Six Degrees of Rumination

Episode 22: 5/21/14: Running around like chickens with their heads cut off...virtually.

Chickens are now taking advantage of virtual reality!  Yes, you read that right.  In an ingenious political move, the inventor of the VR chicken helmets creates a stir around the issue: can we afford to return animals to free-range lives?  

Moving onto current trends, some gamers have begun using trans-cranial direct stimulation, basically with a non FDA approved device that electrically zaps their brains, to better focus and improve their performance.  The question is, what are the long term effects?  These devices may also increase the user's likelihood to lucid dream.  Reno and Nina of course launch into a dialogue on lucid dreaming, trying to convince producer Mike that the experience is worth it.  They both, of course, experience cognitive dissonance.

An Atlanta based video game company called "Moneyhorse" is now developing "Glorious Leader!" which is a pixelated gaming experience featuring a two-dimensional Kim Jong-un attacking various things in America.  He first rides atop a flaming unicorn, then atop a dolphin, to better complete his epic rampage.

Ever wondered if different tears have different molecular structures?  They do.  And the visuals are surprising...

Finally, Nina tells a story of witnessing littering, and how Mary Poppins inspired her to handle it.

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/these-virtual-reality-headsets-make-farmed-chickens-believe-they-roam-free

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fn.pr%2F1mYeWbV&h=kAQF00Nrg

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fn.pr%2F1j2HWvl&h=kAQF00Nrg 

https://news.vice.com/article/glorious-leader-the-video-game-is-coming-soon 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=767455116628313&id=210238862349944 

http://www.policymic.com/articles/89363/science-shows-how-drummers-brains-are-actually-different-from-everybody-elses

Episode 21: 4/30/14: Maximizing Stiffness

Have you ever wanted to draw RIGHT INTO THE AIR?  Now you can, with a kickstarter product dubbed "the smallest 3D printing pen in the world."  It uses moldable plastic instead of ink, and creates 3D lines with every stroke you make.  Nina's on board, especially since Reno figured out how to "erase" mistakes you might make when drawing your 3D model.  Should you want to hang up your 3D creations when you're finished, maybe you can use "geckskin," a product that uses gecko-inspired characteristics to "maximize stiffness" and adhesion.  

Also discussed are cloaked DNA nanodevices, lasers that create rainstorms, whether or not myelin is an insulator or aides in improved connections.  And for all our scientists/mathematicians out there, our final article explains what happens chemically in your brain when you fall in love.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lix3d/lix-the-smallest-3d-printing-pen-in-the-world/description

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/3d-printed-cast-speeds-bone-recovery-using-ultrasound

http://www.kurzweilai.net/cloaked-dna-nanodevices

http://www.kurzweilai.net/gecko-like-adhesives-now-work-on-real-world-surfaces

http://www.kurzweilai.net/laser-could-trigger-rain-and-lightning

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/climbing-plant-ultimate-master-disguise

http://www.kurzweilai.net/less-myelin-found-in-neocortex-the-future-of-the-brain

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fn.pr%2FPudu5v&h=2AQGBRBiM

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fn.pr%2F1h2fF7Y&h=2AQGBRBiM 

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/25/301824760/what-happens-to-our-brain-when-we-re-in-love?sc=tw 

Episode 20: 4/16/14: With guest podcaster Annie Armanino

Jokes aside, the fact that science can grow new vaginas for disease afflicted young women is pretty amazing. 

Jokes not aside, beware of video game controllers that look like bizarre sex toys.  

 Join Reno, Nina, producer Mike, and guest podcaster Annie Armanino as they navigate through over an hour of science, psychology, technology, and miscellaneous articles.  Spoiler alert: puns abound. 

Scientists have found life on tilted exoplanets, certain hospitals open their doors to mummies after hours so they can CT scan their remains, and a new moon has been discovered orbiting Saturn.  Also, children's brains form memories much earlier than you might think, and what's the deal with that 19th century clothed mathematician?

