New Supernova, Virus+Bacteria vs Cancer, Electron Spin, Bee Superfood

Hosted by Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary, Episode 6 of From First Principles covers four groundbreaking stories in science—from rare cosmic explosions to synthetic biology breakthroughs that could save our food supply. This week, we dive into a never-before-seen type of supernova, explore a surprising alliance of viruses and bacteria against cancer, unpack how scientists are turning electron spin into power, and highlight Oxford’s CRISPR-based superfood for honeybees.

Summary

• A naked supernova reveals the inner layers of a dying star

• Viruses and bacteria team up to fight cancer with Trojan-horse biology

• Harnessing electron spin for ultra-efficient future tech

• Scientists engineer bee superfood to save pollinators and agriculture