Rigakuru podcast

By Rigakuru podcast

In around two minutes, we will give you a broad overview of the latest science from the School of Science, University of Tokyo. Each episode features a research paper. Our aim is to reach and inspire a wide range of audiences like you. #Science4all
Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi
www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/

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Becoming an Astronaut [interview with JAXA astronaut candidate Dr. Makoto Suwa]

Rigakuru podcast Apr 01, 2024

00:00

26:30

Becoming an Astronaut [interview with JAXA astronaut candidate Dr. Makoto Suwa]

🧑‍🚀 Have you ever wondered how to achieve your dream of becoming an astronaut? 🤔 Well, our special guest is one of the two latest astronaut candidates from JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Dr. Makoto Suwa. After his undergrad at UTokyo, he obtained a Ph.D. in Geosciences from Princeton University. He was working at the World Bank before joining JAXA in July 2023.

In this episode:

🌑Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut? 🛰️ 🔭What kind of training does one need? 💡 Discover the steps involved in becoming an astronaut, what skills are necessary, and more as Dr. Suwa sheds light on becoming an astronaut. 🌍 So, whether you're a curious mind or simply fascinated by the wonders of space, this episode is for you. 🔍 Don't miss out. Hit that play button!

Guest: Dr. Makoto Suwa (https://www.linkedin.com/in/makoto-suwa-657b542a/)

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (⁠⁠https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra⁠⁠)

#space #JAXA #astronaut #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Music: Incompetech.com

Apr 01, 202426:30

Cosmic dust and its mysteries (with Dr. Sakon Itsuki)

What can dust tell us about the origin of life?

Guest: Dr. Sakon Itsuki (https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/people/sakon_itsuki/⁠)

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (⁠https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra⁠)

Follow us on FB: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠⁠ #cosmology #space #bigbang #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Music:Incompetech.com

Feb 01, 202408:33

How AI and robots help build next generation solid state batteries (with Dr. Taro Hitosugi)

Ever wondered if AI and robots could replace scientists? What if humans and machines can collaborate to inspire each other. Would that allow us to design next generation solid state batteries that can charge in minutes or seconds?

Guest: Dr. Taro Hitosugi (https://solid-state-chemistry.jp/english/)

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra)

Follow us on FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠ #lithium #batteries #AI #robots #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience #sustainable

Music:Incompetech.com

Dec 01, 202329:27

18. How fast is the universe expanding? (with Dr. Kenneth Wong)

Ever wondered how scientists measure the speed of expansion of the universe? Gravitational lensing where the gravitational force of a celestial body bends light could play a role in our efforts to estimate. Find out how.

Guest: Dr. Kenneth Wong, Assistant Professor (https://kcwong.github.io/)

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra)

#bigbang #universe #JamesWebbSpaceTelescope #JSWT

#UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Music: Incompetech.com

Sound effects: Zapsplat.com

Nov 22, 202315:26

17. Gold clusters and their applications (with Dr. Leonardo Hayato Takeshige)

If all types of gold have the same gold atoms, what gives them different colors? How can gold help see deformations in plastics and illuminate our houses? Find out in this episode.

Guest: Dr. Leonardo Hayato Takeshige, Postdoc, School of Science

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli Nettimi, Project Specialist, School of Science

#gold #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Music: Incompetech.com

Nov 08, 202311:22

Careers in mathematics, with Dr. Hidetaka Sakai

Have you ever wondered what a mathematician does in a day-to-day life? What jobs can you do after a degree in mathematics? I spoke to Prof. Sakai Hidetaka of the School of Science to find out.

Guest: Prof. Hidetaka Sakai. https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/people/people003341.html

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli Nettimi

Suggested book: Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter.

Feature article supplementing this podcast: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/rigakuru/research/4iKwsGUP/

Music: Incompetech

#mathematics #finance #STEM #careers

Oct 02, 202307:33

16. Finding metals in the Milky Way

How does one find metals in the Milky Way galaxy? And how would that help us? Find out in this episode.

