Episodes

  • Jurassic Park - Cloning and De-extinction

    Jurassic Park - Cloning and De-extinction
    Jul 21 2023
    In this episode we take a look at the classic sci-fi movie Jurassic Park, and then we take a look at some real attempts to de-extinct animals. For comments or suggestions, email: scilenspod@gmail.com Sources and supplemental material: Amplification and sequencing of DNA from a 120–135-million-year-old weevil – https://www.nature.com/articles/363536a0 Ultrastructure of 40-Million-Year-Old Insect Tissue – http://science.sciencemag.org/content/215/4537/1241 40-MILLION-YEAR-OLD MUMMY OF INSECT IS REPORTED FOUND – https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/27/us/40-million-year-old-mummy-of-insect-is-reported-found.html Jurassic Park’s Unlikely Symbiosis With Real-World Science – https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/jurassic-park-reveals-delicate-interplay-between-science-and-science-fiction-180969331/ Wikipedia article on De-extinction – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-extinction Article on Jack Horner’s projects to de-extinct dinosaurs – https://www.livescience.com/could-we-build-jurassic-park-dinosaurs.html Article on half-life of dinosaur DNA – https://www.livescience.com/23861-fossil-dna-half-life.html Article on best preserved T-rex specimen – https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dinosaur-shocker-115306469/ Dinosaur blood cells extracted from 75-million-year-old fossil – https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27687-dinosaur-blood-cells-extracted-from-75-million-year-old-fossil/ New tests reveal controversial dinosaur DNA isn't so ancient after all – https://newatlas.com/dinosaur-dna-ostrich/49875/ Cartilage-producing cells isolated from a fossil – https://globalnews.ca/news/6625164/dinosaur-dna-found-fossil/#:~:text=The%20Jurassic%20Park%20dream%20has,belonged%20to%20a%20baby%20dinosaur. Potential degraded dinosaur DNA found – https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/possible-dinosaur-dna-has-been-found/ National Human Genome Research Institute , cloning fact-sheet – https://www.genome.gov/25020028/cloning-fact-sheet/ Livescience article on the basics of cloning https://www.livescience.com/58079-cloning-facts.html Challenges with de-extinction: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-extinction#Disadvantages_of_de-extinction Vice article discussing a project to resurrect woolly mammoths: https://www.vice.com/en/article/5393vn/the-plan-to-turn-elephants-into-woolly-mammoths-is-already-underway BBC story on funded project to resurrect Pyrenean Ibex: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25052233 NatGeo article on attempts to de-extinct Tasmanian tiger: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/thylacine-genome-extinct-tasmanian-tiger-cloning-science/ Info about attempts to revive passenger pigeon – https://reviverestore.org/about-the-passenger-pigeon/
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    1 hr and 51 mins
  • Limitless -- Nootropics and Other Brain-enhancing Technologies

    Limitless -- Nootropics and Other Brain-enhancing Technologies
    Jul 21 2023
    In this episode, we talk about the 2011 sci-fi thriller Limitless, discuss how it explores brain-enhancing substances, and then talk about potential nootropics and other brain-enhancing technologies. For comments or suggestions, email: scilenspod@gmail.com Sources and supplemental material: The pied piper of neutropics, Science-Based Medicine – https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-pied-piper-of-nootropics/ The future of the human brain, smart drugs and nootropics – https://futurism.com/do-not-edit-nootropics-and-the-future-of-brain-enhancing-smart-drugs Wikipedia article on piracteam – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracetam Wikipedia article on modafinil – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil “Piracetam for dementia or cognitive impairment” – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11405971 “Modafinil Increases the Latency of Response in the Hayling Sentence Completion Test in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomised Controlled Trial” – http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0110639 Bacopa monieri: “Efficacy of Standardized Extract of Bacopa monnieri (Bacognize®) on Cognitive Functions of Medical Students: A Six-Week, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial” – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5075615/ “The cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa monnieri: a systematic review of randomized, controlled human clinical trials” – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK114917/ Rhodiola Rosea “Multicenter, open-label, exploratory clinical trial with Rhodiola rosea extract in patients suffering from burnout symptoms” – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370380/ “Rhodiola rosea for physical and mental fatigue: a systematic review” – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3541197 “Rhodiola Rosea Therapy of Major Depressive Disorder” – https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01098318 Kava “Kava in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study” – https://journals.lww.com/psychopharmacology/Abstract/2013/10000/Kava_in_the_Treatment_of_Generalized_Anxiety.9.aspx “Kava for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder RCT: analysis of adverse reactions, liver function, addiction, and sexual effects” – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23348842/ “The effectiveness and safety of Kava Kava for treating anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and analysis of randomized clinical trial”s – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388118301981 “Kava for the Treatment of Generalised Anxiety Disorder: A Double-Blind Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial (KGAD)” – https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02219880 “Kava for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder (K-GAD): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial” – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4630875/ “World first clinical trial supports use of Kava to treat anxiety” – https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130513095750.htm “The effectiveness and safety of Kava Kava for treating anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and analysis of randomized clinical trials” – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388118301981 “De-mythologizing and re-branding of kava as the new ‘world drug’ of choice” – https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2050324519876131 Guayusa “Health Benefits of Bioactive Compounds from the Genus Ilex, a Source of Traditional Caffeinated Beverages” — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6265843/ “More than just caffeine: psychopharmacology of methylxanthine interactions with plant-derived phytochemicals” – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584618301726 “A critical review of the composition and history of safe use of guayusa: a stimulant and antioxidant novel food” – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31366209/ “Assessing the History of Safe Use of Guayusa” – http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/6/7/8/index.html “A critical review of the composition and history of safe use of guayusa: a stimulant and antioxidant novel food” – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31366209/ Neurostimulation “Evidence-Based Guidelines and Secondary Meta-Analysis for the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders” – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32710772/ “Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)” – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27866120/ “The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Working Memory Training in Healthy Young Adults” – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00019/full#:~:text=Many%20studies%20have%20shown%20the,training%20in%20a%20few%20studies. “Can transcranial direct current stimulation enhance outcomes from cognitive training? A randomized controlled trial in healthy participants” – https://...
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Shaun of the Dead -- Zombie Diseases

