Monday, March 18, 2024

UK Journal Nature Podcast, March 13, 2024

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Behavior, Nature, Wildlife

Ed Hessler

Below are the topics of the British Journal Nature's  Nature Podcast (27m 17s) for March 13, 2024. Beginning times for each segment are in the parentheses.

00:45 Making a map of the human heart

The human heart consists of multiple, specialized structures that all work together to enable the organ to beat for a lifetime. But exactly which cells are present in each part of the heart has been difficult to ascertain. Now, a team has combined molecular techniques to create an atlas of the developing human heart at an individual cell level. Their atlas provides insights into how cell communities communicate and form different structures. They hope that this knowledge will ultimately help in the treatment of congenital heart conditions, often caused by irregular development of the heart. Includes a video.

08:37 Research Highlights

Residue in ceramic vases suggests that ancient Mesoamerican peoples consumed tobacco as a liquid, and a wireless way to charge quantum batteries.

11:11 The evolution of menopause in toothed whales

Menopause is a rare phenomenon, only known to occur in a few mammalian species. Several of these species are toothed whales, such as killer whales, beluga whales and narwhals. But why menopause evolved multiple times in toothed whales has been a long-standing research question. To answer it, a team examined the life history of whales with and without menopause and how this affected the number of offspring and ‘grandoffspring’. Their results suggest that menopause allows older females to help younger generations in their families and improve their chances of survival. Includes a link to the paper and the item in the journal Nature's News and Views.

18:03 Briefing Chat

How the new generation of anti-obesity drugs could help people with HIV, and the study linking microplastics lodged in a key blood vessel with serious health issues. Includes a link to the journal's report in Nature News.

One caveat: Links to papers published in Nature may not be completely accessible. The links to news and views items usually work. You can count on the videos.

Nature Podcast (27m 17s) for March 13, 2024. Segment beginning times are in the parentheses.

00:45 Making a map of the human heart

The human heart consists of multiple, specialized structures that all work together to enable the organ to beat for a lifetime. But exactly which cells are present in each part of the heart has been difficult to ascertain. Now, a team has combined molecular techniques to create an atlas of the developing human heart at an individual cell level. Their atlas provides insights into how cell communities communicate and form different structures. They hope that this knowledge will ultimately help in the treatment of congenital heart conditions, often caused by irregular development of the heart. Includes a video.

08:37 Research Highlights

Residue in ceramic vases suggests that ancient Mesoamerican peoples consumed tobacco as a liquid, and a wireless way to charge quantum batteries.

11:11 The evolution of menopause in toothed whales

Menopause is a rare phenomenon, only known to occur in a few mammalian species. Several of these species are toothed whales, such as killer whales, beluga whales and narwhals. But why menopause evolved multiple times in toothed whales has been a long-standing research question. To answer it, a team examined the life history of whales with and without menopause and how this affected the number of offspring and ‘grandoffspring’. Their results suggest that menopause allows older females to help younger generations in their families and improve their chances of survival. Includes a link to the paper and the item in the journal Nature's News and Views.

18:03 Briefing Chat

How the new generation of anti-obesity drugs could help people with HIV, and the study linking microplastics lodged in a key blood vessel with serious health issues. Includes a link to the journal's report in Nature News.

One caveat: Links to papers published in Nature may not be completely accessible. The links to news and views items usually work. You can count on the videos.

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