In Plain English: Science Made Simple
By In Plain English
In Plain English: Science Made SimpleAug 03, 2021
Math: Down the Rabbit Hole
Math is everywhere, even in places you didn't expect to find it. Join expert Will Lima and guests Parker Craft and Nick Wolslegel as we go down the rabbit hole of one of the most complex areas of mathematics: category theory.
Find the book on the website: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2024/04/02/season-3-episode-15-math-down-the-rabbit-hole/
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Photo credit: aguayo_samuel on flickr
Opioids & Breathing: A Complex Relationship
Opioid drugs, like morphine or fentanyl, can cause death by stopping the brain from telling the body to breathe. But is the effect of opioids on breathing that straightforward? And how can a better understanding of the breathing centers of the brain help treat opioid overdoses? Join expert Nick Burgraff and guests James Reed and Gabi Sullens to learn more about the complex relationship between opioids and breathing!
Follow along with the paper here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2024/03/05/season-3-episode-14-opioids-breathing-a-complex-relationship/
You can find Nick Burgraff on the Neuro Network Podcast!
You can find James Reed on the Science Night Podcast!
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
SfN Shorts Part 9: Pain, ALS, and Glaucoma
In this set of interviews from the Society for Neuroscience 2023 conference, we cover a technology to help researchers study the behavioral and emotional aspects of pain, new research into treatments for ALS, and possibilities for early detection of glaucoma.
This is the ninth and final episode in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. Check out Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 as well as "Rigor Jeopardy!" with Community for Rigor.
In Plain English has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
SfN Shorts Part 8: Memory, COVID, and Chronic Pain
In this set of interviews from the Society for Neuroscience 2023 conference, we cover how your state of mind affects learning and memory, how COVID-19 infection during pregnancy affects the health of both parent and child, and how a treatment for trigeminal neuralgia causes measurable changes in the brain.
This is the sixth in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. Check out Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 as well as "Rigor Jeopardy!" with Community for Rigor.
In Plain English has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
SfN Shorts Part 7: Opioids and Stress
In this set of interviews from the Society for Neuroscience 2023 conference, we cover how sex differences and pain affect opioid use disorder, and the brain regions involved in social interactions.
This is the sixth in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. Check out Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 as well as "Rigor Jeopardy!" with Community for Rigor.
In Plain English has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Interrogating Degrowth
Is degrowth a viable solution for climate change, or is the cure worse than the disease? Join expert Alejandro Gonzalez and guests William Lima and Evelyn Fraser for a critical discussion on the potential and pitfalls of degrowth.
You can follow along with the articles on the website: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2024/02/06/season-3-episode-10-interrogating-degrowth/
You can find more of Alejandro's work here.
You can find William's work here.
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
SfN Shorts Part 6: Deep Brain Stimulation, Music Therapy, and Opioids and Memory
In this set of interviews from the Society for Neuroscience 2023 conference, we cover deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease patients, how music therapy can help people with Alzheimers, and how opioids affect sleep and memory.
Follow along with the posters here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2024/01/30/season-3-episode-9-sfn-shorts-part-6/
This is the sixth in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. Check out Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as well as "Rigor Jeopardy!" with Community for Rigor.
In Plain English has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
SfN Shorts Part 5: Opioids & Breathing, Spinal Cord Injury Treatment, and Movement after Stroke
In this set of interviews from the Society for Neuroscience 2023 conference, we cover how opioids affect breathing and how we can use asthma medication to improve overdose reversal; a promising new treatment for one of the symptoms of spinal cord injury; and how our brains coordinate movements differently after a stroke.
This is the fifth in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. Check out Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well as "Rigor Jeopardy!" with Community for Rigor.
Follow along with the posters here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2024/01/23/season-3-episode-8-sfn-shorts-part-5/
Interview 1: Nicholas Burgraff, a PhD fellow at Seattle Children's Research Institute and the host of The Neuro Network Podcast, on how fentanyl disrupts breathing and how we can better treat opioid overdoses.
Interview 2: Alex Benedetto, a PhD student at Northwestern University, on a promising new treatment that uses spinal cord stimulation to treat involuntary movements in patients with spinal cord injuries.
Interview 3: Federico Barban, a research fellow at the University of Geneva, on how strokes impact our brain's ability to plan and coordinate movements effectively.
In Plain English has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
SfN Shorts Part 4
Last November, I attended the Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington, DC and interviewed neuroscientists from across the world about their research. This is the third in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. Check out Parts 1, 2, and 3, as well as "Rigor Jeopardy!" with Community for Rigor. I hope that these interviews showcase just how broad a field neuroscience is, and just how many different kinds of research are contained within this field.
Follow along with the posters here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2024/01/16/season-3-episode-7-sfn-shorts-part-4/
Interview 1: Yasmine Bassil, a PhD student at Emory University, on how aging affects the strategies we use for spatial navigation.
Interview 2: Noor Tasnim, a PhD student at Virginia Tech, on the effects of musical theater activities on mental health and brain connectivity in children with developmental disabilities.
Interview 3: Chantelle Murrell, a PhD student from the University of Otago, on the effects of pregnancy and lactation on hunger and satiety cues in the brain.
In Plain English has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Exploring the Future of Reproducible Science
I chatted with William Ngiam of the ReproducibiliTEA podcast about scientific rigor and reproducibility, and the daunting, exciting, creative work of making science better.
If you liked this episode, check out Will & co. on the ReproducibiliTEA podcast!
2024 has already been hectic, but I hope to be back next week with more SfN Shorts!
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Image credit: UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, 2021
Rigor Jeopardy!
Play along with Rigor Jeopardy! featuring the wonderful folks at Community for Rigor!
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year! In Plain English will return with a full length episode on January 2nd, 2024!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
"Rigorous Raven" art credit: Kevin Rusch
SfN Shorts Part 3
Last month, I attended the Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington, DC and interviewed neuroscientists from across the world about their research. This is the third in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. You can find Parts 1 and 2 here and here. I hope that these interviews showcase just how broad a field neuroscience is, and just how many different kinds of research are contained within this field.
Follow along with the posters here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/12/19/season-3-episode-5-sfn-shorts-part-3/
Interview 1: Giovanna Campos, an undergraduate student at Temple university and an ENDURE Scholar, on the role of a brain region called the fornix on spatial reasoning and memory.
Interview 2: Manuel Vasconcelos, an undergraduate student at the University of California, San Diego and an ENDURE Scholar, on using machine learning to study how the brain responds to rewarding and aversive events.
Interview 3: Miles Carter, an undergraduate student at New York University and an ENDURE Scholar, on using nanobodies for early and non-invasive detection of Alzheimers Disease.
Interview 4: Samantha Sutton, a masters student at Syracuse University, on the role of astrocytes in maintaining excitatory/inhibitory balance in the brain, and how this could contribute to our understanding of epilepsy.
In Plain English has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
SfN Shorts Part 2
Last month, I attended the Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington, DC and interviewed neuroscientists from across the world about their research. This is the second in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. You can find Part 1 here. I hope that these interviews showcase just how broad a field neuroscience is, and just how many different kinds of research are contained within this field.
Follow along with the posters here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/12/12/season-3-episode-4-sfn-shorts-part-2/
Interview 1: Eleni Papadopoulos, a DO/PhD student at Rowan University, on using ADHD medications like methylphenidate to treat symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
Interview 2: Nimesha Gerlus, an MD/PhD student at Duke University, on the effect of targeted brain stimulation on emotional dysregulation in patients across multiple psychiatric conditions.
Interview 3: Hector Haddock-Martinez, an undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico and an ENDURE Scholar, on the effect of the environmental contaminant glyphosate on anxiety.
Interview 4: Lizbeth Liquidano Cortes, an undergraduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno and an ENDURE Scholar, on treating symptoms of opioid withdrawal using a drug called PN6047.
Interview 5: Linisa Williams, an undergraduate student at UC San Diego and an ENDURE Scholar, on using working memory tasks to reduce fear responses in patients with anxiety disorders.
In Plain English has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Shorts Part 1
Last month, I attended the Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington, DC and interviewed neuroscientists from across the world about their research. This is the first in a multi-part series called "SfN Shorts" that features these brief (5-10 minute) discussions. I hope that these interviews showcase just how broad a field neuroscience is, and just how many different kinds of research are contained within this field.
Interview 1: Nicholas Cottam, a graduate student at Delaware State University, on how we study the genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
Interview 2: Dr. Johnson, a professor at Wits University in South Africa, on how alcohol and diabetes jointly affect the brain.
Interview 3: Allison Reed, an undergraduate student at High Point University, on whether THC can help protect the brain against injuries like strokes.
Interview 4: Tara Barnes and Anna Estremsky, undergraduates at St. Mary's College of Maryland, on what we can learn from woodpeckers about chronic head injuries.
Interview 5: Dr. Yuryanni Rodriguez, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Miami, on the different ways our taste buds can sense sweet taste.
Follow along with the posters here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/12/05/season-3-episode-3-society-for-neuroscience-sfn-shorts-part-1/
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
CRISPR Gene Editing for Neuroscience
What is CRISPR gene editing, and how can it help us understand how the brain works? Join me and my guests Dong-gyu Kim and Rachel Privett to learn about how neuroscience researchers use CRISPR today, and how gene editing might be used in the future!
This episode is based on my first paper in the Copits lab, available now on BioRxiv: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.10.10.561249v1
Download the paper here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/11/07/season-3-episode-2-crispr-gene-editing-for-neuroscience/
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Image Credit: Ernesto del Aguila III, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH
The History and Future of Nuclear Fusion
The past year has brought exciting advances in nuclear fusion, bringing us closer than ever to a fusion-powered future. So how close are we to achieving viable nuclear fusion, and what are some of the hidden challenges to overcome before we get there? Join expert Daniel Mulrow and guest Ryan Perez to answer these and more questions about nuclear fusion.
Read the articles here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/10/10/season-3-episode-1-the-history-and-future-of-nuclear-fusion/(opens in a new tab)
Check out Ryan's photography on Instagram!
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Image Credit: "Nuclear fusion display at the Weiss Energy Hall" by Katherine Fellows.
Machine Learning: Revolutionizing Neuroscience
How can we use computers to learn more about the brain? Join expert Dr. Eric Yttri and guest Sarah Brown to learn about how open source machine learning algorithms are revolutionizing neuroscience!
You can download the paper here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/09/07/season-2-episode-12-machine-learning-revolutionizing-neuroscience/
If you liked this episode, check out Sarah's podcast The Queerience.
If you are a researcher interested in using BSOiD, you can find the tutorial here: https://bsoid.org.
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outtro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Image via www.vpnsrus.com
"Benevolent" Sexism, Abortion, and Motherhood
What is "benevolent" sexism and does it predict opposition to abortion rights? Join expert Abby, of Political Psych with Abby, and guest Rebekah to discuss the links between hostile sexism, benevolent sexism, abortion rights, and motherhood.
You can download the paper here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/08/01/season-2-episode-11-benevolent-sexism-abortion-and-motherhood/
If you liked this episode, check out Abby's YouTube Channel. You can also follow her on Instagram @politicalpsychwithabby.
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outtro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Photo Credit: James McNellis from Washington, DC, United States
New Guidelines for Childhood Obesity
In this episode I discuss the new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics on treatments for childhood obesity with expert Dr. Nicole Cifra and guest Brad Hicks.
Content note: This episode contains discussions of eating disorders and weight stigma.
You can download the guidelines and supporting documents here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/07/06/season-2-episode-10-new-guidelines-for-childhood-obesity/
If you liked this episode and want to learn more, you can follow Dr. Cifra on Twitter @DrNicoleC. You can find Brad on Tumblr and Reddit as InfamousBrad.
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outtro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
What did Dinosaurs Sound Like?
In this can't-miss episode, expert Jimmy Waldron of Dinosaurs Will Always Be Awesome and guests William Gousios and Ashley Hamer answer pressing questions like: "What did dinosaurs sound like?" "Did T-Rex have luscious lizard lips?" and "What is a dinosaur anyway?"
Download the paper here: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2023/06/06/season-2-episode-9-what-did-dinosaurs-sound-like/
If you liked this episode, you can follow Jimmy Waldron on Twitter @JimmyWaldron. You can also find Ashley Hamer on Twitter @SmashleyHamer, and listen to her podcast Taboo Science!
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outtro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Can Psychedelics Treat Depression?
