PODCAST · science
The Dish
by Cultivarium
The Dish — Cultivarium's 24/7 AI-hosted science radio. An ode to the petri dish (and to dishing the latest): technology for biology, non-model organisms, molecular tools, and the occasional tardigrade. Paper-driven, hosted by a small cast of AI personalities.
Episodes
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Genomic Signatures Reveal Environmental Imprints
Global microbial DNA signatures of temperature and nutrient limitation across ecosystems: Machine learning on tetranucleotide frequencies from marine and soil metagenomes shows how environmental conditions imprint on the genome, which could be used to understand... Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Cas13a Enhances RNA Virus Detection
Scientists have long used a powerful gene-editing tool called CRISPR to make precise changes to DNA. But a different version of the technology, known as Cas13a, targets RNA, the genetic material found in viruses such as HIV. Now, researchers at Rice University have developed an improved version…
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Today in Biology — Oct 16
What's happening in Biology right now. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Automating Biology's Experimental Bottleneck
Tracing the roots of AI at the Lab Bench across 6 papers. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Fungus Solves Decades-Old Frog Disappearance Mystery
In the 1970s, researchers began to observe drastic amphibian declines in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, a global hotspot of frog biodiversity. For decades, these disappearances remained a mystery. Now, new research from scientists at the Center for Conservation Genomics at the Smithsonian's National…
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Parasitic Plant Steals Ancient Genes
A new genetic analysis tool developed by UF assistant professor of biology Liming Cai, Ph.D., has led to the discovery of the first known interaction between Amborella, a rare New Caledonian plant, and a parasitic plant called Hachettea. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Today in AI — Oct 15
What's happening in AI right now. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Genome Engineering From Scratch
Tracing the roots of Writing Genomes From Scratch across 6 papers. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Interphase DNA Dynamics Unchanged
Human genomic DNA is wrapped around core histone proteins to form nucleosomes, the fundamental units of chromatin. During interphase, the period between cell divisions, DNA is replicated and the nucleus becomes larger. At the same time, cells must continuously carry out essential genome functions...
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Tail Fiber Engineering For Broadened Phage Tropism
Cell-free TX-TL workflow identifies positions 389 and 402 as host-specificity gates in the LPST153 Salmonella phage tail fiber; G389R expands adsorption to E. coli strains. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Breaching The Recalcitrant Microbial Barrier
Tracing the roots of Getting DNA Into the Unengineerable across 6 papers. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Bacterial Retrons Defend In Reverse
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered an unusual bacterial immune system that operates in reverse of known defenses. The discovery, published in Molecular Cell, details the mechanics of "type VI retrons"—a counterintuitive class of bacterial defenses. More than just a biological...
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Today in Biology — Oct 14
What's happening in Biology right now. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Beetle Spheres Guard Extracellular Bacterial Symbionts
A female-specific Yellow protein (MRJP family) forms the gelatinous spheres that encapsulate Stammera during extracellular vertical transmission in tortoise beetles; RNAi knockdown disrupts sphere integrity and triggers transcriptional collapse in Stammera under desiccation Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Cellular Cohabitation Negotiating Terms
Tracing the roots of The Cell Within the Cell across 6 papers. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Minimal Life Redefined By Genome Size
Within this dinoflagellate plankton is a tiny microbe that acts more like a virus than a cell. (Takuro Nakayama/University of Tsukuba) What is an organism, anyway?ScienceAlert stories are written, fact-checked, and edited by humans, never generated by AI. Don't miss a story, subscribe here.…
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Nuclear Pore Accessibility Regulation Mechanism
The cells of higher organisms such as mammals, flies and fungi enclose their genetic material in a nucleus. A nuclear envelope, consisting of two stacked membranes, protects it. For the cell to survive, the nucleus must constantly exchange molecules with the rest of the cell. This exchange relies...
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Today in AI — Oct 13
What's happening in AI right now. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Bacterial DNA Defense And Genetic Engineering
Tracing the roots of The Bacterial Immune Arms Race across 6 papers. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Macrophage Fortresses Breached By Peptide Harpoons
Transmembrane delivery of antimicrobial peptides by engineered eCIS into macrophages for intracellular mycobacteria elimination Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Ancient Defense Against Viruses and Aging
A new antiviral defense system discovered by Columbia scientists could be adapted in the future into a gene editor that slows down aging in our cells and improves cancer therapies. At the same time, the discovery also sheds light on an ancient event in evolution that may have helped set the stage...
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Today in Biology — Oct 13
What's happening in Biology right now. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Genomic Grammar Unlocked By Machine Learning
Tracing the roots of Teaching Machines to Read DNA across 6 papers. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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From Protein Spin To Balloon Radiometry
Nature, Published online: 06 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02973-9A satisfying congruence between genetics and cell-biology findings, and experiments at altitude with a rotating device that measures radiant energy, in this week’s peek at Nature’s archive. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Today in AI — Oct 12
What's happening in AI right now. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Bacterial DNA Defense And Genome Engineering
Tracing the roots of The Bacterial Immune Arms Race across 6 papers. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Siberian Ice Age Bovine Lost Yak Relative
DNA analyses of ancient remains have revealed a previously unknown extinct bovine species that inhabited southern Siberia during and even before the last ice age. The extinct species was related to modern yaks but followed a separate evolutionary path for hundreds of thousands of years. The...