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/laboratory-grown-vaginas-succesfully-transplanted-patients

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/10/301467163/a-peek-beneath-a-mummys-wrappers-powered-by-ct-scanners?sc=tw 

http://phys.org/news/2014-04-nasa-unprecedented-twin.html

http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-cosmic-web-unveiled-observing-dim-matter-in-3d

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-112

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2014/apr/24/pivoting-exoplanets-could-harbour-life 

http://www.kurzweilai.net/a-video-game-controller-that-can-sense-players-emotions 

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/39647/title/Telomeres-Show-Signs-of-Early-Life-Stress/ 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/14040815610.htm

http://www.cracked.com/article_19042_6-terrifying-ways-crows-are-smarter-than-you-think_p2.html

http://www.kurzweilai.net/navy-researchers-demonstrate-flight-powered-by-fuel-created-from-seawater 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/the two-way/2014/04/12/302344054/in-australia-a-minute-of-silence-is-sold-to-help-vets?sc=twhttp://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/08/299189442/the-forgotten-childhood-why-early-memories-fade?sc=tw   

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140408213358.htmhttp://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/09/300991364/gut-eating-amoeba-caught-on-film?sc=tw

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/12/301809660/making-math-and-microscopes-more-accessible?sc=tw

Episode 19: 4/9/14: Vanilla comes from Beavers

Have a listen to discover a few things you didn't know, and probably didn't want to know, about animals.  Spoiler alert, you might not view beavers and whales the same way again.  And, another spoiler alert, Reno still has the hots for dolphins.  

If you fear robots may take over the world, you could be right: but first, they're getting better at Pacman.  Perhaps making an invisibility cloak out of nano materials will save you...

Next time you're on a date, whether it's with someone brand new or a spouse of several years, see if he or she yawns when you do.  It could change your whole perspective on your relationship.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/03/26/293406191/does-beaver-tush-flavor-your-strawberry-shortcake-we-go-myth-busting?sc=17&f=1001

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2014/04/03/298778615/the-power-of-poop-a-whale-story?sc=17&f=1001

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129624.300-dolphin-whistle-instantly-translated-by-computer.html#.UzQ4O3lUOdx 

http://www.kurzweilai.net/virtual-robots-teach-each-other-pac-man-and-starcraft-video-games 

http://www.kurzweilai.net/how-to-create-a-large-area-visible-light-invisibility-cloak

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2014/03/25/294222535/you-yawn-she-doesn-t-yawn-back-uh-oh?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=npr&utm_campaign=nprnews&utm_content=03032014

http://m.939myfm.com/articles/workday-watercooler-421220/dad-designs-special-shoes-for-paralyzed-12223800

http://www.kurzweilai.net/nanoparticles-that-cause-cancer-cells-to-self-destruct

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/03/27/295260600/custom-chromo-first-yeast-chromosome-built-from-scratch?sc=17&f=1001

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78971408/

http://nationalreport.net/kansas-black-cosmos-show-controversies/

(http://www.snopes.com/politics/satire/cosmos.asp)

Episode 18: 3/26/14 If society doesn't collapse, here are a few things you might want to know...

Learn why our society is going down like the Roman Empire, what to do if you don't like your wife's mitochondria, how water drops can run uphill, and why people's eyes are even more important than you think.

http://www.iflscience.com/environment/according-nasa-funded-study-were-pretty-much-screwed


http://www.iflscience.com/environment/what-do-when-youre-dead-science-edition

http://www.kurzweilai.net/are-three-person-designer-babies-ethical

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/03/17/289042381/doctors-use-3-d-printing-to-help-a-baby-breathe?sc=17&f=1019

http://bit.ly/1gvM3yr

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/narwhals-tusks-act-sensors


http://www.kurzweilai.net/introducing-project-morpheus


http://mobile.theverge.com/2014/3/25/5547456/facebook-buying-oculus-for-2-billion


http://www.kurzweilai.net/electric-thinking-cap-controls-learning-speed


http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/03/24/what-women-want-on-the-dance-floor-according-to-science/


http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2013/10/03/i-know-how-youre-feeling-i-read-chekhov/

ep18

Episode 17: 3/12/14 The Science of Segues....not Segways.

