<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>A cruise ship, a rare virus, and a big question: when you hear “hantavirus outbreak,” what’s the real risk and what’s just scary headlines? We start by unpacking the MV Hondius hantavirus story, why hantaviruses can be so dangerous, and how infections usually happen through rodent exposure in dusty enclosed spaces. We also talk through what public health officials look for during an outbreak, including long incubation windows, fast testing, and why person-to-person transmission is typically very limited. Next, we shift into pet science and stress. We break down a meta-analysis on whether the presence of dogs reduces human stress responses during stressful tasks. We focus on what the data actually supports: heart rate reactivity and self-reported stress and anxiety show clearer benefits, while cortisol and blood pressure results are less consistent. If you care about therapy dogs, animal-assisted interventions, or just why your dog feels like a walking exhale, this section gives you a grounded, evidence-based take. Then we have a fun curveball guest: Matt Koff, an Emmy-winning writer for The Daily Show and the comedian behind the new YouTube special Cat Man (not for children). We talk comedy writing as a collaborative process, what it feels like to chase a bigger laugh, and Matt’s very real cat stories, including pica, vet bills, and the weird stigma people still attach to men who love cats. <a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM0HsAzDQjg&amp;t=2121s'>Matt&apos;s Comedy Special </a><a href='https://mattkoff.substack.com/'>Matt&apos;s Substack</a><a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>Our links</a><a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community">Support the show</a>For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness! Being Kind is a Superpower.<a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A cruise ship, a rare virus, and a big question: when you hear “hantavirus outbreak,” what’s the real risk and what’s just scary headlines? We start by unpacking the MV Hondius hantavirus story, why hantaviruses can be so dangerous, and how infections usually happen through rodent exposure in dusty enclosed spaces. We also talk through what public health officials look for during an outbreak, including long incubation windows, fast testing, and why person-to-person transmission is typically very limited.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Next, we shift into pet science and stress. We break down a meta-analysis on whether the presence of dogs reduces human stress responses during stressful tasks. We focus on what the data actually supports: heart rate reactivity and self-reported stress and anxiety show clearer benefits, while cortisol and blood pressure results are less consistent. If you care about therapy dogs, animal-assisted interventions, or just why your dog feels like a walking exhale, this section gives you a grounded, evidence-based take.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Then we have a fun curveball guest: Matt Koff, an Emmy-winning writer for The Daily Show and the comedian behind the new YouTube special Cat Man (not for children). We talk comedy writing as a collaborative process, what it feels like to chase a bigger laugh, and Matt’s very real cat stories, including pica, vet bills, and the weird stigma people still attach to men who love cats. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM0HsAzDQjg&amp;amp;t=2121s'&gt;Matt&amp;apos;s Comedy Special &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://mattkoff.substack.com/'&gt;Matt&amp;apos;s Substack&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;Our links&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!&lt;br/&gt;Being Kind is a Superpower.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail A cruise ship, a rare virus, and a big question: when you hear “hantavirus outbreak,” what’s the real risk and what’s just scary headlines? We start by unpacking the MV Hondius hantavirus story, why hantaviruses can be so dangerous, and how infections usually happen through rodent exposure in dusty enclosed spaces. We also talk through what public health officials look for during an outbreak, including long incubation windows, fast testing, and why person-to-person transmissi...

Season 8 Episode 8: Hantavirus High Seas, Pets for Stress, and Comedian Matt Koff the Catman

