040: Introducing our new host, Tom Di Liberto!

Today we welcome the newest member of the Blue Streak Science team, Tom Di Liberto! Yes, we now have our very own meteorologist and climate guru! Tom joins us with nearly a decade of research experience in climatology, meteorology, and oceanography. In 2013 he was named America's Scientist Idol at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Seriously, how cool is that?

Tom has been an invited speaker and/or writer at the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang, Climate Desk, 2014 Green Biz Forum and Verge conferences, NAS Science and Entertainment Exchange, Nerd Nite DC, and Thirst DC. To top it all off Tom is a writer for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's climate.gov ENSO and is the sole author of climate.gov's Event Tracker Blog. Wow!

What The Hell Was That?

Congratulations to our host Sophie for nailing the correct answer! Boo-yah! And that answer is...what? You think I'm going to tell you here? Stop it. You're killin' me! No way! You have to listen to the podcast for that!

Blue Streak Science News Roundup

Can Zuckerberg's $3 Billion Plan End All Disease?

On 22 September, from NBCNews.Com we have an article titled “Here’s a Reality Check on Mark Zuckerberg’s $3 Billion Plan to End Disease”.

The article states that the couple have made big headlines with their “Chan Zuckerberg Initiative”, and it seems to take issue with its goal of spending the aforementioned sum over the next 10 years "to cure, prevent, or manage all disease within our children’s lifetime".

However, as Priscilla Chan stated, "That doesn't mean no one will ever get sick...but it means our children and their children should get sick a lot less.

Biological ‘dark matter’ molecule plays surprise role in heart failure

From the Science Blog on 21 September, scientists at UCLA have identified a molecule that looks like it may play key role in the development of heart failure. The molecule is called CHAER. They found that blocking this molecule in animal studies prevents them from developing heart failure.

However, the research is in early days. However, down the road future drugs that target CHAER or related pathways could be used for treating or preventing heart failure. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Medicine.

More than 100 km of liquid water beneath Pluto's surface

More news from New Horizons, the planetary explorer that sailed by pluto in July of 2015. From the Universe Today on 23 September, new research indicates there could be a salty ocean on Pluto more than 100 kilometers thick.

This research looked at Sputnik Planum, a 900 kilometer wide basin. At least part of this basin looks like it was formed by an impact. The researchers examined the impact area and also looked at the dynamics between Pluto and its moon Charon.

They concluded that the rebound from this impact area rebounded and brought up denser material from below. It appears that water, which is denser than ice, welled up from below to even out the impact zone.

The researchers modeled different  scenarios that would best explain Sputnik Planum’s observed size depth, while also producing a the type of crater observed. The best scenario is one of an ocean layer more than 100 kilometers thick, with a salinity of around 30 percent.

False Positive, the science game with the scary name!

Every week I tell our blue streak science team 4 science news items or facts.

Three of these items are true, but one is total crap.

Do you think you have what it takes?

Item 1. Research shows that riding roller coasters can help one pass kidney stones.

Item 2. The so-called 5-second rule has been confirmed to be valid, study shows.

Item 3. Five wild lionesses grow a mane and start acting like males.

Item 4. DNA reveals giraffes are 4 species--not one.

And the answer is? You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out! Better yet, subscribe so you don't miss any episodes.

Oh, and way to go, Sophie! That's two for two today.

What? You think it's easy? You think you can do any better? Not bloody likely!

Shout-outs and Acknowledgments

Blue Streak Science launching a live streaming video show! It’s going to be hosted on Smiletime.com, and it’s called Science Cafe’.

The best part is that I’m being joined from Brussels, Belgium by our wonderful live streaming host Nevena Hristozova!

We’re going to do these Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Bring your hot cup of coffee or your beverage of choice. After all, it’s after 5pm somewhere, right?

We’ll talk about the latest science and even play the What The Hell Was That Game.

So come join us in the chat on 3 October!

This episode of Blue Streak Science Podcast comes to you from Santa Rosa, California; Cambridge, England; Sydney, Australia, and Washington, D.C.