Beta Sandwich Science Podcast

134 - Last One Out, Turn Off The Lights

Scott Barnett — Thu, 26 May 2016 14:01:06 +0000

On the final episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we talk about who we are, why we love science, and what's next for the hosts of the greatest podcast to have ever been, or ever will be. Thanks to all our listeners over the past few years, we hope you enjoyed the podcasts. Last person out please turn off the lights.

133 - GMOs Are A Go - Foe Show

Scott Barnett — Thu, 19 May 2016 14:53:10 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) What a long term study has to say about GMOs; (2) if magic mushrooms can help with depression; (3) Atomic Force Microscopy; (4) A biotech company is trying to restore dead people....sort of; and (5) Penis transplants...for real.

Also, if you want to know where Scott sources most of his stories from (here) is his Feedly link

132 - Moisty Phlegm-Vomit….Science

Scott Barnett — Thu, 12 May 2016 14:54:56 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Your ideal BMI may be higher than we used to think; (2) Does the word 'moist' offend you….you're not along; (3) bad science reporting….John Oliver nails it; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History Game

131 - I Like Big Brains And I Can Not Lie

Scott Barnett — Thu, 05 May 2016 15:17:42 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) What do you need to know about adrenal fatigue….besides the fact that It's fake ; (2) Big brains need lots of food; (3) Robot Surgeons; and (4) Australia hates Carp.

130 - The Dirtier The Better

Scott Barnett — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:30:57 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How tumors are even more nefarious than we thought (anthropomorphisation); (2) How dirty mice might make better research subjects ; (3) Correlation vs. Causation; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History

Click here to see those tumor migration videos

129 - Life Lives On

Scott Barnett — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:32:04 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) If carbo-loading before a workout is really all it's cracked up to be; (2) How viruses live on long after they're extinct through your DNA; (3) Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) and toxoplasma gondii....friends at last?; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History

128 - My Name Is Zika, I Live On The Second Floor

Scott Barnett — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:20:36 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Christian's 180 on Zika; (2) How the seeds of Skynet have been sown; (3) If momma eats spicy when pregnant her baby may like spicy foods too; and (4) Lasers now detect E. coli. full stop.

127 - Molecular Scissors Snip HIV From Your Cells

Scott Barnett — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:48:36 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How Cas9 has been used to excise HIV from your genome ; (2) 100 million C° plasma…what this means for you ; (3) Congrats anti-vaxxers, Measles and Whooping Cough are back; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History

126 - Oh PLoS One, What Have You Done?

Scott Barnett — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:38:13 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Whether or not the journal PLoS One was right to publish and paper with reference to the "Creator" ; (2) Were our ancestors able to evolve faster because they used tools to grind up their food; (3) Transgenic foods with anthocyanins to make them look cool; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History

125 - Amoeba DNA-Spewing Fungal Thingies

Scott Barnett — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) A GWAS study that identified the genes for grey hair and unibrows; (2) If probiotics actually make it to, and survive, in your gut ; (3) Amoeba DNA Spewing Fungal Thingies; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History

124 - Death By Froot Loops

Scott Barnett — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 16:00:18 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast with special guest Aaron Miller we discuss: (1) Can you survive on nothing else but Froot Loops and whole milk?; (2) Can looking out a window get your enough vitamin D?; (3) Are boys smarter than girls in Biology; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History!

123 - Get Your Tango & Cash Vaccine

Scott Barnett — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 16:03:29 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) A vaccine against illicit drugs; (2) Gut bacteria linked to fatty liver in alcoholics; (3) Aggregation induced emission molecules; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History

122 - Butter In Your Coffee, It's A Thing

Scott Barnett — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 15:51:29 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) If medium chain triglycerides are the bee's knees ; (2) Mice that live up to 35% longer when senescent cells are removed; (3) liquid metal; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History Game

121 - Burning The Wrong Calories

Scott Barnett — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 13:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Why you may be counting your calories all wrong; (2) How swabbing your C-section baby with vaginal fluids may be beneficial ; (3) Making (magnetic) Waves; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History

120 - We All Need The D, Even Me

Scott Barnett — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:31:22 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Zika! No, it's not a delicious alcoholic beverage from the 80s, it's a virus; (2) Some disturbing news about supplements; (3) Do your organs belong to you?; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History Game

119 - A Hard Pill To Swallow

Scott Barnett — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 15:06:25 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) What went wrong with the French clinical trials that killed one and hospitalized many more? ; (2) Can fruit help if you have ED? ; (3) New Periodic Table elements; and (4) More stuff about RNA

Click (here) to make the world's largest mersenne prime number for yourself!

118 - Making Waves

Scott Barnett — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:44:21 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) If twitter is the best place to declare a new scientific discovery; (2) New FDA guidelines that add daily limits for sugar; and (3) ; BSSH

Check out the causes of death chart (here), very cool.