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>A rare autoimmune disorder can feel invisible until it steals someone’s movement, and stiff person syndrome is one of the starkest examples. We break down what’s happening in the nervous system when GABA-driven “calm down” signals get disrupted by autoantibodies, why symptoms can escalate into severe spasms and rigidity, and why the condition has captured public attention through Celine Dion’s story. Then we shift from symptoms to source: an experimental CAR T-cell therapy designed to eliminate the B cells that produce the harmful antibodies in stiff person syndrome. We walk through what a phase two clinical trial reported, including real-world changes like faster walking and fewer people needing walking aids, plus the caveats that matter for anyone following medical research such as side effects, small sample sizes, and unknown durability. Pet parents get a deep dive too. Chronic kidney disease in cats is common, progressive, and often detected late, so we cover a promising approach involving AIM protein and recombinant AIM therapy (RAIM) injections, including how researchers tracked toxins like indoxyl sulfate and what survival outcomes looked like over a year. Finally, plant scientist Dr. Vikram Baliga joins us to make botany feel urgent and strange in the best way, from ancient bristlecone pine “time capsules” to crown shyness and the science of how plants sense nearby competitors, plus a glimpse at nitrogen-fixing corn research that could reduce fertilizer dependence. <a href='https://linktr.ee/theplantprof?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnzRGFbMMoO1cHwTm7m1e7MUshgenMR9bw205_dpfHhj_vGKLcJtfnU7JfgGo_aem_z4KWz_c6g1ie7DkSTDB-WA'> Dr. Vikram&apos;s links</a><a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a> <a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community">Support the show</a>For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness! Being Kind is a Superpower.<a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A rare autoimmune disorder can feel invisible until it steals someone’s movement, and stiff person syndrome is one of the starkest examples. We break down what’s happening in the nervous system when GABA-driven “calm down” signals get disrupted by autoantibodies, why symptoms can escalate into severe spasms and rigidity, and why the condition has captured public attention through Celine Dion’s story.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Then we shift from symptoms to source: an experimental CAR T-cell therapy designed to eliminate the B cells that produce the harmful antibodies in stiff person syndrome. We walk through what a phase two clinical trial reported, including real-world changes like faster walking and fewer people needing walking aids, plus the caveats that matter for anyone following medical research such as side effects, small sample sizes, and unknown durability.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Pet parents get a deep dive too. Chronic kidney disease in cats is common, progressive, and often detected late, so we cover a promising approach involving AIM protein and recombinant AIM therapy (RAIM) injections, including how researchers tracked toxins like indoxyl sulfate and what survival outcomes looked like over a year. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Finally, plant scientist Dr. Vikram Baliga joins us to make botany feel urgent and strange in the best way, from ancient bristlecone pine “time capsules” to crown shyness and the science of how plants sense nearby competitors, plus a glimpse at nitrogen-fixing corn research that could reduce fertilizer dependence.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;a href='https://linktr.ee/theplantprof?utm_source=ig&amp;amp;utm_medium=social&amp;amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnzRGFbMMoO1cHwTm7m1e7MUshgenMR9bw205_dpfHhj_vGKLcJtfnU7JfgGo_aem_z4KWz_c6g1ie7DkSTDB-WA'&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Dr. Vikram&amp;apos;s links&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!&lt;br/&gt;Being Kind is a Superpower.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail A rare autoimmune disorder can feel invisible until it steals someone’s movement, and stiff person syndrome is one of the starkest examples. We break down what’s happening in the nervous system when GABA-driven “calm down” signals get disrupted by autoantibodies, why symptoms can escalate into severe spasms and rigidity, and why the condition has captured public attention through Celine Dion’s story.  Then we shift from symptoms to source: an experimental CAR T-cell therapy d...

Season 8 Episode 7: Stiff Person Syndrome, Cat's Kidneys and Dr. Vikram Baliga on the Wonder of Plants!

