‘The Maine Question’ podcast looks at many roles of fat

The latest episode of “The Maine Question” asks, what color is your fat?

The word “fat” evokes a certain reaction in our culture. For associate professor of neurobiology Kristy Townsend and her students, it’s the subject of research on many levels. Fat communicates with the brain, it battles disease, it plays a role in the aging process. It also comes in a variety of colors with differing functions.

In the sixth episode of the second season, host Ron Lisnet talks with Townsend about her work on this connection and how it relates to obesity and diabetes — diseases that are becoming pandemics. She also talks about the role of basic research and the growing biotech industry in Maine.

Find the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Spotify and “The Maine Question” website. New episodes will be added Thursdays this season. For more information and to suggest podcast topics, email mainequestion@maine.edu.