Neuroscience and Beyond

We are young researchers at the forefront of neuroscience in Göttingen, Germany, driven by a passion for discovery and communication. In our monthly conversations, we go beyond publications to discuss the real stories with leading experts: their revolutionary work, their personal paths, the struggles they've overcome, and the big questions driving the field forward.

Our mission is built on a simple, powerful idea: knowledge is the only resource that grows when shared. Through open dialogue, we aim to build a bridge between cutting-edge research and the curious minds eager to understand it.

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences, the European Neuroscience Institute in Göttingen, the Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging" in Göttingen and SFB1286 Quantitative Synaptology in Göttingen.

This podcast reflects our personal views and is separate from our affiliated institutions.

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September 7 · 8 min
The Next Chapter of Neuroscience and Beyond Podcast | A Channel Update
After three years, around 40 long-form conversations, and listeners and viewers from more than 130 countries, Neuroscience and Beyond is entering a new chapter. In this video, we wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast, share a personal update after recently defending my PhD, and explain where we want to take Neuroscience and Beyond next. Over the coming months, we will be simplifying what we do and putting more of our time and energy into what we believe matters most: thoughtful, long-form conversations with leading scientists from around the world. We want to explore major topics in neuroscience more deeply - from the gut–brain axis, sleep and brain–machine interfaces to mental health, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions, sport and the brain, cognitive fatigue, cognitive enhancement, and much more. And we want you to help shape what comes next. Which scientists would you like to see on the podcast? Which topics should we explore? And if you could ask a particular scientist one question, what would it be? Leave your suggestions in the comments below or send them to us by email. Your question might even become part of a future conversation. In the meantime, nothing is stopping. Until we officially kick-start this new chapter, we will continue releasing content as we have been doing so far, while working behind the scenes on what comes next. Throughout the rest of 2026, we will be developing this next phase, reaching out to potential guests, planning new topics, and refining the format, with the aim of properly beginning this new chapter of Neuroscience and Beyond in 2027. To everyone who has watched, listened, subscribed, shared an episode, left a comment, joined us as a guest, or supported this project over the past three years: thank you. We are excited about what comes next. Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
July 27 · 1 hr 6 min
How Our Brains Process Numbers | Prof. Andreas Nieder
Walk into a room and you instantly know, roughly, how many people are there, without counting. So does a monkey. So does a crow. So, strangely enough, does a bee! In this episode, Andreas Nieder - Professor of Animal Physiology at the University of Tübingen and one of the world's leading voices in cognitive #neuroscience - takes us inside the brain circuits that let humans and animals alike sense "how many." Nieder has spent his career recording single neurons in crows, macaques, and human patients through rare clinical collaborations to understand the brain's #NumberSense. He discovered neurons in the prefrontal and parietal cortex that respond most strongly to a preferred number, regardless of how it is presented. Studying these "number neurons" reveals how the brain supports memory, abstraction, and complex thought. In the episode we talked about: Why mathematical #prodigies rely on memory rather than a different "math brain" How the concept of zero became one of humanity's greatest intellectual discoveries Why birds and mammals independently evolved similar number-processing #brain networks What #dyscalculia is and why it affects approximately 5% of the population How brain injuries can impair numerical cognition and mathematical abilities This is a conversation for anyone curious about #cognition, #mathematics, animal intelligence, or what it really means for a network of neurons to "understand" an abstract idea. 00:00 - Meet the Scientist Decoding the Brain's Number Sense 00:21 - Do Animals Really Understand Numbers? 01:16 - Why Numbers Are Among the Brain's Most Abstract Ideas 02:08 - Symbolic vs. Non-Symbolic Number Representation 05:32 - How Scientists Test Animal Numerical Abilities 08:40 - What Happens in the Brain When We Process Numbers 13:05 - Recording Single Neurons in the Human Brain 20:19 - The Brain Regions Behind Number Sense: Prefrontal and Parietal Cortex 23:50 - When the Brain Loses Its Ability to Understand Numbers 26:38 - Math Prodigies: Genius or Exceptional Memory? 33:30 - How Animals Understand the Concept of Zero 42:36 - 300 Million Years of Evolution: The Origins of Number Sense 50:22 - Can We Read Numbers Directly From the Brain? 01:00:45 - Final Thoughts: The Brain's Ability to Understand Numbers Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond #Neuroscience #AnimalCognition #BrainScience #CognitiveScience #Mathematics Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
