Science Magazine Podcast

The environmental toll of war in Ukraine, and communications between mom and fetus during childbirth

Jan 11, 2024

43:31

Creator website

Episode guests

Nardhy Gomez-Lopez

Richard Stone

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The war in Ukraine has led to significant environmental damage, including the destruction of the Kukok Dam, resulting in negative impacts on ecosystems and daily life in the region.

Epigenetics plays a crucial role in determining an individual's risk for diseases by regulating gene expression and stability, offering potential for manipulating epigenetic marks to enhance beta cell function and reduce the risk of diabetes.

Deep dives

The Environmental Toll of the War in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has had significant environmental consequences, particularly the destruction of the Kukok Dam. The dam's destruction resulted in the loss of a valuable ecosystem service provided by zebra mussels, which filtered water before it flowed downstream. Additionally, the flooding caused the formation of marshy areas and increased mosquito breeding, negatively impacting the region's ecosystems and daily life.

Introduction

3min

The Environmental Toll of War

11min

Environmental Contamination and Nuclear Concerns in Ukraine

3min

Exploring the Complexity of Maternal-Fetal Crosstalk

15min

Exploring the Role of Epigenetics in Gene Expression and Metabolism

2min

Exploring Variability and Reproducible Patterns in Mouse Behavior

6min

The Future of Precision Medicine and the Incorporation of Environmental and Epigenetic Factors

2min

Assessing environmental damage during wartime, and tracking signaling between fetus and mother

First up, freelance journalist Richard Stone returns with news from his latest trip to Ukraine. This week, he shares stories with host Sarah Crespi about environmental damage from the war, particularly the grave consequences of the Kakhovka Dam explosion.

Next, producer Kevin McLean talks with researcher Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, a professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and pathology and immunology in the Center for Reproductive Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The two discuss signaling between fetus and mother during childbirth and how understanding this crosstalk may one day help predict premature labor.

Finally, in a sponsored segment from the Science/AAAS Custom Publishing Office, Erika Berg, director and senior editor for the Custom Publishing Office, interviews Andrew Pospisilik, chair and professor of epigenetics at the Van Andel Institute, about his research into how epigenetics stabilizes particular gene expression patterns and how those patterns affect our risk for disease. This segment is sponsored by the Van Andel Institute.

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.

About the Science Podcast

Authors: Sarah Crespi; Kevin McLean; Rich Stone

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.z5jiifi

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