Curioscity

115 - Protein Structure II (w/ Clint Stalnecker!)

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our last episode about proteins discussed protein structure. What happens when protein has little or no structure? Let's learn to be scientifically co...

114 - J&J Vaccine Hesitancy (w/ Brianne Barker!)

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for an April update for the coronavirus vaccines that are being deployed worldwide. What's going on with Johnson and Johnson and do we need ...

113 - Ancient Food Preservation (w/ Rachel Kruger!)

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A bad apple spoils the bunch. So now you're left without a bunch of apples. In an age that lends itself to immediate availability of food, this might ...

112 - Ticks (w/ Samantha Pelletier!)

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We've previously discussed ticks as arthropod vectors, but there is clearly more to this organism than carrying human pathogens. What is a tick? Why d...

111 - Academic Dishonesty (w/ Eric Everett!)

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To maintain an open and rigorous basis for scientific discovery, there must be firm rules and understandings about academic dishonesty. What are some ...

110 - Scientists of the World I (w/ Sabastine Eugene Arthur!)

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Science is a global effort undertaken by individuals of vastly different backgrounds. What inspires someone to be a scientist? How different can each ...

109 - Acute Flaccid Myelitis (w/ Matthew Vogt!)

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast has previously discussed enteroviruses that are not poliovirus, but we haven't had the chance to delve into clinical presentations of inf...

108 - Organoids (w/ David Aponte-Díaz!)

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This show has talked about organelles, cell culture, and organs themselves. Today, we discuss a new technique to be able to study a variety of medical...

107 - Animal Consciousness II (w/ Molly Rathbun!)

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes it's hard to define philosophical concepts scientifically; often it's troubling to consider science philosophically. Today we'll talk about ...

106 - Animal Consciousness I (w/ Molly Rathbun!)

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes it's hard to define philosophical concepts scientifically; often it's troubling to consider science philosophically. Today we'll talk about ...

105 - Tumor Suppressor Genes (w/ Pat Faughnan!)

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020, approximately 1.8 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone. Last time, we discussed the basic foundations of c...

104 - Speciation (w/ Rachel Kruger!)

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's in a name? Would that which we call a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Maybe. But what we call groups of organisms is about more than jus...

103 - Lizards (w/ Aaron Griffing!)

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After a couple of weeks of virology and immunology, it's time to step back into the world of organismal biology. What is a lizard? What is a squamate?...

102 - SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines (w/ Brianne Barker!)

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we discussed vaccines at a 50,000 foot perspective, but today we focus on vaccines for one pathogen: SARS-CoV-2. Let's learn to be scientifi...

101 - Vaccines Primer (w/ Brianne Barker!)

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Oh boy, another nail biter! Today, we have to discuss the topic of vaccines. Are vaccines effective? If so, at what? Are they safe? Of course, to all ...

100 - Redwoods (w/ Michael Glore and Lathrop Leonard!)

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A truly tall episode. Today, we'll discuss the majesty of the redwood tree and how they contribute to their local ecosystems. Let's learn to be scient...

99 - Salmonella (w/ Edward Miao!)

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There's more to Salmonella than just Salmonellosis. What is salmonella? Why is it often related to foodborne illness? Let's learn to be scientifically...

98 - Innovator Inc(ubator) II (w/ Rachel Kruger!)

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Many scientists have adapted Hollywood's traditional "elevator pitch": a brief, persuasive spiel that you use to spark interest in you, your organizat...

97 - Atomic Orbitals (w/ Adele Musicant!)

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A common misconception is that electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom, like a planet around the sun. Why is this wrong? What are atomic orbitals? Let'...

96 - Academic Journals (w/ Stanley Maloy!)

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Scientific progress is fueled by scientific publication. What is a scientific journal? Why do scientists rely on them? Who is responsible for vetting ...

95 - Local Government Public Health (w/ Pam Hemminger!)

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The show has previously spoken with elected officials, but never during a time of a public health crisis. Today, we discuss Chapel Hill's response to ...

94 - Governmental Funding for Science in the US (w/ Brian Redder!)

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Scientific progress costs cold, hard cash. For US governmental agencies, many of which not-for-profit, this money comes from the taxpayer. How does th...

93 - Household Predators (w/ Kyla Garten!)

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You don't have to be the big cat to be the top dog. Today, we'll discuss how our feline friends impact the world and natural world around us. Let's le...

92 - Non-Mendelian Genetics (w/ Nate Diehl!)

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We've discussed the concept of the genome and the individual genes that make it up, but this show hasn't yet delved into how that blueprint expresses ...

91 - Mendelian Genetics (w/ Spencer Nystrom!)

