Episódios
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There is a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel in the U.S. The FDA is starting to grant emergency use authorization to COVID-19 vaccines! Kristen talks about how the current vaccines were developed so quickly without compromising safety.
Abbreviated Reference List*
COVID-19 Vaccines, FDA, Accessed December 16, 2020 Ensuring the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States, CDC, Accessed December 16, 2020 Graphic: Operation Warp Speed Accelerated Vaccine Process, DOD, Accessed December 16, 2020 Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker: Latest Updates, NYT, Updated December 17, 2020*To view a full list, please visit https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/24.
Correction
This episode states that Operation Warp Speed is overseen by the US Department of Defense. This statement is true but incomplete. Operation Warp Speed is also overseen in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and other federal agencies and private firms.
Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
Disclaimer
Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.
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Where do the data stand on mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic? Kristen tackles six myths (start times):
Masks don’t work (00:12:41) Masks are unsafe (00:40:48) Masks solve everything (00:52:34) My mask protects only me (00:58:10) Wear a mask only if you’re sick (01:03:35) Mask-wearers are afraid or virtue signaling (01:06:00)Guidelines on how to properly wear cloth masks begin at 01:09:06.
Abbreviated Reference List*
How to Protect Yourself & Others, CDC, Updated Oct 28, 2020 How to Select Masks, CDC, Updated Oct 29, 2020 Masks overview, WHO, Updated October 20, 2020 COVID-19: How much protection do face masks offer?, Mayo Clinic, Published Aug 20, 2020 5 Questions: Stanford scientists on COVID-19 mask guidelines, Stanford Medicine, Published June 19, 2020*This is the most thoroughly-researched episode of EBS yet. Please visit earlybirdscience.com/episodes/23 for a full list of references.
Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
Disclaimer
Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.
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Welcome to Season 2! Kristen gets real about why a summer break was necessary, and also talks about what to expect this season. This extra-long episode provides a framework to empower you to minimize consumption and spread of misinformation.
References and Resources
Science audiences, misinformation, and fake news, PNAS Eight Ps: Fake news. It's complicated., Medium blog from First Draft contributor Information from researcher Kate Starbird How a Crisis Researcher Makes Sense of Covid-19 Misinformation, Medium Researchers are tracking another pandemic, too—of coronavirus misinformation, Science Magazine Spectrum of harm from 7 types of mis- and dis-information from First Draft: Understanding Misinformation Disorder 6 tips to steer clear of misinformation online, Data Detox Kit SIFT, Mike Caulfield Media Bias Chart, Interactive version, Ad Fontes Media Qualities of most reliable sources of health advice: Health vs. hoax, Data Detox Kit Additional resources How Do We Handle Misinformation - A Chat with Bill Gates, hankschannel, YouTube Why pass on viral messages? Because they connect emotionally, Business Horizons What Makes Online Content Viral?, Journal of Marketing ResearchConnect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT): headshake.show
Disclaimer
Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.
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Early Bird Science is taking a break for the rest of the summer. Thank you for listening!
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The creation of tiny, bio-based robots called xenobots could spark a future of biodegradable, self-replicating, self-repairing ‘bots. Stick around to the end of the episode for a sneak peak of the next Headshake episode with a very special guest!
References and Resources
Primary Paper: A scalable pipeline for designing reconfigurable organisms A Video of the Xenobots: UVM and Tufts Team Builds First Living Robots Article: Living robots built using frog cellsCheck out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
You will be able to listen to the episode with special guest host Dr. Theanne Griffith on June 29, 2020! https://headshake.show/episodes/12 (link will work beginning 6/29)
Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
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Glacier mice are rare fuzzy little green balls that mysteriously move in herds atop some of the world’s glaciers. They are not mammals, but they are kind of cute and may be important parts of glacial ecosystems. Researchers are learning more about them.
References and Resources
Primary literature: Rolling stones gather moss: movement and longevity of moss balls on an Alaskan glacier If this link does not work for you use the link in the NPR article below Article: Herd Of Fuzzy Green 'Glacier Mice' Baffles Scientists (NPR) Cute Aggression: Why We Want to Squeeze Cute, Little ThingsConnect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
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Most of us have experienced nature’s call shortly after having a cup of coffee. Why does that happen? Kristen talks about the kidneys and how water and caffeine affect them.
