The Science and Cocktails Podcast

Polarization is spreading through the world wide web in the political arenas as well as in the rest of society.  But is polarization a new thing or is it embedded in human nature as a part of a primitive survival instinct?  When does polarization become a problem and what can we do to decrease the polarization forces embedded in social media platforms.   This episode of the Science and Cocktails Podcast is about social pollination in the society today and before, how social media is contributing to increasing polarization, and to enlighten us, we have Chris Bail, professor at University of Duke and the director of the Polarization lab, who gave an Amazing talk at Science and Cocktails in Copenhagen.

The secrets of the mind have been investigated at all times, by most people and in most scientific disciplines from philosophy, social science and psychiatry to biology, chemistry and physics. What is it that makes us who we are? And how does the mind change as we learn and develop through life?  This episode of the Science and Cocktails Podcast is a guided tour through the brain following synapse, axon and dendrites, when caching the physical traits of learning and memories in a content so dence of connections, that it takes years to go through just a few millimeters.   Our Tourguide is the neuroscientist-superstar, Jeff Lichtman. He will take us through the mind, walking through every single connection between the neurons. He will show us what the brain actually looks like and how it stores information. And He will tell us about  what makes the human brain so special that it is now taking evolution into its own hands, by changing the DNA of living organisms and preparing to leave to other planets.  A Science and Cocktails production funded by The Lundbeck Foundation Contributing Scientist;Jeff Lichtman, Professor in neurobiology at Harvard university.  Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Møller

Coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean but are home to 25% of the ocean's species. Unfortunately, nowadays the corals are bleaching. This is because the corals, due to rising sea temperatures, have to expel the tiny algae that live in their outer tissues, which give them their brilliant colors and make their food. When the algae are expelled, the corals turn pale, and sooner or later they die of starvation. This episode of Science and Cocktails Podcast is a sad love story about the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems experiencing the spiral of destruction. And to tell this sad story, we have the great protector of coral reefs, Callum Roberts, who fell in love with coral reefs at first sight and has devoted his life to protecting them. He will take us to some of the most beautiful places on earth and tell us about his lifelong love, coral reefs. He will warn of their downfall and urge politicians to act now. The podcast is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cast: Callum Roberts, Professor of marine conservation, at the University of Exeter (UK), Chief Advisor to the BLUE Marine Foundation and the Maldives Coral Institute. He was a scientific advisor for the BBC's Blue Planet 2 series, and therefore there will appear small parts from the series in this podcast. Journalist and producer; Sofie Hjorth Music composer; Hjalte Bested Hjorth

A while ago Simon Baron-Cohen filled up the big concert hall at the Danish National Broadcasting Corporation with curious and excited Science and Cocktails participants when he gave his talk on How Autime Drives Human Invention. And after the talk, there were more than a hundred questions from the audience.  We picked out some of them and met Simon Baron-Cohen on zoom on Friday afternoon. This podcast is basically Simen Baron-Cohen answering those questions. So it is a contribution to the very interesting talk he gave in Copenhagen. And If you were not there you can watch the whole talk on Science and Cocktails Youtube Channel.  Contributing Scientist: Simon Baron-Cohen Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composer; Hjalte Bested Hjorth 

A Science and Cocktails production funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation. Contributing Scientists;  - Stine Lomberg, Associate Professor and leader of Center for Tracking and Society at the Institute of Communications at The University of Copenhagen.  - Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, Associate Professor at Imperial College of London. Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composer; Hjalte Bested Hjorth 

A Science and Cocktails production funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation. Contributing Scientist; Adrian Raine, Professor of Criminology, Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.  Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Hjorth 

A Science and Cocktails production funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation. Contributing Scientist; Dan Zahavi,  professor of philosophy and director of the Center for Subjectivity Research at the University of Copenhagen. Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Hjorth and Sofie Hjorth

A Science and Cocktails production Funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation Contributing Scientist; Ea Høg Utoft, Postdoc at the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University.  Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composer; Hjalte Bested Møller

