Research Matters

Shows like "The Pitt" have everyone asking what we owe frontline medical workers. Angelique Taylor has spent years building an actual answer: robots tested inside real emergency rooms at Weill Cornell, designed alongside the nurses and doctors who'd have to trust them. This episode gets into what a robot can and can't do when seconds matter and human lives are on the line.

That green scum on the lake in August? There's a real chance it started on a farm. Kirsten Workman, Cornell's Nutrient Management and Environmental Sustainability Specialist, joins Research Matters to explain how manure — a valuable nutrient package when it stays put — becomes a public health hazard when it doesn't. From phosphorus indexes to injection versus spraying to the runoff...

America is aging faster than its systems are prepared for. In this two-guest conversation, Jenna Wells and Adriana Reyes bring their research to bear on the realities of eldercare today: who provides it, who pays for it, and what happens when both run short. It's a grounded, research-backed look at one of the biggest quiet crises facing families right now.

What if the building coming down next door could become the one going up down the street? Felix Heisel joins Research Matters to explain circular construction — the practice of designing buildings to be disassembled, reused and reborn instead of landfilled. It's a rethink of how we build, one that could turn the construction industry's waste problem into its next resource.

Free speech feels simple until you're the one drawing the lines. In this episode of Research Matters, Cornell's Gautam Hans unpacks the messy, high-stakes reality of civil liberties in America today, from campus speech fights to the digital platforms reshaping what "free expression" even means. It's a clear-eyed look at a right everyone claims to understand and almost no o...

Why do smart, capable people still blow off health screenings, hoard a bottle of wine "for a special occasion" and keep a box of college notebooks they'll never open again? Cornell behavioral economist Suzanne Shu — a former electrical engineer turned behavioral economist — breaks down the psychology behind procrastination, overspending and our strange attachment to stuff. It's...

In this episode of Research Matters, psychologist Gordon Pennycook dives into the surprisingly relatable science of why smart people believe dumb things, from conspiracy theories to “deep” nonsense that only sounds profound. Blending humor with research, the conversation reveals how our fast, distracted brains and overconfidence make us easy targets for misinformation, and why the real fix might b...

In this episode of Research Matters, Corrie Moreau, a leading evolutionary biologist and entomologist, explores the hidden world of insects, revealing how ants and their microbial partners can illuminate evolution, biodiversity and ecosystem health. The conversation spans cutting-edge genomic research, the discovery of vast new viral diversity, and the global importance of the Cornell University I...

This week, Research Matters reveals the hidden chemistry inside aluminum cans. Food scientist Gavin Sacks, Ph. D. ’05, unpacks how subtle reactions affect the flavor, safety and shelf life of popular beverages – and the innovative fixes now in development. Watch here .

In this week’s episode of Research Matters, Dr. Elisha Frye, D.V.M. ’10, associate professor of practice, explains how Cornell’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center works at the front lines of detecting and preventing diseases that can jump between animals and humans. How are climate change and new technologies reshaping disease surveillance — and what can we do to help stop outbreaks before they star...

In this episode of Research Matters, Cornell chemist Phillip Milner explains a breakthrough carbon-capture system that uses sunlight — rather than fossil-fuel energy — to both capture and release carbon dioxide, potentially transforming how we tackle emissions. The conversation explores why carbon capture remains essential, how the technology works in real-world conditions, and what it could mean...

On this week's episode of Research Matters, psychologist Adam Hoffman discusses research showing that even simple exercises — like asking teens to reflect on identities they value — can help them navigate stressful transitions. The conversation also examines how social media influences identity development and the unique challenges facing marginalized people, and offers practical insights for...

In this episode of Research Matters, entomologist Christophe Duplais explains how scent molecules can identify stressed plants, help farmers detect crop problems early and even offer clues about human and animal health. Decoding these airborne messages reveals a hidden communication network that connects ecosystems, agriculture and medicine. Watch here.

In this episode of Research Matters, we speak with misinformation expert Claire Wardle about how misleading and emotionally charged content spreads faster than facts. Wardle explains why misinformation is not just a media problem but a societal one, shaping everything from elections to public health decisions. The conversation also explores possible solutions — from community-based trust networks...

In this episode of Research Matters, Cornell University mechanical engineering professor Robert Shepherd explores a radically reimagined future of robotics – one where sustainable, self-repairing machines partner with biology rather than imitate it, opening new possibilities in medicine, environmental monitoring, agriculture and beyond. Shepherd explains how biohybrid robots use living cells as ac...

In this episode of Research Matters, we talk with Casey Dillman, curator of fishes, amphibians and reptiles at the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, about how studying some of the planet’s most overlooked creatures can reveal the health of entire ecosystems. It’s a conversation about interconnectedness, conservation and an unlikely key to protecting the future of the planet. Watch here .

In this episode of Research Matters, we speak with Sriramya Duddukuri Nair, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering, about the enormous — and often invisible — impact of construction materials on our climate and daily lives. From reimagining “green concrete” to experimenting with 3D-printed buildings made from local, in-situ materia...

In this episode of Research Matters, economist Chris Barrett, the Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and a professor in the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, digs into why food prices remain so stubbornly high — from climate shocks and geopolitical...

In this insightful episode of Research Matters, Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies in the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, dives into the future of cars, travel and work – from tariffs and EV transitions to autonomous vehicles and union impacts. Packed with practical advice, eye-opening analysis and a glimpse into emerging trends in transportation and labor, this...

In this eye-opening episode of Research Matters, David Rand, professor in the Cornell Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, and the College of Arts and Sciences, reveals how AI actually sways what we think – even how we vote. Packed with insight, practical takeaways, and a peek into the future of AI in our daily lives, this episode is a must-l...

On this episode of Research Matters: Can the way you sound on a 911 call make you a suspect? Cornell psychologist Jessica Salerno, associate professor in the College of Human Ecology and associate member of the Cornell Law School faculty, reveals her lab’s eye-opening research showing that callers who don’t sound “emotional enough” – whether they’re calm, hesitant or just processing trauma – can b...

In this episode of Research Matters, Dr. Glenn E. Simmons Jr., a Cornell biomedical scientist and assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, takes us inside his lab to reveal how fats and inflammation can fuel cancer – and why some communities face worse outcomes than others. Plus, he offers practical health tips, a peek at what’s next for his team, and a book recommendation to kee...

Kirsten Kurtz, assistant director of the Cornell Soil Health Lab, discusses her practice of painting with soil, the need for creativity in science and why “the skin of the earth” is more than just dirt.

Chloé Arson, professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in Cornell Engineering, discusses her interest in rock mechanics and geothermal heat, addresses common misunderstandings about the technology and recounts the unexpected, zigzagging journey that led to her becoming a literal rock star.

Climate change and flagging investment in research and development has U.S. agriculture facing its first productivity slowdown in decades. Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, associate professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, explains what is needed to reverse course: a level of public R&D spending growth that hasn’t been seen in the U.S. since the yea...