And below is the youtube video explaining gravity!

117 - Changing Your Mind May Not Be Possible

Scott Barnett — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 15:45:19 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Free will and precognition ; (2) A vas deferens valve to be used as birth control; (3) Using your body as a barometer ; and (4) 2015 Science story review

116 - Does Your Fat Dad's Epigenome Make You Fat Too?

Scott Barnett — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 06:00:23 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) If gamete based miRNA affects epigenetics in offspring ; (2) If a blood-curdling scream actually curdles your blood; (3) If fish oil can convert white fat to brown fat; and (4) We explain how some cancers may be contagious!

115 - Quackpot

Scott Barnett — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 17:20:57 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Just how common spontaneous vs. inherited cancers are; (2) If exercise promotes a strong immune system; (3) How spider webs inform us of an ecosystem's health; and (4) Using your personal genome as fashion.

114 - 100,000,000 Times Faster

Scott Barnett — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 15:36:48 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How quantum computing and quibits are 100,000,000 faster than normal computers (in some cases); (2) How we're using chickens to make our drugs (Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Kanuma); (3) Using DNA as a hard drive; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History.

113 - BEES!

Scott Barnett — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 19:29:30 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Whether or not bees are dying in droves; (2) Learn what 'resistant starch' is and if you should be eating it; (3) Why the universal flu vaccine may be further off than we hoped; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History game!

112 - The Chimps Have Left The Building

Scott Barnett — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 19:25:12 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) The NIH's end to chimpanzee funding ; (2) We play a science quiz; (3) Will we be using the Xbox for science? ; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History Game.

Karolina Shielding unwanted sounds from her mic.

111 - Nerve Cells, More Like Nerd Cells

Scott Barnett — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:06:27 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) The spatial temporal importance of neuron firing (it's cooler than it A1:N203 (2) How microchannels in fabric may make you cooler as you exercise ; (3) The first GMO salmon (AquAdvantage) is now approved by the FDA; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History Game.

110 - Tiny Bubbles, In Your Brain

Scott Barnett — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:58:41 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How a team of physicians at the University of Toronto are using tiny bubbles and sound waves to make holes in the blood brain barrier to deliver drugs ; (2) If Soda gives you kidney stones; (3) BigData, it's what for breakfast; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History Game.

109 - Your Parasite Has Cancer, Now What?

Scott Barnett — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 15:20:35 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) If bacon gives you cancer?; (2) What happens when your parasite give you its cancer; (3) The Insulin index vs the more well known Glycemic index ; (4) A cool new way to treat MRSA; and (5) Beta Sandwich Science History game.

On October 28th, 2014, NASA's ATK Antares rocket exploded on takeoff (copyright NASA). Click on the image to see more images from the explosion!

108 - Herpes vs. Cancer - FIGHT!!!

Scott Barnett — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 03:42:27 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How a modified form of herpes (HSV-1) called Imlygic has been approved by the FDA to treat melanoma; (2) how eating causes the formation of insulin which in turn affects dopamine in the brain; (3) a 23 And Me update; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History!

107 - Does Epigenetics Explain Homosexuality?

Scott Barnett — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 14:21:51 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How some scientists believe histone modification may be the key to understanding homosexuality; (2) If "stress" can be passed from father to offspring via miRNA; (3) a War on Science update; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History Game

It's not a great photo (the flash was off) but here's Ira Glass (of NPR's This American Life) looking a wee bit horrified as I explain how an organ bath works. Sorry Ira :)

Here's a much nicer one of us. Thanks for coming to Reno Ira, you have a great talk!

106 - WTF: Ebola Is An STD?!? ... Maybe

Scott Barnett — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 01:36:48 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's War on Science; (2) How Ebola may be an STD; (3) RNAi as a drug therapy; and (4) some sweet, sweet Beta Sandwich Science History.

105 - Yet Another Reason To Distrust Birds

Scott Barnett — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 18:15:47 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How some birds see more of the spectrum than we thought, and this may affect how they think; (2) Researchers how discovered a way to identify specific antibodies and proteins from whole plasma in minutes; (3) A nutrition quiz; and (4) Beta Sandwich Science History!

Sorry, the HIV detections article is behind a paywall, but more information can be found below.

Detecting HIV diagnostic antibodies with DNA nanomachines

104 - Your Personal 'Cloud' Of Bacteria

Scott Barnett — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 16:04:20 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How a poison called palytoxin generate by some aquarium corals may kill you ; (2) The potential skewing of results when private funding is A1:N203 ; (3) A new HIV drug that cuts transmission rates in half; and (4) how your aquarium might kill you.

