewed as uncertain, quantum like probabilities?Andrei Khrennikov and Emmanuel Haven discuss their research into the quantum formalism behind political movements, financial markets, and personal relations.Read more:Quantum-like modeling: cognition, decision making, and rationality (2020) : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11299-020-00240-6Quantum Mechanical Pragmatic Rules and Social Science (2019): https://doi.org/10.1007/s41470-019-00036-1 Introduction to quantum probability theory and its economic applications (2018): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmateco.2018.08.004Statistical and subjective in...
2021-07-071h 02ResearchPodClimate change economics: A net cost analysis of the Paris Agreement targetsGlobal temperature rises and climate change will not only bring disruption to the planet’s ecosystems, weather systems, and sea levels – they will also have an impact on current and future human societies through economic turmoil. Dr Patrick Brown, of San José State University, finds out when the benefits of meeting the Paris Agreement targets will begin to outweigh the costs.Read more:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239520 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0071-9
2021-06-3008 minResearchPodStimulants and drug related deaths in AmericaNews coverage of the drug overdose crisis gripping America has, for a large part, focused on opioid drug deaths. However, this represents a small part of the ever-shifting landscape of drug use. Away from the mainstream, stimulants - both prescribed and illicit - continue to claim lives at an increasing rate. Joshua Black and Janetta Iwanicki from Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety discuss their institutes role in tracking deaths, informing policy, and attempting to stem the tide of drug related deaths in America. Read more: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.7850
2021-06-2324 minResearchPodSleep loss and circadian rhythmsDelayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) is characterised by an inability to fall asleep at a socially acceptable time, and an inability to wake up at conventional early times for school or work.Dr Gregory Carter from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, is conducting research into 'night owl preference', and what can be done to realign ones circadian rhythm.Read more: https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.5100
2021-06-1610 minResearchPodEncephalitis – when viral infections attack the brainProf Wiley investigates the emergence of new brain viral infections and their link to dementia.Read more about his work in Research Outreach, and find his original articles below: Emergent Viral Infections of the CNS: https://doi.org/10.1093/jnen/nlaa054 H1N1, but not H3N2, influenza A virus infection protects ferrets from H5N1 encephalitis: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.01840-13 Emerging Infections of CNS: Avian Influenza A Virus, Rift Valley Fever Virus and Human Parechovirus: https://doi.org/10.1111/bpa.12281 Human Parechovirus 3 Meningitis and Fatal Leukoencephalopathy : https://doi.org/10.1097/NEN.0000000000000215 Human Zika and West Nile viru...
2021-06-0910 minResearchPodSharing learning between childhood leukaemia and brain tumour trialsOver the last 50 years, advances in surgical procedures, clinical understandings and targeted treatments have changed the prospects of many cancer diagnoses from terminal to treatable. However, this progress is not evenly distributed across the many different types of cancer, and nowhere is that more keenly felt than in cancers affecting children. How might the advances and insights in treating blood cancers benefit patients with brain tumours?To answer that question, I am speaking today with Dr David Walker and Dr Chris Halsey about their research connecting trials and treatments across disease types, for the benefit of all p...
2021-06-0247 minResearchPodCoronavirus’s impact on maternal mental healthIt has been well established that mental health problems increase vulnerability to corona virus, COVID-19, and those contracting the virus are at higher risk of nervous system disorders and mental illness. The Mom2B study, led by Prof Alkistis Skalkidou and colleagues, explores the mental health of pregnant women and those who have recently given birth. Read their paper here: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.18.20248466Download the Mom2B app here:Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.mom2b.app2&gl=SEiOS: https://apps.apple.com/se/app/mom...
2021-05-2610 minResearchPodHuntington's disease and mouse modelsHuntington's Disease is characterised by a clear line of heritability within families, and an early onset of disease towards the middle of ones life. As such, the more knowledge researchers gain about development of the disease, the earlier interventions may be developed, and the longer their benefits felt.Dr Jessica Cao is researching the onset of Huntington's Disease in a mouse model, how the sex-dependent differences may reflect in humans, and prospects for therapies to improve the wellbeing of patients facing the disease.Read the original paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104607
2021-05-1228 minResearchPodClimate change and carbon in Antarctic expeditionsClimate change is real, happening now, and happening the world over. However, it is not an evenly distributed problem - coastal areas are the most susceptible to rising sea levels, and there is one coast that most people in the world will never get to see .The response of Antarctica to climate change is one of the big research questions facing the British Antarctic Survey. David Barnes, marine ecologist and lecturer, talks about life on the ice, life under it, and what the future may hold for polar regions.Read his recent blog ahead of the...
