Two Sams join Ceri and Hank in a team-based episode of Tangents. They talk about fitness challenges at Walt Disney World, perceptions of size, bizarre beasts, miniature organs, satellite launches, and the search for the smallest single-celled organism.
Ultramicrobacteria, part of the candidate phyla radiation group, have minimal genomes and rely on other bacteria for survival.
Using nuclear bombs for projects like Project Gas Buggy during the Cold War era had potential risks and unintended consequences.
Deep dives
Tiny Matters: The smallest organisms and their impactful role
This episode of the podcast Tiny Matters explores the fascinating world of the smallest organisms and their significant impact. The hosts discuss the discovery of ultramicrobacteria, some of the tiniest single-celled organisms, which are part of the candidate phyla radiation group. These bacteria, known as ultramicrobacteria, have minimal genomes and are missing essential proteins, relying on other bacteria for survival. The podcast also delves into the creation of miniaturized human hearts using stem cells, the development of miniature brains for games, and the use of tiny 3D glasses to study praying mantises' vision. The hosts provide insights into these groundbreaking scientific feats, highlighting the importance of these small-scale discoveries in various research fields.
Project Gas Buggy: Extracting natural gas using nuclear devices
In this episode, the hosts discuss the intriguing Project Gas Buggy, an experiment from 1967 that aimed to extract natural gas using a 26-kiloton nuclear device detonated underground in New Mexico. While this approach seemed promising at first, the gas obtained from the sandstone well was found to be irradiated due to the nuclear explosion. The hosts explore the concept of using nuclear bombs for various purposes during the Cold War era, highlighting the potential risks and unintended consequences of such projects.
Brilliant Pebbles: Small spacecraft for defense purposes
The podcast episode delves into the concept of Brilliant Pebbles, a project initiated in 1987 that aimed to develop small and lightweight spacecraft as a defense measure. These spacecraft, capable of orbiting the Earth in large numbers, were designed to detect and destroy incoming missiles by colliding with them at high speeds. The hosts explain that while Brilliant Pebbles never materialized, the technology developed for it was repurposed for other applications, such as lunar imaging missions.
Ultramicrobacteria: The smallest known bacteria
The hosts dive into the world of ultramicrobacteria, some of the tiniest bacteria known to exist. These ultramicrobacteria, classified within the candidate phyla radiation group, have minimal genomes and rely on other bacteria for survival. The episode explores their unique characteristics, including their small size, lack of essential proteins, and potential parasitic relationships with other bacteria. The hosts also touch upon the nomenclature used to describe these ultramicrobacteria, highlighting their diverse and intriguing names.
Sam's out this week, but worry not: he found another Sam to replace him! Sam Jones, host of the podcast Tiny Matters that is! Sam and her co-host, our own Deboki Chakravarti, join Ceri and Hank in our first ever team-based episode of Tangents! Two teams enter, one team leaves!
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