Talk That Science Talk That Science

An ollie is a fundamental trick in skateboarding. But have you ever wondered about the physics of an ollie, and what the ideal skateboard for performing one looks like? Delve into the world of sports engineering and the complexities of using science to enhance performance with Jan T. Heinen, a recent alumnus of the TU Delft, who has recently co-authored a paper on how to maximize the height of an ollie.

The tracks played during the episode:

1. Avril Lavigne, Sk8er Boi
2. Kato Kato, L'Evasion
3. Kraftwerk, The Man Machine

Big thanks to the Echobox Radio team for hosting us and helping out with everything!

Logic has a rich philosophical history for understanding the limits of our reasoning. But can it also be used for computational tasks? Nick Bezhanishvili is the President of the Dutch Association for Logic and Philosophy. His main field of research is the relationship between algebra and geometry. He recently researched the application of polyhedral semantics for 3D modeling.

The tracks played during the episode:

1. Some Kind of Game, by Against all Logic
2. The Logic Song, by Supertramp
3. Logic, by Logic System

Big thanks to the Echobox Radio team for hosting us and helping out with everything!

Join us for an enlightening episode featuring Marion Dugue, a geophysics master student and analogue astronaut. In this episode, Marion opens up about the unique challenges women face during scientific expeditions in survivalist conditions, particularly the pressing issue of the lack of menstrual products suitable for extreme environments, including space. Marion has confronted this issue head-on, pioneering a prototype for a menstrual product designed to function in zero gravity. This innovation isn't just about aiding women in their participation in scientific expeditions; it might also unlock valuable medical applications through the collection of menstrual blood during prolonged space missions.
In this episode, we'll explore Marion's research on menstrual blood in zero gravity and her role as an analogue astronaut. We'll also delve into the broader issue of gender imbalances in expeditions.

The tracks played during the episode:

1. Fly Me to the Moon, by Astrud Gilberto
2. Walking on the Moon, by Roseaux and Aloe Blacc
3. Space Girl, by Frances Forever

Big thanks to the Echobox Radio team for hosting us and helping out with everything!

Coral reefs are the only structures made by a single living organism (apart from humans) that you can see from space, and they are the most diverse and productive ecosystems out there. In this episode of Talk That Science, dr. René van der Zande and Sarah Solomon MSc explain how coral reefs are formed, how corals function and how they are affected by climate change.

The tracks played during the episode:

1. Andrean Sand Dunes, by Drexciya
2. Sea Swallow Me, by Cocteau Twins, Harold Budd
3. Seaweed, by Tindersticks
4. Diving, by Bombay Bicycling Club, Holly Humberstone

Cooperation is everywhere around us, at the heart of nature's most triumphant endeavors. It shows up in the cells that make up complex organisms, in ant colonies, and, of course, in the societies we live in. But it is also a bit of a mystery, because it involves being helpful at a personal cost. So how can individuals be motivated to look beyond their immediate self-interest and embrace the enduring advantages of collaboration? It turns out that game theory, a tool loved by economists, has much to say on this. Joining us for a discussion on the mechanisms underpinning cooperation is Fernando P. Santos, Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam. He guides us through the core concepts of game theory, shows why reputation is important, and gives insights into what to anticipate when engaging with artificial agents.

The tracks played during the episode:

1. Games, by Graham Nash, and David Crosby
2. Tomobiki, by John Zorn
3. All That We've Become, by Society
4. Verdes Anos, by Carlos Paredes

Big thanks to the Echobox Radio team for hosting us and helping out with everything!

The human vaginal microbiome is quite unique for its high level of acidity. This environment is maintained by a variety of bacteria, but a healthy vaginal microbiome is dominated by Lactobacillus Crispatus. Once other more harmful bacteria increase in number in the vaginal microbiome, the chances of bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections (UTIs) increase. In order to understand the favourable conditions for a microbiome populated mainly by Lactobacillus Crispatus, Rosanne investigates the behaviour of different vaginal bacteria in the lab. Besides, she is also one of the founders of the Crispatus foundation which uses citizen science to investigate the vaginal microbiome.

After writing columns for NRC for an extended period of time, Rosanne recently made the decision to go into politics as a candidate for the party NSC of Omtzigt. In the podcast we talk about being both a scientist and a public figure, how do they overlap and collide? And what is the meaning of scientific objectivity when combining the scientific and the political?

Tracklist:
1. Gonna get along without you now - Skeeter Davis
2. Disco Science - Ventolin
3. Straight Outta Vagina (feat. Desi Mo & Leikeli47) - P***y Riot, Desi Mo, Leikeli47