2021-05-0545 minResearchPodPreference orderings represented by coherent upper and lower conditional previsionsModelling human decisions under uncertainty has become a crucial issue in the field of Artificial Intelligence over recent years. Mathematical models of decision making under risk provide the user with an ‘optimal’ solution. These rational decision models, however, are not always able to describe the typical human approach to making decisions. Dr Serena Doria, from The Gabriele d'Annunzio University in Italy, presents a new mathematical updating model that can represent the awareness process of the unconscious and conscious thought.Read her paper here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-019-09699-3
2021-04-2812 minResearchPodChild rights and the climate strike movementSince its adoption in 1989, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has become the most widely ratified treaty in history. One of the underlying principles enshrined throughout the Convention is adult respect for children’s views. Professor Richard Mitchell argues the climate strikes and political activism inspired by Greta Thunberg, Autumn Peltier, and Salvador Gómez-Colón among others, represents an unprecedented human rights-based phenomenon, and one that emphasises millions of young women in leadership roles. Hear more about his research here, and read the original article at:https://doi.org/10.1080/02604027.2019.1698235
2021-04-2112 minResearchPodHow the arts, society and technology intersectThe Synthesis Center, a unique institutional experiment at Arizona State University created by Professor Sha Xin Wei, brings like minds together to explore the interface between media arts, the environment, engineering and technology.With the potential for global social impact, the results generate significant insights into how we interact with technology.Learn more about the The Synthesis Centre here and here, and find more from Prof Wei at his ASU staff page.
2021-04-1511 minResearchPodCellular sensing in a disordered environmentDr Farzan Beroz developed a physical theory of sensing that predicts cell behaviour. Cells are continuously exposed to mechanical stimuli from their surroundings, causing stresses that can guide cell behaviours throughout development, movement and healing. To ensure normal function, the bodies cells and their microenvironment constantly engage in a reciprocal and dynamic dialogue with one another - Mechanosensing.Dr Beroz' findings establish a model of cell behaviour and inspire novel ways to engineer high precision sensors. Read more in Research Outreach.Find the original article at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41467-020...
2021-04-1209 minResearchPodNicotine dynamics in e-cigarette useThe rising trends of e-cigarette use pose a new problem for regulators and healthcare providers: who is vaping, and how much nicotine. are they getting? Among many different brands, formulations, devices and behaviours, Ian Jones presents data from a sweeping review to determine the scientific underpinnings to how much is known, and is left to know, about the the typical puff.Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.12.016
2021-04-0824 minResearchPodBringing space closer with 3D printingLow-cost accessible space technologies are necessary to fulfil the promise of the “New Space” revolution and open the door to space exploration to everyone.In order to lower the cost of spacecraft propulsion, Dulce Máximo from the Tecnológico de Monterrey in México and Luis Fernando Velásquez-García from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology report on the first 3D-printed electrospray thrusters to be used in nanosatellites. Not only are these cheaper and quicker to manufacture, but they also use propellant fuel very efficiently. This important development is a significant contribution to the democratisation of nanosatel...