    Shaun of the Dead -- Zombie Diseases
    May 7 2023

    In this episode we breakdown the craft behind the zombie comedy classic Shaun of the Dead and then dive into the science behind zombies. For comments or suggestions, email: scilenspod@gmail.com

    Sources and supplemental material:

    Clip of TV gag – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR04STCDzdQ

    General report on how the flu spreads – https://www.livescience.com/7734-flu-special-report-basics.html

    Articla about spread of simulated zombie virus throughout Chicago — https://www.newswise.com/articles/chicago-wouldn-t-last-long-under-zombie-invasion-model-finds

    Wikipedia article on agent-based modeling: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent-based_model

    Wired article on the correction of errors for aerosol classification – https://www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwup-that-helped-covid-kill/

    Article on application of transmission rate formula to zombie virus spread –

    https://www.livescience.com/38527-surviving-a-zombie-apocalypse-math.html

    Simulations of viral spread throughout Chicago – https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/blue-sky/ct-argonne-zombie-takeover-argonne-bsi-20161031-story.html

    Mapping disease spread to understand the “price of anarchy” – https://www.livescience.com/38552-price-of-anarchy-how-contagion-spreads.html

    Article on real parasitic organisms – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326871

    EPA advisory on the health effects of radiation – https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radiation-health-effects

    NHS information about rabies – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rabies/

    Medscape info, symptoms and origins on Kuru – https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/220043-overview

    Wiki article on cordyceps – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiocordyceps

    CDC info on prion-based Creutzfeld-Jakob disease – https://www.cdc.gov/prions/cjd/index.html

    CDC information on Toxoplasma – Toxoplasma gondii,

    Study on the possible effects of Toxoplasmosis in humans – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22087345

    Overview on the current state of nanobot research – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/nanobots A NECRO-BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR THE FERMI PARADOX – http://arxiv.org/pdf/1403.8146v1.pdf
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    1 hr
  • The Terminator - Understanding AI Risk

    The Terminator - Understanding AI Risk
    May 7 2023

    In this episode we talk about the movie that everyone first thinks of when they think about dangers from AI: The Terminator. Then we explore what AI researchers actually work on and what they're actually concerned about. For comments or suggestions, email: scilenspod@gmail.com Sources and supplemental links:

    Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control, Stuart Russell – https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/44767248

    The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values, Brian Christiansen – https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/50489349

    Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, – Nick Bostrom –

    https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/20527133

    Artificial Neural Network, Its inspiration and the Working Mechanism – https://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2021/04/artificial-neural-network-its-inspiration-and-the-working-mechanism/#:~:text=The%20working%20mechanism%20of%20Artificial,two%20neurons%20as%20weighted%20edges.

    Müller, Vincent C. and Bostrom, Nick (forthcoming 2014), ‘Future progress in artifi-cial intelligence: A Survey of Expert Opinion, in Vincent C. Müller (ed.), Fundamental

    Issues of Artificial Intelligence (Synthese Library; Berlin: Springer) – https://nickbostrom.com/papers/survey.pdf

    When Will AI Exceed Human Performance?

    Evidence from AI Experts – https://arxiv.org/pdf/1705.08807.pdf

    When Will We Reach the Singularity? – A Timeline Consensus from AI Researchers — https://emerj.com/ai-future-outlook/when-will-we-reach-the-singularity-a-timeline-consensus-from-ai-researchers/

    What is Reinforcement Learning: A Complete Guide — https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/machine-learning-tutorial/reinforcement-learning

    Instrumental convergence – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrumental_convergence

    Playing Hide-and-Seek, Machines Invent New Tools – https://www.quantamagazine.org/artificial-intelligence-discovers-tool-use-in-hide-and-seek-games-20191118/

    Generally capable agents emerge from open-ended play – https://www.deepmind.com/blog/generally-capable-agents-emerge-from-open-ended-play

    Building safe artificial intelligence: specification, robustness, and assurance — https://deepmindsafetyresearch.medium.com/building-safe-artificial-intelligence-52f5f75058f1

    Specification gaming: the flip side of AI ingenuity –

    https://deepmindsafetyresearch.medium.com/specification-gaming-the-flip-side-of-ai-ingenuity-c85bdb0deeb4

    Get Involved at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute:

    https://intelligence.org/

    Get Involved at the Center for AI Safety:

    https://www.safe.ai/
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    1 hr and 51 mins