Ask Dr. Universe

Ask Dr. Universe

By Washington State UniversityKids & FamilyEducation for Kids
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Ask Dr. Universe episodes

  • Your Paw-some Question | How do butterflies taste with their feet?

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    Cosmo and I learn about butterfly taste receptors with WSU's Rich Zack.

    • Watch how entomologists rear caterpilllars with Cornell University
    • See some clearwing butterflies in 4K from Deep Look
    • Find out how to help butterflies

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    5 min
  • Your Paw-some Question | Would it have been possible to domesticate bears instead of wolves?

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    Cosmo and I find out why bears never became pets, with expert input from Alaska wildlife biologist Sean Farley.

    • Check out the WSU Bear Center
    • Learn more about canine genes with the Smithsonian
    • Find out about early human hunter-gatherers with Nat Geo
    • The American Museum of Natural History shows off its cave bear
    • Read about bears' cool reproductive strategies 
    • See a baby bear with a Pennsylvania Game Commission biologist

    Sound effects courtesy Zapsplat and Pixabay

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    5 min
  • Tu Pregunta Paw-dre | ¿Qué pasa si te come un tiburón?

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    Gracias a mis amigos, Dr. Ornitorrinco y Dra. Nora Hickey, una veterinaria de peces en la Universidad Estatal de Washington, por ayudarme con la pregunta de hoy. Si quieres escuchar en Ingles: What happens if you get eaten by a shark?

    Y como siempre, si tienes alguna pregunta de ciencia para mí, puedes mandarla a askdruniverse.wsu.edu. ¡Quién sabe a dónde nos llevarán sus próximas preguntas!

    Este podcast producido en colaboración con @bichologo.bugologist @kikokomiks

    Effectos sonoros por Pixabay

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    6 min
  • Your Paw-some Question | How did big cats change into house cats?

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    Cosmo and I learned about cat evolution, thanks to Haden Kingrey, anthropology graduate student at Washington State University.

    • Read the Ask Dr. Universe column about this (and see a cute pic of my roommate)
    • Learn about natural selection with the Amoeba Sisters
    • Check out saber-toothed cats with the National Park Service
    • See an African wild cat in action with Animalogic
    • See the Smithsonian's exhibit for the first known domesticated cat

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    7 min
  • How Do You Science | Meet a Black Hole Scientist

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    I learned all about black holes from WSU observational astrophysicist Vivienne Baldassare. 

    • Check out Dr. Baldassare's favorite black hole
    • Learn more about galaxies, black holes, and exoplanets from NASA
    • Peep the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile
    • Explore the NASA exoplanet database
    • Dig into NASA's search for life outside our universe

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    20 min
  • Your Paw-some Question | What determines the size and shape of someone's belly button?

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    Cosmo and I investigated belly buttons—thanks to WSU nursing professor Cindy Brigham-Althoff.

    • Learn more about the placenta with Operation Ouch and Scientific American
    • Check out all the belly buttons with Nat Geo
    • Find out about placental mammals
    • See what's living inside your navel with Nat Geo

    Sound effects courtesy Pixabay

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    4 min
  • BONUS EPISODE! Student-led Podcasts | Explore a Cell with Vancouver iTech Preparatory

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    Join me and some new friends as we shrink down and travel through a cell, checking out organelles along the way. It's a cell biology adventure!

    This episode was written and performed by the 6th graders in Kelsey Starke's classes at Vancouver iTech Preparatory. Thanks to WSU's John Hinz for the expert factcheck.

    Can't get enough cell bio?

    • Check out the National Geographic cell biology collection
    • Enjoy PBS Learning videos about life sciences
    • Take a another trip through a cell with Amoeba Sisters
    • Peep the National Science Foundation kids' video about cells

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    28 min
  • How Do You Science | Meet an Apple Breeder

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    WSU apple breeder, Kate Evans, told me all about out how apples work and what it's like to be a scientist who makes new apples—like the Cosmic Crisp®.

    • See Kate Evans' pollen vial here
    • Learn more about the Cosmic Crisp® apple
    • See all these different kinds of apples—and these Washington apples
    • Enjoy these pollinator activities
    • Use the Xerces Society pollinator plant lists to find what to plant near you
    • Check out the apple question Kate Evans helped me answer

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    22 min
  • Your Paw-some Question | How do cats climb?

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    Cosmo and I learned all about cat anatomy and how feline friends like us climb so well. Thanks to WSU vet med's Steve Lampa for the expert info.

    • Learn more about joints with Nemours
    • Find out about connective tissue with Brittanica Kids
    • Check out Vox's explainer on the righting reflex

    Sound effects courtesy Pixabay and Zapsplat

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    4 min
  • Your Paw-some Question | Why do we have fingerprints?

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    Today Cosmo and I learned all about fingerprints—and how they give primates dexterity and grip. 

    • Learn more about primates from PBS
    • Find out how gecko feet work with ACS
    • Check out your fingerprints with SciShow Kids—or investigate them with PBS

    Sound effects courtesy Pixabay

     As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu.  Who knows where your questions will take us next.

    5 min

About Ask Dr. Universe

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Join Dr. Universe and her friends at Washington State University as they investigate science questions from kids around the world. Know a kid with a curious science question? Help them submit it at…