Ask a Scientist

Have you ever wanted to know more about the sun? In this episode, Dr. Michael Kirk, research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center with Astra, talks to us all about the sun! Why is the sun so bright? Why is it bad to look at the sun? Why does the sun set at different times all throughout the year? What's it like to work for NASA? Dr. Kirk will answer all those questions and more!! 

Links: 

Sun-grazing comets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1yH_DuC88M

Helioviewer: https://www.helioviewer.org/

Have you ever wanted to know more about snakes and alligators? In this extra special episode, the paleontologists of the Common Descent Podcast talk to us about all things paleontology! David tells us all about snakes. Will talks to us all about alligators and crocodiles. And they both talk to us about finding fossils, analyzing fossils, and hosting a podcast! So grab your paleontology hats and get ready to learn about reptiles and paleontology!! And check out the Common Descent Podcast at https://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Have you ever wanted to know more about genetics and how we can use genetics to protect species on the landscape? In this episode, Dr. Sarah Gaughan from Bellevue University, talks to us all about genetics, fish, conservation, and how we can use genetics to help species living in changing environments stay on the landscape. She answers all your questions about fish, how they evolved, and how they are changing today and in the future. So grab your fishing pole and get ready to learn all about these amazing creatures swimming just below the surface! 

Have you ever wanted to know more about weather in space? In this episode, Dr. Joe Hughes, Research Scientist at Astra, talks to us all about the weather in space! He answers all of your questions about what makes space weather, and how things like solar flares affect conditions on Earth. He even teaches us how GPS works! Grab your telescopes, look out to the stars, and get ready to learn all about the things that happen just beyond Earth's atmosphere! 

For a transcript of this episode and more information about some of the topics discussed, please visit https://askascientistpod.com/episode-transcripts/

Have you ever wanted to know more about dinosaur poop? In this episode, Dr. Karen Chin, Curator of Paleontology and Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, talks to us all about dinosaur dung!! She answers all of your questions about fossilized dinosaur doo-doo (the scientific term is coprolites) and about dinosaur bathroom behavior! She talks to us about where dinosaurs pooped, how big dinosaur poop was, and even what dinosaur poop might have smelled like! We talk about dinosaur diet, digestion, and other things we can't learn from studying dinosaur bones alone. So grab your toilet paper and get ready for a fun, informative episode all about dinosaur droppings! 

For a transcript of this episode and more information about some of the topics discussed, please visit https://askascientistpod.com/episode-transcripts/

Have you ever wanted to know more about sharks? In this episode, Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza, Executive Director of Ocean First Institute,  talks to us about sharks! She tells us all about the world's oldest sharks, the biggest sharks, the smallest sharks, and what it's like to see a shark in person! We talk about why sharks are scared of orcas and how it is challenging to keep great white sharks in captivity. So grab your scuba gear and get ready to dive into the world of sharks!! 

For a transcript of this episode and more information about some of the topics discussed, please visit https://askascientistpod.com/episode-transcripts/

Have you ever wanted to know more about ancient humans who died a long time ago? In this episode, Dr. Erin Baxter, Curator of Anthropology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, talks to us about what humans have done with their dead throughout history. She studies all of the wonderful burial practices of cultures around the world. In this episode, she talks to us about about mummies, skeletons, what we can learn from studying bones, and much, much more!  There is so much to be learned about humans and their history by studying human remains, so get ready to hear Dr. Baxter talk about some amazing experiences she's had studying humans all around the world. 

For a transcript of this episode and more information about some of the topics discussed, please visit https://askascientistpod.com/episode-transcripts/

Have you ever wanted to know more about scientist developing cures and treatments for cancer? In this episode, Roy Dornbrook, Associate Scientist at Verseau Therapeutics, talks to us about his research developing immune-based therapies for cancer. He answers your questions about cancer, new treatments being developed for it, what causes it, how long we've known about it, and even why it's called cancer! While cancer is a disease that affects many people, there are thousands of scientists all over the world trying to find treatments and cures for it, and Roy tells us all about it! 

Have you ever wanted to know more about the Earth? In this episode, Dr. Miquela Ingalls, Assistant Professor at Penn State University, will talk to us all about the Earth, its history, its environments, and its climate! She will answer all your questions about Earth’s oceans, continents, atmosphere, and how they have changed through the 4.6 billion year history of the Earth!! She's studied the Earth all over the world, from lakes in Mexico to the  peaks in the Himalaya and she talks to us all about these amazing places!