Opinionated Science

Episode 30: Psychedelics: A Trip Through Psilocybin and MDMA Research

On this week’s Opinionated Science, the team take a look at the growing potential of psychedelic medicine.

Hundreds of new clinical trials, exciting new synthetic psychedelics and a universal acceptance that current mental health treatments are not meeting patients’ needs have pushed the mind-altering potential of psychedelics into the medical mainstream.

In this episode, Technology Networks Senior Science Writer Ruairi J Mackenzie takes a deep dive into four leading psychedelic compounds: psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine and DMT.

Read more from this podcast:

Why Does Ketamine Fight Depression? Finding Answers at BNA 2019

Mirror’s Image: Could a Simple Flip Produce a More Effective Ketamine-Based Antidepressant?

The Neuroscience of Psychedelic Drugs: Your Brain on Psilocybin With Frederick Streeter Barrett

Opinionated Science: The Future of Spatial Transcriptomics

In this episode of Opinionated Science, we hear from Annika Branting, the Product Manager for Visium spatial solutions EMEA for 10x Genomics, and Peetra Magnusson from Uppsala University. 

Together we explore the world of spatial transcriptomics and get a sneak peek into Peetra’s work where she investigates the rare neurovascular disease Cerebral cavernous malformations and the benefits she has found when using spatial transcriptomics in her work. 

 

Read more from this podcast:

https://www.10xgenomics.com/resources/publications?sortBy=publications-relevance&refinementList%5BproductGroups%5D%5B0%5D=Spatial%20Gene%20Expression&page=1

https://elifesciences.org/articles/61413

Episode 29: Puppies! And Optogenetic Sight Restoration

In this episode of Opinionated Science, we hear about some revolutionary research that has deployed a cutting-edge genetic technique to restore partial sight to a man who lost his vision to retinitis pigmentosa 40 years previously. And also about a behavioral experiment involving over 300 cute puppies - this podcast has it all! 

Read more from this podcast:

Optogenetic Therapy Partially Restores Vision in a Blind Patient

Puppies Are Born Ready To Socialize With Humans

Episode 28: The Futuristic Lab

In this episode, the team is joined by Claudia Consoli, the Facility Lead for qPCR at Central Biotechnology Services in Cardiff, Jon Baize, the Senior Product Manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific Connect Platform™ and David Joyce, the director of Product Management at Thermo Fisher Scientific. 

They explore the fundamental requirements of the laboratory of the future and discuss how innovative technologies are advancing and their wishes for the future of the laboratory.

Episode 27:Cannabis Edibles: Getting the Munchies for Science

In this special crossover episode, the TN team are joined by Leo Bear-McGuinness, Science Writer and Editor for Analytical Cannabis and hear his interview with Merril Gilbert, co-founder of edibles consultancy TraceTrust. We hear how cannabis edibles affect our bodies and brains and how the growing demand for edibles will see the creation of cannabis drinks and restaurants. Please bring snacks for this podcast. 

Episode 26: Organoids: How to grow your own brain

In this episode, the team is joined by John Mason, a Professor of Molecular Neural Development at the University of Edinburgh. They explore the miniature world of organoids and discuss how these small models are making big changes in the world of neurological research.

Episode 25: AirDNA and Reversing Hair Loss in Shaved Mice

In this episode the TN team take a look at a study that has plucked DNA out of thin air, and another that points the way towards reversing stress-induced hair loss. There are several bad puns in this episode, please proceed with caution. 

Read more from this podcast:

First Evidence of Animal and Human DNA Collection From Air

Scientists Uncover Why Chronic Stress Can Lead to Hair Loss

Episode 24: Mayan Bones, Boozy Brains and Baboon Logic

In this roundup episode , the TN team review what happens in the brain when we drink alcohol, find out how to use baboons and grapes to make discoveries about logic processing and unearth the rise-and-fall life story of an ancient Mayan. 

Read more from this podcast:

Bones Tell the Story of a Powerful Man's Rise and Fall

Behavioral Effects of Alcohol May Be Caused by Breakdown Products Produced in the Brain

Study Shows Baboons, Like Humans, Can Solve Abstract Reasoning Tasks

Episode 23: Mind Palaces, Artificial Sight and Invading Squirrels

In this episode, the TN team round up some of the best and weirdest science from the last month. We investigate some innovative methods being used to control invasive squirrels, a new technology that could partially restore sight and an innovative memory technique beloved by ancient greeks, memory maestros and TV detectives. 

Read more from this podcast: 

Gene-Editing Approach To Control the Invasive Gray Squirrel 

Retinal Implants Give Artificial Vision to Blind People

Sherlock’s Mind Palace Technique Explains “Memory Athletes'” Incredible Recall 

Colombia’s cocaine hippos and the complex impacts of invasive species

 

Episode 22: Microplastics Nano-sized Waste Causing Macro-sized Problem

In this episode, the team is joined by Ariel Bohman, an application scientist at PerkinElmer. They discuss the different types of microplastics and how they are affecting everything from the food we eat to the corals in our oceans.