I Contain Multitudes–Our Microbes, Ourselves

Multitudes of Microbes (start time: 3:38): You may find it unsettling to learn that our human cells make up only half of our bodies. The other half is a bunch of microbes (in the neighborhood of 40 trillion), all living and reproducing in, and on, our bodies. What’s more, these invisible machines could have a … Continue reading “I Contain Multitudes–Our Microbes, Ourselves”

Our Microbes, Ourselves: Soil Bacteria Treat Stress Disorders

Microbes and Stress Resilience (starts 5:13) If you’re worried that some dirt still clings to your skin under your fingernails after planting or weeding in the garden, fear not. In fact, the more you feel and even breathe its fumes, the better, research suggests. As part of our series called “Our Microbes, Ourselves,” we explore … Continue reading “Our Microbes, Ourselves: Soil Bacteria Treat Stress Disorders”

Our Microbes, Ourselves — Special Call-in Show

Our Microbes, Ourselves, Dec. 31, 2015: Roughly one hundred trillion bacteria are living, and gorging, in our gut–all the more so during the indulgent holidays. Microbes influence our health and well-being, by affecting our gut directly, as well as the crops we eat and the soils in which we grow crops. These microbial communities  – called the gut … Continue reading “Our Microbes, Ourselves — Special Call-in Show”

Holiday Sci & Tech Gifts // Eating Your Heart Out?

  We take a look at favorite holiday sci-tech gifts, including the SparkFun Inventor’s Kit, Logicomix, Manga Guide to Electricity, Lego Mindstorms,  a fun new novelty for anyone on your list – giant microbes.  After the show, we also voted to add yet one more item to your last-minute gifts – a mesh bag of … Continue reading “Holiday Sci & Tech Gifts // Eating Your Heart Out?”

Characterizing Microbial Communities

Microbial communities are all around us: in our homes, gardens, oceans, even deep underground but their roles in the function of the biosphere are poorly understood. Today Beth spoke with Professor Noah Fierer, at the University of Colorado, in Boulder, who uses DNA to identify microbes in communities ranging from insect microbiomes to Antarctic soils. … Continue reading “Characterizing Microbial Communities”

Baking Soda for Autoimmune Disease // Crickets for the Gut

Baking Soda for Autoimmune Disease (starts at 1:00)  Georgia Medical College researcher Paul O’Connor reports that a small amount of baking soda in water, for two weeks, shifts the immune cell known as macrophage away from “attack” mode and more toward, “repair” mode.  He says this research comes, in part, from studies involving the benefits of baking soda for people … Continue reading “Baking Soda for Autoimmune Disease // Crickets for the Gut”

2017 Look Back – 2018 Look Forward

For this end-of-the-year/start-of-the-year  How on Earth show, we look back to 2017 with clips from some of our features from the past year: selections about tracking methane leaks, ketogenic diets, using MDMA to treat PTSD, gravitational waves, the solar eclipse, space missions, and the politicization of science.  Those are just a few of the topics we covered … Continue reading “2017 Look Back – 2018 Look Forward”

2016 Retrospective

For this end-of-the-year How on Earth show, we look back to 2016 with clips from some of our features from the past year: selections from the Our Microbes, Ourselves series, research about Zika, gravitational waves, and carbon farming.  Those are just a few of the topics we covered in 2016, which also included: electric cars, electric airplanes, renewable … Continue reading “2016 Retrospective”

Salmonella Biofilms – Extended Version

SALMONELLA BIOFILMS INSIDE OF US (Extended Version – Transcript — For Broadcast Audio Version, go HERE) Overview:  Foodborne Salmonella infections MIGHT pave the way for arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and ALS, according to a  new study about the potential long-term effects of a salmonella infection.  Symptoms of salmonella infection can include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.  … Continue reading “Salmonella Biofilms – Extended Version”