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AMP Priming Boosts Bacillus Transformation
Sublethal antimicrobial peptide (AMP) supplementation at 2 µg/ml synergizes with electroporation to quadruple *B. subtilis* WB600 transformation efficiency, reaching 1.69 × 10⁴ CFU/µg at 7.5 kV/cm — a membrane-priming strategy not previously reported for *Bacillus*. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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AI Revolutionizes Biology's Design Build Test Cycle
Tracing the roots of AI at the Lab Bench across 6 papers. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Root Microbiota Orchestrates Iron Scavenging
A new study led by Paul Schulze-Lefert from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, in collaboration with Ricardo F.H. Giehl at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Gatersleben, revealed how Arabidopsis plants adapt their chemical…
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Today in Biology — Oct 11
What's happening in Biology right now. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Deep Sea Brittle Stars Illuminate Abyss
Thousands of meters below the waves off Australia's east coast, far beyond where sunlight can reach, a stunning light show takes place in the dark. The cause? Two species of long-legged creatures emitting a blue glow. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Building Genomes From Scratch
Tracing the roots of Writing Genomes From Scratch across 6 papers. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Minimal Genome Redefines Cell Essentials
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown microorganism that has the smallest genome ever found and may be able to replicate and express its own genetic information. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Bacterial Iron Sensing Rewrites Metabolism
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common culprit in hospital-acquired bacterial infections and is growing more resistant to antibiotics. New findings from Aaron Smith, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UMBC, and collaborators at Oklahoma State University show how a two-protein system inside…
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Today in AI — Oct 10
What's happening in AI right now. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Engineering Unnatural Organisms
Tracing the roots of Getting DNA Into the Unengineerable across 6 papers. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Eukaryotic Heat Barrier Shattered
A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Lake Genomes Reveal Water Quality Secrets
Tiny single-celled organisms help keep lakes clear, but some can also contaminate the water. An international research team has analyzed DNA data from 362 lakes to create the first global genome atlas of these organisms. With the findings now published in Nature Communications, the new atlas lays...
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Today in Biology — Oct 10
What's happening in Biology right now. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Mitochondrial Dynamics And DNA Chaos
Tracing the roots of Life's Power Plants across 6 papers. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Scalpel System For Large DNA Insertion
A new engineered gene-editing system, proven in bacteria and showing promise for use in plants, animals and humans, addresses some limitations of current gene-editing tools, with the goal of improving their use in research, crop development and disease treatment. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Today in AI — Oct 9
What's happening in AI right now. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Engineering The Unengineerable Microbe
Tracing the roots of Getting DNA Into the Unengineerable across 6 papers. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Gut Microbes Chronicle Human Migrations
As waves of humans left Africa tens of thousands of years ago, eventually populating the entire planet, they were joined on their world-conquering ride by the trillions of microorganisms that compose the gut microbiome. Hosted by Sofia & Daniel.
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Macrophage-Targeted Lysins Evade TB Persistence
Retargeting the Photorhabdus PVC eCIS tail fiber to CD11b delivers mycobacteriophage-derived lysins directly into alveolar macrophages, reducing pulmonary M. tuberculosis H37Rv load >10-fold in mice via aerosol inhalation Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Genomic Grammar Unlocks Non-Model Organism Mysteries
Tracing the roots of Teaching Machines to Read DNA across 6 papers. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Vent Chemistry Powers Life's First Spark
Where did the energy come from to power the chemical origin of life, and how did phosphate come to be the universal energy currency of cells? Biologists from the Institute of Molecular Evolution at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) have uncovered a new source of energy that drove...
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Today in Biology — Oct 8
What's happening in Biology right now. Hosted by Theo & Dr. Mara.
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Deep Sea Symbiosis Under Chemical Stress
A research team led by professor Qian Peiyuan, chair professor in the Department of Ocean Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with international partners, has made progress in uncovering how deep-sea chemosynthetic symbioses cope with...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Dish — Cultivarium's 24/7 AI-hosted science radio. An ode to the petri dish (and to dishing the latest): technology for biology, non-model organisms, molecular tools, and the occasional tardigrade. Paper-driven, hosted by a small cast of AI personalities.
HOSTED BY
Cultivarium
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Dish have?
The Dish currently has 73 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Dish about?
The Dish — Cultivarium's 24/7 AI-hosted science radio. An ode to the petri dish (and to dishing the latest): technology for biology, non-model organisms, molecular tools, and the occasional tardigrade. Paper-driven, hosted by a small cast of AI personalities.
How often does The Dish release new episodes?
The Dish has 73 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Dish?
You can listen to The Dish on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Dish?
The Dish is created and hosted by Cultivarium.
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