Science Brew

In this episode of Science Brew, we sit down with Dr. Travis Court, UNC Asheville’s newest lecturer in Astronomy and a researcher specializing in Type Ia supernova remnants. Together, we explore what happens when stars explode, how these cosmic blasts help us measure distances across the universe, and why they revealed that the cosmos is expanding faster than expected. Dr. Travis also explains how...

In this episode of Science Brew on Asheville FM, we sit down with Professor Ashley Case , an award-winning educator from UNCA’s Environmental Science department, to explore how sustainability, social justice, and community resilience intersect here in Asheville. From reducing waste to hands-on student projects and local action through the City’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, Professor Case sh...

In this episode of Science Brew on Asheville FM, I sit down with the UNCA Professor Edward Schwartzman to explorehow restoring nature can help both here on Earth and maybe even one day on Mars. We dive into the role of native plants in Asheville, showing how their roots stabilize riverbanks and reduce flood damage, making ecosystems more resilient. Then we let our imagination wander a bit further...

In this episode of Science Brew, Dr. Stephen Case, historian of science and director of the Honors Program at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois, takes us on a journey through the astronomical and political drama of the 18th and 19th centuries. We explored the intense rivalry between England and France during a time when naming a planet wasn’t just a scientific act — it was a matter of nationa...

The Vera Rubin Observatory has officially begun operations in Chile, and it's poised to transform our understanding of the universe. To explore what makes this observatory so groundbreaking, we sat down with Dr. Britt Lundgren, astronomer and professor at UNC Asheville. In this episode, we talk about Rubin’s ambitious goal: to photograph the entire southern sky every four nights using an ultra...

In this episode, I have a lively chat with Dr. Steve Heulett, the Dean of Arts & Sciences at A-B Tech, about the fascinating world of snakes. These often misunderstood critters are truly amazing! We slither into their crucial role in the ecosystem, reveal their sneaky hunting techniques, and share some fun tips on how to make sure surprise snake encounters are safe and enjoyable, if possible!...

In this first episode of Science Brew, we shine a light on... well, light! Light pollution may seem like a modern convenience, but its impacts reach far beyond the glare. From disoriented moths and migratory birds to sea turtles that lose their way — and even disrupted human sleep — excessive artificial lighting is affecting ecosystems, astronomy, and our health. To understand the scope of the pro...