Best Dna Computing Podcasts (2025)

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823: Probing Protein Dynamics from Molecular Switches to Shape-Changing Viral Particles - Dr. Ganesh Anand 41:11

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8h ago41:11

41:11

Dr. Ganesh Anand is an Associate Professor of Chemistry as well as Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Pennsylvania State University. He is also an elected Board Member of the International Society for Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS). Research in Ganesh’s lab examines molecular switches. He wants to know how molecules inter…

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ID, please? China’s new internet rules and what they could mean for us 30:05

3d ago30:05

30:05

Big Brother is getting new powers in China with a digital ID system eerily similar to that being proposed in the upcoming teen social media ban. What are the privacy risks involved in needing your government ID to use any old website on the internet? And could this tech be seen in Australia anytime soon? Teachers have been struggling to manage stud…

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The Madness of the Silicon Valley Ultra-rich 45:32

4d ago45:32

45:32

Tim and Syma talk to Adam Becker about his stunning new book, "More Everything Forever". They explore how the philosophy of effective altruism aligns with flawed scientific ideas about how humanity can create super-intelligent AI before colonizing the galaxy. The philosophy is as flawed as the science. Your likes and subscriptions are really import…

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The strange science and history of quantum computing and how it could transform chemistry 26:00

7d ago26:00

26:00

On May 7, 1981, influential physicist Richard Feynman gave a keynote speech at Caltech. Feynman opened his talk by politely rejecting the very notion of a keynote speech, instead saying that he had his own ideas on what to discuss and that everyone should speak on what they please. And for Feynman, this meant proposing a new technology that could s…

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822: Using Lake Sediments to Get to the Core of Key Issues in Ecology and Conservation - Dr. Jacquelyn Gill 51:57

7d ago51:57

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Dr. Jacquelyn Gill is an Assistant Professor of Paleoecology and Plant Ecology at the University of Maine. Jacquelyn is a paleoecologist. She studies ecology and climate change over the past 20,000 years since the end of the ice age. This involves taking a forensics-like approach to analyzing the sediments and fossil records in lakes and bogs that …

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How do we tell what's real and what's not, when the internet is flooded with AI slop? 29:35

10d ago29:35

29:35

Do you think you can tell the difference between what's real and what's made by AI? What about writing? Or even music? More AI-generated content is making its way into what we hear, read, and write and it's getting harder and harder to tell the difference. And when we can't tell who's making the things we consume, we can't tell their intentions beh…

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Fossils and Feathers: Rethinking What We Know About Dinosaurs 36:48

12d ago36:48

36:48

Tim and Syma talk to dinosaur expert, Roger Benson, from the American Museum of Natural History. They learn why there were no small dinosaurs, how the animals lived their lives, and why they are relevant today. Interested in #T.Rex #Diplodocus or #Velociraptor? This is the episode for you. Our sponsor for this episode is Grace and Garbo! Thank you.…

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Molecular Programming Decadal Flightplan: Panel on collaboration, part 2 47:02

12d ago47:02

47:02

Our sister organization, the Molecular Programming Society, is organizing a Decadal Flightplan Initiative, gathering researchers from across molecular programming in Seattle next week to sketch out what the next 10 years of the field could look like. They'll be thinking about what types of research should be done, what technology we need to develop…

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Molecular Programming Decadal Flightplan: Panel on collaboration, part 1 1:05:32

12d ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Our sister organization, the Molecular Programming Society, is organizing a "Decadal Flightplan Initiative", gathering researchers from across molecular programming in Seattle next week to sketch out what the next 10 years of the field could look like. They'll be thinking about what types of research should be done, what technology we need to devel…

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[BONUS] Squirrel pox and did tin buttons cause the downfall of Napoleon's army?: Tiny Show and Tell Us #27 13:04

14d ago13:04

13:04

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover squirrel pox — a disease that hasn’t had a huge impact in the United States but has decimated populations of squirrels in the UK. Then we talk about the story that Napoleon's army lost the Battle of Waterloo because the military uniforms used tin buttons that broke apart in cold temperatures, makin…

