Further Research Needed

We have Erdinç Sezgin with us today, and he is telling us about the wonders of the cell membrane, and how biophysical methods help to understand them from a whole new angle. 

Find Erdinç on Twitter https://twitter.com/sciezgin 

and his group's website https://www.csi-nano.org

Today we ask the question can viruses get sick? And can you get sick if your aren't even alive? We take a look at giant viruses and their arch nemesis, the virophage. 

On this weeks episode we tackle the really big question of the morality of reproduction. Should we be obligated to have children because of evolution?

This week we are discussing the future of protein production. Is there a hard limit to how many people we can feed on this planet and if yes, are we going to reach it soon? Can we create food from scratch without a dependence on soil? Stay tuned for answers to these and many more questions!

Why can't I turn lead into gold and surely I can drink something to live for ever? Today we talk about alchemy; what it promised, who was practising it and ultimately why did chemistry supersede it. 

This week we are discussing disaster on the highest level. Do we have to prepare for extinction events that would kill all of humanity? And if yes, which ones are the ones we should focus on?

The double helix structure of DNA is probably the most famous biomolecular structure out there. In this episode, we are exploring other structures that our genetic code is forming, and what role they might be playing in the processes of life beyond mere sequencing information. Be prepared to dive into the many shapes of DNA.

Is scientism on the rise? Today we are discussing what exactly we understand under the term scientism, and how it affects the public perception of both scientific findings and the academic community. 

After we had a longer summer break, we're introducing the new season, our slightly modified approach to the podcast and tell the story how we got here. 

This week on Further Research Needed we tackle Transhumanism! We discuss how we understand the term and get into the weeds on how feasible it is. Join us to see if Transhumanism might already be here or whether it is just around the corner. As always, further research is definitely needed.

Part of academic publishing is the prestige of the journal, measured by previous citations. We are diving into this system, why we have it and what the future of quality assessment of academic publishing could look like.

On this week's episode of Further Research Needed we discuss: Can scientists have opinions? Scientists are being trained to report data without intermingling their personal opinion. However, voicing one's opinion and having the freedom to talk freely is as valuable in science as it is everywhere else. Today we critically look at the available outlets, that are available for opinion pieces - from journals to Twitter. Join us for a quick rant about "peer-reviewed" opinions and some constructive criticism. Though as always, further research is definitely needed!

Is science just engineering? or vice versa? In this episode we pick apart the two and try and work out if it's a problem that they are so intertwined. 

This week on Further Research Needed we tackle the question: Are universities businesses? Changes in how universities behave will have far-reaching consequences for education, research and public services. We discuss if unis are getting more commercial than in the past and why they would want to in the first place. 

Which scientific theories do you know, that are no longer accepted today? Academic consensus is changing slower than any of us could really notice. Sometimes it's a good idea to look back at the theories we left behind over the centuries; and this is exactly what we do in this episode. We each bring one superseded theory to the table, and discuss them with respect to past and current scientific consensus. The natural conclusion follows: which theory is next?

This week on Further Research Needed we try to answer the question: Are antibodies overpowered? Joining us is Sebastian Ols, expert in vaccine research and first time guest on the show. We discuss how our bodies manage to produce a truly astonishing diversity of antibodies, why antibodies get better over time and what innovative strategies are being used to make even better vaccines. Whether you haven't thought about your immune system in ages or consider yourself well prepared for a fierce discussion about antibodies, this episode will blow your mind. Just as it has blown ours! Strap in, get ready for some hard science and as always, remember, further research is definitely needed. 

The 2020 science recap is here! Featuring life on Venus, a plane without moving parts and some deep protein folding. Sit back and relax while we share our favorite breakthroughs and meme the grumpy scientist about each other's choice. Guaranteed 99% virus free! 

This time, Pedro Veliça (creator of Pedromics) is joining the show. Peer review is a cornerstone of academia and scientific publishing, but certainly not beyond improvement. Can private companies ensure the quality of research through free labor, or do we need reform of the peer review system. We're presenting a few alternatives and discuss potential implications for us as scientists, but also our truth standard in general. 

Join us for the second installment of the guessing game. This time we will guess about our risk of death, the power of the sun and vaporizing all bodies of water. Find out who takes the guesstimation crown and compete with us for the best estimate. 

And are there any circumstances where this would be justified?

Would you accept a Nobel prize if the cost was your sanity? In this episode we look at whether receiving the most prestigious award in science causes scientist to propose crackpot theories and even descend into madness.

What is the purpose of science education at different stages of school... and are we doing a good job delivering? 

Let's leave the realm of the scientifically possible behind for a bit, and plan ahead for when our time comes. 

Does the myth of the maverick scientist help or hinder science? In this episode we take an in depth look at what makes a maverick scientist and the effect the trope has on scientists and the public perception of research.

We're putting our scientific minds to practical work and try to make an educated guess on a completely unknown number. Can you beat us?

We are doing a journal club episode on the paper: Can a biologist fix a radio? (Labeznik, CANCER CELL, 2002). 

The podcast with straight forward questions that lead to not so straight forward answers is back for another season. 

The podcast with straight forward questions that lead to not so straight forward answers introduces itself.

Enough with the rants for now. Today, each of us is bringing an uplifting piece of science to the table, and shares his excitement with the others. In the end, we have an important announcement about the future of this podcast.

WHY IS SCIENCE SO SLOW? Today we are looking at science as a whole - talking about the things that drive us up the wall and things that are truly fascinating about the scientific research system. As always, we end on a positive note: Each of us makes a wish to the science djinn to improve the scientific system in the long run. All that is needed now is for us to go out there and make them come true...

How do we as scientists feel about science fiction? Do we get mad about incorrect depictions of science in scifi? Does it create unrealistic expectations towards scientific progress and potential? And who inspires whom anyway? We're diving deep today, and leaving the world of real science behind ... almost.

Why chemical separations are so difficult. Separating useful chemicals from our waste has become one of the world's biggest challenges. We discuss the scientific background of separation issues, and what it means for research and our day to day lives.