Let’s Talk About

Vihaan Nair

A podcast were we discuss topics ranging from fun ones such as color vision and ants all the way to relevant ones such as climate change, plastic pollution, light pollution, and cryptocurrencies. read less

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Let's Talk About: Flooding and How People are Mitigating it

Let's Talk About: Flooding and How People are Mitigating it

In this episode, we explore the catastrophic impact of floods, taking a closer look at the devastating floods in Kerala, India in 2018, which saw the region receive 457% more rainfall than usual, leading to significant loss of life, injuries and displacement of people. As climate change worsens, these weather patterns are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. The episode delves into different types of floods – from flash floods, urban floods, to coastal floods, stressing the exigent need for effective mitigation strategies. Don't forget to check out our website after listening at: https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ and email us at letustalkabout@outlook.com for any questions or ideas you may have! Sources: https://globalmedic.ca/india-kerala-flood-response-2018/ | Global Medic | India Kerala Flood Response 2018 https://www.weather.gov/mrx/flood_and_flash | NOAA | Flood and flash flood definitions https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2018-480/ | European Geosciences Union | The Kerala flood of 2018: a combined impact of extreme rainfall and reservoir shortage https://www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au/Flood-Awareness/SitePages/What%20are%20the%20impacts%20of%20floods.aspx#:~:text=Main%20impacts%20of%20floods,and%20distressing%20for%20communities%20involved | Government of South Australia | Flood Awareness https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-006-9159-6 | Thomas Kleinen, Gerhard Petschel-Held | Integrated assessment of changes in flooding probabilities due to climate change https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flooding-and-climate-change-everything-you-need-know#climate | NRDC |Flooding and Climate Change: Everything You Need to Know https://aquipor.com/the-tech/ | Aquipor https://www.floodprotectionsolutions.co.uk/applications/flood-control/water-gate-flood-barrier/#:~:text=Rapid%20Flood%20Barriers,to%20hold%20the%20water%20back. | flood protection solutions | Water-Gate Flood Barriers https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364815216303449 | JiaqiangXie, Hao Chen, Zhenliang Liao, Xianyong Gu, Dajian Zhu, Jin Zhang | An integrated assessment of urban flooding mitigation strategies for robust decision making

Episodes

Let's Talk About: Flooding and How People are Mitigating it

Let's Talk About: Flooding and How People are Mitigating it

In this episode, we explore the catastrophic impact of floods, taking a closer look at the devastating floods in Kerala, India in 2018, which saw the region receive 457% more rainfall than usual, leading to significant loss of life, injuries and displacement of people. As climate change worsens, these weather patterns are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. The episode delves into different types of floods – from flash floods, urban floods, to coastal floods, stressing the exigent need for effective mitigation strategies. Don't forget to check out our website after listening at: https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ and email us at letustalkabout@outlook.com for any questions or ideas you may have! Sources: https://globalmedic.ca/india-kerala-flood-response-2018/ | Global Medic | India Kerala Flood Response 2018 https://www.weather.gov/mrx/flood_and_flash | NOAA | Flood and flash flood definitions https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2018-480/ | European Geosciences Union | The Kerala flood of 2018: a combined impact of extreme rainfall and reservoir shortage https://www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au/Flood-Awareness/SitePages/What%20are%20the%20impacts%20of%20floods.aspx#:~:text=Main%20impacts%20of%20floods,and%20distressing%20for%20communities%20involved | Government of South Australia | Flood Awareness https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-006-9159-6 | Thomas Kleinen, Gerhard Petschel-Held | Integrated assessment of changes in flooding probabilities due to climate change https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flooding-and-climate-change-everything-you-need-know#climate | NRDC |Flooding and Climate Change: Everything You Need to Know https://aquipor.com/the-tech/ | Aquipor https://www.floodprotectionsolutions.co.uk/applications/flood-control/water-gate-flood-barrier/#:~:text=Rapid%20Flood%20Barriers,to%20hold%20the%20water%20back. | flood protection solutions | Water-Gate Flood Barriers https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364815216303449 | JiaqiangXie, Hao Chen, Zhenliang Liao, Xianyong Gu, Dajian Zhu, Jin Zhang | An integrated assessment of urban flooding mitigation strategies for robust decision making

