In this week's episode, we'll be diving into the exciting and complex world of synthetic biology. Join us as we unpack the basics, applications, potentials, and setbacks of this cutting-edge field.

Website & Email:

Website - https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/

Email - letustalkabout@outlook.com

Sources & Credits:

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). "GAO-23-106648: Synthetic Biology: Potential to Revolutionize Parts of the U.S. Economy, but Challenges Remain." https://www.gao.gov/products/. Accessed 15 July 2024.

"Sustainable Bioenergy: Genomics and Biofuels Development." Nature Scitable https://www.nature.com/scitable/. Accessed 15 July 2024.

"Synthetic Biology." National Human Genome Research Institute (.gov). https://www.genome.gov/. Accessed 15 July 2024.

Konstantakos, Vasileios. et al. “CRISPR–Cas9 gRNA Efficiency Prediction: An Overview of Predictive Tools and the Role of Deep Learning.” Nucleic Acids Research, vol. 50, no. 7, 2022, pp. 3616–3629. doi:10.1093/nar/gkac284

Jessup, Cynthia M et al. The Scientist Magazine , Volume 33, Issue 8, August 2019, pp. 22-27.

Naydich, Alexander D et al. “Synthetic Gene Circuits Enable Systems-Level Biosensor Trigger Discovery at the Host-Microbe Interface.” mSystems vol. 4,4 e00125-19. 11 Jun. 2019, doi:10.1128/mSystems.00125-19

Dellomonaco, Clementina, Fabio Fava, and Ramon Gonzalez. "The path to next generation biofuels: successes and challenges in the era of synthetic biology." Microbial Cell Factories 9 (2010): 1-15.

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Background Music (except for the main theme) made by Suno AI

Welcome to this week's episode. Today's discussion focuses on quantum computing – a revolutionary frontier in modern technology. Learn about how it differs from traditional computing, how it all ties back to the complex field of quantum mechanics, and what it could mean for our future.

Check out our website for more content like this and don't forget to check out the host's YouTube channel!

Email us at letustalkabout@outlook.com for any queries.

Sources:

Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications | Nourdine Zettili | https://books.google.ca/

Quantum Computing Explained | David McMahon| https://books.google.ca/

Vedran Dunjko and Hans J Briegel 2018 Rep. Prog. Phys. 81 074001

Raheman F. The Future of Cybersecurity in the Age of Quantum Computers. Future Internet. 2022; 14(11):335. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi14110335

Liu, H., Low, G.H., Steiger, D.S. et al. Prospects of quantum computing for molecular sciences. Mater Theory 6, 11 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41313-021-00039-z

https://www.ibm.com/quantum/qiskit | Qiskit

https://q-ctrl.com/ | Q-Ctrl

Credits:

Background music – Suno

In this episode, we explore the catastrophic impact of floods, taking a closer look at the devastating floods in Kerala, India in 2018, which saw the region receive 457% more rainfall than usual, leading to significant loss of life, injuries and displacement of people. As climate change worsens, these weather patterns are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. The episode delves into different types of floods – from flash floods, urban floods, to coastal floods, stressing the exigent need for effective mitigation strategies. Don't forget to check out our website after listening at: https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ and email us at letustalkabout@outlook.com for any questions or ideas you may have!

Sources:

• https://globalmedic.ca/india-kerala-flood-response-2018/ | Global Medic | India Kerala Flood Response 2018

• https://www.weather.gov/mrx/flood_and_flash | NOAA | Flood and flash flood definitions

• https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2018-480/ | European Geosciences Union | The Kerala flood of 2018: a combined impact of extreme rainfall and reservoir shortage

• https://www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au/Flood-Awareness/SitePages/What%20are%20the%20impacts%20of%20floods.aspx#:~:text=Main%20impacts%20of%20floods,and%20distressing%20for%20communities%20involved | Government of South Australia | Flood Awareness

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-006-9159-6 | Thomas Kleinen, Gerhard Petschel-Held | Integrated assessment of changes in flooding probabilities due to climate change

• https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flooding-and-climate-change-everything-you-need-know#climate | NRDC |Flooding and Climate Change: Everything You Need to Know

• https://aquipor.com/the-tech/ | Aquipor

• https://www.floodprotectionsolutions.co.uk/applications/flood-control/water-gate-flood-barrier/#:~:text=Rapid%20Flood%20Barriers,to%20hold%20the%20water%20back. | flood protection solutions | Water-Gate Flood Barriers

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364815216303449 | JiaqiangXie, Hao Chen, Zhenliang Liao, Xianyong Gu, Dajian Zhu, Jin Zhang | An integrated assessment of urban flooding mitigation strategies for robust decision making

In this special episode of "Let's Talk About," we take a deep dive into the remarkable spectacle of solar eclipses, how they occur, and what you can expect during this rare celestial event. Occurring on April 8th, 2024, North America witnessed an awe-inspiring solar eclipse which prompted a deeper understanding of these unique phenomena.

From the orbital planes of the moon to the splendid display of the sun's corona, we explore various aspects that contribute to the occurrence of both total and partial eclipses.

This episode further delves into the different phases you can anticipate when witnessing a total solar eclipse. From the emergence of the dark moon covering the sun to the appearance of the diamond ring, understanding these phases can enhance your eclipse viewing experience. We move beyond the standard images of an eclipse to shed light on other interesting observations, such as the change in surroundings, the visibility of other planets, and the breathtaking views of simultaneous sunrises and sunsets.

