The gut microbiome has become a hot topic in recent years, capturing the attention of scientists and the general public alike. In our latest podcast episode, we met with Professor Paul Wilmes, head of the Systems Ecology group at the Luxembourg Center for Systems Biomedicine (University of Luxembourg). He shares insights into the complexities of the microbiome, its role in human health, and the groundbreaking research being conducted in Luxembourg.

One of the key highlights of the discussion is the impact of the gut microbiome on chronic diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. Professor Wilmes discusses the ERC Proof of Concept grant he received to explore biomarkers that could detect early signs of Parkinson's disease through shifts in the gut microbiome. This research could pave the way for early interventions and better management of the disease. The conversation also touches on the factors that influence our microbiome, including diet, environment, and even the mode of delivery at birth.

USEFUL LINKS

Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine - https://www.uni.lu/lcsb-en/

More about Prof. Paul Wilmes - https://www.uni.lu/lcsb-en/people/paul-wilmes/

Human Microbiome Project - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Microbiome_Project

MetaHIT - https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/201052/reporting

ExpoBiome Project - https://www.uni.lu/lcsb-en/research-projects/expobiome-deciphering-the-impact-of-exposures-from-the-gut-microbiome-derived-molecular-complex-in-human-health-and-disease/

This episode features Dr. Adam Hulman, a mathematician with a PhD in epidemiology who specialises in bridging the gap between computer science and clinical research. Adam discusses the significant challenges involved in developing prediction models that actually work in real-world healthcare contexts, particularly in diabetes management.

The conversation covers machine learning applications in medical settings, the complexities of training models with medical data, and the importance of clinical validation. Adam also shares insights about his research methodology, including his use of the LEGO Serious Play approach in scientific work.

Adam's unique dual expertise in mathematics and epidemiology provides valuable perspectives on both the technical and practical aspects of healthcare data science.

USEFUL LINKS:

More about Adam Hulman: https://www.au.dk/en/adam.hulman@ph.au.dk/

Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus: https://www.stenoaarhus.dk/kontakt/Adam-Hulman/

LEGO Serious Play: https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/serious-play/background

Tripod: https://www.tripod-statement.org/

Did you know Luxembourg is home to space weather experts?

Space weather – a term that may sound unfamiliar to many – encompasses a broad range of solar phenomena that can significantly impact life on Earth and the technology we rely on daily. This is the specialisation of Dr. Carl Shneider from SnT (University of Luxembourg), whom we spoke with recently.

One of the most fascinating aspects we discussed with Carl is the role of Earth's magnetic field in shielding us from solar radiation. He explained how the sun's magnetic field interacts with our own, creating a protective barrier that helps mitigate the effects of solar storms. However, when these storms are particularly intense, they can penetrate this shield, creating beautiful auroras but also posing potential hazards to our technology and infrastructure.

Listeners will also learn about historical events, such as the Carrington Event of 1859, which caused widespread disruptions to telegraph systems and serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by solar activity. Carl emphasised that as our reliance on technology increases, so does our need for robust space weather monitoring and preparedness.

USEFUL LINKS

More about SnT: https://www.uni.lu/snt-en/

More about Carl Shneider: https://www.uni.lu/snt-en/people/carl-shneider/

Laschamp excursion - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laschamp_event

Dynamo theory - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamo_theory

Forbush decrease - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbush_decrease

Goldilocks zone - https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/what-is-the-habitable-zone-or-goldilocks-zone/

5 things: Space Weather - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrloxznL93s&pp=ygUNc3BhY2Ugd2VhdGhlcg%3D%3D

SOHO - https://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/

Parker Solar Probe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe

Swift Mission - https://science.nasa.gov/mission/swift/

LISA mission - https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/LISA/LISA_factsheet

Books Carl talks about:

*Bryan Gaensler, Extreme Cosmos: https://unsw.press/books/extreme-cosmos/

*Karel Schrijver, Living with the Stars: How the Human Body is Connected to the Life Cycles of the Earth, the Planets, and the Stars: https://academic.oup.com/book/34801

*Delores Knipp:

Paper: Timelines as a tool for learning about space weather storms: https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2021/01/swsc200106/swsc200106.html

Book: Understanding Space Weather and the Physics Behind It: https://spacetechnologyseries.com/books/Space-Weather.html

Let's look at what we eat - from a nutrition research perspective!

Dr. Torsten Bohn, a food chemist and nutritionist heading the Nutrition and Health group at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, shares his insights on what constitutes a healthy diet, the challenges of adhering to dietary recommendations in real life, and the impact of modern dietary trends. We explore the complexities of food bioactives, the significance of the gut microbiome, and how our understanding of nutrition is evolving in light of new research.

Torsten discusses the role of dietary fiber, and how lifestyle factors can influence our overall health. He emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to diet and nutrition, addressing the gaps between scientific recommendations and everyday eating habits. With a keen focus on food security and sustainability, we also touch on the future of food production and the potential of novel foods in meeting the nutritional needs of a growing global population.