The rainforest is a unique ecosystem in a delicate balance. If a larger part of the forest is destroyed the balance will be tipped resolving the whole forest area to turn into a savanna because the ecosystem won’t be able to cycle all the water it needs. The whole ecosystem will collapse.  Global deforestation has been an issue of public concern for more than 50 years. Still, the primary forest areas are decreasing every year.  Not only are the primary forests storing enormous amounts of CO2, but they are also the homes of 80% of all species of plants and animals. Many of them being in great danger of extinction. It is estimated that  4000-6000 rainforest species go extinct every year.  This Episode of the Science and Cocktails Podcast will take a look at the global picture of deforestation and reforestation and zoom into what drives deforestation and how it can be stopped. Contributing scientist; Thilde Bech Bruun, Associate Professor and Rasmus Fensholt, Professor at Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management at University of Copenhagen,   A Science and Cocktails production funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composer; Hjalte Bested Møller, Tromleorketret

The Greenland Ice Sheet is melting much faster than predicted due to several amplifying processes. Jason Box has seen the environmental changes with his own eyes as he has been investigating the Greenland Ice Sheet for decades. In this episode, he will tell us about how bad it is and what needs to be done to slow down the acceleration of climate disasters. Contributing scientist; Jason Box, Professor in glaciology and renowned expert in the Greenland ice sheet and climate change A Science and Cocktails production funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Møller   

The Birth Control Pill has liberated women by making it possible to control when to have children. But using the pill is not without a prize, for many, who experience several side effects to its use. Recently scientific studies have shown that using the pill, and other kinds of hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of depression, doubles the suicide rate and change the serotonin receptors related to feelings of joy and satisfaction, as well as changing the level of the love hormone, Oxytocin and the stress hormone, Cortisol.  Meet the scientists behind and get to know all about it, in this episode of The Science and Cocktails Podcast. A Science and Cocktails production. Funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation Contributing Scientists:  Vibe Frøkjær, Associate Professor, MD, at Dept. Neurology and Neurobiology Research Unit at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet  Charlotte Wessel Skovlund, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet Michael Winterdahl, Associate Professor in Neuroimaging at Arhus University Hospital  Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Møller and Sofie Hjorth

CRISPR is an adaptive immune system found in a bacterium and archaea, which is now used as a tool for human genome modification. And technology is developing fast. This episode is about what CRISPR is, how it can be used, and what ethical dilemmas are involved. And how CRISPR is more than a tool for genetic engineering, it is a tool for understanding the interaction between the bacteria and viruses in our gut, our immune system and maybe even our behaviour. The potential of science is full of hopes and dreams, dangers and fears. A Science and Cocktails production funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation Contributing scientists; Roger Antony Garrett, Professor emeritus in Functional Genomics at the University of Copenhagen. Guillermo Montoya, Research director and Professor at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research at University of Copenhagen Xu Peng, Associate Professor in Functional Genomics at University of Copenhagen Shiraz Shah, Senior Scientist at Gentofte Hospital Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Møller 

The development of Quantum Computers is moving and it is moving fast. Charles Marcus is one of the scientists pushing things forwards and holding the strings. He is telling us that this is a huge step for humanity and it might change the world. A Science and Cocktails production. Funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation Contributing Scientist; Charles Marcus, Professor at The Niels Bohr Institute at University of Copenhagen and Principal Researcher at Microsoft Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Møller and Sofie Hjorth

As global climate change leads to rising temperature and increasing rainfall vectors, like mosquitoes and ticks, carrying deadly diseases, are increasing numbers and moving from the south to the north.   A Science and Cocktails production. Funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation Contributing Scientist; Flemming Konradsen. Professor of Global Environmental Health and head of the School of Global Health at the University of Copenhagen Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Møller and Sofie Hjorth

The global interventions to protect populations from the Corona pandemic has had enormous side effects in relation to the general mental health. Because one of the interventions has been social isolation many, especially young people, have suffered from loneliness, which is a threat to both mental and physical health. A Science and Cocktails production. Funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation Contributing Scientist; Naja Hulvej Rod, Professor and Head of Section of Epidemiology at Copenhagen University.  Journalist, Sound designer and producer; Sofie Hjorth  Music composers; Hjalte Bested Møller and Sofie Hjorth