The Challenge is on!! In this episode, we launch “The Hidden Genius,” a new series in which we explore the lives of great scientists and challenge you to figure out who they are. Can you guess who is this episode’s hidden genius?
The Challenge is on!! In this episode, we launch “The Hidden Genius,” a new series in which we explore the lives of great scientists and challenge you to figure out who they are. Can you guess who is this episode’s hidden genius?
What can you do you love science? We'll tell you Hi, everyone, welcome back to another episode of "We Love Science," the podcast where we tell you all the things that you can do with your love of science. We are your hosts. I'm Shekerah.
Fatu Badiane-Markey:
And I'm Fatu. And today we have another new type of episode for you. We're calling it "The Hidden Genius"
Shekerah Primus:
The Hidden Genius I love it already. So now you may be wondering, why hidden? Are they hiding, like in witness protection or something maybe? How many scientists are in witness protection Fatu?
Fatu Badiane-Markey:
I do not know. I feel like that's a theme from like TV science.
Shekerah Primus:
Yeah, I don't know either, I will admit and you know, I don't think we're supposed to know that kind of information. So marshals, US Marshals we really don't know anything about people in witness protection. Okay, let's just make that clear. Okay, so it's not about witness protection. So maybe is that their genius is hiding right just like the hidden genius within all of us? Nope. Wrong again. Sorry. I'm Sorry. Basically, as we discuss the lives of some of the most brilliant scientists in the world, we will be hiding their identities from you, or we'll be attempting to hide them anyway. So we'll give you clues about the scientist's childhood, their education, their career and accomplishments, and it's up to you. Yes, we mean, you, you the listener to figure out who we're talking about. So, are you ready for the challenge?
Fatu Badiane-Markey:
I definitely am. This sounds awesome. It makes me think of like "where in the world is Carmen Sandiego" but like Scientist edition.
Shekerah Primus:
Scientist edition, okay, we're both ready. But of course we know the answers so we're cheating a little. But we promise today's example is very very easy right Fatu?
Fatu Badiane-Markey:
Hmmmmm I don't know, we'll see how quickly people can figure it out. So today's episode is an exciting journey through the life of a Nobel Prize winning scientist who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of molecular biology. Shout out to all the Molecular Biologists. Feel free to pause the podcast at anytime to discuss with friends and family or just to take a guess.
Shekerah Primus:
Yeah. Okay, so let's start with the childhood of our mystery scientist. So they were born in the 1960s in California. I'm sorry, we're not going to give you exact dates because that just makes it too easy. Right. So exactly. They were born in the 1960s in California. Their father was a physicist and their mother was also a scientist. So their mother was a mycologist and a geneticist. So it's no wonder right? It sounds like our mystery scientist had science in their blood. Right?
Fatu Badiane-Markey:
Definitely. Definitely. And their parents' love for science, I'm sure certainly seems to have rubbed off on them as well.
Shekerah Primus:
Yeah, I'm sure it did. So as a child, they also spent some time in Germany, which is pretty cool. I'd love to go to Germany. And although they did not specifically hone in on science as a child, they talk about spending a lot of time outdoors, exploring nature and hiking. Woohoo, hiking a person after my heart. You know, I had to choose the person who likes hiking. Interestingly, this person was also dyslexic, so they had a very, very tough time in school growing up and it wasn't until junior high that they finally found their footing and started doing well in school. Then their love of biology blossomed in high school, and that's what they decided to study in college.
Fatu Badiane-Markey:
Awwww, I love that, talking about like the first half of their life. So now I guess let's talk about their adult education. Our mystery scientist went to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where they were encouraged by a close advisor to start doing research in different labs, immediately. So from freshman year basically. This gave them a lot of experience and time to figure out what kind of research they really liked. They graduated from UCSB in the 80s, with a bachelor's degree in biology and then moved on to the University of California, Berkeley, to pursue a PhD in molecular biology under the guidance of a prominent scientist who was a pioneer in the field of telomeres.
Shekerah Primus:
Yep. And that's a big clue right there, ding ding ding ding ding. Yep, and that's when they begin to really make a name for themselves in the scientific community, right? So while working on their PhD, this scientist made a groundbreaking discovery related to telomeres. So telomeres just for those who don't know, are these protective structures at the ends of our chromosomes? So this person the scientist found that a specific enzyme, now known as telomerase, helps maintain the length of telomeres and that helps to maintain the integrity of our chromosomes so of our DNA basically, as we age. However, as we do get older the telomeres get shorter. And that's part of aging, right? So this plays a crucial role in cellular aging and cancer. So this discovery was actually monumental. And it opened up avenues for research on aging, cancer and other related fields. And in fact, our mystery scientist's discovery earned them a share of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside their PhD advisor and another scientist. And we're not going to tell you the year because again it's so easy.
Fatu Badiane-Markey:
So amazing. And their career didn't stop there. After completing their PhD. They held various research and teaching positions at prestigious institutions, including Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. And while this scientist's work on telomeres and telomerase is undoubtedly their most famous contribution, they have also been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the scientific community. They have tirelessly worked to promote gender equity, and create opportunities for underrepresented groups in the field. Absolutely amazing.
Shekerah Primus:
Yeah, and that is so so important. Right? we both know, but so there you have it, listeners. So have you figured it out yet? I bet you there are some people who figured it out after the second or third clue, right?
Fatu Badiane-Markey:
Got some real like Sherlock Holmes right in the bunch, so let's see. If you have a guess about today's hidden genius. Send it to us at lovesciencepodcast@gmail.com. And if you don't mind, please also tell us which clue was the aha moment for you. And if you correctly guessed today's mystery scientist we'll have a very special gift for you
Shekerah Primus:
Mmmmm special gift, I love swag. Gotta have swag. So thank you, everyone for listening to today's episode about our hidden genius. And until next time, Bye everybody