The Interactome

Outer space is one of the most hostile environments humans live and work in. Harsh radiation, hard vacuum and temperatures that fluctuate between boiling hot and freezing cold are only some of the challenges that engineers have to overcome before astronauts ever set foot in a spacecraft. Join Sam, Sarah, and special guest Maddie Haas as we discuss how environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) engineers make human spaceflight possible. From the perils of the first spacewalks to why engineers had to change the Artemis 2 thermostat, in this episode we explore the science and future of keeping humans alive and comfortable as they explore the final frontier.

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps:

What plays in your head when you hear “DNA?” Amir Bitran, postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley AND classical musician, joins Maia, Sam, and Joe to discuss how he composes science-inspired music! Tune in for our joint analysis and play-by-play of excerpts from his piece “When DNA Makes Loops,” and a lively discussion about inspiration, accessibility, the parallels between science and classical music, and the beauty in both.

Additionally, we pause a few times to listen to When DNA Makes Loops throughout the episode. Below is a list of the segments of the piece we listen to at each pause.

Segment 1: 0:00 - 0:45

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps:

Note: This episode was recorded on September 17, 2025.

When you think of meteorology, you probably think of someone giving a weather forecast on TV. But predicting the weather requires a whole team of scientists, from those who run simulations in labs to researchers on boats, and even a few who fly planes into storms to get measurements up close. In this episode, we invite Colorado State University graduate student Delián Colón-Burgos to teach us all about forecasting hurricanes. She guides us through the field of hurricane meteorology, from what a hurricane is to how scientists are updating forecasting models to reflect our changing seas.

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

Have you ever wondered how new medications go from being a research project to being safely used in hospitals and clinics around the world? In this episode of the Interactome, host Sam talks about their work on technical challenges in the field of process development. From the different types of therapeutic molecules to how horseshoe crabs keep patients safe, this episode covers many of the steps on the path between a potential medication working in a petri dish to saving lives.

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps:

The age old nature vs. nurture question is complicated, especially when genetics are involved. On this episode, we dive into the concept of “epigenetics,” which translates to “above the genome.” Joe, Sam and Natalie cover how your environment can play a role in how your genes are expressed, how you can have different kinds of cells from the same DNA, and … jello? You’ll walk away with an understanding of why your DNA is a lot more like a cook book than you think.

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps:

The human brain is arguably the most complex organ in the body - and its hard to do experiments on it in a lab setting without invasive tools like electrodes and injections in the brain itself. But what if we had less invasive tools for understanding the brain in the lab? Join Sarah and Joe as they talk with Schuyler, an MD-PhD candidate, about the wild world of non-invasive neuroengineering... and Dungeons & Dragons!

Links:

Szablowski Lab: https://www.szablowskilab.org/

Credits:

Timestamps:

When you think of health care, space probably doesn’t come to mind! But the emerging field of space robotics can provide groundbreaking insights to the world of medicine!

This episode, Texas A&M robotics engineer Emily Wilkinson  sits down with Natalie and Sarah to discuss her career journey, current research, and her NASA internship (where she met Sarah!).

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps:

Whether it's the city, the suburbs, or somewhere else, have you ever stopped to think about why place where you live is designed the way that it is? That's thanks to urban planners, of which our guest this episode - Angela Lei - is! Join Angela, Sam, and Sarah as they discuss what urban planners and engineers do in terms of zoning, considerations made for pedestrians, and a little bit of history around Boston's Chinatown.

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps:

What do doctors and astronauts have in common? Turns out, it’s more than you might think! On this episode, Sarah and Maia are joined by Shawna Pandya, MD. Shawna is a physician, astronaut and scientist. Tune in to hear her talk about navigating health care in the most extreme environments, and how she helps patients survive and thrive!

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps:

AI doesn’t typically make people think of parenting, but when you listen to this episode you’ll be shocked by the similarities! Cole Smith walks us through how to train AI, how it differs from machine learning, and why building an AI system can feel a lot like raising a child.

Links:

Credits:

Timestamps: