Dr. Neil Johnson, Professor of Physics at George Washington University, studies complex systems and applies physics-based methods to understand how online hate and misinformation spread across social networks.

The run-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election has seen rising levels of misinformation, division, and hate speech across social media platforms. Online conversations around topics such as race, immigration, and politics often attract extremist voices that can overwhelm more constructive dialogue.

In this episode, Dr. Johnson explains how communities that promote hate organize themselves online and how they build networks across mainstream platforms as well as darker corners of the web. Using tools originally developed in particle physics, his research maps how harmful content spreads through digital networks and warns that the biggest spikes in online hate may occur after election day, when tensions and uncertainty are at their highest.

Dr. Nathan Johnson, Professor of Systems Engineering at Arizona State University, Assistant Director of Research at the Global Futures Laboratory, and Director of the Laboratory for Energy and Power Solutions, studies how energy systems must evolve to support the transition to renewable power.

Power grids around the world were designed for a very different era of electricity production. As more communities adopt renewable energy sources like wind and solar, managing when and where electricity is generated and used becomes far more complex.

In this episode, Dr. Johnson explains why today’s power grids are not fully prepared for the coming green energy transition and how smarter infrastructure, energy storage, and advanced systems planning will be essential to deliver electricity reliably in a future powered by renewables.

Dr. Susan Kelly-Weeder, Professor and Dean at the George Washington University School of Nursing, studies health behaviors among young adults, including alcohol use and prevention strategies on college campuses.

Despite growing awareness of the risks of excessive alcohol consumption, binge drinking remains common among college students in the United States. Universities face a difficult challenge: encouraging safer behavior while balancing education, intervention, and student independence.

In this episode, Dr. Kelly-Weeder discusses research aimed at understanding why students engage in risky drinking and what colleges can do to reduce harm. From alcohol-free housing to campus programs that promote safer choices, her work explores practical ways institutions can help students avoid the most serious risks associated with alcohol use.

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.