Let's Talk About: Solar Eclipses

Let's Talk About: Solar Eclipses

In this special episode of "Let's Talk About," we take a deep dive into the remarkable spectacle of solar eclipses, how they occur, and what you can expect during this rare celestial event. Occurring on April 8th, 2024, North America witnessed an awe-inspiring solar eclipse which prompted a deeper understanding of these unique phenomena. From the orbital planes of the moon to the splendid display of the sun's corona, we explore various aspects that contribute to the occurrence of both total and partial eclipses. This episode further delves into the different phases you can anticipate when witnessing a total solar eclipse. From the emergence of the dark moon covering the sun to the appearance of the diamond ring, understanding these phases can enhance your eclipse viewing experience. We move beyond the standard images of an eclipse to shed light on other interesting observations, such as the change in surroundings, the visibility of other planets, and the breathtaking views of simultaneous sunrises and sunsets. If you're curious about eclipses and want a closer look at the magic they bring, this episode will serve as a comprehensive guide to understanding solar eclipses. Altogether transforming the way we perceive these celestial events, we promise this episode will leave you yearning for your very own total eclipse experience. For any questions or suggestions related to the podcast, reach out to us at letustalkabout@outlook.com. Meanwhile, make sure to check out our website and listen to all our informative episodes. Have a splendid week!

Drought : Effects. mitigation strategies and its connection with climate change

Drought : Effects. mitigation strategies and its connection with climate change

Welcome to this episode of Let's Talk About where your host delves into a critical topic – drought. In this episode, we unravel the multifaceted aspects of drought including its effects, patterns of occurrence and severity, and potential strategies to mitigate or prevent it, ultimately striving to bolster community resilience. We begin by analyzing various definitions of drought and its manifestation not just as precipitation deficiency, but a condition leading to a severe water shortage and a spate of adverse health implications. Exploring extensive research, we detail how droughts degrade water quality and the cascading ecological and human impacts they foster. We then pivot to actionable insights - methods to detect and anticipate droughts. Dive deep into soil moisture mapping using cutting-edge passive microwave sensors or using vegetation stress markers captured through NDVI indexing to foreshadow droughts. However, knowledge without utility is futile, and hence, we transition into investigating effective drought mitigation methods. From reducing soil evaporation, adopting drought-resistant crops, optimizing irrigation systems to harnessing marginal waters, numerous strategies can equip us against this natural adversity. Importantly, the broader lens is focused on the impending need to combat anthropogenic climate change - a major disruptor of climate balance and a catalyst to extreme weather conditions, including drought. Lastly, we call to light some global climate observations contemplating how the temperature surge and El Niño-La Niña shift are amplifying drought occurrence. By the end of the episode, you would not only comprehend droughts better but also be equipped with a perspective on how we can deal with this global issue. Don't forget to follow us, visit our website linked in the description, or drop an email at letustalkabout@outlook.com for enhancing your knowledge reservoir or suggesting discussion topics for subsequent episodes. Stay informed, stay resilient!

Let’s Talk About : Making our lives healthier and longer with longevity tech

Let’s Talk About : Making our lives healthier and longer with longevity tech

The older we get, the weaker we get. We become more vulnerable to diseases, our muscles waste away and our body gets "rusty" like an old car. One way we can combat aging or even reverse it is through longevity tech like stem cell therapy, we could even extend the human lifespan. Unfortunately, as with all technologies there are some ethical complications to consider. Especially with longevity, since it could reengineer society fundamentally. Join us in this week's episode as we talk about longevity and how to make our lives healthier and longer. Contact & Website : letustalkabout@outlook.com - Email https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ - Website Sources : Elizabeth H. Blackburn et al., Human telomere biology: A contributory and interactive factor in aging, disease risks, and protection. Science 350, 1193-1198 (2015) .DOI: 10.1126/science.aab3389 Huda Adwan-Shekhidem, Gil Atzmon | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B978012811060700005X#preview-section-abstract | Chapter 5 – The Epigenetic Regulation of Telomere Maintenance in Aging https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780128110607/epigenetics-of-aging-and-longevity | Epigenetics of Aging and Longevity https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/ | Google English Dictionary Bodo E. Strauer, Ran Kornowski|https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.0000057525.13182.24 | Stem Cell Therapy in Perspective https://www.ahajournals.org/toc/circ/107/7 | Circulation https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780124095038/essentials-of-stem-cell-biology | Essentials of Stem Cell Biology | Third Edition

