Science is a Story

Laughter is the best medicine, they say. But what actually makes something funny? In this episode of Science is a Story, host Kathy Straub talks with social psychologist Nick Ungson, assistant professor of psychology at Susquehanna University, about the magic of humor. This conversation will give you the tools to understand the interpersonal complexities of humor. And bonus, we’ll tell a few jokes along the way.

How can rock slime tell scientists about the water quality in a stream? In this episode, Professor of Biology Jack Holt talks with Dean Kathy Straub about the impacts of two small reservoirs in central Pennsylvania on the downstream water quality. We revisit Jack’s childhood in Oklahoma, his first trip to the ocean, his introduction to Pennsylvania coal towns, and perhaps most fittingly for this podcast, we learn that Jack’s favorite professor taught science through… telling stories. Science is a story, after all.

This episode features four Susquehanna University students talking with Dean Kathy Straub about their summer 2026 research projects: ecology major Sydney Reyling ’27, biochemistry major Kai Daniels ’28, psychology major Tristan Hughes ’27, and physics major Jack McCoy ’28. Their collective message is loud and clear: Susquehanna University students learn by doing. You’ll hear about electroshocking fish, operating a 14” telescope, handling rats, and gel electrophoresis. And a few bonus shoutouts to campus orgs!

Why do humans like to drink alcohol? In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Erin Alexander, professor of neuroscience, about how alcohol affects the brain. Spoiler alert: the answer boils down to some combination of being chased by a tiger and eating chocolate.

What do bananas, the sun, and nuclear reactors have in common? In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Adam Hansell, assistant professor of physics, about what’s happening at the very smallest scales of matter. Let’s talk atoms with Adam! We go nuclear. It’s illuminating.

Bird eats berry. Bird digests berry. Bird poops out seed. Will seed grow? In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with David Matlaga, professor of biology, about the science of plant ecology. Through stories of fieldwork in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Illinois, David explains how plant demographers painstakingly measure and track the forest understory plants that many of us hardly notice. With special appearances by gophers, a hurricane, and poison ivy.

Have you ever wondered how new medicines are developed? In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Geneive Henry, professor of chemistry, about the field of medicinal chemistry. By the end of the episode, you’ll understand how Covid drugs like Paxlovid work – and we’ll use fruit, toothpicks, and crazy glue as explanations to get you there. 

In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Rolfe Peterson, associate professor of political science, about why some people are more interested in running for public office than others. Listen in for a deep dive into the effects of gendered personality traits on political ambition. Then go run for office. 

Professor Peterson dedicates this conversation to the memory of his late friend and coauthor Carl Palmer (1979-2025).

In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Matt Persons, professor of biology, about spider communication. Spiders can send and receive information through their silk, and Matt’s lab decodes these hidden messages. Join us to learn about the “world wide web” of spider communication. You’ll never look at spiders the same way again. 

In this episode of Science is a Story, Kathy Straub, dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Susquehanna University, talks with Pavithra Vivekanand, professor of biology, about a novel approach to reduce inflammation and kill cancer cells using gold nanoparticles. Using ingredients found at the grocery store, Pavithra’s lab investigates whether gold nanoparticles synthesized with plant extracts can produce more effective anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer responses than traditional synthesis methods. Listen in for a special appearance by Susquehanna’s favorite tree, the ginkgo.