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>AI chatbots are everywhere now, and the real problem is not cheating or convenience. It is what happens to your brain when a tool offers a confident answer before you have wrestled with the evidence. We break down a fascinating study on generative AI and critical thinking that puts people in a city council scenario, forces a decision under time pressure, and tests how early versus late AI access changes argument quality, memory, and bias. The takeaway is practical for students, teachers, and anyone writing for work: timing matters, and “think first, then ask AI” is a stronger strategy than outsourcing the whole frame. Then we shift into pet science with a topic that hits right as spring arrives: flea and tick medication for dogs and cats. These antiparasitic drugs are effective, but new research suggests residues of common ingredients like isoxazoline can persist and enter the environment through pet waste. That raises uncomfortable questions about non-target insects, nutrient cycling, and the tradeoff between protecting our pets and protecting ecosystem health. Finally, volcanologist Dr. Sam Mitchell joins us for an Ask an Expert that moves from Antarctica to the ocean floor, where most of Earth’s volcanic activity actually happens. We talk seafloor basalt, subduction zones, disaster movies worth watching, and the geology behind Olympic curling stones made from granite sourced on a tiny Scottish island. If you like science communication that connects daily life to big systems, this one is for you. <a href='https://linktr.ee/smitchell_science'>Dr. Mitchell&apos;s Links</a>Our Links<a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a><a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community">Support the show</a>For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness! Being Kind is a Superpower.<a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;AI chatbots are everywhere now, and the real problem is not cheating or convenience. It is what happens to your brain when a tool offers a confident answer before you have wrestled with the evidence. We break down a fascinating study on generative AI and critical thinking that puts people in a city council scenario, forces a decision under time pressure, and tests how early versus late AI access changes argument quality, memory, and bias. The takeaway is practical for students, teachers, and anyone writing for work: timing matters, and “think first, then ask AI” is a stronger strategy than outsourcing the whole frame.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Then we shift into pet science with a topic that hits right as spring arrives: flea and tick medication for dogs and cats. These antiparasitic drugs are effective, but new research suggests residues of common ingredients like isoxazoline can persist and enter the environment through pet waste. That raises uncomfortable questions about non-target insects, nutrient cycling, and the tradeoff between protecting our pets and protecting ecosystem health.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Finally, volcanologist Dr. Sam Mitchell joins us for an Ask an Expert that moves from Antarctica to the ocean floor, where most of Earth’s volcanic activity actually happens. We talk seafloor basalt, subduction zones, disaster movies worth watching, and the geology behind Olympic curling stones made from granite sourced on a tiny Scottish island. If you like science communication that connects daily life to big systems, this one is for you. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://linktr.ee/smitchell_science'&gt;Dr. Mitchell&amp;apos;s Links&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our Links&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!&lt;br/&gt;Being Kind is a Superpower.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail AI chatbots are everywhere now, and the real problem is not cheating or convenience. It is what happens to your brain when a tool offers a confident answer before you have wrestled with the evidence. We break down a fascinating study on generative AI and critical thinking that puts people in a city council scenario, forces a decision under time pressure, and tests how early versus late AI access changes argument quality, memory, and bias. The takeaway is practical for student...

Season 8 Episode 6: A.I. Issues, Tick Meds, and Dr. Mitchell on Volcanoes 

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>The most convincing health claims are the ones that feel personal, and few topics are as personal as medical cannabis for mental health. We take on a huge Lancet meta-analysis that pulled together 54 trials and thousands of participants to ask a simple question: does medical cannabis actually help anxiety, depression, and PTSD more than placebo? The answer is uncomfortable, especially given how common “medical marijuana for mental health” has become, and we walk through what the evidence says, where the risks may be, and why this can lead to hard but necessary conversations between patients and doctors.  Then we shift to pet science based on listener requests and break down diabetes in dogs in plain language. We cover what canine diabetes mellitus is, what causes it, which dog breeds may be higher risk, and the classic symptoms owners report like increased thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, and weight loss. We also flag diabetic ketoacidosis as an emergency, explain how diagnosis works through blood and urine testing, and outline what treatment often looks like with insulin, diet, exercise, and routine vet checkups.  If you learn something, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more science and pet lovers can find the show. Our Links<a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a><a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community">Support the show</a>For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness! Being Kind is a Superpower.<a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The most convincing health claims are the ones that feel personal, and few topics are as personal as medical cannabis for mental health. We take on a huge Lancet meta-analysis that pulled together 54 trials and thousands of participants to ask a simple question: does medical cannabis actually help anxiety, depression, and PTSD more than placebo? The answer is uncomfortable, especially given how common “medical marijuana for mental health” has become, and we walk through what the evidence says, where the risks may be, and why this can lead to hard but necessary conversations between patients and doctors. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Then we shift to pet science based on listener requests and break down diabetes in dogs in plain language. We cover what canine diabetes mellitus is, what causes it, which dog breeds may be higher risk, and the classic symptoms owners report like increased thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, and weight loss. We also flag diabetic ketoacidosis as an emergency, explain how diagnosis works through blood and urine testing, and outline what treatment often looks like with insulin, diet, exercise, and routine vet checkups. &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you learn something, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more science and pet lovers can find the show.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our Links&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!&lt;br/&gt;Being Kind is a Superpower.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail The most convincing health claims are the ones that feel personal, and few topics are as personal as medical cannabis for mental health. We take on a huge Lancet meta-analysis that pulled together 54 trials and thousands of participants to ask a simple question: does medical cannabis actually help anxiety, depression, and PTSD more than placebo? The answer is uncomfortable, especially given how common “medical marijuana for mental health” has become, and we walk through what ...

