Curious Conversations

00:14:00

S4 E4: Can a patch reverse a drug overdose?

Curious Conversations ·

2026/10/05

Wujin Sun joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about a device he’s working on that will automatically detect opioid overdoses and administer life-saving medication. He explained how the device works, the motivations behind it, and the need for an intervention that doesn’t require a bystander’s assistance.00:00 — A Patch That Could Reverse Overdoses01:10 — Introducing the iNAL Patch02:17 — How the Patch Detects Fentanyl and Releases Naloxone03:17 — Why Overdose Prevention Needs to

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00:29:48

S4 E3: The reality of sports economics with Jadrian...

Curious Conversations ·

2026/09/28

Jadrian Wooten joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the realities of economics and professional sports. Wooten shared his insights about the economic philosophies of many team owners, ticket prices, and new arenas, as well as the impact teams have on their communities. 0:00 — Professional Sports and Local Economies1:14 — Why Sports Make Economic Sense3:23 — Why Team Values Keep Rising7:41 — The Economics of New Stadiums13:41 — Do Sports Teams Help Local Communities?18:00 —

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00:22:24

S4 E2: How can we defend against drone attacks?

Curious Conversations ·

2026/09/21

Austin Phoenix joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about unmanned aerial systems, commonly called drones, the challenges they present to the defense sector, and the work university researchers are doing to help better understand and mitigate any potential threats.“Curious Conversations” is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.1:32 — Drones in Defense5:22 — Autonomy and Emerging Risks7:12 — The Cost of Drone Defense9:15 — Counter-Drone Strategies12:59 — Inside the Counter-UAS

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00:15:44

S4 E1: How can we best survive back-to-school season...

Curious Conversations ·

2026/09/14

Paul Springer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about how the transition from summer to fall can impact family dynamics and provide advice on navigating potential challenges. About SpringerPaul Springer is a professor and the head of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at Virginia Tech. He is also a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with individuals, couples, and families who have experienced loss and trauma.

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00:20:46

Lifestyle choices and brain health with Ben Katz

Curious Conversations ·

2026/05/11

Ben Katz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the impact of lifestyle choices on brain health and cognition. He shared insights about how cardiovascular exercise, spending time in nature, and maintaining a healthy diet can enhance cognitive function. He also talked about the importance of sleep and benefits of social interactions, as well as what changes he has made to best support his own cognition.Ben Katz is an associate professor of adult development and aging within the

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00:25:30

Cycling safety and infrastructure with Laura Hamm

Curious Conversations ·

2026/05/04

Laura Hamm joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about cycling safety, infrastructure, and the behaviors of both riders and vehicle operators. She explained the challenges to getting accurate information about bicycle-vehicle collisions and what conditions make riding safer. She also talked about a project she’s working on that will help the Virginia Department of Transportation better assess traffic stress, connectivity, and accessibility of bike and pedestrian routes and her own

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00:13:46

Fertilizer and the Iran war with Rory Maguire

Curious Conversations ·

2026/04/27

Rory Maguire joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about fertilizer and its connection to the Iran war. He explained what nutrients make up most fertilizers, which of those are most impacted by the conflict, and how they behave differently in soil. He also shared some practical advice that could be applied to both large-scale farms and small gardens. Maguire is a professor and extension specialist in the Virginia Tech in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. He is also the

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00:23:31

The connection between renting and education with Tom...

Curious Conversations ·

2026/04/20

Tom Mayock joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about recent research that shows a relationship between single-family rental housing and educational outcomes. He explained the historic and evolving landscape of rental markets and the work he and his colleagues did that point to a rise in student achievement when units are located in thebounds of high-achieving school districts. Mayock is the Michael G. Miller Professor of Real Estate in the Blackwood Department of Real Estate. His

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00:26:09

Food facts with Melissa Wright

Curious Conversations ·

2026/04/13

Melissa Wright joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about navigating topics related to food, food ingredients, and nutrition. She explained how people should interpret labels and the complexities of topics like raw milk, protein, and color additives. Wright also offered practical advice for consumers and producers to make informed decisions about food safety and nutrition.Wright is director of the Food Producer Technical Assistance Network at Virginia Tech, which supports food

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00:22:34

Fungi and cloud seeding with Boris Vinatzer

Curious Conversations ·

2026/04/06

Boris Vinatzer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about fungi and their potential to influence weather through ice nucleation. Vinatzer shared insights gained through some recent research that revealed a fungi protein that helps water freeze at a higher temperature than would otherwise be possible. He explained how ice is actually formed and the potential for this discovery to be used in cloud seeding and for a host of industrial applications. Vinatzer is a professor in the