2021-04-0611 minResearchPodEliminating rheumatic heart disease in NepalRheumatic heart disease is the most common acquired heart disease in children and adolescents, and is disproportionately prevalent in marginalised communities across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands.Prof Thomas Pilgrim, Dr Prahlad Karki, and colleagues at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Nepal report on the successes, costs, and challenges of detecting early stages of rheumatic heart disease among children with echocardiographic screening followed by timely treatment with antibiotic prevention. Read the original article: doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.7050
2021-04-0110 minResearchPodTraditions and tool use among Bili-Uéré chimpanzeesDr Cleve Hicks from the University of Warsaw in Poland has been observing a special group of chimpanzees that have developed their own customs and traditions. Despite the logistical difficulties involved in reaching a remote part of DR Congo , as well as the ever-present threat of malaria and the dangers of armed conflict, Hicks and his team managed to document how these chimpanzees live – including tool making, feeding habits and sleeping style. Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-020-00149-4
2021-03-2913 minResearchPodIs Russia Fascist? Unraveling Propaganda East and WestIn Is Russia Fascist? (Cornell University Press), author Marlene Laruelle argues that the charge of "fascism" has become a strategic narrative of the current world order. The ruling Russian regime has increasingly been accused of embracing fascism, supposedly evidenced by Russia's annexation of Crimea, its historical revisionism, attacks on liberal democratic values, and its support for far-right movements in Europe. But at the same time, Russia has branded itself as the world's preeminent antifascist power because of its sacrifices during the Second World War, while emphasizing how opponents to the Soviet Union in Central and Eastern Europe collaborated with N...
2021-03-2209 minResearchPodA paradigm shift for fluid management in surgeryAdvances in modern surgery have been dependent upon advances in anaesthetic management. However, anaesthesia can have detrimental effects, as it is usually associated with reduced blood pressure, cardiac output and oxygen delivery. Drs Green and O’Brien have looked at how the use of intraoperative monitoring and management protocols can mitigate some of the deleterious effects of anaesthesia on the circulation.Read more about their work in Research Outreach, or find the original article at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/aew203
2021-03-1912 minResearchPodTackling maths anxiety to improve STEM participation for womenDespite advances in the education of women and girls worldwide, UNICEF reported in 2020 that female students still lag behind in terms of access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. Dr Lu Wang, Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at Ball State University, Indiana, brings together research and theory on the subjects of gender, spatial ability, math anxiety and math achievement. Her conclusions on the role of spatial ability could be crucial to future policy making to improve access to STEM courses and careers for female students.Read the original article: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-01...
2021-03-1712 minResearchPodThe Serotonin Power DietThe Serotonin Power Diet is a clinically-proven, practical, and easy to follow 12-week program that gives you the tools to stop weight gain naturally, regain control over cravings, and achieve real, sustainable weight loss.The Serotonin Power Diet by Dr Judith Wurtman and Dr Nina Frusztajer is available on Amazon and through the website.Follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
2021-03-1027 minResearchPodLearning and Memory: How memories are encoded in the brain of the fruit flyWhen thinking of tiny fruit flies, one doesn’t usually have their brainpower in mind. But even these small insects, like all animals, can learn behaviours in response to different stimuli. Prof André Fiala studies the learning behaviour of fruit flies, aiming to dig deeper into the computational principles underlying the encoding of learned information. Find more from Prof Fiala at his University of Goettingen website, and follow him on Twitter. Read the original paper this episode is based on : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.03.010
2021-03-0310 minResearchPodUncovering universal behaviour in biological systemsDeciphering the patterns of nature is something that has occupied curious minds for countless generations, from swarms of bugs to the flight of birds to the movement of your bodies own cells. Prof Andrea Cavagna of the Institute for Complex Systems leads a research group bringing together the worlds theoretical physics and experimental biology, building mathematical models of natural systems and uncovering the universal laws that underly the organisation structure of life.Read the original paper on swarm behaviours: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.268001
2021-02-2454 minResearchPodDigital transformation in Financial Services: The age of FintechFinancial innovation presents a significant opportunity that goes beyond its impact on financial services firms; the entire economy can benefit. Prof Anne-Laure Mention, Director of the Global Business Innovation Enabling Capability Platform at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, is a prolific contributor to the Open Innovation literature, with a keen research interest in FinTech. Find more from Prof Mention on Twitter , and her personal website.Find more on the Open Inno Train at https://www.openinnotrain.eu/Read more about her work in Research Outreach.Read her most recent p...
