UC Santa Barbara (Audio)

As we age, our bones become thinner and weaken. For older people this can lead to life-altering fractures. Our bones are growing, living tissue made up of calcium-based minerals, collagen and other proteins. Understanding your bone health - how well the minerals and proteins are working together to resist fracture - can help you and your doctor determine the best course of treatment. Paul Hansma, Ph.D., inventor and professor emeritus of physics at UC Santa Barbara, has been studying the protein 'glue' within our bones and how to measure it. In this program, Hansma discusses a new assessment called Bone Score, which, along with other diagnostic tests like measuring bone density, can give a more complete picture of overall bone health. The Bone Score assessment medical device was recently approved by the FDA. Hansma is a founder and investor in Active Life Scientific, a UC startup company that manufactures the equipment for Bone Score tests and runs the bonescore.com website. The views expressed in this video are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Active Life Scientific or the University of California. [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 38054]

Moderator Jennifer Tyburczy discusses the production and impact of HBO miniseries Veneno with star Daniela Santiago. Santiago talks about the process and pressures of portraying transgender icon La Veneno, and the importance of representation both in front of and behind the camera. She detailed the significance of La Veneno, including her famous charisma and glamor, as well as the struggles she faced in her life. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37991]

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, screenwriters of "Captain America: The First Avenger," discuss the film with moderator Matt Ryan. Markus and McFeely cover how they adapted the beloved comic book hero to the screen, and their collaboration with director Joe Johnston. They explained in detail how they crafted the characters of Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Peggy Carter, as well as some of the behind-the-scenes work they witnessed while on set. They also spoke about their role in crafting the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe with their other Captain America and Avengers films. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37986]

Dr. Songi Han, professor in the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering at UC Santa Barbara, talks about her research into the function of proteins in the body and how changes like protein Tau tangles can lead to neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 37869]

UC Santa Barbara's Script to Screen, hosted by Matt Ryan, was invited onto the 2022 Santa Barbara Film Festival red carpet to interview filmmakers from many 2022 Oscar-nominated movies. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37995]

Dr. B.S. Manjunath, distinguished professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at UC Santa Barbara, discusses the use of computer video technology to assist with visual analysis of issues like human stress and disease, methane gas release, and underwater mapping. He also discusses what we know about human vision, how it works compared to how computer vision works. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Science] [Show ID: 37871]

Dr. Susan Cassels, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at UC Santa Barbara, and a research associate with the Broom Center for Demography discusses the latest thinking on HIV interventions. Her research focuses on the study of topics related to health geography, demography, and infectious disease epidemiology. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 37873]

Eric Roth, screenwriter of Dune, discusses the film with moderator Matt Ryan. Roth talks about how he tackled adapting Frank Herbert’s novel to the screen, and his collaboration with director Denis Villeneuve. He also talks about various details of his process, such as how he approached portraying the characters of Paul and Lady Jessica, and bringing the world of Dune to life with his portrayal of the Fremen and the sandworms. Roth elaborates on working with the Herbert family early on to make sure that the legacy of the novels was properly respected. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37862]

Dr. Simon Todd, assistant professor in the Department of Linguistics at UC Santa Barbara, talks about what you can learn simply by listening. His research focuses on the incredible power of passive listening for developing and accessing knowledge about language varieties and the people that speak them. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37872]

Dr. Todd Oakley, evolutionary biologist and professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at UC Santa Barbara, discusses his research on the evolutionary origins of complex features, like eyes, bioluminescence, and nervous systems. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Science] [Show ID: 37868]