Click (here) to check out the 2015 ASM Agar Art Winners! Very Cool Stuff

Look at this picture of Charon, Pluto's largest moon. It's so big relative to Pluto that its gravity causes the two objects to circle each other like a pair of dancers holding onto one another. I love how some of the craters are so large that they are clearly visible on the horizon. A+ NASA.

click on the image to go to the NASA site for more pics

This is palytoxin, a poison gas released from some types of coral. It is a stunning molecule with over 100 continuously linked carbons and it has one of the greatest IUPAC names ever (see below)

(2S,3R,5R,6E,8R,9S)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-6-[(1S,2R,3S,4S,5R,11S)-11-{[(1R,3S,5S,7R)-5-[(8S)-9-[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-6-[(2S,3S,4E,6S,9R,10R)-10-[(2S,4R,5S,6R)-6-[(2R,3R)-4-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-6-[(2S,3Z,5E,8R,9S,10R,12Z,17S,18R,19R,20R)-20-{[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-6-[(1Z,3R,4R)-5-[(1S,3R,5R,7R)-7-{2-[(2R,3R,5S)-5-(aminomethyl)-3-hydroxyoxolan-2-yl]ethyl}-2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl]-3,4-dihydroxypent-1-en-1-yl]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl}-2,8,9,10,17,18,19-heptahydroxy-14-methylidenehenicosa-3,5,12-trien-1-yl]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]-2,3-dihydroxybutyl]-4,5-dihydroxyoxan-2-yl]-2,6,9,10-tetrahydroxy-3-methyldec-4-en-1-yl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyoxan-2-yl]-8-hydroxynonyl]-1,3-dimethyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-7-yl]methyl}-1,2,3,4,5-pentahydroxydodecyl]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]-2,5,8,9-tetrahydroxy-N-[(1E)-2-[(3-hydroxypropyl)-C-hydroxycarbonimidoyl]eth-1-en-1-yl]-3,7-dimethyldec-6-enimidic acid

103 - Don't Put Your Bird In My Box

Scott Barnett — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 15:56:18 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How monogamous birds aren’t good parents when forced to mate with others; (2) How sounds waves can be used to activate neurons (sonogenetics); (3) Should you be eating legumes?; and (4) using a protein in algae to help the blind see (Retinitis Pigmentosa).

102 - Is Your Baby A Psychopath?

Scott Barnett — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 02:52:57 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) A new test that may be able to tell if a 5 week old infant will be a psychopath; (2) Whether or not Alzheimer’s disease is contagious; (3) Something that might prove Einstein wrong; (4) Should you be able to patent a single neutron addition to a drug?; and (5) Why do we get motion sickness?

101 - The Everlasting Ice Cream Cone

Scott Barnett — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 00:41:51 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) how a bacterial protein may prevent your ice cream from melting; (2) whether a low fat or a low carb diet will assist in weight loss; (3) why are so many scientific studies non-reproducible; and (4) a new game on the podcast that you can play along with.

100 - Our 100th Episode! We Love Our Listeners!!!!

Scott Barnett — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 02:02:53 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we welcome back the permanent return of Dr. Del Jackson as we celebrate our 100th episode and we discuss: (1) Allulose, a really old artificial sweetener that's making a comeback; (2) Have scientists developed a vaccine that will permanently protect your from the flu?; (3) We might have a vaccine for malaria....waaaahhhhh; and (4) and black holes and female Viagra....unrelated....really.

The Wired article about the universal flu vaccine can be found (here).

099 - Do Microwaves Destroy Your Food's Nutrients?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 15:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) An enzyme found in soil bacteria that may help you quit smoking; (2) Whether or not microwaves destroy nutrients in food; (3) A court ruling that may hobble the FDA and allow companies to market off-label uses for their drugs; and (4) The science behind how mussels stick to rocks….it’s cooler than it sounds.

098 - Poisons, Toxins and Venoms Oh My!

Scott Barnett — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 20:12:59 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Whether or not you should be drink milk; (2) A newly discovered species of frog that injects venom with poison head spikes; and (3) A new drug delivery system that uses a chimera of two viruses to cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver conotoxin to treat pain.

097 - The Primordial Desert?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) If life may have originally desert instead of the ocean; (2) A better way to kill the beetles that are eating our coffee; and (3) Egg whites made in the lab…yummy.

096 - Sniffing Out The Truth Behind Human Pheromones

Scott Barnett — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 17:55:14 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) If there is any truth to the idea of human pheromones ; (2) Super small spectrophotometers and why that's cool ; and (3) Extreme Drug Resistant (XDR)….well….you'll just have to listen.

095 - Gene Therapy Targets Cystic Fibrosis

Scott Barnett — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 04:10:13 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Whether or not a new Nature article that discuses a potential malaria therapy means anything ; (2) Why soy might make your eggs smell like fish ; and (3) A new approach to treat cystic fibrosis using gene therapy.