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We've discussed the concept of the genome and the individual genes that make it up, but this show hasn't yet delved into how that blueprint expresses ...

90 - Science in Movies IV (w/ Allison Williams and TJ Russell!)

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film. What creative liberti...

89 - Arthropod Vectors (w/ Helen Lazear!)

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ticks and mosquitos, everyone's favorite arthropods. Why do these organisms tend to have a bad rap to humanity? Why are they potential disease-carryin...

88 - Book Club I (w/ Molly Rathbun!)

17 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Yet another long promised episode! Curioscity's inaugural book club starts with an important piece of literature: The Im...

87 - Computer Guts (w/ Archer Harmony!)

10 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Just what the heck makes my computer do computey stuff? Is there anything inside of the box responsible for loading my Friendster and Myspace pages? D...

86 - The Kidneys (w/ Zachary Billman!)

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The kidneys: indispensable for life as animals know it. What are organs? Why do we need them? What are kidneys? How are they different than kidney bea...

85 - The Supposed "Biogenetic Law" (w/ Kshitij Sharma!)

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today is a discussion of biological history and a famous, controversial naturalist. Just what is biogenetic law? Does ontogeny recapitulate phylogeny?...

84 - FAQ I (w/ Rachel Kruger!)

20 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast has been running for nearly two years, and over its tenure we've acquired some questions about the program and the participants. Today, w...

83 - Horseshoe Crabs (w/ Adele Musicant!)

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You may have been walking upon a beach and noticed a horseshoe crab. Their appearance can be severe, but they provide important contributions to their...

82 - Mitosis and Meiosis (w/ Carolyn Turcotte!)

06 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A long promised episode! Somehow, cells must become more cells. What are the processes required for reproduction? How are mitosis and meiosis differen...

81 - Radioactivity (w/ Roger Sit!)

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Radiation brings along images of post-apocalyptic landscapes and mutant ghouls, but there are also aspects of radioactivity that directly contribute t...

80 - Chikungunya and Togaviruses (w/ Jenny Loome!)

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

RNA viruses can appear in global pandemics suddenly and without warning (as we know from a recent, rude example). Today, we discuss the viral family T...

79 - Major Spotlight: Pseudo Major (w/ Noah Jager!)

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How diverse are degrees from University? What are some of the most striking parts of those fields of study? Today, we discuss a biological science deg...

78 - Major Spotlight: Organismal Biology (w/ Kyla Garten!)

09 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How diverse are degrees from University? What are some of the most striking parts of those fields of study? Today, we discuss a biological science deg...

77 - Cancer Primer (w/ Pat Faughnan!)

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020, approximately 1.8 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone. The disease is so infamous that some scientists sa...

76 - Major Spotlight: Computer Science (w/ Archer Harmony!)

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How diverse are degrees from University? What are some of the most striking parts of those fields of study? Today, we discuss a computer science degre...

75 - Major Spotlight: Material Science (w/ Gavin Hennessy!)

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How diverse are degrees from University? What are some of the most striking parts of those fields of study? Today, we discuss a material science degre...

74 - Coronavirus Myths (w/ Brianne Barker!)

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In times of significance, it seems like everyone is a certified virologist… even those who purport factually incorrect information. Today, we'll dis...

73 - Black Lives Matter

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I hope everyone stays safe, uses their time to educate others or themselves, and can overcome apathy. This is a point in time that will soon be referr...

72 - Coffee... and Birds! (w/ Fabiola Rodriguez!)

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This show has talked about biodiversity, but we haven't been the best at pointing the magnifying glass at ourselves. How do growth of non-essential cr...

71 - Genome Size (w/ Mike Itgen!)

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone listening has a unique combination of nucleic acids that make up their genome: a blueprint of you. We humans have over 3 billion nucleotides ...

70 - Capsaicin (w/ Aaron Griffing!)

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Let's sink our teeth into some pepper lore. It's gonna be a spicy episode, we're gonna warm up and listen to Under the Bridge (despite being a little ...

69 - Nitrogen Fixation (w/ Rachel Kruger!)

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Just what is this seventh element on the periodic table? Why is nitrogen so important to life? Why do plants require a long-term relationship with mic...

68 - Gene Editing (w/ Josh Yoder!)

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are many different ways to treat disease, but this show has not yet discussed gene therapy. What is a gene? What is gene therapy? What kind of d...

67 - Science in Movies III (w/ Allison Williams and TJ Russell!)

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film. What creative liberti...

66 - Simple Machines (w/ Adele Musicant!)

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fundamental physical properties govern our lives and how our world operates. Today, we will discuss simple machines and how they have contributed to h...

65 - Mitochondrial DNA (w/ Jessica Warren!)