June 29 · 46 min
Cancer and the Brain: How Neurons Help Tumors Grow | Prof. Frank Winkler
Could the nervous system be helping cancer grow? Research in #cancer #neuroscience is revealing a surprising two-way communication between neurons and cancer cells that is changing how we understand tumor growth and opening new possibilities for treatment. In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, we speak with Prof. Frank Winkler about how cancer cells hijack the brain's communication networks, why #glioblastoma is one of the most challenging brain tumors to treat, and how discoveries at the intersection of neuroscience and #oncology could inspire a new generation of cancer therapies. In this episode, we discuss: What cancer neuroscience is and why it matters How neurons communicate directly with cancer cells Why glioblastoma is so aggressive and therapy-resistant How tumors hijack neural circuits to support their growth The role of stress, sleep, and lifestyle in cancer research What the future of neuroscience-inspired cancer therapies could look like About our guest: Prof. Frank Winkler is Professor of Neuro-Oncology at Heidelberg University Faculty of Medicine and Managing Senior Physician in the Department of Neurology. His pioneering discoveries of direct communication between neurons and cancer cells helped establish the field of cancer neuroscience. In 2025, he was awarded the #BrainPrize for his groundbreaking contributions to the field. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Neuroscience and Beyond, leave a like, and share your thoughts in the comments. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond #CancerNeuroscience #Glioblastoma #BrainCancer #Neuroscience #CancerResearch #NeuroOncology #BrainScience Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
May 25 · 2 hr 12 min
Sleep, Psyche, and the Buddhist Mind | Dr. Tony Fernando
What is sleep really? Why do we overthink? And why do so many people struggle to find peace in modern life? In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, I speak with Dr. Tony Fernando - psychiatrist, sleep physician, and author of Life Hacks from the Buddha. We explore the neuroscience of sleep, including REM and non-REM sleep, circadian rhythms, insomnia, sleep anxiety, shift work, jet lag, and how stress affects sleep quality. But this conversation goes far beyond sleep science. Drawing from psychiatry, neuroscience, and Buddhist philosophy, Dr. Fernando shares practical insights on overthinking, mindfulness, suffering, compassion, technology, human connection, and the modern search for meaning. We also discuss: Why thoughts are often unreliable How Technology Hijacks Attention Mindfulness and meditation The difference between needs and wants What dying patients taught him about life This is a conversation about sleep, psychology, the mind, and what it means to live well in a chaotic world. Guest: Dr. Tony Fernando Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond 🔗Link to the video: https://youtu.be/kKBGTew8JGs #Sleep #Neuroscience #Psychology #Mindfulness #Buddhism #MentalHealth #Insomnia #Meditation #Podcast
May 18 · 14 min
Building a Better Future for Science | Challenges in Academia with Prof. Tiago F. Outeiro
Are we evaluating scientists in the wrong way? In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, Prof. Dr. Tiago Outeiro discusses some of the biggest challenges facing science: 🔬 Too many researchers competing for too few positions 📉 Pressure to publish and overreliance on impact factors 🤝 The urgent need for more staff scientists and stable research careers ⚖️ Burnout, work-life balance, and changing academic culture 🚀 How AI and new technologies may reshape scientific research “We need to work together from the top to the bottom, from the bottom to the top to try to change things.” Prof. Dr. Tiago Fleming Outeiro is Professor of Aggregopathies and Director of the Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration at the University Medical Center Göttingen. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of developing new therapeutic approaches. To learn more about his research, watch our episode on Parkinson’s Disease: Early Diagnostics and the Future of Treatment: https://youtu.be/dFmhmOv75q0?si=GcQ1UsTGYSpcDnMV Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content and honest conversations about academic life. #Academia #Science #Research #PhD #Postdoc #Neuroscience #Parkinsons #Alzheimers #AcademicLife #Scientists #STEM #ResearchCulture #AI #Podcast #NeuroscienceAndBeyond Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
