STEM to Stern

Imagine choosing which memories to keep and which to forget. This week, Chauntée and Jake dive deep into the science (and sci-fi) of memory erasure. Inspired by Artemis Fowl ’s fairies and classics like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Memento , they explore a fascinating question: Could we really delete memories? From trauma treatment to ethical dilemmas, mind-wiping is more than just a...

In this episode of STEM to Stern , Chauntée and Jake dive into one of science’s biggest mysteries: the possibility of alien life … and whether it’s ever reached us here on Earth. Jake, who holds a PhD in astrophysics, loves exploring big questions like this, even if they don’t have neat answers. He explains why the sheer size of the universe makes it likely that intelligent alien life does exist s...

Cue the robot dance because this episode dives into the fascinating (and slightly unsettling) world of cybernetics. Inspired by Inspector Gadget’s spring-loaded arms and helicopter hats, Chauntée and Jake explore how far we've come in merging human biology with advanced technology. From glasses and hearing aids to mind-controlled prosthetics that can feel , science is pushing boundaries. But w...

If you could steal one animal ability for yourself, what would it be? In this episode of STEM to Stern, Chauntée surprises Jake with that exact question, and his answer is brilliant. Jake skips the obvious choices like flying or super hearing and goes straight for ... octopus skin. Why? Because octopuses are masters of disguise. Their skin contains chromatophores and papillae, specialized cells th...

What if your doctor could send an army of microscopic robots into your body to destroy cancer cells, repair damaged tissue, or even prevent illness before it starts? In this episode of STEM to Stern , Chauntée and Jake dive into the fascinating world of nanobots : tiny engineered machines measured in billionths of a meter. Inspired by sci-fi favorites like Big Hero 6 and Black Panther , we explore...

What does it really mean to be smart? In this episode of STEM to Stern, Jake and Chauntée dig into a big question: Is being smart all about having the right answers, or is there more to it? From emotional intelligence and empathy to curiosity and teamwork, they explore why “smart” looks different for everyone. Can you be book-smart and still miss the mark? How do great communicators use emotional...

Could sharks survive in the city? What if the sharks from the old Street Sharks cartoon were real? Big muscles, legs, walking around New York like total jawsome bros. Could we actually make a shark that lives on land? Or is that a science fiction dream that should stay in the 90s? In this episode, Jake and Chauntée dive into some seriously wild ideas about bioengineering and evolution. How do scie...

STEM to Stern: The Physics of Everyday Stuff! Ever wondered why doorknobs aren’t right next to the hinges? Or how a straw magically brings water to your mouth? In this episode, Jake (our resident physics whiz) breaks down the surprising science behind everyday objects, and it’s not as simple as “because it just works.” We’re talking torque, atmospheric pressure, density, light vs. sound waves, tou...

You’re Eating Plastic (Seriously) — Let’s Talk Microplastics  Did you know that  you eat, on average, a credit card’s worth of plastic each week? Yummy. The truth is, tiny plastic is hiding everywhere : in your water, your food, even the air you breathe.  In this episode of STEM to Stern , Jake and Chauntée break down (pun intended) the messy truth about microplastics. Why are they so impossible t...

In this episode of STEM to Stern , Chauntée challenges Jake to name the most overhyped STEM trend, and of course, he picks AI. But is today’s “AI” really artificial intelligence, or just clever pattern-matching? Tune in as we unpack: AI vs. Real Intelligence: Why current tools like ChatGPT are powerful, and why they still fall short of authentic human-style learning. One-Trick Algorithms: How each...

What happens when science fiction meets real science?  In this episode, Jake and Chauntée jump headfirst into the chaotic possibilities of time travel. Could you actually break time like Loki? Or cause an incursion like in Doctor Strange ? From wormholes and the multiverse to Einstein's theory of relativity and the twin paradox, they explore how time dilation, gravity, and quantum mechanics sh...

What if you met ... you? In this episode of STEM to Stern , Dr. Jake unpacks the fascinating world of quantum mechanics and explains how quantum computers just might open the door to the multiverse. (Yes, Marvel fans, this one's for you.) Chauntée is learning right alongside the rest of us, asking the questions we’re all wondering. From quantum bits to alternate realities, this episode explore...

