University of California Video Podcasts (Video)

Episoade

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  Mechanosensory Control of Pregnancy and Parturition 15.09.2026 14min

  Mechanical forces may help the body coordinate pregnancy and labor. Yunxiao Zhang, Ph.D., of Scripps Research Institute, examines how PIEZO1 and PIEZO2, proteins that open in response to stretch, contribute to uterine contractions and the timing of birth. Zhang finds PIEZO1 in uterine smooth muscle and PIEZO2 in sensory nerve fibers around the cervix. In mouse models, removing both channels weakens labor contractions, delays the start of delivery and increases the time between pups. The findings suggest that PIEZO1 helps prepare uterine muscle for stronger contractions, while PIEZO2 helps sensory nerves detect cervical stretch. Zhang also discusses how fats in cell membranes may change PIEZO1 sensitivity and why uterine cells and sensory nerves have connected roles. This research offers a new way to study how physical forces help regulate labor. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41642]
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  Alex Chaim: Building a Life and Community in Science 12.09.2026 28min

  RNA damage, mentorship and the realities of building a career in science come together in Alex Chaim's work and personal journey. Chaim, principal investigator of the Chaim Lab and assistant professor of cell and developmental biology at UC San Diego, studies whether damage to RNA may contribute to diseases associated with oxidative stress, including neurodegeneration. He also reflects on finding community and learning from mentors throughout his education and career. Chaim describes creating CASAS, a scientific seminar series conducted in Spanish, and explains why he tries to humanize science in both his classroom and lab. His advice to students centers on seeking research experience, finding good mentors and learning from experiments that do not go as expected. His story shows how persistence and community can shape a life in science. Series: "Mi Universidad " [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 41492]
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  A Tribute to Walter H. Capps: Scholar Teacher Public Servant 12.09.2026 1h 14min

  Ethics, religion, and public life affect democratic society in important ways. Walter H. Capps was a professor of religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He died on October 28, 1997, just under a year after being elected to Congress. Capps showed how religious thought and civic engagement can shape public life. This documentary introduces viewers to the life and legacy of Capps, including his view on politics and value of civic life, the impact of the Vietnam War, and the study of religion. His legacy helps explain the importance of informed public dialogue and points toward tolerance, civility, and the common good. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 41702]
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  How Does Our Brain Navigate? 11.09.2026 2min

  New research at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain is taking a leap forward in understanding how the brain — down to the individual neuron — navigates us through the world to find what we need. Jack Lin, the study’s principal investigator, is a professor and neurologist who directs the UC Davis Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Lin works with patients like Travis Rouse. He has epilepsy, and a RNS system implanted into his brain senses when a seizure is coming and sends electrical signals to head it off. The RNS system collects detailed data on brain activity. Complemented with GPS location data and eye tracking, the research team can record unprecedented information on how Travis navigates the Center for Mind and Brain halls. When the team analyze the data, they’ll be able to see which individual neurons activated as Travis thought through where he wanted to go and also how his brain got him there. Series: "UC Davis News" [Science] [Show ID: 41731]
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  Behind the Technology That Allowed a Man With ALS to 'Speak' Again 08.09.2026 5min

  Chancellor May stops by the UC Davis Neuroprosthetics Lab to meet the researchers behind brain-computer interface technology. The technology helped a man with ALS communicate again with his family and used AI to mimic the sound of his own voice. Watch as Chancellor May tries out the technology himself in a lab simulation. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41741]
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  The Great Philosophers: Utilitarianism of Bentham and Mill 05.09.2026 1h 11min

  Utilitarianism affects law, public policy, and social justice in important ways. Professor Peter Bolland explains how Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill’s focus on the greatest good for the greatest number shaped modern ethical decision-making. Bolland examines women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and animal welfare, helping clarify how Utilitarian ideas influence debates about justice and equality. This work helps explain the philosophy’s lasting impact and points toward a clearer understanding of the moral choices that shape everyday life. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 41699]
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  Creating the UC Menopause Collaborative: An Opportunity for Research and Clinical Collaboration 04.09.2026 38min

  Menopause care is changing as more patients seek evidence-based guidance for symptoms, prevention, and long-term health. Kathryn Macaulay, M.D., M.S.C.P., F.A.C.O.G., UC San Diego Health, and Rajita Patil, M.D., M.S.C.P., F.A.C.O.G., UCLA Health, explain why many people still struggle to find trained care, even as menopause affects sleep, mood, work, genitourinary health, and cardiometabolic risk. They connect hormone therapy history with today’s demand for reliable, individualized options, including non-hormonal approaches, and outline the UC Menopause Collaborative’s work to expand training, standardize work flows, support flexible care models, and build research-ready data across UC health centers. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41634]
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  California Bean Farmers Rely on UC Davis Research 02.09.2026 1min