Reno, Nina, and producer Michael discuss everything from orca rights to the funniest joke in the world. Science continues to fight its way back into mainstream culture with a children's story book about evolution already gaining $25K in backing money on kickstarter.com, with Neil deGrasse Tyson hosting Cosmos and boldly defending scientific thinking in a CNN interview, and NASA is awarding cash prizes to anyone who can improve existing algorithms to track asteroids more effectively.  

Yes, science seems to be getting better and better at re-energizing a sometimes apathetic public.  

Then again, entropy isn't what it used to be.

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F03%2F07%2Fus%2Fcalifornia-bill-orca-killer-whale-seaworld%2F&h=xAQHpa6AF

http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2014/03/10/288656421/evolution-is-coming-to-a-storybook-near-you

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-79557637/

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/09/neil-degrasse-tyson-tells-cnn-stop-giving-equal-time-to-the-flat-earthers/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/03/11/289019265/nasa-offers-35-000-for-help-in-tracking-asteroids

http://www.kurzweilai.net/a-telescope-bigger-than-a-galaxy

http://www.npr.org/2014/03/07/283441986/what-s-it-like-to-hear-color

http://www.kurzweilai.net/robotic-prosthesis-turns-drummer-into-a-three-armed-cyborg

http://www.livescience.com/33673-tree-rings-sound-record-player.html 

http://www.npr.org/2014/03/07/283452215/how-do-you-construct-a-voice 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2014/03/07/287250640/what-is-the-funniest-joke-in-the-world 

http://www.tickld.com/x/20-jokes-that-only-intellectuals-will-understand 

Episode 16: 3/5/14 Don't look a chicken in the eye

Reno finds a living Barbie who can teach us Breatharianism, producer Michael finds a new program that allows people to read a novel in 90 minutes, and Nina tries to explain disordered hyper-uniformity...but then chaos ensues.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/03/02/human-barbie-valeria-lukyanova-going-to-live-on-air-and-light-only-4373394/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/02/27/283071610/u-s-lets-141-trillion-calories-of-food-go-to-waste-each-yearutm_medium=facebook&utm_source=npr&utm_campaign=nprnews&utm_content=02272014

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140227092149.htm 

http://www.kurzweilai.net/can-space-elevators-really-work

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/03/14/spritz-speed-reading

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/chicken-eye-weird-state-of-matter_n_4854897.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/26/283090357/integrating-yoga-into-medical-practice-its-more-than-just-relaxation-response?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=npr&utm_campaign=nprnews&utm_content=02272014

http://www.kurzweilai.net/are-you-ready-for-the-internet-of-cops

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/business/20140308/8-reasons-you-should-be-proud-to-sleep-on-the-job

Episode 15: 2/19/14 You don't know what you've got 'til it's Egon

This episode is dedicated to Harold Ramis.

Reno and Nina try to convince producer Michael that technology is ALWAYS amazing--whether you're eating peanuts at 30,000 feet or waving an infrared light to fight enemies on a screen.  Studies on fruit fly neurons show that dendrites in the brain can regrow, thus combating effects from a stroke or brain injuries.  Are we slowly advancing toward becoming a race of cyborgs?  Natural sounding electronic speech devices, super strong muscles made of tightly wound fishing line, and stretchable optic circuits that allow for robotic skin say yes.