Let’s Talk About : How Brain-Computer Interfaces will revolutionize the world

Let’s Talk About : How Brain-Computer Interfaces will revolutionize the world

Imagine controlling your phone, from your brain! This is the reality BCIs or Brain-Computer Interfaces will give us. They can be implemented in so many fields and industries, such as healthcare, entertainment and more. Join us in this week's episode as we talk about BCIs Contact Info : letustalkabout@outlook.com https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ Sources : Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3497935/ | NIH | Jerry J. Shih, Dean J. Krusienski, Jonathan R. Wolpaw Grübler, G., Al-Khodairy, A., Leeb, R. et al. Psychosocial and Ethical Aspects in Non-Invasive EEG-Based BCI Research—A Survey Among BCI Users and BCI Professionals. Neuroethics 7, 29–41 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12152-013-9179-7 https://www.springer.com/journal/12152 | Neuroethics https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/mayo-clinic-proceedings/vol/87/issue/3 | Mayo Clinic Proceedings | Volume 81, Issue 3 | March 2012 https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/mayo-clinic-proceedings/vol/87/issue/3 | ScienceDirect | Brain-Computer Interfaces in Medicine | Jerry J. Shih, Dean J. Krusienski PhD, Jonathan R. Wolpaw

Let’s Talk About : Insect Farming

Let’s Talk About : Insect Farming

Today, we have a massive population. To feed that ever growing populace, we need to grow a lot of food. Unfortunately, most our current methods of agriculture are not sustainable. One way we could solve this is through insect farming. Sources : https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0096084 | Timothy P. Robinson, G. R. William Wint, Giulia Conchedda, Thomas P. Van Boeckel, Valentina Ercoli, Elisa Palamara, Giuseppina Cinardi, Laura D’Aietti, Simon I. Hay, Marius Gilbert https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/13/5418 | Fabio A. Madau, Brunella Arru, Robert Furesi, Pietro Pulina Beef emissions : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174015300139 https://www.worldwatercouncil.org/fileadmin/wwc/Programs/Virtual_Water/VirtualWater_Proceedings_IHE.pdf#page=13 | World Water Council https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1466856412001452 | Brigit A. Rumpold, Oliver K. Schüter Contact Info & Website : Email : letustalkabout@outlook.com Website : https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/

Let’s Talk About : The Moon and why it’s important to our future

Let’s Talk About : The Moon and why it’s important to our future

Humans have conquered almost every piece of land in the known world so naturally we’d expand upwards… To the stars, but how we’d do that is still a question we’re trying to answer. Fortunately, we have a big and shiny sphere that hovers above us in the night sky. The other world that blots out the sun from the sky during some days and turns from chalk white to crimson red on other days. The moon. Credit : Michael Paterson for improvement in audio quality Links : letustalkabout@outlook.com - Podcast e-mail Let’s Talk About : The Knowledge Podcast | a podcast by Vihaan Nair (podbean.com) - Podcast Website Sources : https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20200000973/downloads/20200000973.pdf https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/23/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-mission.html https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/departments/walking-on-rocket-propellant/#:~:text=The%20fuel%20can%20be%20many,propellant%20before%20takeoff%20is%20LOX. https://hir.harvard.edu/not-so-green-technology-the-complicated-legacy-of-rare-earth-mining/ https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/moon-more-metallic-than-thought https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/years-late-and-billions-over-budget-nasas-most-powerful-rocket-finally-set-for-takeoff

Let’s Talk About : Wildfires

Let’s Talk About : Wildfires

I’m sure you’ve all read or seen on the news about the wildfires going on in North America, especially Canada. Wildfires are big destructive fires that spread quickly over woodland or brush. In Canada, where I, the Host lives; smoke from Canadian wildfires have clouded the skies and polluted the air in cities in Canada and in the US. In this episode we’ll be looking into how wildfires start and spread, how they can be beneficial and harmful, and what we can do to prevent them. Contact Info/Website Link: letustalkabout@outlook.com Let’s Talk About : The Knowledge Podcast | a podcast by Vihaan Nair (podbean.com) Sources : https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/report https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2021/12/explainer-how-wildfires-start-and-spread/ https://www.who.int/health-topics/wildfires#tab=tab_1 https://natural-resources.canada.ca/our-natural-resources/forests/insects-disturbances/why-forests-need-fires-insects-and-diseases/13081 https://www.doi.gov/blog/10-tips-prevent-wildfires

