Spectacular Science

Absolute zero! You may or may not have heard about it, but it is a very interesting phenomena that has to do with the coldest temperature ever possible! What is absolute zero, and what happens when we reach that temperature? Weird and interesting things can happen, so make sure to join me as I take you behind this science. Here is an article! It is called “Absolute Zero Science!” (https://spectacu...

You probably forget things a lot! Car keys, lunch, or even your homework. But forgetting is more than that! Sometimes you can forget entire memories or experiences from a long time ago. Why does that happen? In this episode, Akshay takes you into the science of memories, how they’re formed, and why we forget them. Here is an article! It is called “What Are Memories?” (https://spectacularsci.com/20...

Whether you’re scared or cold, you get goosebumps. Why do we get goosebumps and what is the science behind them? Were they actually useful to our ancestors thousands of years ago? In this episode, I will uncover the science of goosebumps and why they happen! Here is an article! It is called “What Are Vestigial Features?” (https://spectacularsci.com/2024/01/what-are-vestigial-features/) Here is an...

What are gravitational waves? It is hard to wrap your head around something that bends the fabric of space-time itself! How are gravitational waves formed and how are they detected? In this episode, I will be speaking with Dr. Zoheyr Doctor to break down this amazing space science for us. Dr. Doctor is an astrophysicist at Northwestern University and studies gravitational waves and black hole coll...

Happy new year! It’s 2024 now, but is it really? Is January 1st really the start of a the new and the start of a new circle of orbit for the Earth? In this episode, I take you behind the science of the new year, Earth’s orbit, and revealing what science says about the new year! Find the 2023 Recap of Spectacular Science here: https://spectacularsci.com/2023/12/recap-of-2023/ Here is an article! It...

Earthquakes are groundbreaking natural phenomena. What are earthquakes, how do they form, and why are they so hard to predict? In this episode, I will be talking to Dr. Ramon Arrowsmith to learn more about earthquakes and answer these questions. Dr. Arrowsmith studies earthquakes and fault lines at Arizona State University. Do you have science questions that you want answered on an episode? Grab a...

The holiday season and winter time in North America is usually associated with snow! The white, powdery frozen ice that falls from the sky! Kids, including me, love to have fun in the snow! Even though it is very cold, it is still not snowing yet! Why? In this episode, I take you behind the science of how snow forms and all the factors the go into play for it to snow. Here is an article! It is cal...

Wildfires are very destructive events that can wipe out homes and communities. How can we build houses that are able to withstand nature’s fiery forces? The answer lies beneath our feet! In this episode, I speak with Dr. Michele Barbato to take a closer look at the fire-resilient materials he is working on at University of California Davis. We will learn about these materials, how they work, and w...

Volcanoes! Lava, rocks, ash, and dust! Volcanoes are some of the most mind-blowing natural phenomena in the world, and are destructive forces that shape our planet. But, what if volcanoes didn’t exist? How would our lives be like on Earth without volcanoes? In this episode, I will answer this question with the help of Dr. Amanda Clarke. Dr. Clarke studies volcanoes and volcanic eruptions at Arizon...

Could you outrun a giant tsunami wave? Could the fastest person outrun it? In this episode, I am taking you into the science of tsunamis, exploring how tsunamis form, and unveiling whether or not a human or even a cheetah could outrun these giant tsunami waves! Here is an article! It is called “What Causes Tsunamis?” (https://spectacularsci.com/2023/11/what-causes-tsunamis/) Here is an activity! I...

How old is the water you drink? Believe it or not, the water in the oceans, rivers, and inside the human body are billions of years old! It’s even older than dinosaurs! How? In this episode, I will take you behind the science of water, the water cycle, and how water is so old! Here is an article! It is called “Why Do We Need Water?” (https://spectacularsci.com/2023/11/why-do-we-need-water/) Here i...

Do plants get stressed like humans? Although plants might not have a hundred homework assignments, they still might get stressed by other things around them! In this episode, I will answer the burning question: do plants get stressed and do some more digging on how this happens! Plus, Akshay has a special guest on the show: Mr. Tree! Here is an article! It is called “How Do Plants Know When to Gro...

You might notice that as the winter season approaches, it seems like the days get shorter and its night time for longer. Why does that happen? In this episode, I take you into the science of why days get shorter and longer as seasons change. Here is an article! It is called “How Does Earth’s Tilt Cause Seasons”. (https://spectacularsci.com/2022/05/how-does-earths-tilt-cause-seasons/) Here is an ac...