Season 8 Episode 5: Medical Cannabis Falls Short and Dog Diabetes

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>Seventy thousand digits of pi is impressive, but the number that stuck with us is much scarier: about one in four high school students now reports sleeping five hours or less. We dig into the latest teen sleep deprivation data, what it means for learning, mental health, and emotional regulation, and why “just go to bed earlier” ignores adolescent circadian rhythm biology. When melatonin shifts later during puberty, early school start times can become a daily clash between the clock and the teen brain. From there we head outdoors for pet science, exploring dog sledding and mushing through a surprising lens. A survey-based study from the Czech Republic frames mushing as a human-dog partnership shaped by empathy, ecology, and even spirituality. We connect those ideas to the Iditarod, its roots in the 1925 serum run, the extreme athletic demands placed on sled dogs, and the real ethical questions that come with a dangerous sport people feel deeply about. Our Ask An Expert guest is Dr. Alex Dainis, a geneticist and science communicator who makes biochemistry unforgettable by taste testing amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. We talk sweet glycine, candy-like lysine, sulfur-packed cysteine, and why showing the process of science matters as much as the results. Alex also shares how ACS Reactions builds curiosity by running experiments where nobody knows the outcome at the start, plus her strongest argument for using honest uncertainty in science communication. If you like science news, practical context, and a few weird facts you’ll repeat to your friends, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a fellow science lover, and leave a review telling us what topic you want us to tackle next.Dr. Alex Dainis&apos; LinksTwitter <a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXBMSUw5dnBkbE5DdGpIVHJ0WmdFS2ZUN3NGQXxBQ3Jtc0ttZGFmZmdXaGQ3QVdfMlNuclJQTkxMUGUxOWpKSmt4b0xVYl83VFZjcDR0MjFjd3VpSks2OFQyczZZQWRNa2owVjdidS1kTU01d1dXVUU2TUdwNXJidGJqXzN6NXd3Q0tPcVVTdmk1WjFpX2hEZGNLRQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FAlexDainis'>twitter.com/AlexDainis</a> Instagram <a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFVqckJfQVF4WGR2NzU0R09RVmkzM3lvX041d3xBQ3Jtc0tuQ2tBQWV4NjN2NWxyY3JvcUpKRlNBbDZhcEd3OEVrQTlhYU9SdVF6aVJIOUxrcXBBdG0weVBQVHB6MVJXQ01ZdGV1cmRXdVJ1V1Jib21CaTdpLTJxakIzTkZyNEs1NWNHc0pjR0FzQTUySzhpVmk1UQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Falex.dainis%2F'>instagram.com/alex.dainis</a> Patreon <a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmRRRnhKZU9kd1p1aTBlckttM0V0SzZZc2ZHZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttNU02aG9DV2xVc3I3SE1ndE5HRF96TlVUVUY1SEN2MVNudnN5RVo3TlBDemJWNENGTmlyZnRnMXJHZjljYjRURUtCemhVc0pXaS1IZWJGMjU3VEpuVHc4TGlxM0dsLVRwaFVkT1FUV3BFOXRkSl9iWQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2FAlexDainis'>patreon.com/AlexDainis</a> TikTok <a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbi1VV0ZGU1NrbWc3R1RKOFZJUS16a3JuR3dyQXxBQ3Jtc0ttOWp5LXFpa0JseG5UaWJYRldBbmQ3UGlnOXZ0ajFmcFBMWGNheEE3NDA5Y1EwbVRwcC03ZGdJbnh6QVZwODdRbG1sdG5ZdEFYS3V4Z3pjZDRiLU45LVdJLUZOM1FjUkw2VUNXTXU2dk1FXzZTMXRLZw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40alexdainis%3Flang%3Den'>tiktok.com/@alexdainis?lang=en</a> Our Links<a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a><a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community">Support the show</a>For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness! Being Kind is a Superpower.<a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'>All our social links are here!</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/413041/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Seventy thousand digits of pi is impressive, but the number that stuck with us is much scarier: about one in four high school students now reports sleeping five hours or less. We dig into the latest teen sleep deprivation data, what it means for learning, mental health, and emotional regulation, and why “just go to bed earlier” ignores adolescent circadian rhythm biology. When melatonin shifts later during puberty, early school start times can become a daily clash between the clock and the teen brain.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;From there we head outdoors for pet science, exploring dog sledding and mushing through a surprising lens. A survey-based study from the Czech Republic frames mushing as a human-dog partnership shaped by empathy, ecology, and even spirituality. We connect those ideas to the Iditarod, its roots in the 1925 serum run, the extreme athletic demands placed on sled dogs, and the real ethical questions that come with a dangerous sport people feel deeply about.