Show Me the Science with Luke O'Neill
Health & Wellness Podcasts
Have you ever wondered why we laugh or if you can really die of a broken heart? Join Professor Luke O'Neill on ‘Show Me the Science’ as he tackles a different issue each week; from the serious to the silly, all explained through science. This Newstalk production will open the world of science to people of all ages. New episodes every Thursday. Show me the Science is with thanks to B Braun. Listen and subscribe to Show Me the Science with Luke O'Neill on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'
Location:
Ireland
Genres:
Health & Wellness Podcasts
Description:
Have you ever wondered why we laugh or if you can really die of a broken heart? Join Professor Luke O'Neill on ‘Show Me the Science’ as he tackles a different issue each week; from the serious to the silly, all explained through science. This Newstalk production will open the world of science to people of all ages. New episodes every Thursday. Show me the Science is with thanks to B Braun. Listen and subscribe to Show Me the Science with Luke O'Neill on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'
Language:
English
Episodes
166. The Science of Cancer Treatments
5/16/2024
Utilizing our own immune systems to fight cancer has always been an interesting idea to scientists, and now there's serious progress being made in this filed that could see us developing personalized treatments for the disease.
Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgeries are all useful treatments but a vaccine against the tumor could be much more effective without being as intrusive.
Luke explains how they might make these vaccines and gives the latest update on the clinical trials going on.
Duration:00:16:24
165. The Science of Twins
5/9/2024
Between 1980 and 2009, the rate of twinning in the US increased by 76%, and this trend is seen across the world. Twins can be either fraternal where two eggs are fertilized at the same time, or identical where one fertilized egg splits in two. Both of these offer huge opportunities for scientists to learn about genetic traits and environmental impacts on development.
Luke explains what we've learned from twin studies and why they're so useful.
Duration:00:16:44
164. The Science of The Next Pandemic
5/2/2024
The Covid-19 pandemic may still be fresh in all our memories, but scientists are already looking ahead to the next big pandemic to allow us to prepare and get ahead of it.
A flu virus seems to be the most likely cause and in particular there is concern around the H5N1 strand which has now jumped from birds to cattle, and even a few dairy farmers. Human to human transmission is the next big warning sign which is being closely monitored.
Luke explains what we learned during the last pandemic to prevent the spread of another virus and another global lockdown.
Duration:00:11:35
163. The Science of Music
4/24/2024
We all have our favourite songs - The ones that remind us of childhood memories, give us a boost of energy or the ones we play to make us cry. But where did music come from and what makes us connect so strongly to it?
Luke answers these questions as well as explaining what makes some people so talented musically, and others more tone deaf.
Duration:00:18:40
162. The Science of Longevity
4/18/2024
How can we increase our life expectancy? Do we have any control over it or is it all to do with our genetic makeup? A new study into microscopic worms has revealed how their genes allow them to enter a 'dauer' state of almost hibernation during times of limited food and in doing so expand their lifespan from 2 weeks to over 2 months. Luke explains how this works and how this finding could be useful for humans.
Duration:00:14:47
161. The Science of Daylight Savings
4/11/2024
Why did we all put our clocks forward by an hour a few weeks ago? And why will we push them back again come autumn? The historic justifications were to allow for brighter mornings in the autumn and winter and extra daylight at the end of the working day across spring and summer. But, now there's some push back on the practice and Luke explains why some think it's harmful.
Duration:00:12:07
160. The Science of Self Driving Cars
4/4/2024
Is 2024 the year we'll finally see self driving cars on our roads? While there are already some 'Robo-cabs' in service in the United States aiming to provide a 'safer' driving experience, there are still big challenges for the futuristic technology before they can be more widely rolled out. Luke gives us an update of the latest state of affairs in the world of driverless cars.
Duration:00:13:22
159. The Science of Tech Neck
3/21/2024
When new machinery was first invented, researchers notices that frequent users such as factory workers or typists were developing repetitive strain injuries. And, now that technology has become such a crucial part of all our lives, and we all spend hours daily with our heads tilted down at a screen they are seeing a surge of the phenomenon known as 'Tech Neck' .
Luke looks at the research into the muscle strain and offers some solutions for those suffering.
Duration:00:10:04
158. The Science of Smoking and Immunity
3/14/2024
Why does the immune system differ from person to person? Why do some people seem more resistant to infections or viruses than others? New research has sought to answer these questions, and in the process shown the impact of smoking on your immune system and in particular the effects on the adaptive immune response.