094 - "Painting" Brain Tumors With Scorpion Toxin

Scott Barnett — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 17:24:59 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Using a toxin from the Death stalker scorpion in identify gliomas; (2) Learn how scientists have cooled NaK to 500 nanokelvins ; and (3) Do vitamin B12 supplements lead to acne?

Check out (this ) great graphic from Scientific American that show just how large Africa is.

093 - Eating Fatty Foods Just Got A Little Safer (Take That Statement With A Grain Of Salt)

Scott Barnett — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 20:21:20 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Just what p-values are and why they matter; (2) Drunk Chimps; (3) FDA Ban on trans fats; (4) The failure of the drug TKM-Ebola; and (5) Parents can't tell when their kids are overweight.

092 - You Suck At Counting Calories

Scott Barnett — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 00:30:46 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) It turns out that most people are horrible at counting their calories; (2) 'Elite controllers' have immune capabilities to limit HIV spread through CD4/CD8 modulation; and (3) What are sulfites and why might you be sensitive to them?

091 - Sink Your (Limpet) Teeth Into This Episode

Scott Barnett — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 18:21:28 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) The world's strongest natural substance; (2) Modifying the bacterial genome to reduce antibiotic resistance; (3) Using heart medication and depression medication to fight ebola, and (4) An inexpensive test to determine what viruses you've been exposed to.

090 - The (W)Hole Story Of Swiss Cheese

Scott Barnett — Sun, 31 May 2015 17:14:25 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) What really causes the holes in your beloved Swiss cheese; (2) Using bacteria to detect tumors in your body; (3) Optogenetics (using light to stimulate individual neurons); and (4) How to make GMOs self-destruct.

089 - Does Daycare Decrease Your Child's Risk Of Cancer?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 24 May 2015 19:02:57 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How scientists are using yeast to make morphine; (2) New technology that allows for unprecedented control of artificial limbs with mind control; and (3) Why sending your children to daycare may help protect them from some types of cancer.

A link to the Wired article where they made a close derivative of Palcohol

088 - Non-GMO Food To Be Labeled By USDA (heavy sigh)

Scott Barnett — Tue, 19 May 2015 01:50:44 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss how the USDA is going to label non-GMO foods. Is this a good for the consumer or needless fear mongering?

087 - Old Viruses Can Learn New Tricks

Scott Barnett — Sun, 10 May 2015 16:27:19 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Ebola's abiliity to thrive in your eye even after you've been treated; (2) Is grass fed beef better for you? (3) Can Viagra help treat Malaria?

086 - You Have Been Lied To: Calorie Counts On Food Are Wrong, And How To Fix It

Scott Barnett — Sun, 03 May 2015 15:45:08 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) Gene therapy being used to treat heat disease; (2) Predicting cancer based on telomere length; (3) Why the nutritional labeling on packaged food is wrong, and how to fix it; (4) How the world's most deadly toxin, botulinum, just got more deadly.

085 - We Have Officially Edited The Human Genome: Now What?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 17:24:37 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) Organic and Natural GMOs….yes, this is a real thing; (2) An easy way to tell monozygotic twins apart using their genomes; (3) Do multi-vitamins give you cancer?; (4) Scientists have officially edited the genome of a human embryo; (5) and what to eat before and after your workout.

Here is a link to the sports Medicine Nutritional Data Sheet Karolina recommends (here)

084 - Why Dr. Oz and The 'Food Babe' Are Dangerous For Science

Scott Barnett — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 17:35:54 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) How the scorpion protein Chlorotoxin can be used to identify brain tumors during surgery; (2) How a polio/rhino virus chimera is being used to treat glioblastomas; (3) Whether or not we should be permanently altering our germ line; and (4) The bad science of Dr. Oz and the Food Babe.

There is no better place on the internet for science graphics. Informative and fun. I could spend hours on this website! http://www.compoundchem.com/

Karolina going to her 80's party

Scott at an 80's party (circa 2000)

083 - Tick Tock: Why Your Heart Beats and What To Feed It

Scott Barnett — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:59:34 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss :(1) A team of 150 medical personal lead by Sergio Canavero are going to attemp a human head transplant; and (2) Christian and Karolina talk about how your heart beats, and what you should be feeding it based on modern peer reviewed data

082b - Mickey D's Is Antibiotic Free

Scott Barnett — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 04:51:41 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) Two new GMO plants, the Arctic Apple and the Innate Potato, (2) The growing trend of antibiotic free food animals, (3) The return of the Large Hadron Collider, and (4) male mice sing louder and with more complexity when trying to swoon unseen mates

082a - Technically Challenged

Scott Barnett — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 20:25:22 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) Scott forgets to hit record on the Skype audio (2) There is no episode this week (3) or next week (Christian and Scott are at a conference). See you in two weeks :)

081 - Powdered Alcohol Is Legal. Yeah?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 20:07:03 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) Whether or not we should care that powdered alcohol is now a thing, (2) If worms have free will, (3) If Oxytocin can make you loose weight, and (4) The ambitious plans for 23andMe to make drugs

080 - Is Daylight Savings Time Killing People?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:29:30 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) is daylight savings is responsible for an uptick in heart attacks (2) Does the Mediterranean diet lower you risk of heart attacks (3) Does peanut exposure as an infant prevent type I hypersensitivity?

