Level Up Human

Simon and Rach consider listener suggestions for human body improvements. This week, adjustable digestive tracts, floral farts, and retractable testicles. In the news Elon Musk’s baby: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52557291 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52557291] Ocean warming: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2242786-a-japanese-nuclear-power-plant-created-a-habitat-for-tropical-fish/ [https://www.newscientist.com/article/2242786-a-japanese-nuclear-power-plant-created-a-habitat-for-tropical-fish/] Golden tongue: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52683468 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52683468] Wound healing blue-green algae: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2243352-wound-healing-patch-of-blue-green-algae-mends-skin-quickly/ [https://www.newscientist.com/article/2243352-wound-healing-patch-of-blue-green-algae-mends-skin-quickly/] Listener suggestions @TraceyH100 [https://twitter.com/TraceyH100] - retractable breasts and testicles @KJames_IntBio [https://twitter.com/KJames_IntBio] - a pause button for the digestive tract @sheencr [https://twitter.com/sheencr] - floral farts Check out… In mice twitter account: https://twitter.com/justsaysinmice [https://twitter.com/justsaysinmice] Kangaroos penis and testicles the other way round: https://grist.org/animals/kangaroo-genitals-are-weirder-than-you-ever-thought-possible-2/ [https://grist.org/animals/kangaroo-genitals-are-weirder-than-you-ever-thought-possible-2/] Face lice with no anuses: https://www.livescience.com/65533-your-face-mites-never-poop.html [https://www.livescience.com/65533-your-face-mites-never-poop.html] Miracle berry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synsepalum_dulcificum [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synsepalum_dulcificum] Clare Jonas’s blog article: https://www.thatthinkingfeeling.co.uk/blog/smell-language-difficult-to-describe [https://www.thatthinkingfeeling.co.uk/blog/smell-language-difficult-to-describe] Does it fart?: https://amzn.to/2TkflxU [https://amzn.to/2TkflxU] Support us If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman [https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman] Leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285] …and join our newsletter: http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch [http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch] Follow us Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leveluphuman [http://www.twitter.com/leveluphuman] Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/leveluphuman [http://www.facebook.com/leveluphuman] Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leveluphuman [http://www.instagram.com/leveluphuman] Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman [http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman]. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.

S2E12: Level Up Human is a podcast on a mission to redesign the human body. Simon [https://twitter.com/simondwatt]andRach [https://twitter.com/RachelWheeley]chat to biologist and science YouTuber Sally Le Page [http://sallylepage.co.uk/]and science communicator James Piercy [https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/brain-injury-and-me/james-piercy/]. We discuss periods, expanding skulls and a rebooted ear. In the news Female female aggression in fruit flies: https://bit.ly/LUHfruitflies [https://bit.ly/LUHfruitflies] The new kilogram: physicsworld.com/a/new-definition-of-the-kilogram-comes-into-force/ [http://physicsworld.com/a/new-definition-of-the-kilogram-comes-into-force/] Robots powered by the spines of rats: https://bit.ly/LUHRatSpines [https://bit.ly/LUHRatSpines] The pitches Sally wants selective ovulation, James wants a skull flap. There’s a suggestion from the audience for One Massive Ear and Simon is borrowing from the opossums which could hold the key to saving snakebite victims. Mentioned this episode Dragons’ Den: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92] Lesbian lizard colonies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_whiptail [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_whiptail] Parthenogenesis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis] Decompressive craniectomy: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319755 [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319755] Fontanelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontanelle [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontanelle] Barn owl hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SI73-Ka51E [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SI73-Ka51E] Opossum’s natural immunity to snake venom: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150323-opossums-snakes-snakebites-venom-health-world-science/ [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150323-opossums-snakes-snakebites-venom-health-world-science/] Stay In for Towel Day:https://www.savetherhino.org/get-involved/events/stay-in-for-towel-day-2020/ [https://www.savetherhino.org/get-involved/events/stay-in-for-towel-day-2020/] Support us If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman [https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman] Leave us an iTunes review:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285] …or join our newsletter:http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch [http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch] With thanks to thePhysiological Society [https://www.physoc.org/]. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman [http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman]. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.