Mummified plants? Sounds crazy and spooky, right? In this Halloween special episode, I take you behind the science of plant mummys, also known as plant fossils. We will learn how plant fossils are formed, how they are preserved, and what scientists do with them now. Here is an article! It is called “How Plant Fossils Are Formed”. (https:// spectacularsci.com/2023/10/plant-fossils-formation/) Here...

Black holes! They’re mysterious objects in space. When things go in them, they never come back. In this episode, with the help of Dr. Christopher Carroll, I am answering a burning questions about black holes: what if they didn’t even exist? Dr. Carroll studies black holes at Washington State University and knows a lot about the awesome science behind black holes. Learn more about Dr. Carroll by vi...

Gorillas! They’re amazing animals! This episode features amazing questions sent in by a few of my listeners! We will all learn more about gorillas with the help of Ms. Rhiannon Schultz. Ms. Schultz is a gorilla researcher at the University of Georgia and knows a lot about the kings of jungles. Learn more about Ms. Schultz by visiting https://rhiannonschultz.com. Special thanks to the listeners who...

From trees to your pancakes! Where does maple syrup come from and why is it so sweet? In this episode, Akshay takes you into the delicious science of maple syrup, where it comes from, and why it is so deliciously sweet! Here is an article! It is called “What are the Layers of a Tree’s Bark?” (https://spectacularsci.com/2022/02/what-are-the-layers-of-a-trees-bark/) Here is an activity! It is called...

Look up! It’s a flock of birds! Chances are that you’ve seen a flock of birds flying in a letter V shape. Why do they do that? In this episode, I take you into the skies to find out the science behind this amazing question. Here is an article! It is called “Why Do Birds Migrate?” (https://spectacularsci.com/2021/03/why-do-birds-migrate/) Here is an activity! It is called “Bird Photographer Activit...

You’ve probably heard that diamonds are the strongest material naturally found on Earth. What makes diamonds so strong? In this episode, I will take you into the science of diamonds, how they form, and how all that plays a role in why diamonds are considered the strongest natural material in the world! Here is an article! It is called “Diamonds vs. Graphite”. (https://spectacularsci.com/2023/09/di...

We’re all made of stardust! It seems mind-blowing or even unreal, but everything on Earth is made out of materials that were originally in stars. In this episode, I will uncover how we’re actually made of stars and some amazing facts about our early universe. Here is an article! It is called “What is a Supernova”. (https://spectacularsci.com/2022/03/what-is-a-supernova/) Here is an activity! It is...

What if all coral reefs on Earth suddenly disappeared? How would the Earth react? What problems would that create? In this episode, I talk to Dr. Emma Camp, a marine biologist at University of Technology Sydney, about this mind-boggling question and to tell us more about the harsh future of coral reefs. Dr. Camp is an award-winning researcher and has won several awards including Rolex Awards for E...

You’ve probably heard the saying “wish on a shooting star”. What exactly are shooting stars? Hint! They might not be actual stars. In this episode, I will talk more about shooting stars and what they really are. Here is an article! It is called “What Causes Meteor Showers”. (https://spectacularsci.com/2022/06/what-causes-meteor-showers/) Here is an activity! It is called “Shooting Stars in a Jar”....

Why is there a specific hurricane season, especially in North America? Why don’t hurricanes come at all times of the year? I will explore the science and wonders of hurricanes and answer some of these mind-boggling questions in this episode. Here is an article! It is called “How Do Hurricanes Form?” (https://spectacularsci.com/2021/09/hurricanes/) Here is an activity! It is called “Hot and Cold Wa...

Welcome to part 3 out of 3 in this series about biomes on Earth! In the previous episode, I covered the science behind land biomes. In this episode, you will learn more about the different aquatic biomes on Earth and what makes them unique! Here is an article! It is called “What Is A Biome”. (https://spectacularsci.com/what-is-a-biome/) Here is an activity! It is called “Biomes Poster Activity”. (...

Welcome to part 2 out of 3 in this series about biomes on Earth! In the previous episode, I covered the science behind what a biome is. In this episode, you will learn more about the different land biomes on Earth and what makes them unique! In part 3, Akshay will dive into the science of the different aquatic (water) biomes on Earth! Here is an article! It is called “What Is A Biome”. (https://sp...