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There's one place you can find DNA within your own cells that isn't the nucleus. What are mitochondria? Why do they have DNA and why don't all mitocho...

64 - Protein Structure I (w/ Shannon Speer!)

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After an episode about lipids and nucleic acids, it's time to forget about sugars and talk about my favorite bio-molecules: proteins. What are amino a...

63 - The RNA Earth Hypothesis (w/ Allison Williams!)

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to go deeper than the anthropological record. Long before ferns, salamanders, and Sam Raimi, there were precursor molecules that would event...

62 - Bringing a Drug to Market (w/ Josh Yoder!)

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast has discussed science and impacts of scientific discovery for one year now. We haven't yet discussed how a laboratory, university, govern...

61 - Malaria (w/ TJ Russell!)

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Carried by throngs of buzzing mosquitoes, the malaria parasite contributes significantly to global morbidity and mortality. Today, we'll discuss the d...

60 - Zoonosis (w/ Crystal Mendoza!)

05 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

While today's research often has a bias of being primarily for the benefit of humankind, there are many pathogens that negatively affect other organis...

59 - Nucleic Acids II (w/ Emily Madden!)

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With a name like Nucleic Acids I, you've have expected more discussion about RNA in episode 8: unfortunately, that episode was chock full of DNA. Toda...

58 - Computer Viruses (w/ Archer Harmony!)

20 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This is Curioscity, the show about viruses – the kind that make your computer sick. What is a computer virus? How is a computer virus different than...

57 - Innovator Inc(ubator) I (w/ Alana Lesnansky!)

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Many scientists have adapted Hollywood's traditional "elevator pitch": a brief, persuasive spiel that you use to spark interest in you, your organizat...

56 - Is Science Expensive? (w/ Craig Cameron!)

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast has discussed science and impacts of scientific discovery for one year now. We haven't yet discussed how a laboratory or university is ca...

55 - Yeast (w/ Mike Pablo!)

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Let's face it: we all spend time trying to think about our favorite unicellular eukaryotes. Today, we'll discuss the fungus kingdom and what yeast act...

54 - How are Organisms Related and Classified? (w/ Rachel Kruger!)

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As an attempt to understand the vastness of nature, humans have decided to try to organize the organisms of the world into neat, tidy groups. How simp...

53 - What is Industry? (w/ Jesse Noar!)

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are a variety of career paths for a scientist, but those paths might not be immediately clear. What is industry? What are some benefits and cons...

52 - Salamanders (w/ Mike Itgen!)

09 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Some of my earliest memories of science were simply hunting for the elusive Pacific giant salamander in the coastal northwest. Today, we'll talk about...

51 - Human Immunodeficiency Virus (w/ Brianne Barker!)

02 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Human Immunodeficiency virus is a virus that functions within the cell differently than any virus we've discussed before. HIV has led to Nobel prizes,...

50 - Antibiotics and our Future Crisis (w/ Brian Conlon!)

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Antibiotics are pharmaceuticals that can prevent certain types of bacterial infection. Recognized with a 1945 Nobel Prize in Medicine, humans have pre...

49 - Grab Bag IV (w/ Adele Musicant!)

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some topics are short and sweet, but do not warrant an entire episode of conversation. There have been many requests for smaller topics to be discusse...

48 - Science in Movies II (w/ Allison Williams and TJ Russell!)

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film. What creative liberti...

47 - The Liver (w/ Nyssa Tucker!)

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The liver is an organ that is mostly indispensable for life as animals know it. What are organs? Why do we need them? What is the liver? Let's learn t...

46 - Why do Side Effects Vary? (w/ Connor Wander!)

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Drug discovery has helped ease pain, prevent disease, and save lives. However, humans are new to the game at designing molecules to aid human health. ...

45 - Crohn's Disease (w/ Shehzad Sheikh!)

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

People who have years of experience with Crohn's disease under their belt know it's no joke. What is the digestive tract? What happens when your immun...

44 - Spooky Things (w/ Jen Buchholz!)

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Boo! Did I scare you? What is it to be scared? Can we define emotions, and how do emotions like fear tie into our daily life nowadays? How are fear an...

43 - Scaling Up Chemical Reactions (w/ Steve Sujansky!)

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Creating molecules that are relevant for life is a challenge that humans are only just dipping their feet into. There is a demand for creating molecul...

42 - Non-human Primates as Model Organisms (w/ Zachary Billman!)

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Great! I'm a primate. We conclude this year's series on model organisms by talking about non-human primates. What is a good model? What are the benefi...

41 - iGEM II (w/ East Chapel Hill!)

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Science accessibility has gotten better and better over the last few decades, and standardizing the tools to be able to do it has been a huge part. To...

