Scientists have learned how to edit DNA and reprogram cells to fix a mutation and fight diseases. But the process requires a lab, is expensive and involves rounds of chemotherapy that are  grueling for the patient. But Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem is working on a new technology with the goal of delivering the gene therapy directly into the body with a syringe. It has the potential to make the procedure far more accessible especially for those living far from hospitals and in need of the therapy most.

More resources:
Hans-Peter Kiem
Kiem Lab

Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by Jim Gates and produced by Shane Mehling. 

We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.Tap here to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Scientists have learned how to edit DNA and reprogram cells to fix a mutation and fight diseases. But the process requires a lab, is expensive and involves rounds of chemotherapy that are&nbsp; grueling for the patient. But Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem is working on a new technology with the goal of delivering the gene therapy directly into the body with a syringe. It has the potential to make the procedure far more accessible especially for those living far from hospitals and in need of the therapy most.
More resources:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.fredhutch.org/en/people/k/hans-peter-kiem.html">Hans-Peter Kiem</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://research.fredhutch.org/kiem/en.html">Kiem Lab</a></li>
</ul>
Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jim-gates">Jim Gates</a> and produced by Shane Mehling.&nbsp;
We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/pocket-science-show-notes"> Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Discovery is happening all around Seattle… if you know where to look. On Pocket Science, we dig into the fascinating, weird, and groundbreaking research happening right here in our backyard—and meet the scientists in the thick of it.

From lab benches to tidal mudflats, it all starts with one simple question: what are you working on? The answers might surprise you. Take your curiosity with you on Pocket Science.

Pocket Science launches July 6 with new episodes available every other Monday.

Discovery is happening all around Seattle&hellip; if you know where to look. On Pocket Science, we dig into the fascinating, weird, and groundbreaking research happening right here in our backyard&mdash;and meet the scientists in the thick of it. From lab benches to tidal mudflats, it all starts with one simple question: what are you working on? The answers might surprise you. Take your curiosity with you on Pocket Science.
Pocket Science launches July 6 with new episodes available every other Monday.

Pocket Science

Gabe Spitzer talks to Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem from the Fred Hutch Cancer Center about breakthroughs in gene therapy. He is working on a new way to fight cancer that avoids the grueling process of chemotherapy and instead is administered with a simple shot that sends healthy particles into the body to repair defective cells.

Gene therapy in a syringe: simplifying life-saving cures for millions

Mud is everywhere…under our shoes, our buildings, our crops. How it behaves affects where we can build, what we can grow and the shape of the land itself. But on a microscopic level we barely understand why it does what it does. Gabriel heads out with mud expert Kendall Valentine who gets ankle-deep in the stuff in order to unlock its mysteries.

Listen to Pocket Science on the KUOW app or wherever you get podcasts.

More resources:
Kendall Valentine
Coastal Ecogeomorphology Lab
UW Sediment Dynamics Lab

Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited and produced by Jim Gates. 

We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Mud is everywhere&hellip;under our shoes, our buildings, our crops. How it behaves affects where we can build, what we can grow and the shape of the land itself. But on a microscopic level we barely understand why it does what it does. Gabriel heads out with mud expert Kendall Valentine who gets ankle-deep in the stuff in order to unlock its mysteries. Listen to Pocket Science on the KUOW app or wherever you get podcasts.
More resources:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ocean.washington.edu/home/Kendall_Valentine">Kendall Valentine</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://valentinelab336.wixsite.com/valentine-lab">Coastal Ecogeomorphology Lab</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://sites.uw.edu/sediment/">UW Sediment Dynamics Lab</a></li>
</ul>
Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by <a href="https://www.kuow.org/people/gabriel-spitzer">Gabriel Spitzer</a>, edited and produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jim-gates">Jim Gates</a>.&nbsp;
We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/pocket-science-show-notes">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Gabriel heads out with mud expert Kendall Valentine who gets ankle-deep in the stuff in order to unlock its mysteries.

The dark matter of dirt: Why the physics of mud are so mysterious

When you look up at the night sky, it’s easy to think of it as static and permanent, like the stars are painted on up there and never change. But if you look really carefully, sometimes you can catch something dramatic unfolding. Andy Tzanidakis is a PhD candidate in astronomy at the University of Washington. His job is to look through massive amounts of data produced from telescope sky surveys to search out anomalies in space. One time, when he was going through the data he discovered something amazing. It was a rare catastrophic event…two planets colliding. 

Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by Jim Gates and produced by Shane Mehling. 

We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.Tap here to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

When you look up at the night sky, it&rsquo;s easy to think of it as static and permanent, like the stars are painted on up there and never change. But if you look really carefully, sometimes you can catch something dramatic unfolding. <a href="https://andytza.github.io/">Andy Tzanidakis</a> is a PhD candidate in astronomy at the University of Washington. His job is to look through massive amounts of data produced from telescope sky surveys to search out anomalies in space. One time, when he was going through the data he discovered something amazing. It was a rare catastrophic event&hellip;two planets colliding.&nbsp;
Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jim-gates">Jim Gates</a> and produced by Shane Mehling.&nbsp;
We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/pocket-science-show-notes"> Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

When you look up at the night sky, it’s easy to think of it as static and permanent, like the stars are painted on up there and never change. But if you look really carefully, sometimes you can catch something dramatic unfolding.

When worlds collide: A cosmic detective story

Therapy with psychedelic drugs has shown remarkable promise in treating depression, PTSD and the terminally ill. But scientists are still unsure how it works – why going on a single psychedelic journey could help to rewire a person’s brain. Dr. Anthony Back is an oncologist who found his way to this research through his work in palliative care. As part of his training, he took his own psychedelic journey and wrote about it in a medical journal.  We talk about what captivates him about this therapy, what his own experience was like and how it’s made him think differently about the human mind and body.  

More resources:

Anthony L. Back MD

Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by Jim Gates and produced by Shane Mehling. 

We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.Tap here to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Therapy with psychedelic drugs has shown remarkable promise in treating depression, PTSD and the terminally ill. But scientists are still unsure how it works &ndash; why going on a single psychedelic journey could help to rewire a person&rsquo;s brain. Dr. Anthony Back is an oncologist who found his way to this research through his work in palliative care. As part of his training, he took his own psychedelic journey and wrote about it in a medical journal.&nbsp; We talk about what captivates him about this therapy, what his own experience was like and how it&rsquo;s made him think differently about the human mind and body.&nbsp;&nbsp;
More resources:
<a href="https://www.uwmedicine.org/bios/anthony-back#about-tab">Anthony L. Back MD</a>
Pocket Science is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. It is hosted by Gabriel Spitzer, edited by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/jim-gates">Jim Gates</a> and produced by Shane Mehling.&nbsp;
We can only make Pocket Science because listeners support us.<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/pocket-science-show-notes"> Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Pocket Science in your feed.

Oncologist Dr. Anthony Back explains how psychedelic drugs can rewire our brains to help people deal with PTSD and stress from terminal illness.

Gene therapy in a syringe: simplifying life-saving cures for millions

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