079 - Ice Cream or Cry Scream: Are Emulsifiers Causing Intestinal Inflammation?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 19:14:27 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) If emulsifiers in food are causing intestinal inflammation and digestive disorders; (2) A discussion on vaccines and why people believe charlatans; and (3) A new rapid field test for Ebola and why that may not be a great thing.

078 - A Potential Alternative To An HIV Vaccine?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 17:11:37 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) How a protein peptide may act as a viable alternative to an HIV vaccine; (2) How keytones normally associated with fasting may act as a therapeutic for inflammation; (3) how the sun may continue to cause damage your DNA hours after your move indoors, and (4) an update on 23andMe

077 - Hot Bondage: The "Vibrational Bond" Strengthens When Heated

Scott Barnett — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 18:04:24 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) Asbestos in Nevada and the possibility that something fishy might be going on; (2) a newly discovered chemical bond called the "vibrational bond" that gets stronger as temperature increases (3) a parasite update…this time, Pin Worms.

076 - A Peanut A Day Keeps The Anaphylaxis Away

Scott Barnett — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 17:13:58 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) The fact that many store brand supplements contain NO supplements; (2) Just what's going on with the measles outbreak?; (3) The mysterious and ingenious Bot fly; (4) Do probiotics decrease your immune response to peanuts?

075 - Trypanosoma, It's Time To Get To Know Ya

Scott Barnett — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 22:00:43 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) The wonderful and wacky world of parasites; (2) If running ultra-marathons is really that good of an idea for your ticker; and (3) Florida is considering introducing GMO mosquitos to quell new viruses as global warming makes the region more hospital to tropical diseases.

074 - Orange You Glad You Listened To This Episode: Is OJ Better For You Than A Whole Orange?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:39:26 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) Is Orange Juice more nutritious than a whole orange; (2) Nano drug-delivering machine that use your stomach acid as fuel; and (3) A primer on parasites.

Permalink

073 - The Modern Prometheus: Immortality From The Fires Of Science

Scott Barnett — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 17:34:17 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) How your body metabolized food; (2) Why some foods can be digested while others can't; and (3) New tools that allow us to 3D print organs using DNA glue, and how scientists are growing working muscles from scratch in the lab.

072 - SPECIAL EPISODE - The Poisoncast Preview

Scott Barnett — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:07:13 +0000

Beta Sandwich Science fans. Get a sneak peak of Scott's new podcast, The poisoncast. On this episode of The Poisoncast learn just how Black Mamba venmon kills you. We travel deep inside the body and discuss the science behind dendrotoxins and how they interact with the neurons in your brain.

071 - Giving MRSA The Middle Finger

Scott Barnett — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:07:07 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) The science behind ice cream and brain freezes, and (2) The first new major antibiotic in years, teixobactin, that can treat MRSA and Tuberculosis

070 - Game of Scones: Test Your Knowledge of Dieting With This Metabolism Quiz

Scott Barnett — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:01:56 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) If you should be concerned about arsenic levels in rice, (2) New research shows that proteins can be elongated in the ribosome without an mRNA template, and (3) The Metabolism Quiz. Christian tests your knowledge of the conversion of food to energy

069 - Genes For Sale: How Patent Law Is Affecting Ownership Of DNA

Scott Barnett — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 19:58:43 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we have special guest Aaron Miller, a patent lawyer specializing Biotechnology patents. We also talk about (1) a new drug that can convert white fat into brown fat, and (2) how gout works, and why you don't want it.

068 - Can DNA Be Used To Tell Identical Twins Apart?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 17:45:36 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) seeing light at one billion frames per second (2) how scientists are using new tools to identify if DNA point mutations will alter drug effectiveness against malaria (3) can we tell identical twins (monozygotic) apart using just their genomes, and (4) how determining the 3D structure of influenza RNA polymerase may help us develop better drugs against it.

1 billion frames per second!!!!

Click here to learn more about the influenza polymerase structure

067 - Does The Gay Gene Exist?

Scott Barnett — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 21:12:29 +0000

On this week's fabulous episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) New research that may have found mutations in certain genes correlated with homosexuality (2) Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) work? (3) Are some people immune to Ebola? (4) an update on the Philae probe to comet P67 and what it found.