Interest in psychedelic therapy as a treatment for depression has been growing exponentially. But how do psychedelics leave a lasting impact on the brain, and why might this be useful for treating depression, anxiety, and similar conditions? Join expert Alex Kwan and guests Raven and Asmodeus to learn about the fascinating, long-lasting effects that psychedelic drugs have on the brain.
If you liked this episode, you can follow Alex Kwan on Twitter @kwanalexc. Also, be sure to check out Rayven and Asmodeus's podcast Smoking Out the Closet!
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outtro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Image Credit: AlmudenaFM, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
What Causes Multiple Sclerosis?
Can a virus increase your risk for developing multiple sclerosis? Join expert Dr. Neuro and guests The Pop Historian and Andrew Jensen to learn about the surprising link between multiple sclerosis and Epstein-Barr Virus, one of the viruses that cause mono.
If you liked this episode, you can follow Dr. Neuro on Twitter @neurofourier or on Twitch at twitch.tv/dr_neuro. Also, be sure to check out The Pop Historian on YouTube.
I will be doing a follow-up live stream with Dr. Neuro on Saturday April 8th at 7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern on the In Plain English YouTube channel! Dr. Neuro will be answering your questions about this episode live, so be sure to tune in and ask your questions in the chat!
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Intro/Outtro music credit: Sam Brunwasser (https://soundcloud.com/visualsnowbeats)
Image Credit: Ilena George and Daniel Reich, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health
Open Science Series: A Conversation with Bryan Copits
In this bonus episode on Open Science, I sit down with Dr. Bryan Copits, an early career researcher at Washington University in St. Louis. We talk about the barriers to publishing open access papers as early career scientists, the research-stifling effect exerted by the most "prestigious" journals, and what efforts are currently underway to promote Open Science.
This episode is a follow-up to last week's episode, An Open Science Round Table. If you haven't listened to that discussion yet, go check it out! You can also find the unabridged version of that conversation on YouTube.
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Open Science Logo Credit: D. Schindler, G.emmerich. Modified using Canva.
An Open Science Round Table
Currently, scientists need to pay to publish research and readers need to pay to access most research articles. This outdated approach to sharing science slows advancement by locking research behind paywalls, and prevents the public from being able to read the research that their tax dollars funded. In this round table, Sci-Hub founder Alexandra Elbakyan, eLife Editor-in-Chief Michael Eisen, and WashU neuroscientist Bryan Copits discuss the current state of open access science, efforts to make science more accessible, and what the future of scientific publishing could look like.
This conversation is an abridged version of the YouTube live stream that took place on Monday, February 27th. You can find the full live stream here. Additionally, I recorded a one-on-one follow-up conversation on this subject with Bryan Copits; I will upload that conversation next week.
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Image credit: NASA
Open Science Live Stream TOMORROW 2/27 @ 10 am ET
Tune in TOMORROW, February 27th at 10 am ET/9 am CT for the first ever In Plain English Live Stream! We will be hosting a round table discussion on Open Science and scientific publishing with the Editor-in-Chief of eLife, Michael Eisen; the founder of Sci-Hub, Alexandra Elbakyan; and WashU neuroscientist Bryan Copits.
You can find the live stream at this link: https://youtube.com/live/4oiTDnGmWXs
An edited version of the round table will be released on Tuesday, March 7th.
Why Should I Care About Surface Tension?
What do the blood in your blood vessels, the waves on a beach, and bubbles from a bubble bath have in common? They're all fluids, interacting with other fluids in complex ways that can be modeled by computers! Join expert Alex Barrett and guests Cole Barker and Christina Niavi to learn more about the important role surface tension plays in interactions between fluids, and the many important applications of modeling these complicated processes.
In Plain English now has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Photo Credit: Bavand Keshavarz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bad Science: The Bogus Case for More Cops
In this bonus episode of In Plain English, I talk with defense lawyer Alec Karakatsanis about the paper "The Injustice of Underpolicing in America," by Christopher Lewis and Adaner Usmani. We cover the undisclosed assumptions, missing statistics, and cynical worldview behind this piece of propaganda masked as a scientific paper.
You can find the paper, Alec's response, and the authors' rebuttal on our website here.
