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PODCAST

Unbiased Science

@unbiasedscipod

Dr. Jessica Steier, a public-health expert, and Dr. Sarah Scheinman, a neurobiologist, are the hosts of Unbiased Science, a podcast devoted to objective, critical appraisal of available evidence on health-related topics relevant to listeners’ daily lives. Follow them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod

science

All Episodes

61:44

COVID-19: Can We Treat It? (Treat It?) No One Wants...

Unbiased Science ·

2021/06/23

On this week's episode of the pod, we answer a question that we receive quite frequently: What are the current effective COVID-19 treatments? We spend some time discussing how attempts have been made to repurpose existing medications for treatment which saves time rather than developing new ones from scratch. We kick things off with remdesivir-- the only FDA-approved treatment for adults and some children who require hospitalization. We discuss how remdesivir works and present some real-world

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54:09

Do You Need Probiotics? Trust Your Gut.

Unbiased Science ·

2021/06/14

On this episode of the pod, we answer the question, "are probiotics beneficial?" We kick things off with a description of probiotics and, more generally, all the microorganisms that live in symbiosis with us (collectively called the microbiome). We discuss the complexity of our microbiome and the fact that no two people have the same microbial cells (not even twins)! We spend some time talking specifically about the gut microbiome and different bacterial species that it is composed of. Next, we dig

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49:22

E-Cigarettes: A Nicoteenage Wasteland (Part 2)

Unbiased Science ·

2021/06/07

On this episode of the pod, we continue our conversation on e-cigarettes. Last week, we focused on the harms of nicotine itself, but this week we start our discussion on the harms of other ingredients in e-cigarettes including toxic chemicals and heavy metals. We spend some time discussing popcorn lung-- a serious lung disease caused by e-cigarette use. We discuss the flavorings in e-cigarettes and some recent research conducted on their impact on health outcomes including vascular issues, cardiac

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53:48

E-Cigarettes: A Nicoteenage Wasteland

Unbiased Science ·

2021/05/31

On this episode of the pod, we address the question: are e-cigarettes harmful? We kick things off with an introduction to e-cigs -- what they are, and the different types of e-cigs on the market. We discuss the global e-cigarette and vape market and the blurred lines between the vaping and tobacco industries. We spend some time discussing how e-cigarettes compare to traditional, combustible cigarettes. We talk about e-cigarette smoking rates and how they are on the rise among teenagers. We tackle

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48:41

To Ink Or Not To Ink? That Is The Question

Unbiased Science ·

2021/05/25

On this episode of the pod, we answer the question: How do tattoos work? We kick things off with a summary of the tattooing process and some statistics on how common tattooing is (broken out by demographics). We talk about the various reasons why people get tattooed -- some of which are cultural and/or religious. We summarize some history of tattoos as far back as several thousands of years ago. We then dig into the science of modern tattoos and detail the immune response that is triggered when we

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55:22

I've Got 99 Problems and Pandemic Anxiety Is One

Unbiased Science ·

2021/05/18

On this week's episode of the pod we tackle something that over 40% of Americans are currently battling-- pandemic-related anxiety, specifically COVID anxiety, OCD-related anxiety, hypochondria (and cyberchondria) and “returning to normal” anxiety. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’ve gotten a lot of Heard from the Herd questions regarding how to manage mental health issues directly related to pandemic. We kick things off by defining the different types of anxieties that people are

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55:21

Why’d You Have To Go and Make Cancer So Complicated?...

Unbiased Science ·

2021/05/11

On this week’s episode of the pod, we continue our discussion on the basics of cancer. We briefly review the fact that cancer is a catch-all phrase for hundreds of different illnesses, all ultimately linked to dysregulation of normal cellular processes. We elaborate on some cellular processes that break down during the development of cancer, particularly with regard to gene mutations. While last week we touched on broad risk factors for cancer, today we highlight some viral infections that can lead

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44:20

Why’d You Have To Go and Make Cancer So Complicated?

Unbiased Science ·

2021/05/03

Please note: We experienced some unavoidable technical difficulties during recording, which you may notice throughout the episode. We are always working to improve quality and appreciate your patience and support! On this week’s episode of the pod, we take a break from discussing COVID-19 to discuss something that has undoubtedly touched all of our lives—cancer. We kick things off with a population health summary of cancer incidence and prevalence, to understand its disease burden in the US and

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75:39

20-21 COVID Info To Know: I Wanna Be Updated! (Part Two)

Unbiased Science ·

2021/04/26

On today’s episode of the podcast, we provide an update on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and walk through the details of the ACIP hearing on safety-- and the ultimate decision to lift the pause. We describe thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), treatment considerations, and side effects to monitor. We reiterate that the benefits outweigh the small risk for this adverse event and the rigorous monitoring of these events should instill confidence in our vaccine surveillance system

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55:59

20-21 COVID Info To Know: I Wanna Be Updated!

