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Copyright: © Richard Jacobs
Dr. Sönke Ahrens, author, How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning, and Thinking – for Students, Academics, and Nonfiction Book Writers, provides valuable information that we can all use to help us take better notes and be more productive.
Dr. Ahrens is a noted writer and researcher in education and social science. He regularly publishes, and his book titled, Experiment and Exploration: Forms of World-Disclosure: From Epistemology to Bildung is an award winner and continues to be a talked-about piece. In addition to being a prolific author, Dr. Ahrens still finds time to teach at university in the area of philosophy of education.
Dr. Ahrens talks about his background and how it was his own Ph.D. education experience that inspired him to later write his book on taking notes. He states, as students, we are constantly taking notes, but Dr. Ahrens was interested in how we could more efficiently retain the data and information that we are given—how do we take notes? Dr. Ahrens discusses his interest in the work of Niklas Luhmann, the German sociologist , and philosopher of social science who was a major voice in the field of systems theory. He explains the theoretical studies of Luhmann and his discoveries about the man and how Luhmann was incredibly efficient and productive in the taking off and producing notes that allowed him to spark new ideas. Luhmann essentially mastered productivity, and his technique is at the center of Dr. Ahrens' keen interest and study.
Zettelkasten is the German word for 'slip box,' and the slip box technique was Niklas Luhmann's major contribution to modern-day note taking and information gathering. The German sociologist used index cards for all of his notes and thus developed a systematic method of cross-referencing and connecting all of his many notes. Luhmann assigned each card a specific number, which positioned the card in a certain place within his filing system. This technique allowed Luhmann to have it referenced on other cards.
Dr. Ahrens elaborates on some of the techniques and processes that make for more efficiency in learning and note-taking. Dr. Ahrens explains how certain organizational techniques can be standardized and thus become a daily routine, which increases productivity. He discusses how the everyday person can utilize steps, such as collecting, then processing, and writing information that makes connections to other data that you've collected, etc. Dr. Ahrens states that the key is to get into a topic at the content level where we last left it, and pick up our research or study again as quickly as possible.
It's adaptive, convenient, and also fashionable: BILLY Footwear is completely changing the game in terms of versatile footwear that's desired by anyone and everyone—not just those who actually need it. Founder of BILLY Footwear, Billy Price, joins the podcast to discuss the shoe that's garnering a lot of attention due to its unique and unprecedented design, which, rather than forcing you to shove your foot into the shoe and use dexterity of the fingers to maneuver shoe laces, allows you to step into it with ease and pull a single zipper to secure it on your foot.
Billy Price shares his story with us, explaining what led to his need for the shoe, as well as his process in developing and marketing it. He draws attention to what many people may be all too familiar with: that feeling of being the only person to wear something purely adaptive, and having to experience the negative attention that can come along with it. For those who have disabilities, this shoe can change everything for them by restoring independence, while at the same time allowing them to wear something that everyone finds desirable and convenient. In fact, the vast majority of his customers seek the shoe simply because of its attractive design. In addition, the design is attracting a number of think tanks interested in a shoe that can act as a receptacle for studies designed to study differences in gait. Interested in learning more or getting a pair for yourself? Visit billyfootwear.com.
Not more than 20 years ago, epigenetics was something not many people understood or even knew much about, but now we not only have a good understanding of epigenetics, but the ability to manipulate the epigenome. CRISPR is one of the new tools used in accomplishing this, and additional genome editing tools are contributing to the growing pool of data on the genome and epigenome of both plants and animals.
On today's episode, Dr. Dana Carroll from the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah School of Medicine imparts a significant amount of insight and information on this growing field of research, including the latest developments, implications, and future possibilities. Among other topics, Dr. Carroll discusses how genes function and why it's been challenging to come to a consensus definition of what a "gene' actually is, how cells repair DNA in different ways (some of which can lead to problematic mutations at the site of repair), how viruses are being used to support CRISPR technology, ex vivo therapy, and when he thinks clinical applications of gene editing tools might be widely available. Press play to learn more.
Dr. Zoran Radic is a scientist working at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science at UC San Diego, where he focuses his research on nerve agents and the development of good antidotes that have the ability to treat or even prevent nerve gas toxicity. He's using a tool from a company by the name Nanome that allows for virtual reality 3D visualization and analysis of molecules that could function as antidotes to a range of toxic substances. He explains that this tool allows scientists to observe and examine with the natural senses compounds that are microscopic, which is opening the door to an unprecedented level of understanding of the ways nerve agents and antidotes interact in the body and with one another.
