Joel Parker – How On Earth: Recent Episodes
Joel Parker – How On Earth
In this episode of How on Earth, we talk about the upcoming 2024 April 8th solar eclipse. Our guests are science writer David Baron, author of American Eclipse, and Dr. Doug Duncan, served as Director of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Fiske Planetarium.
Show Producer and Host: Joel Parker
Executive Producer: Shelley Schlender
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This is the third and final episode of a series where we hear about recent research presented at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) January 2024 meeting.
Habitable Worlds Observatory (starts at 5:15) Dr. Megan Ansdell, Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters in the Astrophysics Division and the Planetary Science Division, talks about the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a proposed mission for a large ultraviolet, optical, infrared space telescope.
iStock/dane_markImpostor Phenomenon (starts at 14:28) Jennifer Bates, a licensed clinical social worker, the Broadening Participation Program manager at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and the project lead for the Radio Astronomy Data Imaging and Analysis Lab discusses Imposter Phenomenon and how it affects science researchers.
Executive Producer: Joel Parker
Show Producer and Host: Joel Parker
Additional Contributions: Shelley Schlender
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This is the second episode of a series where we hear about recent research presented at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) January 2024 meeting.
Credit: ESO/Igor Chekalin3D Astronomy (starts at 3:08) Dr. Nicole Karnath, Research Scientist, at Space Science Institute, talks about using the Hubble Space Telescope and the airborne SOFIA telescope to explore the wondrous 3D world of protostellar shocks.
AI in Astrophysics (starts at 17:38) Dr. Megan Ansdell, Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters in the Astrophysics Division and the Planetary Science Division, talks about using artificial intelligence and machine learning in astrophysics research, and how AI/ML can be applied to large datasets, and the example of data that will come from the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Executive Producer: Joel Parker
Show Producer and Host: Joel Parker
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This is the first episode of a series where we hear about recent research presented at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) January 2024 meeting.
(Credit: AIP/J. Fohlmeister)Magnetic Braking in Old Stars (starts at 3:13) Dr. Travis Metcalfe from the White Dwarf Research Corporation talks about studies of one particular star, 51 Peg, that has gone through magnetic braking. He discussed how studying magnetic fields around similarly middle-aged and older stars not oly can help us in our search for life on other planets, but also provide a clue of what might have impacted the evolution of life here on Earth.
Citizen Science with Zooniverse (starts at 13:21) Dr. Laura Trouille from the Adler Planetarium is the Principal Investigator of the Zooniverse project. She explains how “citizen science” works, which crowd-sources science research in a wide range of projects not only in astronomy, but topics ranging from biology and physics to arts and literature.
Executive Producer: Joel Parker
Show Producer and Host: Joel Parker
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cc NOAA Science GraphicWe share the How on Earth team’s picks for of science stories of 2023:
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- Superconductor Hopes And Failures (starts at 1:47)
- New Weight Loss Drugs (starts at 5:56)
- Hot Temperatures (starts at 9:27)
- Asteroid Autumn (starts at 12:29)
- Bird Population Decline (starts at 16:51)
- Sickle Cell Disease Treatment (starts at 22:29)
Executive Producer: Joel Parker
Show Producer and Host: Joel Parker
Additional Contributions: Shelley Schlender, Beth Bennett, Susan Moran
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Merriam’s turkey, courtesy of Flickr user “Fool-On-The-Hill.”In addition to recent news about possible therapies to restore lost sense of smell due to COVID, we do a deep dive into the How on Earth archives to bring you some still-relevant stories from past Thanksgiving episodes:
- Start with some happiness (2015 Nov 24)
- A main course wild turkeys in North America… (2011 Nov 22)
- …and wild turkeys close to home (2021 Nov 23)
- A dessert of strawberry-flavored fungi (2021 Nov 23)
Host/Producer/Engineer: Joel Parker
Executive Producer: Susan Moran
Contributors: Shelley Schlender, Beth Bartel, Benita Lee, Stacie Johnson
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In this Halloween episode, we talk with Dr. Adam Frank, an astrophysicst/astrobiologist at the University of Rochester, about his recent book: The Little Book of Aliens. We hear some of the stories and learn about the science of life “out there” – astrobiology – and the past, present, and future search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
Host/Producer/Engineer: Joel Parker
Executive Producer: Susan Moran
Headline contributors: Shelley Schlender, Beth Bennett
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As part of the KGNU Fund Drive, this episode of How on Earth features excerpts of Beth Bennett’s interview of Dr. Gavin Francis about his book Recovery: The Lost Art of Convalescence. We explore the difference between sickness and health, and the gap between them: Recovery. Based on decades of treating disease and injury, Dr Francis proposes a more active role of the individual in their recovery. We also talk about the importance of self-care and compassion, the role of the environment we create for ourselves, and the importance of caregivers.