April 28 · 1 hr 26 min
From Pixels to Perception: Vision, Memory, Mood and Brain Disease Cures | Prof. Nicole Rust
Your eyes don't see the world; your brain constructs it. But how, and what does it miss along the way? In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, we speak with Prof. Nicole Rust, Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, whose research combines behavioral experiments, #neural recordings, and #computational models to understand how we see, remember, and experience the world. Recently, she decided to embark on a new journey and apply her expertise to study the neuroscience of mood. We explore how the brain transforms raw light into meaningful #perception, from the #retina through a hierarchy of visual areas all the way to object recognition in the inferotemporal cortex. We discuss how #attention shapes what enters #memory, why humans can recognize thousands of images seen only once, and why mood remains one of the hardest problems in neuroscience. The conversation also unpacks the central argument of her book, Elusive Cures: that treating conditions like depression will require abandoning the "broken domino" model of disease and embracing the brain as a complex dynamical system. In this episode, you'll learn: How the #brain transforms light into perception Why attention acts as a filter and why we miss more than we think How the brain stores thousands of images with striking detail after just a single viewing Why we still cannot look at a brain and determine what mood is What hinders us from developing more treatments for brain disorders Why we should see the brain as a complex dynamical system Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond Timestamps: 00:00 How the Brain Processes Visual Information 04:03 Object & Face Recognition 07:07 How Attention Filters What We See 09:57 Visual Memory: How the Brain Stores Thousands of Images 14:38 Memory, Imagination, and Emotion 19:00 The Jennifer Aniston Neuron 25:45 How the Visual System Inspired AI 30:00 How Prof. Rust Moved from Vision to Mood Research 39:00 Measuring Mood in the Brain 43:33 How Mood Shapes Behavior and Decision-Making 49:30 Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn't Cured the Brain 52:50 The "Broken Domino" Model and Why It Has Failed Us 56:14 The Brain as a Complex Dynamical System 01:01:20 Who Should Set the Research Agenda? 01:06:04 Depression, Society, and the Limits of Biology 01:09:59 How to Study the Brain as a Complex System 01:12:20 Aging, Sleep, and Brain Balance 01:18:10 The Take-Home Message from Elusive Cures 01:19:30 Consciousness: The Hard Problem and What Neuroscience Can Offer #Neuroscience #VisualNeuroscience #Memory #Perception #MoodNeuroscience #Depression #BrainHealth #ElusiveCures #ComplexSystems #BrainResearch #ScienceCommunication #BrainHealthMatters #NeuroscienceAndBeyond Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
April 13 · 17 min
Is Academia Truly Diverse? | Challenges in Academia with Dr. Sven Truckenbrodt
Does international representation automatically mean #diversity in academia? In this episode, Dr. Sven Truckenbrodt reflects on what diversity in science truly means, going beyond background to include different ways of thinking, working, and collaborating. We talked about: Why diversity is more than international representation The importance of different thinking styles in science Why interdisciplinary research is still difficult to achieve The role of trust and open collaboration in successful labs Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content and honest conversations about academic life. 🔗 Link to the full video: https://youtu.be/cL85_Zp_0C0 #academic #challenges #academia #science #ResearchFunding #AcademicCareers #PhDLife Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
March 30 · 1 hr 19 min
Parkinson’s Disease: Early Diagnostics and the Future of Treatment | Prof. Tiago Outeiro
Can Parkinson’s be detected years before symptoms appear, and can we slow it down early? In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, we speak with Prof. Tiago Outeiro about the future of Parkinson’s research, from early diagnosis to prevention and emerging treatments. We explore how misfolded proteins like alpha-synuclein spread silently through the nervous system, and how early signals - such as REM sleep disturbances - may reveal the disease long before clinical symptoms. The conversation also covers advances in biomarker technologies and new therapeutic strategies targeting protein aggregation, metabolism, and cellular clearance, highlighting where the field is making real progress today. In this episode, you’ll learn: How alpha-synuclein aggregation drives neurodegeneration Early warning signs like REM sleep behavior disorder How biomarkers may detect Parkinson’s before symptoms Why exercise is currently the most effective intervention The role of metabolism, lipids, and protein clearance New therapies: antibodies, GLP-1 drugs, and beyond Why early diagnosis is key to successful treatment Watch the episode to learn how Parkinson’s could be detected earlier and treated more effectively, and if you want to go deeper into the basics, check out our Episode 5 with Prof. Tiago Outeiro. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond 🔗Link to Episode5 withTiago Outeiro: https://youtu.be/UF4h07lml0M?si=78j0MwHFKiWuCcUI Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction & Why Parkinson’s Detection Must Happen Earlier 00:01:10 What Is Alpha-Synuclein and Why It Matters 00:09:00 Where Does Alpha-Synuclein Accumulate in the Brain and Body? 00:16:30 Who Is at Risk? Genetics, Sleep Disorders & Early Warning Signs 00:20:10 Preclinical Symptoms: Loss of Smell, Constipation & Depression 00:27:00 Environmental Risk Factors: Pesticides & Neurotoxins Explained 00:33:10 Can Parkinson’s Be Prevented? Current Strategies & Limitations 00:34:00 Why Exercise Is the Most Effective Disease-Modifying Treatment 00:36:00 Monoclonal Antibodies: Do They Work for Parkinson’s? 00:38:00 GLP-1 Drugs & Metabolic Therapies 00:41:00 What Type of Exercise Actually Helps the Brain? 00:45:20 Why Combination Therapies Are So Difficult to Develop 00:49:00 Why Early Detection Is Critical for Successful Treatment 00:50:10 What Are Biomarkers? Understanding Early Diagnosis Tools 00:56:00 Future of Diagnostics 01:05:40 Lipids, Metabolism & the Hidden Drivers of Neurodegeneration 01:08:40 Where Should Research Focus Next? 01:14:30 Advice for Young Scientists & Clinicians #Neuroscience #Neurodegeneration #Parkinsons #Alzheimers #Synuclein #BrainHealth #ProteinAggregation #Biomarkers #Neurobiology #Exercise #BrainHealthMatters #HealthyAging #NeuroProtection Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
March 16 · 20 min
Why Scientific Publishing Is a $Billion Rip-Off | Challenges in Academia with Prof. Randy Schekman
Why do journal names still shape scientific careers, and who pays the price? Prof. Randy Schekman, a nobel prize laureate, discusses structural problems in #AcademicPublishing, including the pressure to publish in high-impact journals, rising #OpenAccess fees charged by commercial publishers, and long peer-review processes that can slow down scientific progress. He argues that the system can reward journal prestige over scientific contribution and may create inequalities when some researchers have access to additional funds to cover publication costs. Prof. Schekman suggests that funding agencies and governments may need to negotiate firm caps on publication fees and reconsider how research quality is evaluated. He also emphasizes the role of society-run journals and the continued importance of peer review, alongside #Preprints. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content and honest conversations about academic life. #academic #challenges #academia #science #ResearchFunding #AcademicCareers #PhDLife Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
February 23 · 1 hr
Brain Wiring at Molecular Scale and The Connectomics Revolution | Dr. Sven Truckenbrodt
How can we map the brain’s wiring at molecular resolution, and what are the realistic promises and limits of connectomics? In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, we speak with Dr. Sven Truckenbrodt, group leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, UK), where his lab investigates #brain wiring at the molecular level. With previous research experience at ISTA Austria and E11 Bio, he works at the intersection of #ExpansionMicroscopy, molecular labeling, and scalable circuit reconstruction. Beyond defining #connectomics, this conversation explores the technical, conceptual, and organizational challenges of mapping #NeuralCircuits at scale. In this episode, we discuss: Why synapses operate at the nanometer scale, and why this pushes imaging technology to its limits How physical tissue expansion bypasses the diffraction limit of light #microscopy Why whole-brain connectomes are rare “hero datasets” and what prevents comparative connectomics How combinatorial neuronal barcoding could reduce manual proofreading in circuit reconstruction Why new research models like Focused Research Organizations aim to close the gap between #academia and #industry. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:00 Dr. Sven Truckenbrodt’s research focus 00:02:20 How Small Is a Synapse? 00:05:20 How Can We See Synapses? 00:08:00 What Can Connectomics Realistically Reveal? 00:13:00 Connectomics With Electron Microscopy vs. Light Microscopy 00:16:00 Expansion Microscopy 00:18:48 What Is Neuronal Barcoding? 00:26:00 Are Glia Part of Connectomics? 00:29:15 Does Expansion Microscopy Introduce Artifacts? 00:32:00 What Is E11 Bio and a Focused Research Organization? 00:38:45 From ISTA to Cambridge - Building a Lab 00:44:48 What Are Connectopathies? 00:54:00 Advices to Graduate Students Read the most recent preprint here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.26.678648v1 Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. Watch our new episode to explore how connectomics, expansion microscopy, and neuronal barcoding are reshaping our ability to map the brain at molecular resolution. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