  Jim Wallace's family-run farm and business have relied on UC Davis research on bean varieties for more than 60 years. UC Davis researchers have developed drought and pest-resistant bean varieties that Wallace counts on to stay competitive in an international market. Series: "UC Davis News" [Public Affairs] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 41735]
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  U.S. and China: Stable Great-Power Relationship? 29.08.2026 1h 13min

  U.S.-China relations affect global stability in important ways. Graham Allison, Professor of Government at Harvard Kennedy School, explains how the Thucydides’ Trap shapes the challenge of managing competition between the two countries. Allison examines strategic stability, the Xi-Trump summit, and the promise and limits of a new paradigm for major-country relations, helping clarify whether the U.S. and China can avoid conflict. Allison is joined by Molly Roberts, UC San Diego Director of the 21st Century China Center, to further explore this relationship. This conversation helps explain the stakes of their rivalry and points toward the possibilities and limits of constructive strategic stability. Series: "Global Policy and Strategy" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 41703]
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  Neurobiology in a Changing Ocean with Martin Tresguerres 28.08.2026 58min

  Climate change is fundamentally altering marine environments worldwide. But what does this mean for the creatures that call the ocean home? Join Martin Tresguerres, Ph.D., as he delves into the work of the Allen Discovery Center for Neurobiology in Changing Environments (ADC-NiCE), where researchers are working towards answering this question. Through a combination of neurobiology, physiology and environmental science, ADC-NiCE investigates how climate change affects the nervous systems and behavior of marine animals — ultimately guiding policy, conservation strategies and restoration efforts. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 41697]
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  Multidisciplinary Care of Pregnant Women with Cardiovascular Disease with Dr. Laith Alshawabkeh 25.08.2026 6min

  Cardiovascular disease is a major threat to maternal health during pregnancy and the peripartum period, particularly for women with preexisting heart conditions. A UC San Diego cardiologist describes the development of a multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics initiative designed to coordinate care for patients with congenital heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias and coronary artery disease. The program brings cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine together with other specialties to establish consistent protocols, improve maternal and fetal outcomes, advance research and train future clinicians. As more people born with congenital heart disease survive into adulthood and consider pregnancy, the need for this specialized care continues to grow. Longitudinal surveillance is also helping researchers study outcomes and identify opportunities for better monitoring. Coordinated cardio-obstetrics care can help manage complex cardiovascular risks throughout pregnancy and delivery. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41641]
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  Label-free AI-enabled Imaging Flow Cytometry for Discovery of Subpopulations of Extravillous Trophoblast from a Stem Cell-based Model of Trophoblast Differentiation 21.08.2026 32min

  AI-powered cell imaging may help researchers identify biological differences that are difficult or impossible to see by eye. Yu-Hwa Lo, Ph.D., and Louise Laurent, M.D., Ph.D., describe a system that combines high-speed imaging, cell sorting, microfluidics, and artificial intelligence. The technology creates label-free images of cells, uses AI to classify them, and can isolate selected cells for deeper molecular analysis. Laurent explains how the team is applying the system to human trophoblast stem cells, which give rise to specialized placental cells involved in nutrient transport, hormone production, blood vessel remodeling, and immune regulation. Lo describes how AI can distinguish cell populations and identify features that may not be apparent to human observers. The researchers ultimately hope to connect imaging features with gene expression, proteins, and metabolism, allowing cell characteristics and behavior to be predicted from images alone. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41637]
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  DM in Pregnancy and AI - Ben Smarr Ph.D. and Sandy Ramos M.D. 18.08.2026 29min

  Continuous glucose monitoring and wearable data are changing how researchers study pregnancy and women’s health. Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, M.D., explains why glucose control is difficult during pregnancy and how CGM can reveal patterns that finger-stick testing may miss. She also describes research on CGM use in type 2 and gestational diabetes, labor, and behavior change. Ben Smarr, Ph.D., shows how wearable data can track changes in temperature, heart rate, activity, respiration, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and aging. Together, the speakers discuss personalized care, participant engagement, patient-driven innovation, and access to these tools. The goal is to learn from continuous data while recognizing limits in evidence, interpretation, and equity. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41636]
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  Hall of Famer David Justice on Prostate Cancer 14.08.2026 31min

  For people diagnosed with cancer, patient advocacy can play a vital role throughout the treatment process. At UC San Diego’s annual Prostate Cancer Patient Summit, keynote speaker and three-time MLB All-Star David Justice brought visibility and purpose to that message, underscoring the broad reach and lasting importance of speaking up for patients and families. [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41648]
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  Rising Beyond Circumstance: Faith Resilience and the Power of Community with Jolinda Wade 13.08.2026 59min

