Unqualified Curiosity

Welcome back to the (more) regularly scheduled programming! This week, we take a deeper dive than usual into what (at least partially) makes up an expert. What are the differences between the novices and experts on the cognitive scale? How do we best go about developing our skills to become experts in our passions? And how to tap into the coveted benefits of expertise like the flow state, creativi...

After a too-long hiatus, we are officially back! Uploads will be a little sporadic for a little bit, but I am hoping to get back to some semblance of a schedule in the new year. Today, we have the pleasure of listening to a conversation with the writer of The Future is Nuclear, Jonathan Iwasczyszyn! A classic dive into the joys and wonders of nuclear energy and its current hurdles that we have yet...

Welcome back, you curious folk! Was getting lots of requests to branch out to interviews outside of Virginia Tech (just kidding, I got none). Thus, backed by popular demand (technically the case), I present the first external to Virginia Tech interview!   Today, we get to listen in on a conversation with Dr. Eric Ravussin. A world-renowned metabolic researcher known for his contributions to our un...

We're finally back with the 25th episode. After a long hiatus battling with my finals, I got the opportunity to interview a professor of mine. Dr. Crawford is a theoretical chemist working on the generation of computational models to describe complex, chiral molecules. Not only that, he is extremely passionate about teaching, which shows through his work. We got the opportunity to talk about his r...

The double dozen has been reached! Tune in next week for the quarter century. This week, we learn about the importance of sleep for high-level cognitive function and memory development. After that, a look into the jack-of-all-trades cardboard product that is transparent and biodegradable and can hold boiling water, quite the resume for some cardboard. As always (got it right this time, Nathan,) th...

Happy Monday, everyone. This week, we learn about the improvements in the speech-related applications of brain-computer interfaces. An impressive decrease of over 100% for the response time needed has made these devices much more practically useful. After that, we learn how a completely unrelated drug for a rare metabolic disease can be used to make human blood poisonous to mosquitos. As always, t...

Welcome back to the traditional format today with no more money and politics involved. I know you are sad but that's ok, I'm not. Today, we learn about some progress in the treatment of Grade A spinal cord injuries through induced pluripotent stem cell therapy. After that, it's all about antibiotic-resistant bacteria resistant antibiotics, which is my new favorite pallandrome. Thanks for listening...

Week two of the politically adjacent Unqualified Curiosity Podcast! I know I know you love hearing about money, politics, and international relations but unfortunately, this is the last week of it );. For now, though we take a shallow dive into the recent government action and its impacts on grant-related research funding, the topics of research, and international collaboration in research. You wi...

What's up curious folks! Today is a touchy subject so I tried to mostly just present the ideas and what actually occurred. But with the importance of governmental policy on environmental progress, climate change, and science as a whole, this topic is just too important not to include on the podcast to some extent. This definitely does not encompass everything that happened but I hope to summarize...

A few days late on this upload, but better late than never. A little light this week as I have been casting (attempting to fish to no avail), and I anticipate that next week will be light as well because of that. But this week we get to investigate the process of cloning and de-extinction efforts. As well as the development of new wooly mice, which are absolutely adorable. As always thanks for lis...

Unfortunately, it is just me this week as we return to the regular format. To make up for that we have some sweet topics though! Learn a little about batteries and how sodium-ion batteries could offer a bridge to the electrified future. I did get carried away with electrochemical vocab on this one so bear with me. After that, we learn about all the cool developments and applications of fun-sized A...

This week I was fortunate enough to welcome Dr. Patrick Huber to the podcast. Dr. Huber is a particle physicist at Virginia Tech. His research specializes in both neutrino physics and the discovery of dark matter through investigating ancient rocks. Most of his career has been in the theoretical field of physics, but with the recent addition of his dark matter research, he has transitioned to the...

This week we dive into the science behind neutrino detection methods and the recent development into the highest energy neutrino ever detected. After that some developments in our understanding of Earth's core using seismic data over the past few decades. Thanks for listening and stay curious!   Citations Follow: Record-Setting Neutrino Detection: Record-setting neutrino opens ‘new energy window o...