February 16 · 13 min
Structural Barriers in Research | Challenges in Academia with | Prof. Markus Sauer
Why is it becoming harder to build a stable career in science? Prof. Sauer reflects on structural pressures in academia: competitive #ResearchFunding, short-term contracts, and increasing administrative burdens. He discusses how evaluation metrics and grant systems shape career paths and may discourage long-term, high-risk research. He highlights the need for sustainable funding structures and realistic career prospects for early-career scientists. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content and honest conversations about academic life. #academic #challenges #academia #science #ResearchFunding #AcademicCareers #PhDLife Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
January 26 · 1 hr 1 min
How Super-Resolution Microscopy Changed Brain & Cancer Research | Prof. Markus Sauer
How do you see structures inside cells that are smaller than the wavelength of light? Why was the diffraction limit considered an unbreakable barrier for decades, and how did super-resolution microscopy change everything? In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, we explore the frontiers of biological imaging with Prof. Markus Sauer, a pioneer of modern super-resolution microscopy. Prof. Sauer developed direct STORM (dSTORM), a technique that enables visualization of molecular organization at the nanometer scale. He leads the super-resolution microscopy lab at the Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, where his team continues to push the boundaries of cellular imaging. We discuss how single-molecule localization microscopy works, what are the technical challenges that we had to overcome to see the nanometer molecular world, and how these methods are now central to research in neuroscience, immunology, and translational science. The conversation also explores expansion microscopy, quantitative imaging, and the challenges of interpreting increasingly detailed biological data. This episode takes a closer look at how improved imaging reshapes our understanding of cells, and why higher resolution often leads to deeper questions. In this episode, you’ll learn about: Important barriers to brake in order to achieve super-resolution microscopy The principles behind dSTORM and single-molecule localization What super-resolution reveals about molecular organization in neurons and in the context of immunology Expansion microscopy and its impact on modern cell biology Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview 00:02:10 Markus Sauer’s Path into Microscopy 00:08:40 What Is the Diffraction Limit and Why It Matters 00:12:30 The Idea Behind Super-Resolution Microscopy 00:15:20 How dSTORM Works at the Single-Molecule Level 00:30:00 From Physics to Biology: Applications of Microscopy 00:42:40 Expansion Microscopy 00:47:30 What is Next in Microscopy? What are the limitations? 00:54:00 Current Challenges and Future Directions Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond #Neuroscience #SuperResolutionMicroscopy #dSTORM #Microscopy #CellBiology #DiffractionLimit #ExpansionMicroscopy #Neuroimaging #SciencePodcast #Biophysics Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
Dec 29, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
How a Nobel Prize Discovery Changed Cell Biology | Vesicles, Insulin & Parkinson’s | Randy Schekman
How do cells move cargo with such precision? What controls vesicle trafficking, and why does this process shape everything from cellular communication to disease? And what can extracellular vesicles really reveal about health, aging, and neurodegeneration? In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, Professor Randy Schekman, Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, helps unpack these questions. He explains the molecular machinery behind vesicle trafficking, how these pathways were discovered through foundational cell biology, and how this research enabled breakthroughs like insulin production in yeast. Prof. Schekman also explores what extracellular vesicles carry and why interpreting their biological roles remains experimentally challenging. The conversation then shifts to Parkinson’s disease; its complexity, why current treatments mostly manage symptoms, and why early cellular changes may begin long before diagnosis. Prof. Schekman highlights research