WEBVTT 00:00:01.887 --> 00:00:05.727 Welcome to our next participant. 00:00:05.727 --> 00:00:09.098 Her name is Giulia Enders. 00:00:09.098 --> 00:00:14.315 She studies at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:14.319 --> 00:00:20.905 Applause to Giulia Enders. 00:00:20.905 --> 00:00:23.779 The next 10 minutes are yours! 00:00:23.779 --> 00:00:27.236 (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:00:27.236 --> 00:00:30.527 Okay, I study medicine -- 00:00:30.527 --> 00:00:32.670 (Cheers) 00:00:32.670 --> 00:00:33.917 -- yes, exactly. 00:00:33.917 --> 00:00:37.771 And studying medicine really comes in handy 00:00:37.771 --> 00:00:40.887 when i'm having coffee and tea with my aunties. 00:00:40.887 --> 00:00:43.435 Because usually they ask you what you study. 00:00:43.435 --> 00:00:45.853 And whereas my sister needs half an hour to explain 00:00:45.853 --> 00:00:48.271 what Communication Design is, 00:00:48.271 --> 00:00:49.368 I can just say: 00:00:49.368 --> 00:00:51.265 medicine. 00:00:51.265 --> 00:00:52.350 (Laughter) 00:00:52.350 --> 00:00:56.426 And my aunties just look at me all happy and satisfied. 00:00:56.426 --> 00:00:59.554 (Laughter) (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:00:59.554 --> 00:01:03.691 It is nice, but it lasts only 30 seconds, 00:01:03.691 --> 00:01:05.754 and then the usual question: 00:01:05.754 --> 00:01:08.418 What field of medicine are you going to specialize in? 00:01:08.418 --> 00:01:10.933 And then I must confess: 00:01:10.933 --> 00:01:14.957 I have been crazy about the digestive tract since my first semester. 00:01:14.957 --> 00:01:19.104 It began with the anus, and now I'm hooked to it! 00:01:19.104 --> 00:01:26.812 (Laughter) (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:01:26.812 --> 00:01:29.549 Suddenly all the enthusiasm trickles away, 00:01:29.549 --> 00:01:32.979 usually there ensues an awkward silence. 00:01:32.979 --> 00:01:35.663 And the next question comes from the far corner of the room: 00:01:35.663 --> 00:01:39.563 And what is Communication Design good for? 00:01:39.563 --> 00:01:40.973 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:01:40.973 --> 00:01:44.491 It is a pity, because the bowels are very charming. 00:01:44.491 --> 00:01:45.668 (Laughter) 00:01:45.668 --> 00:01:48.531 I'm not sure what my aunties think. 00:01:48.531 --> 00:01:52.521 But I suspect they think it's about tons of poop 00:01:52.521 --> 00:01:53.734 (Laughter) 00:01:53.734 --> 00:01:57.457 in all shapes and sizes 00:01:57.457 --> 00:02:02.951 or about other people's excrements 00:02:02.951 --> 00:02:08.770 (Laughter) 00:02:08.770 --> 00:02:14.002 or about obscure cleansing methods 00:02:14.002 --> 00:02:18.886 that make us walk like this out of doctor's room 00:02:18.886 --> 00:02:23.041 or internet videos that are so graphic 00:02:23.041 --> 00:02:29.410 that it's quite enough to watch other people's reaction to them. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:29.410 --> 00:02:31.195 Even science can find reasons 00:02:31.195 --> 00:02:32.843 to hate the bowel. 00:02:32.843 --> 00:02:35.615 But these are also the very reasons why the bowel is so fascinating: 00:02:35.615 --> 00:02:37.451 It's 100 times larger then the area of the skin. 00:02:37.451 --> 00:02:39.347 Just think of hundred Giulias standing here on this stage. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:39.347 --> 00:02:41.018 Such a thin tube, 00:02:41.018 --> 00:02:42.521 with so much immune system inside, 00:02:42.521 --> 00:02:44.395 so many hormones produced, 00:02:44.395 --> 00:02:48.408 100 trillion gut bacteria, 00:02:48.408 --> 00:02:50.409 that's the number of humans times the number of humans 00:02:50.409 --> 00:02:52.476 times two. 00:02:52.476 --> 00:02:55.910 The gut has such a completely independent nervous system 00:02:55.910 --> 00:02:58.186 that if I cut out a piece and tap on it 00:02:58.186 --> 00:03:00.831 it would just mumble a friendly reply. 00:03:00.831 --> 00:03:02.740 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:04.708 It's very complex and science is afraid of it, 00:03:04.708 --> 00:03:06.506 which is understandable, 00:03:06.506 --> 00:03:08.646 but my grandmother says that if you really like something, 00:03:08.646 --> 00:03:10.465 even if it is overwhelming in the beginning, 00:03:10.465 --> 00:03:12.130 you should approach it step by step, 00:03:12.130 --> 00:03:13.971 and then even if you step in a puddle, 00:03:13.971 --> 00:03:15.981 only one foot gets wet. 00:03:15.981 --> 00:03:23.656 (Laughter) (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:03:23.656 --> 00:03:26.240 Let's begin. Here's the esophagus. 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:28.697 It makes powerful movements and pushes the food downward. 00:03:28.697 --> 00:03:30.053 It falls into the stomach, 00:03:30.053 --> 00:03:32.025 which cradles and rocks it a bit, 00:03:32.025 --> 00:03:34.523 and feeds it into the small intestine, 00:03:34.523 --> 00:03:36.662 where it's sort of magically kneaded, 00:03:36.662 --> 00:03:38.254 diminishing in bulk during the process, 00:03:38.254 --> 00:03:39.863 then it passes through the colon 00:03:39.863 --> 00:03:42.364 and comes out from the anus, it all sounds so simple. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:42.364 --> 00:03:44.490 But if we focus on a single process -- 00:03:44.490 --> 00:03:46.683 -- I go for the anus -- 00:03:46.683 --> 00:03:51.645 then we realize it's a bit more complex than expected. 00:03:51.645 --> 00:03:53.521 I actually didn't pick this subject on my own 00:03:53.521 --> 00:03:55.115 rather my roommate asked me: 00:03:55.115 --> 00:03:57.310 Giulia, you study medicine: 00:03:57.310 --> 00:03:59.197 How does pooping work? 00:03:59.197 --> 00:04:02.498 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:04:02.498 --> 00:04:06.963 I have noticed that the anus is actually very communicative. 00:04:06.963 --> 00:04:11.123 It's an intermediate between two worlds of consciousness. 00:04:11.123 --> 00:04:14.837 Here's an internal sphincter 00:04:14.837 --> 00:04:17.803 and here's an external anal sphincter. 00:04:17.803 --> 00:04:20.095 We know the external one very well. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:20.095 --> 00:04:24.400 Let's say: A - O - A - O 00:04:24.400 --> 00:04:26.164 Audience: A - O - A - O 00:04:26.164 --> 00:04:28.010 I meant with your anus. 00:04:28.010 --> 00:04:29.282 (Laughter) 00:04:29.282 --> 00:04:32.755 Probably many are doing it right now, we just don't see it. 00:04:32.755 --> 00:04:35.003 So, you see we can do it. 00:04:35.003 --> 00:04:37.516 If I say, now do the same -- 00:04:37.516 --> 00:04:44.314 (Laughter) 00:04:44.314 --> 00:04:48.522 If I say, now do the same with your internal sphincter -- 00:04:48.522 --> 00:04:50.779 -- it's more difficult. 00:04:50.779 --> 00:04:51.917 (Laughter) 00:04:51.917 --> 00:04:54.638 Perhaps somebody managed... 00:04:54.638 --> 00:04:57.660 But we can see there's a difference. 00:04:57.066 --> 00:04:59.494 It's not under our command. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:59.494 --> 00:05:01.924 Let's take a look at the process: 00:05:01.924 --> 00:05:05.567 when digested food arrives at the internal sphincter, 00:05:05.567 --> 00:05:09.312 it opens up and lets a little morsel pass through for testing. 00:05:09.312 --> 00:05:11.348 (Laughter) 00:05:11.348 --> 00:05:16.803 And there are sensor cells in between the two sphincters. 00:05:16.803 --> 00:05:20.558 These cells analyze whether it is solid or gaseous 00:05:20.558 --> 00:05:22.267 and notify the brain. 00:05:22.267 --> 00:05:23.731 (Laughter) 00:05:23.731 --> 00:05:25.595 And then the brain realizes: 00:05:25.595 --> 00:05:27.674 ah, I must poop. 00:05:27.674 --> 00:05:29.324 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:05:29.324 --> 00:05:33.097 And the brain does what it's good at: 00:05:33.097 --> 00:05:35.545 It informs us of our surroundings. 00:05:35.545 --> 00:05:36.889 It might say, for example: 00:05:36.889 --> 00:05:38.819 well, I have looked, 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:43.458 (Laughter) 00:05:43.458 --> 00:05:46.897 we are at the Science Slam right now, 00:05:46.897 --> 00:05:48.841 perhaps some gas is all right, 00:05:48.841 --> 00:05:53.065 if you let it pass very silently, 00:05:53.065 --> 00:05:55.718 but something solid would not be so good. 00:05:55.718 --> 00:05:57.811 (Laughter) 00:05:57.811 --> 00:06:00.749 So they unite their efforts and push it back in 00:06:00.749 --> 00:06:02.923 (Laughter) 00:06:02.923 --> 00:06:05.403 it goes back in the queue, 00:06:05.403 --> 00:06:08.021 but it has to come out, eventually. 00:06:08.021 --> 00:06:10.999 But when we are at home, with nothing better to do, 00:06:10.999 --> 00:06:13.378 then -- free to go! 00:06:13.378 --> 00:06:26.251 (Laughter) (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:06:27.021 --> 00:06:31.594 The anus is just the tip of the iceberg. 00:06:31.594 --> 00:06:35.772 Auntie 1: What did she say? 00:06:35.772 --> 00:06:41.518 Auntie 2: I think she said that the anus is just the tip of the iceberg. NOTE Paragraph 00:06:41.518 --> 00:06:44.930 The anus is really just the tip of the iceberg. 00:06:44.930 --> 00:06:51.112 There are 2 cm that we perceive and that we can control 00:06:51.112 --> 00:06:54.122 and the whole rest -- 00:06:54.122 --> 00:06:57.178 -- if we want to know what happens there 00:06:57.178 --> 00:07:00.430 we need to look at the border area. 00:07:00.430 --> 00:07:06.488 So we chose something which is both unconscious and conscious. NOTE Paragraph 00:07:06.488 --> 00:07:11.595 There are 7 basic emotions that show on the face, 00:07:11.595 --> 00:07:14.751 they are same for all the people worldwide, in all cultures, 00:07:14.751 --> 00:07:16.467 here are 3 of them, 00:07:16.467 --> 00:07:17.420 fear, 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:18.274 joy, 00:07:18.274 --> 00:07:19.556 sadness. 00:07:19.556 --> 00:07:24.734 These basic emotions show in our faces when we feel them 00:07:24.734 --> 00:07:28.265 and in the first split second we cannot suppress them. 00:07:28.265 --> 00:07:31.123 That reminds us a bit of our internal sphincter, 00:07:31.123 --> 00:07:32.744 which we cannot control consciously either, 00:07:32.744 --> 00:07:34.303 and that's not a far fetched comparison. 00:07:34.303 --> 00:07:37.433 For when we were little embryological heaps of cells in the womb 00:07:37.433 --> 00:07:39.303 there wasn't much of a face -- 00:07:39.303 --> 00:07:41.727 - there was just the front opening of the intestinal tube. 00:07:41.727 --> 00:07:45.395 And finally it was decided: O.K., let's create a face around it, 00:07:45.395 --> 00:07:48.072 seems like people like it, 00:07:48.072 --> 00:07:51.697 so it was a part of this unconscious tube of muscle 00:07:51.697 --> 00:07:56.080 which is why we don't have perfect control over our facial expression. 00:07:56.080 --> 00:07:59.739 We can control our arm any time, but not our mimics. 00:07:59.739 --> 00:08:05.014 That brings up the question what the bowel does with all these emotions, 00:08:05.014 --> 00:08:07.408 if it feels fear, 00:08:07.408 --> 00:08:09.521 if it can laugh 00:08:09.521 --> 00:08:12.050 or be sad. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:12.050 --> 00:08:16.474 And there we are touching on the deeper layers of the iceberg 00:08:16.474 --> 00:08:18.921 on the subconsciousness, 00:08:18.921 --> 00:08:20.769 and people start arguing, 00:08:20.769 --> 00:08:24.442 because many people believe that the bowels have no influence on our emotions, 00:08:24.442 --> 00:08:26.198 that they're just a bunch of cells, 00:08:26.198 --> 00:08:30.150 and the brain, the DNA and the genes are the cause of our feelings. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:30.150 --> 00:08:32.132 So, there are two basic viewpoints: 00:08:32.132 --> 00:08:34.560 One being that the brain decides on an emotion 00:08:34.560 --> 00:08:37.131 and tells all other organs what to do, 00:08:37.131 --> 00:08:40.610 and the other being that the gut is also involved in our emotions, 00:08:40.610 --> 00:08:45.785 thoughts, and perhaps even our behavior. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:45.785 --> 00:08:48.302 So let's just take something 00:08:48.302 --> 00:08:51.211 which has no connection with our genes and our DNA: 00:08:51.211 --> 00:08:53.920 this huge gut flora. 00:08:53.920 --> 00:08:56.246 So we have this whole population of bacteria inside of us, 00:08:56.246 --> 00:09:00.480 which can weigh up to 2 kg, which would be quite normal, 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:04.530 and it's a collection of things, decisions, what we have eaten 00:09:04.530 --> 00:09:07.597 and the environment that surrounds us, 00:09:07.601 --> 00:09:12.864 our very own Pokemon collection of intestinal bacteria. NOTE Paragraph 00:09:12.864 --> 00:09:15.396 I'd like to introduce you to all of them, 00:09:15.396 --> 00:09:17.652 but 60% of them we don't even know at all 00:09:17.652 --> 00:09:20.132 since we cannot cultivate them, 00:09:20.132 --> 00:09:21.876 they just like it so much in our gut, 00:09:21.876 --> 00:09:25.641 that we can't simply observe them in a Petri dish. NOTE Paragraph 00:09:25.641 --> 00:09:28.227 But since they do have an influence, 00:09:28.227 --> 00:09:32.120 scientists began to research them intensively in the last years. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:33.979 Some basic things were already known before: 00:09:33.979 --> 00:09:36.208 they train our immune system, 00:09:36.208 --> 00:09:41.578 our blood type is determined by this training and influence, 00:09:41.578 --> 00:09:44.903 if we have really bad ones then we get bad diarrhea. NOTE Paragraph 00:09:44.903 --> 00:09:46.576 But what about the discreet ones 00:09:46.576 --> 00:09:48.465 quietly doing their job all day long? 00:09:48.465 --> 00:09:51.402 So many different types operating in a huge variety of ways. 00:09:51.402 --> 00:09:53.496 What is their influence? NOTE Paragraph 00:09:53.496 --> 00:09:56.584 And so we have another Babel, 00:09:56.584 --> 00:09:59.103 which is my passion, 00:09:59.103 --> 00:10:04.884 and about which we start asking ourselves many questions: 00:10:04.884 --> 00:10:07.686 If I have certain gut bacteria, 00:10:07.686 --> 00:10:10.704 will I get fatter than others even though I eat the same food as them? 00:10:10.704 --> 00:10:14.077 Can I become depressed because of some kinds of gut bacteria? 00:10:14.077 --> 00:10:16.219 Do some gut bugs protect me from cancer 00:10:16.219 --> 00:10:19.162 while others promote it? NOTE Paragraph 00:10:19.162 --> 00:10:25.676 And most of these questions are getting answered positively. NOTE Paragraph 00:10:25.676 --> 00:10:28.851 And this field is so interesting, 00:10:28.851 --> 00:10:31.595 it's constantly on my mind. 00:10:31.595 --> 00:10:35.201 I have been in neuroscience in Frankfurt for the last half a year, 00:10:35.201 --> 00:10:37.834 and we are doing experiments with endogenous proteins 00:10:37.834 --> 00:10:41.572 trying to find out whether they protect or harm nerve cells 00:10:41.572 --> 00:10:46.635 but I keep thinking, I want to do this with proteins from gut bacteria! NOTE Paragraph 00:10:46.635 --> 00:10:49.292 They did a study with a truly amazing outcome: 00:10:49.292 --> 00:10:53.848 The bowels [of mice] were colonized with certain bacteria 00:10:53.848 --> 00:10:55.400 and then under conditions of stress, 00:10:55.400 --> 00:10:57.446 when the gut gets leaky, NOTE Paragraph 00:10:57.446 --> 00:11:00.077 they developed memory lapses of 10 to 30 days. 00:11:00.077 --> 00:11:02.663 With simultaneous doses of probiotics -- [no memory loss]. 00:11:02.663 --> 00:11:05.813 And so I wanted to know: O.K., how's that? NOTE Paragraph 00:11:05.813 --> 00:11:08.450 And other questions which I keep carrying around. 00:11:08.450 --> 00:11:11.292 There is almost no research being done on this subject in Germany, 00:11:11.292 --> 00:11:14.134 and I really want to promote this. NOTE Paragraph 00:11:14.134 --> 00:11:15.770 That's why I hope you got something out of this, 00:11:15.770 --> 00:11:17.346 for example that the anus is communicative, 00:11:17.346 --> 00:11:20.644 if you see a beautiful lady smiling it's all right to think of her digestive tract, 00:11:20.644 --> 00:11:22.066 (Laughter) 00:11:22.066 --> 00:11:24.610 the gut is very close to the people, with a lot of private property, 00:11:24.610 --> 00:11:27.383 you all have your own gut population, take good care of it, 00:11:27.383 --> 00:11:29.113 I hope you are more fond of it now, 00:11:29.113 --> 00:11:33.446 some politicians might even start fearing its competition, NOTE Paragraph 00:11:33.446 --> 00:11:36.430 I hope the ladies are happier now, NOTE Paragraph 00:11:36.430 --> 00:11:39.088 Thank you all for listening and thanks to my sister, 00:11:39.088 --> 00:11:42.384 because she made this possible with communication design! 00:11:42.384 --> 00:11:47.234 (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:11:47.234 --> 00:11:49.850 Giulia Enders! 00:11:49.850 --> 00:11:53.950 (Applause) 00:11:53.950 --> 00:11:55.647 -- easy, isn't it? NOTE Paragraph 00:11:55.647 --> 00:11:59.072 So let's give today's winner 00:11:59.072 --> 00:12:01.983 some more of our time and attention: 00:12:01.983 --> 00:12:04.510 a short scientific encore! 00:12:04.510 --> 00:12:09.083 So you have the last word! NOTE Paragraph 00:12:09.083 --> 00:12:10.772 How nice, how unusual... 00:12:10.772 --> 00:12:15.555 I have something to share which I always forget, 00:12:15.555 --> 00:12:17.571 and actually it's quite cool, 00:12:17.571 --> 00:12:19.848 I have told you about those sensor cells, 00:12:19.848 --> 00:12:22.530 that distinguish between gaseous and solid, 00:12:22.530 --> 00:12:26.848 but there is a state of matter which is missing -- liquid, 00:12:26.848 --> 00:12:30.771 it is always a bit of an awkward topic for the audience, 00:12:30.771 --> 00:12:33.233 but perhaps some of you are familiar with this: 00:12:33.233 --> 00:12:37.527 you have diarrhea, you feel you have to fart, do you end up with your pants full? 00:12:37.527 --> 00:12:40.848 Your gut can't distinguish liquid from gas, so it just takes its chances! 00:12:40.848 --> 00:12:42.876 That was it! NOTE Paragraph 00:12:42.876 --> 00:12:50.004 (Laughter) (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:12:50.004 --> 00:12:53.957 I have forgotten it in Freiburg already, I always forget it...