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ALEC BALDWIN SHOOTING CASE: MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER OR MISTAKE? 12:24

14d ago12:24

12:24

Episode Summary: A detailed breakdown of the Alec Baldwin "Rust" shooting case, examining both criminal and civil aspects. Dan Geherin provides expert analysis on involuntary manslaughter charges, discovery violations, and prosecutorial ethics. The episode explores the distinction between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, mens rea in criminal…

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EP 19 - Why Most Companies Fail at Cybersecurity in 2025: AI, Phishing & Human Error Explained 4:48

15d ago4:48

4:48

Modern threats are evolving faster than many organizations can adapt. In this opening episode, John Paladino outlines why security fundamentals like 2FA are still being overlooked — and how that leaves businesses vulnerable. Learn how AI, human error, and global risk are changing the threat landscape, and why traditional approaches like phishing …

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821: Illuminating the Quantum Physics of Ultracold Atoms - Dr. Chad Orzel 40:20

14d ago40:20

40:20

Dr. Chad Orzel is the R. Gordon Gould Associate Professor of Physics at Union College. He is also author of the popular science books How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog, Eureka: Discovering Your Inner Scientist, and the soon-to-be-released book Breakfast with Einstein: The Exotic Physics of Everyday Objects. In ad…

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With 9,000 new layoffs at Microsoft, is AI set to change the gaming industry forever? 29:36

17d ago29:36

29:36

In recent years, like many other big technology firms, Microsoft has refocused its business towards developing AI, and this week the firm has announced it's slashing 9,000 jobs. A large chunk of these jobs are coming from its Xbox video gaming unit, with successful and longstanding titles like Elder Scrolls and Forza Motorport in the firing line. W…

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New antibiotics are needed to change the game. 21:45

19d ago21:45

21:45

Syma gives the second annual Ibn Sina lecture in Bradford City Hall. The event was hosted by the Muslim Institute and the Lord Mayor of Bradford. She discusses her work on using computer simulations to understand how harmful bacteria protect themselves. It is important we understand how they do this, so we can thwart them with new antibiotics. To v…

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Making labs safer: A heavy metal poisoning, a deadly protein exposure, and their aftermath 35:16

21d ago35:16

35:16

In January, 1997, David Nierenberg was a physician at Dartmouth‐Hitchcock Medical Center, specializing in toxicology. Chemist Karen Wetterhahn was placed in his care. When she arrived at the hospital, Karen was slurring her speech and having difficulty balancing and with coordination. What David soon learned was that her symptoms were all due to a …

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820: Studying the Molecular Information Cells Use to Move Through Their Environments - Dr. Michelle Starz-Gaiano 36:14

21d ago36:14

36:14

Dr. Michelle Starz-Gaiano is Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Michelle’s research uses fruit flies to examine how cells in the body go to the right place at the right time. Understanding why and how cells use their genetic information to move through the body is critical because if th…

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An expert has quit over the government's planned social media ban, what now? 29:35

24d ago29:35

29:35

This week on Download This Show, we're getting up to speed with what on Earth is going on with the teen social media ban. From new standards being announced to experts quitting in protest -- it's proving to be a busy time for the people making decisions about what our teens get to see online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc…

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Jonathan Amos The Voice Behind BBC Science A Day in the Life 35:42

26d ago35:42

35:42

In This episode Tim & Syma talk to Jonathan Amos - recently retired science correspondent at the BBC. Jon talks us through his fascinating journey falling in love science through exposure to it via journalism and then going to study it more formally. From setting up the BBC website to breaking some of the big science stories - Jon tells his story h…

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[BONUS] Fetuses ‘listening’ to different languages and climate change affecting psychiatric meds: Tiny Show and Tell Us #26 15:55

28d ago15:55

15:55

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we talk about how climate change may impact the effectiveness of mental health medications and how heat waves impact mental health more generally. Then we cover how fetal heart rates can change depending on which language they’re hearing while in the womb. We need your stories — they're what make these bonu…