2021-02-1712 minResearchPodSaving the world with better data simulationsEcosystem loss, extinctions and climate change are ongoing challenges to life on Earth, and coming up with a plan to tackle their effects requires an accurate picture of what's happening where, and who is involved.Prof Tim Haas has taught and refined such models for years. In his latest paper, he lays out the case for a model unifying human behaviour, climate and ecosystem data, the computational power required to run it, and the credibility criteria any model should meet to prove its worth.Read the original paper at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226861
2021-02-0945 minResearchPodTheories of mind and consciousnessDr Pollard-Wright has formulated a transdisciplinary theory of mind as energy, which has implications for mindful control of experiences, emotions and responses.Read more about her work in Research Outreach, and find the original articles this episode is based on in:Medical Hypotheses - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109909 Communicative & Integrative Biology - https://doi.org/10.1080/19420889.2020.1846922Dr Pollard-Wright can be reached via Wild Ride Wildlife Services, and darkandnormalmatters.org
2021-02-0211 minResearchPodPicking exercise plans to fit your fitness goalsFinding a fitness plan that will help you reach your goals is a unique personal challenge for anyone embarking on a new exercise regime, and for personal trainers tailoring their instructions to clients. So what can research teach us about which exercise works best? And for whom?Prof Kjell Hausken of Stavanger University, Norway, outlines assesments made during structured fitness classes to assess the impact of different exercise sequences on heart rate and energy expenditure.Read more about Prof Hauskens work in Research Features, or find the original academic article at: https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2010.11868522
2021-02-0111 minResearchPodRoad sign psychology and dangerous drivingSpeed Display Signs inform drivers if they are breaking local limits, and are part of road systems internationally. But how much effect do they have on stopping recurrent speeding? And could changing their use offer a psychological nudge to drivers to slow down?Smadar Siev and Doron Kliger report on experiments to change speeding behaviours and reduce road traffic accidents.Read the original paper at: https://doi.org/10.1080/19439962.2019.1682732 Music in this episode is by Scott Holmes
2021-01-2809 minResearchPodHow could biology open chances for victory at the Winter Olympics?While the Winter Olympics may not have as high a profile as the Summer Olympics, the featured events are some of the most exciting sports around – but, with fewer events and categories available to compete in, there are reduced opportunities for athletes.Professor Kjell Hausken of the University of Stavanger, Norway, looked in detail at the physiological demands of five Winter Olympic sports and proposes new formats for the competition that will allow a fairer and more exciting event for both athletes and spectators.Read more about this work in Research Features, or find the or...
2021-01-2511 minResearchPodEquity and equal opportunities in US educationEqual access to education was an essential facet of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and has since come to be enshrined in law internationally. However, that is not the whole story of equality in education.Jen Neitzel, executive director of the Educational Equity Institute, is committed to improving educational experiences for students and practice for teachers, through tackling injustices built into the systems and architecture of state education. We spoke in early December 2020 about her work and her hopes for building a more just and equal education system.Her book, Achieving Equity and...
2021-01-2130 minResearchPodCod liver oil analysis for anti oxidant potentialCod liver has long reputation of health benefits, but manufacturers of fermented cod liver oils claim that their product contains more antioxidants, meaning the fatty acids like omega-3 keep better over time. A team at De Montfort University in Leicester led by Professor Martin Grootveld has tested these claims using a variety of techniques to determine the molecular differences between fermented and unfermented cod liver oils. Read more about this research in Research Outreach, or find the original paper at: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu1203075
2021-01-1811 minResearchPodTracing the history of East African artefacts in the SmithsonianWilliam Louis Abbott, a medical doctor sent to East Africa to gather artefacts for the Smithsonian in 1887, collected hundreds of pieces of art, craft and culture from across the region. Professor Amy Stambach of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has undertaken extensive research on this collections history, and just how these items came to Washington D.C.. Read more about Prof Stambachs work in the following articles:Ethnology Unboxed: The Making of Culture Through Its Performative (Un)doing. Ethnologies, https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2019.1687687Sourcing and shipping museum objects from East Africa to...
2021-01-1411 minResearchPodStem cells could offer hope for muscular dystrophyResearchers are investigating several novel approaches, including gene and stem cell therapy, to meet the challenges of diseases like muscular dystrophy. Recently, Dr Yoshitsugu Aoki of the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo and colleagues have summarised the current state of research into using urine-derived stem cells as models and prospective treatments, which may offer hope for patients with these potentially life-limiting conditions.Read more about their work in Research Outreach.Find the original paper this episode is based on at: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8091066
2021-01-1111 minResearchPodPsychological support and counselling for couplesChris Vincent and colleagues have developed a specialist interest in the impacts of serious illness on couples and family life. This gap between available services and their demand is especially important as the major emotional and financial burdens of long term illnesses fall on the family and, in particular, on adult partners.For more on the counselling options available, find a list of services and practitioners at Tavistock Relationships , or through the Tavistock and Portman Trust. For further resources, contact Liz Salter at The Harbour, Bristol, and the charity Relate.Chris Vincent can b...
