Superheroes of Science

In the past, only large, well-funded organizations could afford to build and launch satellites. But CubeSats are making it possible for anyone with a good idea and some basic engineering skills to put a satellite in space. Brandon Pearson is the Director of NearSpace Education sits with us to explain further CubeSats. CubeSats are small, cube-shaped satellites that are increasingly being used for...

Dr. Paul Mathewson, Science Program Director for Clean Wisconsin, joined us to discuss some current initiatives related to solar energy and address several misconceptions about this alternative energy source. We also learned about agrivoltaics, where several crops can be farmed together while utilizing land space for solar farms.

Discover the wonders of Titan, the second-largest moon in our Solar System! Start your outer space journey and explore an alien world like no other. Titan is unique – its atmosphere, clouds, and vast oceans are made of methane instead of water.

Minimally invasive surgeries are ideal for reducing recovery time for patients. Biomedical engineers play an important role in figuring out the design requirements needed for developing useful devices for both physicians and other end users. Creasy Clauser, Research Manager for Cook Medical, describes the role of a Biomedical Engineer from identifying problems to developing prototypes that limit r...

From space weathering to lunar soils, Dr. Michelle Thompson, Purdue University EAPS,  is actively furthering our knowledge about the universe. She not only knows about meteors and meteorites, she teaches professionals how to handle and research these interstellar objects. We caught up with her to learn about what these "Shooting Stars" are and where they come from.

Before x-rays were used for medical purposes, they were used for entertainment. X-rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and are utilized in a variety of radiography procedures that are currently taught to aspiring veterinary students. Liane Shaw, Diagnostic Imaging Senior Instructional Veterinary Nurse at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, describes the use of x-rays wit...

We all take medicine at some time or another, but what do we know about how these medicines are made? We asked Joe Topczewski, a chemist who has been part of both academia and industry, about pharmaceuticals: how they are made, how they become available, and how they are regulated. We learned that there is a lot of freely available information on federal government pages regarding most pharmaceuti...

How is a research program chosen for funding by NASA? As various scientific field campaigns are implemented, some of the campaigns reach the scientific research community and program scientists like Ken Jucks, Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Programs selected through peer-review for funding by NASA focus on answering science questions that are important to society, and t...

The Sun is both a natural laboratory for plasma physics and the focus of the field of study known as Heliophysics. Heliophysics involves the physics of how the Sun actually works. Dr. Michael Kirk, P.I. of the NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team, defines the state of matter known as plasma, and explains how studying the Sun helps us better understand satellites, radio signals, GPS signals,...

There are many variables that play a role in understanding the impacts of water as it relates to the development of different environments. Kayla Cotterman is an Environmental Scientist with the Lochmueller Group who studies the impact to wetlands for groups wanting to develop. Cotterman discusses variables such as water usage, storm water, runoff, and historic rain events. Factors such as these a...

When you look at a leaf, what color do you see? While a leaf may appear green, it is not necessarily producing green light. The leaf absorbs wavelengths of red light, and reflects the green light that we see. Professor Alexander Wei's research group synthesizes molecules and nanomaterials, and studies how these materials interact with light. Wei discusses luminescence, fluorescence, phosphorescenc...

Mike Hoffman is the former 16 First Alert Chief Meteorologist of 27 years. Recently retired, he had enough time to sit down with us and discuss chaos as it relates to the weather. Hoffman recalls his years at Purdue, learning about the delay between performing calculations for upcoming weather with a computer model and using the results of those calculations to actually make weather predictions. W...

Brad Garczynski, PhD Candidate in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, researches Martian rocks with the Perseverance Rover. Brad and others are using the natural environment we have access to on Earth to make connections and gain a better understanding of observations being made at Jezero Crater on Mars.

Dr. Doug Schmitt is the Professor and Stephen and Karen Brand Endowed Chair of Unconventional Energy at Purdue University. Dr. Schmitt provides insight on growing energy consumption, the increased demand for products made with fewer (or no) greenhouse gas emissions, and challenges associated with the realities surrounding unconventional energy product development.

 Dr. Tommy Sors, Assistant Director of the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease (PI 4 D), explains the role that STEM professionals in all fields play in sequencing genes to understand the instructions for life found in every cell. This field of study is known as genomics, but within this field, there are many other "-omics." How about the field of study involving RN...

Green roofs are utilized to create habitat, promote health and well-being, reduce stormwater runoff, protect buildings, and conserve energy! John Aleck from LiveRoof joins us to discuss the installation process for green roofs and explain how green roofs are evolving to become more sustainable.

Wastewater has become a commodity and it's being used in many different ways around the globe! Most wastewater infrastructure throughout the United States is nearing the end of its life and communities are looking at rebuilding systems that have been in place for decades. Leisha Pica is with Jacobs Engineering where she serves as both a Global Technology Leader for Wastewater Technology, and a lic...

Studies have shown that when students are connected with their peers, the process of learning new things becomes easier. Collaborative opportunities within a classroom tend to help students learn better than when the classroom emphasis is based on a competition model. Curtis Kelly, Professor at Kansai University in Japan, is passionate about using research and trends in brain science to help his s...

Ken Ridgway tells us that in order to understand how the world works, we have to be able to study sedimentary rocks, and looking at an active area now helps us see what might have happened in the past. He sets up camp in active earthquake areas of Alaska and intensively researches the sedimentary rocks to discover clues to the past and make connections to today's world. Ken Ridgway is a researcher...

Do your favorite pastimes involve water? Boaters, anglers, water gardeners, even classroom aquariums carry the potential to spread invasive species. Greg Hitzroth is an Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Specialist with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Illinois Natural History Survey. Greg helps us to better understand the meaning behind invasive species, and provides many best practice guideline...

How do we blend Indigenous knowledge with Western science in a respectful way, and ensure that members of Indigenous communities are included in the decision making, classroom teaching, and current policies at the University level? Traditionally, many underrepresented groups have been left out of the US educational system. Purdue University has been very proactive in reaching out to Native America...

Microplastics are small plastics that end up in our environment. But how do they get there and what kind of issues do they create?  Sarah Zack is a Pollution Prevention Extension Specialist at the University of Illinois and with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant program. Sarah joins up to discuss and explain what science currently understands about microplastics. We also discussed pharmaceuticals in...

Dr. Nowack returns to help us understand just how a logarithmic scale works.  In today's episode, we discussed the Richter Scale, Powers of Ten, and How Babies Count. Dr. Robert Nowack is a Professor of Geophysics in the Dept. of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University.

The start of a new year can be an exciting time for setting goals related to personal health and fitness. These goals may include starting, or possibly continuing, an exercise or fitness routine. Scott Lawrance, Clinical Professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology and Director of Athletic Training Education at Purdue University, cautions us to be wary of programs that promise everything...

Looking to make a change in your health? We found an expert and discussed nutrition, goals, diets, and advice for safely making changes to your daily routine that can lead to long-term positive habits. Adam Huffield is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength, and Conditioning Specialist, and a Senior Lecturer in the Departments of Nutrition Science and Health and Kin...