Luke takes us through the new research and explains how smoking can turn off some of our internal defense systems.
Duration:00:13:43
157. The Science of Long Covid
3/7/2024
An Irish research team has just had a breakthrough on their research into Long Covid. Luke recaps what we already know about the condition which causes brain fog and fatigue in roughly 1 in 3 patients infected with Covid-19.
He also explained what the brain blood barrier may have to do with it, and what potential treatments or preventative measures may come from this research.
Duration:00:13:04
156. The Science of Neuralink
2/29/2024
Elon Musk's latest venture 'Neuralink' which aims to place a chip within the brain of a human has shown 'promising neural spike detection'. This means that down the line a brain implant could pick up on our thoughts and communicate them directly to a computer, allowing our thoughts to be sent as text messages without ever picking up a phone, or to move a prosthetic limb with ease.
Luke takes us through the latest developments in the world of brain implants and offers other examples of their existence already in circulation such as cochlear implants.
Duration:00:15:57
155. The Science of Viagra
2/22/2024
Could Viagra an erectile dysfunction drug, have a second function working to prevent Alzheimer's?
Luke recalls how the drug was initially created to treat angina before it's accidental side effect made it a huge success for Pfizer. He explains how the drug works and why researchers are looking at it more closely now.
Duration:00:17:56
154. The Science of Morning People
2/15/2024
Are you a night owl looking to become more of a morning person?
There are lots of health benefits to waking up earlier but is it even possible to become a morning lark if it's against your nature? Luke explains the role our genes and even the Neanderthal's play in our chronotypes.
He also offers some tips for changing your sleeping patterns and explains how your sleep patterns alter over time.
Duration:00:14:29
153. The Science of Showers
2/8/2024
How many times should you shower each week? Or should we shower at all? The average changes depending on location and culture, ranging from 12 per week in Brazil to 5 per week in the UK.
We all know the obvious risks of not showering enough, but showering too much can also have it's downsides like overly dry skin and increased risk of infection. Luke explains how showering affects our body and why our bodies make things like sebum and sweat that we wash away.
Duration:00:10:46
152. The Science of Multiple Sclerosis
2/1/2024
Multiple sclerosis also known as MS is an auto immune disease that causes symptoms such as muscle weakness, pins and needles, double vision, poor balance and fatigue. There are various factors that affect your chances of developing MS including genetics, geography and according to a new study exposure to the Epstein–Barr virus. Luke explains the thought behind this new research and how it could help find a preventative measure for MS.
Duration:00:17:07
151. The Science of Covid-19 Anniversary
1/25/2024
Although it might seem like it was just yesterday, it's already been 4 years since the first fatality as a result of Covid-19. Luke takes us back to what we knew then and shows just how quickly science reacted to the disease with things like vaccines and therapeutic remedies. He also asks what we have learned from the last 4 years and the most important question of all - Are we ready for the next pandemic when it comes along?
Duration:00:10:56
150. The Science of Itch
1/18/2024
We might understand what causes an itch in theory: an insect bite, a healing wound, a poisonous plant. But, where does the urge come from? And what's going on within our bodies to make us scratch? Luke explains the science and the latest research which might finally result in remedies for those suffering with issues like dermatitis or eczema.
Duration:00:13:17
149. The Science of Near Death Experiences
1/11/2024
A dark tunnel with a light at the end, family and friends who have already passed on, or a religious figure are all common visions following near death experiences. But, what really happens when our hearts stop? And where do these visions come from? A new study of resuscitated patients in 3 hospitals across the world sought to answer these questions and in this episode Luke explains their findings.
Duration:00:13:08
148. The Science of 2023
1/4/2024
As we begin a new year bound to bring with it a multitude of exciting scientific discoveries, Luke takes stock of the year just gone and all of the exceptional breakthroughs from 2023. It was a big year for science, as aging was reversed, Alzheimer's slowed, and the true number of steps needed for health revealed. AI has already had a big impact on science and this year was no different, Luke talks us through some of the highlights, while waiting to see the inevitable role it will play in the scientific advancements of 2024.
Duration:00:12:10
147. The Science of Protein Supplements
12/28/2023
Proteins are the work horses of life and the building blocks for everything from enzymes and antibodies to hormones and of course muscles. Many gym goers add additional protein to their diet in order to build extra muscle. Luke explains how your body build muscles and the benefits of protein supplements, as well as exploring what is actually in them and asking if there is really science behind the claims that they help to build muscle.
Duration:00:13:31