On today's episode, Dr. Radic also discusses the mechanisms of the most common nerve agents that effectively disable normal neurotransmission in our bodies, which means disabling our ability to control bodily movements and breathe. He explains why developing antidotes has been so challenging, how the Nanome 3D tool is aiding in this process, his research on a particular class of substances that could treat a wide range of toxicities, and what he predicts will happen over the next few years in this exciting field of research. Find out more info about Dr. Radic's work at https://profiles.ucsd.edu/zoran.radic
When was the last time your doctor took the time to ask you about your lifestyle to identify and address the root of your symptoms? Did they prescribe a medication and send you on your way, or did they take the time to delve into your lifestyle and diet to devise an individualized treatment plan? Naturopathic Doctor Cheryl Burdette joins us today to share the principles that guide her medical practice. In today's episode, Dr. Burdette emphasizes the importance of taking thorough and accurate patient histories to help patients address health abnormalities as well as maintain their optimal health. Achieving optimal health, Dr. Burdette explains, takes time. Just like going to the gym once doesn't give us chiseled bodies, taking care of our bodies for one day won't heal chronic illness. Naturopathic doctors such as Dr. Burdette can help us find and maintain optimal health so that we may feel our very best in our day-to-day lives.
For more information, visit www.progressivemedicalcenter.com.
Matt Richtel, Pulitzer Prize-winning tech reporter for The New York Times, talks about his background and work, covering technology and Silicon Valley.
As a celebrated author and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times, Richtel has been, to say the least, a little busy, and in demand. He is an outspoken voice on many and varied subjects, such as science and technology, business, cancer immunotherapy, and technology's effect on behavior as well as the brain. His work has also focused on the dot com boom (and subsequent bust), venture capital, startups, and all that is… Silicon Valley.
Richtel talks about his vast background studying, researching, and reporting on Silicon Valley. The author and reporter discuss how he came to write his book, The Man Who Wouldn't Die, a comedic detective novel set in Silicon Valley that Richtel penned under a nom de plume that he humorously refers to as his nom de guerre. Richtel explains how he and his publisher came to the idea that they should publish it under a pen name. As he explains, after a lifetime of serious reporting, they decided that the public should have a little warning that this book was a great departure from the usual reporting Richtel delivers, and is celebrated for.
The Pulitzer Prize winner muses about some of the early history of sports reporting, and how a program would gather facts and data to assemble a story. Further, he makes the connection to universal income as he talks about automation. Richtel discusses his thoughts on universal basic income and states that while he sees both sides as a journalist, it is certainly a conversation worth having, as automation is taking over jobs, livelihoods, and family incomes.
Richtel talks about choices that people have available to them, and how especially in Silicon Valley, the entrepreneurial spirit leaches into literally everything. He discusses the advantages of technology and all that it has brought forth but underscores that even with such innovative changes that have made our lives better, technology has still failed to solve our existential challenges.
Richtel won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting, for a series of groundbreaking articles on the hazardous use of cell phones, computers, and various other devices during driving. As an author he is a New York Times bestseller and continues to report and write on various subjects of his interest, often focused on technology or its effects.
Creon Levit, Director R&D, Planet Labs, provides an interesting overview of the advanced satellites that are being launched to help us better understand and monitor our planet.
Levit is a seasoned scientific expert. As an award-winning research scientist of the NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley for 33 years, he was a leader and manager of many advanced projects that combined new techniques in scientific computing, machine learning, and complex graphics, to find solutions for crucial NASA problems.
Levit discusses his background and his current mission at Planet Labs, where they build, launch, and operate the world's largest constellation of satellites to make changes on Earth more visible and actionable. As he states, Planet Labs has launched over 300 satellites to date, though approximately only half of those are still in orbit currently. Many that were simply launched for testing have now re-entered the atmosphere and burned up.
Levit explains their high-resolution satellites, discussing what they image and how they gather data. The research scientist talks about medium resolution satellites that image the Earth in visible, and near-infrared colors. He explains their resolution and quality level. Levit discusses their data set in regard to climate change, and he expounds upon their data that many environmental researchers access to further studies in multiple areas, such as climate, ice flow, species diversity, land use, and much more.