References and Resources
Mechanisms of Caffeine-Induced Diuresis Caffeine Ingestion and Fluid Balance: A Review Requirement of Intact Adenosine A1 Receptors for the Diuretic and Natriuretic Action of the Methylxanthines Theophylline and Caffeine Decreases in Portal Flow Trigger a Hepatorenal Reflex to Inhibit Renal Sodium and Water Excretion in Rats: Role of Adenosine Caffeine and diuresis during rest and exercise: A meta-analysis Caffeine: Is it dehydrating or not? - Mayo ClinicConnect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
Disclaimer
Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.
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Kristen and her software engineer spouse Steve Gago have been “safer at home” for weeks, so they decided to record an episode together while trying to stay sane. Steve is back on the show to talk about how the Internet works!
Internet Concepts
History Who made the Internet? - NOT Al Gore ARPANET (D)ARPA Circuit switching vs. packet switching World Wide Web, WWW Hypertext protocol Tim Berners-Lee, CERN Related technologies Browsers Client Server Packet Internet protocol (IP) address Media access control (MAC) address Router, switch Internet backbone Internet service provider (ISP) Fiber optics Hypertext transfer protocol (http), ...secure (https) e.g. .com, .show, .ninja Top level domain Path Universal resource locator (URL), domain name Host Why your Internet is slow! ICANN Why the “I” in “Internet” is capitalized How it worksResource
Textbook: Computer Networks and Internets, Douglas Comer, 6th Edition
https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Networks-Internets-Douglas-Comer/dp/0133587932
Related Episodes
How Do Computers Work? With Steven Gago
https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/9
Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
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PTEROSAURS! Commonly known as pterodactyls, the most massive flyers in the fossil record could inform modern biomimetic aerospace engineering.
Reference
Volant Fossil Vertebrates: Potential for Bioinspired Flight Technology: https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(20)30080-X
4/30/20 CORRECTION: Pterosaurs were not dinosaurs. We therefore changed the episode title, which was originally “Dinosaur Flight.”
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-a-pterosaur-is-not-a-dinosaur-87082921/
Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
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Surprisingly, Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, which can reach daytime temperatures of 430 degrees C (about 800 degrees F), has ice! Kristen discusses research describing a newly-discovered mechanism for water formation and freezing on Mercury.
References and Resources
Primary Literature: A New In Situ Quasi-continuous Solar-wind Source of Molecular Water on Mercury https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab6bda Articles Science Daily: Mercury's scorching daytime heat may help it make its own ice at caps https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200313155329.htm The Daily Galaxy: “Vulcan Heat” –Mercury’s Gigantic Ice-Making Paradox https://dailygalaxy.com/2020/03/vulcan-heat-mercurys-gigantic-ice-making-paradox/ NASA Science: Mercury https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mercury/in-depth/ Nova: The Ninth Planet That Wasn't https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/hunt-for-vulcan/Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
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Kristen discusses mental health during the pandemic. Wash your hands and be well.
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AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
Yes, Kristen has had a busy couple of weeks and couldn't find time to record an episode of Early Bird Science for this morning.
However, her Headshake co-host Nathan A. Libby has offered to take over the program (with Kristen's blessing, of course) and change the content over from real science to proven NON-science.
Kristen will be back in two weeks with another regular episode of Early Bird Science, but for now, please enjoy some nonsense.
Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
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The coronavirus-caused disease COVID-19 has the potential to spread to pandemic levels. What are the facts?
References and Resources
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 Situation Report Feb 26, 2020: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200226-sitrep-37-covid-19.pdf Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S. (Updated Feb 26, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary (Accessed Feb 25, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html What to Do If You Are Sick With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Accessed February 27, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html U.S. Influenza (Data Feb 7-15, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm Articles https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-coronavirus-outbreak-your-most-pressing-questions-answered https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/25/health/coronavirus-us-american-cases/index.html https://nypost.com/2020/02/25/fourth-passenger-on-coronavirus-plagued-diamond-princess-cruise-dies/ https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/26/809650625/a-guide-how-to-prepare-your-home-for-coronavirus
Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
headshake.show
Disclaimer
Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.
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Studying long-term energy expenditure of athletes in sporting events ranging from 0.5 to 140 days long, researchers have calculated the limits of human endurance. Based on this research, it also turns out pregnant women are endurance masters! Kristen’s Headshake co-host Nathan A. Libby pays a visit.
Check out the trailer for the new podcast Headshake, set to premiere February 24!
https://headshake.show/episodes/0
References and Resources
Article: Ultimate limit of human endurance found https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48527798 Primary Research: Extreme events reveal an alimentary limit on sustained maximal human energy expenditure https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/6/eaaw0341 Textbook: Vander’s Human Physiology 13th EditionConnect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
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An ancient meteorite contains the oldest solid material ever found on Earth. Kristen makes an exciting announcement about an upcoming project!
References and Resources
Article “Meteorite contains the oldest material on Earth: 7-billion-year-old stardust” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200113153306.htm Primary Literature “Lifetimes of interstellar dust from cosmic ray exposure ages of presolar silicon carbide” https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/01/07/1904573117Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
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The types of muscles you pump up at the gym are just one of three different muscle types in your body. Kristen introduces the muscle types skeletal, cardiac, and smooth, and discusses their differences in appearance, location, control, and contraction. She also explains why calcium is so important for you.
References and Resources
Textbook: Vander’s Human Physiology 13th Edition Calcium info https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/calcium-and-milk/calcium-full-story/ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/Related Episodes
EKGs https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/2 https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/3Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
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Happy new year 2020!
Steven Gago is the first human guest on Early Bird Science! He is an experienced software and firmware engineer, with a background in electrical and electronic engineering. Oh, yeah, he is also Kristen’s spouse. :-) He joins Kristen for this special, double-length episode to talk about how computers work.
Concepts covered:
Steve is NOT a morning person Ancient computers Processors Transistors Logic gates Boolean algebra, 1s and 0s John Von Neumann Fetch-execute cycle RAM Computer “mouses” vs. “mice” Analog vs. digital Quantum computingReferences and Resources from Steve
Documentary on Antikythera Mechanism https://youtu.be/jSQNEPbQOiI John Von Neumann
https://medium.com/cantors-paradise/the-unparalleled-genius-of-john-von-neumann-791bb9f42a2dConnect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Leave questions for Steve in the comments on this episode’s webpageTwitter: @EarlyBirdSci
Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience
Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience
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Evergreen trees keep their green leaves all year long. What benefits and challenges do they experience as a result? Kristen discusses this topic and wraps up 2019, the Year of the Periodic Table. Happy holidays!
Episode References and Resources
Why do evergreens stay green in the winter?
Article written by a Biology professor: https://theconversation.com/why-dont-evergreens-change-color-and-drop-their-leaves-every-fall-123744 Even evergreens take a break from photosynthesis in the winter: “Photoprotective Strategies of Overwintering Evergreens” https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/54/1/41/234579 How non-evergreen trees lose their leaves in the winter: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/why-do-leaves-fall-off-treesBONUS LINKS! Happy birthday (sesquicentennial) to the periodic table!
Periodic Table song: https://youtu.be/rz4Dd1I_fX0 https://iypt2019.org/ https://www.rsc.org/iypt/ https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table http://www.unesco.org/new/en/brasilia/about-this-office/prizes-and-celebrations/2019-international-year-of-the-periodic-table-of-chemical-elements/ https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/periodictable.html https://www.sciencenews.org/article/periodic-table-history-chemical-elements-150-anniversaryConnect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
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Kristen addresses the argument over whether human blood is blue. She talks about common misconceptions and what gives blood its color. As a bonus, she also talks about the variations in colors of blood in other animals.
CORRECTION: In this episode, Kristen says “octopi” to indicate the plural of “octopus.” Because “octopus” originated from Greek and not Latin (which does use “i” to pluralize words) and because “octopus” has been a word in English for a long time, Kristen would have preferred to pluralize the word using English rules: “octopuses.”
Correction references and other neat facts about octopuses: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-curious-facts-about-octopuses-7625828/ https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-many-plurals-of-octopus-octopi-octopuses-octopodesEpisode References and Resources
Textbook: Vander’s Human Physiology 13th Edition Blog on why veins appear blue: https://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/2008/04/17/why-are-veins-blue Primary publication from 1996: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/22db/3b06a1abb585cb4c0683dd03a806800c1c28.pdf Animal Blood Comes in a Rainbow of Colors: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150312-blood-antarctica-octopus-animals-science-colors/Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
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Self-driving, or autonomous, cars are an appealing technology with tons of transportation potential, but one major barrier that may afflict many future drivers-turned-passengers is motion sickness. Kristen discusses this challenge, as well as early-stage research from University of Michigan’s Mcity Test Facility that is working to address it.
References and Resources
News article and white paper https://news.umich.edu/measuring-motion-sickness-in-driverless-cars/ https://mcity.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/mcity-whitepaper-motion-v6.pdf Mcity: https://mcity.umich.edu/our-work/mcity-test-facility/ Motion Sickness: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12782-motion-sicknessConnect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!
Website: earlybirdscience.com
Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci
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