Good thing dogs' brains are equipped to respond to human emotions.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2014/02/25/282516865/everythings-amazing-and-nobodys-happy?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=npr&utm_campaign=nprnews&utm_content=02252014

http://news.psu.edu/story/299739/2014/01/10/research/researchers-find-new-pathway-neuron-repair

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/25/280708234/for-those-unable-to-talk-a-machine-that-speaks-their-voice

http://www.kurzweilai.net/a-light-switch-for-pain

http://www.kurzweilai.net/brain-signals-from-a-primate-directly-move-paralyzed-limbs-in-another-primate-avatar

http://www.kurzweilai.net/researchers-create-powerful-muscles-from-fishing-line-sewing-thread

http://www.kurzweilai.net/stretchable-bendable-optical-interconnections-for-body-sensors-and-robotic-skin 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/monica-reinagel-ms-ldn-cns/azodicarbonamide-subway_b_4770189.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/20/280200455/tiny-iron-particles-help-find-cancer-without-using-risky-radiation 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/21/280640267/how-dogs-read-our-moods-emotion-detector-found-in-fidos-brain

Episode 14: 2/12/14 Wait, DOES the sun go around the Earth?

Reno and Nina see if producer Mike is smarter than 1 in 4 Americans, Reno speculates what the universe was like before the Big Bang, and Nina checks her freezer for anti-biotic-riddled chicken while Reno compares the cost of salad and fast food.  Not surprisingly, pesticides are linked to neuro-developmental learning disabilities in children.  A new "ultra-precise" method to filter water is discovered.  Have dreams of natural disasters and saving the day?  You're most likely a man....and if you'd rather give people chili than chocolate, you most likely would choose to play Voldemort in a video game. 

***Reno has yet to read the Harry Potter series.  Attack his Facebook page now.***

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/14/277058739/1-in-4-americans-think-the-sun-goes-around-the-earth-survey-says

http://www.npr.org/2014/02/16/277882084/scientists-discover-universes-oldest-star

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/02/14/276976353/americans-want-antibiotic-free-chicken-and-the-industry-is-listening 

http://www.kurzweilai.net/growing-number-of-chemicals-linked-with-brain-disorders-in-children 

http://www.kurzweilai.net/new-multilayer-graphene-structure-allows-ultraprecise-ultrafast-water-filtering

http://www.npr.org/2014/02/19/279709447/bluish-light-may-help-alzheimers-patients-find-bearings 

http://www.kurzweilai.net/your-virtual-avatar-can-impact-your-real-world-behavior-researchers-suggest

http://www.npr.org/2014/02/16/277882132/floods-or-family-conflict-bad-dreams-differ-by-gender 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/04/271648691/watch-the-creationism-vs-evolution-debate-bill-nye-and-ken-ham

Episode 13: 2/5/14 Pluripotency, Chimerism, and Robots drinking beer

How many puns can Reno and Nina make about eggs?  Well, they egg each other on constantly, so a lot.  But if you want to learn about chimerism, you must make it through all of them!  If you suspect you're pooping wrong, you're probably right.  If this embarrasses you, chances are you feel that embarrassment in your face, like much of the world.   Also discussed is how most cells could gain the ability to morph into cells for any part of the body, when the autistic brain is creating the most information, how an e-tongue works, and how close we are to a Star Trek world.

http://guardianlv.com/2014/01/pregnancy-no-proof-of-motherhood-woman-was-her-own-twin-and-the-twin-was-the-mother-of-her-children/

http://thekitchenrag.com/2013/11/youre-pooping-wrong.html

http://www.kurzweilai.net/bodily-maps-of-emotions

http://www.kurzweilai.net/stress-turns-ordinary-cells-pluripotent

http://www.kurzweilai.net/do-autistic-brains-create-more-information-at-rest-or-do-they-have-weaker-connectivity-or-both

http://www.kurzweilai.net/electronic-tongue-identifies-brands-of-beer-with-81-9-accuracy

http://www.kurzweilai.net/the-first-flexible-transparent-and-conductive-material

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/31/269216980/scientists-come-close-to-finding-true-magnetic-monopole 

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/12/scientists-in-california-make-landmark-advance-towards-unlimited-fusion-energy/

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/31/269216966/whats-the-problem-with-feeling-on-top-of-the-world