The Naked Scientists Podcast Fitter fat cells, and Earth spins slightly faster
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Jul 11, 2025 David Gozard, a physicist at the University of Western Australia, dives into the fascinating link between fat cells and obesity-related health issues like diabetes. He discusses groundbreaking research on gut microbes that may help detoxify harmful 'forever chemicals.' Plus, Gozard explains why certain days this month will be a millisecond shorter due to Earth's dynamic rotation influenced by the Moon. Get ready for a blend of health, environmental science, and cosmic curiosities!
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Senescent Fat Cells Drive Obesity Harms
- Obesity causes some fat cells to become damaged or senescent, contributing to inflammation and metabolic problems.
- Weight loss leads to the removal of these harmful senescent fat cells, helping tissue repair and improving health.
Gut Microbes Absorb Forever Chemicals
- Some gut bacteria can absorb toxic 'forever chemicals' (PFAS), reducing their burden in the host.
- This microbial absorption could be harnessed via probiotics to help humans eliminate these persistent pollutants.
Space Ice Has Tiny Crystals
- Amorphous ice in space contains tiny crystalline structures, not completely disordered as believed.
- This affects theories about how organic molecules could have been transported to Earth and informs physics of liquid water.