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PODCAST

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast

U.S. National Science Foundation

This is the Discovery Files Podcast from the U.S. National Science Foundation. Join us as we explore the latest breakthroughs in science, technology and engineering with the researchers making these discoveries. Learn how scientific innovation bolsters the U.S. economy, supports our Nation’s interests around the globe, and improves the lives of Americans.

science

All Episodes

18:02

Plasmas & Fusion

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/12/26

A recent nuclear fusion ignition event at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has made headlines around the world. We are joined by physicists Slava Lukin and Jose Lopez to find out what nuclear fusion is and to learn about plasmas.

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07:35

Mapping The North Pole

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/12/19

The Polar Geospatial Center at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and the Ohio State University have recently released four more years of image data, creating the most detailed polar region terrain maps ever. Claire Porter, Co-Director at the Polar Geospatial Center joins to tell us exactly what is at the north pole and what we can learn from mapping it.

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08:11

Fastest Swimming Robots

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/12/12

At North Carolina State University, NSF-supported researchers have developed a swimming soft robot that is four times faster than previous soft robots. Professor Jie Yin joins to explain how they developed the energy efficient model inspired by manta rays.

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15:21

Exploring The Microbiome

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/12/05

NSF's Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering will be creating microbiome technologies that address challenges at the interface of human health and the built environment. We are joined by principal investigator Claudia Gunsch, co-PI Joseph Graves, Duke University Dean of Engineering Jerome Lynch, as well as NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, Assistant Director for Engineering Susan Margulies and ERC Program Director Randy Duran.

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08:34

Sea Inspired Robot Arms

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/11/28

Kaitlyn Becker was working on her doctorate at Harvard University when she helped develop a soft robotic system that can handle complex objects by using entanglement grasping. She joins to explain how creatures of the sea inspired the robotic gripper and how it might be used in the future.

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09:05

Lightspeed Smart Devices

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/11/21

When you ask a smart device a question, there is a latency in the response due to the processing of your question taking place at a data center. What if you could process that query directly on the device? Researcher Alex Sludds joins to explain a new edge computing architecture.

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10:29

Space Science [Special Edition] Mudslides

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/11/14

Gravity in space is at a minimum, providing an ideal environment for studying physics-related properties. Researcher Ingrid Tomac joins us to explain why her work with mudflow is being studied aboard the International Space Station. We are also joined by NSF Program Director Kendra McLauchlan.

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27:23

Space Science [Special Edition] Gravity Research

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/11/07

The lack of gravity in space provides an ideal environment for studying physics-related properties. To take advantage of this opportunity, an unprecedented seven NSF-supported projects are being sent to the International Space Station. We'll hear from NSF Deputy Division Director William Olbricht and researchers Ranga Narayanan, Jason Livesay, Yangying Zhu, Sushil Bhavnani, Karthekeyan Sridhar, Jing Fan, Chunhui Xu, and Allen Liu on why these experiments are going to space and what they might teach

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10:22

Tracking Cosmic Radiation

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/10/31

From out in space, high-energy particles bombard Earth and objects in our orbit with radiation that can endanger the lives of astronauts and destroy electronic equipment. Researcher Luca Comisso joins to explain his insights into the turbulent origins of these cosmic rays.

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10:07

Viral Knowledge

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/10/24

As we move into flu season, virologist Joanna Shisler explains how viruses work and how we may avoid them. Engineer Gerri Botte tells us how she developed a COVID-19 sensor during the height of the pandemic.

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08:29

Microplastics Are Everywhere

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/10/17

The United Nations estimates that more than 400 million tons of plastic is produced each year. A byproduct of this level of use is that plastic waste now contaminates the entire global marine environment. Researcher Bhuvnesh Bharti tells us about his research into microplastics.

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13:52

Building Power Grid Resiliency

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/10/10

The U.S. power grid is the biggest machine in the world, and demand is ever increasing. Professor Anurag Srivastava is working on ways to make the grid more resilient by augmenting operators and optimizing control. We'll hear how. Department of Energy Engineer John Brewer also joins to explain the basics of the U.S. power grid.

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22:31

Antarctica's Weddell Seal

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/10/03

The Weddell seal population of Antarctica have been closely watched since the 1960s, but there are still new discoveries being made. We are joined by researchers Michelle Shero and Jennifer Burns, who have found a correlation between nursing mothers and their diving capacity. Jay Rotella also joins us to discuss long-term study learnings about lifespan and adaptations at the far end of the Earth.

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11:39

Threatened with Extinction

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/09/26

A 15-year global reptile assessment by zoologist Bruce Young and Neil Cox has comprehensively documented extinction risks for over 10,000 species. The researchers and biologist Leslie Rissler join to discuss how they accomplished this monumental study, why we should care, and what we can do to help.

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23:42

Concrete Objectives

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/09/19

Cement is the most widely consumed material on the planet, and its manufacturing process a large source of CO2 emissions. Researchers at Northwestern University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Delaware are working on advances in cement manufacturing. Making better materials and making better use of the materials we have.

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08:59

Mystery Of Shipwrecked Horses

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/09/12

Nicolas Delsol was working on his doctorate studying the domestication of cattle in the Americas when he inadvertently sequenced the DNA of the earliest known domesticated horse. We'll learn how this sample found in the Caribbean might solve the mystery of the origin of famous wild ponies on Assateague and Chincoteague islands, over 1000 miles away.

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08:26

Baby's First Words

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/09/05

Researchers in the cognitive development lab at Indiana University Bloomington are working to understand how children learn words and what roles visual memory and their environment play. We speak with postdoctoral fellow Elizabeth Clerkin to gain study insight and learn what implications it may have for machine learning. Discover how the U.S. National Science Foundation is advancing research at NSF.GOV

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11:32

Dark Matter

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/08/29

Invisible dark matter is estimated to make up as much as 95% of the universe, but we can only see it by the gravitational effects on other, visible objects. Researchers at NYU, including graduate student Cara Giovanetti have developed a better way to model the cosmological signatures of dark matter. We’ll here from her as well as astrophysicist Dr. Joseph Pesche as we ask does dark matter exist, and if so, what is it made of?

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07:26

Brightest Materials

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/08/22

Liquid fluorescents play a role in many materials of today but have traditionally had a limitation when turned into a solid form. Researchers at Indiana University and the University of Copenhagen have created a new material, transforming liquid fluorescent dyes into solid, while maintaining brightness at levels never before possible. This breakthrough could dramatically improve the clarity of displays, the efficiency of solar panels, and revolutionize laser usage in medical procedures. We are

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07:23

Killing Coral

NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast ·

2022/08/15

Every year swimmers leave 6,000 tons of sunscreen washing through reefs, an organic compound found in many sunscreens can be harmful to corals. Researchers including guest Djordje Vuckovic at Stanford University are looking to better understand coral defense mechanisms and the relationship between this organic compound and sunlight. Providing additional coral commentary Marine Ecologist, Dr. Paul Sikkel. Discover how the U.S. National Science Foundation is advancing research at nsf.gov

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165 results

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