Explore the Edges of Understanding- Otto Meyerhof (Episode 2)

Otto Meyerhof won the Nobel Prize in 1922 (shared with AV Hill) for "his discovery of the fixed relationship between the consumption of oxygen and the metabolism of lactic acid in the muscle." His discoveries form the basis for aerobic vs. anaerobic metabolism. He was able to think about the big picture, had several amazing teammates with whom he was able to explore the edges of our understanding, and demonstrated that metabolism (like life) is cyclic with many possible pathways.


(0:00): Show Introduction
(1:28): Introduction to Otto Meyerhof
(3:30): Energy Systems & Nobel Prize Summary
(3:54): Childhood of Meyerhof
(5:14): Medical Training (Psychiatry vs. Metabolism)
(6:22): Meeting Otto Warburg: His Potential Confidante
(8:04): Meyerhof's First Independent Research on Energy Metabolism
(8:30): Commuting is Like Energy Metabolism
(9:50): Anaerobic vs. Aerobic Metabolism
(10:53): Muscle Metabolism Experiment
(12:00): Glycogen to Lactate in Absence of Oxygen
(12:30): Metabolism Exists in Cycles
(14:00): Does Lactate Go to Glycogen?
(15:15): Summary of Meyerhof's Scientific Findings
(16:15): Why Was Meyerhof Able to Innovate?
(16:55): Think About the Big Picture to Solve Problems
(17:25): Meyerhof Discovers ATP, the Universal Energy Currency
(19:20): Energetic Difference Between Aerobic and Anaerobic Processes
(20:20): Being in the Right Place at the Right Time + Execution
(21:19): Qualities for Innovative Thinking
(23:19): Real World Implications of Discovery
(25:27): Lesson: Find a Team with Whom You Can Explore the Edges of Understanding
(26:22): Lesson: Innovation Arises Out of Resourcefulness
(27:35): Metabolism (and Life) is Cyclic, with Many Possible Pathways
(28:20): Ask Big Questions