Upulie Divisekera joins me for the third episode in the Spring Series 2020. She’s a molecular biologist, nanotechnologist, science communicator, and dinosaur evangelist.
We talk about many things including pterosaurs, the potential for life on Venus, Jupiter, why biology is better than physics, government messaging re the coronavirus, the causes of supposed journalist Chris Uhlmann, Donald Trump, boneless chicken wings, Elon Musk, cultural Marxism, curry, racism, and an annoyance of economists.
This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, JioSaavn, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Speaker.
You can also listen to the podcast below, or subscribe to the generic podcast feed.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:48 — 82.6MB)
Upulie was previously on the Public House Forum 4 episode four years ago.
Thank you, Media Freedom Citizenry
The 9pm Edict is supported by the generosity of its listeners. Please subscribe for special benefits or throw a few coins into the tip jar. Please consider.
This episode it’s thanks to Ben A, Bob Ogden, David Bruce, Jason Anderson, Jim Campbell, Keith Duddy, Nicole Coombe, and one person who wishes to remain anonymous.
Episode Links
-
Upulie Pabasarie Divisekera is an Australian molecular biologist and science communicator, and is the co-founder of Real Scientists, an outreach program that uses performance and writing to communicate science.
-
A coronavirus vaccine is the best chance the world has of returning to some kind of normal, but the stalling of one of the most viable candidates last week was a reminder that nothing is guaranteed. Today, Karen Middleton on the Australian government’s plans and the likelihood of a vaccine in 2021.
-
Sweden “ripped the band aid off” with coronavirus and now the entire country is getting on with life after recording a tiny proportion of positive tests indicating “they’ve hit herd immunity,” according to Sky News host James Morrow.
-
Trump just said the virus will go away because of “herd mentality”
-
In summary, after a tree falls down it first becomes dry and then transforms into dynamite.
-
"It'll start getting cooler, you just watch." - President Trump. "I wish science agreed with you" - CA Natural Resources Secretary. "I don't think science knows actually."- President Trump. #NBC7.
-
Everything you need to know about the exciting announcement that phosphine has been detected in the atmosphere of Venus. Let's start off with the 60 second overview. #Venus #VenusNews
-
Science fiction has long imagined alien worlds inhabited by silicon-based life, such as the rock-eating Horta from the original Star Trek series. Now, scientists have for the first time shown that nature can evolve to incorporate silicon into carbon-based molecules, the building blocks of life on Earth.
-
Pterosaurs (/?t?r?s??r, ?t?ro?-/; from Greek pteron and sauros, meaning "wing lizard") were flying reptiles of the extinct clade or order Pterosauria. They existed during most of the Mesozoic: from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (228 to 66 million years ago).
-
Hatzegopteryx ("Ha?eg basin wing") is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur found in the late Maastrichtian deposits of the Densu? Ciula Formation, an outcropping in Transylvania, Romania. Additional specimens, including a neck vertebra, were later placed in the genus, representing a range of sizes. The largest of these remains indicate it was among the biggest pterosaurs, with an estimated wingspan of 10 to 12 metres (33 to 39 ft).
-
The Van's RV-6 and RV-6A are two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplanes sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. Wingspan: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m).
-
Christopher Gerald Uhlmann (born 24 June 1960) is an Australian journalist and television presenter.
-
Soon enough there will be a global reckoning on whether the coronavirus defences did more damage than the disease. It will be driven by the swingeing economic destruction imposed by governments that will deliver millions into poverty, driving internal and external conflicts. Beggared states will turn inward, the world will become more polarised, angrier, more dangerous.
-
Chris Uhlmann compares the 1918 Spanish Flu deaths with those caused by COVID-19 (''Pandemic panic a road map to ruin'', September 16). On this basis alone he claims COVID "is nowhere near as deadly". How coronavirus eventually compares to the Spanish Flu remains to be seen and the mitigating actions of government and a sensible population will affect this number. He goes on to the repulsive notions that as a nation we are "comfortable with authoritarianism" and we have "revelled in the servitude". No, wrong. Australians, and other sensible populations, understand that the greater good requires sacrifices. Our everyday democratic, civil, lawful society is based on this principle.
-
An idée fixe is a preoccupation of mind believed to be firmly resistant to any attempt to modify it, a fixation.
-
Cultural Marxism is a far-right antisemitic conspiracy theory, which identifies Western Marxism as the basis of a continuing academic and intellectual movement to undermine and destroy Western culture and values
-
The tale varies in the telling, but the theory of cultural Marxism is integral to the fantasy life of the contemporary right. It depends on a crazy-mirror history, which glancingly reflects things that really happened, only to distort them in the most bizarre ways.
-
Billionare entrepreneur presented animal during a live-stream event to recruit workers for his neuroscience startup.
-
Cool research tool? Definitely. A way to remotely control a computer or a prosthetic? Sure. But reading minds and storing memories? Not so fast.
-
Upulie Divisekera, an Australian molecular biologist, cancer researcher and nanotechnologist, responded with a tweet saying, "With all due respect, this is pathetic."
-
The result has caused a significant increase in notifications for Divisekera, from Elon Musk fans debating with her over nanotechnology.
-
The Geek Code, developed in 1993, is a series of letters and symbols used by self-described "geeks" to inform fellow geeks about their personality, appearance, interests, skills, and opinions. The idea is that everything that makes a geek individual can be encoded in a compact format which only other geeks can read. This is deemed to be efficient in some sufficiently geeky manner.
-
Tesla Inc boss Elon Musk emerged victorious on Friday from a closely watched defamation trial as a federal court jury swiftly rejected the $190 million claim brought against him by a British cave explorer who Musk had branded a “pedo guy” on Twitter.
-
Elon Reeve Musk FRS (/?i?l?n/; born June 28, 1971) is a business magnate, industrial designer, engineer, and philanthropist. He is the founder, CEO, CTO and chief designer of SpaceX; early investor, CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; founder of The Boring Company; co-founder of Neuralink; and co-founder and initial co-chairman of OpenAI.
-
Photosynthesis involves manipulation of quantum physics to generate energy. Butterflies diffract light through nanostructures to create iridescence. Porpoises can direct sonar beams through anatomy. The verdict is in. Biology > Physics
-
(2017) PORPOISES have the combination of acoustic controls built into their heads to thank for their ability to focus a directed beam of sonar on prey. The bone, air and tissues in their skulls behave like a metamaterial, a material designed to defy the normal laws of physics. These sea mammals can convert non-directional sound waves into a narrow laser of sound.
-
Real science from real scientists, writers, communicators, artists & clinicians.
-
Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac OM FRS[9] (/d??ræk/; 8 August 1902 – 20 October 1984) was an English theoretical physicist who is regarded as one of the most significant physicists of the 20th century.
-
A clip from the Lincoln City Council, Nebraska, in which a concerned citizen expresses his concern about boneless chicken wings.
-
When in San Francisco, all you have to do is "follow your nose" and it will lead you to one of The-City-By-The-Bay's most unique and entertaining dining experiences... The Stinking Rose: A Garlic Restaurant.
-
Known for his love for Indian curry, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spent his Saturday evening cooking an Indian delicacy Lamb Rhapsody from Rajasthan.
If the links aren’t showing up, try here.
Series Credits
- The 9pm Edict theme by mansardian via The Freesound Project.
- Edict fanfare by neonaeon, via The Freesound Project.
- Elephant Stamp theme by Joshua Mehlman.