on genetic risk, environmental factors, and emerging evidence that vigorous exercise may influence disease progression. In this episode, you’ll learn about: How vesicle trafficking and extracellular vesicles shape cellular communication The cell‑biology foundations behind technologies like insulin production Why Parkinson’s disease is so difficult to treat and detect early Genetics, early warning signs, and the role of exercise in Parkinson’s research Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:08 Why Vesicle Trafficking Matters & Path to Nobel 00:10:12 Discovering Cellular Transport Mechanisms 00:16:52 How Vesicles Shape Cell Growth 00:22:18 From Cell Biology to Insulin Production 00:29:55 Technology, Science, and Deep Thinking 00:37:28 Why Extracellular Vesicles Are Important 00:43:32 Why Parkinson’s Disease Is So Devastating 00:48:23 Funding Parkinson’s Research at Scale 00:55:25 Does Parkinson’s Start Outside the Brain? 01:00:19 Can Exercise Slow Parkinson’s Progression? 01:06:40 Advice for Young Scientists Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond #Neuroscience, #CellBiology #ParkinsonsDisease #ExtracellularVesicles #VesicleTrafficking #Neurodegeneration #MedicalResearch #SciencePodcast #NobelPrizeLaureate Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
Nov 24, 2025 · 42 min
Neuroinflammation & Alzheimer’s Disease | Prof. Michael Heneka on Immune Signaling and Neurodegeneration
Why is Alzheimer’s disease so difficult to treat and how is the brain’s immune system involved? Professor Michael Heneka, Director of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, joins us to discuss key topics in #neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease. We explore how inflammation shapes the progression of #neurodegeneration, why detecting Alzheimer’s early remains a challenge, and the surprising biological world of tunneling nanotubes-tiny bridges that let cells exchange materials and signals. Professor Heneka also breaks down emerging strategies in #prevention, #personalizedmedicine, #genetherapy, and anti-inflammatory approaches that could redefine the future of Alzheimer’s #treatment. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why Alzheimer’s is so complex and why traditional #treatments struggle to stop its progression • How #neuroinflammation drives the disease, reshaping the #brain long before symptoms appear • How early #biomarkers can reveal Alzheimer’s up to 10 years in advance, improving detection and intervention • The future of personalized Alzheimer’s #treatment, from #genetics to targeted #immunotherapies • How tunneling nanotubes and #immune pathways may transform our understanding of #neurodegeneration Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond #AlzheimersResearch #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #SystemsBiomedicine #NeurosciencePodcast Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Mels Akhmetali Laura van Agen
Oct 27, 2025 · 1 hr 32 min
The Neuroscience of Revenge & Forgiveness | James Kimmel Jr. on Addiction, Justice, and Healing
What happens in our brain when we crave revenge - and how can forgiveness set us free? In this powerful conversation, we speak with James Kimmel Jr., a former lawyer, and currently an assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine, and author of The Science of Revenge, about the psychology and neuroscience behind revenge, addiction, and forgiveness. Drawing from his own story of childhood bullying and near-violence, Kimmel explains how these experiences led him from a 20-year legal career into neuroscience research and the creation of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Control. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why revenge feels so satisfying - and why it’s addictive - What happens in your brain when you crave revenge? - Why does your self-control system shut down when anger takes over? - The surprising difference between men and women when it comes to - empathy during acts of retaliation. - How to turn revenge into healing through the “Courtroom of the Mind,” an evidence-based mental exercise that helps release anger safely. - The transformative power of forgiveness and empathy Timestamps 00:00:00 In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond 00:00:29 Introduction and opening thoughts on revenge 00:01:30 Bullying, Anger, and the Moment That Changed Everything 00:11:00 From Lawyer to Yale Collaborative for Motive Control Studies 00:17:20 Revenge in the courtroom & Discovering the neuroscience of revenge 00:23:40 Studying the neuroscience of revenge and addiction 00:28:40 How the brain processes revenge and addiction 00:30:00 Dopamine, craving, and the “go” vs. “stop” systems 00:33:20 Developmental neuroscience and revenge in youth 00:38:00 When does revenge become addictive? 00:40:10 Healthy vs. harmful punishment and the role of dopamine 00:44:00 Pain, pleasure, and the biology of retaliation 00:50:00 Male vs. female revenge seeking 00:56:00 The myth of “good vs. evil” and real-world violence 00:59:00 How society fails to prevent revenge-driven violence 01:04:40 The “Courtroom of the Mind”: healing through inner justice 01:13:30 How forgiveness changes the brain 01:18:20 Treating revenge like an addiction 01:22:00 Education, prevention, and hope for future generations 01:25:00 Closing reflections on forgiveness and self-healing Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond #NeuroscienceOfRevenge #TheScienceOfRevenge #AddictionAndTheBrain #Forgiveness #EmotionalHealing #PsychologyPodcast #Mindfulness #NeurosciencePodcast Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