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819: Making Great Leaps Studying the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Tropical Frogs - Dr. Maureen Donnelly 49:41

28d ago49:41

49:41

Dr. Maureen (Mo) Donnelly is a Professor of Biology and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida International University (FIU). She is also a Research Associate in the Department of Herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Mo studies amphibians like frogs and toads. These org…

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How are online tools being used to resist fascism across the globe? 36:43

1M ago36:43

36:43

The apps and online tools that are being used in international political action, Tesla drama and the future of autonomous vehicles, what's going on with AI search engine overviews, and the story behind 40,000 cameras being exposed to the internet. This week on Download This Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Life’s Left Turn: The Strange Science Behind Molecular Asymmetry 34:11

1M ago34:11

34:11

Some biological molecules can be left handed or right handed - the sugars that are found in nucleic acids are right handed, whereas 19 of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins are left handed. And intriguingly samples of amino acids found on meteorites such as those brought back from the OSIRIX-REx missing from Bennu were present in mixtures con…

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How NASA scientists are monitoring and predicting wildfires from space 26:54

1M ago26:54

26:54

Climate change has brought forth extreme fire events, like the Palisade and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, which devastated communities in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades in the beginning of 2025. And it’s becoming harder to not wonder: Is this just the world we live in now? Under the constant threat of catastrophic fires? Fortunately, we have the …

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818: Shining Light on the Exciting Capabilities of Quantum Computing - Dr. Mark Saffman 35:07

1M ago35:07

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Dr. Mark Saffman is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received is B.Sc. with honors in Applied Physics from the California Institute of Technology. Mark’s research focuses on quantum computing. He and his colleagues are trying to build a new kind of computer called a quantum computer that can solve …

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Could a new copyright lawsuit from Disney change the way we use AI? 29:36

1M ago29:36

29:36

A lawsuit from the house of mouse, Apple being forced to let you download apps outside the app store, a huge hole in Gmail's data security, plus a world where generative AI is doing critical computer coding. This week on Download This Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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The Good the Bad and the Migrant 47:54

1M ago47:54

47:54

Migration is in the news continuously and everyone has an opinion. What does the science of migration reveal? Tim and Syma talk to Ian Goldin, an expert on the pros and cons of migration and migrants. Ian's book: http://oldstreetpublishing.co.uk/100/the-shortest-history-of-migration Do you have any questions you would like to ask Tim and Syma? Drop…

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[BONUS] The FDA’s ban of Red Dye No. 3 and the surprising science of winter roads: Tiny Show and Tell Us #25 17:03

1M ago17:03

17:03

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we talk about why the FDA recently banned Red Dye No. 3 and how concerned people should be about its use in food. Then we cover icy winter roads and the fascinating science behind clearing them and taking a more sustainable approach that won’t hurt the environment. We need your stories — they're what make t…

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UM FOOTBALL COACH COMPUTER CRIMES SCANDAL 11:06

1M ago11:06

11:06

Episode Summary: A deep dive into the high-profile case of former University of Michigan football defensive coordinator Matt Weiss, who faces 24 federal computer crime charges. Dan Geherin discusses the implications of this case, its impact on the University of Michigan, and the broader landscape of computer crimes in today's digital age. Key Times…

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817: Creating New Cancer Models and Advancing Regenerative Medicine - Dr. Luiz Bertassoni 43:00

1M ago43:00

43:00

Dr. Luiz E. Bertassoni is the founding director of the Knight Cancer Precision Biofabrication Hub and Professor in the Division of Oncological Sciences at the Knight Cancer Institute, where he is also co-section head for Discovery and Translational Oncology. He is also faculty in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Cancer Early Detection …

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'Imperial Kitten' vs 'Fancy Bear': how are kooky hacker nicknames causing serious concerns for cybersecurity? 29:35

2M ago29:35

29:35

Why do hackers have weird and wacky non-serious names? And why are British politicians blaming Apple and Google for the rise in phone thefts? Plus, there have been breakthroughs in the world of brain implants, and we break down how and when to use a VPN. This week on Download This Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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How did the diversity of life come about? 44:41

