Level Up Human

Simon Watt and Rachel Wheeley
  • 4.4 (22)
  • COMEDY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Level Up Human

"Dragons Den for Nerds" Simon Watt and Rachel Wheeley invite academics to pitch good ideas for the human body.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Level Up Human Extra - Listener Suggestions

    26/05/2020

    Level Up Human Extra - Listener Suggestions

    Simon and Rach consider listener suggestions for human body improvements. This week, adjustable digestive tracts, floral farts, and retractable testicles.   In the news Elon Musk’s baby: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52557291 Ocean warming: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2242786-a-japanese-nuclear-power-plant-created-a-habitat-for-tropical-fish/ Golden tongue: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52683468 Wound healing blue-green algae: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2243352-wound-healing-patch-of-blue-green-algae-mends-skin-quickly/ Listener suggestions @TraceyH100 - retractable breasts and testicles @KJames_IntBio - a pause button for the digestive tract @sheencr - floral farts Check out… In mice twitter account: https://twitter.com/justsaysinmice Kangaroos penis and testicles the other way round: https://grist.org/animals/kangaroo-genitals-are-weirder-than-you-ever-thought-possible-2/ Face lice with no anuses: https://www.livescience.com/65533-your-face-mites-never-poop.html Miracle berry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synsepalum_dulcificum Clare Jonas’s blog article: https://www.thatthinkingfeeling.co.uk/blog/smell-language-difficult-to-describe Does it fart?: https://amzn.to/2TkflxU Support us If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 …and join our newsletter: http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch   Follow us Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leveluphuman Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/leveluphuman Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leveluphuman Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  2. Level Up Human - Sally Le Page vs James Piercy

    19/05/2020

    Level Up Human - Sally Le Page vs James Piercy

    S2E12: Level Up Human is a podcast on a mission to redesign the human body. Simon and Rach chat to biologist and science YouTuber Sally Le Page and science communicator James Piercy. We discuss periods, expanding skulls and a rebooted ear. In the news  Female female aggression in fruit flies: https://bit.ly/LUHfruitflies The new kilogram: physicsworld.com/a/new-definition-of-the-kilogram-comes-into-force/ Robots powered by the spines of rats: https://bit.ly/LUHRatSpines The pitches  Sally wants selective ovulation, James wants a skull flap. There’s a suggestion from the audience for One Massive Ear and Simon is borrowing from the opossums which could hold the key to saving snakebite victims. Mentioned this episode Dragons’ Den: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92 Lesbian lizard colonies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_whiptail Parthenogenesis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis Decompressive craniectomy: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319755 Fontanelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontanelle Barn owl hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SI73-Ka51E Opossum’s natural immunity to snake venom: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150323-opossums-snakes-snakebites-venom-health-world-science/ Stay In for Towel Day: https://www.savetherhino.org/get-involved/events/stay-in-for-towel-day-2020/ Support us If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 …or join our newsletter: http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch With thanks to the Physiological Society. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  3. Level Up Human Extra - Regeneration

    12/05/2020

    Level Up Human Extra - Regeneration

    Simon and Rach consider regeneration. Humans are pretty rubbish at it. Some lizards, newts and salamanders are INCREDIBLE at it. How do we get it, and would we really want to?   Check out… The Shining: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/ THAT tweet: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256239815256797184 Bee sniffing tech: https://phys.org/news/2010-03-bee-sniffing-technology-dangerous-vapors.html FaceTime some Japanese eels: https://www.businessinsider.com/video-call-eels-tokyo-aquarium-so-they-dont-forget-people-2020-5?r=US&IR=T Zoo animals are lonely in lockdown: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52493750 T1000 – Liquid Metal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8h8d2XLWKY Teratoma: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratoma Planarian worm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planarian Combination of master and mistress is: Mastress. No, I don’t have a link for that. Support us It would make Rach so happy if you would support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Give us a high-five with a 5* review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 Join our newsletter to get all our news first: http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch   Follow us   Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leveluphuman Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/leveluphuman Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leveluphuman Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  4. Level Up Human S2E11 - Steve Backshall vs Kate Storrs

    05/05/2020

    Level Up Human S2E11 - Steve Backshall vs Kate Storrs

    S2E11: Level Up Human is a podcast on a mission to redesign the human body. This week, Simon and Rach chat to naturalist and broadcaster Steve Backshall and visual perception scientist Kate Storrs. We discuss enhanced vision, limb regeneration, gecko hands, super kidneys and re-breathing. Extended show notes including edited transcripts are available here. In the news  Kate is tickled and baffled by a news story about Microsoft Steve's news story is entitled, 'Venomous Frogs use Heads as Weapons.' Rach's levelled up human is Bertolt Meyer, who has hacked his prosthetic hand to hook it up to his synth. The pitches  Steve wants to borrow the abilities of the Iberian sharp-ribbed newt, a type of salamander which can regenerate limbs and organs. Kate thinks the human body should be able to see the polarisation of light Plus pitches from our audience and Mother Nature herself 🌱 Mentioned this episode Microsoft's new patent: https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a32318654/microsoft-brainwaves-mine-cryptocurrency Venomous frogs use heads as weapons: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280753150_Venomous_Frogs_Use_Heads_as_Weapons Bertolt Meyer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSKBtEBRWi4 'Scuba-diving' lizard, Anolis aquaticus: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-03/bu-lc032019.php Steve's Home Schooling (9.30am, Wednesdays): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-URP49TgSgyIU1rgh2m7A/videos The Mirror Trap: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mirror-trap-online-tickets-104125171190 Stay In for Towel Day: https://www.savetherhino.org/get-involved/events/stay-in-for-towel-day-2020/ Support us If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 …or join our newsletter: http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch With thanks to the Physiological Society. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  5. Level Up Human Extra - Flight