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Our Ask An Expert guest is Dr. Alex Dainis, a geneticist and science communicator who makes biochemistry unforgettable by taste testing amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. We talk sweet glycine, candy-like lysine, sulfur-packed cysteine, and why showing the process of science matters as much as the results. Alex also shares how ACS Reactions builds curiosity by running experiments where nobody knows the outcome at the start, plus her strongest argument for using honest uncertainty in science communication.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you like science news, practical context, and a few weird facts you’ll repeat to your friends, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a fellow science lover, and leave a review telling us what topic you want us to tackle next.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dr. Alex Dainis&amp;apos; Links&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Twitter&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXBMSUw5dnBkbE5DdGpIVHJ0WmdFS2ZUN3NGQXxBQ3Jtc0ttZGFmZmdXaGQ3QVdfMlNuclJQTkxMUGUxOWpKSmt4b0xVYl83VFZjcDR0MjFjd3VpSks2OFQyczZZQWRNa2owVjdidS1kTU01d1dXVUU2TUdwNXJidGJqXzN6NXd3Q0tPcVVTdmk1WjFpX2hEZGNLRQ&amp;amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FAlexDainis'&gt;twitter.com/AlexDainis&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFVqckJfQVF4WGR2NzU0R09RVmkzM3lvX041d3xBQ3Jtc0tuQ2tBQWV4NjN2NWxyY3JvcUpKRlNBbDZhcEd3OEVrQTlhYU9SdVF6aVJIOUxrcXBBdG0weVBQVHB6MVJXQ01ZdGV1cmRXdVJ1V1Jib21CaTdpLTJxakIzTkZyNEs1NWNHc0pjR0FzQTUySzhpVmk1UQ&amp;amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Falex.dainis%2F'&gt;instagram.com/alex.dainis&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Patreon&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmRRRnhKZU9kd1p1aTBlckttM0V0SzZZc2ZHZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttNU02aG9DV2xVc3I3SE1ndE5HRF96TlVUVUY1SEN2MVNudnN5RVo3TlBDemJWNENGTmlyZnRnMXJHZjljYjRURUtCemhVc0pXaS1IZWJGMjU3VEpuVHc4TGlxM0dsLVRwaFVkT1FUV3BFOXRkSl9iWQ&amp;amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2FAlexDainis'&gt;patreon.com/AlexDainis&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;TikTok&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&amp;amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbi1VV0ZGU1NrbWc3R1RKOFZJUS16a3JuR3dyQXxBQ3Jtc0ttOWp5LXFpa0JseG5UaWJYRldBbmQ3UGlnOXZ0ajFmcFBMWGNheEE3NDA5Y1EwbVRwcC03ZGdJbnh6QVZwODdRbG1sdG5ZdEFYS3V4Z3pjZDRiLU45LVdJLUZOM1FjUkw2VUNXTXU2dk1FXzZTMXRLZw&amp;amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40alexdainis%3Flang%3Den'&gt;tiktok.com/@alexdainis?lang=en&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our Links&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://bunsenbernerbmd.com/pages/paw-pack-plus-community"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Science, Empathy, and Cuteness!&lt;br/&gt;Being Kind is a Superpower.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://the-paw-pack.circle.so/paw-pack-plus-1321'&gt;All our social links are here!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail Seventy thousand digits of pi is impressive, but the number that stuck with us is much scarier: about one in four high school students now reports sleeping five hours or less. We dig into the latest teen sleep deprivation data, what it means for learning, mental health, and emotional regulation, and why “just go to bed earlier” ignores adolescent circadian rhythm biology. When melatonin shifts later during puberty, early school start times can become a daily clash between the...

Season 8 Episode 4: Teen Sleep, Mushing Dogs, and Dr. Alex Dainis on Tasting Every Single Amino Acid

The Science Pawdcast breaks down the latest science happening in the human world AND the pet world.&nbsp; Each episode will also bring you a guest to enthral you with their area of knowledge. You'll learn, be captivated, and laugh along with host Jason Zackowski.&nbsp; Pets and Science, it's the pawfect mix.&nbsp; You'll also get episodes of PetChat which are the live shows from social audio.&nbsp; PetChat is a live community gathering updates about the animals in our life, but also the animals in the wonderful community that supports us! Heart and Hope.Science and Shenanigans.&nbsp;

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