2M ago44:41

44:41

This week Tim and Syma talk to Max Telford, author of The Tree of Life: Solving Science's Greatest Puzzle published by John Murray. They explore LUCA, penis worms, and other oddball species. Max's book 'The Tree Of Life' can be found here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/max-telford/the-tree-of-life/9781399806374/ Do you have any questions you wo…

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How a Mars mission from the 1970s shaped the search for extraterrestrial life today 35:49

2M ago35:49

35:49

In 1975, NASA launched two spacecraft to Mars. Viking 1 and Viking 2 arrived at their destination less than a year later, each bringing a lander to explore the surface of the planet and an orbiter to survey above. What was supposed to be a 90 day mission ended up lasting until the early 1980s. Those years provided scientists with important data abo…

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816: Deciphering Genetic Variations in Bacteria that Lead to Disease - Dr. Shannon Manning 35:55

2M ago35:55

35:55

Dr. Shannon Manning is a Michigan State University (MSU) Foundation Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. The goal of Shannon’s research is to understand how pathogens (bacteria or viruses) cause disease in people. How likely a person is to get sick may be due to the different types of pathogens they are expo…

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Science Explainer: Recent Mount Etna Eruption 8:19

2M ago8:19

8:19

In our latest science explainer release Syma chats to David Pyle, world renowned volcanologist, about the recent Mount Etna eruption.By Tim Coulson And Syma Khalid

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The human-AI conversation crisis: why we're choosing chatbots over people 29:35

2M ago29:35

29:35

In a special AI deep-dive episode of Download This Show, researchers Sandra Peter and Kai Remer break down how AI chatbots are changing the way humans behave, and why we now want to talk to chatbots more than we want to talk to people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy ABC listen

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Question and Answer Time! 34:33

2M ago34:33

34:33

In this episode Syma and Tim conduct a Q and A session for the many fantastic questions that have been hitting our email inbox over the last three months or so. They also review some of their favourite episodes so far. Do you have any questions you would like to ask? Drop us a line at: [email protected] Or leave a comment on our Yo…

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[BONUS] Babies leaving cells behind in mom and rethinking the Big Bang: Tiny Show and Tell Us #24 17:51

2M ago17:51

17:51

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we talk about what dark energy and dark matter are made out of and how knowing more could upend our understanding of the Big Bang. Then we cover microchimeric cells — cells transferred between baby and mom — and how new research in mice shows that fetal cells that took residency in mom from a first pregnanc…

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815: Fascinated by the Effects of Material Properties on the Form and Function of Fishes - Dr. Adam Summers 50:02

2M ago50:02

50:02

Dr. Adam Summers is a Professor in the School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences and Department of Biology at the University of Washington, and he conducts research in his lab within the Friday Harbor Laboratories there. With a background in engineering and mathematics, Adam works on applying engineering and physics principles to living systems. He …

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Could AI be the 'person' deciding whether or not you get your dream job? 29:27

2M ago29:27

29:27

AI interviewing you for a job, hackable digital drivers licences, dating app safety, and CIA-run Star Wars websites. This week on Download This Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy ABC listen

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The Science Of Football 38:32

2M ago38:32

38:32

Surely there is not much more to football than kicking a ball.? Wrong, There is a whole science behind it. Professor Robbie Wilson explains his work in this area and even puts Tim and Syma through their paces in the park! Our sponsor for this episode is Grace and Garbo! Thank you. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GraceandGarbo 'At Grace and Garbo we ar…

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Ozempic: The science behind this blockbuster drug and its untapped potential 26:00

2M ago26:00

26:00

In December 2017, the FDA approved a new injectable drug to treat type 2 diabetes called semaglutide, which you likely know by its brand name: Ozempic. A few years later, during the pandemic, Wegovy, a drug with a higher dose of the same active ingredient, was approved specifically for chronic weight management. Soon after, people taking Ozempic st…