Super Awesome Science Show (SASS)
93 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★ - 15 ratingsOn Season 2 of The Super Awesome Science Show Jason Tetro explores the science behind Pandemics with the help of some of the brightest minds in science today. From vaccines to a potential second Wave of COVID we'll try and help you understand every aspect of what's going on and answer your science questions. Science made simple, that's what we're all about, Now with new episodes every single week.
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Episodes
The miracle of MRNA vaccines
May 17, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutesIt has been a long and painful pandemic but the light at the end of the tunnel is within our sights. While there are many reasons for what will surely be a celebration, there is one one particular medical advancement that has raised all of our spirits and may represent the future for battling disease. It’s the mRNA vaccine. This week, we’re closing out our season on COVID-19 science with a guest we all need to hear. He is Pieter Cullis and he a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and...
COVID-19 Variants - SASS Class
May 10, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on COVID-19 variants. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few and will try to answer them today. We’re back with Earl Brown, a professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa and also a colleague with whom I’ve performed research and published on emerging pathogens such as SARS and avian flu. He has been observing the impact of variants and is ready to answer your questions. Next week is our season fin...
COVID-19 Variants
May 03, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutesOver the course of the pandemic, our vocabulary has gained a specific word that has come to represent great concern and distress in our global community. Variant. In the context of COVID-19, it has meant a resurgence in viral infections, resistance to treatments, and the risk of an ineffective vaccine. This week, we’re going to look at the science behind SARS-CoV-2 variants with Earl Brown. He’s a professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa and also a colleague with whom I’ve performed r...
COVID-19 and wastewater - SASS Class
April 26, 2021 07:00 - 28 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on COVID-19 and wastewater. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few and will try to answer them today. We’re back with Tyson Graber, a research associate at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute. He has been working on the development of wastewater testing and has gained support from the local government who now shares that data with the population. Over the last few months, I ...
COVID-19 and wastewater
April 19, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutesIt may seem like COVID-19 is everywhere and this week, we’re going to find out how we can take advantage of that fact. Research has shown that the virus behind the disease, SARS-CoV-2 can survive in sewage and be identified using a diagnostic test. More importantly, the results of those tests provide an early warning system to communities about the spread of the disease. Our guest this week has been working on the development of wastewater testing and has gained support from the local gover...
The science of Covid-19 Diagnostics - SASS Class
April 12, 2021 07:00 - 23 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on COVID-19 and diagnostic tests. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few and will try to answer them today. Our guest this week has been focused on why we need diagnostic tests for all to get us past this pandemic and to keep us safe and confident even long after. She is Cherie Lynn Ramirez and she is an assistant professor in the Chemistry and Physics Department at Simmons University. She was the Depu...
The science of COVID-19 Diagnostics
April 05, 2021 07:00 - 35 minutesThe old adage of the only thing to fear is fear itself sometimes rings true although in the case of pandemics, it has a different meaning. We should fear the pandemic but in many cases, people tend to fear and rebel against the measures to keep people safe. But there is a way to prevent this from happening in an equitable way. It’s through the use of rapid diagnostic tests. They can help to keep us aware of the location of a pandemic virus, how’s it’s spreading in the community, and how to d...
COVID-19 and Mental (ill) Health Sass Class
March 29, 2021 04:00 - 22 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on COVID-19 and its effects on our healthcare heroines. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few and will try to answer them today. Our guest is Emily Jenkins. Emily Jenkins. She is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia. She is focused on optimizing mental health outcomes for Canadians through collaborative mental health promotion strategies; health services...
COVID-19 and mental (ill) health
March 22, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutesPandemics usually are known for their impact on physical health in the forms of infection. But these worldwide outbreaks also affect mental health both in direct and indirect ways. We spoke about the direct manners earlier this season and this week, we’re taking a look at the indirect ways. Our guest is Emily Jenkins. Emily Jenkins. She is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia. She is focused on optimizing mental health outcomes for Canadians t...
COVID-19 Healthcare Heroines - SASS Class
March 15, 2021 07:00 - 19 minutesIn times of crisis, we look to heroines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they have come in the form of healthcare workers. They have given so much of themselves and we are grateful. Yet, even as we offer our thanks, there continues to be suffering in the form of anxiety, burnout, and depression. This week, we’re going to hear about how COVID-19 is affecting our healthcare heroines with our guest, Abi Sriharan. She is the Program Director for Systems Leadership and Innovation and an Assistant P...
COVID-19 and Healthcare Heroines
March 08, 2021 08:00 - 32 minutesIn times of crisis, we look to heroines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they have come in the form of healthcare workers. They have given so much of themselves and we are grateful. Yet, even as we offer our thanks, there continues to be suffering in the form of anxiety, burnout, and depression. This week, we’re going to hear about how COVID-19 is affecting our healthcare heroines with our guest, Abi Sriharan. She is the Program Director for Systems Leadership and Innovation and an Assistant P...
COVID-19 and the Brain - SASS Class
March 01, 2021 08:00 - 18 minutesSHOW NOTES – COVID-19 AND THE BRAIN - SASS CLASS It’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on COVID-19 and its effects on our brains and nervous system. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few Emails and DMs and we got to so many during this discussion. We again are joined by Mark MacLean. He is a resident in the department of neurosurgery at Dalhousie University. He has been focused on learning more about the ways this virus get into our brai...
COVID-19 and the Brain
February 22, 2021 08:00 - 30 minutesThe brain is one of the most protected parts of the human body. Yet, viruses such as herpes, HIV and now SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, have demonstrated their ability to get into this sacred space. Because the brain controls so many of our normal bodily functions, this invasion can lead to a variety of problems, known as neurological sequelae. This week, we’re exploring what is currently known about the effect of COVID-19 on the brain and the nervous system in general. Our guest is Mar...
The Heartbreak of COVID-19 - SASS class
February 15, 2021 08:00 - 20 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on COVID-19 and heart health. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few Emails and DMs and we got to so many during this discussion. We again are joined by Ian Paterson. He is a Professor in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta. He’s a cardiac researcher who has been working to better understand the effects of COVID-1...
The heartbreak of COVID-19
February 08, 2021 08:00 - 33 minutesAlmost as soon as COVID-19 appeared, one of the most troubling consequences was revealed. The virus, SARS-CoV-2 had an effect on the cardiovascular system, including the heart. Since then, researchers have tried to better understand not only the mechanisms behind this added trouble, but also the risks due to pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Our guest this week is Ian Paterson. He is a Professor in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology of th...
The COVID battle of the sexes - SASS class
February 01, 2021 08:00 - 18 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on COVID-19 and biological sex. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few Emails and DMs about the episode although most of them centred on a few important questions. It shows that when it comes to travel, we all seem to have the same concerns and hopes for the future. Our guest is once again Eileen Scully. She is an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and ha...
The COVID battle of the sexes
January 25, 2021 08:00 - 37 minutesThe determination of biological sex occurs at the genetic level in which one of our 46 chromosomes can either be an X or a Y. But that one variance can lead to countless differences between the two. Now, thanks to COVID-19, we have another as it has become clear XX and XY respond to the virus differently. Last year, Eileen Scully outlined those differences and I’ve asked her to come on the show to share them with us. She is an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University ...
The travelling pandemic - SASS class
January 18, 2021 08:00 - 25 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on travel. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few Emails and DMs about the episode although most of them centred on a few important questions. It shows that when it comes to travel, we all seem to have the same concerns and hopes for the future. Our first guest is once again Ron St. John and he was the Director General of the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Public Health Agency of...
The Travelling Pandemic
January 11, 2021 08:00 - 22 minutesBillions of trips occur yearly by all sorts of vessels including cars, trains, boats, and airplanes. They help humans get from point A to point B quickly and effectively. But travel can also help turn an outbreak into a pandemic. Over the millennia, we’ve seen how human movement and migration can spread an infectious disease across the planet. We have had a few close calls and one was the SARS epidemic in 2003. After the world returned to normal, our guest worked on how to develop early warn...
A conversation with David Suzuki
December 21, 2020 05:00 - 46 minutesAs 2020 comes to a close we’re moving away from COVID-19 for a moment to talk with one of Canada’s greatest treasures, David Suzuki. For almost sixty years, he has been bringing science into our homes on radio and television and has inspired generations of scientists. We talk with him about his history, his motivation for being a science communicator and the lessons he has learned over the years. We also discuss his new adventure, a podcast, that will surely create an impact on anyone who li...
The Science of Grief - SASS Class
December 14, 2020 05:00 - 21 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on grief. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few Emails and DMs about the episode and it seems like many of you are opening up about other areas of science with respect to this pandemic. I’ll be getting to one such question in this show. Our guest is once again, Katherine Shear. She is the Marion E. Kenworthy Professor of Psychiatry in Social Work at the Columbia School of Social Work and the Columbia C...
