Curious by Nature

Dr. Jessica Troilo of West Virginia University, Associate Professor in Child Development and Family Studies and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs in the College of Applied Human Sciences, studies how families build healthy relationships and navigate everyday challenges.

During the holidays, families often connect in more ways than just gathering around the table. Quality time can create opportunities for meaningful interaction and shared experiences, but it can also bring stress, expectations, and sometimes tension.

Dr. Edward Yoon of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, Chief of Interventional Radiology, is working on new ways to treat chronic back pain using advanced imaging and minimally invasive procedures.

For millions of people who suffer from back pain, finding lasting relief can be an ongoing struggle. Traditional treatments like epidural injections often provide only temporary relief and don’t always address the root cause of the problem.

Dr. Yoon explains how combining high-tech imaging with minimally invasive techniques can offer a more effective approach to treatment, helping patients find longer-lasting relief while considering the broader landscape of musculoskeletal care.

Professor Parke Wilde of Tufts University, Professor of Nutrition Policy and Food Economics, studies the economics of nutrition assistance programs and how food affordability affects communities.

Questions about food prices have become increasingly urgent for many Americans, especially during the holidays. As families make decisions about how to stretch their grocery budgets, food insecurity becomes a growing concern.

Dr. Cory Haltman, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, studies the psychology behind gift-giving and how people make decisions when choosing presents.

Gift-giving can be enjoyable, but it can also become stressful when we start overthinking it. Many people worry about finding the “perfect” gift, giving it at the right time, or making sure it feels meaningful enough.

Dr. Haltman explains what research reveals about the psychology of gift-giving, why people often worry about the wrong things, and what actually matters most to the person receiving the gift.

Dr. Pooja Budhiraja, Transplant Nephrologist and Living Donor Medical Director at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, focuses on protecting the health and well-being of living organ donors while expanding access to transplantation.

Every day, thousands of people are waiting for a life-saving transplant, and for many, that wait can last years. While the demand for organs continues to grow, one of the most powerful solutions comes from living donors, individuals who choose to donate a kidney or part of their liver to someone in need.

Dr. Chen Wang, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Southern Methodist University, studies privacy and security in modern communication technologies.

Video calls have become part of everyday life, and most of us assume we’re safe when the camera is turned off. But Dr. Wang’s research shows that even small sounds during a call can reveal surprising details about a person’s surroundings.

Dr. Wang explains how audio signals from platforms like Zoom and Teams can expose information about where someone is located, and why stronger privacy protections may be needed as virtual communication becomes more common.

Dr. Tiana Woolridge, Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery, studies how factors like sleep, stress, and mindset influence injury risk and recovery in young athletes.

When it comes to sports injuries, recovery isn’t just physical. Mental health, rest, and emotional resilience also play a critical role in how athletes heal and return to play.

Dr. Woolridge discusses how the connection between physical health and mental well-being can shape recovery, and why helping athletes build resilience both on and off the field can lead to stronger, healthier outcomes.

Jennifer Nardine, Teaching and Learning Liaison Librarian at Virginia Tech, helps students and researchers explore the origins of ideas, cultures, and traditions.

In this special Halloween episode, we take a closer look at the history behind one of the most beloved holidays of the year. When early American settlers from Celtic regions of Europe brought their pagan traditions to the New World, those customs blended with seasonal harvest festivals and religious observances, eventually shaping the Halloween we celebrate today.

Jennifer guides us through the origins and evolution of Halloween, exploring how folklore, history, and cultural traditions combined to create a holiday where costumes, storytelling, and imagination allow us to express a different side of ourselves.

Professor Junling Guo of Sichuan University is developing innovative ways to reduce fat absorption in the body using edible plant-based compounds.

Imagine being able to reduce your body’s absorption of fat simply by ingesting tiny microbeads made from natural plant polyphenols. Professor Guo’s lab recently created edible microbeads designed to trap dietary fats in the gut, allowing them to pass through the body instead of being absorbed.

We explore how this new approach could help with weight management. In animal studies, rats fed high-fat diets and given the microbeads lost about 17% of their body weight compared to controls, while also showing reduced fat tissue and lower stress on the liver. Researchers hope this method may offer a safer alternative to traditional fat-blocking drugs.

Dr. Alan Levinovitz, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at James Madison University, explores the surprising relationship between language, belief, science, and medicine.

Does naming a disease help the patient heal? When dealing with a mysterious illness or a difficult diagnosis, research suggests that the sense of relief that comes with finally identifying the condition can actually help people feel better, even when there is no clear treatment or cure.

Together with psychiatrist Dr. Awais Aftab, Dr. Levinovitz coined the term “The Rumpelstiltskin Effect.” Their study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry Bulletin, found that patients often feel seen, understood, and more connected to a community when they hear an official name for what they are experiencing.