If you're curious about eclipses and want a closer look at the magic they bring, this episode will serve as a comprehensive guide to understanding solar eclipses. Altogether transforming the way we perceive these celestial events, we promise this episode will leave you yearning for your very own total eclipse experience.

For any questions or suggestions related to the podcast, reach out to us at letustalkabout@outlook.com. Meanwhile, make sure to check out our website and listen to all our informative episodes. Have a splendid week!

Welcome to this episode of Let's Talk About where your host delves into a critical topic – drought. In this episode, we unravel the multifaceted aspects of drought including its effects, patterns of occurrence and severity, and potential strategies to mitigate or prevent it, ultimately striving to bolster community resilience.

We begin by analyzing various definitions of drought and its manifestation not just as precipitation deficiency, but a condition leading to a severe water shortage and a spate of adverse health implications. Exploring extensive research, we detail how droughts degrade water quality and the cascading ecological and human impacts they foster.

We then pivot to actionable insights - methods to detect and anticipate droughts. Dive deep into soil moisture mapping using cutting-edge passive microwave sensors or using vegetation stress markers captured through NDVI indexing to foreshadow droughts. However, knowledge without utility is futile, and hence, we transition into investigating effective drought mitigation methods.

From reducing soil evaporation, adopting drought-resistant crops, optimizing irrigation systems to harnessing marginal waters, numerous strategies can equip us against this natural adversity. Importantly, the broader lens is focused on the impending need to combat anthropogenic climate change - a major disruptor of climate balance and a catalyst to extreme weather conditions, including drought.

Lastly, we call to light some global climate observations contemplating how the temperature surge and El Niño-La Niña shift are amplifying drought occurrence. By the end of the episode, you would not only comprehend droughts better but also be equipped with a perspective on how we can deal with this global issue.

Don't forget to follow us, visit our website linked in the description, or drop an email at letustalkabout@outlook.com for enhancing your knowledge reservoir or suggesting discussion topics for subsequent episodes. Stay informed, stay resilient!

The older we get, the weaker we get. We become more vulnerable to diseases, our muscles waste away and our body gets "rusty" like an old car. One way we can combat aging or even reverse it is through longevity tech like stem cell therapy, we could even extend the human lifespan. Unfortunately, as with all technologies there are some ethical complications to consider. Especially with longevity, since it could reengineer society fundamentally. Join us in this week's episode as we talk about longevity and how to make our lives healthier and longer. Contact & Website : letustalkabout@outlook.com - Email https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ - Website Sources :

Elizabeth H. Blackburn et al., Human telomere biology: A contributory and interactive factor in aging, disease risks, and protection. Science 350, 1193-1198 (2015) .DOI: 10.1126/science.aab3389 Huda Adwan-Shekhidem, Gil Atzmon | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B978012811060700005X#preview-section-abstract | Chapter 5 – The Epigenetic Regulation of Telomere Maintenance in Aging

https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780128110607/epigenetics-of-aging-and-longevity | Epigenetics of Aging and Longevity

https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/ | Google English Dictionary

Bodo E. Strauer, Ran Kornowski|https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.0000057525.13182.24 | Stem Cell Therapy in Perspective https://www.ahajournals.org/toc/circ/107/7 | Circulation

https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780124095038/essentials-of-stem-cell-biology | Essentials of Stem Cell Biology | Third Edition

Imagine controlling your phone, from your brain! This is the reality BCIs or Brain-Computer Interfaces will give us. They can be implemented in so many fields and industries, such as healthcare, entertainment and more. Join us in this week's episode as we talk about BCIs Contact Info : letustalkabout@outlook.com https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ Sources :

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3497935/ | NIH | Jerry J. Shih, Dean J. Krusienski, Jonathan R. Wolpaw

Grübler, G., Al-Khodairy, A., Leeb, R. et al. Psychosocial and Ethical Aspects in Non-Invasive EEG-Based BCI Research—A Survey Among BCI Users and BCI Professionals. Neuroethics 7, 29–41 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12152-013-9179-7

https://www.springer.com/journal/12152 | Neuroethics

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/mayo-clinic-proceedings/vol/87/issue/3 | Mayo Clinic Proceedings | Volume 81, Issue 3 | March 2012 https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/mayo-clinic-proceedings/vol/87/issue/3 | ScienceDirect | Brain-Computer Interfaces in Medicine | Jerry J. Shih, Dean J. Krusienski PhD, Jonathan R. Wolpaw

Today, we have a massive population. To feed that ever growing populace, we need to grow a lot of food. Unfortunately, most our current methods of agriculture are not sustainable. One way we could solve this is through insect farming. Sources :

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0096084 | Timothy P. Robinson, G. R. William Wint, Giulia Conchedda, Thomas P. Van Boeckel, Valentina Ercoli, Elisa Palamara, Giuseppina Cinardi, Laura D’Aietti, Simon I. Hay, Marius Gilbert

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/13/5418 | Fabio A. Madau, Brunella Arru, Robert Furesi, Pietro Pulina

Beef emissions : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174015300139

https://www.worldwatercouncil.org/fileadmin/wwc/Programs/Virtual_Water/VirtualWater_Proceedings_IHE.pdf#page=13 | World Water Council

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1466856412001452 | Brigit A. Rumpold, Oliver K. Schüter Contact Info & Website :

Email : letustalkabout@outlook.com

Website : https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/