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cover of episode Tickling in review, spores in the stratosphere, and longevity research

Tickling in review, spores in the stratosphere, and longevity research

2025/5/29
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Science Magazine Podcast
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Konstantina Kilteni
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Megan Cantwell
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Michael Greshko
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Michael Greshko: 我将与大家分享三个与太空相关的故事，首先是关于在平流层发现真菌孢子的研究。研究人员利用气象气球搭载小型设备，以低成本的方式采集平流层中的真菌孢子，并成功培养出多种真菌。这项研究不仅证实了孢子可以在平流层的恶劣条件下生存，也为系统性探索平流层生物群开创了新途径。接下来，我们将讨论系外行星K2-18b上潜在的生命迹象。通过观测行星凌星时星光穿过其大气层的变化，研究人员推测K2-18b可能是一个存在活跃生命迹象的海洋世界。然而，这一推测也面临着诸多质疑，例如二甲基硫醚并非只能由生命产生，且数据可能不够强。最后，我们将探讨一项新的分析，该分析表明来自中国的星表可能已有2400年的历史。然而，确定星表的确切年代非常困难，因为这些记录在历史上传承、汇编和与其他作品结合。通过计算星表中坐标与现代坐标的差异，研究人员发现其中一半数据可能来自公元前一世纪，另一半来自石申生活的公元前四世纪。但这种通过星图推断年代的方法也存在争议，因为古代使用的仪器可能存在偏差。 Megan Cantwell: 本期播客将探讨空间相关的故事、理解挠痒的科学以及死亡科学书籍系列的第一本。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter discusses the surprising discovery of fungal spores in the stratosphere and the innovative, low-cost method used to collect samples using weather balloons and petroleum jelly-coated matchsticks. The viability of some collected spores highlights the potential for atmospheric transport of fungal pathogens.
  • Fungal spores found in the stratosphere
  • Cost-effective sampling method using weather balloons
  • Viability of some spores confirmed in lab cultures
  • Potential for atmospheric transport of fungal pathogens

Shownotes Transcript

First up on the podcast, Online News Editor Michael Greshko joins host Sarah Crespi to talk about stories set high above our heads. They discuss capturing fungal spores) high in the stratosphere, the debate over signs of life) on the exoplanet K2-18b, and a Chinese contender for world’s oldest star catalog).

 

Next on the show, a look into long-standing questions on why and how our bodies respond to tickling. Producer Meagan Cantwell talks to Konstantina Kilteni), an assistant professor at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Department of Neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute. They discuss how standardizing approaches to testing tickling) in the lab could get us closer to answers.

 

Finally in this episode, the first in our book series on the science of death, with books host Angela Saini. Saini interviews Nobel Prize–winning biologist Venki Ramakrishnan) about developments in longevity research and his book Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality).

 

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy).

 

About the *Science *Podcast)

Authors: Sarah Crespi, Angela Saini, Michael Greshko, Meagan Cantwell

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