2021-01-0610 minResearchPodMitochondria mutations underlying cancerMutations that affect the mitochondrial DNA may play a key role in cancers. However, the exact mutations that are involved in cancer are still unknown. Dr Fatimata Mbaye and collaborators, from the University of Dakar in Senegal examined the sequences of two regions of the mitochondrial genome to identify mutations that might serve as biomarkers for early disease diagnosis.Read more about this work in Research Outreach, or find the original paper at: doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.7.2203
2020-12-2111 minResearchPodYour DNA, Your SayOur DNA holds our deepest cellular secrets, from markers of our health the keys to our family tree. But if that information is stored in online databases, it can end up traveling further than we could ever imagine.The global nature of online data is exactly why the “Your DNA, Your Say” study was developed. Conducted in over 15 languages across 5 continents, the survey is designed to gather public perceptions on DNA, Big Data, concerns around privacy and who people trust. Read more about Your DNA, Your Say at the Wellcome Genome Campus site.Read the l...
2020-12-1749 min
ResearchPodNew standards for plastic analysis to prevent pollutionPlastic pollution is an environmental catastrophe in progress. 32% of the plastic we use escapes into the environment, and only 9% currently gets recycled. British company Polymateria have developed additives for conventional plastics which facilitate biodegradation if they escape the waste stream. Their proposal has now been taken up by the American Society for Testing and Materials, as well as the British Standards Institute, as the preferred way to assess plastic transformation.Read more about their work in Research Outreach, or in the journal e-Polymers: doi.org/10.1515/epoly-2020-0041
2020-12-0917 minResearchPodInnovation and evolution in business strategyDarwins theory of evolution underpins much of our current understanding of biology, and its concepts have even come to be applied in other disciplines. Ideas like ’Survival of the fittest’ and ‘mutations’ are part of common language today. Applying those concepts to the dog-eat-dog world of business, Professor Gino Cattani of the Stern School, NYU, works on uncovering what gives successful companies the edge over others; how innovation and creativity can be fostered to come up with new products and solutions, and how existing products can come to fit into market niche.Read more about his research here: ht...
2020-12-0843 minResearchPodWellbeing and beliefs among prisonersDo prisoners with religious beliefs and behaviours experience their incarceration differently? How does their emotional state affect the likelihood of rehabilitation, or repeat offences? Professors Sung Joon Jang and Byron R. Johnson at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, examine the effects of religion on offenders in the South African correctional system.Read more about their work in Research Outreach, or read the original paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2019.1689286
2020-11-2711 minResearchPodHow do zebra finches learn to talk?How exactly do birds ‘talk’ to one another? And might research into how birds listen to birdsong help us understand communication both in humans and birds? Dr Robert Dooling and his team, based at the University of Maryland, USA, showed that – for zebra finches at least – the subtle nuances in sound texture or timbre are more important than the sequence of repeated sounds.Find more on their work in Research Outreach, or read the original paper : https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0044
2020-11-2609 minResearchPodFree Electron Lasers: The biggest and brightestA millisecond may seem a short time to you, but for molecules, this may be longer than their entire lifetime. Dr Sergio Carbajo and his team at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory capture these high speed changes using a laser that is several kilometres long, known as a free-electron laser (FEL). Read more about their work in Research Outreach, or read the original research at https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.14400
2020-11-2509 minResearchPodCapturing three-dimensional cell structure with X-ray tomographyOptical microscopes, with the help of cell-staining to colour cells, can help us peer into the invisible world of cells. However, they only show us a 2D image of a very thin slice of tissue. But how can we see what the cells and tissue actually look like in 3D? Dr Madleen Busse from the Technical University of Munich has been developing X-ray stains that can be used to visualise cells and tissues in 3D using cutting-edge X-ray imaging techniques developed by her colleagues Prof Franz Pfeiffer and Simone Ferstl MSc.Read more about their...
