Curious by Nature

Dr. Olivier Loudig, Scientist at the Center for Discovery and Innovation within the Hackensack Meridian Health Network, studies how biological signals in the air we exhale can reveal important clues about human health.

Take a deep breath in. Now exhale. Do you know what microscopic particles you release every time you breathe out? During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people became more aware of how airborne particles can spread infectious disease.

But our breath may contain much more information than just germs. In this episode, Dr. Loudig explains how researchers are studying the tiny biological particles in exhaled breath and how they could one day be used to detect diseases, monitor health conditions, and provide new ways of diagnosing illness.

Warehouses are rapidly expanding across the landscape, covering large areas with metal buildings, concrete lots, and a constant flow of trucks transporting goods. These logistics centers help deliver products faster than ever before, but they also raise important questions about their impact on the environment and public health.

In particular, communities living near these facilities may face higher levels of air pollution, which can contribute to health issues such as childhood asthma. Dr. Gaige Kerr, Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at George Washington University, studies the environmental and health consequences of warehouse-related pollution, with a focus on how these impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.

Effective storytelling has always held a powerful place in human culture. A well-crafted story can inspire, persuade, and shape the way we see the world. From medieval literature to modern entertainment, people are naturally drawn to narratives. But what happens when the power of storytelling is used to mislead?

Modern conspiracy theories often rely on the same narrative techniques that great storytellers once used, but with very different intentions.

Our guest today studies exactly how that works. Dr. Elise Wang, Assistant Professor at California State University, Fullerton, brings her background in medieval literature to the study of modern conspiracy theories. In this episode, we explore how these narratives spread, why people believe them, and what we can do to recognize and challenge them.

While many schools across the United States are considering banning smartphones in the classroom, some educators see these devices as powerful tools for learning. Modern smartphones are packed with sensors capable of measuring everything from motion and sound to health data and basic principles of physics. For students growing up in the smartphone age, these tools are already in their pockets.

Our guest today is exploring how that technology can be used to inspire curiosity and hands-on discovery in science education. Dr. Dave Rakestraw, Senior Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, joins us to discuss how smartphones can become powerful scientific instruments and how educators can harness everyday technology to get students excited about science.

Coming close to death and surviving can have a profound impact on a person’s life. But some people report near-death experiences, events that can transform how they see themselves, consciousness, and the world around them. What actually happens during these experiences from a scientific perspective?

Our guest today has spent decades studying this phenomenon. Dr. Bruce Greyson, Chester F. Carlson Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, has collected hundreds of accounts and conducted extensive research through the university’s Division of Perceptual Studies.

In this episode, we explore what near-death experiences may reveal about the mind, consciousness, and what science can and cannot explain about these extraordinary moments.

Dr. Robert Ferl, a molecular biologist and professor at the University of Florida, discusses his work on understanding how organisms, particularly plants, adapt to extreme environments, including space. He highlights his recent spaceflight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard, where he conducted experiments to study the effects of space travel on plants. The goal was to analyze how plants respond during the initial moments of spaceflight and upon reentry. 

This unique opportunity allowed Dr. Ferl to gain first-hand experience of space, deepening his understanding of how biology behaves in space. 

He talked about the importance of allowing scientists to personally conduct research in space and advocates for expanding these opportunities for others in the scientific community.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence are beginning to reshape the world of education. While many leaders see AI as a tool that could improve learning and student outcomes, the reality is more complex. New technologies may offer exciting possibilities, but it may take time before they truly make teachers’ jobs easier.

Our guest today has been studying what works in education and how new technologies are influencing classrooms. Dr. Samantha Keppler, Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, joins us to discuss how AI is affecting teachers, what it could mean for student success, and how schools can thoughtfully adapt to these changes.

Joint replacement technology has advanced significantly in recent years. Improved materials and more precise surgical techniques have helped the number of procedures more than double over the past decade. But even with these advances, many patients struggle to regain the full range of motion and stability of their natural joints, often requiring extensive follow-up care and physical therapy.

Our guest today is working to improve those outcomes. Dr. Marc Hungerford of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore joins us to discuss how innovations such as robotic-assisted surgery and implanted sensors are helping patients get the most out of their knee and hip replacements, giving them a better chance at long-term mobility and recovery.

When British explorers first encountered Easter Island and the Rapa Nui people, they were struck by the island’s iconic stone heads, known as moai. Yet they were puzzled that such a remote island, more than 1,000 miles off the coast of Chile, was home to only a few thousand inhabitants. From a European perspective, many assumed that the Rapa Nui must once have been a much larger civilization that collapsed after exhausting the island’s resources. This idea became widely known as the theory of the “Easter Island Collapse.”

Today, archaeologists are challenging that narrative. Dr. Carl Lipo of Binghamton University is among the researchers working to reexamine the evidence and provide a more nuanced understanding of Rapa Nui history and how its people adapted to their environment.

Addiction research has long focused on chemical dependence such as drugs and alcohol, but newer behaviors like excessive video gaming and social media use are only beginning to receive the same level of scientific attention. Many parents worry that their children may be developing addictive habits with these modern technologies. At the same time, game developers and social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement and keep users online for longer periods of time.

So what safeguards exist to prevent technology from becoming manipulative or addictive?

Dr. Puneet Manchanda, the Isidor and Leon Winkelman Professor of Marketing at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, joins us to explore these questions. His research examines how modern digital platforms influence user behavior and what that means for understanding the potential risks of technology-driven addiction.