The Planet Labs scientific expert provides an overview of some, particularly interesting use cases. He describes one specific use of their daily data that delivers valuable information to ranchers, informing them about the optimum stage of grass development for ruminate animals to graze. By utilizing this data, ranchers can manage grass health and animal health simultaneously.
Additionally, Levit talks about the value of infrared and the many amazing things it can help researchers learn and differentiate. He explains spectral bands and elaborates on the detection of gases, specifically the tracking of environmentally-relevant gases.
As the president of Coughlin Associates, Thomas Coughlin is a widely-respected digital storage analyst and business and tech consultant with over 35 years' worth of experience in the data storage engineering industry. He also has six patents under his name and is the author of Digital Storage in Consumer Electronics: The Essential Guide. On today's episode, he discusses the future of digital storage technology, which may very well lie in the strands of synthetic DNA. He explains that DNA can store a high density of information, with a potential capacity 1,000 times greater than what's currently achievable with modern storage technology like hard drives. He explains what it will take to get there, the challenges that must be overcome, and a rough timeframe for when DNA-based data storage could become commercialized and mainstream.
In addition, Coughlin talks about a number of fascinating topics, including the work being done towards using microfluidic silicon matrices as storage devices, technology obsolescence, neuromorphic computing, brain to electronics interfaces, artificial telepathy, deepfake technology, and the legal and ethical implications of these emerging capabilities. Tune in for all the details, including info about an August 29th conference on emerging memories and AI.
To learn more about Coughlin's work, visit tomcoughlin.com and feel free to email him at tom@tomcoughlin.com.
There's a lot of research being done on the human genome, but less so on the genome of parasites. For a number of reasons, including their surprising and impressive ability to avoid attack by the human immune system, understanding more about how parasites function and behave could prove useful in preventing and treating the human diseases they cause.
Dr. Richard McCulloch from the University of Glasgow joins the podcast to explain the ins and out of the research that's being done in his lab. He and his team are looking at two different parasites, both of which enter their host via the bites of sand flies, and both of which cause disease. Once in the host's bloodstream, however, these parasites behave very differently. In what ways do they behave differently, and what advantages are conferred to the parasite as a result of each behavior? How do they avoid attack from the human immune system on a seeming indefinite basis? And in what way do they utilize pseudogenes? These are just a few of the questions explored by Dr. Richard McCulloch—both in his lab and on today's episode. Press play to hear the full conversation and learn more about his work by visiting https://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/iii/staff/richardmcculloch/#/researchinterests.
Nicole Hynson, Associate Professor, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, delivers an impressive overview of the fascinating research she and her team are conducting at Hynson Lab.
Hynson heads the Hynson Lab for Community Ecology that is located in the Department of Botany at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The lab's primary focus is the ecology of plant and fungal communities, with a particular interest in the symbiosis that exists between plants and fungi, which is known as mycorrhizae. Since 2012 her lab has been digging deep into the science of fungi. Their diverse laboratory group is comprised of advanced scientists with backgrounds in varying fields from ecology and evolution to physiology and computational biology.
Hynson details the work they do in her lab, studying the interactions fungi have with other organisms, specifically—plants. She discusses the symbiotic interactions of fungi over time. Additionally, Hynson discusses how different capacities are required to gain nutrients, detailing the function of fungi in the symbiotic relationship with plants, in which fungi assisted plants to transition from a water growth environment to soil. In exchange, the plants provided the fungi with carbon to complete their lifecycle—a truly symbiotic exchange.
The fungi expert and Ph.D. talk about the complexities of microbial symbiosis, explaining the intricate interactions that could take place between bacteria, fungi, plants, etc. As Hynson states, her job, as she sees it, is to untangle these interactions—to understand the role that they play, and how the interactions can change depending on the environmental context. Hynson says that one of her lab's goals is to use these microorganisms, specifically fungi, in restoration and conservation practices. Hynson elaborates on the other areas of great interest in regard to fungi, such as increasing crop yield, sustaining resources, and limiting the need for fertilizers.
Hynson continues with her discussion of how nutrients are transferred to hosts and how competition and diversity impact the processes. Hynson received her Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of California Berkeley and worked extensively in the Bruns Lab. And she was a vital postdoctoral researcher in the well-known lab of Prof. Kathleen Treseder at the University of California Irvine.
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