The unexpected wonders of the cell membrane

We have Erdinç Sezgin with us today, and he is telling us about the wonders of the cell membrane, and how biophysical methods help to understand them from a whole new angle.  Find Erdinç on Twitter https://twitter.com/sciezgin  and his group's website https://www.csi-nano.org

Today we ask the question can viruses get sick? And can you get sick if your aren't even alive? We take a look at giant viruses and their arch nemesis, the virophage. 

On this weeks episode we tackle the really big question of the morality of reproduction. Should we be obligated to have children because of evolution?

This week we are discussing the future of protein production. Is there a hard limit to how many people we can feed on this planet and if yes, are we going to reach it soon? Can we create food from scratch without a dependence on soil? Stay tuned for answers to these and many more questions!

Why can't I turn lead into gold and surely I can drink something to live for ever? Today we talk about alchemy; what it promised, who was practising it and ultimately why did chemistry supersede it. 

This week we are discussing disaster on the highest level. Do we have to prepare for extinction events that would kill all of humanity? And if yes, which ones are the ones we should focus on?

The double helix structure of DNA is probably the most famous biomolecular structure out there. In this episode, we are exploring other structures that our genetic code is forming, and what role they might be playing in the processes of life beyond mere sequencing information. Be prepared to dive into the many shapes of DNA.

Is scientism on the rise? Today we are discussing what exactly we understand under the term scientism, and how it affects the public perception of both scientific findings and the academic community. 

After we had a longer summer break, we're introducing the new season, our slightly modified approach to the podcast and tell the story how we got here. 

In the second part of our transhumanism feature, we look permanent germline modifications. Is anyone allowed to change their share in the human genepool, and do we have a wider responsibility than only our own offspring?