2020-11-2309 min
ResearchPodReducing harmful emissions from cows using geneticsDairy farming can have negative effects on the environment, polluting waterways with an excess of nitrogen that can have long-term impacts. Past work has addressed this problem by looking at ways to reduce the cow’s urinary urea nitrogen concentration, but this has involved mitigation techniques that paint the cow as the problem rather than the solution. Cameron Marshall, a PhD student under Prof Pablo Gregorini at Lincoln University, New Zealand, investigates how cow genetics may hold the key to reducing the environmental impact of pastoral livestock production.Read more about their work in Research Ou...
2020-11-1909 min
ResearchPodTrauma-informed care and youth resilienceDr Christine Wekerle discusses the MAP study on trauma resilience among youth, well-venture interventions, and the JoyPop mobile platform for well-being and recovery support among survivors.You can find more information about the app at youthresilience.net and the ResilienceInYouth YouTube Channel Download the JoyPop app in the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/joypop/id1483835598?ign-mpt=uo%3D2
2020-11-1817 minResearchPodMovember, Coronavirus and mens mental healthThis year has proven a unique challenge to the mental health and resilience of many across the globe. Dr Christine Wekerle discusses how, for young people with mental health concerns, the challenges and opportunities of distanced society can be faced and embraced.You can find more information about the app at youthresilience.net and the ResilienceInYouth YouTube ChannelDownload the JoyPop app in the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/joypop/id1483835598?ign-mpt=uo%3D2
2020-11-1809 minResearchPodNicotine and disease in reviewWhile nicotine is perhaps the most notorious component of tobacco smoke, what can be said of its biological and chemical activity by itself? A recent paper by Dr Leonie Price and Dr Javier Martinez has dug into a century of scientific literature to find out.Read their paper in F1000 Research: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.20062.2
2020-11-1026 min
ResearchPodCanadian National Sport Organizations’ Governance, Branding and Social MediaHow can non-profit National Sport Organizations in Canada create effective brands, especially on social media, from which they can co-create value with stakeholders such as athletes, fans, sponsors, and the media? In a three-phase project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Marijke Taks, Benoit Séguin (University of Ottawa) and colleagues examined the challenges faced in managing and governing sports brands, and offer solutions to maximise benefits.Read more about their research in Research Outreach and in the journal European Sport Management Quarterly: https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2019.1690538
2020-11-0411 minResearchPodWar, colonialism and medicineLeo van Bergen is a medical historian who has spent his career chronicling the history of health and humanitarianism in warfare. In 2009 Van Bergen was awarded the J.A. Verdoorn-prize for his work, and his upcoming book A Cap of Horror will feature a collection of poems written on the First World War by nurses and carers.For more of his books, articles and columns, visit www.leovanbergen.nl , or view his ResearchGate profile here
2020-10-2911 min
ResearchPodDementia, degeneration, and gold nanoparticlesProf Kazushige Yokoyama, State University of New York Geneseo College, investigates how peptide interactions lead to fibrillogenesis, the process in the brain responsible for some symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Their research involves coating gold nanoparticles with peptides and using spectroscopic techniques to investigate how these peptides interactions lead to the onset of disease.Read more about their work in Research Outreach, or find their original research article in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20215354
2020-10-2612 minResearchPodCannabis in healthcare and medical researchCannabis and its derivatives have been at the centre of whirlwind of social, legal and medical change, from criminalisation to commercialisation in a single decade. This comes of the back of generations of work, research and advocacy in the potential medical advances and social justice that could come about through its approval and studySteve Goldner, perhaps most famous for inventing liquid dosage methadone, is CEO and founder of Pure Green Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a cannabis drug company at the forefront of research into the therapeutic qualities of cannabis. In this episode, we discuss Steves history in drug...