As we wrap up, don't miss our pub quiz question that challenges you to consider the role of nutrition in determining lifespan.

USEFUL LINKS

About Torsten Bohn: https://researchportal.lih.lu/en/persons/torsten-bohn

Luxembourg Institute of Health: https://www.lih.lu/en/

Diet and Gut Microbiota by Dr. Torsten Bohn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8l8EPjI3Lg

The EAT Lancet report: https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet-commission/

What exactly is number theory, and what drives researchers to dedicate their careers to this field? How does this seemingly abstract branch of mathematics connect to the cryptography that secures our digital world?

A couple of weeks ago, Luxembourg hosted the 33rd Journées Arithmétiques, providing us with the perfect opportunity to explore these questions. We sat down with two mathematicians: a visiting researcher and a local expert, offering insights from both international and Luxembourg-based perspectives.

Our first guest is Prof. Jennifer Balakrishnan from Boston University, who led the team that cracked the notorious "cursed curve" problem. We couldn't resist discussing it and learning more from Jennifer about current big questions.

We also explored the mathematical foundations of cryptography with Tim Seuré, a PhD student at the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) at the University of Luxembourg, focusing on fully homomorphic encryption.

USEFUL LINKS:

More about Prof. Jennifer Balakrishnan: https://math.bu.edu/people/jbala/

Quanta Magazine article about cracking the "cursed curve": https://www.quantamagazine.org/mathematicians-crack-the-cursed-curve-20171207/

33rd Journées Arithmétiques: https://www.uni.lu/fstm-en/conferences/ja25/

Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search: https://www.mersenne.org/

In this episode, Professor Elisabeth Letellier from the University of Luxembourg and Dr. Mina Tsenkova, now at Amgen in California, discuss colorectal cancer research and ketogenic diet. Mina won the Rolf Tarrach Award 2024 for her PhD thesis.

The discussion centers around the critical role of the gut microbiome in cancer development, specifically how diet influences this relationship. Mina shares insights from her award-winning PhD research on the ketogenic diet and its effects on colorectal cancer, while Elisabeth provides an overview of the disease itself and the rising incidence among younger populations. Together, they explore the complexities of diet, microbiome interactions, and the challenges of translating research into clinical practice.

USEFUL LINKS

Rolf Tarrach Award for Dr. Mina Tsenkova - https://www.uni.lu/research-en/events/rolf-tarrach-award-2024/

Amgen - https://www.amgen.com/

Science in Colours - Mina Tsenkova - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGhgWsezc7c

Dr. Patrick Michel, senior researcher at CNRS and global fellow at the University of Tokyo, discusses how our understanding of asteroids has evolved dramatically since the mid-1990s. Early research relied on reflected light observations, but space missions have revealed asteroids as complex geological worlds with diverse shapes and structures. Patrick reflects on this transition from limited knowledge to groundbreaking missions that reveal the intricate features of these celestial bodies.

The episode also covers Asteroid Day, celebrated annually on June 30th, which commemorates the 1908 Tunguska event when an asteroid explosion destroyed a large area of Siberian forest.

Moreover, Patrick recounts the successful DART mission, which tested asteroid deflection techniques and demonstrated humanity's first deliberate alteration of a celestial body's trajectory. He introduces also the Hera mission, designed to investigate the aftermath of the DART impact on asteroid Dimorphos, gathering crucial data on asteroid composition and structure.

USEFUL LINKS

Hera mission - https://www.heramission.space/

More about Dr. Patrick Michel - https://www.oca.eu/michel/

DART mission - https://science.nasa.gov/mission/dart/

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx - https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex/

Asteroid Foundation - https://asteroidfoundation.org/

Dr. Thomas Gibon from the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology breaks down why our assumptions about "green" technology are often wrong. Electric cars, hydrogen fuel, steel production – Thomas shows how Life Cycle Assessment reveals the hidden environmental costs that many don't talk about.

The conversation cuts through the usual green-tech hype. That electric car? Its environmental impact depends on how the electricity gets made and where the lithium comes from. Hydrogen as a clean fuel? Not if you're using fossil fuels to produce it.

Beyond the technical analysis, Thomas tackles the harder question: how do we build a low-carbon future that people actually want to live in? The discussion moves from engineering assessments to the social and political realities of climate action – because the best technology in the world won't matter if nobody wants to use it.

USEFUL LINKS

More about Dr. Thomas Gibon's research: https://scholar.google.no/citations?user=I3ATYsQAAAAJ&hl=no

Articles discussed:

- Is green growth possible?: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13563467.2019.1598964

- How to make climate-neutral aviation fly: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39749-y

DISCUSSED EPISODES

Hydrogen with Dr. Robin White: https://www.scilux.eu/episodes/hydrogen

Urban Health with Dr. Camille Perchoux: https://www.scilux.eu/episodes/urban-health

Empowering Communities with Dr. Gilles Evrard Essuman: https://www.scilux.eu/episodes/empowering-communities