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00:25:22

Scams and cybercrime with Katalin Parti

Curious Conversations ·

2026/03/30

Katalin Parti joined Virginia Tech’s 'Curious Conversations’ to talk about how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are turbocharging social engineering scams and what individuals can do to protect themselves. She shared the common techniques scammers use, what could make a person more vulnerable to scams, and the red flags that can help mitigate such threats. Parti also talked about a new project she’s working on with residents of a retirement community to develop

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00:33:47

The Chesapeake Bay's blue catfish problem with...

Curious Conversations ·

2026/03/22

Michael Schwarz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the rapid invasion of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay, its ecological and economic impacts, and the promising potential for turning this challenge into an opportunity. He explained what makes the fish so problematic, the challenge of standing up sustainable fishing, processing, and marketing of the fish, and its unique taste and nutritional profile. Michael Schwarz is director of the Virginia Seafood Agricultural

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00:18:23

Airborne pathogen detection and mitigation with...

Curious Conversations ·

2026/03/16

Linsey Marr joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the complexities of airborne pathogens, their impact on health, and a project she’s leading aimed at developing a smart air quality management system. She broke down the challenges of pathogen detection, the importance of collaborative research across different institutions for her current project, and shared some practical advice for improving indoor air quality.Linsey Marr is a University Distinguished Professor in the

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00:21:21

A new way to treat kidney stones with Adam Maxwell

Curious Conversations ·

2026/03/09

Adam Maxwell joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about lithotripsy, a medical procedure to break apart kidney stones, and a new procedure for which his research team just received FDA approval. Maxwell explained the most common current techniques used to treat kidney stones and their challenges. He then introduced the harmonic ultrasound technique he and his colleagues have pioneered and explained its potential benefits to patients and physicians. Maxwell is a research associate

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00:19:39

Antarctic Bottom Water with Brian Romans

Curious Conversations ·

2026/03/02

Brian Romans joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about Antarctic Bottom Water and its significance for global ocean circulation and climate science. He explained the processes involved in studying ocean currents, the geological records that provide insights into past ocean conditions, and the impact of environmental shifts on these dynamics. Romans also shared his personal journey into oceanography and highlights the importance of international collaboration in addressing

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00:29:02

The mysteries of microplastics with Austin Gray

Curious Conversations ·

2026/02/23

Austin Gray joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about microplastics and the growing body of research about their impact on human and environmental health. He shared insights related to the public perception of plastic pollution, the history of microplastics, and the direction of future research. Gray also emphasizes the importance of approaching research as public service and the need for effective science communication.Gray is an assistant professor of biological sciences and an

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00:23:54

The unknowns of sharks with Francesco Ferretti

Curious Conversations ·

2026/02/16

Francesco Ferretti joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the state of shark populations worldwide and the knowledge gaps that challenge conservation strategies. Ferretti explained the role of sharks in the larger marine ecosystem, the challenges of gathering data on shark populations, and the role citizen scientists can play in overcoming that challenge.Ferretti is an assistant professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. His research interests include

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00:18:23

Data centers and water with Landon Marston

Curious Conversations ·

2026/02/09

Landon Marston joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the relationship between data centers and water usage. Marston explained the amount of water used by data centers, what they’re doing with it, and the reality of national and local impacts. He also shared aspects localities might consider before welcoming a new center.Marston is an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he specializes in water

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00:29:54

Detecting dark matter with Patrick Huber

Curious Conversations ·

2026/02/02

Patrick Huber joined ⁠Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations”⁠ to talk about world of neutrino physics and its implications for understanding dark matter. He explained the significance of neutrinos in the universe, the methods used to detect dark matter, and emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the research.Huber is the William E. Hassinger, Jr. Senior Faculty Fellow in the ⁠College of Science⁠, a professor of physics, and director of the Center for Neutrino Physics. His research focuses on

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00:19:39

Antarctic Bottom Water with Brian Romans

Curious Conversations ·

2026/02/02

Brian Romans joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about Antarctic Bottom Water and its significance for global ocean circulation and climate science. He explained the processes involved in studying ocean currents, the geological records that provide insights into past ocean conditions, and the impact of environmental shifts on these dynamics. Romans also shared his personal journey into oceanography and highlights the importance of international collaboration in addressing

en

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