Podcast Summary
Exploring Temperature Regulation in Creatures and Ourselves: From hibernating bears to anti-freeze frogs, creatures adapt to extreme temperatures. Understanding thermophysiology impacts our daily lives and research, including personal experiences and scientific perspectives.
Our bodies and the natural world around us are intricately connected when it comes to temperature regulation. In this episode of Ologies, host Ali Ward invites thermophysiologist Dr. Shane Campbell-Staten to discuss how various creatures adapt to extreme temperatures, from hibernating bears to anti-freeze frogs. Dr. Campbell-Staten also shares his personal experiences living in different climates and how they've influenced his research. The episode highlights the importance of understanding thermophysiology and how it applies to our daily lives, from sweating during sleep to the influence of comic books on scientific perspectives. The episode also touches on the importance of community and the connections we make through shared interests and experiences. So, whether you're bundled up in the cold or enjoying the warmth, take a moment to appreciate the fascinating ways our bodies and the natural world adapt to temperature changes.
From childhood fascination to scientific career: Following childhood passions can lead to rewarding scientific careers, even with unconventional paths
Passion for science, even if it starts as a child's fascination, can lead to a rewarding career. Shane's obsession with reptiles as a kid eventually led him to study biology and eventually earn a PhD in organismic and evolutionary biology, focusing on the anole lizard. His upbringing, which included a supportive mother and an introduction to the natural world through television, played a role in shaping his interests and eventual career. Despite not having a traditional "outdoor" childhood, he was able to make meaningful contributions to the scientific community by studying the evolution of cold tolerance in anoles. This story highlights the importance of following one's passions, even if the path to achieving them is unconventional.
Green anole lizards spread through storms and cold adaptation: Green anole lizards, originating in Cuba, spread to new locations through storms. As they move further north, they become more cold-hardy through local adaptation, allowing them to survive in colder temperatures.
The green anole lizard, which originated in Cuba, likely reached new locations through storms and even "rained down" on different parts of the world. These lizards can fly through the air, and while there have been reports of lizard rain, there is no definitive evidence to support this phenomenon. However, as the green anole population moves further north, they become more cold-hardy, allowing them to survive in colder temperatures. Scientists test their thermal tolerance by measuring their ability to maintain a righting response as they are cooled down, and they have found that the most cold-hardy populations come from areas with the coldest winters. This local adaptation helps the lizards survive and reproduce in their new environments.
Understanding Animal Heat Regulation: Endothermic animals produce internal heat and maintain constant body temperature, while ectothermic animals cannot and their temperature varies with environment. Studying animals in natural habitats provides insights into our own heat regulation.
Animals' ability to produce and regulate their body heat significantly impacts their response to temperature and their overall function. Endothermic animals, like humans, produce their own heat internally and can maintain a constant body temperature, while ectothermic animals cannot and their body temperature varies with their environment. However, exceptions exist, such as hibernating endothermic animals that can drop their body temperature close to the environment's to save energy, and large ectothermic animals that can be homeothermic due to their large size and slow heat loss. These classifications create a matrix that helps understand the thermal physiology of various organisms. The discussion also highlighted the importance of studying animals in their natural habitats and how their experiences can inform our understanding of ourselves as endothermic organisms.
How animals regulate their body temperature: Endothermic animals produce heat internally, while ectothermic animals rely on their environment. Body shape and size adaptations help both types maintain optimal temperatures.
Animals maintain their body temperature in different ways, and size plays a role in this thermoregulation. Endothermic animals, like humans, produce their own body heat internally and must consume more energy to do so. They can live in various climates, but their body shape may adapt to their environment, such as longer, narrower limbs in warmer climates to release heat quickly. Ectothermic animals, like reptiles, rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. They can maintain a constant temperature by being large and moving into cooler areas or by using behavioral thermoregulation, like seeking shade. Insects, like bees, can generate heat through muscle activity. The need for specific body temperatures is related to an animal's evolutionary and life history strategies. For example, mammals benefit from a high metabolism and the ability to maintain a constant body temperature, but it requires more energy intake. Understanding these thermoregulation strategies provides insight into the adaptations animals have undergone to survive in various environments.
Animals' Adaptations to Extreme Temperatures: Elephants use large ears as personal air conditioners, while alligators and certain frogs produce antifreeze to survive extreme cold.
Animals, especially larger ones, have evolved unique adaptations to survive in extreme temperatures. For instance, elephants, the largest mammal, live near the equator and use their large ears as personalized air conditioners to cool down. On the other hand, animals like alligators and certain frogs can survive in freezing temperatures by producing antifreeze-like substances to prevent ice crystal formation. These adaptations help animals maintain their internal temperatures and survive in their specific environments. In the realm of cryobiology, animals have developed remarkable ways to cope with extreme cold, while in hot environments, behaviors such as seeking shade and fanning ears are common adaptations.