Producer/Engineer: Joel Parker
Hosts: Joel Parker, Shelley Schlender
Feature Contribution: Beth Bennett Executive Producer: Susan Moran
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With graduation season upon us, today’s edition of How on Earth is Part 2 of our annual “Graduation Special”. Our guests in the studio today are scientists and engineers who have or will soon receive their Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in a STEM-related field. They talk about their thesis research, their grad school … Continue reading "2023 Graduation Special (part 2)"
With graduation season upon us, today’s edition of How on Earth is Part 1 of our annual “Graduation Special”. Our guests in the studio today are scientists and engineers who have or will soon receive their Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in a STEM-related field. They talk about their thesis research, their grad school experiences, and what they have planned next.
Rob Streeter – Electrical Engineering
Topic: High-resolution Deep-tissue Microwave Thermometry
Amanda Hampton – Applied Math
Topic: On the Three-Dimensional, Quadratic Diffeomorphism: Anti-integrability, Attractors, and Chaos
Jacob Kravits – Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
Topic: Balancing Cost, Water, Emissions, and Reliability in Power Systems Operations
Host / Producer : Joel Parker
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A DALL-E generated image of this interview.We talk with Dr. Casey Fiesler, Associate Professor of Information Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder about “generative AI,” particularly regarding ChatGPT and DALL-E, which are topics of recent news stories expressing excitement and concern.
We asked ChatGPT to write a description of what such an interview might be:
Dr. Casey Fiesler joins Joel Parker on the KGNU radio science show How on Earth to discuss generative AI and its recent breakthroughs, such as ChatGPT and DALL-E. Fiesler explains that these AI models use deep learning algorithms to generate new content, such as text or images, based on patterns found in existing data. She acknowledges the impressive capabilities of these models, such as DALL-E’s ability to create highly realistic images from textual prompts. However, Fiesler also raises concerns about the potential negative impacts of generative AI, including the perpetuation of biases found in training data or the creation of harmful fake content. Fiesler emphasizes the importance of responsible development and use of these technologies, as well as ongoing research into addressing these issues.
After you listen to the show, you can determine how accurate is that description. And can you identify the three interview questions we asked that were generated by ChatGPT?