Press release: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/press/10003/

Guest: Dr. Noriyuki Matsunaga

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Music: Incompetech. Sound effects: Zapsplat

#Milkyway #galaxy #space #metals #astronomy #UTokyo

Sep 11, 202302:38

Sleep Secrets with Dr. Yu Hayashi

Dr. Yu Hayashi and his team study sleep in nematode worms and mice. Their aim is to understand why we sleep and what is sleepiness. They hope to uncover the role of REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep, and potentially contribute to treating sleep disorders and other human diseases.

In this interview, Dr. Hayashi explains:

Why study sleep in worms and mice?

What are REM and non-REM sleep?

How they use technology to understand sleep.

Why do you feel sleepy after a workout?

How to improve memory according to sleep science?

And the biggest sleep mysteries.

Guest: Dr. Yu Hayashi (https://hayashi-sleep-lab.net/en/home-2/)

Host:Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra)

Accompanying feature article: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/rigakuru/research/uu4jELQj/

#sleep #slumber #mice #worms #dreams #memory #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Music: Incompetech.com

Sep 01, 202328:28

15. What are slow earthquakes?

What are slow earthquakes and can they help scientists understand and forecast devastating earthquakes?

Press release: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/info/8576/

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2222102120

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Music: Incompetech. Sound effects: Zapsplat

Aug 23, 202302:30

14. Why we look away from scary things

What can frightened flies tell us about phobias and anxiety disorders? Find out how scientists scare flies and study fear at a molecular and neural levels.

Press release: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/press/z0508_00297.html

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Guest: Dr. Masato Tsuji. https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/people/tsuji_masato/

Music: Incompetech. Sound effects: Zapsplat

Aug 01, 202302:38

13. Atoms as sensors

⚛️ How can atoms be sensors? What can they sense? Find out how scientists fabricate quantum sensors and what the sensors can do for you.

Press release: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/info/8470/

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Guest: Dr. Kento Sasaki

https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/people/sasaki_kento/

Music: Incompetech

Sound effects: Zapsplat and Pixabay

#quantum #sensors #scicomm #Utokyo #Japan #Science podcasts

Jul 11, 202302:26

The Science of Collective Movements with Dr. Daiki Nishiguchi

🐦🔬 Have you ever wondered how bacteria and birds move collectively? Or how do principles from physics and biology come together to unravel the mysteries of microswimmers like bacteria, human cells, and algae? 🤔 Well, Dr. Nishiguchi is here to blow your mind!

💡 Discover the captivating world of Active Matter physics as Dr. Nishiguchi sheds light on the secrets of collective movements. 🌡️ But wait, why should you care about how bacteria and other cells move collectively? Join us as we explore the potential applications of this research in medicine and beyond.

Bonus: living art created by collectively moving bacteria.

https://sites.google.com/site/daikinishiguchi/home-english?authuser=0

https://lab.kaztake.org/research/kpz/index.html

https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/press/2022/8213/

Guest: Dr. Daiki Nishiguchi (https://sites.google.com/site/daikinishiguchi/home-english?authuser=0)

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Feature Article on Active Matter Physics:

https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/rigakuru/research/jInPTU4V/

#bacteria #activematter #physics #art #UniversityofTokyo

Music: Incompetech.com

Sound effects: Zapsplat.com

Jul 03, 202324:24

12. Sexual diversity explained at the level of genes

These Japanese algae have three sexes. If two sexes were enough to reproduce, why did they evolve the third sex? Find out the secrets that scientists revealed hidden in the sex chromosomes.

Press release: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/info/8477/

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Guest: Kohei Takahashi

http://www.bs.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~tayousei/research.html

Music: Incompetech

Sound effects: Zapsplat and Pixabay

#Sexual #Diversity #Pride #scicomm #Utokyo #Japan #Science podcasts

Jun 18, 202302:33

11. A fossil mystery of Tully monster

Fossils are like nature’s puzzles that can reveal the evolution of life. In this episode, you will learn about the mystery of a prehistoric animal called the Tully Monster.

Press release: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/press/z0508_00286.html

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Guests: Prof. Wataru Iwasaki and Dr.Tomoyuki Mikami.

http://iwasakilab.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/eindex.html#members

Music: "Nowhere Land" Kevin McLeod, Incompetech.com

Sound effects: Zapsplat.com

Cover art image credit: Takahiro Sakono, 2022.