If you liked this episode, you can reach out to Alec on Twitter @EqualityAlec, or submit questions or comments via the Continue the Conversation tab on our website!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
In Plain English also has a Discord server! Join here to chat with other listeners, past experts, and guests about science, suggest new episode topics, and more!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Photo Credit: Grayscale photo of police riot team on pedestrian lane. Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.
The Politics of Space
On this special episode of In Plain English, Brendan Ziebarth, Nick Wolslegel, and I talk about the political side of space travel: billionaire joy rides, corporate asteroid mining, climate impact, and more.
This episode was inspired by our conversation on Season 1, Episode 4: Where did Earth's Water Come From? You can listen to that episode here.
You can find the sources we referenced in our conversation and view the episode transcript on our website here.
If you liked this episode, you can submit questions or comments via the Continue the Conversation tab on our website!
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Photo by Edvin Richardson from Pexels.
Virus Evolution: from Local Outbreak to Global Pandemic
Join expert SB Pye and guests Tania Lintz and Hannah Trettenero for a deep dive on virus outbreaks, and why some new viruses spread like wildfire while others peter out.
You can download this paper on our website here.
If you liked this episode and want to learn more about viruses, you can send questions to SB at e.pye@wustl.edu, or submit them via the Continue the Conversation tab on our website! You can also check out virologists Dr. Angela Rasmussen, Dr. Benhur Lee, and Trevor Bedford on Twitter. For more virology podcasts, check out This Week in Virology and This Podcast Will Kill You.
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
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Photo Credit: Corona Virus Spreading Across City Concept. 3D Rendering Aerial View Miniature City Buildings" by maggie_talal is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Exhausted Immune Cells: the Weary Veterans of Chronic Infection
Join expert Christina Niavi and guests Alex Barrett and David Latchman to learn what happens to our immune cells during chronic infections and cancer, and how we can harness our understanding of the immune system to develop better treatments for these diseases.
You can download this paper on our website here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to follow Christina Niavi on Twitter @ChristinaNiavi and David Latchman @SciWriterDave.
In Plain English will be hosting a Twitter Space with Christina Niavi on November 5th to continue discussing this paper and answer any questions you have about the episode! Tweet your questions @PlainEnglishSci and tune in to listen to the answers! You can also ask questions on our website under the Continue the Conversation tab.
Additionally, Christina, Alex, David, and I recorded a bonus conversation on COVID, science communication, and combating misinformation! That conversation will be available to Patreon subscribers--go check it out!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Photo Credit: "HIV-infected H9 T cell" by NIAID is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Do You Wanna Dance? Why Music Makes Us Move
Join expert Alex Albury and guests SB Pye and Sasha Dmytrenko to find out what kinds of music make us want to tap our feet, and why!
You can download this paper for free on our website.
If you liked this episode, be sure to follow Alex Albury on Twitter @albury_alex and check out his recent article in the conversation on why you know more about music than you think: https://theconversation.com/youre-not-tone-deaf-and-you-know-more-about-music-than-you-think-174453?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton
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Photo by Vishnu R Nair
When Research Gets it Wrong, Part 2
Join expert Vera Thornton and guests Doris Meinerding and Hannah Waterhouse for Part 2 of a thought-provoking look "behind the scenes" of scientific research, to answer the question "Why are research findings sometimes wrong?"
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
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Disclaimers: Though this episode talks about medical tests, none of the guests are doctors, nor are they your doctor. If you have a question about your own health or medical care, please ask your doctor.
This article and the ensuing discussion should not be misconstrued to support any form of science denialism. As we discuss in the episode, science is a process, not a set of definite facts. Sometimes in this process, new evidence emerges that casts doubt on previous findings. We believe that it is important for scientists to be transparent about this part of the process.
The author of this article, Dr. John Ioannadis, has recently become (in)famous for using his platform as a prominent researcher to downplay the COVID-19 pandemic (https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/what-the-heck-happened-to-john-ioannidis/). His actions are unfortunately a perfect example of one possible pitfall of studies like this that call out issues with research rigor and reproducibility: misconstruing them to mean that no science should be trusted. My goal in making this podcast is to make science better and more accessible to the public, and to give you all the tools to be more educated consumers of scientific news and literature. The big takeaway is this: apply rigorous skepticism to both science that fits your world view and science that challenges it, and be open to changing your mind if the evidence leads you in a different direction from what you originally thought.