Adaptations to Extreme Temperatures: Desert lizards hop to avoid heat, pyrrolobus fumari survives in 250 degree Fahrenheit, Japanese honeybee has higher thermal tolerance than hornet, extreme conditions lead to unique adaptations
Animals and microorganisms have adapted to survive in some of the most extreme temperatures on Earth. For instance, certain desert lizards hop to avoid the heat, while organisms around hydrothermal vents, like pyrrolobus fumari, the most heat-tolerant organisms known, can withstand temperatures over 250 degrees Fahrenheit. In Japan, the Japanese honeybee has a slightly higher thermal tolerance than the Japanese giant hornet, enabling them to use this difference to their advantage and survive against their predator. These examples show that extreme conditions can lead to unique adaptations and performances in the natural world.
Japanese hornets face deadly combination of bee heat and CO2: Japanese hornets meet their match in heat-generating, CO2-releasing bees, while European bees remain vulnerable.
Japanese giant hornets face a unique threat from the heat-generating and carbon dioxide-producing behavior of Asian honeybees. When a hornet invades a hive, the bees form a ball around it, vibrate to generate heat, and release carbon dioxide, effectively cooking and killing the hornet. This combination of heat and lowered thermal tolerance is a lethal one-two punch for the hornet. European honeybees, unfortunately, are still vulnerable to Japanese hornet raiding parties, which can decimate entire colonies. As for the professor's perspective, transitioning from student to professor comes with unexpected challenges. The veil of academia can be mysterious, with each stage bringing new stressors and responsibilities. The professor in question, who teaches at UCLA, shares that becoming a professor meant learning to multitask and adapt quickly, as the demands of the role were far greater than anticipated. Additionally, a late diagnosis of ADD added an extra layer of complexity to managing the job's demands. Despite these challenges, the professor's academic achievements, including a PhD from Harvard, demonstrate the power of resilience and adaptability.
Plan tasks the night before for effective time management: Planning tasks the night before and sticking to a schedule can lead to increased productivity. Balancing work and enjoyable hobbies can prevent burnout.
Effective time management involves creating a concrete list of tasks the night before and sticking to a planned schedule as much as possible. This strategy, as shared by Shane, has led to his most productive days. He learned this technique through experience, particularly during his graduate studies when he felt burnt out and discovered a new interest in comic books as a way to escape. Interestingly, this interest in comic books eventually led him to teach a course at UCLA called "The Biology of Superheroes." While this strategy doesn't always work perfectly, the days where it does result in increased productivity are well worth the effort. Additionally, finding ways to balance intense focus on work with enjoyable hobbies or activities can help prevent burnout and improve overall well-being.
Exploring Biological Limits through Science Fiction: Science fiction provides a platform to understand theoretical possibilities and real-life implications of pushing biological limits, such as adapting to extreme temperatures or rapid environmental changes.
Science fiction serves as an intriguing thought experiment to explore the limits of biological performance and adaptations. The speaker, a scientist, shared his experience of teaching a course and hosting a podcast that delve into the intersection of science and science fiction. He found that this approach helps in understanding the theoretical possibilities and real-life implications of pushing biological limits. For instance, they discussed superheroes' abilities to withstand extreme temperatures and the evolutionary challenges of adapting to such conditions. The speaker also emphasized the complexity of biological systems and the challenges in adapting to rapid environmental changes like climate change. He noted that understanding these intricacies is crucial for predicting and mitigating the effects on various organisms, including humans.
Human ability to buffer against extremes vs. vulnerable populations: While humans can adapt to some extremes, certain populations face life-threatening conditions due to environmental or political factors. Voting and advocacy are crucial tools for change.
Humans have the ability to buffer ourselves against various extremes in our environment, but not everyone has access to these resources. Extreme weather conditions, urban heat islands, and political actions like border policies can put certain populations at risk. For instance, undocumented migrants attempting to cross deserts face extreme thermal climates and water scarcity, which can be life-threatening. Evolution by natural selection, which involves a cost of death, doesn't apply to contemporary human society, where human life is considered paramount. Voting is an essential tool for creating change. Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are extremophiles that can survive extreme temperatures, desiccation, vacuum, and UV radiation, making them nature's badasses.
Understanding Normal Body Temperature Variations: Normal body temperature variations are common and do not require medical attention. However, a persistent fever should be evaluated by a doctor, as it can help the body fight infections but prolonged fevers can cause harm.
Our bodies have natural variations in temperature and some people may run warmer or cooler than others. This is not a cause for concern and is a normal part of human physiology. However, if someone is experiencing a persistent fever, it is important to seek medical attention from a doctor rather than relying on advice from a scientist or podcast host. Fevers serve a purpose in helping our bodies fight off infections by raising our internal temperature to make it harder for bacteria and viruses to survive. But maintaining a fever for an extended period can have negative effects and potentially harm the body. Additionally, some people may have different heat tolerances than their partners due to various factors, including metabolic rate and individual health conditions.