Ever had to write an application in a foreign language just to be taken seriously? That’s just one of the wild facts you’ll hear about Queen Bessie in this week’s episode of STEM to Stern. From literal sky-high stunts to shattering figurative glass ceilings, Bessie Coleman’s legacy is everything STEM should be: bold, brilliant, and barrier-breaking. Why do you think she isn’t as well known as Amel...

Is the future of mining not underground … but off-planet?   In this interstellar episode of STEM to Stern , Chauntée and Dr. Jake dig into the possibilities of asteroid mining (cue the seven dwarves’ song). From platinum and gold floating in the asteroid belt to the very real science of towing space rocks into Earth’s orbit, they explore how space might solve one of Earth’s oldest resource problem...

What do designing a smartphone interface and solving an algebra equation have in common? More than you think. In this episode, Jake and Chauntée dive into the powerful intersection of STEM and the arts, where analytical thinking meets expressive creativity. As a self-proclaimed musical and theatre kid, Chauntée reflects on how storytelling, performance, and even Broadway can shape our understandin...

What’s the difference between colonizing a planet and terraforming one? In this episode of STEM to Stern , Jake and Chauntée go interplanetary discussing what it would take to make Mars habitable for humans.  From thickening atmospheres to shielding from radiation, they explore the science (and science fiction) behind turning the Red Planet blue. They also ask big questions about climate change, g...

If you think STEM is just coding robots or solving equations, think again. In this myth-busting episode, Jake and Chauntée break down the biggest STEM misconceptions that might be holding learners (or even you!) back. Chauntée flips the script on what counts as “technology” (spoiler: your pencil qualifies), and the duo digs into why STEM isn’t just about science or math. It’s about mindset. They d...

What if your brain could talk directly to a computer? In this episode of STEM to Stern , Jake and Chauntée dive into the fascinating (and slightly unsettling) world of brain-computer interfaces, with a focus on emerging tech like Neuralink. Together, they explore the potential benefits of these innovations, such as restoring mobility or communication for people with disabilities. But they also dig...

Is cold weather proof that climate change isn’t real? In this episode of STEM to Stern, Chauntée and Jake tackle one of the most persistent misconceptions in science: confusing weather with climate.  Join us as we unpack why extreme events like snowstorms or heatwaves don’t disprove climate change – and how rising sea levels, shifting agricultural yields, and increased storm intensity are the real...

In this episode of STEM to Stern , Chauntée and Jake put their big brain energy to the test with a superhero-sized thought experiment: how does quantum physics explain Ant-Man’s powers? Turns out, it involves some fictional Pym Particles, the very real Pauli Exclusion Principle, and a tiny bit of movie magic. This week, they break down: Why shrinking doesn’t make Ant-Man any less punchy How superh...

In this thought-provoking episode of STEM to Stern, hosts Chauntée and Jake take on one of the biggest questions in STEM today: Can artificial intelligence ever match the human brain? From the differences between human and machine thinking to the wild world of uploading your brain into a robot (yes, really), we explore the potential – and the pitfalls – of AI becoming “conscious.” You’ll hear: Why...

In this thought-provoking episode of STEM to Stern, hosts Chauntée and Jake take on one of the biggest questions in STEM today: Can artificial intelligence ever match the human brain? From the differences between human and machine thinking to the wild world of uploading your brain into a robot (yes, really), we explore the potential – and the pitfalls – of AI becoming “conscious.” You’ll hear: Why...

What would happen if gravity took a day off? Or if Newton’s First Law simply … didn’t exist? In this mind-bending episode of STEM to Stern, co-hosts Chauntée and Dr. Jake Roark let curiosity run wild as they explore what the world might look like if we could suspend the laws of physics – just for a day. From Newton’s law of inertia to the terrifying consequences of losing gravity, they tackle hypo...

In this episode of STEM to Stern , Jake and Chauntée take a deep dive into the future, imagining scientific breakthroughs that could change everything. From interplanetary colonization to discoveries we haven’t even dreamed of yet, we explore the what ifs of science and technology. Will we build cities on Mars? Could we design a roller coaster on the moon? And would riding it still make us feel si...

Did you know that bananas are slightly radioactive? In this episode of STEM to Stern , Chauntée and Jake discuss the unexpected science of everyday foods – like why bananas, Brazil nuts, and even potatoes contain trace amounts of radiation. But don’t worry, you’d probably need to eat a LOT of them to gain superpowers.  We also explore the science behind sunburns (spoiler: your skin is basically se...