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Science at the Fifty-Third Degree

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by Tetro, Jason

5.0(2 reviews)

10 episodes

Updated Daily

Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇨🇦

Podcast Overview

Great science doesn't happen in a vacuum — it happens at universities, in labs, and in the minds of researchers who've dedicated their lives to solving problems that matter. At the fifty-third degree of latitude, the University of Alberta is home to some of the world's most compelling scientific work. And most people have never heard of it. Science at the Fifty-Third Degree changes that. Hosted by Dr. Nayiar Shahid, each episode takes a deep dive into a single piece of research — exploring not just the science itself, but the human story behind it. The questions being asked. The methods being used. And what the answers might one day mean for the rest of us. From the molecular machinery of a healing heart to the cutting edge of fields you didn't know existed, this is science made accessible, personal, and genuinely surprising — one discovery at a time. New episodes available on the University of Alberta's Aviary platform and wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions or feedback? Reach us at basicsci@ualberta.ca. This podcast was recorded and produced at the University of Alberta. The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs and research stations are primarily located on the territory of Néhiyaw (Cree), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Nakoda (Stoney), Dene, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Anishinaabe (Ojibway/Saulteaux), lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

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Publishing Since

5/6/2026

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Recent Episodes

June 30, 2026

S1E9: The Sound of Science

Right now, billions of your brain cells are talking in unison, communicating in rhythms so complex that visually you would never understand them. But what if you could hear them instead? In this episode of Science at the Fifty-Third Degree, host Dr. Nayiar Shahid explores the cutting edge of data sonification with Mitch Prostebby, a graduate student in Dr. Clayton Dickson's lab at the University of Alberta. Mitch recently took home the top prize at the university's Sounds of Research competition with his track, "Thunderstorms and Symphonies of the Brain," which maps the neural activity of a rat during sleep.  Merging his background as an aspiring jazz musician with electrophysiology, Mitch shows how our ears can instantly pick up on subtle data patterns—like neural ripples—that are easily obscured on a static visual graph. The conversation covers the potential for creating a "brainwave dictionary," using music theory to map neural pathways, and the revolutionary future of medical therapies that actually "sing back to the brain" to correct cognitive dysfunction.  This episode covers: ● How short staccato electrical pops from a sleeping rat's hippocampus are converted into musical notes across the octave spectrum. ● Why combining auditory and visual data helps researchers spot subtle patterns—like neural ripples—that are easily obscured on static graphs. ● The concept of the "Neural Orchestra," where distinct cell circuit motifs cooperate flexibly to produce overlapping frequency ranges. ● Moving away from simplistic, single-frequency neurostimulation toward a dynamic frequency dialogue that mimics natural brain communication. ● Future goals of using EEG headsets to map how the human brain musically responds to art, poetry, and favorite foods.

June 23, 2026

S1E8: If He Could Turn Back Time

Imagine taking a page from a book, wiping it completely blank, and writing an entirely different story on it. In the world of cell biology, this is called cellular reprogramming. In this episode of Science at the Fifty-Third Degree, host Dr. Nayiar Shahid steps into a cellular time machine with Dr. Sandeep Gupta from the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Alberta to look at how scientists are turning back the clock on human cells.    Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) technology, Dr. Gupta’s lab takes simple skin or blood cells from patients and coaxes them to forget their adult identity, returning them to an embryonic blank slate. From there, they can grow patient-specific brain and spinal cord neurons in a dish. This groundbreaking approach allows researchers to study the fundamental biology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and explore sensory dysfunction directly at its source. This episode covers: ● The high-tech wizardry behind cellular reprogramming and rewiring transcriptomic structures. ● How the discovery of the Yamanaka factors (OSKM: OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, c-MYC) eliminated the need for human embryos in stem cell research. ● Mapping the massive diversity of autism by looking at mutations across nearly 1,000 risk genes. ● Dr. Gupta's exciting, brand-new data revealing the critical role of the spinal cord as a sensory gating mechanism in autism. ● How "brain in a dish" models have moved from science fiction to standardized drug-discovery platforms for precision medicine.

June 16, 2026

S1E7: Here For A Good Time AND A Long Time

Imagine walking into a research lab in 1980: no laptops, no automated kits, manual sequencing gels read entirely by eye, and a physical slide box for every single medical student. In this episode of Science at the Fifty-Third Degree, host Dr. Nayiar Shahid sits down with Julie Haskins from the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Alberta. With an incredible 45-year milestone career, Julie has served as a constant, brilliant anchor while the biological world exploded with technological revolutions around her. From her start as a histology technician in the original Department of Anatomy to navigating modern digital workflows and next-generation sequencing, Julie shares her perspective on what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what it truly takes to stay engaged in the lab marathon for over four decades. This episode covers: ● What the "vibe" and operational setup of a university lab looked like in 1980. ● The profound shift from hands-on reagent mixing to automated core facility testing. ● Why senior technicians hold irreplaceable institutional knowledge and continuity for new graduate students. ● How staying fresh means evolving—revealing how Julie stayed excited by working across six completely different labs. ● Essential life lessons for day one in the lab, starting with a golden rule: "Keep good notes"  

10 total episodes available

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What is Science at the Fifty-Third Degree?: Great science doesn't happen in a vacuum — it happens at universities, in labs, and in the minds of researchers who've dedicated their lives to solving problems that matter. At the fifty-third degree of latitude, the University of Alberta is home to some of the world's most compelling scientific work. And most people have never heard of it.

Science at the Fifty-Third Degree changes that.

Hosted by Dr. Nayiar Shahid, each episode takes a deep dive into a single piece of research — exploring not just the science itself, but the human story behind it. The questions being asked. The methods being used. And what the answers might one day mean for the rest of us.

From the molecular machinery of a healing heart to the cutting edge of fields you didn't know existed, this is science made accessible, personal, and genuinely surprising — one discovery at a time.

New episodes available on the University of Alberta's Aviary platform and wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions or feedback? Reach us at basicsci@ualberta.ca.

This podcast was recorded and produced at the University of Alberta. The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs and research stations are primarily located on the territory of Néhiyaw (Cree), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Nakoda (Stoney), Dene, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Anishinaabe (Ojibway/Saulteaux), lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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