
Episode 25 is our series 2 finale as Jack and Ben take a much needed break to enjoy the reopening of the world and their respective summers or winters. Ben kicks the episode off with a biological breakthrough in how vaccines are manufactured, whilst Jack tells the story of reaching level 2 in creating Bose-Einstein Condensates. There’s a story all about the incredible 3-D printed hydrogels that could be a boon for medics and we have some fundamental physics in the form of exotic compact objects. Plus we talk about the latest developments on NASA’s current mission to Mars.
Cell-Free Vaccines
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210422093832.htm
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22329-3
3D Printing Hydrogels
https://phys.org/news/2021-04-frontier-3d-state-of-the-art-soft-materials.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22802-z
Exotic Compact Objects
https://www.livescience.com/exotic-compact-objects-break-physics.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_star
Bose-Einstein Condensate Molecule
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-have-harnessed-thousands-of-molecules-into-a-single-quantum-state
Mars Ingenuity Update
https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/297/ingenuity-completes-its-fourth-flight/
May 30, 2021
35 min

Sometimes it can feel like you’re beset on all sides, whether it’s work, the pandemic or mutant crayfish clones. Luckily, Not A Buffalo brings you the science and technology stories you need to steel your resolve as you face another day. Jack explains what we mean by mutant crayfish clones while Ben has a story all about the unexpected power of 5G. We also bring you a fascinating story about compressing atoms and the relieving news that we won’t be hit by an asteroid any time soon.
Squashing Atoms
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/SC/D0SC06675C#!divAbstract
5G Charging
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-79500-x
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325150019.htm
Mutant Crayfish Clones Invade Graveyard
https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/cemetery-under-siege-from-mutant-crayfish-clones-in-belgium-/
https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/belgium-all-news/137013/hundreds-of-self-cloning-crayfish-invade-antwerp-cemetery/
Science was Wrong, Apophis won’t hit Earth for at least 100 years
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-analysis-earth-is-safe-from-asteroid-apophis-for-100-plus-years/
Language Tree
https://www.translatemedia.com/translation-blog/the-best-language-infographics-interactive-tools-on-the-web/
Apr 25, 2021
32 min

We have an abundance of breakthroughs for you in episode 23 of Not a Buffalo. Jack and Ben discuss the first ever sound recorded on Mar by Perseverance and a new use of the Doppler effect that's aiding in scientists in fighting disease. Jack has a story all about swirlonic matter, an incredible new discovery in our understanding of the world around us. Ben talks about an AI that is helping us figure out how the human brain works.
Phi Motion & AI
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210225143749.htm
https://twitter.com/akiyoshikitaoka/status/1240892694479507456?lang=en
Doppler Effect
https://phys.org/news/2021-02-scientists-doppler-peer-cells.html
Swirlonic Matter
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73824-4
Perseverance Lands on Mars
https://spacenews.com/perseverance-lands-on-mars/ Live Touchdown (YouTube)
Mar 28, 2021
44 min

Welcome to episode 022 of Not a Buffalo where our discussion ranges from elemental discoveries from the 1950s all the way to the possible future habitation of a planet not too far away. Ben has a story about the incredible science of stem cells and a new breakthrough that could change the lives of millions. Jack has been reading about a new discovery in our closest stellar neighbour, Alpha Centauri and tells us about some renewed interest in the element, Einsteinium. We also have a story about duckweed, a little plant that could help us solve some big problems.
New Planet
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/10/astronomers-hopes-raised-by-glimpse-of-possible-new-planet-alpha-centauri
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21176-6
Einsteinium
https://www.livescience.com/einsteinium-experiments-uncover-chemical-properties.html
Duckweed
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210201090829.htm
Stem Cells
https://phys.org/news/2021-01-scientists-closer-smart-stem-cells.html
Feb 28, 2021
35 min

With the year 2021 comes episode 21 of Not a Buffalo, your favourite podcast about the science and technology that provides the ray of hope and sunshine during gloomy January days. In this episode, Ben has a story that brings together two of his favourite things, graphene and batteries while Jack has a story about AI saving the Amazon rainforest which sparks a deep discussion. We also cover an incredible bacterial breakthrough that could change home life and learn about a new study that suggests identical twins may have more differences than we thought.
Jan 31, 2021
42 min

