Curious Conversations

Ben Katz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the impact of lifestyle choices on brain health and cognition. He shared insights about how cardiovascular exercise, spending time in nature, and maintaining a healthy diet can enhance cognitive function. He also talked about the importance of sleep and benefits of social interactions, as well as what changes he has made to best...

Laura Hamm joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about cycling safety, infrastructure, and the behaviors of both riders and vehicle operators. She explained the challenges to getting accurate information about bicycle-vehicle collisions and what conditions make riding safer. She also talked about a project she’s working on that will help the Virginia Department of Transportation b...

Rory Maguire joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about fertilizer and its connection to the Iran war. He explained what nutrients make up most fertilizers, which of those are most impacted by the conflict, and how they behave differently in soil. He also shared some practical advice that could be applied to both large-scale farms and small gardens. Maguire is a professor and ext...

Tom Mayock joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about recent research that shows a relationship between single-family rental housing and educational outcomes. He explained the historic and evolving landscape of rental markets and the work he and his colleagues did that point to a rise in student achievement when units are located in thebounds of high-achieving school districts. M...

Melissa Wright joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about navigating topics related to food, food ingredients, and nutrition. She explained how people should interpret labels and the complexities of topics like raw milk, protein, and color additives. Wright also offered practical advice for consumers and producers to make informed decisions about food safety and nutrition. Wright...

Boris Vinatzer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about fungi and their potential to influence weather through ice nucleation. Vinatzer shared insights gained through some recent research that revealed a fungi protein that helps water freeze at a higher temperature than would otherwise be possible. He explained how ice is actually formed and the potential for this discovery to...

Katalin Parti joined Virginia Tech’s 'Curious Conversations’ to talk about how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are turbocharging social engineering scams and what individuals can do to protect themselves. She shared the common techniques scammers use, what could make a person more vulnerable to scams, and the red flags that can help mitigate such threats. Parti also...

Michael Schwarz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the rapid invasion of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay, its ecological and economic impacts, and the promising potential for turning this challenge into an opportunity. He explained what makes the fish so problematic, the challenge of standing up sustainable fishing, processing, and marketing of the fish, and its unique...

Linsey Marr joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the complexities of airborne pathogens, their impact on health, and a project she’s leading aimed at developing a smart air quality management system. She broke down the challenges of pathogen detection, the importance of collaborative research across different institutions for her current project, and shared some practical a...

Adam Maxwell joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about lithotripsy, a medical procedure to break apart kidney stones, and a new procedure for which his research team just received FDA approval. Maxwell explained the most common current techniques used to treat kidney stones and their challenges. He then introduced the harmonic ultrasound technique he and his colleagues have pion...

Brian Romans joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about Antarctic Bottom Water and its significance for global ocean circulation and climate science. He explained the processes involved in studying ocean currents, the geological records that provide insights into past ocean conditions, and the impact of environmental shifts on these dynamics. Romans also shared his personal journ...

Austin Gray joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about microplastics and the growing body of research about their impact on human and environmental health. He shared insights related to the public perception of plastic pollution, the history of microplastics, and the direction of future research. Gray also emphasizes the importance of approaching research as public service and th...

Francesco Ferretti joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the state of shark populations worldwide and the knowledge gaps that challenge conservation strategies. Ferretti explained the role of sharks in the larger marine ecosystem, the challenges of gathering data on shark populations, and the role citizen scientists can play in overcoming that challenge. Ferretti is an assis...

Landon Marston joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the relationship between data centers and water usage. Marston explained the amount of water used by data centers, what they’re doing with it, and the reality of national and local impacts. He also shared aspects localities might consider before welcoming a new center. Marston is an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s C...

Patrick Huber joined ⁠Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations”⁠ to talk about world of neutrino physics and its implications for understanding dark matter. He explained the significance of neutrinos in the universe, the methods used to detect dark matter, and emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the research. Huber is the William E. Hassinger, Jr. Senior Faculty Fellow in the ⁠College of Scie...

Mike Mollenhauer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about how smart mobility and infrastructure are influencing the future of transportation. He explained the use of real-time data, adaptive speed control, and automated driving systems to enhance transportation safety and efficiency. He also shared the work he and his colleagues are doing related to real-time traffic management...

In 2025, Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” featured more than 30 researchers sharing their expertise. We learned about everything from the future of airspace, mitigating online threats, and curing cancer with air bubbles to the neuroscienceof dancing, the importance of ghost stories, the history of Christmas music, and much more. We’re so thankful each one took the time to chat with us, and...

Ariana Wyatt joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of Christmas music, from its origins in early Christian hymns to its transformation into a commercialized genre in the 20th century. She shared the cultural impact of Christmas music, the distinction between church hymns and secular songs, and the nostalgia that these tunes evoke during the holiday season. Wyatt...

Andrew McCoy joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about 3D printing concrete homes as a potential solution for current housing challenges. He shared the current landscape of housing in Virginia and how this emerging technology might be harnessed to reduce costs and improve efficiency. He broke down how this building process works, the challenges of attempting to shift to it, and...

Patrick Salmons joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of the banjo, including its origins, cultural significance, and the impact of racism and minstrelsy on its perception. Salmons also shared the music industry's impact on the instrument and highlighted contemporary banjo players who are reshaping its narrative. Salmons is the graduate programs coordinator a...

Robin Queen joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the nature of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in knees. She shared insights about the common mechanisms of injury, the impact of age and gender, and the importance of recovery and prevention strategies. She also provided some general advice for athletes of all ages on injury prevention and recovery. Queen is the L....

Marcella Kelly joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about Virginia Tech, her journey into wildlife conservation, and insights on bear populations in Southwest Virginia. She explains the use of genetic sampling to study bear health, the impact of warm winters on their behavior, and how to navigate human-bear interactions. Kelly is a professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife...

Lindsay Miles joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about her research on bed bugs, focusing on genomic sequencing, the history of bed bug populations, and the implications of their mutations. She explained how bed bugs evolved alongside humans, their genetic similarities, and the challenges in managing their populations due to their emerging resistance to pesticides.  Miles is a...

Shaily Patel joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about a new course she’s teaching that explores hauntology, its connection to ghost stories, and the cultural significance of these narratives. Patel explained the role of ghosts as cultural metaphors and how ghost stories serve as a way of making meaning out of past traumas. She also shared the significance of ghost stories in Ap...

Abhishek Reddy joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the impact of screen time and time of day on the suicide risk of adolescents. Reddy shared his recent study that examined these two factors, as well as the medicine used, among a group of adolescents who attempted to overdose. He also shared proactive strategies for parents and guardians to help mitigate potential issues,...