Winner of the 2024 Gruber Prize in Genetics a $500,000 Prize from Yale University Hugo Bellen has revolutionized our understanding of human diseases through groundbreaking work with fruit flies.

His lab has a promising cure for Alzheimer's that already works for mice and for fruit flies, yet because the drug is already generic no one wants to fund the clinical trial. At Baylor College of Medicine and the Duncan Neurological Research Institute, his innovations in genetic tools and screening methods have uncovered over 40 genes causing rare diseases. His lab's discoveries of how neurons interact with glial cells have provided crucial insights into common conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. His freely shared genetic resources have empowered hundreds of researchers worldwide.

Harald Hess's induction into the 2024 National Inventors Hall of Fame celebrates a career defined by transformative discoveries and bold scientific leaps. His groundbreaking co-invention of PALM microscopy shattered the diffraction barrier that had limited microscope resolution for centuries, revealing the nanoscale world with unprecedented clarity.

This achievement emerged from an unusual career path that wound through the nation's premier research institutions - from MIT to the University of Chicago, Princeton, and Bell Labs - where he initially focused on pushing the boundaries of ultra-low temperature physics.

His pioneering work on evaporative cooling techniques helped advance our understanding of exotic quantum states. Rather than staying within established research domains, Hess repeatedly ventured into new territories, ultimately revolutionizing biological imaging.

PALM microscopy's impact has been profound, enabling researchers to observe molecular processes that were previously invisible, advancing fields from neuroscience to materials science. His journey exemplifies how scientific breakthroughs often emerge from the courage to cross traditional boundaries.

2024 National Champion Dr. Robert Costanza is a pioneering ecological economist who first calculated Earth's ecosystem services value at $33 trillion. Here is the 2024 winner of Japan's prestigious $500,000 Blue Planet Prize given yearly by The Asahi Glass Foundation.

GUEST LINKS:

Website: https://www.robertcostanza.com/

Books:
Addicted to Growth: Societal Therapy for a Sustainable Wellbeing Future: https://www.routledge.com/Addicted-to-Growth-Societal-Therapy-for-a-Sustainable-Wellbeing-Future/Costanza/p/book/9781032003368

Toward an Integrated Science of Wellbeing: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/toward-an-integrated-science-of-wellbeing-9780197567579?cc=us&lang=en&

An Introduction to Ecological Economics, Second Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Ecological-Economics-Second/dp/156670684X

Dr. Asad Madni is a visionary engineer, inventor, and leader, whose innovations have revolutionized multiple industries, from aerospace to automotive safety, positively impacting our lives each and every day. In 2022, he was awarded the IEEE Medal of Honor; in 2023, the John Fritz Medal; and in 2024, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fam.

Join us this week as we hear about all the places Dr. Madni's brilliant mind has taken him and how those journeys have deeply impacted our world today.

2024 National Champion Dr. Adrian Bejan, a renowned mechanical engineer and professor at Duke University was awarded the prestigious 2024 AMSE Medal the highest honor from the Association of Mechanical Engineers which was originally awarded in 1920. Dr. Adrian Bejan and Andre Ray explore a wide range of topics, from personal experiences growing up in different eras to the importance of education and activism. They discuss the implications of political change, the prediction of election outcomes, and the significance of independent thinking. Dr. Bejan elaborates on his Constructal Law, which explains the flow of ideas and systems in nature and society. The conversation also touches on the impact of technology on education, the future of society, and the metaphor of basketball as a reflection of life. They conclude with reflections on the influence of figures like Nelson Mandela and the importance of nurturing individualism in a free society.

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2024 National Champion Dr. Sara Seager, a renowned astrophysicist and professor at MIT was awarded the prestigious 2024 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics worth $1M.

She discusses her groundbreaking work in the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system, particularly focusing on Venus and the potential for life there. She shares insights into the challenges of funding space exploration, the importance of scientific inquiry despite skepticism, and her personal journey in the field of astrophysics. Dr. Seager also highlights the significance of her recent Kavli Prize award and her memoir, 'The Smallest Lights in the Universe,' which intertwines her life experiences with her scientific endeavors.