“Dormimos DISTINTO con la LUNA LLENA”: el hallazgo que SORPRENDE a la ciencia con Diego Golombek

In this episode of The Formula, we speak with Diego Golombek, scientist, communicator, and one of the most recognized scientific experts in Argentina and Latin America. His career combines laboratory research, teaching, publications, and a unique style to bring knowledge to the public in a clear, entertaining, and in-depth way. In this talk, Golombek shares reflections on biomedicine, sleep, and the mysteries of nature that we are still uncovering. One of the central topics is the debate surrounding stem cells. Golombek explains that, although they represent one of the great promises of modern medicine, there are still more commercial expectations than proven clinical results. Many companies offer to preserve umbilical cords or placentas as insurance for the future, but current scientific evidence is limited. The great risk, he warns, is rushing to implement therapies without understanding their long-term effects: what seems like a success today could become a problem years later, such as the possibility of these cells transforming into tumors or displacing healthy cells. For this reason, he insists that care and caution are an essential part of the scientific method. The interview also addresses one of the most recent and unexpected findings: human sleep is modulated by the phases of the moon. Research conducted in communities without electricity, and later confirmed in urban settings with artificial light, shows that we sleep differently during a full moon and a new moon, even if we close blinds and live surrounded by lanterns and screens. This finding, which until recently seemed like the stuff of science fiction or myths like werewolves, opens up a fascinating new line of research: what biological mechanisms cause the moon to influence our sleep cycles? Golombek emphasizes that the most exciting thing about science is not having all the answers, but rather opening up new questions. Beyond concrete discoveries, the talk explores the scientific attitude toward the unknown. For Golombek, curiosity is the most powerful driver of research. Science does not seek absolute certainties, but rather processes of understanding that advance step by step, questioning and validating hypotheses. “The most beautiful thing is not knowing what it is and having a whole journey ahead of you,” he says of the lunar discovery, emphasizing that the wonder lies in the exploration rather than the final result. This episode invites us to reflect on how scientific advances coexist with ethical boundaries, the role of biotechnology in the health of the future, and the importance of continuing to investigate natural phenomena that still surprise us. 👉 An inspiring conversation with Diego Golombek about science, mystery, biomedicine, and the art of asking questions.