Early Bird Science – Details, episodes & analysis

There is a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel in the U.S. The FDA is starting to grant emergency use authorization to COVID-19 vaccines! Kristen talks about how the current vaccines were developed so quickly without compromising safety.

Abbreviated Reference List*

• COVID-19 Vaccines, FDA, Accessed December 16, 2020
• Ensuring the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States, CDC, Accessed December 16, 2020
• Graphic: Operation Warp Speed Accelerated Vaccine Process, DOD, Accessed December 16, 2020
• Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker: Latest Updates, NYT, Updated December 17, 2020

*To view a full list, please visit https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/24.

Correction

This episode states that Operation Warp Speed is overseen by the US Department of Defense. This statement is true but incomplete. Operation Warp Speed is also overseen in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and other federal agencies and private firms.

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Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

Where do the data stand on mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic? Kristen tackles six myths (start times):

1. Masks don’t work (00:12:41)
2. Masks are unsafe (00:40:48)
3. Masks solve everything (00:52:34)
4. My mask protects only me (00:58:10)
5. Wear a mask only if you’re sick (01:03:35)
6. Mask-wearers are afraid or virtue signaling (01:06:00)

Guidelines on how to properly wear cloth masks begin at 01:09:06.

Abbreviated Reference List*

• How to Protect Yourself & Others, CDC, Updated Oct 28, 2020
• How to Select Masks, CDC, Updated Oct 29, 2020
• Masks overview, WHO, Updated October 20, 2020
• COVID-19: How much protection do face masks offer?, Mayo Clinic, Published Aug 20, 2020
• 5 Questions: Stanford scientists on COVID-19 mask guidelines, Stanford Medicine, Published June 19, 2020

*This is the most thoroughly-researched episode of EBS yet. Please visit earlybirdscience.com/episodes/23 for a full list of references.

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

Kristen discusses mental health during the pandemic. Wash your hands and be well. <3

In the United States, “If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call

• 911
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517)”

References and Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• • Stress and Coping during COVID-19
  • • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
  • Taking Care of Your Emotional Health
  • • https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/selfcare.asp

Related Episode

Coronavirus [Episode 13]: https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/13

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

Yes, Kristen has had a busy couple of weeks and couldn't find time to record an episode of Early Bird Science for this morning.

However, her Headshake co-host Nathan A. Libby has offered to take over the program (with Kristen's blessing, of course) and change the content over from real science to proven NON-science.

Kristen will be back in two weeks with another regular episode of Early Bird Science, but for now, please enjoy some nonsense.

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

Check out Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

The coronavirus-caused disease COVID-19 has the potential to spread to pandemic levels. What are the facts?

References and Resources

• World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
• •  Situation Report Feb 26, 2020: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200226-sitrep-37-covid-19.pdf
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US:
• • Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S. (Updated Feb 26, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html
  • Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary (Accessed Feb 25, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
  • What to Do If You Are Sick With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Accessed February 27, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
• U.S. Influenza (Data Feb 7-15, 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm
• Articles
• • https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-coronavirus-outbreak-your-most-pressing-questions-answered
  • https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/25/health/coronavirus-us-american-cases/index.html
  • https://nypost.com/2020/02/25/fourth-passenger-on-coronavirus-plagued-diamond-princess-cruise-dies/
  • https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/26/809650625/a-guide-how-to-prepare-your-home-for-coronavirus

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):

headshake.show

Disclaimer

Early Bird Science is a podcast meant for entertainment and education only. While Kristen has a doctorate (Ph.D.), she is not a medical doctor. Please consult with your physician before making decisions about your health.

Studying long-term energy expenditure of athletes in sporting events ranging from 0.5 to 140 days long, researchers have calculated the limits of human endurance. Based on this research, it also turns out pregnant women are endurance masters! Kristen’s Headshake co-host Nathan A. Libby pays a visit.

Check out the trailer for the new podcast Headshake, set to premiere February 24!

https://headshake.show/episodes/0

References and Resources

• Article: Ultimate limit of human endurance found
• • https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48527798
• Primary Research: Extreme events reveal an alimentary limit on sustained maximal human energy expenditure
• • https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/6/eaaw0341
• Textbook: Vander’s Human Physiology 13th Edition

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

An ancient meteorite contains the oldest solid material ever found on Earth. Kristen makes an exciting announcement about an upcoming project!

References and Resources

• Article
• • “Meteorite contains the oldest material on Earth: 7-billion-year-old stardust”
  • • https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200113153306.htm
• Primary Literature
• • “Lifetimes of interstellar dust from cosmic ray exposure ages of presolar silicon carbide”
  • • https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/01/07/1904573117

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Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

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The types of muscles you pump up at the gym are just one of three different muscle types in your body. Kristen introduces the muscle types skeletal, cardiac, and smooth, and discusses their differences in appearance, location, control, and contraction. She also explains why calcium is so important for you.

References and Resources

• Textbook: Vander’s Human Physiology 13th Edition
• Calcium info
• • https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/calcium-and-milk/calcium-full-story/
  • https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/

Related Episodes

• EKGs
• • https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/2
  • https://www.earlybirdscience.com/episodes/3

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

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Happy new year 2020!

Steven Gago is the first human guest on Early Bird Science! He is an experienced software and firmware engineer, with a background in electrical and electronic engineering. Oh, yeah, he is also Kristen’s spouse. :-) He joins Kristen for this special, double-length episode to talk about how computers work.

Concepts covered:

1. Steve is NOT a morning person
2. Ancient computers
3. Processors
4. Transistors
5. Logic gates
6. Boolean algebra, 1s and 0s
7. John Von Neumann
8. Fetch-execute cycle
9. RAM
10. Computer “mouses” vs. “mice”
11. Analog vs. digital
12. Quantum computing

References and Resources from Steve

• Documentary on Antikythera Mechanism
  • https://youtu.be/jSQNEPbQOiI
• John Von Neumann
  
  • https://medium.com/cantors-paradise/the-unparalleled-genius-of-john-von-neumann-791bb9f42a2d

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

• Leave questions for Steve in the comments on this episode’s webpage

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

Instagram: @EarlyBirdScience

Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience

Evergreen trees keep their green leaves all year long. What benefits and challenges do they experience as a result? Kristen discusses this topic and wraps up 2019, the Year of the Periodic Table. Happy holidays!

Episode References and Resources

Why do evergreens stay green in the winter?

• Article written by a Biology professor: https://theconversation.com/why-dont-evergreens-change-color-and-drop-their-leaves-every-fall-123744
• Even evergreens take a break from photosynthesis in the winter: “Photoprotective Strategies of Overwintering Evergreens” https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/54/1/41/234579
• How non-evergreen trees lose their leaves in the winter: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/why-do-leaves-fall-off-trees

BONUS LINKS! Happy birthday (sesquicentennial) to the periodic table!

• Periodic Table song: https://youtu.be/rz4Dd1I_fX0
• https://iypt2019.org/
• https://www.rsc.org/iypt/
• • https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table
• http://www.unesco.org/new/en/brasilia/about-this-office/prizes-and-celebrations/2019-international-year-of-the-periodic-table-of-chemical-elements/
• https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/periodictable.html
• https://www.sciencenews.org/article/periodic-table-history-chemical-elements-150-anniversary

Connect - Leave comments, suggest topics, and ask science questions!

Website: earlybirdscience.com

Twitter: @EarlyBirdSci

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Facebook: @EarlyBirdScience