This week, we investigate the potential impacts of AI hallucinations on memory recall and some ways to best avoid the potential detriments of AI chatbot use. We then look into some discoveries related to a connection drawn between humpback whale songs and human language. Some sort of frequency pun should be placed here. Thanks for checking in for another episode, stay curious!   Citations: AI Memo...

This week, we dive into the developments of AI-designed antivenoms, thanks to a collaborative effort of RFdiffusion and AlphaFold technologies, looking into how they can help supplement and hopefully replace our current antivenom creation process. Then, we update you on the results of the OSIRIS-REx NASA mission, which found the building blocks of life in the brine remnants of the asteroid Bennu....

I was fixated on pharmaceuticals this week, so we got to dive into some novel treatment methods for cancer and pain therapy. There is also mention of pig organs if that piques your interest. I just started classes, so with the introduction of some other obligations, I decided only to do two topics this week. Hopefully, all three consistent listeners are not disappointed by that. Citations are belo...

This week, we examine the concept of storing carbon in our building materials, developments that may allow grapefruit consumption for all, and how urban wildfires are caused, tracked, and prevented using modern technology. Two episodes related to genetically modified fruit is a lot...   Citations are as follows. Carbon Sequestration in Building Materials: Built to remove carbon | Science Building...

This week, we dive into the discovery of an entirely new quantum particle known as a fractional exciton. Normal excitons are boring now! After that, we learn a little about antibiotic resistance and how modern clinical trials are trying to stay a step ahead of those pesky bacteria. Finally, we end on a more somber note, acknowledging the 1.5 °C increase seen in the global temperature of 2024. As a...

Hello all and Happy New Year! 2025 has quite the ring to it if you ask me. Anyways, this week we dive into the deep topic of the meaning of life (scientifically), take a look into some mice eyes while they sleep (fun fact mice sleep with their eyes open), and finally get an update from the Parker Solar Probe following its incredibly close flyby with the sun. As always thanks for listening and stay...

What?!? A new episode format? That's right, instead of the typical format, this episode we take a shallower dive into all the crazy scientific things that happened in 2024. I also decided to input some of my incredibly uneducated predictions for some developments to occur in the future. I do not encourage any form of gambling on my predictions, as it is likely that you will not gain money, but if...

Hello all and Happy Holidays! I hope you have enjoyed the royalty-free Christmas music in the past few episodes. Unfortunately, this is the last week of royalty-free Christmas :(. This week we dive into the world of chirality investigating the impacts of developing life built on molecules the mirror opposite of those seen in the human body, we also look at why humans developed traits such as long...

This week we dive deeper into the world of AI and how it will impact our daily lives, investigate Google's developments in quantum error correction, and find out how to carefully curate your morning cup of joe to fit your daily needs. All that and a little bit of upcoming events in this week's episode.  Citations Follow: AI Weather: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03957-3?utm_source=Liv...

This week we take a dive into the world of good audio quality! After that very important aspect, we investigate carbon dioxide reduction and its application for consumer chemicals, the history of the Voyager mission, and the potential of carbon nano ropes for energy storage applications. Thanks for stopping by for week 6! The bibliography is as follows.   Citations: Air Chemicals: Fibrous Pb(II)‐B...

This week we dive into the world of global news and finance. That may not sound exciting but the developments from the COP 29 conference are quite important on the global scale. We also look into the most recent developments in fusion reactors and their potential as a clean energy source. Finally, we investigate how dinosaur poop can answer all the world's questions (if all of the world's question...

This week we dive into a wide array of topics. First, we investigate the most recent discoveries of the Chang' E-6 mission to the far side of the moon and just how they could age a rock. Following that a rat study from the University of Richmond brought incredible wisdom and fun. Finally, development into another form of clean energy is underway with the improvement in the ability to store hydroge...