Level Up Human Series 2, Episode 11: Steve Backshall vs Kate Storrs
Level Up Human is a podcast panel show, on a mission to redesign the human body.
Simon and Rach chat to naturalist and broadcaster Steve Backshall and visual perception scientist Kate Storrs.
We discuss enhanced vision, limb regeneration, gecko hands, super kidneys and re-breathing.
Extracts from the episode, edited for readability are available here.
In the news…
Kate is tickled and baffled by a news story about Microsoft. They have patented to generate cryptocurrency by monitoring people’s brain activity.
Steve’s news story is entitled, ‘Venomous Frogs use Heads as Weapons.’
And Rach’s levelled up human is Bertolt Meyer, a DJ, producer and Professor of Organisational Psychology from Technische Universität Chemnitz 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, on the other hands, thinks the human body should be able to see the polarisation of light
From the audience, we have suggestions including souped up kidneys and gecko hands.
Finally Simon has a suggestion from nature.
Which of our suggestions will make Rachel’s shortlist? Which will win? Listen to find out.
Mentioned this episode
Deep Neural Networks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_learning
Microsoft has filed a patent to mine cryptocurrencies using your brainwaves: 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
Golden poison frog: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/g/golden-poison-frog/
Pig-nosed purple frog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2ZKePuOrUE
Bertolt Meyer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSKBtEBRWi4
Disabled or superhuman?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVZyVz8gBeQ
Axolotyl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl
Macrophages: https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Macrophage-Function.aspx
Pluripotent stem cells: https://www.nature.com/subjects/pluripotent-stem-cells
Tissue-specific stem cells: https://www.closerlookatstemcells.org/learn-about-stem-cells/types-of-stem-cells/
Zebrafish can regrow their brains: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-zebrafish-regrow-brains.html
Planaria worms: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/science/11obhead.html
Steve bitten by black piranha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPO6NwkM7so&list=PLtEFM-nSCj5ilDGnpe8Cf6CLtslFt1aCS
Honey bee waggle dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU_KD1enR3Q
Haidinger’s brush: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haidinger%27s_brush
Cuttlefish and high-definition polarisation vision: https://phys.org/news/2012-02-cuttlefish-high-definition-polarization-vision.html
Cuttlefish iridophores and chromataphores: https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/cephalopod-camouflage-cells-and-organs-of-the-144048968/
Mantis shrimp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis_shrimp
Bioinspired camera could help self-driving cars ‘see’ better: https://www.osa.org/en-us/about_osa/newsroom/news_releases/2018/bioinspired_camera_could_help_self-driving_cars_se/
Nautilus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautilus
Bear Grylls: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Grylls
The IT Crowd: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0487831/
The Exorcist III: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099528/
Trainspotting: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117951/
‘Scuba-diving’ lizard, Anolis aquaticus: 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
The Mirror Trap: 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/
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