Why COVID-19 Vaccine Development Is Fast AND Safe
Early Bird Science
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.
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Busting Six Mask Myths
Early Bird Science
Where do the data stand on masks during the COVID-19 pandemic? Kristen tackles six myths:
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Misinformation
Early Bird Science
Welcome to Season 2! Kristen gets real about why a summer break was necessary, and also talks about what to expect this season. This extra-long episode provides a framework to empower you to minimize consumption and spread of misinformation.
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Summer Break 2020
Early Bird Science
Early Bird Science is taking a break for the rest of the summer. Thank you for listening!
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Robots Made of Frog Cells & An Exclusive Sneak Peak of an Important Upcoming Episode
Early Bird Science
The creation of tiny, bio-based robots called xenobots could spark a future of biodegradable, self-replicating, self-repairing ‘bots. Stick around to the end of the episode for a sneak peak of the next Headshake episode with a very special guest!
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Friendship Bracelets for Glacier Mice
Early Bird Science
Glacier mice are rare fuzzy little green balls that mysteriously move in herds atop some of the world’s glaciers. They are not mammals, but they are kind of cute and may be important parts of glacial ecosystems. Researchers are learning more about them.
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Why Coffee Makes You Pee
Early Bird Science
Most of us have experienced nature’s call shortly after having a cup of coffee. Why does that happen? Kristen talks about the kidneys and how water and caffeine affect them.
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How Does the Internet Work? With Steven Gago
Early Bird Science
Kristen and her software engineer spouse Steve Gago have been “safer at home” for weeks, so they decided to record an episode together while trying to stay sane. Steve is back on the show to talk about how the Internet works!
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GIANT FLYING REPTILES
Early Bird Science
PTEROSAURS! Commonly known as pterodactyls, the most massive flyers in the fossil record could inform modern biomimetic aerospace engineering.
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Ice on Mercury?!
Early Bird Science
Surprisingly, Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, which can reach daytime temperatures of 430 degrees C (about 800 degrees F), has ice! Kristen discusses research describing a newly-discovered mechanism for water formation and freezing on Mercury.
info_outlineThe 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
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- 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:
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- 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
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- 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
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Check out Kristen’s other show, Headshake, a stream-of-consciousness science podcast (EXPLICIT CONTENT):
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.