The Information Entropy Podcast

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we return to finish off our investigation into CRISPR and genetic engineering! In this episode, we skip straight to the fun stuff where Mitch explores the potential for humans and AI to hack the biological instructions with malicious intentions... how far away are we from AI altering our DNA? Tom takes a look at Gene Drives, a system that allows humans to alter the inheritance chance of positive and negative genes and traits that could have devastating ecological consequences if unleashed on the world. In addition to that, the boys get ahead of themselves and rant about Christmas movies and the capitalistic nature of the holiday season. Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast and our yearly wrapped episode! This is one of our favourites where we are able to talk about the podcast’s stats this year as well as reveal our own awful (or great) music listening habits. We use this as a launchpad to talk about what music means to us, how we engage with it, and we also discuss some of the controversy around the current RAM production crises, spotify boycotting, and sensory overloading. A massive thank you to everyone who tunes in! Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast! In this episode, we break down the building blocks of life, from atoms and molecules to DNA and RNA. We then dive into the world of genetic engineering, exploring what CRISPR is, how it works, and why it’s become one of the most important tools in modern biology and why scientists are so eager to rewrite genetic code. This week is Part 1 where we set the stage and foundational knowledge, next week we will explore the possible exploitations of such a technology… good and bad! Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we are hunkering down into the cold weather and asking how other species cope with it as well. Mitch takes a deep dive into hibernation, the biology and physiology behind it, as well as what separates it from other bouts of lowered metabolic rate such as torpor (see episode for various pronunciations of that). Tom takes a look at the wood frog and how it survives being 65% frozen each winter and other amazing strategies. Otherwise, the boys tangent their way around the topic as usual, eventually getting to where they meant to be! Music: HOME – AWAY

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we are continuing our exploration of addiction! Last week we covered the mechanisms of substance use disorders and behavioural addictions but this week we focus on the interaction between neurodivergence (Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD) and addiction, why some people might be more vulnerable than others, and the nature of video game behavioural addiction. Tom then opens the debate on whether people suffering from addiction actually have a choice or whether the behavioural and biological mechanisms are so far gone that their choice is made for them. Music: HOME – AWAY