Oct 20, 2025 · 19 min
The Biggest Problem in Science: For-Profit Corporations Controlling Knowledge | Prof. Niko Kukushkin
Prof. Kukushkin emphasises that the hardest part for scientists is figuring out what motivates them. He explains that the current system rewards high-profile publications controlled by a few for-profit corporations, steering research toward profit. Top-down structural change- from universities, governments, and leaders-is needed to restore creativity, integrity, and meaningful progress. What’s your biggest challenge in academia? Share your thoughts in the comments! 💬 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content and honest conversations about academic life. #academic #challenges #academia #science #ResearchFunding #AcademicCareers #PhDLife Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen
Sep 22, 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
How Noise Impacts our Brain, Health and Nature | Chris Berdik
Noise is more than just an irritation; it’s a global health and environmental issue. In this episode, we welcome Chris Berdik, science journalist and author of Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take It Back. We explore how noise affects the body and brain, from sleep disruption and stress responses to hearing loss, dementia risk, and learning difficulties. We also talk about why designing better soundscapes (in schools, workplaces, hospitals, and cities) is essential for public health, productivity, and even wildlife survival. This episode offers deep insights for anyone interested in health, neuroscience or urban planning, revealing why it’s time to take noise seriously and how we can build healthier soundscapes for the future. More from Chris Berdik: https://www.chrisberdik.com/clamor #NoisePollution #HealthAndWellness #Neuroscience #UrbanDesign #Soundscapes #HearingHealth #EnvironmentalHealth #BrainScience #PublicHealth Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond Timestamps 00:00:00 In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond 00:00:29 Introduction 00:01:00 Chris Berdik’s journey into science journalism and noise research 00:07:30 What is noise? 00:10:45 Health Effects of Noise 00:14:00 Hearing and Dementia 00:15:30 Are we adapting to noise? 0017:00 Noise sensitivity: why even “deep sleepers” are affected 00:19:01 Noise and learning: classrooms and distraction 00:20:00 The auditory midbrain and early literacy 00:22:29 Open offices: productivity, distraction distance, and noise design 00:27:20 White noise, focus, and the science of masking sound 00:29:55 Hearing damage: how loud sound injures hair cells and neurons 00:38:25 Hearing protection as the “new sunscreen” 00:40:11 Noise and nature: wildlife, whales, and shrinking sensory worlds 00:50:00 Green Spaces and Soundscapes 00:53:50 Limerick, Ireland: redefining “quiet spaces” in cities 01:01:50 Noise inequality and environmental justice 01:05:29 Sound solutions: from restaurants to hospitals 01:15:42 Key message from Clamor Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Mels Akhmetali Laura van Agen
Aug 25, 2025 · 1 hr 17 min
What If Every Cell Has a Memory? From Cells to Consciousness | Prof. Nikolay Kukushkin
Memory is more than just a function of neurons; non-neuronal cells can “remember” too. In this episode, we welcome Prof. Nikolay Kukushkin, Clinical Associate Professor of Life Science and research fellow at the Center for Neural Science, NYU, to discuss the fascinating science of memory. We explore how neurons and other cells store information and abstract ideas, why scientists study sea slugs to uncover the mechanisms of learning and memory, and the potential implications of cellular memory for mental health, learning, and cancer treatment. We also discuss the new upcoming book by Prof. Kukushkin called “One Hand Clapping - Unraveling the Mystery of the Human Mind”. This episode provides in-depth insights for anyone curious about neuroscience, memory, and consciousness, revealing the remarkable ways our cells contribute to how information is stored, processed, and retained. Timestamps: 00:00:00 In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond 00:00:29 Introduction 00:01:58 Prof. Kukushkin’s Journey: From Biochemistry to Neuroscience 00:04:30 What Is Cellular Memory? 