University of Michigan Museum of Natural History Podcast

In this special episode, we dive into the story behind our new exhibit – a 12-foot ammonite diorama made from recycled materials! Created in partnership with LSA Sustainability, inspired by the original work of George Marchand, and his diorama's decades-long presence in the museum. Listen to learn about its history and what made the Cretaceous period so fascinating.

Do we really consume a credit card’s worth of microplastics in a week? That depends largely on how you measure it. But one thing is certain: microplastics are all around us and they’re here to stay.These plastics may be small, but understanding their impact requires research at all scales. Zooming in, microplastics are not solo actors: they host an array of plastic-associated microbes that could be unexplored reservoirs of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. Microbes also degrade plastic

Where do you get your news? How do "fake news" and social media affect your perspectives? New U-M research and scholarship can help us understand the widespread impact of disinformation and bias in our current ecosystem of social media and content sources.Please join Ariel Hasell from the Communication and Media department, and Barbara McQuade of the U-M Law School, for a discussion about truth, trust, government, and how we can be effective and critical technology users and consumers. Professor

We have seen how mRNA vaccines have changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the occurrence of severe illness and saving lives. What is the future of this biotechnology? Join Rachel Niederer and Nils Walter of the U-M Department of Chemistry and the Center for RNA Biomedicine to learn how mRNA vaccine technology could address influenza, Ebola, and other viruses—and even help fight cancer.

What is machine learning? Is it the same as artificial intelligence? Please join Raed Al Kontar of the U-M Department of Industrial & Operations Engineering to discuss how machine learning algorithms can be applied to distributed systems such as cars, phones, and hospitals, where data comes from many sources.

Coffee production has a history as a colonial crop, destructive to the environment. Can coffee support biodiversity and local farms? What if we teach farmers how to grow coffee sustainably? What if doing so means opposing mega-corporations, or even advocating for political independence? Learn about new research and education efforts by two U-M scientists who are intent on revolutionizing coffee production to something sustainable that benefits local communities.John Vandermeer (Ecology and

High-resolution 3D scans, prints, and renderings are changing the way scientists work! Please join Adam Rountrey of the U-M Museum of Paleontology and Nic Terrenato of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology for a look at the research and educational opportunities made possible by 3D imaging and printing.With accurate digital "copies" available, are the original objects more or less important? How should 3D research data be shared and preserved? Can these copies make repatriation easier? What about

Climate change action is one of the most urgent questions we face. What influences public opinion on this issue? Recent research has shown that religious affiliation is not a consistent predictor for climate change skepticism. The exception to this rule is evangelical protestants who consistently poll as more skeptical than the general population. Do local evangelical ministers fit the trend of this larger demographic, or is there more to the story? Join Buddy Stark (Ph.D. student with the Mallinson