Science Friday

Tom Juzek, an assistant professor of computational linguistics, dives into the curious world of AI language models. He discusses why certain words like "delve" are overused in AI-generated texts, suggesting a shift in linguistic patterns due to machine learning influences. The conversation also explores the fascinating biology of fat-tail dwarf lemurs, whose telomeres lengthen during hibernation—offering clues about aging. Juzek's insights bridge technology and nature, revealing unexpected connections in both fields.

Dr. Mireille Kamariza, a chemical biologist at UCLA and co-founder of Oli Lux Biosciences, brings her harrowing personal experiences as a Burundi native to the forefront of tuberculosis (TB) research. She delves into TB's unique defenses that make it hard to treat and shares innovative diagnostics to identify effective treatments in low-resource settings. Kamariza also addresses the social stigmas surrounding TB in her homeland, emphasizing the importance of blending science with personal narratives to drive change in global health.

John Green, celebrated author of hits like "The Fault in Our Stars," reveals the profound effects of tuberculosis on culture and history in his new book. He discusses staggering statistics, like TB's role in the deaths of one in seven people by the 1800s, and how it has influenced art, fashion, and literature. Exploring themes of socio-economic impacts and the stark healthcare disparities in treating TB today, Green emphasizes the urgent need for equitable healthcare while sharing poignant stories, including that of a brave boy battling drug-resistant TB.

Dr. Andrei Cuceu is a postdoctoral research fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, while Dr. Adam Riess is a renowned professor and Nobel laureate at Johns Hopkins University. They discuss the latest findings from the DESI project, suggesting that dark energy may not be a constant after all. Their groundbreaking research hints at the evolution of dark energy over cosmic time, potentially reshaping our understanding of the universe's expansion. The duo also explores the innovative techniques used to create the largest 3D map of the universe, using robotic technology to analyze distant galaxies.

Join Casey Crownhart, a senior climate reporter at MIT Technology Review, as she shares insights about astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returning after their record 286-day mission on the ISS. Discover how climate change is accelerating with each passing year and learn about innovative projects like the Eret Glacier Initiative. Plus, enjoy the thrill of science with a deep dive into the physics of bottle popping, revealing the surprising reactions that make that celebratory 'pop' so special.

Preeti Simran Sethi, a science writer and Rosalyn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow, joins to discuss the enduring effects of childhood trauma on adult health. She explores pioneering research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), revealing troubling correlations between early trauma and later health issues. Sethi critiques the inclusivity of current methodologies, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives in trauma research. She also highlights the power of resilience and supportive experiences in overcoming past adversities.

Dr. Harold Varmus, a Nobel laureate and former director of the NIH, discusses critical budget cuts threatening U.S. biomedical research. He highlights how layoffs and halted grants could jeopardize scientific integrity and innovation. Varmus emphasizes the importance of continued investment in health research and the potential loss of talent as researchers look for alternative careers. The conversation also dives into the implications of new leadership at the NIH and the need for political support to protect scientific progress.

Fungal networks in the ground ferry crucial nutrients to plants. But how do brainless organisms form complex supply chain networks? Also, in this year’s baseball spring training, the new Automated Ball-Strike System is helping settle challenges to home plate pitch calls.Scientists Observe Fungi Creating Complex Supply ChainsAs the leaves start to pop out, it’s natural to look up and admire the trees. But actually, there’s a lot of action happening underneath your feet. Beneath you is a complex network of fungal trade routes carrying essential nutrients to the roots of plants, mined from the soil by fungus. It’s a subterranean supply chain.But how exactly do these complex networks form? How does the fungus decide where to ship which resources, or where to build roads? Basically, how does a brainless thread make decisions?Host Flora Lichtman is joined by Dr. Toby Kiers, an author on a recent study of those networks, and professor of evolutionary biology at Vrije University in Amsterdam. She’s also the executive director of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN).A Rookie Robot Umpire Takes The FieldBaseball fans are eagerly awaiting opening day. And while spring training is a time for teams to test out new players and strategies, it’s also a time for Major League Baseball to trial new rules and procedures. One of the things that the league has been testing this year is a robotic system to call balls and strikes.The Automated Ball-Strike System, which is based on the same technology used for line judging in tennis, isn’t calling every pitch, but is used to back up a challenge system at the plate. The tech is already in use in Triple-A games, and could make it to the major leagues in the years ahead. Baseball writer Davy Andrews joins Host Ira Flatow to talk about the technology, and how it could subtly change the rules of the game.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Layoffs at the agency, which releases weather forecasts and monitors extreme weather, could have serious implications. Also, funds for climate and sustainability-focused farming projects have been indefinitely frozen, even though the USDA has already signed contracts.10% Of NOAA Staff Laid Off, With More Cuts PossibleThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, better known as NOAA, impacts and provides services for Americans every day. The agency releases daily weather forecasts and monitors extreme weather, and it also conducts research into global weather and climate change.Along with many other federal science agencies, NOAA is being subjected to layoffs in the name of cost-cutting: 10% of the agency’s workforce has been laid off, with 1,000 more cuts potentially to come. According to Dr. Timothy Gallaudet, acting NOAA administrator during Trump’s first term, this is likely to lead to declines in quality of service and access to information about weather events.Host Flora Lichtman speaks to Umair Irfan, science correspondent at Vox, who has been covering the turmoil at NOAA. They also discuss other science stories of the week, including the death of prolific blood donor James Harrison.Frozen Climate And Conservation Funds Leave Farmers In LimboAround the country, farmers are planning and planting this year’s crops. It can be uncertain work, made even more tenuous by some of the Trump administration’s changes to climate and conservation policies.The administration has frozen billions of dollars in grants to farmers for sustainable agriculture, conservation, and “climate smart” projects. In some cases, farmers had already signed contracts with the government and begun work on these projects.While some funding from the Inflation Reduction Act was recently released, many farmers across the country are still in limbo.Host Flora Lichtman talks with Patrick Brown, a farmer in Warren County, North Carolina; and Dr. Kitty O’Neil, an agricultural climate resiliency specialist at Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension about the future of farming in a changing climate.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

It’s March 14, or Pi Day, that day of the year where we celebrate the ratio that makes a circle a circle. The Greek letter that represents it is such a part of our culture that it merits our irrational attention.Joining Host Ira Flatow to help slice into our pi’s is Dr. Steven Strogatz, professor of math at Cornell University and co-host of Quanta Magazine’s podcast “The Joy Of Why.” They talk about how pi was “discovered,” the ways it’s figuring into recent science, and how AI is changing the field of mathematics.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.