Lifeboat Foundation

Mayo Clinic scientists are building an expansive library of DNA blueprints of disease-causing bacterial species. The unique collection of genomic sequences is serving as a reference database to help doctors provide rapid and precise diagnoses and pinpoint targeted treatments to potentially improve patient outcomes.

The vast data set is also being studied by researchers in an effort to develop new individualized treatments to combat bacteria-related diseases.

Bacterial infections were linked to more than 7 million global deaths in 2019. Of those, nearly 1.3 million were the direct result of drug-resistant bacteria, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Evolution doesn’t fix things — it reinvents them. A biologist explains.

DNA produces a metamaterial stronger and lighter than steel. Desiccants reduce HVAC system energy use. And fungi is turned into concrete.

When two particles are entangled, the state of one is tied to the state of the other.

Alchemy had its golden age in the 17th century, when it counted Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle among its adherents.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Neurology & Neurosurgery at Stanford University. We discuss stress, what defines short-term versus long-term stress, and how stress can be beneficial or detrimental, depending on the context. We also discuss stress mitigation and how our sense of control over stress mitigation techniques, including exercise, determine health outcomes. Dr. Sapolsky explains some of the key effects of the hormone testosterone — how it can amplify pre-existing tendencies for aggression or sexual behavior, but that it does not produce those behaviors per se. He also explains how testosterone impacts our social hierarchies, sense of confidence, and willingness to embrace challenges of different kinds. He also explains how our behaviors and perceptions shape testosterone levels. And we discuss estrogen and the powerful role it plays in brain development, health and longevity. Finally, we discuss free will, what it means to have free will, and if we have any free will, including how knowledge alone might allow us to make better decisions for ourselves and society.

#HubermanLab #Testosterone #Stress.

Continue reading “Dr. Robert Sapolsky: Science of Stress, Testosterone & Free Will | Huberman Lab Podcast #35” »

Watch more interviews on the mystery of consciousness: https://bit.ly/41Bs4NV

How can consciousness be addressed scientifically? The Tucson conference, founded in 1994 and celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2014, exemplifies the quest. What are the range of theories? Where do participants position themselves? Meet the founders, early visionaries, new scientists and thinkers. Progress is being made, but what does this really mean?

Continue reading “Ned Block — Toward a Science of Consciousness” »

How careful observation, strict reasoning and clever hypotheses guided the great human endeavor of science.

In this episode of Universe of Art, astrophysicist Dr. Erin Macdonald talks about consulting on the famous series and the real (and fictional) science on screen.

Learn more www.sciencefriday.com/startrek