Electric cars are the future, this much is clear. All manufacturers are switching focus and discontinuing production on many gas-run models. This bodes well for a future completely independent of gasoline and other fossil fuels. So how does a car battery work? What innovations can we expect from this technology in the future? Let's talk to Jill Pestana, a materials physicist that develops lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles!

This episode features none other than my father, Vittorio Farina! He is an accomplished chemist that has been a global leader in the field of process development. Essentially, he really knows how to make drugs. In this episode we dive into his history as an Italian immigrant, his education, early employment, accomplishments and goals, and thoughts on the current status of the pharmaceutical industry. Whether you are interested in hearing about what chemists do, or just getting a little perspective on my family history, you'll want to listen to this one!

Human nature hasn't changed much in thousands of years, but society has changed dramatically, especially over the past few centuries. Has society advanced in such a way that it enhances our happiness, or does it detract? Does it bring us together, or does it isolate us? Does it enable us to actualize our potential or does it hinder and stifle our personal and spiritual growth? Of course the answer is somewhere in between, layered with nuance, but let's dive into the philosophy of it all. Here to help us out is Arash Kolahi, who is an economist and social theorist. His research focuses on economic theory, behavioral economics, human nature, psychology, and sociology, so he has a unique perspective from which to assess this very question. This one gets pretty heady, so strap in!

In the past 100 years, our understanding of the molecular world has grown immeasurably. So much so that we can synthesize essentially any compound we desire. We take advantage of this fact to synthesize drugs for the treatment of various diseases. How does this work? How do we know what molecule to make? What do these do in the body? How exactly do we make them, especially on an industrial scale? Let's chat with chemist turned businesswoman Carolina Amador about this whole show!

Eating is a major focal point of human existence. We all do it every day, and most of our social interactions are based around it. But many of us have an unhealthy relationship with food, which can sometimes qualify as an eating disorder. What are the different types of eating disorders? How does someone know if they have one, and what should be done about it? How do we treat eating disorders? Helping us with this is licensed therapist Kati Morton, who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, so let's get to the bottom of this!

In the vaccines episode we touched on the alleged link between vaccines and autism, so now let's look at it from the other perspective. What is autism? What is its cause? What does diagnosis and treatment look like? To help us understand this is Erin Nosco, a research coordinator at UCLA that is involved with autism research. After we get through the basics, we will revisit the alleged link with vaccines and examine a different angle. Have a listen!

Of all the places that are candidates for extraterrestrial life that we are aware of, Europa is the best. This moon of Jupiter harbors a subsurface ocean that is likely full of minerals, and thus may contain life, perhaps even complex multicellular life! Plans are under way to send probes Europa Clipper and Europa Lander to go gather data and get a closer look, so we may have more information very soon! On the show to tell us all about these missions and what we might hope to learn from them is Kevin DeBruin, a former NASA rocket scientist who worked as systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and that personally worked on these missions. What will we find on Europa? Let's talk about it!

There are a lot of things in this universe that we understand very well. But the thing that is understood the least might be human consciousness. Despite our intimate knowledge of brain structure and function, we still don't quite understand how the brain produces the subjective reality that we label consciousness. Well neuroscientist Joel Frohlich specifically studies consciousness, and he is here to tell us all about exactly what we know, how we know it, and what we have left to learn! Also check out the website Knowing Neurons for lots more information on the brain.

Anti-science mentality rears its head in many sectors of daily life, but none more so than in medicine. One ramification of this is the anti-vaccine movement. Thousands of people insist that vaccines are harmful, that they are linked to autism, and are clearly to be avoided. Is there any validity to this? Where did this sentiment originate? To help us talk through this is Kimberly Harrison. With multiple degrees in biology and research experience in the field, she can definitely help clear up this mess. She also operates the YouTube channel "Socratica" which is filled with a variety of educational tutorials, so if you're a fan of mine, check that one out too!

A lot of educators and YouTubers try to make science-themed music. Whether for entertainment or educational purposes, is this effective? Is it good practice in some other context? Ray Hedgpeth of the nerd-rock band The Amoeba People is an expert in this subject, and I'm no slouch either, being a lifelong musician. Fair warning, there is a lot of nerdy music talk in this one, but also a lot about our personal musical histories and so forth. It's a fun one!