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Luis P. Villarreal, Professor Emeritus, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, discusses his thoughts on viruses, life, and the changes that motivate evolution.
Is it possible to be passionate about viruses? The answer is yes. As a scientist who is constantly experimenting, with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Luis Villarreal is definitely passionate about understanding viruses, indeed, especially with regard to viruses that linger either in the genomes or epigenomes of their host. For over 20 years, Villarreal has centralized his study on the overall role of virus evolution on life. And Villarreal states that viruses have had a significant and profound influence on the origin and evolution of life.
Villarreal talks about his early years in science and the classes and information that truly sparked his desire to learn more, and how it organically led him to his life's work. He details his study of negative-strand RNA viruses, viruses that resemble rabies and ebola—highly pathogenic. He recounts his observation of regulatory RNA that had dramatic consequences, which was the beginning of his true curiosity about viruses. He delves into his study of rearrangements of the genome by various types of retroviruses. He describes how retroviruses actually work together to create the placental network. He questions why this would happen, and surmises that in order for a mother or host to create life, they must take in a foreign biological entity, the embryo, and suppress its natural immune rejection, feed it, and host it for its lifespan, which requires a significant amount of change. Villarreal states that the virus footprint is literally all over all of these functions.
The biology expert provides an overview of cellular DNA and the many jobs that DNA can fulfill. He explains how RNA and DNA react with each other and outlines their complicated network, although he states that there is much work to be done still to understand the complexity. He discusses his thoughts on human evolution and recounts stories that relate, such as endogenization of the koalas in Australia. He explains that a particular virus that was within these koalas was becoming part of them, and thus their ability to deal with the virus in their immune systems was being changed in real time. He compares this example to human development over time and discusses theories about viruses as they relate to humans, discussing the details of modification as it pertains to viruses and survival.
His discussion of viruses and biology continues as he summarizes his thoughts on the human species and the many elements that relate to evolution and brain function, etc. On a lighter note, Villarreal muses about some Hollywood versions of viral mutations and provides his thoughts on Hollywood's interpretation of real science turned into fiction for the movies we enjoy. He goes on to explain the astronomic scale of viruses in our environment, discussing the ocean extensively, and the microbiome.
Mark Russell, founder of Rocking Bed (rockingbed.com), talks extensively about sleep quality, and their rocking bed that is causing a stir in the good sleep industry.
Russell is a self-described career entrepreneur, and his curiosity for creation has led him on an interesting journey in business. From small business to tree service, computers to marketing, with a little software design, advertising and sales thrown in, Russell has really done it all. In this interesting podcast, Russell talks about his exciting creation, Rocking Bed, the better way to fall asleep.
Russell discusses the bed that will literally allow you to sleep like a baby again, as it gently rocks you to sleep. Russell recounts his early experiences as a child, trying to sleep in the family car on long road trips. He talks about a cruise he went on in 2004 that literally rocked his world. As he describes, he was truly amazed by the quality of sleep he got due to the cruise vessel's gentle rocking motion. After the cruise he was driven to find a way to create this experience in his own home, and after much study and research, Rocking Bed was born.
The sleep entrepreneur discusses various studies on movement and sleep, and explains that some studies are backing what he already knew to be true—that motion helps with sleep. As he states, the rocking motion of their product is so subtle that most people who try out their product at demo/trade shows think the rocking stops when they close their eyes, and then open their eyes quickly to discover that it's still rocking. Russell recounts some of the stories he has heard from people regarding sleep and the rocking bed, and he talks about the immense potential for special needs children who need to be rocked to even fall asleep.
He talks about the mechanics of the bed, its movement, and the potential for helping those who have trouble falling asleep. And Russell explains some of the product tweaks that they are working on to try to keep quality high but lower the price point. Ultimately, it is Russell's hope that they can launch the bed to a larger audience as they grow their business, and help everyone… find a way to better sleep.
"Even Aristotle, over 2,000 years ago, remarked on the benefits of sleep…there's no doubt that it's beneficial, but we are trying to understand the specific benefits and how those benefits are occurring," says Dr. John Peever, professor at the University of Toronto Department of Cell & Systems Biology and Vice President of research at the Canadian Sleep Society.