Photo Credit: Chokniti Khongchum
When Research Gets it Wrong, Part 1
Join expert Vera Thornton and guests Doris Meinerding and Hannah Waterhouse for Part 1 of a thought-provoking look "behind the scenes" of scientific research, to answer the question "Why are research findings sometimes wrong?" Part 2 will air on the first Tuesday of September.
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Disclaimers: Though this episode talks about medical tests, none of the guests are doctors, nor are they your doctor. If you have a question about your own health or medical care, please ask your doctor.
This article and the ensuing discussion should not be misconstrued to support any form of science denialism. As we discuss in the episode, science is a process, not a set of definite facts. Sometimes in this process, new evidence emerges that casts doubt on previous findings. We believe that it is important for scientists to be transparent about this part of the process..
The author of this article, Dr. John Ioannadis, has recently become (in)famous for using his platform as a prominent researcher to downplay the COVID-19 pandemic (https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/what-the-heck-happened-to-john-ioannidis/). His actions are unfortunately a perfect example of one possible pitfall of studies like this that call out issues with research rigor and reproducibility: misconstruing them to mean that no science should be trusted. My goal in making this podcast is to make science better and more accessible to the public, and to give you all the tools to be more educated consumers of scientific news and literature. The big takeaway is this: apply rigorous skepticism to both science that fits your world view and science that challenges it, and be open to changing your mind if the evidence leads you in a different direction from what you originally thought.
Photo Credit: Chokniti Khongchum
The Drug War: A Violent Situation
Join expert Hilary Agro and guests Vera Thornton and Brigid Lydon as they discuss the far-reaching impacts of the drug war and the importance of harm reduction.
You can download the paper on our website.
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English!
And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Harm Reduction ResourcesNational Harm Reduction Coalition: https://harmreduction.org/resource-center/
- Find syringes and naloxone (Narcan) near you
- Learn about harm reduction issues
- Get training online
- Download instructions for using Narcan
- Find Narcan near you
- Learn about your state's Narcan access laws
MO HOPE Project (for Missouri residents): https://mohopeproject.org/resources/get-naloxone/
- Find out how to get naloxone in Missouri
- Get information on how to use naloxone
- Learn about other harm reduction measures
Prevent + ED (for Missouri residents): https://prevented.org
- Get naloxone training
The T (for St. Louis area residents): https://www.thetstl.com
- Get naloxone training
- Get naloxone & other first aid supplies
Image Credit: "Drugs Say Stop The Drug War" by The Drug Users Bible is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Pathogen Wars: How Gut Bacteria Protect Against Cholera
Join expert Jonathan Mitchell and guests Nicolas Scrutton Alvarado and Raymond Uymatiao to learn about the beneficial bacteria in your gut that can help protect against diseases like cholera.
You can download the paper on our website.
Check out Jonathan's podcast Microbe Moment!
Check out Nicolas's podcast In the Spotlight!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, please consider becoming a Patron to help support In Plain English! And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Image Credit: "Beneficial Gut Bacteria" by National Institutes of Health (NIH) is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Climate Change, Corporations, and Cap-and-Trade
In the 9th episode of In Plain English, expert Kelly-Anne Moffa and guests Leenah Abugisisa and Alexander Albury delve into the ups and downs of California's cap-and-trade policy and its impact on climate change.
You can find the paper, "Leakage from Sub-national Climate Policy: The Case of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program", on our website.
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! And check out our Discord server to talk science with other listeners, experts, and guests!
If you are able, consider supporting us on Patreon. Becoming a patron gets you cool perks like early access to episodes, bonus content, and monthly AMAs, and it helps In Plain English keep growing and improving. And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Parasites: Master Puppeteers
In the 8th episode of In Plain English, expert Abby Kimball and guests Jakayla Folarin and Olayinka Idowu discuss the fascinating world of parasites and the surprising ways in which they connect all life, from ants to elephants.
You can download the paper for this episode on our website.
If you want to learn more about this topic, check out the book Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer.
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! If you are able, consider supporting us on Patreon. Becoming a patron gets you cool perks like early access to episodes, bonus content, and monthly AMAs, and it helps In Plain English keep growing and improving. And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
Featured image credit: "Larvae from the parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis" by ZEISS Microscopy is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Is the Standard History of Domestication Wrong?