#Tully #monster #fossils #archeology #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #Utokyo

Jun 05, 202302:08

10. How millipedes get new legs

How many legs do millipedes have? And how do they add new legs as they grow?

Find out in this episode.

Press release: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/press/z0508_00288.html

#critters #millipedes #summer #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Music: "Bleeping Demo" Kevin McLeod, Incompetech.com

Sound effects: Zapsplat.com

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Cover art image: Soma Chiyoda et al 2023. https://sites.google.com/view/miura-lab/english-home

May 22, 202302:26

9. How to cool your brain

On a hot summer day, you may seek air conditioning. How do other animals prevent overheating or even frying their heat-sensitive brain?

Press release: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/985277

#dinosaurs #nose #summer #birds #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Music: "Dream Catcher" Incompetech.com

Sound effects: Zapsplat.com

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

May 08, 202302:14

8. How did life begin at a molecular level?

Find out how researchers study space biomolecules and what they learned about a likely precursor of amino acids.

Music: Incompetech.com. “Ethernight Club”

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

#astrochemistry #hydroxylamine #origins #life #space #interstellar #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Apr 25, 202302:18

7. Is winter sunburn killing these cute algal balls?

Marimo algae are at risk of winter sunburn. Listen to find out why.

Press release: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/press/z0508_00269.html

Music and Sound effect: Zapsplat.com

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

#Marimo #VisitJapan #climatechange #globalwarming #pets #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Apr 19, 202302:12

6. Light, Enzyme, and Action

What happened when researchers shone a light on an enzyme called Akt2, and what does it mean for diabetes treatment?

Press release: http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/press/2023/8291/

Music and Sound effect: Zapsplat.com

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

#health #insulin #metabolism#Diabetes #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Mar 29, 202302:47

5. An exotic state of matter

You know solid, liquid, and gas. But scientists grew a crystal in the lab that contains a new state of matter called spin-orbital liquid. What does it mean?

Press release: http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/press/2022/8153/

Music: "Upbeat Forever" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Sound effect: Zapsplat.com

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

#magnets #spin #orbitals #atoms #Nakatsuji #pyrochlore #quantumComputing #cryptography #quantumphysics #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Mar 12, 202302:32

4. Shaken or stirred: the key to growing crystals faster

Ever tried growing crystals in school, and wondered what happens at the molecular level during the process? Wonder no more! Scientists took timelapse images of the process at a molecular level. Find out more on this episode.

Press release:http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/press/2022/8192/

Music: "Upbeat Forever" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Sound effect: Zapsplat.com

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

#crystals #shaken #stirred #salt #chemistry #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Feb 26, 202302:33

3. Is it a leaf or a flower?

Flowers are modified leaves. Then, during plant growth, how does a plant differentiate leaves and flowers? The answer may help modify ornamental flowers and vegetable crop leaves.

Press release: http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/press/2022/8178/

Music: "Upbeat Forever" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Sound effect: Zapsplat.com

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

#plants #autumn #spring #pollination #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Feb 13, 202302:48

2. How to collect samples from an asteroid

Scientists found two mysterious dark particles outside the storage container of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft sent to the Ryugu asteroid. What were they, and what do they tell us about designing storage containers?

#JAXA #asteroid #Ryugu #Hayabusa2 #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Music: "Upbeat Forever" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Sound effect: Freesound.org

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

Jan 30, 202302:35

1. Of mice, maternal cells, and immunity

Find out how maternal cells can help shape the immune response of mice pups soon after birth. Do the maternal cells that we gain from our mothers while in the womb influence our immune system long after birth?

Press release: http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/press/2022/8139/

Podcast usage restriction
Please include attribution. Credit: School of Science, The University of Tokyo.

Credits
Music: "Upbeat Forever" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Sound effect: Mice sound effect, Zapsplat.com

Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi
Follow us on FB: https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci

#autoimmune #pregnancy #maternal #research #scicomm #allergies #immunity #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

Jan 23, 202302:24