It's easy to identify the benefits of a good night's sleep—we wake feeling more refreshed and alert, and we stay more focused and productive throughout the day—but it's a lot harder to identify how exactly those benefits occur. Part of the investigation into this question involves understanding the neurobiology of sleep, which means understanding how different parts of the brain cause different behaviors relating to sleep.
The work being done in Dr. Peever's lab is focused on the study of rapid eye movement sleep, commonly referred to as REM or dreaming sleep. Specifically, Dr. Peever and his team are trying to determine what part of the brain is responsible for pushing us into REM sleep, what occurs once we are experiencing REM sleep, the underlying mechanism of REM sleep behavior disorder, and why parts of brain that cause REM are so vulnerable to degenerative processes, such as those that underlie Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Peever offers an exciting and informative conversation that touches on a range of other topics, including sleep's potential to repair DNA damage, genetic predispositions for being a night owl versus an early bird, and the importance of understanding the true nature of narcolepsy. Tune in for all the details and learn more by visiting www.peeverlab.com.
John Hands, a British author who received his scholarly training as a scientist, discusses his thoughts on the origin of life in the universe.
Hands' book, Cosmosapiens: Human Evolution from the Origin of the Universe, is a crash course of sorts that bridges the gap between cosmology and neuroscience and hits a lot of points in between. In Cosmosapiens, Hands provides his theories on how humans evolved to be such a dominating force on Earth. It delves into current themes of study such as cosmic inflation, dark energy, and neurogenetic determinism. It examines various fields of study such as string theory and often challenges the general consensus in multiple areas of science from cosmology to biology, and even neuroscience.
Hands talks about his curiosity regarding various matters of science. He recounts how it was the passing of his wife that caused him to take an introspective look, as he began to ask big questions related to our existence on Earth, such as "what are we," and "where do we come from," and "why do we exist." He explains how society has sought answers to these and other questions from the supernatural, and also from science. As a curious scientist, he was dissatisfied with the current literature on these complex subjects and decided to dig deeper on his own. He states that the specialization of science has perhaps prevented us from seeing the bigger picture as a whole. He embarked on a journey of discovery on his quest to get to the beginning of it all. He talks about some widely accepted theories in science, such as the big bang theory, that have been clearly contradicted by observation evidence. He delves into a discussion of dark matter and dark energy and explains how decades of research has failed to provide answers or evidence of what that is, leaving no scientific explanation whatsoever. He discusses the obvious fallacies in Darwinism and expounds upon the details that pertain to them.
The scientific author explains the collaborative process that produces life and change. Continuing, Hands expounds further on his conclusion that humans are unique as a species. He states that it is actually reflected consciousness that makes humans unique. As neural complexity increased, human consciousness was created. Hands state, "We are the only species that not only knows but knows it knows." Hands deliver an overview of ancient philosophies and other theories that make an effort to explain the origin of life. Hands talks about how it is important to admit when we do not know the answers, and though he has answered many questions about life in his book, there is so much we do not know.
Hands talks about interesting feedback he has received from his readers, including validation of his theories from some of the world's leading scientists and philosophers. And he talks about his plans for future works in the subjects of science.
Michael Garfield is a paleontologist, futurist, evolutionary theorist, multimedia artist, and public speaker currently on the trail of a new unifying theory to explain major evolutionary transitions. In particular, he's looking at the one he says humans are experiencing today, amidst unprecedented extinctions and innovation and rapid change—an environment that's actually creating discomfort for many. He refers to the current major evolutionary transition as a conceptual one, whereby the human is seen not as separate from its environment or the systems around it, but embedded within its many layers. In his view, everything from single-celled organisms to the solar system itself can be seen as different layers of a single metabolic process; humans exist somewhere in between, as thinking organisms navigating their environment like any other.
He draws attention to the effect of technological advances and third-world development on the ecosystem within which we live, comments on the way in which AI and augmented reality will continue to impact evolutionary change, and challenges us to rethink the nature of our existence and perceived realities.