Our last episode of 2020 is jam packed with stories from the discovery of a very large volcano to some unusual but apparently delicious beer. A discussion about returning spacecraft leads into a deep conversation about the power of programmers and the impact they have on language. Jack and Ben also cover some breaking stories about quantum supremacy and elderly fish. Stay tuned until the end for an enlightening conversation in our host knowledge segment.
Jack’s Stories
https://www.livescience.com/china-quantum-supremacy.html
https://www.livescience.com/small-islands-one-big-volcano.html
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/japan-s-hayabusa2-capsule-lands-carbon-rich-asteroid-samples
Ben’s Stories
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-brewed-beer-recycled-wastewater-great.html
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-random-doping-quantum-devices.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201201144039.htm
https://phys.org/news/2020-12-octogenarian-snapper-wa-oldest-tropical.html
https://phys.org/news/2020-12-graphene-block-sustainable-cities.html
Dec 27, 2020
37 min

Episode 19 covers a little bit of everything, from octopus-inspired skin graft technology to the power of the mind during the dark winter months. Ben also talks about yeast engineering and the insight it gives into diverse ecosystems whilst Jack talks about the latest developments in some truly sci-fi travelling; the Hyperloop.
Ben’s stories
Octopus skin grafts
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201016164312.htm
Cheaters don’t always win
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201019145551.htm
Deep learning CT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201019133700.htm
Jack’s Stories
Winter Mindset:
https://internationaljournalofwellbeing.org/index.php/ijow/article/view/935
Virgin HyperLoop: https://www.nu.nl/tech/6089174/virgin-hyperloop-rondt-voor-het-eerst-test-met-passagiers-in-hyperloop-af.html
Journal Article:
https://www.thegreenjournal.com/article/S0167-8140(20)30809-4/fulltext
Nov 29, 2020
35 min

It’s that time again! The ig-nobel prizes have been released, so it’s time for Jack and Ben to run through their favourite picks from this year’s nominations. We’ve got screaming alligators, narcissistic eyebrows and bug catchers who are terrified of spiders. So, poor yourself glass and settle in for another year of science that will make you laugh and then make you think “why?"
Jack’s Stories:
ACOUSTICS PRIZE
If you’ve ever wanted to know what happens when you seal an alligator in a room filled with helium and why you would want to do this, we have the answers to your questions.
https://jeb.biologists.org/content/218/15/2442.full
PHYSICS PRIZE
Something akin to placing earthworms on a wobble board, can make big headlines in the ig-nobel prizes.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-65295-4
ENTOMOLOGY PRIZE
Is it possible to study insects for a living and still be afraid of spiders?
https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/59/3/168/6813
Ben’s Stories:
PSYCHOLOGY PRIZE
Learn how to spot a narcissist by checking their eyebrows.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jopy.12396
MANAGEMENT PRIZE
How something akin to a sketch comedy landed 5 people in court.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ibIkZBbnZb-menl7Xv4FAQ
ECONOMICS PRIZE
At last, serious research relating income inequality to making out. Find out more here:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43267-7
Honorable Mentions:
PEACE PRIZE
How ginger knocking contributed to world peace.
MEDICINE PRIZE
Yes, being annoyed at the sound of people chewing is finally a medical ailment.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0054706
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032716321681
MATERIALS SCIENCE PRIZE
Researchers confirm, making knives out of poop is not best practice.
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2352409X19305371
Oct 25, 2020
40 min

Hello fellow science fans, we're back! Not a Buffalo returns for Season 2 with a whole host of new stories about the science and technology that will save the world. 2020 has been a strange year and we are incredibly excited to be back and discussing breakthrough research that can give us all hope about the future. In this episode we find out about Warsaw zoo keeps its elephants calm; the benefits of going through puberty and why we all have a reason to thank dragonflies.
The links to all of the stories that appear in this episode are below:
Ben’s Stories
Marijuana test for stressed-out Warsaw Zoo elephants
https://phys.org/news/2020-08-marijuana-stressed-out-warsaw-zoo-elephants.html
Scientists use fruit peel to turn old batteries into new
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200826101623.htm
Insect wings inspire new ways to fight superbugs: Scientists reveal how nanomaterials inspired by insect wings are able to destroy bacteria on contact - by stretching, slicing or tearing them apart
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200818103841.htm
Jack’s Stories
Puberty can repair the brain’s stress responses
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/puberty-teens-brain-stress-responses-early-trauma
CO2 Causes Earthquakes
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/carbon-dioxide-earth-mantle-italy-earthquakes
Positronium’s energy levels make no sense
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/positronium-energy-levels-exotic-atom-physics
Sep 27, 2020
36 min

Episode 16 marks the final episode of this season of Not A Buffalo, we'll be taking a break over the summer and returning in September 2020 but fear not, we're leaving you with some wonderful science stories. Jack and Ben talk about everything from recreating the paint on medieval frescos to sending tiny cardboard planes to Mars. Jack explains how things are heating up in the world of quantum computing and Ben talks about a brain surgery breakthrough using ultrasound. If you are new to the series, we have 16 episodes packed full of great science and technology and w elook forward to discussing what the world has discovered in September!
May 31, 2020
28 min
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