From First Principles

Dive into groundbreaking science as the hosts explore the 2025 Nobel Prizes. Discover how the FOXP3 gene plays a critical role in immune tolerance and autoimmune disease prevention. Learn about macroscopic quantum tunneling and its significance for future quantum devices. Finally, unravel the mysteries of metal-organic frameworks, innovative structures for CO₂ capture and water harvesting. Each topic reveals exciting advancements and implications for technology and health.

Explore how AI is revolutionizing CRISPR and LIGO just in time for Nobel Prize Week. Delve into CRISPR's fascinating origin from bacterial immunity to its cutting-edge applications at Stanford. Discover how AI enhances experiment planning and safety in gene editing. Switch gears to LIGO, where machine learning is pushing the boundaries of gravitational wave detection by overcoming noise challenges. This episode reveals the intersection of biology and physics, showcasing AI as a game-changer in scientific discovery.

Dive into the intriguing world of China's AI advancements with the DeepSeek model, highlighting its implications on global tech rivalries. Explore the fascinating concept of time crystals now visible at room temperature, and discover their potential applications in cryptography. Uncover the hidden viruses within our DNA and their significance in developing therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Finally, learn about the brightest fast radio burst ever detected, unraveling cosmic mysteries with cutting-edge telescopes.

NASA just dropped what they’re calling the strongest evidence yet for biosignatures on Mars, so we spun up an emergency pod. We break down what the rover actually found in Jezero Crater, why geochemical “life-adjacent” reactions matter, revisit April’s hyped K2-18b claim from Cambridge, and close with brand-new JWST hints of atmospheres on Earth-sized exoplanets. Hosted by Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary.Summary• NASA’s Mars result — Perseverance, Jezero, Bright Angel Formation, and inorganic proxies for life (iron phosphates/sulfides) plus how instruments like PIXL actually read rocks.• The April headline on K2-18b (“strongest evidence yet”) and what atmospheric retrieval really does and doesn’t prove.• Fresh JWST papers hinting at atmospheres on TRAPPIST-1 worlds — why that’s huge and how transit spectroscopy underpins it.Show Notes• NASA — Mars Biosignature Claim• Cambridge — K2-18b Atmosphere Study• Astrophysical Journal Letters — JWST TRAPPIST-1• Atmosphere Study (Paper 1)• Astrophysical Journal Letters — JWST TRAPPIST-1 Atmosphere Study (Paper 2)

Explore the fascinating trajectory of the interstellar visitor 3i/Atlas, captured by several high-tech telescopes! Uncover a significant longevity study suggesting that life expectancy might have plateaued for those born after 1939. Dive into a breakthrough nickel catalyst that could revolutionize no-sort plastic recycling. Finally, discover Microsoft's innovative analog AI computer, boasting 100x efficiency and promising applications in energy and medical fields. Science is pushing the boundaries in intriguing new ways!

Discover the unveiling of a unique 'naked' supernova, shedding light on the mysteries of dying stars. Explore an innovative therapy where viruses and bacteria unite to attack cancer cells. Learn how scientists are harnessing electron spin to revolutionize energy efficiency in technology. Finally, dive into a groundbreaking CRISPR-based superfood designed for honeybees, aiming to combat pollinator decline and enhance agricultural ecosystems. These fascinating topics showcase the forefront of scientific discovery.

Exploring the frontier of brain-computer interfaces, researchers decode inner speech and raise privacy concerns. A dive into genetics reveals how Human Accelerated Regions shape what makes us uniquely human. Meanwhile, breakthroughs in lab-grown diamonds promise stronger materials for industry. Lastly, a retrospective on a century of quantum mechanics unveils its profound impact on modern technology and the science of uncertainty. It's a captivating journey through science, ethics, and the future of innovation!

A thrilling interstellar visitor, 3I ATLAS, is speeding through our solar system, revealing clues about its comet-like origins. The Vera Rubin Observatory is set to revolutionize sky surveys with its massive 32-gigapixel camera, capturing a time-lapse of the universe. Meanwhile, AI advancements in CRISPR are enhancing gene editing precision, while groundbreaking discoveries, like preserved T. rex blood vessels, offer insights into ancient life. The episode dives deep into science, blending astronomy, genetics, and paleontology in captivating ways.

Discover the mysteries of the universe's first molecule, helium hydride, and its role in star formation. Dive into groundbreaking efforts to design programmable proteins that can expand biochemical possibilities. Learn about the Europa Clipper's radar mission and what its findings might reveal about potential life beneath Europa's ice. Finally, unravel the enigma of the double-slit experiment, exploring how quantum mechanics challenges our understanding of light and reality.

Discover the intriguing possibility of a hidden companion star orbiting Betelgeuse, explaining its brightness cycle. Uncover groundbreaking atomic-scale imaging techniques revealing thermal vibrations in 2D materials. Dive into the mysteries of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and the IceCube detector's findings on particle origins. Explore how New Horizons validated interstellar navigation using star patterns. Finally, learn about an innovative VR study showing that visual stimuli can boost immune responses, linking sight to health in surprising ways.