3.24 Self-medicating ants - w/ Katja, Pritakshi & Jason Rissanen

The Science Basement Podcast

In this episode Katja and Pritakshi interview Jason Rissanen about his PhD centred around insects familiar to us all: ants! Have you ever thought that just like us humans, ants might have ways to take care of their health? Turns out one’s hair lightener could be another one’s medicine. Jason Rissanen is a PhD student at the University of Graz in Austria, working with social insects in the lab of Professor Freitak. His main focus is trying to understand how ants use biologically active compounds as a form of self-medication when they get sick. While little is known of the medicinal behaviours of animals in general, he believes they are common in nature as disease lurks behind the corner for everyone. Follow Jason at @elhazones Tell us what you think of our podcast! forms.gle/jfN2sm2q8ZEUXS7K9 Your hosts this week are Katja Kaurinkoski & Pritakshi Das Editing by Marie-Noëlle Paludetto Title & caption by Kerttu Kalander Episode cover by Katja Kaurinkoski TSB Podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artiñano. Jingle by Havelocke. thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: [e-mail]