Simon and Rach consider regeneration. Humans are pretty rubbish at it. Some lizards, newts and salamanders are INCREDIBLE at it. How do we get it, and would we really want to? Check out… The Shining: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/] THAT tweet: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256239815256797184 [https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256239815256797184] Bee sniffing tech: https://phys.org/news/2010-03-bee-sniffing-technology-dangerous-vapors.html [https://phys.org/news/2010-03-bee-sniffing-technology-dangerous-vapors.html] FaceTime some Japanese eels: https://www.businessinsider.com/video-call-eels-tokyo-aquarium-so-they-dont-forget-people-2020-5?r=US&IR=T [https://www.businessinsider.com/video-call-eels-tokyo-aquarium-so-they-dont-forget-people-2020-5?r=US&IR=T] Zoo animals are lonely in lockdown: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52493750 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52493750] T1000 – Liquid Metal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8h8d2XLWKY [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8h8d2XLWKY] Teratoma: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratoma [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratoma] Planarian worm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planarian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planarian] Combination of master and mistress is: Mastress. No, I don’t have a link for that. Support us It would make Rach so happy if you would support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman [https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman] Give us a high-five with a 5* review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285] Join our newsletter to get all our news first: http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch [http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch] Follow us Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leveluphuman [http://www.twitter.com/leveluphuman] Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/leveluphuman [http://www.facebook.com/leveluphuman] Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/leveluphuman [http://www.instagram.com/leveluphuman] Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman [http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman]. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.

S2E11: Level Up Human is a podcast on a mission to redesign the human body. This week, Simon [https://twitter.com/simondwatt] and Rach [https://twitter.com/RachelWheeley] chat to naturalist and broadcasterSteve Backshall [http://www.stevebackshall.com/]and visual perception scientistKate Storrs [https://www.katestorrs.com/]. We discuss enhanced vision, limb regeneration, gecko hands, super kidneys and re-breathing. Extended show notes including edited transcripts are available here [https://levelup-human.squarespace.com/episodes/2020/5/2/level-up-human-steve-backshall-vs-kate-storrs]. In the news Kate is tickled and baffled by a news story about Microsoft Steve's news story is entitled, 'Venomous Frogs use Heads as Weapons.' Rach's levelled up human is Bertolt Meyer, who has hacked his prosthetic hand to hook it up to his synth. The pitches Steve wants to borrow the abilities of the Iberian sharp-ribbed newt, a type of salamander which can regenerate limbs and organs. Kate thinks the human body should be able to see the polarisation of light Plus pitches from our audience and Mother Nature herself 🌱 Mentioned this episode Microsoft's new patent:https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a32318654/microsoft-brainwaves-mine-cryptocurrency [https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a32318654/microsoft-brainwaves-mine-cryptocurrency] Venomous frogs use heads as weapons:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280753150_Venomous_Frogs_Use_Heads_as_Weapons [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280753150_Venomous_Frogs_Use_Heads_as_Weapons] Bertolt Meyer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSKBtEBRWi4 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSKBtEBRWi4] 'Scuba-diving' lizard, Anolis aquaticus:https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-03/bu-lc032019.php [https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-03/bu-lc032019.php] Steve's Home Schooling (9.30am, Wednesdays):https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-URP49TgSgyIU1rgh2m7A/videos [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-URP49TgSgyIU1rgh2m7A/videos] The Mirror Trap:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mirror-trap-online-tickets-104125171190 [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mirror-trap-online-tickets-104125171190] Stay In for Towel Day:https://www.savetherhino.org/get-involved/events/stay-in-for-towel-day-2020/ [https://www.savetherhino.org/get-involved/events/stay-in-for-towel-day-2020/] Support us If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman [https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman] Leave us an iTunes review:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285] …or join our newsletter:http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch [http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch] With thanks to the Physiological Society [https://www.physoc.org/]. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman [http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman]. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode summary Simon and Rachel take a detailed look at flight. Why can’t we fly, how could we achieve it, and wouldn't it be exhausting? An edited transcript is available here [https://levelup-human.squarespace.com/episodes/2020/4/28/level-up-human-extra-flight]. Mentioned this episode Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, the most attractive man in the world, according to Simon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZhCCu-2gbw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZhCCu-2gbw] Starlink: https://www.starlink.com/ [https://www.starlink.com/] Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy] The incredible, gliding Hoatzin – the Johnny Rotten of the bird world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87_shPJxdns [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87_shPJxdns] Barotrauma: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barotrauma [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barotrauma] Pentadactyl limb: https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/pentadactyl-limb [https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/pentadactyl-limb] Support us If you're enjoying the podcast, you can support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman [https://www.patreon.com/leveluphuman] Leave us an iTunes review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/level-up-human/id1096637285] …or join our newsletter: http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch [http://www.leveluphuman.com/keep-in-touch] Follow us Twitter: twitter.com/leveluphuman [http:] Facebook: facebook.com/leveluphuman [http:] Instagram: instagram.com/leveluphuman [http:] Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman [http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman]. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.