The science of self-medication in animals
05/23/25 • 46 min
When we think about advances in medicine, most of us probably first picture lab coats and fancy equipment -- but as our guest, biologist Jaap de Roode, author of the extraordinary new book Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves shares, sometimes big discoveries (in medicine and beyond!) can come from looking for data in surprising new places.
Join us for a fascinating conversation about how animals in the wild use medicine, such as plants in their environments, why this is so important to understand, and how we can all make more discoveries by starting from a place of wonder, curiosity, and open-mindedness. Plus: extremely fun animal facts!!
Follow Jaap at @jaapderoode on Instagram, and be sure to buy his book, Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves !
Host Andrea Jones-Rooy is @jonesrooy on Instagram and at www.jonesrooy.com.
Behind the Data is a podcast that uncovers the hidden stories within the data shaping our world. From political polls to global happiness trackers, we dive into the datasets that influence the decisions we make—while showing you why data isn’t just numbers, but a way to understand the world. Whether you're a data newbie or a seasoned pro, each episode makes complex data approachable, revealing surprising insights and the human side of every dataset. Come for the discoveries, stay for the stories.
We are proud to be part of the Daily Tech News Show network of podcasts.
Subscribe and leave a review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When we think about advances in medicine, most of us probably first picture lab coats and fancy equipment -- but as our guest, biologist Jaap de Roode, author of the extraordinary new book Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves shares, sometimes big discoveries (in medicine and beyond!) can come from looking for data in surprising new places.
Join us for a fascinating conversation about how animals in the wild use medicine, such as plants in their environments, why this is so important to understand, and how we can all make more discoveries by starting from a place of wonder, curiosity, and open-mindedness. Plus: extremely fun animal facts!!
Follow Jaap at @jaapderoode on Instagram, and be sure to buy his book, Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves !
Host Andrea Jones-Rooy is @jonesrooy on Instagram and at www.jonesrooy.com.
Behind the Data is a podcast that uncovers the hidden stories within the data shaping our world. From political polls to global happiness trackers, we dive into the datasets that influence the decisions we make—while showing you why data isn’t just numbers, but a way to understand the world. Whether you're a data newbie or a seasoned pro, each episode makes complex data approachable, revealing surprising insights and the human side of every dataset. Come for the discoveries, stay for the stories.
We are proud to be part of the Daily Tech News Show network of podcasts.
Subscribe and leave a review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Searching for life in the Milky Way
Is there life in our galaxy? How would we know if we spotted it? Dr. Moiya McTier, astrophysicist and folklorist, joins us to talk about her Ph.D. research on exactly that, plus the many surprising ways we get data about our universe (plus some existential pondering, of course)! Warning: we will be talking about the vastness of space and it's *no joke*!
If you're overwhelmed by the universe but want to be its friend, be sure to check out Moiya's fantastic podcast Pale Blue Pod! I'm also a guest on an episode this week hooray :).
Follow Moiya!
- @GoAstroMo on all the things!
- Moiyamctier.com
- Her book is The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy
- Her podcast rules: https://palebluepod.com/
Links & references in the episode:
- Foundational archao-astronomer Owen Gingerich
- Cultural astronomer Jarita Holbrook
- LIGO chirp sounds & information
- NASA datasets
- NASA's exoplanet archive
Our music is from Music Radio Creative and we are proudly part of the Daily Tech News Show ecosystem! Find me at @jonesrooy and jonesrooy.com.
Chapters
00:00 Exploring Life in the Milky Way
04:09 Astrophysics vs. Astronomy: Understanding the Differences
10:30 Data Collection in Astrophysics
16:42 The Breakthrough of Gravitational Waves
21:13 The Sound of Space: Gravitational Waves and Data Representation
22:19 Multi-Messenger Astronomy: A New Era of Discovery
24:48 The Cosmic Gold Rush: Understanding Element Formation
26:21 Data Overload: The Stress of Astronomical Discoveries
28:50 Big Data in Astronomy: The Challenge of Analysis
31:12 AI in Astronomy: The Future of Data Processing
33:33 Bias in Data: The Challenges of Observational Astronomy
36:14 Null Results: The Importance of Scientific Rigor
38:37 The Search for Life: Habitable Zones in the Milky Way
40:54 Existential Reflections: Finding Meaning in the Vastness of Space
42:05 Exploring Space Data: Resources for the Curious
Keywords
Milky Way, life, astrophysics, astronomy, gravitational waves, data collection, science communication, cultural astronomy, world building, aliens, gravitational waves, multi-messenger astronomy, data analysis, AI in astronomy, bias in data, habitable zones, cosmic discoveries, Milky Way, space exploration, scientific rigor
Behind the Data is a podcast that uncovers the hidden stories within the data shaping our world. From political polls to global happiness trackers, we dive into the datasets that influence the decisions we make—while showing you why data isn’t just numbers, but a way to understand the world. Whether you're a data newbie or a seasoned pro, each episode makes complex data approachable, revealing surprising insights and the human side of every dataset. Come for the discoveries, stay for the stories.
We are proud to be part of the Daily Tech News Show network of podcasts.
Subscribe and leave a review!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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