The Science of Grief
December 07, 2020 05:00 - 30 minutesThere are several unknowns when it comes to a pandemic but there is always one guarantee. People are going to be hurt and many are going to die. When that happens, people are going to grieve. This week, we are going to explore the science of grief with one of the world’s best experts, Katherine Shear. She is the Marion E. Kenworthy Professor of Psychiatry in Social Work at the Columbia School of Social Work and the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. She’s also the founding director...
Victory for Vaccines: Q&A
November 30, 2020 05:00 - 17 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on vaccines. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received quite a few Emails and DMs about the episode although as we saw with airborne spread, most of them centred on a similar theme or topic. Then there was one that seemed to come from everyone - will a vaccine get us back to normal? You’ll definitely want to hear the answer. Our guest is again Peter Hotez, who is the Dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine...
Victory with Vaccines
November 23, 2020 05:00 - 24 minutesThere’s no doubt vaccines have changed our world for the better. We’ve been able to save countless lives from several infectious diseases and managed to eradicate one of the deadliest, smallpox, off the planet. Now people are calling for a vaccine to fight COVID-19 to ensure it is controlled, eliminated and eventually eradicated. For this episode, we reached out to Peter Hotez. He’s spent decades developing vaccines and has been a leader in the COVID vaccine movement. He’s the Dean for the N...
Pandemic Panic Q&A
November 15, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on panic.. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me. We received several questions, many of which were asked more than once. And then there was one that it seems everyone wanted to ask. Our guest is again Mark Honigsbaum at the City University of London, author of the book, “The Pandemic Century: One Hundred Years of Panic, Hysteria and Hubris.” If you didn’t hear your question, make sure to contact me on Twitter, by Email a...
Pandemic Panic
November 09, 2020 05:00 - 32 minutesWhen infections strike, it’s normal for people to be concerned. Depending on the extent of spread within a community, that concern can deepen leading to individual panic and mass hysteria. Whie this is rare for most outbreaks, it is almost guaranteed when large scale epidemics and pandemics occur. This week, we’re going to explore the science behind the panic with Mark Honigsbaum, a Senior Lecturer in Journalism at the City University of London. Last year, he wrote “The Pandemic Century: On...
The Marvels of the Mask: Q&A
November 02, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class, mask edition. Once again, I was thrilled to see so many questions and want to thank everyone who reached out to me on Twitter, by Email, and also at speakpipe.com. This is definitely a controversial topic and I’m glad we’ll be able to discuss this topic further. I have M. Taher Saif with me to help answer those questions. He’s the he Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor at the Grainger College of Engineering at the Universi...
The Marvels of the Mask
October 26, 2020 04:00 - 31 minutesWhen dealing with a respiratory virus like the common cold, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, a mask is without a doubt one of the best ways to protect yourself. But, masks are not perfect. You need to be sure you have enough of them for one. And then you have to make sure they work to protect you. After all, why wear something that is just going to let the droplets in. We’re going to explore how masks work and why homemade masks may be better for you than those medical one...
The Science of COVID - Airborne Spread goes Viral: Q & A
October 19, 2020 04:00 - 12 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class, airborne spread edition. I have to admit, I was taken aback by the questions and want to thank everyone who reached out to me on Twitter, by Email, and also at speakpipe.com. I know this subject is both scary and surprising and appreciate that we need answers. It’s why I have Steven Rogak with me to answer those questions. He’s a mechanical engineering professor at the University of British Columbia and a world expert on the morpholog...
The Science of COVID - Airborne spread goes viral
October 13, 2020 13:59 - 28 minutesWe are back for Season 2 of the Super Awesome Science Show! It’s been a year unlike any other thanks to, COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) and the virus that causes this illness, SARS-CoV-2. We’ve received numerous questions over the course of the year and want to answer as many of them as possible. And this week, we’re going into one of the most confusing and hotly debated topics of this pandemic: how does the virus spread in the air? Our guest for the entire show is Steven Rogak. He is...
The Covid Second Wave: Questions and Answers
October 05, 2020 04:00 - 12 minutesIt’s time for the Super Awesome Science Show SASS Class on the second wave.. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me on Twitter, by Email, and also at speakpipe.com. I know this subject is not only present in our minds but also under much debate. It’s why I have Patrick Saunders-Hastings with me to answer those questions. He is an epidemiologist and risk scientist who teaches at Carleton University. He has expertise in global health, infectious disease epidemiology and emergency prep...
