YSM Issue 90.1

FEATURE
book review
SCIENCE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
BOOK REVIEW: I CONTAIN MULTITUDES
►BY SARAH ADAMS
Until recently, microbes were primarily seen as carriers of sickness
and disease. However, with technological advances and a few key
discoveries that have highlighted their potential for medicine, microbes
are now in the research spotlight. Ed Yong explores the nature of the
close relationship between bacteria and animals in his new book I
Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of
Life.
Yong begins by discussing the sheer ubiquity of microbes, thousands
of which exist in the air, food, water, and even on this page. Then, he
weaves a narrative that follows how microbes affect our bodies: how
we maintain and manipulate our relationship with them, the benefits
we reap from this relationship, and what happens when it fails. His
chapter on horizontal gene transfer, the movement of genes from
one organism to another without a parental-offspring relationship,
was particularly interesting. He included an example of Bacteroides
plebeius, a bacterium common throughout the world, and Zobellia
galactanivorans, a bacterium found on seaweed. In the Japanese
population, which consumes seaweed more regularly than the rest of
the world, Zobellia has transfered the genes responsible for seaweed
digestion to Bacteroides, which resides in the gut of the Japanese
population.
Yong also weaves an interesting narrative about the Wolbachia
bacterium into the book. “Wolbachia is so fascinating because
of how widespread it is and how it plays important roles in human
PODCAST REVIEW: ARE WE THERE YET?
►BY PAUL HAN
disease,” said Yong. It is heralded as
one of the most successful microbes
on the planet because of its presence
in 40 percent of insect and arthropod
species. It originally did not have a
practical medical application when it
was first discovered but has recently
been found to be able to potentially
treat tropical diseases like the Dengue
fever. “The whole story is a testament
to science that does not have to have an
immediate and practical application,”
said Yong.
In I Contain Multitudes, Yong
IMAGE COURTESY OF ED YONG
nods to past, notable discoveries in
microbiology research, while incorporating examples of current
research that connect to his themes. He also introduces a refreshing
feeling of wonder—a feeling that is often ignored in books on
similar topics—by highlighting the beauty of these microbial-animal
interactions. “I wanted to get people to appreciate how interesting
microbes are, rather than viewing them as sources of disease or dirt,
to actually realize that they are important parts of the world around
us. We should embrace that they are the dominant form of life on the
planet with profound influences on the way life works,” said Yong.
In popular science, few things are as romanticized as space exploration.
It is the classic science fiction plot: the fearless captain and his loyal crew,
journeying where no man has gone before. Yet to the average American,
space exploration appears to be beyond our grasp, a distant, fanciful
possibility in the drudgery of day-to-day life.
A new podcast is hoping to change that perception. “Are We There
Yet,” hosted by Brendan Byrne, follows the multifaceted efforts of
interplanetary space travel, ranging from NASA’s New Horizons Probe
to Elon Musk’s mission to Mars. Through informative discussion and
interviews with the men and women at the forefront of space exploration,
Byrne hopes to answer to question: “Are we there yet?”
Byrne was inspired to start his podcast after researching NASA’s and
other organizations’ plans to go to Mars. Byrne chose the podcast format
over a traditional news segment so that he could explore his topics in
greater detail. “I get the chance to really dig into these topics and not
be constrained by time,” he explained. “I hope each episode inspires the
listener to do some more exploring on their own.”
Each week, Byrne introduces a topic, briefly shares his own perspective
on the state and significance of the issue, and introduces his guest,
whom he then interviews for the remainder of the podcast. His guests
are typically scientists, researchers, and engineers from institutions such
as NASA and Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory—all at the forefront of
their field. They are courteous, intelligent, and highly informed.
They are not, however, entertaining. While excellent sources of
information, Byrne’s interviews are often dry and at times descend into
jargon. While expert sources are an invaluable part of the show, the
podcast would benefit from more speaking time for the host. When
Byrne speaks, he immediately makes the subject more accessible. “I hope
to take these insanely complicated technologies or plans and make them
understandable,” he explained. He also understands the importance of
public interest in the future of space exploration. “To succeed at space
exploration, we need public support.” As a host, Byrne is excellent at
exposing his listeners to these complicated technologies. He simply
needs to put greater emphasis on making them accessible.
While “Are We There Yet?” presents scientifically accurate and
relevant information, it does not capture the audience’s imagination.
There is promise, though. “We’re hoping to expand the show into a
more produced and immersive experience,” he stated. If Byrne can
execute his vision, “Are We There Yet” will be a compelling, entertaining,
and informative program. Right now, however, it is more like a weekly
fireside chat. For those captivated by the subject alone, however, this
podcast is still worth a listen.
38 Yale Scientific Magazine December 2016 www.yalescientific.org