    28/04/2020

    Level Up Human Extra - Flight

    Episode summary Simon and Rachel take a detailed look at flight. Why can’t we fly, how could we achieve it, and wouldn't it be exhausting? An edited transcript is available here. Mentioned this episode Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, the most attractive man in the world, according to Simon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZhCCu-2gbw Starlink: https://www.starlink.com/ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy The incredible, gliding Hoatzin – the Johnny Rotten of the bird world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87_shPJxdns Barotrauma: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barotrauma Pentadactyl limb: https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/pentadactyl-limb Support us If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman  Leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285  …or join our newsletter: http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch Follow us Twitter: twitter.com/leveluphuman  Facebook: facebook.com/leveluphuman  Instagram: instagram.com/leveluphuman  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  6. Level Up Human Extra - RNA

    20/04/2020

    Level Up Human Extra - RNA

    Simon and Rachel recap Episode 10 of Series 2, where we chatted with immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank and microbiologist Dr. Chloe James. Plus Simon has good news for Eurovision fans. We dive deeper into what RNA is, how to train bacteriophages, and how we know humans are still evolving. An edited transcript is available here. Mentioned this episode 2001: A Space Odyssey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey_(film) Patrick Moore’s Gamesmaster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCuPX_tmOOo Ribonucleic acid (RNA): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA  Messenger RNA: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/messenger-rna Transfer RNA: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Transfer-RNA Are we evolving to survive Alzheimers?: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/alzheimers-asthma-high-cholesterol-eradicated-natural-selection-plos-biology-research-a7932566.html Thunderdome (featuring Tina Turner): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HeZrI5Giw4 Cytokine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine Cytokine storm: https://www.newscientist.com/term/cytokine-storm/ The AI Eurovision Song Contest: https://www.vprobroadcast.com/titles/ai-songcontest.html Boris: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_(band) Support us   If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Or leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285   Follow us   Twitter: twitter.com/leveluphuman Facebook: facebook.com/leveluphuman Instagram: instagram.com/leveluphuman Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  7. Level Up Human S2E10 - Self-scratching backs

    14/04/2020

    Level Up Human S2E10 - Self-scratching backs

    Rachel and Simon are locked down in London. Joining them from Liverpool and Manchester are microbiologist Dr. Chloe James and immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank. A full transcript is available here.   Episode summary   We discuss if it’s possible for scientists to work from home, cytokine storms and a brand new 'magic' toilet.   Our panellists this week make pitches for command over our internal armies of bacteria phages and reprogramming our immune cells.   The audience want self-scratching backs and bodies we can repair ourselves.   Which will make it onto the shortlist? Which pitch will win? Listen to find out!   Mentioned this episode   NHS Covid-19 advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ Quantitative PCR machine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_PCR_instrument Magic toilet: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/06/magic-toilet-could-monitor-users-health-say-researchers Bacteria found in gut might help boost physical performance: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jun/24/bacteria-found-in-gut-could-help-boost-physical-performance Withnail and I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withnail_and_I How stress causes gray hair: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200122135313.htm Barbara Woodhouse “I took to dog training when I had to give up cows”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic5fe7M_Sys Cytokine storm: https://www.newscientist.com/term/cytokine-storm/ Support us   If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Or leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285   Follow us   Twitter: twitter.com/leveluphuman Facebook: facebook.com/leveluphuman Instagram: instagram.com/leveluphuman Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  8. Level Up Human S2E9 - Snake skin

    25/03/2020

    Level Up Human S2E9 - Snake skin

    In the last of our Barbican centre recordings from November 2019, Simon and Rachel are souping up the homo sapien once again. Our guest experts are professor of experimental psychopathology from the university of Birkbeck, Naz Derakshan, and Hephzi Tagoe, a skin specialist from Queen Mary, University of London.   Episode summary   We discuss resilience as well as the impacts of skin conditions on psychological health and wellbeing. Rach has news of an ant with a six legged gallop.   In our pitches for human body redesign, Naz wants a boost to resilience and Hephzi pitches snake skin.   The audience want gecko hands, improved brain plasticity and there’s a pitch from Simon stolen from C. Elegans.   Which will make it onto the shortlist? Which pitch will win? Listen to find out!   Mentioned this episode Building Resilience in Breast Cancer (BRIC) centre: http://briccentre.bbk.ac.uk The fastest ant in the world: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/oct/16/fastest-ants-in-world-northern-sahara Ichthyosis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyosis C. Elegans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caenorhabditis_elegans Support us   If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Or leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285   Follow us   Twitter: twitter.com/leveluphuman Facebook: facebook.com/leveluphuman Instagram: instagram.com/leveluphuman Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
See All (75)

Trailer

4.4
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

"Dragons Den for Nerds" Simon Watt and Rachel Wheeley invite academics to pitch good ideas for the human body.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Simon Watt and Rachel Wheeley
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2020
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Simon Watt and Rachel Wheeley
  • Show Website
    Level Up Human

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada