Night Science

Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher
  • 5.0 (48)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Night Science

Where do ideas come from? In each episode, scientists Itai Yanai and Martin Lercher explore science's creative side with a leading colleague. New episodes come out every second Monday. 

  1. 67 | A hypothesis is a liability

    12/16/2024

    67 | A hypothesis is a liability

    In this episode, Itai and Martin delve into the interplay between hypothesis-driven and exploratory research, drawing on insights from past guests of the Night Science Podcast. They discuss how being focused on a single hypothesis can prevent us from making discoveries, while emphasizing the value of open-ended exploratory analyses—often dismissed as “fishing expeditions.” The episode also examines the risks inherent to both approaches: hypothesis-driven Day Science may overlook key insights,...

    40 min
  2. 66 | Michael Fischbach and the scientific decision tree

    11/25/2024

    66 | Michael Fischbach and the scientific decision tree

    In this episode, Stanford professor Michael Fischbach discusses insights from his course on how to choose meaningful research problems. Highlights include:- Invest time in problem selection: Spend more time upfront selecting the right research problem.- Date ideas: Before settling on an idea, explore multiple alternatives without emotional attachment.- Fixed vs. floating parameters: Early on, clearly define what aspects of your research idea are fixed and which can be flexible.- Manage risks:...

    51 min
  3. 65 | James Kaufman and the art of creativity maintenance

    11/04/2024

    65 | James Kaufman and the art of creativity maintenance

    James Kaufman, Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut, discusses the psychological underpinnings of creative thinking with Itai & Martin. Together, we delve into the complex nature of creativity, exploring its roots as both a trait and a skill that can be nurtured. We examine the role of personality traits in creativity, the impact of interdisciplinary team dynamics, and how creative metacognition—the ability to recognize one’s own creative strengths and weak...

    31 min
  4. 64 | Robert Weinberg and the perils of being a Fachidiot

    09/30/2024

    64 | Robert Weinberg and the perils of being a Fachidiot

    MIT's Bob Weinberg is perhaps the world's most prominent cancer researcher. In this episode, Bob emphasizes that true innovation often comes from blending ideas from different fields – a synthesis that transcends the boundaries of one's primary area of research. We discuss the vital role of human interaction, with many scientific breakthroughs coming from informal collaborations between researchers, celebrating the collective "lab brain" as a powerful driver of creativity and discovery. And g...

    43 min
  5. 63 | Manu Prakash and how the discovery changes you

    09/09/2024

    63 | Manu Prakash and how the discovery changes you

    Manu Prakash is a professor of bioengineering at Stanford University, asking biological questions with insights from physics. His most widely known contribution is the FoldScope, a $1-microscope made from paper and a lens – 2 million copies of this have been distributed to would-be scientists around the world. In this episode, Manu emphasizes how science is a sense of wonder and a personal journey with no set roads. To get to new and deep questions, Manu feels he needs to “embed” himself in t...

    45 min
  6. 62 | Dianne Newman and the visceral and intentional sides of science

    08/19/2024

    62 | Dianne Newman and the visceral and intentional sides of science

    Dianne Newman – a molecular microbiologist at CalTech – is a professor both in Biology and Geology. In this episode, she encourages young scientists to pursue questions to which they have a visceral connection, rather than following popular trends. In its search for fundamental truths guided by our inner biases and preferences, Dianne likens scientific curiosity to artistic expression. She emphasizes our control over how much we dwell on the difficult aspects of our research, helping us to fi...

    40 min
  7. 61 | Tina Seelig on what to do with a really bad idea

    07/15/2024

    61 | Tina Seelig on what to do with a really bad idea

    Tina Seelig is Executive Director of the Knight-Hennessy-Scholars at Stanford University. She is widely known for teaching creativity courses and workshops with an entrepreneurial focus. In this episode, Tina emphasizes the importance of living in the problem space longer, taking time to challenge assumptions and reframe questions before rushing to solutions. We discuss how deliberately generating bad ideas can lead to innovative solutions, as they allow for bigger conceptual leaps and often ...

    30 min
  8. 60 | Venki Ramakrishnan and the secrets of doing science over tea

    07/01/2024

    60 | Venki Ramakrishnan and the secrets of doing science over tea

    Venki Ramakrishnan shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for uncovering the structure of the ribosome. He runs a lab at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. In this episode, Venki emphasizes the importance of enjoying the scientific process itself, not just aiming for major discoveries. He describes his creativity as a result of mulling over a problem and of talking with people. Venki also highlights the need for scientists to make daily judgment calls about their...

    34 min
See All (68)

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

Where do ideas come from? In each episode, scientists Itai Yanai and Martin Lercher explore science's creative side with a leading colleague. New episodes come out every second Monday. 

Information

  • Creator
    Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Itai Yanai & Martin Lercher
  • Show Website
    Night Science

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