40 - iGEM I (w/ East Chapel Hill!)

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Science accessibility has gotten better and better over the last few decades, and standardizing the tools to be able to do it has been a huge part. To...

39 - Grab Bag III (w/ Philip Hollingsworth!)

26 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some topics are short and sweet, but do not warrant an entire episode of conversation. There have been many requests for smaller topics to be discusse...

38 - Permaculture (w/ Dan Mar!)

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jared Diamond once wrote an article in 1987 entitled "The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race": how humans' advent of agriculture might hav...

37 - Cryptocurrency (w/ Archer Harmony!)

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Home to near two thousand different currencies at the time of recording, cryptocurrency has pushed the boundaries on currency exchange within the last...

36 - Combustion and Photosynthesis (w/ Kathy Yeager!)

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Chemical reactions define the world around us with invisible elements and symbols. While atoms can neither be created nor destroyed, the identities of...

35 - Analytical Sciences (w/ Bob Yeager!)

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Science is often intrinsically linked to quantification; the ability to report accurate data to peers and colleagues provides the basis for reproducib...

34 - Data Visualization and Sonification (w/ Fadi Alnaji!)

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists support their ideas with data, but it can become challenging to explain data when you're not familiar with the field or it is presented in ...

33 - The Double Doc (w/ Adam Lauring!)

15 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The formal title doctor can refer to a variety of different research or professional degrees. To achieve one is a huge accomplishment; but is there a ...

32 - Science in Movies I (w/ Evan Flynn!)

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film. What creative li...

31 - The Trials and Tribulations of Graduate Education (w/ Jen Heemstra!)

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If one completes a college degree but doesn't have a fully solidified next step, it can look to the casual observer that the logical place to go is a ...

30 - Cells as Model Systems (w/ Emery [formerly Grace] Usher!)

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Repel! I'm a cell. The word may be a bit nebulous, but cells are the smallest unit of life that we can define, and all living things are made up of ce...

29 - Human Evolution and Migration (w/ Molly Rathbun!)

18 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This show has previously discussed the concept of evolution, but it's time to put it into practice with our own species. Humankind as we understand it...

28 - Academic Administration I (w/ Eric J. Barron!)

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A common way to learn is seek higher education, which today is often provided by universities across the world. Most learn to thank their professors, ...

27 - Fireworks (w/ Sam Hartmann!)

04 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the United States, the fourth of July is commonly associated with fireworks, but the technology of gunpowder came from much earlier. What is the ch...

26 - Grab Bag II (w/ Seria Chatters!)

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some topics are short and sweet, but do not warrant an entire episode of conversation. There have been many requests for smaller topics to be discusse...

25 - Caves and Karst (w/ Brian Redder!)

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Much like myself, many animals that live deep within caves have no skin pigment, eyesight, and have slow metabolism. What is the importance of these h...

24 - Model of the Atom (w/ Pedro Rivera Pomales!)

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What scientists understand as the basic unit of a chemical element has been heavily scrutinized for over one hundred years. What are the fundamental c...

23 - A Brief History of Evolution (w/ Aaron Griffing!)

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Survival of the fittest is a famous anecdote but isn't always the best way of describing natural selection. Who was Charles Darwin? Whose shoulders di...

22 - The Endosymbiotic Hypothesis (w/ Henry Hsiung!)

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If I told you that hummingbird flight muscle was one of the richest known sources of mitochondria, could you guess as to what a mitochondrial function...

21 - Big Data and Machine Learning (w/ Divyanshi Srivastava!)

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

More and more fields collect as much data as possible in order to draw the most principled and specific conclusions possible. Still, without analyzing...

20 - What do Scientists do Day-to-Day? (w/ Amber Miller, Heather Giebink, and Tom Henderson!)

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It is clear that not all scientists are the lone, white coated figure surrounded by multicolored vials in the depths of the laboratory. To have an eff...

19 - Methods to See Really Big Things from Really Far Away (w/ Emma Raich!)

09 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we discussed seeing objects that are atomically small. Seemingly atomically small from our naked eyes on Earth, it can be incredibly challen...

18 - Methods to See Really Small Things (w/ Neela Yennawar!)

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A picture is worth 1,000 words and scientists' pictures tend to be crystal structures. What are ways that that scientists can see very small things? H...

17 - Invasive Species (w/ Kyla Garten!)

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Invasive species challenge the natural environment of many places they once did not call home. Why are invasive species dangerous? What are invasive s...

16 - Worms as Model Organisms (w/ Mahtab Peyambari!)

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Squirm! I'm a worm. With a name as long as Caenorhabditis elegans, you might expect this model organism to be larger. What is a model organism? Why wo...