Check out michaelgarfield.net to learn more about Garfield's theories and thought processes, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
It's a procedure most people end up needing, and one that almost everyone dreads: wisdom tooth removal. But aside from the puffy cheeks and pain and misery that follow, there's one other drawback that accompanies the standard protocol and actually threatens lives: the use of highly addictive narcotics for surgical and post-op pain management.
Dr. James Babiuk has been a practicing oral surgeon in Chicago for about 25 years now, and over time he's noticed a marked increase in the number of people who have become reliant upon heavy-duty and highly addictive narcotics for pain management. He's seen first-hand how something as benign as a shoulder injury or back pain can result in long-term use of heavy narcotics for pain management and eventual addiction. As he began digging deeper into research regarding opioid use in the medical field, he learned that most people's first exposure to narcotics is during and after wisdom tooth removal; this compelled him to take action.
Dr. Babiuk set out to alter his technique in a way that would allow him to perform wisdom tooth extractions without the use of IV narcotics and without having to prescribe narcotics for post-op pain management. This might initially sound impossible, but Dr. Babiuk has made it a reality—one that's proving to be incredibly effective. Rather than follow the standard protocol which is to expect and alleviate the pain associated with wisdom tooth removal, Dr. Babiuk's approach focuses on reducing the cause of the pain, which is simply inflammation.
He joins the podcast to discuss all of this and more, including the need for medical providers to receive narcotic education and the long-term goals for his practice.
For more information, reach out via email at info@wisdomteethjoliet.com, visit wisdomteethjoliet.com, or call 815-254-1560.
Micah Hollingworth, co-founder and CEO of BROADWai (broadw.ai), delivers an overview of the current state of special event ticketing and the technology that drives it.
Hollingworth is a seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in creating, operating, and marketing live events. His innovative entrepreneurial skills include strategic planning, fundraising, and execution. And with an intensive fascination for all things technology it was inevitable that Hollingworth would launch another great tech-oriented business such as BROADWai.
Hollingworth talks about the many and varied interests that led him to launch BROADWai, along with co-founder, Jon Scott. He describes his entrepreneurial spirit as a child and the love for live theater he developed that led him to his current career. Moving to NYC about 25 years ago set the stage for his total immersion in the theater world.
The technology guru discusses the many challenges that people face when trying to purchase tickets for events. He states that difficulty in purchasing or reserving tickets for live events can often discourage ticket buyers, and providers may lose them to other events when the experience is arduous. Hollingworth explains how their technology platform works, and how it provides a smooth, efficient process for ticket buyers.
BROADWai's technology solutions assist customers with their total experience, helping them to navigate and effortlessly plan. The platform offers a valuable exchange between the guests and the Broadway community, a customized experience in one simple, single digital transaction that incorporates everything, from ticketing to parking, as well as preshow and postshow needs to provide real-time information regarding theater policies and so much more. Hollingworth discusses their integration with other ticketing partners, and the events that they currently support. Hollingworth expounds upon the future of ticketing. He states that voice-enabled devices will be a part of their future because the voice-enabled tech market is exploding. And he talks about their voice clients that will be launching later in the year. Regarding their platform, BROADWai's AI/ML abilities continue to evolve during each conversation and with every question asked. Their innovative platform will set the bar high for competitors as BROADWai accelerates to the edge of technology and continually integrates the latest and greatest, in order to deliver a totally frictionless experience to the user.
"In biosemiotics, we say that the human ability to interpret signs—which is the ability to think really, to think creatively and adaptively and learn new things—didn't just emerge with animals; rudimentary sign reading emerged in the simplest forms of life with single-celled organisms," says Victoria Alexander, biosemiotician, Director of Dactyl Foundation, Fulbright specialist, and author of The Biologist's Mistress: Rethinking Self-Organization in Art, Literature, and Nature.
What's biosemiotics, you ask? Alexander explains biosemiotics as the study of sign use in biological systems, where signs can be almost anything in the environment—a word, a pictogram, a smell, a sound, or a chemical gradient. Signs are intelligence; we can train a computer to read signs, but can we train a computer to interpret signs that depend on the context within which they exist?
Answering this question is one aspect of the investigation into the differences between biological and artificial intelligence, which is what Alexander's work is currently focused on. She explains that biological cells don't just react to the chemistry around them, but interpret and respond to it.
She goes on to explain how this underlies a system of interpretation that's related to random change in a way that's changing the direction of evolution. In this way, Alexander argues that it is within the organism that evolutionary agency is found and explained, rather than in the mechanisms of randomness and competition.
Alexander offers an exciting and informative conversation that touches on a variety of topics, including metabolic pathways, the association of properties and the placebo effect, the idea that dysfunctional semiotic habits are the cause of some syndromes and conditions, cell differentiation, self-organization in nature, and butterfly wing pattern development. Press play to hear the full conversation.
Ilan Morad, Ph.D., founder, and CEO of Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd. (aebi-bio.com) discusses drug discovery and development on the cellular level.
Morad has been fascinated with biology most of his life and began practicing molecular biology and biochemistry in 1984. He is a noted expert in gene cloning, protein engineering, purification, and characterization, as well as drug discovery and development. Morad's company, Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd. (AEBI) is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily engaged in the discovery and development of various therapeutic peptides and has developed an innovative combinatorial biology screening platform technology.
Morad discusses the origin of his company, AEBI. He details their groundbreaking screening platform and explains how it works. Their platform provides functional leads to extremely difficult targets, not merely those that best bind with the target.
AEBI's novel technology that goes by the name, SoAP, allows them to develop drugs for many illnesses, among them cancer, and Morad expects to completely transform the drug discovery R&D phase by seriously reducing the attrition rate of any new drug candidates.
As Morad explains, peptides are microproteins. He elaborates on these and other building blocks and where they are produced and how. He discusses how they make large numbers of synthetic peptides and how they isolate them for research and development. Further, he expounds upon the roles of various peptides within the body. He discusses drug resistance, side effects of drugs, and cancer treatment. Digging deeper, he explains the properties of cancer and how the disease reacts to certain treatment, drugs, etc. Morad relates some of his thoughts on drug successes, such as the drug cocktail that has solved the problem of HIV for many patients. And as he states, drug cocktails are a possibility for other diseases. He details how cancer cells work and explains the related probabilities.
The biology expert continues his discussion of cancer and peptides. He explains how toxic peptides can be utilized to poison cells and kill them very efficiently. This strategy shows great promise for future treatment. And he explains how immune systems work and how they recognize molecules, giving special attention to how cancer cells are targeted. Wrapping up, Morad talks about the expectations for his company and the areas they are expecting to make strides in as they move into the future. Finally, Morad talks about upcoming clinical trials and his expectations for the new cocktails and peptides.
In his early twenties, Damien Blenkinsopp lived a nomadic lifestyle, rolling with life's punches and going in whatever direction it seemed to take him. But when it took him to Thailand, it presented something which would change him forever: a mysterious illness that would leave him intermittently bed-bound and battling symptom after symptom for years on end. No matter how many specialists he visited, he couldn't get an answer as to what was going on with his body. Not many of us have found ourselves in such a position, but the prospect terrifyingly begs the question: where would we turn for help?
Forced to answer this question for himself, Blenkinsopp embarked on a journey filled with research, self-experimentation, and conversation with any and every scientist or layperson who might provide some insight. Along this journey, Blenkinsopp created The Quantified Body, a podcast that he used as a tool for collecting information and anecdotal evidence.
Having tried countless avenues of potential relief, Blenkinsopp can attest to his personal success with two things: the ketogenic diet and the fasting diet. He has since founded Ketosource, a website dedicated to providing others with the information and insight he's learned throughout his journey, which continues to this day.
Blenkinsopp has a one-of-a-kind story that is simultaneously inspiring and intriguing, informative and enlightening. Press play to hear all the details, including his advice on navigating medical systems that fail to provide diagnoses, the fasting mimicking diet, and how to take back control of your health by harnessing the power of data. For resources, check out his podcast and visit ketosource.co.
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