2020-10-0638 min
ResearchPodGlobal Quality of Democracy as an Innovation Enabler“Global Quality of Democracy as an Innovation Enabler" by Dr David Campbell, University of Vienna, asks how can we conceptualise and measure democracy? Can we determine the quality of democracy in global comparison, and how does quality of democracy act and play in favour of enabling innovation? Read the book through Palgrave Macmillan here: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72529-1
2020-09-2906 minResearchPodSubnanometer engineering: Clean energy sources and new materials propertiesProfessor Maria Pilar de Lara-Castells from the Institute of Fundamental Physics at the Spanish National Research Council is leading research in order to uncover the special properties of a new generation of materials: subnanometer-sized metal clusters, which could push the next generation of photocatalysts to a new level.Read about the research in these three papers: https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TA00994Ahttps://doi.org/10.1039/D0TA00062Khttps://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b06620
2020-09-2510 min
ResearchPodEnergy futures: A new model for resource extraction and investment decisionsProf Alexander David of the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, has developed a new framework that demonstrates the strong link between the slope of the futures curve and long-run exploration and production decisions of energy companies. Prof David’s model analyses the trends seen in the oil market by examining the impact of resource extraction through drilling, the effects of the amount of the commodity that the firms store, and the firms’ investment in exploration and development on current and future prices. In his paper, Prof David asks how oil futures prices affect exploration decisions....
2020-09-2413 minResearchPodHow ritual creates religionReligions across the world incorporate group prayer, dancing and devotions. Dr James Jones, clinical psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Religion at Rutgers University, explores how bodily behaviours, such as religious ritual, can affect a person’s perception of the world and their religious experience. Read a summary of his work in Research Outreach: https://researchoutreach.org/articles/neuropsychology-how-ritual-creates-religion/Read his original paper in the Archive for the Psychology of Religion: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0084672420903112
2020-08-1811 min
ResearchPodCatching lung cancer earlier with new detection techniquesNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most widespread forms of the disease. As with many other cancers, the best chance of survival comes with early diagnosis, but that isn't always possible for all patients. Dr Claudio Scafoglio and colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles have identified a new diagnostic technique that could efficiently identify the earliest stages of lung cancer.Read a summary of their work in Research Outreach : https://researchoutreach.org/articles/novel-imaging-technique-could-lead-early-diagnosis-lung-cancer/Read the original paper in Science Translational Medicine : https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/10/467/eaat5933
2020-08-1311 minResearchPodThe psychology of trustCooperation with others, including strangers, has helped humanity prosper throughout history. However, much of the psychology of cooperation is still unexplained, especially in the realm of indirect reciprocity, or cooperation without repeated encounters. Dr Isamu Okada, Associate Professor at Soka University, is exploring the responses of people participating in reputation-based cooperation games to distinguish between the good who deserve to be cooperated with, and the bad.Read more about Dr Okada's work in two papers from Scientific Reports, here and here.
2020-08-0510 min
ResearchPodBreast cancer, breathing and controlled radiotherapyDr Vishruta Dumane, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, is working on improving breast cancer treatments with the goal of delivering the most effective radiotherapy dose to the tumour, while limiting the risk treatment poses to other parts of the body. Her recent research looks at the use of deep inspiration breath holds (DIBH) during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to reduce exposure of critical organs, such as the heart and lungs.For more on Dr Dumanes research, read her article in Research Outreach: https://researchoutreach.org/articles/breath-hold-techniques-during-volumetric-modulated-arc-therapy-breast-cancer-patients/Read...
2020-07-3111 minResearchPodClimate change and childhoodDr Richard C. Mitchell, Professor of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University in Canada, celebrates the work of youth climate activists and advocates for a transdisciplinary approach to education.Read more about his research here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02604027.2018.1485435
2020-07-2413 min
ResearchPodToxic violence in the Middle EastDecades of conflict in the middle east and north Africa have left scores dead, an entire generation displaced, and lingering damages to health, infrastructure and culture. Meanwhile in America and Europe, surveillance states and civil restrictions have come to be the accepted cost of constant, distant war. As the world rounds on a new War against coronavirus, Drake Logan speaks with us about lingering toxicity, life in war time, and legos.Read Drakes latest paper here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0921374018821209Follow Drake on Twitter : @dr3keness
2020-03-271h 18ResearchPodBiochar for soil quality and farming sustainability in BrazilWe are all increasingly aware of the extent of humanity’s impact on Earth. The increasing concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases and Earth’s changing climate are constant in our news, but there are other ways that humans are directly impacting the environment. Production of food is vital for society, but finding sustainable and environmentally friendly methods of feeding everyone must be a priority. Dr. Agnieszka Latawiec from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and co-founder of the International Institute for Sustainability in Brazil is particularly interested in improving the management of pasturelands. Read more about her...
