EUSci Podcast #66

We're one digit short of the number of the beast this week, as we reach episode 66 of the EUSci podcast. Prepare to be amazed at quantum computers inside diamonds, the stem cell research that could repair your heart in the future, and at how wind turbines are NOT necessarily the bird-blenders they are sometimes made out to be. Our discussion asks if participants in medical research should be informed of incidental findings related to their health, and we have some significant information to impart in a great Feature interview by Chris featuring linguist Sean Roberts.

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News

• Air density 2.7 billion years ago measured using fossilised raindrops
• First description of a triple DNA helix in a vacuum
• Bees shed light on anaesthesia-induced memory loss
• Engineering Orangutans
• Scientists over-write 'drug memories' to reduce drug craving and re-lapse in mice

Correspondents

• Quantum computer built inside a diamond
• Re-programming of cells into cardiac tissue in vivo (rather than in vitro) via injection of 3 factors

Feature

Interview with Sean Roberts about spurious correlations (and correlational studies in general) like these

Discussion

Should volunteers in medical studies be told of chance findings that could affect their health?

EUWhat

Wind farms "not major bird mincers"

Roundup

• Counting penguins from space
• Drinking alcohol improves problem solving skills
• Physicist writed mathematical paper to avoid speeding ticket
• Craters on Mercury contain ice