Host & Producer: Joel Parker
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Featured Music: “Reflection” – generative music by Brian Eno
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NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – JWST – was launched on December 25th, 2021. We talked with scientists and engineers about JWST’s first year and some of the projects it is being used for. In this second part of our JWST special, our guests and their projects are:
- Dr. Imke de Pater (Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of California, Berkeley): ERS observations of the Jovian System as a demonstration of JWST capabilities for Solar System science
- Dr. Michael Ressler (Principal Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory): Star Formation in the Extreme Outer Galaxy
- Dr. Jacob Jencson (Postdoctoral Researcher, Johns Hopkins University and Space Telescope Science Institute) De-mystifying SPRITES with JWST
Check out Part 1 of this feature (2022 Dec 20)
Host & Producer: Joel Parker
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Featured Music: “Floating in Heaven” by Graham Gouldman and Brian May
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NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – JWST – was launched one year ago on December 25th, 2021. We talked with scientists and engineers about JWST’s first year and some of the projects it is being used for. In this first part of our JWST special, our guests are:
- Dr. Naomi Rowe-Gurney (Planetary Scientist Postdoctoral Researcher, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland) gives an overview of the JWST instrument suite
- Dr. Christine Chen (Associate Astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute) talks about the JWST proposal process and how the scientists get their data
- Dr. Ryan Lau (Assistant Astronomer, NOIRLab) discusses his project: Establishing Extreme Dynamic Range with JWST: Decoding Smoke Signals in the Glare of a Wolf-Rayet Binary
Host & Producer: Joel Parker
Executive Producer: Susan Moran
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How on Earth’s Beth Bennett talks with authors Ridge Shinn and Lynne Pledger about how regenerative grazing can replace corn-based feedlots, which are responsible for significant climate emissions, nitrogen pollution, and animal suffering. Their book, Grass-Fed Beef for a Post-Pandemic World, outlines a hopeful path out of our broken food system via regional networks of regeneratively produced … Continue reading "Grass-Fed Beef for a Post-Pandemic World"
Starting this week, the FDA has approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids. In light of that, in today’s edition of How on Earth, we play an Encore Feature from February 2020 of an interview we did with David Owen about his book, Volume Control, in which he explores the surprising science of hearing and the … Continue reading "Hearing & Hearing Aids"
We talk with author Kristin Ohlson about her recent book: “Sweet in Tooth and Claw”. In it, Ohlson examines cooperative relationships found in the natural world and in human civilization. She says this view is missing from many of our cultural and scientific narratives because of a tendency to apply Darwin’s idea of survival of … Continue reading "Sweet in Tooth and Claw // Fund Drive Show"
Pollution Impacts on Gut Microbiome (starts at 1:00) The Environmental Protection Agency has downgraded the air quality in the Denver Metro and Northern Front Range area to “severe” nonattainment for ground level ozone. Shannon Young talks with Dr. Tanya Alderete (University of Colorado Integrative Physiology Department) about a recent study showing how air pollution may also affect the … Continue reading "Pollution Impacts on Gut Microbiome // Folding Proteins"
Today’s show features headline news about new methods for detecting skin cancer and using “frequency comb” lasers to sniff out even the faintest traces of methane leaks. And then we have an encore presentation of How on Earth features about “Engineering Happiness” and a black holes. Hosts: Joel Parker, Susan Moran, Beth Bartel Producer: Joel … Continue reading "Skin Cancer // Methane Leaks // Engineering Happiness // Black holes"
With graduation season upon us, today’s edition of How on Earth is Part 2 of our annual “Graduation Special” (you can listen to Part 1). Our guests in the studio today are scientists who have or will soon receive their Ph.D. in a STEM-related field. They talk about their thesis research, their grad school experiences, and what … Continue reading "2022 Graduation Special (part 2)"
With graduation season upon us, today’s edition of How on Earth is Part 1 of our annual “Graduation Special” (you can listen to Part 2). Our guests in the studio today are scientists who have or will soon receive their Ph.D. in a STEM-related field. They talk about their thesis research, their grad school experiences, and what … Continue reading "2022 Graduation Special (part 1)"
We feature an interview with astronomer and author Dr. Emily Levesque about her book, The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers. In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Levesque about the history and future of astronomy. We hear about how astronomical observing at some of the premier telescopes in the world has changed over … Continue reading "The Last Stargazers, Part 2"
We feature an interview with astronomer and author Dr. Emily Levesque about her book, The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers. In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Levesque about how one becomes an astronomer and what a typical – and sometimes not so typical – night’s work is like at an observatory with highly … Continue reading "The Last Stargazers, Part 1"