JPL's new stunning images of Europa can be found here!

066 - Pot Tumors, Booze Hearts, and Autism Bacteria

Scott Barnett — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 03:27:14 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) How cannabis has been found to shrink certain types of brain tumors (2) How for a certain lucky percent of the population moderate alcohol intake is correlated with significant decrease in heart disease, unfortunately, this protections does not spread to everyone (3) A new article in the journal Cell has found that certain microbiota (gut bacteria) can decrease autism spectrum disorder symptoms in mice

Source National Geographic article for the ASD discussion

065 - The Wrong Way To Murder Someone With Cyanide

Scott Barnett — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 18:18:10 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss (1) How cyanide kills you...or someone else (2) How the microbiome (gut bacteria) of mono/dizygotic twins differ (3) Why plants don't get "skin" cancer, and (4) Whether or not we should be finding ways to make pathogens more deadly.

064 - Life After Your Ph.D.: An Interview With 'Future of Research' Co-Founder Dr. Kristin Krukenberg

Scott Barnett — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 21:43:14 +0000

Link to Future of Research

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we talk about: (1) Growing stomachs in the lab (2) Serendipitous laboratory discoveries, and (3) We interview Dr. Kristin Krukenberg, co-founder of 'Future of Research' and postdoctoral fellow are Harvard Medical School.

063 - Nitrates, Nitrites Everywhere And Not A Brawt To Eat

Scott Barnett — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 01:19:37 +0000

On this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss whether or not nitrates/nitrites are harmful to you; the Ig Nobels; Science and Bob Dylan; A Skin Cancer Camera; And whether it not it matters if you lose weight fast or slow.

062 - Skunked Beer, Rabbit Erections, Stinky Clothes, Insert Gene Here, And Pregnancy Sans Uterus!

Scott Barnett — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 02:03:30 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we talk about a shmorgishborg of topics. We learn why beer gets 'skunked'; how to give erections to those who can't; a really cool new technique to insert new genes into your genome; and how a woman with no uterus got pregnant.

ACS youtube video about skunked beer

061 - Killing Cancer With Anthrax; Killing Malaria With Fungus; and Killing White Fat With Brown Fat

Scott Barnett — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 02:22:24 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we talk all about how to kill bad cells while keeping the good ones healthy. We discuss: How scientists at MIT are using a modified form on anthrax to kill cancer cells by targeting intracellular proteins; we also talk about how fungus might be used to kill the Malaria parasite; finally, we talk about how brown fat in adults may be used as a weight loss tool in the future.

060 - Do Artificial Sweeteners Cause Glucose Intolerance?

Scott Barnett — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:39:59 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss a Nature paper hot off the presses that suggest that Artificial Sweeteners (in particular Saccharin) leads to glucose intolerance in mice and humans, and this may increase your risk of Type II Diabetes. We also talk about how micro-RNAs can change the sex of adult flies. Finally, we ask the question, "Should failed research be published in an effort to broaden our scientific knowledge and to prevent needless replication of experiments?"

Cool graphic detailing the relative sizes of telescopes over the past 100 years

059 - Mr. Barnett Goes to Washington

Scott Barnett — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 18:57:11 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss Scott's trip to Washington D.C. where he spoke to members of Congress about the importance of Basic Science research. We also discuss a lot of science, to include: How DNA coding errors and aneuploidy may actually benefit you; Christian talks about some cutting edge stem cell research; Karolina tell you if insects are a viable protein/vitamin source; and the triumphant return of Dr. Del Jackson ends the show with a discussion on how ionic liquids are being used to kill bacteria.

Scott Article was based on this Scientific American article titled: Garbled DNA Might Be Good for You

Christian's Reno weather analysis for Summer 2013/2014 can be found here

058 - Fecal Pills, Illegal Eggs, Cancer Drugs and Artificial Cell Locomotion

Scott Barnett — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 23:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast with special Guest Aaron Miller we discuss a more refines fecal transplant pill; we talk about why British eggs are illegal in the U.S.; as well as new antibody based cancer drugs; and finally, an artificial cell that has achieved locomotion.

057 - Penetrating the Microbial Biofilm & Growing Organs From Scratch

Scott Barnett — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 03:06:22 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we talk about new drugs that can penetrate the bacterial biofilm and kill previously invulnerable microbes and we also discuss cutting edge research in which scientists are growing organs de novo in mice. Good times :)

056 - Is Eating Organic 'Safer', and Do We Now Have a Vaccine Against Cocaine?

Scott Barnett — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:17:06 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss whether or not eating organic foods is safer than foods grown in modern pesticides/herbicides. We also talk about how it may be possible to create a vaccine against drugs like cocaine and heroine in the same way we do for the flu or chickenpox.