In the 7th episode of In Plain English, expert Grace Ward and guests Caitlin Murphy and Marc Blanc discuss why the history of domestication we think we know is wrong, and what that says about our world today.
You can find the paper, "Reconsidering Domestication from a Process Archaeology Perspective" by Bogaard et. al., on our website.
If you want to learn more about this topic, check out the book The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow.
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
The Aging Brain: the Good, the Bad, and the Unknown
In the 6th episode of In Plain English, expert Teodora Stoica and guests Emma Sward and Abby Kimball explore what we know about how the brain changes with age, how we study the aging brain, and how we can promote healthy cognitive aging.
If you liked this episode, be sure to check out Teodora's blog Curious Cortex!
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest announcements! And check out our Where to Listen page to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform!
How Estrogen Affects Prostate Cancer
In the fifth episode of In Plain English, expert Ralph White III and guests Maura Lydon and Alexa Ruel explore the unexpected ways in which estrogen can affect the growth and spread of prostate cancer.
If you liked this episode, check out Ralph's podcast Scientifically Sound on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1549609843 and follow Scientifically Sound on Twitter @4theSci_Sound and Instagram @scientificallysound.
And check out Alexa's podcast Brainstorm: Exploring Minds and Behaviors, and follow her podcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
You can catch up on our previous episodes, download the papers, and send us questions at our website: inplainenglishpod.org.
Remember to follow In Plain English on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest announcements! This will be the last podcast of 2021, and we won't have a full episode in January 2022, but be on the lookout for a fun compilation of clips that didn't make it into the first five episodes. We'll be back in February 2022 with a new episode!
Where did Earth's Water Come From?
In the fourth episode of In Plain English, we discuss the potential cosmic origins of Earth's oceans. Expert Will Saunders and guests India Bland and Nick Wolslegel delve into the paper "How much water was delivered from the asteroid belt to the Earth after its formation?" by Rebecca Martin and Mario Livio, exploring whether asteroids could have brought all this water to Earth.
If you like this episode, check out Will Saunders's podcast Astro[sound]bytes: https://astrosoundbites.com
Follow astrosoundbites on Twitter @astrosoundbites
You can catch up on our previous episodes, download the papers, and send us questions at our website: inplainenglishpod.org
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest announcements!
In Plain English airs the first Tuesday of every month on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Are Humans Rational?
Join our expert Alexa Ruel and our guests Kelly-Anne Moffa and Mo Carr to discuss the paper "Interplay of Approximate Planning Strategies". During our discussion, we touch on whether the human brain works like a computer, why people avoid large negative outcomes even when they could lead to even larger positive ones, and more!
You can catch up on our previous episodes, download the papers, and send us questions at our website: inplainenglishpod.org
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest announcements!
In Plain English airs the first Tuesday of every month on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Everyone is Mistaken About Cancer
In Episode 2 of In Plain English, presenter Gloria Marino and guests Teodora Stoica and Jacob Walker discuss the paper "Tumor Microenvironment Components: Allies of Cancer Progression" by Pablo Igor Ribeiro Franco, Arthur Perillo Rodrigues, et. al. They discuss the ways in which cancer cells can modify their environment to grow, multiply, and spread; the importance of individualized medicine for cancer treatment, and why equitable access to healthcare may be our best tool in the fight against cancer.
You can download the paper on our website: https://inplainenglishpod.org
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlainEnglishSci
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Follow Gloria on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Glo_rious and https://twitter.com/_BareBonesBio
Bare Bones Bio: https://barebonesbio.wordpress.com
Follow Teodora on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CuriousCortex
Curious Cortex: http://www.curiouscortex.com
Follow Jacob on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BankOnJake
St. Louis Quarantine Support: https://www.facebook.com/STLQuarantineSupport/
Opioids, Marijuana, and Pain Relief
In the first ever episode of In Plain English, presenter Jamie Moffa and guests Brendan Ziebarth and Alex Marshall discuss the paper “Impact of co-administration of oxycodone and smoked cannabis on analgesia and abuse liability” by Ziva Cooper, et. al. They go over the promising possibility of using cannabis to lower the dose of oxycodone needed for pain relief, the tests the authors did to measure abuse likelihood, the importance of looking at funding sources, and more.