14 episodes

This World of Humans is a science podcast focusing on life and social science. Each episode features an exciting new finding with relevance to our shared human experience and explores that discovery with the principal scientist behind it, illuminating and probing the actual process of research and how science works in practice.

This World of Humans Nathan H. Lents

    • Science
    • 5.0 • 22 Ratings

This World of Humans is a science podcast focusing on life and social science. Each episode features an exciting new finding with relevance to our shared human experience and explores that discovery with the principal scientist behind it, illuminating and probing the actual process of research and how science works in practice.

    Breast cancer proliferation and metastasis in mice

    Breast cancer proliferation and metastasis in mice

    In this episode of TWOH, we explore some recent research on the dreaded triple-negative breast cancer. In her research laboratory at Hunter College, Dr. Jill Bargonetti uses mouse models to study breast cancer and in this episode, she discuss some of her recent research on how triple-negative breast cancer cells spread through the body. Metastasis – the spreading of cancer cells beyond their initial site of origin – is a milestone event marking a cancer diagnosis as advanced and usually very serious. Dr. Bargonetti helps break down her recent work.

    Learn more about the podcast https://www.visionlearning.com/en/twoh

    • 26 min
    PsychTable

    PsychTable

    This is a unique episode of TWOH. Instead of speaking with a scientist about a recent paper or study, we will explore a tool that anyone - students and researchers alike - can use to explore research in the field of evolutionary psychology. The tool is called PsychTable and it is designed to foster a collaborative space where psychologists and other scientists can work together to gather, organize, propagate, and critique research related to evolutionary psychology. Joining us on this episode are the two co-creators of PsychTable, Mr. Niruban Balachandran and Dr. Daniel Glass.

    Learn more about the podcast https://www.visionlearning.com/en/twoh

    • 22 min
    Hippos and River Ecology

    Hippos and River Ecology

    In this episode of TWOH, we explore the unique role the hippos play in the ecology of rivers in Africa. These giant semiaquatic animals are vegetarians and move enormous amounts of organic nutrients from the dry land, where they eat, to the river systems, where they rest and, well, defecate. This has a big impact on the ecology of the rivers. As river flow is reduced due to human needs, that effect is amplified and is leading to a waste disposal problem of sorts. Joining us to discuss his new research on hippos is Dr. Keenan Stears from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

    Learn more about the podcast https://www.visionlearning.com/en/twoh

    • 20 min
    Human Errors: The Beauty of Imperfection

    Human Errors: The Beauty of Imperfection

    In this episode of TWOH, we flip the tables. Professor Nathan H. Lents, usually the host of TWOH, is interviewed by Sam Anderson about his new book, Human Errors: A Panorama of our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes. The book is a tour through the quirks, glitches, and imperfections throughout the human body and mind and the interesting things that they reveal about our evolutionary past.

    Learn more about the book https://thehumanevolutionblog.com/book-human-errors/

    Learn more about the podcast https://www.visionlearning.com/en/twoh

    • 28 min
    Taurine, Addiction, and the Brain

    Taurine, Addiction, and the Brain

    This episode of TWOH explores the incredibly complicated research on taurine, the amino acid supplement commonly found in energy drinks. Dr. Kaliris Salas-Ramirez explores the many affects of taurine on the central nervous system of rodents and has made surprising discoveries when it comes to addiction, memory, and other cognitive functions. The effects of taurine appear to be widely different effects based on age, sex, and interaction with other drugs. The theme of this fascinating episode is: It's complicated.

    Learn more https://www.visionlearning.com/en/twoh

    • 23 min
    Attraction and Mate Choice

    Attraction and Mate Choice

    This episode of TWOH explores the issue of romantic and sexual attraction, an important field of study within psychology. Joining us is Dr. Daniel Conroy-Beam from the University of California at Santa Barbara who is the author of a new study in this field. Dr. Conroy-Beam has developed a new computational method for understanding how the various components of attraction combine in the human brain to a single feeling of attraction.

    Learn more https://www.visionlearning.com/en/twoh

    • 26 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
22 Ratings

22 Ratings

RARasp ,

The World of Humans

Excellent podcast, easy to understand and interesting topics

Mjw425 ,

Science!

This podcast is straight fire.

Madame Levy ,

Brilliant!

Making complex science more intelligible to us non-scientists! Well done!

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