In this week's episode, Sienna and Amr get into the nitty gritty details of publishing in today's modern peer review system. We discuss many of the problems that come with this traditional system, the exciting new solutions researchers' have come up with, and our own thoughts and solutions too!   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Amr   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

In Alastair’s final episode of this season, he describes what the heck he actually DID for his PhD; including soil contamination, bioaccessibility, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry!https://linktr.ee/notyetadrEdited by: SiennaQuestions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

Looking to the future of therapeutics, the PhD 3 take a deep dive into gene replace therapy. Amr walks us through how scientists have developed novel means for the delivery of new functional genes into patients with rare diseases caused by mutations in in their DNA. As an recent example, we also explore the recently FDA approved gene therapy for a fatal disease known as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). https://linktr.ee/notyetadrEdited by: SiennaQuestions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

In today's episode, a couple of fun guys talk about fungi! Learn all about how fungi play Catan, trade on the carbon marketplace, infect ants, and alter brain connectivity as Sienna leads us through the weird and wonderful world of these creatures. https://linktr.ee/notyetadrEdited by: AmrQuestions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

In a future where blood is currency and humans are born only if their DNA makes them genetically superior. Our inferior protagonist attempts to make his way to space, fighting the last -ism left... Genoism. https://linktr.ee/notyetadrEdited by: AlastairQuestions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

What makes foods spicy, and what's the science behind the small organic molecule responsible? More importunely, How can we beat the heat!? This week Alastair shares the chemistry, research, and even a fun science experiment using capsaicin!   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Amr   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

Guy Fieri isn't the only one going to flavour town! In this episode, Sienna teaches us about how taste is made up and how our tongues (and brains) discern sweet from sour. By the end, you're going to be hankering for some mock apple pie!    https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Amr   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

What the heck even IS blue raspberry? Is it even a berry? Are they that electric shade of blue? This week, Alastair shares with Sienna and Amr the chemistry and history of this unique flavour and colour combination.   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Sienna   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

A remarkable study published this past week about using microelectrode arrays to allow a patient with locked-in syndrome to communicate. Learn with us about how scientists used neurofeedback training to optimize a software with the patient to let them select letters and spell out words, and what they ended up using it to say! This is some really exciting work, and we are excited to share it with you all.   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Alastair   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

This week, our new host Amr is rethinking his choices and considering wiping the slate clean. Amr teaches us about the epigenome and how it guys our cell's trajectories and fates. He also tells about how aging effects our epigenome and describes a recently published work on how we can wipe out these age-related changes and give our cells a new chance at life!   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Alastair   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

This week Alastair shares an interesting (albeit slightly bleak) paper recently published concerning childhood lead (Pb) exposure. The authors found that HALF of the current US population were exposed to toxic levels of Pb as children, and this has had serious implications for current generations and for generations to come.   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Amr   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

This week, the Tyrannosaurus Rex is making a comeback. The T-Rex has been newly classified as really being 3 different species, T. Imperator, Rex, and Regina! We discuss a new publication from Nature Evolutionary Biology, where authors Gregory S. Paul and colleagues detail their evidence to support this speciation and stir up drama in the palaeontology field.   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Alastair   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com  

This week, Alastair had his "ion" some interesting research that is changing the way we describe chemical bonding. From the difference between covalent and hydrogen bonds, as well as the role of electronegativity, this research is a major shift in how we think about (and teach!) bonding. (Don't worry, there is only minimal discussion of quantum mechanical calculations and density functional theory!)   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Alastair   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

Something big this way comes... and it is a new species of bacteria! Thiomargarita magnifica is recently identified bacteria that lives in mangrove swamps. It's remarkable for many reasons, but perhaps most notably the fact that specimens up to 2 cm long have been found, large enough to be visible to the naked eye! We hope you enjoy learning about it as much as we did.   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Amr   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

Curiosity is an itch that has to be scratched, and in this episode, Sienna was itching to talk about how mosquitos decide who's going to be their victim when presented with different delicious options! Listen to the episode, and let us know if you think you're a super mosquito attractor in the comments.   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Alastair   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

We have descended into the realm of organic chemistry where electron orbitals wander. This week Amr walks us through a newly published article in Nature describing a new way to automate making small molecule therapeutics! In an effort to make organic synthesis of molecules more accessible and automated, scientists have developed a directed 'lego' block method to build the small molecules of your dreams.   https://linktr.ee/notyetadrEdited by: SiennaQuestions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

Happy Valentine's Day! Kicking off Season 3, Alastair dives into the delicious and delectable science of chocolate including its snappy texture and glossy sheen. Plus, some interesting research that's making low-fat chocolate, and easily tempered chocolate. Sweet!   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Alastair   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

Back again with another commentary on science news, but this one is a doozy! Science Magazine published an article investigating what looks like at best poor data management, and at worst....well we'll let you decide! Let's just say, the field of DNA barcoding and determination of plants in nutrient supplements is going under the microscope. Tune in to the science tea now and let us know your thoughts!   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Alastair   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

We're back briefly in between seasons with a new segment, This Week in Science! And this week, Sienna tells Amr and Alastair about a super exciting new paper that has made a huge impact in the field of multiple sclerosis. Listen in to find out why we now think Epstein-Barr virus may be the underlying cause of the disease!   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Alastair   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com

Enjoy another BONUS episode where Beth, Alastair, and Sienna look back on their favourite highlights from Season 2 and answer some more quizzical listener queries. What was your favourite episode from Season 2? Listen now to see if we thought so too! Season 3 will return soon, so stay tuned to our social media for more info!   https://linktr.ee/notyetadr   Edited by: Sienna   Questions or Suggestions? Email us at phd32b@gmail.com