Podcast

Point of Discovery

Behind every scientific discovery is a scientist (or 12) and a story. “Point of Discovery” takes you on a journey beyond WHAT we know to HOW we know it. Listeners will meet the sometimes quirky, always passionate people whose curiosity unlocks hidden worlds.

FEATURED ★ Podcast

Brain Activity Decoder Can Reveal Stories in People’s Minds

The work relies in part on a transformer model, similar to the ones that power ChatGPT.

Three researchers peer inside an MRI machine

Alex Huth (left), Shailee Jain (center) and Jerry Tang (right) prepare to collect brain activity data in the Biomedical Imaging Center at The University of Texas at Austin. The researchers trained their semantic decoder on dozens of hours of brain activity data from participants, collected in an fMRI scanner. Photo Credit: Nolan Zunk/University of Texas at Austin.

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The Mighty Copepod

These teeny shrimp-like critters at the bottom of the ocean food web seem totally unimportant.

Microsope image of a colorful shrimp-like creature

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Evolution Inspires Anthrax Cure

Scientists borrowed tricks from evolution to develop the world's first treatment for late stage inhalation anthrax.

Soldier wearing uniform, helmet and gas mask

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The Last First Planetary Mission

University of Texas at Austin alumnus Alan Stern describes the challenges, and the joys, of the last first mission to a planet.

Artist's illustration of a spacecraft flying past a planet

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Some Bacteria Have Lived in the Human Gut Since Before We Were Human

New study suggests that evolution plays a larger role than previously known in people's intestinal-microbe makeup.

Illustration of green and purple microbes enlarged under a microscope

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Looking Forward ... and Back: Podcast Updates

In case you missed it, here are some Point of Discovery podcast highlights from the past year, plus a preview of new episodes coming soon

Logo with a microscope in front of an abstract blue background and the words "Point of Discovery"

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Why is CGI in the Movies Still So Hard?

A computer scientist talks about the challenges of CGI in the movies.

A stream of raspbrerry sauce being poured over a chocolate bunny

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Here's What Research Did for Me, Student Stories

Students and scientists discuss the importance of getting involved in research early.

Portraits of five college students

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Jekyll and Hyde Bacteria

What do you do when the bacteria you study that's deadly in the real world acts all mild and gentle in the lab?

Microscope image of pink bacteria with hair-like and corkscrew-like structures

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Saving the Bees, Two Perspectives

How do you move 100,000 honeybees—a living laboratory for research on the gut microbiome—half way across the country?

A busy hive of honeybees

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Pyramid Probe

How particle physics can help explore the insides of ancient Mayan pyramids without digging

A large cylinder-shaped piece of scientific equipment hangs from chains

About the Podcast

Behind every scientific discovery is a scientist (or 12) and a story. “Point of Discovery” takes you on a journey beyond WHAT we know to HOW we know it. Listeners will meet the sometimes quirky, always passionate people whose curiosity unlocks hidden worlds.

Hosted by Marc Airhart

Marc Airhart is the Communications Coordinator for the College of Natural Sciences. A long time member of the National Association of Science Writers, he has written for national publications including Scientific American, Mercury, The Earth Scientist, Environmental Engineer & Scientist, and StarDate Magazine.

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Disclaimer

Point of Discovery is part of the Texas Podcast Network, brought to you by The University of Texas at Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft content that adheres to journalistic best practices. The University of Texas at Austin offers these podcasts at no charge. Podcasts appearing on the network and this webpage represent the views of the hosts, not of The University of Texas at Austin.