Body size and temperature regulation: Men generally retain heat more efficiently due to larger body size, but individual differences and genetic/cultural factors exist. We sleep better in cooler temperatures and insulation helps create a comfortable sleeping environment, but some people may still experience discomfort or overheating.
Body size plays a role in temperature regulation, with men, on average, having more volume to surface area, allowing them to retain heat more efficiently than women. However, it's important to note that this is a generalization and not every individual fits this pattern. Additionally, genealogy can also influence thermal preferences, with both genetic and cultural factors at play. When it comes to sleeping, we tend to sleep better in cooler temperatures, and insulation, such as blankets, can help create a comfortable sleeping environment. However, some people may still experience discomfort or overheating in the middle of the night, and the exact cause of this is still not fully understood.
Body's Temperature Regulation and Heterothermy: The body prioritizes core temperature and may shunt blood to preserve heat, leading to cold extremities. The body also prioritizes keeping the brain warm.
Our body's temperature regulation is controlled by the hypothalamus, which acts as a thermostat. Our temperature drops during sleep to keep us comfortable. Hormonal changes or sudden drops in blood sugar can affect the hypothalamus, leading to temperature irregularities. The body prioritizes core temperature and may shunt blood away from extremities to preserve heat, resulting in cold hands and feet. Regional heterothermy is the term for this phenomenon. The body also prioritizes keeping the brain warm by continuously pumping blood to the head. The urban myth that we lose most of our body heat through our head is not true due to our tendency to wear hats and insulate other parts of our bodies. Individuals can acclimate to different temperatures over time, a process called heat hardening.
Our bodies adapt to different environments: Our bodies can produce various phenotypes depending on environmental interactions, allowing us to survive in diverse conditions
Our bodies have the amazing ability to adapt to different environmental conditions, a process known as acclimation or phenotypic plasticity. This means that our genome can produce multiple phenotypes depending on our interaction with the environment. For instance, if we go to high altitude, our bodies physiologically change to produce more red blood cells. Similarly, our response to temperature can also induce changes. If we live in warmer climates, we may become more adept at functioning at high temperatures. Conversely, if we lose weight, we might feel colder due to having less insulation and a larger surface area to volume ratio. Animals in cold climates, like polar bears, have a lot of fat as insulation. If we've lost a lot of weight and are feeling cold, we might consider getting a sweater to thermally buffer ourselves. This ability to adapt is crucial for our survival and is known as the Bogart effect. Some animals, like wood frogs, can even suspend their bodily functions in freezing temperatures and come back to life when thawed. It's incredible how our bodies can adapt to different conditions!
Exploring the boundaries of organ preservation: Research in cryogenic freezing and reviving organs continues, despite the improbability of reviving humans, to extend transplant longevity.
While the possibility of cryogenic freezing and reviving people is highly improbable based on current knowledge, the research in the field is active and focused on extending the longevity of transplants by freezing and reviving organs. The challenges lie in understanding the physiology of the process and how it plays out in nature. For thermophysiologists, the mundane administrative tasks and the extreme thermal conditions in the field can be challenging, but the opportunity to work with animals and contribute to scientific discoveries makes it worthwhile.
Exploring the mysteries of life through scientific research: Scientific research in thermophysiology offers unique insights into evolution and life's intricacies using advanced technology, collaboration, and sharing knowledge.
Working as a scientist, especially in the field of thermophysiology, holds a deep sense of satisfaction from the daily pursuit of answering new and potentially groundbreaking questions. The experience of observing organisms in their natural environments and witnessing their critical decision-making processes can provide a unique perspective on evolution and the intricacies of life. Furthermore, the use of advanced technology, such as environmental chambers, allows scientists to manipulate conditions and gain valuable insights. Outside of research, engaging in projects like podcasts that merge science and pop culture can broaden the reach and impact of scientific knowledge. Overall, the thrill of discovery, the importance of collaboration, and the joy of sharing knowledge make the scientific journey an endlessly fascinating and rewarding endeavor. To learn more about Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton's work, listen to his podcast, "The Biology of Superheroes," available on multiple platforms, and follow him on Twitter @scampbellstaton.
Unexpected Challenges and Support from Loved Ones: Despite unexpected setbacks, staying resilient and leaning on loved ones can help us move forward.
Life can throw unexpected challenges our way, making us miss opportunities and plans we had made. This week, the host missed a scheduled trip due to snow cancellations and felt disappointed. However, he found comfort in the support of his team, including interns Harry Kim and Caleb Patton, and podcast editor Jarrett Sleeper. He also shared a light-hearted moment about falling asleep at work and still being in yesterday's clothes. Despite the setbacks, the host reminded us to stay warm and keep moving forward. The episode also touched on various topics such as pachydermatology, cryptozoology, and lithology, showcasing the host's diverse interests. Overall, the episode emphasized the importance of resilience and the support of loved ones during unexpected challenges.