055 - Ebola Drugs, Phthalates and Sodium, Oh My!

Scott Barnett — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 02:09:16 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss: (1) How a modified tobacco plant is being used to treat the Ebola virus, (2) How a common chemical called Phthalate decreases testosterone in the young and elderly, and (3) Just how much sodium do you need and should we really be concerned about eating too much?

054 - Ebola, E-Cigs and Jogging: Learn How to Live Longer or Die Quickly On Today's Show

Scott Barnett — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 00:38:53 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss how Ebola kills you; why 10 minutes of jogging a week might be enough; and whether or not you should jump on the e-cigarette bandwagon.

053 - A Roach Motel For The Malaria Parasite; and Scientists Have Discovered a New Virus That's Probably In You Right Now

Scott Barnett — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:27:44 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we discuss how scientists have found a way to trap the Malaria parasite in the red blood cell it's infected so that it can't infect other cells. Also, we talk about how scientists at SDSU have found a virus previously unknown to science (crAssphage) that happily resides in 75% of all people's guts.

052 - Talking Chimps, Healthy Obese People, and C-Sections Affecting Baby Epigenetics

Scott Barnett — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:22:23 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we have an open panel discussion about how SNPs in Chimps allow them to vocalize like humans, how overweight Americans may actually be healthier than their thin counterparts, and how delivering a baby via C-Section changes its epigenetics distribution and why this may be bad

051 - Will Your Genetic Code Be Used To Discriminate Against You In The Future?

Scott Barnett — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 04:27:37 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we planned on talking about a bunch of stuff but instead we had a "lively" debate about how the data contained in your genome may or may not be used against your in the future. It's a fun show!

050 - Our 50th Show! - To Celebrate We Look Back At What The World Of Science Was Doing 50 Years Ago

Scott Barnett — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 21:08:03 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast we celebrate our 50th show by taking a trip down memory lane and seeing just what was going on in the world of science 50 years ago. Some things have changes drastically, while others have stayed the same. You won’t want to miss this episode!

A Great Resource For Biotechnology & Medicine in the 1950s

049 - Science Are Hard: Understanding Why Research Sometimes Contradicts Itself And Why That's OK.

Scott Barnett — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 02:00:04 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Karolina and the team discuss why science often seems to contradict itself. One week an article tells you fiber prevents colon cancer, the next scientists say it doesn't. What gives? Don't worry, science isn't broken, there are good reasons for this....listen and learn :) In 'Science Blast' we discuss: (1) How your gut bacteria develop differently when you're malnourished as a child and this can have massive consequences (2) How Canada is taking steps to steps to prevent misuse of 'natural' drugs with Bill C-17.

048 - Science Mythbusting: Test Your Knowledge Of Common Science Misconceptions

Scott Barnett — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 13:37:18 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Christian and the team discuss some of science's most common myths and misconceptions. Test your know how against our hosts. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: (1) How scientists are creating 3D-printed blood vessels for tissue transplants; (2) We have found that a single point mutation is responsible for blond hair; (3) How becoming a father rewires a man's brain; (4) a 1 micron sized motor that may or may not be that interesting for drug delivery.

GIF Made with Electron Microscope Zooms In On Life, On Life, On Life

047 - Fiber: Bland Food, Exciting Science!

Scott Barnett — Mon, 26 May 2014 22:39:32 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Scott and the team discuss why you NEED to eat more fiber...really, you need to eat more fiber. It decreases your risk of type II diabetes by slowing the release of sugar in your blood as well as heart disease by lowering your circulating LDL levels. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: Using three sets of chromosomes to make one healthy baby; and whether or not we should destroy the last two vials of small pox on the entire planet.

The Atlantic Article: Scientists Are Creating New, Incurable Diseases in Labs

046 - Space Cake Spaz Out: Marijuana And Its Effect On Your Body

Scott Barnett — Tue, 13 May 2014 04:05:20 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Karolina and the team discuss the current state of marijuana law and how this drug effects your body. In 'Science Blast' we discuss how a protein in young mouse blood (and humans too!) can make the elderly young again. In 'Cells n' Shit' Christian talks about how synthetic DNA bases pairs have been incorporated into a bacterial plasmid and now that bacteria can replicate with said base pairs.

045 - You Are What You Eat….And So Are Your Children: Epigenetics Shows How The Genes of Your Offspring Are Affected By Your Diet.

Scott Barnett — Tue, 06 May 2014 00:52:05 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Scott and the team discuss how your diet during pregnancy can have significant effects on your children's DNA and their overall health. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: PhD students at Yale and other colleges are trying to unionize; and mice have inherently higher levels of stress in the presence of male humans. In 'Cells n' Shit' Christian informs us that Kickstarter has banned GMO products as donation rewards and why this may or may not matter.

