Episodes

  • Spider Silk Adhesives, Dark Dimensions, and RNA Inheritance
    Feb 9 2025

    In this week’s episode of SPARC Weekly, hosts Fafnir and Cecrops explore groundbreaking discoveries and unexpected innovations:

    Spider-Man-Like Silk Adhesive: Learn how a lucky lab accident led to the creation of a silk-based adhesive strong enough to lift 80 times its weight.

    Living Biomaterials: Discover LivGels, a revolutionary hydrogel that mimics real tissue and could transform regenerative medicine.

    A “Dark Dimension” in Physics? Explore a bold new theory suggesting that an extra spatial dimension could explain dark energy and reshape our understanding of the universe.

    RNA and Genetic Inheritance: Find out how RNA can pass genetic instructions across generations, opening up possibilities for future genetic therapies.


    Join us as we unravel the latest scientific breakthroughs and their impact on our future. Stay curious and keep exploring! 🌍✨

    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Black Holes, Quantum Entanglement, and a Zombie Star
    Feb 3 2025

    In this week’s episode of SPARC Weekly, hosts Fafnir and Cecrops explore mind-blowing discoveries across space, quantum mechanics, and medical science:

    Delayed REM Sleep and Alzheimer’s: Learn how disruptions in REM sleep could serve as an early warning sign for Alzheimer’s disease.

    The Changing Face of M87’s Black Hole: Discover how the first-ever imaged black hole is shifting, revealing new insights about its spin and accretion disk.

    Quantum Entanglement Visualized: See how scientists have mapped entangled photons’ wavefunctions for the first time, reshaping our understanding of quantum mechanics.

    A Potential Cure for Chronic Back Pain: Explore how a newly developed peptide could revolutionize treatments for degenerative disc disease.

    The Mystery of a Zombie Star: Unravel the strange case of a supernova remnant that defies expectations, leaving behind eerie filaments of sulfur.


    Join us as we journey through these groundbreaking discoveries and the science shaping our world—and beyond. Stay curious and keep exploring! 🌍✨

    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • Dynamic Materials, AI’s Environmental Cost, and Zombie Cells
    Jan 27 2025

    In this week’s episode of SPARC Weekly, hosts Fafnir and Cecrops explore fascinating breakthroughs and critical challenges shaping our world:

    Architected Materials: Discover PAMs, futuristic materials that adapt to stress, combining the properties of liquids and solids, with potential applications in robotics and protective gear.

    The Environmental Cost of AI: Learn about the growing carbon footprint of AI systems and why balancing innovation with sustainability is more important than ever.

    Zombie Cells and Aging: Uncover how senescent cells contribute to chronic inflammation and age-related diseases, and what this means for extending healthy lifespans.

    Innovations in Water Purification: Explore a new desalination technology that removes toxic boron from seawater, paving the way for more sustainable freshwater solutions.


    Join us as we dive into the cutting edge of science and innovation. Stay curious and keep exploring! 🌍✨

    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Ancient Fossils, Quantum Cats, and Sustainable Superglues
    Jan 20 2025

    In this week’s episode of SPARC Weekly, hosts Fafnir and Cecrops uncover groundbreaking discoveries and innovations:

    Ancient Mollusk Fossils: Explore 430-million-year-old fossils that are rewriting what we know about mollusk evolution and early marine life.

    Quantum Computing Breakthrough: Learn how Schrödinger’s cat inspired a major step forward in error-resistant quantum systems.

    Recurring Dreams Explained: Discover the psychological and neurological roots of recurring dreams and how they reflect our waking emotions.

    Eco-Friendly Superglues: Dive into a biodegradable adhesive that’s stronger than Gorilla Glue and could revolutionize sustainable materials.