  Drawing from her remarkable life journey and her memoir, Conquering Me: A Memoir of Courage, Faith, and Transformation, pastor and author Jolinda Wade shares powerful reflections on overcoming adversity, embracing purpose, and the mentors, opportunities, and communities that help shape our futures. The mother of NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, she talks about how, before becoming an advocate for personal transformation, she spent years battling addiction, homelessness, incarceration and profound self-doubt. This presentation is part of the UC San Diego Earl W. Edwards Lectureship on Athletics and Society, a public dialogue initiative that brings together influential voices from athletics, education, business and public life. [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 41565]
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  Why Topology Matters for Data Science and AI 10.08.2026 37min

  Topology offers a way to organize complex data by looking for shape, structure, and relationships. Yusu Wang, Ph.D., UC San Diego, and Gunnar E. Carlsson, Ph.D., Stanford University, discuss how ideas from algebraic topology move from pure mathematics into data science, machine learning, and AI. Carlsson explains why topological data analysis helps identify meaningful groups in large data sets, how examples and accessible tools can make abstract math useful, and why interpretability matters as AI systems grow more complex. The conversation connects collaboration across fields, customer-focused entrepreneurship, and the need to train mathematicians and AI researchers to help formulate real-world problems. Their exchange shows how mathematical thinking can make powerful technologies more understandable, usable, and accountable. Series: "Data Science Channel" [Science] [Show ID: 41487]
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  Improving Early Alzheimers Detection in Women by Integrating Multimodal Data Into Clinical Decision Tools with Iris Broce-Diaz Ph.D. 06.08.2026 13min

  Alzheimer’s disease can begin developing years before memory and thinking problems become noticeable. Iris Broce-Diaz, Ph.D., of UC San Diego is developing accessible, noninvasive, and cost-effective tools to help primary care physicians and neurologists identify people at higher risk earlier. Her models combine information from cognitive assessments, brain imaging, genetics, and PET scans to estimate the likelihood that mild cognitive impairment will progress within five years. Combining multiple measures improves the models’ ability to separate higher- and lower-risk patients. Broce-Diaz also plans to add women-specific factors, including menopause history, hormone therapy, reproductive history, endocrine markers, and symptoms. The goal is to support better referrals, guide monitoring, and help eligible patients consider treatment sooner. Earlier risk assessment could also strengthen clinical trials and make dementia care more useful across different health systems. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41632]
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  Development of a Non-Invasive Male Fertility Assay for Testicular Sperm Retrieval and Fertility Treatment with Kun Tan Ph.D. 03.08.2026 9min

  Men with non-obstructive azoospermia may undergo microscopic testicular sperm extraction, or mTESE, without knowing whether sperm will be found. Kun Tan, Ph.D., of UC San Diego explains how molecular semen analysis could provide a noninvasive way to predict the procedure’s outcome. The assay uses stage-specific germ cell markers identified through single-cell RNA sequencing, then measures those markers in semen with qPCR. Because semen contains germ cells from different stages of sperm development, their molecular signals may reflect what is happening inside the testes. Tan shows how the assay predicts whether sperm retrieval was successful and can identify where sperm development may be blocked. The research could help couples planning IVF or ICSI avoid unnecessary surgery, reduce financial and emotional burdens, and receive more detailed information about male infertility before treatment. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41630]
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  Archaeology Coastal Heritage and Climate Adaptation with Isabel C. Rivera-Collazo 01.08.2026 26min

  Archaeology can help communities understand environmental change, protect cultural heritage, and prepare for an uncertain climate future. Isabel C. Rivera-Collazo, Ph.D., of UC San Diego studies relationships among people, oceans, coastal ecosystems, and climate in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. She explains how Hurricane Maria shifted her research from identifying theoretical vulnerabilities to supporting communities facing immediate risks. Her work combines archaeology with ecology, biology, geology, local histories, and community knowledge. Research on plants, fishing traditions, coral reefs, and coastal sites has supported sand dune restoration, heritage protection, and the creation of a marine protected area. Rivera-Collazo emphasizes that residents are experts on their own landscapes and should guide research priorities. Recovering knowledge from the past can strengthen identity, support ecosystem restoration, and help communities shape more resilient futures. Series: "Mi Universidad " [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 41490]
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  Motivating Movement: An Age-Friendly Approach to Pain Mood and Mobility 29.07.2026 48min

  Chronic pain in older adults can affect mobility, mood, sleep, social connection, and independence. Una Makris, M.D., M.Sc., UC San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System, explains why musculoskeletal pain is common later in life and why medications or procedures alone may not meet the needs of many patients. Drawing on her work in rheumatology and geriatrics, Makris describes how pain and depression can reinforce each other, making it important to address both together. She highlights an age-friendly behavioral coaching approach that uses motivational interviewing, values-based goal setting, physical activity, and social support to help people reconnect with meaningful activities. By focusing on small, safe increases in movement, this research points to practical ways to support better function, quality of life, and healthy aging. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41172]