044 - A Quantum Leap: Advances In Quantum Computing Tease The Idea of Laptops Trillions of Times Faster

Scott Barnett — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 02:24:28 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Del and the team discuss Quantum Computing. We may be on the verge of blowing Moore's law (and crypto security) out of the water. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: how if you've got some soap, graphene powder and a blender, you can make you own graphene sheets; and how you may be able to buy alcohol powder at a convenience store year your...soon. In 'Nutritional Nuggets' Karolina gives us the low down on what oil you should be using for cooking.

043 - Ebola: Learn How a Virus That Only Encodes For 7 Proteins Has a 90% Lethality Rate.

Scott Barnett — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 14:46:30 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Christian and the team discuss the deadly Ebola virus. With the recent outbreaks in Africa we decided to tell you how this fascinating virus kills you. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: How our sense of smell is tied to memory; a $1 microscope to identify parasites in poor countries. In 'Back of the Box' Scott talks about the biochemistry/physiology behind Death Cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) and why it is in your best interest not to eat one.

The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story $4.83 By Richard Preston

042 - Penne For Your Thoughts: Nutritional Guidelines for Endurance Training

Scott Barnett — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 01:55:29 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Karolina and the team discuss nutritional guidelines for the endurance athletes. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: How scientists have altered treed to make them easier to break down into paper products; and how Naloxone has been approved as an over-the-counter opioid overdose treatment. In ' Making the Grad' Del goes over Kanban and pomodoro to increase your efficiency as a grad student.

041 - High On Chromosomes - Synthetic Biologists Have Made A Completely Synthetic Chromosome

Scott Barnett — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 01:01:08 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Scott and the team discuss how an international consortium of scientists have managed to trim down and recreate an artificial chromosome. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: How we are beginning to learn how to use DNA to recreate mug shots of people. In 'Nutritional Nuggets' Karolina talks about how marinating your meat in beer may reduce the amount of cancer causing aromatic rings when barbecuing.

040 - Natural Computing: Using Nature As An Algorithmic Guide

Scott Barnett — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 03:53:30 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Del and the team discuss how ant and slime mold colonies closely mimic complex computer algorithms. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: How Craig Venter is pushing forward with a plan to map the genome of every living organism in the human body; and how Nature will be officially retracting the controversial paper on using acid and hypoxia to create adult derived stem cells. In 'Nutritional Nuggets’ Karolina covers the top 10 food allergies and intolerances.

039 - HIV/AIDS: Current Therapy And The Future Of This Virus

Scott Barnett — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:14:14 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Christian and the team discuss what HIV is, how it differs from AIDS, and what current treatment options are available. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: How scientists may have unlocked the secrets of the 'out of body experience' using fMRI; and how gene therapy is being used to treat HIV patients by preventing the virus from binding to T-cell through a CCR5 mutation. In 'In 'Back of the Box' Scott discusses the Red Scare....that is Red Dye #40. Should you be worried about ingesting this ubiquitous chemical (the answer for 99.99999% of the population is no).

Visit this cool blogs that is an advice website for PhDs and Post-Docs on the Life Sciences! http://www.postpostdoc.com

038 - The Alpha (Linolenic Acid) and the Omega (Fatty Acid): How Important Are Omega 3 & 6 In Your Diet?

Scott Barnett — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 03:17:56 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Karolina and the team discuss Omega fatty acids and their role in your health. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: How PLoS is now requiring authors to provide raw data along side their published research; and how Pseudomonas syringae has a unique extracellular protein called Ice Nucleating Protein that is was used in the Olympics to make artificial snow! In 'Cells n' Shit' Christian digs deep into the world of the Malaria parasite.

037 - Eugenics: Bad Science May Unwittingly Be Making A Comeback

Scott Barnett — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 01:30:20 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Scott and the team discuss the history of Eugenics and how this bad science may inadvertently be making a comeback through Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: How 100% juice may be worse for you than soda; and how newly discovered Ultraviolet Repair Protein D (UVR-D) help to back up RNA Polymerase so that UV damage to the DNA strand can be repaired.

036 - New Kid On The Block: Newly Discovered Protein M Has The Power to Destroy Antibodies But May Be Used For Good

Scott Barnett — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 00:25:29 +0000

In this week's episode of the Beta Sandwich Science Podcast Del and the team discuss a newly discovered bacterial protein called "Protein M" that binds to and disables IgG antibodies. In 'Science Blast' we discuss: How being really cold may help you convert white fat to brown fat (that's good); We can now hear what molecules sound like based upon their resonating frequency. In 'Nutritional Nuggets' Karolina digs deeper into the claims made by Christian last week in term of whether or not artificial sweeteners pose a risk to those who ingest them.