Let’s Talk About : Space Pollution

Let’s Talk About : Space Pollution

Within this century, humankind will enter a new era in its history. It will be where we leave our little blue marble and enter the vast and rich space of Outer Space. If we are to achieve this task, this century will be one of the most crucial for our space-faring future. Unfortunately, we have only one thing stopping us, and unfortunately, this is a problem that we must solve now, or we’ll be stuck on this planet for centuries. If you’d like to give feedback or give us an idea for the topic of next week’s episode, message us at letustalkabout@outlook.com. Sources : (If you'd like to learn more about this issue) Pollution in Space: The Damage We Cause | Campus Center for the Environment (ucdavis.edu) Solving the space junk problem | CU Boulder Today | University of Colorado Boulder Environmental impact of space debris and how to solve it | World Economic Forum (weforum.org) Astroscale’s ELSA-d Mission Successfully Completes Complex Rendezvous Operation - Astroscale 9 Concepts for Cleaning Up Space Junk (treehugger.com)

Let’s Talk About : Cryptocurrencies

Let’s Talk About : Cryptocurrencies

We’re all used to paying in currencies for everything, be it in the Dollar, Yen, Rupees, Euros, or Pounds. We always had a currency that we could rely on to pay for goods and services. Now we’ve reached a new era in human history where all these currencies could be outcompeted by a new type of currency, purely digital and computerized. And we call them Cryptocurrencies. If you had an idea that you want us to talk about on the channel you can e-mail us at letustalkabout@outlook.com Don't forget to check out our website for access to our content 24/7 Sources: What is cryptocurrency? | Coinbase What Is Cryptocurrency? A Beginner’s Guide | Britannica Money What is cryptocurrency? | Coinbase How Does Bitcoin Mining Work? What Is Crypto Mining? (investopedia.com) What's the Environmental Impact of Cryptocurrency? (investopedia.com) A brief history and overview of cryptocurrency - Cyberlaw: Difficult Issues Winter 2010 (harvard.edu) History of Cryptocurrencies | Cryptocurrency Investing (harvardgeo.org)

Let’s Talk About : Light Pollution

Let’s Talk About : Light Pollution

If we go far back enough in time, back to when the only major light sources were the sun and the moon, life was simpler back then. Fast forward all the way to the 21st century and we’re bombarded by light sources day and night, and so is the world around us. Back then at night, we could see the stars, nebulae, and galaxies clearly on a cloudless night. Now, it’s as if we’ve taken the stars to earth to light up our nights. If you look up into the night sky, you’d probably see some or no stars at all. Within a few thousand years, which is noticeably short on the evolutionary scale we’ve lit up our night and this does have implications for us, and our planet. Email us at : letustalkabout@outlook.com And check out our website at : Let’s Talk About : The Knowledge Podcast | a podcast by Vihaan Nair (podbean.com) SOURCES: https://nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/Circadian-Rhythms.aspx https://www.ledlightingsupply.com/blog/top-strategies-for-reducing-light-pollution https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/wildlife/ https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/light-pollution-solutions/ https://starwalk.space/en/news/light-pollution#light-pollution-scale-bortle-scale

Biomes of the world : Tropical Rainforests

Biomes of the world : Tropical Rainforests

Biodiverse, lush, and humid, Rainforests are truly an amazing biome. In this episode, we'll be talking about Rainforests; What is a rainforest, What are the different layers that make up this biome, and Why are these biomes in danger. And don't forget to check out our website at https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ and if you have an idea for the next topic on our podcast email us at letustalkabout@outlook.com Sources: - https://rainforests.mongabay.com/0301.htm - https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/rain-forest - https://rainforests.mongabay.com/0301.htm - https://animalcorner.org/rainforests/canopy-layers/ - https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/nasa-finds-good-news-on-forests-and-carbon-dioxide/ - https://forestsnews.cifor.org/59378/has-borneos-deforestation-slowed-down?fnl=en#:~:text=Between%202000%20and%202017%2C%206.04%20million%20hectares%20of,one%20year%20of%20being%20cleared%2C%20the%20study%20found. - https://phdessay.com/what-is-happening-to-the-amazon-rainforest/#:~:text=Economically%20whats%20happening%20the%20Amazon%20is%20mostly%20because,losing%20their%20habitats%20and%20this%20leads%20to%20extinction. https://greentumble.com/15-strategies-to-reduce-deforestation/

