What's up with the exploding star that we are supposed to be able to see sometime this summer? Dave Robinson reports on the coming Nova. Then, Mary Williams discusses the microplastics that are polluting our environment and contaminating our bodies. She give tips on how to fight microplastics. Finally, Rob Weber interviews Byron Meade, Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Pikeville (Pikeville, KY) about his grant to study mushroom production in abandoned coal mines.‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenchTalkRadio/posts/?ref=page_internal