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We talked with Dr. Jay Stachowicz about his research on seagrasses, their microbiome, and the surprising role of genetic diversity in marine ecosystems. Learn how local discoveries, creative fieldwork, and international collaboration help scientists answer big questions on a global scale. This podcast was recorded Spring 2024.

Today we talk to Dr. Iswar Hariharan about his research studying the genetic regulation of growth and regeneration using fruit flies. Learn about how the same genes that control organ size during development are often the ones mutated in human cancers, and what this means for the future of regenerative medicine. This podcast was recorded in Spring 2023.

Today we talk to Dr. Jeffrey Fredberg about his research studying the physical mechanics of how cells move together in the lungs. Learn about how the surprising physics of jamming, the same phenomenon behind traffic jams, helps explain diseases like asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. This podcast was recorded in Fall 2021.

Listen in as we talk to Dr. Zackary Graham about his upcoming book, Crayfish, Crawfish & Crawdads: The Biology and Conservation of North America’s Favorite Crustaceans, out January 6th. We dive into how this diverse group of arthropods makes a living and learn about some interesting life history traits such as burrowing and communication.

Today we talk to Dr. Anya Brown about her research studying the impacts of microbial communities on seaweeds and corals. Learn about how rich diverse ecosystems can survive and thrive in nutrient poor waters. This podcast was recorded in Spring 2024.

For this episode, we sat down with Dr. Jonelle Basso, a research scientist at the Joint Genome Institute. She discussed how bacteria and viruses team up with their hosts to provide mutual benefits, and how her team uses genomic approaches to decode these underground partnerships. From computational analysis to experimental work, discover how scientists are unraveling the complex relationships between plants and their microbial allies. This episode was recorded in Spring of 2024. Some information discussed may have changed since the recording date.

Today on RadioBio, we talk with Dr. Emma Wilson about Toxoplasma, a microscopic parasite that makes mice love the smell of cat pee, can live in your brain forever, and might just make you more likely to take risks. This podcast was recorded in Fall 2022.

We chat with Dr. Spencer Nyholm about the symbiotic relationship between the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid and the bioluminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri (now called Aliivibrio fischeri), and how they use bacteria to protect their eggs. If you liked our interview with Dr. Nishiguchi, you'll also love this episode! This episode was recorded in Fall 2022.

We interviewed Dr. Catalina Cuellar-Gempeler, a professor of microbial ecology at Cal Poly Humboldt about her work on microbial community ecology on pitcher plants

The California academy of sciences is one of California’s oldest operating museums and research institutions. It is an invaluable repository of knowledge about the natural sciences, is home to 47 million specimens, and has hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. This week, on Radiobio, we had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Shannon Bennett, the chief and dean of sciences at the Academy. She gave us all the behind the scenes scoop about the academy of sciences, as well as her own fascinating path into science. This is Radiobio!

We’ve all heard of COVID-19, saw its impact on society, and probably even faced the respiratory illness itself. But is there… math behind this disease? And if so, can we use math to help fight COVID and other infectious diseases? It turns out that our collective behavior during outbreaks can mathematically fuel models of public health. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of mathematical biology. This is RadioBio.

Imagine you are at a hot springs. The water is boiling and bubbling, there’s the smell of sulfur and other acrid chemicals in the air, and it is unbelievably hot. Is it possible that life can exist in these unforgiving conditions? It turns out yes! There are microbes, called thermophiles, that not only just exist in these conditions, but have adapted very particular ways of thriving in what are some of the most unforgiving conditions on our planet. This week, we talk to Dr. Ruben Michael Ceballos about these fascinating organisms. This is Radiobio!

There are plenty of fish in the sea… this week, we take that saying to a whole new level! Fish are incredibly diverse and their life cycle is complex; this week on Radiobio we talk with Dr. Chrissy Hernandez about her research on fish population dynamics. Dr. Hernandez applies math to complicated ecosystem level questions, with fascinating results. This is Radiobio!

Nature versus nurture, the eternal question. We usually think of our genes as permanent, a part of our nature, something that is passed down to us and that’s it. But how much of our genes change as a results of our actions today? How much do our genes change because of what we have been eating for the past 10 years? Turns out, behaviors and the environment can actually change our gene expression! We delve into some of these factors with our fabulous guest this week, Dr. Monica Dus, a professor of neuroepigenetics at the University of Michigan. This is Radiobio!

We live in a microbial world. From our own gut to the corals in the ocean, microbes are key players in the existence of so many organisms. Did you know that corals are not just single organisms, but exist in symbiosis with millions of single celled algae? This symbiosis is currently threatened by global warming and climate change, resulting in a process you may be familiar with, called coral bleaching. This week, we spoke with Dr. Viriginia Weis about her timely and fascinating research on the topic of symbiosis between corals and algae. INSITE Vision: Inspire an inclusive and diverse interdisciplinary community of scientists for the conservation of biological diversity and public education in a changing world. INSITE Mission: Create novel tools to better conserve biological diversity under threat of climate change through cutting-edge research, scientific training, and public education.