Let’s Talk About : Agriculture

Let’s Talk About : Agriculture

Agriculture is a practice that has given humans an evolutionary edge in the animal kingdom, without it, much of what we had already accomplished wouldn't exist, join us today as we talk about agriculture's past, present/impact on the environment and its future. If you'd like to e-mail us your episode idea, e-mail us at letustalkabout@outlook.com and you can check out our website at https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ Sources: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/development-agriculture/ https://www.beyondpesticides.org/programs/wildlife https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agriculture-and-environment/climate-change-and-air-quality/greenhouse-gases-and-agriculture How does agriculture contribute to climate change? (worldfuturecouncil.org) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/agriculture-food-crops-land

Let’s Talk About : Colors

Let’s Talk About : Colors

Colors could be one of the most important aspects of human life, it let's us express ourselves in art, plays a role in culture and art and other things as well and makes the world feel more alive. Without colors, the world would feel very dull. Listen in as we talk about color vision, how colors plays a role in culture and art, and about the interesting history of the color blue Don't forget to check out our website https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ and e-mail us an idea at letustalkabout@outlook.com And at 5:08, I meant to say "most animals don't have blue pigments in them" Sources: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141218210100.htm https://askinglot.com/where-are-cones-in-the-eye-located https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/color-blindness https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-a-brief-history-of-blue

Let’s Talk About : Alien Life

Let’s Talk About : Alien Life

Earth is a magnificent place, and is an oasis in the universe. And as curious humans that we are, we wonder if life can exist elsewhere in the cosmos. Listen in as we discover what life needs, where life could exist, what life would be like, the handy Drake equation and the Kardashev scale, and more. Don't forget to share this podcast with your friends and family, if you are interested in e-mailing us a new idea or to send us some feedback, you can always e-mail us at letustalkabout@outlook.com and always, feel free checking out our podcast website for podcast info, and all our episodes at https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/

Let’s Talk About : The James Webb Space Telescope

Let’s Talk About : The James Webb Space Telescope

In this episode, we'll be talking about the most powerful telescope ever invented If you have and idea for the podcast or see more episodes like this one, send an email at letustalkabout@outlook.com and get a shoutout on the show Visit our Podcast's website to see all the episodes we have made and activity pages to do with the family at https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/ UPDATE: The James Webb Space Telescope is still in testing while in L2 and should be expected to have observations in late June.

Let’s Talk About : Plastic pollution

Let’s Talk About : Plastic pollution

Plastic pollution is one of the world's most major problems, learn about it in this week's episode. If you want to e-mail us, e-mail us at letustalkabout@outlook.com And if you want to visit our website use to find waste reducing activities https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/

Let’s talk about: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Let’s talk about: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

In this week's episode, we'll be talking about the Electromagnetic spectrum. If you want to choose the next topic or send some feedback, please email us at: letustalkabout@outlook.com And if you want to visit our website : https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/

Special: 5 minutes of dinosaur facts

Special: 5 minutes of dinosaur facts

In this episode we'll be having a total of 5 minutes of pure, interesting, dinosaur facts. if you have a comment or some feedback or a new topic you would like to hear on this podcast please email us at letustalkabout@outlook.com and if you want to access our website use https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/

Let’s talk about : Climate change

Let’s talk about : Climate change

Climate change is a serious issue in our world today and now is the time to end it. In the next 100 years global temperatures will increase as weather becomes more severe and unpredictable, the polar ice caps will melt increasing the sea levels more than the height of the empire state building. If you have a comment, question or idea for a new topic. Please E-Mail us at letustalkabout@outlook.com Also if you wish to access all our episodes, you can find our website at https://letustalkabout.podbean.com/