00:07:32 How do Neuroscientists Study Memory? 00:13:29 Massed vs. Spaced Effect in Learning and Memory 00:17:15 Where Is Memory Stored? 00:20:09 Neuronal Memory vs. Non-Neuronal Memory 00:24:32 How Neurons Store Abstract Information and Ideas 00:30:39 Can Animals Experience Memory Like Humans? 00:32:41 Sea Slugs, Consciousness, and Evolutionary Perspectives 00:38:53 Can Cancer Cells Remember Chemotherapy Treatment? 00:42:36 Cellular Memory and Mental Health Research 00:48:09 Writing One Hand Clapping: Science and Storytelling 00:55:34 Motivation Behind Writing a Book 01:02:23 Theories of Consciousness 01:09:21 Do We Have the Technology to Study Consciousness? 01:12:49 Psychedelics, Brain Research, and Conscious Experience 01:15:57 Final Insights on Memory and the Human Mind Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. 🔗 Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond #neuroscience #Memory #CellularMemory #BrainScience #Learning #HumanCognition #Neurons #SeaSlugs #MentalHealth #SciencePodcast #OneHandClapping Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286. Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Laura van Agen Music contributors: Steffen Pöschel (Ilanoor)
Aug 18, 2025 · 15 min
Funding Models, Career Pressure, and the Future of Science | Challenges in Academia with Raymundo Báez-Mendoza, PhD #7
In our Problems in Academia series, we talk with scientists about the biggest challenges in research today and how the system could better support scientists at every level. In this episode, Raymundo Báez-Mendoza, PhD, group leader at the German Primate Centre, shares honest insights into the economics of science-from how funding models shape lab decisions to the growing imbalance between large and small research groups. Visit our Problems in Academia series to hear how leading scientists are rethinking research culture and building a better future for science. 🔗 Link to the Playlist of Problems in Academia: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLtjKq7qE0GdKtOrU9a3U0mPzPgW67waB #ResearchReform #AcademicCareers #ScienceFunding #BrainDrain #NeurosciencePodcast #academic #challenges #academia #science #ResearchFunding #AcademicCareers #PhDLife Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Mels Akhmetali Laura van Agen
Jul 28, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Neuroscience of Social Interactions: Friendship & Theory of Mind | Raymundo Báez-Mendoza, Ph.D.
In Episode 28 of Neuroscience and Beyond, we explore the neural basis of social behavior with Raymundo Báez-Mendoza Ph.D., #neuroscientist and group leader at the German Primate Centre. From understanding trust and cooperation to decoding fear and social distance, Báez-Mendoza’s work reveals how the #brain makes sense of our most fundamental social experiences. Bridging research in humans and non-human primates, his lab uses game theory, structured behavioral tasks, and neural recordings to investigate the #cognitive and emotional processes that shape how we interact with others. In this episode, we cover: How scientists model real-life social decisions in the lab The role of the amygdala in both fear and friendship How memory, reputation, and authority influence behavior What are Social Agent Identity Cells, and why do they matter? Insights from neural recordings during brain surgery and more! 🎧 Curious how the brain navigates trust, memory, and connection? Watch the full episode on YouTube to explore how neuroscience is helping us understand social interaction at its most fundamental level. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content and in-depth discussions on cutting-edge science! 🔗Find us on X, Instagram, BlueSky, Spotify and other platforms https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond 🔗Link to the video: https://youtu.be/AFb4pQJC9zo #SocialNeuroscience #GameTheory #Amygdala #PrimateResearch #Neuroeconomics #CognitiveNeuroscience #TheoryOfMind #NeurosciencePodcast #BehavouralNeuroscience Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286 Timestamps 00:00:00 – Introduction & Báez-Mendoza’s Research 00:04:32 – From Mexico to Harvard: Comparing Research Cultures 00:09:40 – Social Interactions & Game Theory in Humans and Monkeys 00:15:56 – Training Monkeys for Social Decision-Making Tasks 00:22:25 – Recording Brain Activity in Monkeys 00:24:57 – Brain Regions Involved in Social Interaction 00:30:14 – Fear and Friendship: Amygdala’s Dual Role 00:33:34 – Memory and Social Decision-Making 00:38:10 – Theory of Mind in Monkeys 00:44:32 – What Are Social Agent Identity Cells? 00:49:10 – Human Brain Recordings During Surgery 00:54:11 – Role of Reputation and Authority in Decision-Making 01:00:12 – Sex Differences in Social Behavior & Research Constraints Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Mels Akhmetali Laura van Agen

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