    Join us for a journey through the wonders of science and technology, from ancient times to the innovations shaping our future. Stay curious and keep exploring! 🌍✨

    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Life Decisions, Northern Lights, and Butterfly-Inspired Robots
    Jan 15 2025

    In this week’s episode of SPARC Weekly, hosts Fafnir and Cecrops delve into fascinating discoveries and innovations shaping our world:

    The Science of Life-Changing Decisions: Explore a new framework that helps unravel the complexities of transformative choices like career changes and emigration.

    Northern Lights Mystery Solved: Learn how researchers uncovered the origin of a whitish-grey patch linked to the vibrant auroras.

    Turning Waste into Energy Storage: Discover how industrial byproducts are being transformed into components for sustainable grid-scale batteries.

    Sleep, Pupils, and Memory: Understand how pupil size during sleep reveals the brain’s methods for processing and consolidating memories.

    Butterfly-Inspired Robots: Dive into cutting-edge robotics with magnetic wings modeled after monarch butterflies, offering groundbreaking potential in environmental monitoring and healthcare.


    Join us as we explore the stories where science and innovation meet to transform our understanding of the world. Stay curious and keep exploring! 🌍✨

    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Fruit Fly Brains, Super-Earths, and CRISPR with AI
    Jan 14 2025

    In this week’s episode of SPARC Weekly, hosts Fafnir and Cecrops dive into cutting-edge scientific discoveries and innovations:

    Mapping the Fruit Fly Brain: Explore how scientists mapped the entire brain of a fruit fly, paving the way for breakthroughs in understanding memory and cognition.

    Discovery of a Super-Earth: Learn about TOI-715 b, a planet in the habitable zone that could hold the key to finding life beyond Earth.

    CRISPR Meets AI: Discover how AI-powered tools are enhancing the accuracy and safety of genetic modifications.

    Tackling Plastic Pollution: Understand the scale of the plastic crisis and the innovations aiming to solve it.

    Breakthrough Alzheimer’s Test: Hear about a blood test that could revolutionize the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

    New Moons Around Neptune and Uranus: Marvel at the discovery of new celestial bodies in the far reaches of our solar system.


    Join us as we explore the science shaping our world—and beyond. Stay curious and keep exploring! 🌍✨

    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • Ocean-Friendly Plastics, Laser Neurons, and the 2023 Temperature Spike
    Jan 13 2025

    In this week’s episode of SPARC Weekly, hosts Fafnir and Cecrops explore fascinating breakthroughs and pressing challenges shaping our world:

    Ocean-Friendly Plastics: Discover a revolutionary plastic that dissolves in seawater, offering a sustainable solution to ocean pollution.

    Laser-Based Artificial Neurons: Learn about cutting-edge AI technology that processes signals a billion times faster than biological neurons.

    Mirror Bacteria Risks: Delve into the ethical and environmental implications of synthetic organisms with reversed molecular structures.

    2023 Temperature Spike Mystery: Understand the unexpected factors contributing to record-breaking global temperatures and what it means for our planet’s future.


    Join us for an engaging journey through the wonders and challenges of science and technology. Stay curious and keep exploring! 🌍✨

    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Machine Unlearning, Heart Mini-Brains, and E-Skin Innovations
    Jan 13 2025

    In this week’s episode of SPARC Weekly, hosts Fafnir and Cecrops explore fascinating breakthroughs in science, technology, and environmental efforts:

    Machine Unlearning: Discover how AI models are being taught to forget specific data, enhancing efficiency and addressing ethical concerns like privacy.

    Heart’s Mini-Brain: Learn about the newly discovered neural network in the heart, offering insights into its independent regulation and potential treatments for heart disorders.

    E-Skin Inspired by Electric Fish: Dive into the world of biomimicry with a sensor system that mimics electric fish, revolutionizing wearable technology and prosthetics.

    Japan’s Fight Against Plastic Pollution: Explore how Japan is tackling plastic waste in rivers through nationwide studies and community-driven efforts.


    Join us as we uncover the science shaping our world and the innovations inspiring a better future. Stay curious and keep exploring! 🌍✨

    Show More Show Less
    5 mins