Tag: change
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Mutating Astronaut Blood, A Cautionary Tale
Researchers at NASA have been holding on to astronaut blood for 20 years. But that's not the story. The story is that over that period, the blood has been mutating. Anthony and Jeff discuss this new wrinkle in the dangers of space travel - and space colonization - and how some very smart people are thinking about it. [more]
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Vaccinate Aging and Humanity’s Black Box
Vaccinating senescent cells was recently reported to improve changes associated with aging in mice. Anthony and Jeff discuss the ramifications for a wide range of disease - oh, and the notion of living forever? The, if climate change is really leading to the end of human civilization, maybe someone should record the process as a warning for subsequent forms of life. But how? Jeff and Anthony discuss the project taking shape to create Earth's black box. [more]
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Artificial Photosynthesis, an Old Dog, and New Picks
Researchers have developed a standalone device that converts sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into a carbon-neutral fuel, without requiring any additional components or electricity. Anthony and Jeff discuss how this might be an encouraging new way to combat climate change. Then, Jeff tries 2 stories to see which Anthony enjoys more. The first is perfectly preserved evidence of a 14,000 year old canine that had eaten a much larger animal. The second is a new way to clone a key from just the sound of it entering a lock. Which story will Anthony respond to more? [more]
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Snow vs the Volcano
Hawaii's big island recently got a little bit hairier. Golden filaments resembling human hair measuring up to two feet in length are draped across parts of the island—an unusual effect of the ongoing eruption from Kīlauea volcano. These strands may look like biological matter, but they’re actually made of glass. Jeff and Anthony look into discount Hawaiian vacation packages. [more]
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Alien vs Temperature
Did climate change already kill all the aliens we've been searching for? According to astrophysicist Adam Frank, it's certainly a possibility — and whether humans are doomed to the same fate may already be out of our hands. Jeff and Anthony once again consider the repercussions of running the air conditioner during a recording session. [more]
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Sun Blot (Live From PAX East 2018)
Scientists in developing nations plan to step up research into dimming sunshine to curb climate change, hoping to judge if a man-made chemical sunshade would be less risky than a harmful rise in global temperatures. Twelve scholars, from countries including Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Jamaica and Thailand, wrote in the journal Nature on Wednesday that the poor were most vulnerable to global warming and should be more involved. These countries are starting to research “solar geo-engineering”, which would mimic big volcanic eruptions that can cool the Earth by masking the sun with a veil of ash. Jeff and Anthony fondly remember this golden era Simpsons episode. Recorded live in Boston at PAX East 2018. [more]
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Twin Galaxies
A new study from NASA has found that astronaut Scott Kelly's genes are no longer identical to those of his identical twin after spending a year in space. Preliminary results from NASA's Twins Study found that seven percent of Kelly's genes no longer match those of his twin, Mark. Scott Kelly spent one year aboard the International Space Station during the study, while his brother remained on Earth. Jeff and Anthony discuss how this story might have been mutated. [more]
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