Unbiased Science ·

2021/04/19

On this episode of the pod, we return to our discussion on COVID-19. We present updates on the state of COVID-19 with regards to number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. We also provide updates on vaccine rollout and the percentage of the population that has been partially and fully vaccinated. We also share some CDC-generated forecasts for next month. We spend some time discussing variants-- in particular the B.1.1.7 variant (also known as the UK variant) which is now the dominant strain in

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66:12

In the Lyme Light: Beyond The Tick Bite (Part Two)

Unbiased Science ·

2021/04/12

On this week’s episode, we are continuing our discussion on Lyme disease. After a brief refresher of some key points from last week’s episode, we focus on the physical manifestations of Lyme disease, including signs and symptoms. We then discuss the diagnostic method, with an emphasis on some of the unreliable labs that use unproven tests to overreport Lyme diagnoses. We also cover the approved (and effective!) treatments for Lyme disease and why there is no longer an available vaccine. We switch

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55:06

In the Lyme Light: Beyond The Tick Bite (Part One)

Unbiased Science ·

2021/04/05

On this week’s episode, we start our discussion about Lyme disease, an infection that is riddled with misconceptions and misinformation. First, we open the conversation with a primer on ticks as disease vectors, including an overview of different tick species and the array of different tick-borne pathogens that exist. We then discuss Lyme disease specifically, a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi that is transmitted by specific species of ticks. We spend some time focusing on how the

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60:10

Think Outside The Pox: Vaccines Throughout History

Unbiased Science ·

2021/03/29

On this week’s episode, we take a trip into the past to discuss the history of vaccines. We start with an overview of smallpox, a debilitating illness that has plagued humans for thousands of years, and how attempts to prevent smallpox resulted in the first rudimentary immunizations through the process of variolation. Over time, variolation evolved to the first instances of vaccinations, and we detail Edward Jenner’s famous accounts of using cowpox to immunize individuals against smallpox. From

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39:39

From John Snow to Sir Bradford Hill, Epidemiology...

Unbiased Science ·

2021/03/22

On this week's episode of the pod, we discuss the history of epidemiology. We kick things off with a definition of the term and clarify that epidemiology is not specific to infectious disease but rather all diseases, as well as their risk factors. We take a trip down memory lane and revisit the different eras of epidemiology including the sanitary era, the infectious disease era, the risk factor and black box epidemiology era, and what many call the eco-epidemiology era of today. We dig into some

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55:58

It's Nothing Like I've Ever Known Before: STEM is an...

Unbiased Science ·

2021/03/15

On this week's episode of the pod we talk about our respective careers in STEM. We discuss the paths that led us here, our education and training, and the different fields that one can pursue with advanced degrees in a STEM field ranging from academia to applied science. Andrea discusses her relatively linear path from a child fascinated by bugs to her PhD in immunology, and Jess describes her more circuitous route leading her to a DrPH. We welcome our first ever guest to the pod, Dr. Bill Gallo, a

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49:12

Superstition Ain’t The Way! Old Wives’ Tales...

Unbiased Science ·

2021/03/08

On this week's pod, we continued the fun of exploring the science (or lack thereof) behind some popular old wives' tales! We tackled the old adage (pun intended) that pulling out a grey hair will result in two more growing in its place. Next, we discuss whether it's safe to swim within an hour of eating. We then revisited a topic we've covered in the past-- taking vitamin C to "cure" a cold (we do a deep dive on our "Spilling the Immuni-Tea" episode if you want to check that out). Next, we tackle

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46:05

Superstition Aint The Way! Old Wives’ Tales Debunked

Unbiased Science ·

2021/03/01

On this episode of the pod, we take a little break from COVID-19 to debunk some common old wives' tales related to health. Lots of listeners wrote in with many great ideas, so this will be a two-parter! We kick things off by breaking down the old adage, "feed a cold, starve a fever" (and we recommend changing it to "feed a cold, feed a fever"). Next, we tackle the myth that you’ll get sick from being outside in the cold and/or going outside with wet hair in the winter (remember...correlation doesn't

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61:00

Not Throwin' Away My Shot: COVID-19 Vaccine...

Unbiased Science ·

2021/02/22

On this week’s podcast episode, we get back to COVID-19 vaccine discussions, but with a different angle: focusing on the vaccine manufacturing, development, and deployment pipelines. We start with the U.S. and global statistics for vaccination rates, and then focus on a discussion of the parameters that impact the access to vaccines for countries around the world. We summarize the currently utilized vaccines globally and which countries are utilizing them, before focusing on the bottlenecks through

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38:56

Most Uses of Essential Oils Make No Frankincense

Unbiased Science ·

2021/02/15

On this episode of the pod, we take a little break from COVID-19 to discuss essential oils. We kick things off with a description of essential oils, their history, and their applications. We discuss some of the purported benefits of essential oils and touted medicinal applications. We then dive into the scientific evidence (or lack thereof) on the actual benefits of essential oils and the findings from studies that have been conducted (and the difference between human trials and in vitro studies)

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37:45

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes (Turn and Face the Strains):...

Unbiased Science ·

2021/02/08

On this week's episode we discuss mutations, specifically in the context of SARS-CoV-2. We set the stage by describing what a mutation is and how this random process occurs in all organisms. We discuss the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and a primer on zoonotic diseases before focusing on mutation rates of SARS-CoV-2, and comparison to another RNA virus, influenza virus. We talk about the key mutations of the variants of concern B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 and the spike antigen of the virus, and why these

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362 results

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