2020-03-2511 min
ResearchPodResearchPod TrailerWelcome to ResearchPod - a science communications podcast connecting you to research from across disciplines and across the world. Stay tuned for interviews, articles, exposés, and all the latest from academia. Find our episodes and more at researchpod.org, and follow us on your podcast player of choice.
2020-03-1600 minResearchPodResearchPod TrailerWelcome to ResearchPod - a science communications podcast connecting you to research from across disciplines and across the world. Stay tuned for interviews, articles, exposés, and all the latest from academia. Find our episodes and more at researchpod.org, and follow us on your podcast player of choice.
2020-03-1600 minResearchPodRevisiting the collapse of the Alexander L Kielland platform40 years ago, the Alexander L Kielland oil platform suffered a catastrophic structural failure and sank into the North Sea, with 123 of the crew onboard losing their lives. Today, Dr Edwin France brings his decades of experience in welding engineering to bear on the report into the cause of the collapse, and describes his different conclusions.Read Dr Frances paper on the platform collapse here, and visit his website here.
2020-03-1159 min
ResearchPodWhat makes Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet what it is?What makes a great work of music what it is? What integrates a given piece as one coherent whole? It may help to step back and ask what makes any given thing essentially itself. Fortunately, Aristotle can help us understand this question and its surprising ramifications. John MacAuslan’s research explains this search for a thing’s essence and how philosophy can help us gain further understanding of our thinking about music. Read more about his work in the Journal Of Essence and Context
2020-02-2032 minResearchPodExamining air pollution using citizen scienceAir pollution directly contributes to a host of health concerns, and is of increasing concern in highly industrialised cities. For insights beyond air quality sensors installed by local government, Dr Andrew May has engaged with citizen scientists and STEM students to gather vast quantities of data. Dr May and colleagues at Ohio State University are teaming up with local teachers and students to deploy low-cost air quality sensors throughout Central Ohio. They aim to identify areas for much needed air quality control, whilst integrating scientific learning within the local school curriculum.Read more about the project at R...
2020-01-2812 min
ResearchPodPhysics, philosophy, and the emergence of lifeDespite best efforts, the origin of life on Earth remains an open mystery. In a recent analysis bridging physics, evolutionary biology and the philosophy of just what life is, Prof Stuart Kauffman suggests autocatalytic sets of energetically favourable molecules making each other, and in turn themselves, as the building blocks of life as we know it.His interview touches on the limits of Newtonian and quantum physics, philosophical definitions of life and self, and the Anthropocene era of resource scarcity on a changing planet.Find out more about Prof Kauffmans work at the Institute for...
2020-01-1532 minResearchPodEngineering algae for photosynthetic fuelDr Nanette Boyle leads a lab which uses genetic engineering to design photosynthetic organisms capable of producing sustainable fuels and chemicals .Her most recent work has been the creation of powerful computer modelling tools which are able to predict the growth and production of these organisms. This will ultimately speed up the development of the industrial scale algae-based biofuels. Read more about her work at Research Outreach. The original research is available here.
2020-01-1313 min
ResearchPodPicky eating: Factors affecting feedingMany toddlers and infants go through a phase of picky eating – this won’t come a surprise to anyone, and is probably an intimately familiar story to many listeners – however, what kind of effect does picky eating at so young an age have on later health and habits? How is that affected by changing diets? And what’s the best way to encourage children to try something new? Read more about the research from Dr Caroline Taylor and Dr Pauline Emmett here, and follow their project at the Bristol University website.The original research paper is availabl...
2019-12-1720 minResearchPodFaith and forgivenessMany of us will have heard the phrase "To err is human, to forgive divine", but personally internalising and scientifically measuring that forgiveness between people and as religious experiences is an ongoing field of research. Prof Frank Fincham has spent the last few years working on that field, looking at the relationship those who seek forgiveness, those who grant it, and those seek forgiveness from a higher power.Read more about Prof Finchams work at Research Outreach, and through his own academic archive. Read his recent publication on divine forgiveness here.
2019-11-2632 min