The COVID-19 Second Wave
September 28, 2020 04:00 - 27 minutesWe are back for Season 2 of the Super Awesome Science Show! It’s been a year unlike any other thanks to, COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) and the virus that causes this illness, SARS-CoV-2. We’ve received numerous questions over the course of the year and want to answer as many of them as possible. And this week, we’re going into one of the most troubling issues facing us at this very moment: the second wave. It has been looming ever since the pandemic began but despite the focus on it o...
Season 2 is coming September 28th!
September 23, 2020 19:48 - 2 minutesAfter an awesome first season, we took a well-deserved break. In that time, the world has changed and as much as we want to talk about the science of love, food, and even UFOs, we cannot ignore the massive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. So that’s what we’ll focus at the start of our second season… We’re going to deal with topics that are in the news but maybe need more explanation like what does it really mean that the virus is airborne spread, what is the second wave and we’ll even l...
Introducing WTM: COVID-19 The dos and don’ts of social distancing
March 19, 2020 16:43 - 24 minutesToday, we’re joined by scientist and host of the Super Awesome Science Show Jason Tetro to talk about what we know about how the coronavirus spreads and how to properly practice social distancing. As we’re at the point now where health officials are saying the only way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is through social distancing. But the thing is, in order for us to have any kind of impact and get back to our normal lives, experts are stressing that we have to do it properly. Learn more about...
The Cost of Lead Poisoning
January 28, 2020 05:00 - 34 minutesThis week, we’re going to explore the problems associated with lead exposure and lead poisoning that you may not have heard in the news. We’ll learn about how it impacts intelligence and also may affect the mental health not of just the exposed, but also their children. And in our SASS Class, we’re going to find out why it is so difficult to remove lead from our modern world and how you may still be able to stay safe Twitter: @JATetroEmail: [email protected] Guests: - Gina Muckle - Sidne...
Scatterbrain
January 07, 2020 05:00 - 34 minutesIt’s something that we all encounter. No matter how hard we try, we can’t seem to think straight. Our thoughts get jumbled and before we know it, we’re lost. We tend to call it being scatterbrained and for the most part, that’s considered a bad thing. On this week’s show, we’re going to look at the science behind this apparent flaw in our mental machinery and why it may be good for us when it comes to learning and understanding. Our guest for the entire show is Henning Beck, a neuroscientist,...
How to survive the holidays without going into debt.
December 10, 2019 05:00 - 34 minutesWe tend to go overboard on spending. If we are not careful, our celebrations of December can become a January curse that may last for the rest of the year. This week, we’re going to explore our tendency to spend money and how we can keep ourselves from falling into debt. Our guest for the entire show is Gail Vaz Oxlade, who is one of Canada’s best financial experts. She’s been an author, radio host, and the star of internationally acclaimed television programs such as Til Debt Do Us Part and...
Introducing Issue Zero
November 25, 2019 18:48 - 28 minutesThis week we're introducing you to a new podcast called Issue Zero to answer the questions what makes Aliens and the Xenomorph, so terrifying? and could a scenario like Alien happen here on earth? Taking you on this voyage of discover is your host, not in a parasitic way, Fred Kennedy, and he'll share with you the backstory on the Alien film franchise…and more specifically, its star player…the Xenomorph. He's joined by Johnnie Christmas, who just adapted the original William Gibson screenpla...
The Rise of Zero Emission Vehicles
November 19, 2019 05:00 - 33 minutesThis week, we’re going to look at one of the most revolutionary ideas to improve our planet. It’s called the zero emission vehicle – better known as ZEV – and it may be able to reduce our contribution to air pollution and possibly climate change. Most people may know the name Tesla, which is one of the first truly zero emission vehicles on the market. It runs on batteries like many others that are in the pipeline. But there are other types that exist including an engine that runs on hydrogen...
Cancer - treatment to vaccine
November 12, 2019 05:00 - 34 minutesCancer continues to be one of our greatest health concerns. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, nearly 1 in 2 Canadians will develop one form of cancer in their lifetimes. But treatments are getting better and more lives are being saved thanks to new treatments. On this week’s show, we’re going to take a closer look at three new strategies that may soon lead to cures and also vaccines. Our first guest is one of Canada’s premier cancer researchers, John Bell at the Ottawa Hopsital Resea...
