For many people, when they have a diagnostic test – like a blood test or tissue biopsy – it disappears into the lab and, eventually, they hear the results from a doctor. But what actually happens in between taking that sample and receiving the result?

In our season two finale, pathologists’ assistant Dennis Strenk takes us behind the doors of the magic “black box” of the lab. What does a typical day look like in the lab? What does Dennis wish people knew about their own bodies and about diagnostic testing? And how does someone become a laboratory medicine expert?

Listen to the episode to find out – and we’ll see you soon for season three!

Show Notes

• Listen to People of Pathology on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred streaming platform
• Follow Dennis on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn
• You can find Mick’s episode of People of Pathology here, and Liv’s episode here

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When you think of a scientist, you might think of a person who is stuck in a lab all day – but did you know that science can actually take you anywhere in the world?

As Liv comes to the end of her six-month backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, she talks about some of the scientific activities she’s done along the way. From visiting the APOPO Center in Cambodia, where she met African giant pouched rats trained to detect landmines, to snorkeling around the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand and spotting some great species of fish.

Mick talks about some of the fossil digs he’s been on (and his favorite fossil), his SCUBA diving adventures with green sea turtles in Hawaii (to check them for cancer), and the time he was nearly eaten by a Komodo dragon! Did he survive? Listen now to find out!

We hope this episode gives you a glimpse into what life can be like as a scientist – and inspires you to explore more opportunities yourself!

Show Notes

• Find out more about the work being done by the APOPO Center to detect landmines and tuberculosis in Cambodia
• Interested in developing your scientific knowledge? Check out these free courses from the University of Alberta

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In this week’s episode, we’re joined by mathematical biologist Stacey Smith? to talk about science policy and communication – with a bit of a twist. We learn about how a zombie apocalypse might begin, how scientists might handle it in the early stages, and the barriers to communicating essential scientific information to policymakers and the public.

We also reminisce on the difficulties scientists and science communicators faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how you speak to people who just don’t want to listen – especially when your message is drowned out by the flurry of misinformation and disinformation on social media.

If COVID-19 had been an Ebola outbreak, would the public have reacted differently? Stacey explains why we never want to experience an “interesting” pandemic and how outbreaks in history forced us to reconsider what we actually know about diseases and human health.

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We all have a favorite animal that we wish were still alive – whether it’s a giant armored Dunkleosteus fish or a miniature Eohippus, the 12-inch-tall prehistoric ancestor of the horse. But is there a chance that, somewhere out there, these extinct creatures may not be so extinct at all? Or could we perhaps – one day – bring them back?

In this episode, we dive into the topic of de-extinction, asking: how do scientists decide that a species has gone extinct in the first place? What are the considerations and consequences of bringing back extinct species? What makes a species a good candidate for de-extinction?

And perhaps the most pressing question – will we be seeing woolly mammoths wandering around any time soon?

Listen to the episode to find out!

Show Notes

• Read about the Woolly Mammoth De-Extinction Project

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Nowadays, we constantly hear about how AI is going to replace us – but are we being alarmists or are our robot overlords really the way of the future?

In this episode, we speak with Amy McGarry-Thickitt about AI and its place in the world – now and in the future. And, because we’re science communicators, writers, and editors here on After School Science Club, we particularly want to know how it’s being used in the creative space. How are AI models trained? How might we work with AI so it complements our lives? And are there any steps that creatives can take to protect our work from being plagiarized by these digital tools?

We also talk about the limits of AI models and whether they might one day think for themselves. What does it really mean when Amy says we need to “free the computers?”

Show Notes

• Check out Ai-Da – “the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist”

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The intersection of brains and computers may seem like it falls into the realm of science fiction, but it’s actually at the forefront of scientific research. But what are brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)? Can computers really read our thoughts? And how is this technology being used to help paralyzed patients regain their independence?

We talk about Neuralink, how it works, and why the company’s animal experiments have recently come under fire. We also highlight projects from other researchers worldwide who are making even greater strides in the field.

Finally, we ask: could uploading your consciousness to a computer one day become a reality? What barriers stand in the way of this digital future – and would we even want to upload our minds if we could?

Show Notes

• Could AI turn our thoughts into text or images?
• Neuralink receives FDA approval for human clinical trials – but what does the company even do?
• The controversy over Neuralink animal testing
• Researchers in Sydney are miles ahead of the curve – as well as scientists in Europe
• Brain implants developed by Swiss researchers are helping a paralyzed man walk again
• How realistic is the prospect of uploading consciousness? What questions do scientists need to answer first?
• Read more about IBM’s Blue Brain Project

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In this week’s episode, we talk to epidemiologist Keren Landsman about plagues, pandemics, and public health. We discuss the Black Death, how it spread, and what public health measures managed to curb the disease that wiped out up to two-thirds of the population. We also ask: what’s the deal with plague doctors – did those terrifying masks even protect against disease?

Fast-forward to modern-day outbreaks and epidemics… what breakthroughs have changed the way we respond to them? How has the erosion of trust during the COVID-19 pandemic affected the way people receive health information? And is society obsessed with being too clean?

Please note: we recorded this episode early in 2023, so there are some references to events (like Ebola outbreaks) that were recent at the time of recording, but are not ongoing today.

Show Notes

• Follow Keren on X, or her blog, The End of the World

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We’re kicking off season two with a return to the science behind the science – this time, focusing on science controversies. We’d like to think that everything in science runs smoothly all the time – but, like any other part of life, that’s not always the case.

From Zimbardo’s Stanford prison experiment and Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent MMR vaccine–autism claims, to smallpox vaccine development and Purdue Pharma’s misrepresenting opioid addiction, we’re dissecting real-world examples of controversial scientific moments.

Show Notes

• Brian Deer exposes Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent claims
• Zimbardo’s famous prison experiment – and were participants faking it?
• Purdue Pharma’s downplaying of the risk of addiction to OxyContin
• Find out more about Milgram's experiment on obedience to authority

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