Night Science

Peter J. Ratcliffe, 2019 Nobel Prize recipient in Physiology or Medicine, discusses the importance of defining your own research question. He shares his groundbreaking work on oxygen sensing in animal cells and the trade-off between planning and discovery. The guest explores the benefits and drawbacks of multiple people in meetings and highlights the unexpected path to major discoveries. They also discuss alternative measures of scientific quality beyond key performance indicators.

Christina Curtis, Professor of Medicine and Director of AI and Cancer Genomics at Stanford, discusses the importance of not being biased in research, her background in statistical genetics, and the use of generative AI in scientific creativity. They explore knowledge gaps, the impact of AI in medicine and science, and the role of data and training in shaping scientific perspectives. They also delve into the culture of scientific research, emphasizing breaks, dialogue, curiosity, and maintaining faith in the process.

Renowned philosopher Daniel Dennett discusses his 'intuition pumps' and the importance of creativity, consciousness, and free will. He shares insights on the use of analogies in science, the potential dangers of chat GPT, and the collaboration between philosophy and science. The podcast also explores the intersection of science and philosophy in neuroscience and the significance of addressing questions beyond consciousness. A fascinating discussion on creativity and 'real magic'.

Howard Stone, a Princeton Engineering Professor, dives into the thrilling world of fluid dynamics. He discusses how blending different scientific disciplines can unlock new insights. Stone emphasizes the importance of creativity and collaboration in research, likening scientific inquiry to detective work filled with curiosity and confidence. He also highlights the need for simplicity in tackling complex systems and champions a flexible mentorship style that nurtures innovative thinking among students.

Prisca Liberali, a senior group leader at a biomedical research institute, shares insights into the creative process, the role of curiosity, and risk-taking in science. They discuss the differences and similarities in approaches to creativity between scientists and artists. The podcast also explores the importance of 'why' questions in science and the role of conferences in scientific research.

Tom Mullaney, a Professor of History at Stanford University, and Chris Rea, a Professor of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia, discuss self-centered research, the power of vulnerable self-confidence in research, and the necessity of personal biases in noticing anything interesting. They highlight the importance of choosing a meaningful research problem, exploring personal connections in research topics, and the value of self-reflection and engaging with the world. They also delve into the relationship between bias and the research process and the need to test and contrast ideas with reality.

Bonnie Bassler is the Chair of the Molecular Biology Department at Princeton. In this episode, Bonnie talks about her passion for scientific inquiry, creativity, mentorship, and how the journey of discovery is about asking the right questions, distinguishing between what you can do and what you should do, and about embracing the unexpected. In our very lively and fun discussion, we explore the significance of asking "why" questions to fuel passion and curiosity – even if only the if/what/when/how questions lead to clear answers – and we explore the balance between chaos and control in the scientific process. And so while the pay might be bad and the hours long, the joy of doing science and living on the edge in a “nerdy kind of way” makes it all worthwhile.For more information on Night Science, visit https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/night-science  .

Yukiko Yamashita is a biology professor at MIT and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Yukiko’s research is amazingly broad, perhaps because she often only realizes at the end of a project which question she was asking by what she had been doing, as she explains in this episode. She likens research to solving 5000-piece jigsaw puzzles – not one at a time, but with the pieces from hundreds of puzzles all dumped together. So that while we put the pieces together, we have to be always watching ourselves: does that come from the same picture? Yukiko sees her role in the lab like that of an old wise woman in a tribe, a kind of ancient memory that still remembers their conversation with former lab members – stimulating creativity by bridging projects and generations of researchers.For more information on Night Science, visit https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/night-science  .

In this engaging discussion, Stephen Wolfram, CEO of Wolfram Research and creator of Mathematica and Wolfram Alpha, dives into the essence of computation as the foundation of the universe. He emphasizes the importance of selecting the right problems in scientific inquiry, showcasing his unique approach to blending creativity with foundational principles. Stephen explores the interplay between basic science and technology, and how collaboration can lead to groundbreaking insights. Discover the aesthetic pursuit of scientific truth and the balance between 'night science' and 'day science' as he shares his innovative vision.

Laurence Hurst is a professor of Evolutionary Genetics and the founding Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution at The University of Bath. Martin actually learned biology from Laurence as a postdoc, and he still likes to quote Laurence’s favorite question after the departmental seminars: “Why is this interesting?” In this episode, Laurence explains his Slime Mold Model of the scientific process, advises us to follow the data, and tells us that much of his research springs from him being a magpie for funny little observations that don’t fit into the current scientific worldview. For more information on Night Science, visit https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/night-science .