The Benefits of Bilingualism
November 05, 2019 05:00 - 33 minutesWe all have our mother tongue but over forty percent of the world’s population also can speak a second language. Bilingualism is a natural part of many people’s lives and research has tried to explore what this does to the brain and what the benefits happen to be for our lives. On this week’s show, we’re going to learn why having that second language can be good for your life and also your health. Our first guest has been studying bilingualism for decades and is here to help us understand ...
The Science of Fear
October 29, 2019 04:00 - 36 minutesWe all experience fear but few of us understand it. It usually happens when we feel unsafe or threatened. It is both instinctual and learned. And for some, it can take over their lives while for others, it can be a source for excitement. On this week’s show, we’re going to take a closer look at fear and why it's such a strange and fascinating aspect of our existence. Our first guests are studying how fear exists in the brain and how it impacts our lives, They're Jacob Raber and Sydney Weber...
THE SCIENCE OF FEAR
October 29, 2019 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBWe all experience fear but few of us understand it. It usually happens when we feel unsafe or threatened. It is both instinctual and learned. And for some, it can take over their lives while for others, it can be a source for excitement. On this week’s show, we’re going to take a closer look at fear and why it's such a strange and fascinating aspect of our existence. Our first guests are studying how fear exists in the brain and how it impacts our lives, They're Jacob Raber and Sydney Webe...
It's not Science Fiction, it's Synthetic Biology and food
October 22, 2019 04:00 - 36 minutesSynthetic biology was once considered little more than science fiction. But with the rise of genetic engineering and the ability to make living cells in the lab, there is a real potential for this technology to change our lives for the better. Not surprisingly, this has led to much debate about whether we should use it or not. On this week’s show, we discover how “synbio” can help to improve our food security. Our first guest is Lenore Newman and she is the Canada Research Chair in Food Se...
Heroines of Food Security
October 15, 2019 04:00 - 34 minutesFood security is a major concern as our populations increases and our food supply dwindles. Although efforts around the world are focused on trying to sustain our ability to eat, efforts in Africa tend to go unnoticed. This week, we’re going to look at the work being done in various regions across the continent and more importantly, how they are being led by women. Our first guest is Esther Ngumbi, who is originally from Eastern Kenya and is now a professor at the University of Illinois Scho...
Don't Fall For Fake News
October 08, 2019 04:00 - 32 minutesIn a 24/7 news environment, stories sometimes get the facts wrong. But normally, these lapses are not intentional. But recently, there has been an explosion in false, inaccurate, and harmful stories that are made with the sole purpose of convincing the public that a different reality exists. It’s known as fake news and on this week’s show, we’re going to explore its nature, how to diagnose it, and also how not to be fooled by it. Our first guest is Amber Day, a professor at Bryant Unive...
Building Morality
October 01, 2019 04:00 - 31 minutesWe tend to believe that morality is knowing the difference between right and wrong. But it's so much more. It's the basis for how we live, because each of us has a unique sense of morality. This week, we look at how morality is developed in children and how we can ensure they become moral adults. Our guest for the entire episode is Melanie Killen. She's a professor of human development and quantitative methodology and the associate director for the Center for Children, Relationships, and Cul...
The Marvels of Mushrooms
September 24, 2019 04:00 - 33 minutesMushrooms can be a welcome addition to any dish. They offer an earthy flavour as well as a meaty texture to tickle our palates. But while mushrooms are great in cuisine, they also have other uses outside of the kitchen. On this week’s show, we explore some of the scientific uses of these edible fungi and how they may be able improve our lives. For centuries, mushrooms have been regarded as medicines in several cultures. Our first guest is working to merge the modern with the ancient. His nam...
UFOlogy
September 17, 2019 04:00 - 34 minutesHave you ever seen strange lights in the sky? How about odd shaped vessels floating around in the air. If you have and cannot explain its nature, you have seen an unidentified flying object, better known as a UFO. On this week’s show, we’re going to venture into the world that’s working to figure out what these mysterious craft happen to be. It’s known as Ufology. Out guest for the entire episode is Ryan Sprague. He’s one of the prominent members of this community and has shared his view...
What is Bullying?
September 10, 2019 14:32 - 31 minutesOn this week’s show, we’re going to take a serious look at bullying and how we may be able to prevent it. We first talk with Melissa Holt, who is an associate professor in counseling psychology at the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development at Boston University. She has been studying bullying for close to two decades and has revealed that it is far more complex than we might believe. We hear about what fosters bullying and victimization and how a bully-victim relationship can becom...