On this week’s show – part of the annual KGNU Spring Fund Drive – we play excerpts of an upcoming interview with astronomer and author Dr. Emily Levesque about her book, The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers. The book is a modern history of observational astronomy, and shares an inside look at the lives and … Continue reading "KGNU Fund Drive with The Last Stargazers"
With graduation season upon us, today’s edition of How on Earth is our annual “Graduation Special”. Our guests in the studio today are scientists who have or will soon receive their Ph.D. in a STEM-related field. They talk about their thesis research, their grad school experiences, and what they have planned next. Kate Doubleday – CU Boulder, … Continue reading "2021 Graduation Special"
Sometimes it seems that science and art are completely different worlds but that has not always been the case. There is a long history of artistic scientists and scientific artists. In this edition of How on Earth, we talk about the alchemy of transmogrifying science into theatre. Our guests include two scientists and two playwrights who collaborated to … Continue reading "Science On Stage"
Our lives have been changed by lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries which are everywhere: in our cell phones, cars, toys, power tools and grid energy storage. Indeed, the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to the three scientists who invented and developed them. As the world manufactures more and more Li-ion batteries, what are the challenges and opportunities for recycling … Continue reading "Recycling Lithium-ion Batteries"
How clean is “clean”? How do you get clean, and how important is it…could it actually be advantageous to your skin and general health to not try to get too clean? We talk with medical doctor and author Dr. James Hamblin about his new book “Clean: The New Science Of Skin“. Hosts: Chip Grandits, Joel Parker Executive Producer: Jill Sjong … Continue reading "Clean – The New Science of Skin"
Five years ago today on July 14, 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft made the first reconnaissance of Pluto, collecting data that continue to be analyzed and provide surprises of this distant world. On this 5th anniversary of the Pluto flyby, our guest is Dr. Carver Bierson, who is a planetary scientist at Arizona State University. … Continue reading "Formation of Pluto and Its Ocean"
With graduation season is upon us, today’s edition of How on Earth is our annual “Graduation Special”. Our guests in the studio today are scientists who have or will soon receive their Ph.D. in a STEM-related field. They talk about their thesis research, their grad school experiences, and what they have planned next. Hayley Sohn – CU … Continue reading "2020 Graduation Special"
This episode talks about research about COVID-19, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and targeted therapies, and our feature is an interview with CU-Boulder scientists Anushree Chatterjee and Prashant Nagpal. This husband and wife science team explains why there may be a downside to adapting old medications to fight Covid-19. They’ll also explain their anguish about why creating new “drugs” to fight Covid-19 … Continue reading "COVID-19: ACE, Targeted Therapies, Old & New Medicines"
This week on How On Earth, we present an Encore Feature from January 2018 about the science and art of brewing beer with guest Pete Brown, author of Miracle Brew. This episode also includes new headlines about current research about COVID-19 and about the science of drying towels outside.
Host: Beth Bennett
Producer: Joel Parker, Beth Bennett
Engineer: Maeve Conran
Additional contributions: Angele Sjong
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
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image credit: DSI/Bryan Versteeg Space Mining [starts at 9:20] Stars have been called “diamonds in the sky,” but there are other valuable and more accessible resources up there. Asteroids might be the next gold rush, though for resources other than gold, if there are ways to actually get there and mine them. Can we do that? And, even if we can, does it make economic and environmental sense to do it? Joining us for this episode of How on Earth is Dr. Matt Beasley, a Senior Program Manager at Southwest Research Institute, and he is a planetary scientist who has been involved in the development of space mining concepts.
Executive Producer: Beth Bennett
Producer: Joel Parker
Headlines: Angele Sjong, Joel Parker
Engineer: Joel Parker
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How To [starts at 4:30] Our guest for this episode is Randall Munroe, perhaps best known for his comic xkcd, and author of the books “What If” and “Thing Explainer”. Randall has figured out how to do many things, so he wrote a new book appropriately called “How To”, which promises to provide absurd scientific advice for common real world problems. Absurd? Sometimes. (well, often actually) Amusing and informative? Definitely. Have you ever wanted to build a lava moat? Have you ever wondered what kind of gas mileage your house would get on the highway? What are the energy requirements and logistics of boiling vs. freezing a river? And what about landing an airplane on a submarine? All of those questions and more (pirates!) are addressed in “How To”, and we talk about some of them in this episode of How on Earth.
Host, Producer, Engineer: Joel Parker
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