Science Magazine Podcast

Why cats love tuna, and powering robots with tiny explosions

Sep 14, 2023

"A dry desert environment doesn't stop cats from loving fish," says Online News Editor David Grimm. Cameron Aubin, a postdoc at Cornell, discusses using tiny explosions to power insect-size robots. Plus, the challenges of bringing scientific ideas to the market and the journey from scientist to entrepreneur.

33:32

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Episode guests

Cameron Aubin

David Grimm

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Cats have a natural affinity for fish due to their ability to taste umami, a savory flavor found in fish and certain amino acids.

Scientists have developed small robots that use mini-controlled explosions to improve speed, strength, and carrying capacity, opening doors for applications in search and rescue or exploration.

Deep dives

Cats and their Love for Fish

Researchers explore the evolutionary reasons behind cats' affinity for fish, despite their desert origins. Ancient Egyptian evidence shows that cats started eating fish thousands of years ago. A recent study examined cat taste buds and confirmed their ability to taste umami, a savory flavor found in fish and certain amino acids. Cats were shown to have a preference for water flavored with umami compounds, further supporting their attraction to fish. The study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms behind cats' taste preferences.

Introduction

2min

The Evolution of Cats and the Taste Buds of Domestic Cats

2min

Detecting umami in cats and their preference for umami-flavored water

2min

Cats' preference for tuna and challenges in building small-scale robots

13min

Advancements in Microelectronics and Advice for Scientists Interested in Entrepreneurship

3min

The Challenges and Rewards of Starting a Biotech Company as a Scientist

8min

The Role of Founders and the Importance of Conveying Science

2min

Receptors that give our feline friends a craving for meat, and using combustion to propel insect-size robots

First up on this week’s episode, Online News Editor David Grimm joins host Sarah Crespi to talk about why despite originating from a dry, desert environment cats seem to love to eat fish.

Next on the show, bugs such as ants are tiny while at the same time fast and strong, and small robots can’t seem to match these insectile feats of speed and power. Cameron Aubin, a postdoc at Cornell University who will shortly join the University of Michigan, discusses using miniscule combustion reactions to bring small robots up to ant speed.

Finally in a sponsored segment from the Science/AAAS Custom Publishing Office, Jackie Oberst, associate editor for custom publishing, discusses with Bobby Soni, chief business officer at the BioInnovation Institute, an international life science incubator in Copenhagen, Denmark, what it takes to bring a product from lab to market and how to make the leap from scientist to entrepreneur. This segment is sponsored by the BioInnovation Institute.

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

About the Science Podcast

Authors: Sarah Crespi, David Grimm

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk8409

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