SciTech Now Season 2, Episode 18: Episode 218

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Episode 201

In episode 201 of SciTech Now, scientists determine the viability of plant life in space via an experiment aboard the International Space Station; Rod Breslau on the growing popularity of eSports; John Howell of the Univesity of Rochester on the science behind invisibility; and a New Jersey water treatment plant is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by turning waste into energy.

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Episode 202

In episode 202 of SciTech Now, scientists at the University of South Florida use a new method for tracking fish populations; Dr. Martin Blaser on the pitfalls of antibiotics, from allergies to obesity; John Howell of the Univesity of Rochester on the science behind invisibility; and a New Jersey water treatment plant is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by turning waste into energy.

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Episode 203

In episode 203 of SciTech Now, the New York Fashion Tech Lab is a tech accelerator is helping companies at the intersection of retail and technology modernize the fashion industry; Ruth DeFries, professor of Ecology and Sustainable Development and Columbia University’s Earth Institute, explains how the history of human development has impacted our planet; The Blue Ocean Film Festival aims to spread awareness about what lies underwater, with help from aquatic filmmaker and explorer Fabien Cousteau; the Melrose Center is a 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility at the Orlando Public Library; and PBS Secrets of the Dead investigates the real possibility that a Trojan Horse could have been used to trick Troy into defeat.

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Episode 204

In episode 204 of SciTech Now, go trackside at a Trans Am road race to learn how racers make their cars aerodynamic; Jon Schull, co-founder of e-Nable, discusses how his organization is making low-cost 3-D printed prosthetics available to children around the world; TripExpert co-founder Emily Hughes explains how the site aims to be a definitive statement of the overall quality based on professional reviews, instead of user reviews; the Financial Times investigates whether mass-market sport-related technologies can help mitigate some of the risks associated with contact sports; as the number of social media users continues to grow, some universities have incorporated the communication tool into their curriculum.

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Episode 205

In episode 205 of SciTech Now, we take you into the lab to see how robots are changing the surgical landscape; the science educator, the CEO of the Planetary Society, the “Science Guy” himself, Bill Nye, joins us to talk about his new book and about his Kickstarter project to create a breadbox sized spacecraft powered by the light of the sun; Science Friday shows us how a badminton birdie’s unique aerodynamic shape makes badminton the fastest sport around; and Abalone are sea snails that graze on algae and seaweed, but overfishing and poaching have left them on the edge of extinction.

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Episode 206

In this episode of SciTech Now, some oil companies are cutting back on their operations and hoping to reduce waste in the process; Springboard Enterprises CEO Kay Koplovitz discusses supporting women in business; we go inside the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, where staff target the core cause of autism and provide therapy and support for those on the spectrum; and the Financial Times explores how the worlds of biology and robotics are coming together and how bionics is now being applied in healthcare.

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Episode 208

In this episode of SciTech Now, archaeology moves underwater as researchers discover clues from the past; planetary physicist Phil Metzger on the New Horizons flyby over Pluto; one southern California couple is going to extreme measures to revolutionize the physical therapy industry; and PBS Secrets of the Dead has the extraordinary story of a young pioneer, whose remains were found in an archaeological excavation.

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Episode 209

In this episode of SciTech Now, the largest desalination plant in North America is making Tampa Bay water safer and cleaner; space architecture and engineering expert Madhu Thengavelu discusses building settlements on the Moon and Mars; brain surgery performed while awake helps mitigate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease; and the Financial Times reports on the one-atom thick layer of carbon called graphene that is 200 times stronger than steel and thinner than a sheet of paper.

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Episode 210

In this episode of SciTech Now, scientists use algae to trace the origins of sex; the decommissioned space shuttle Atlantis has a new home in Orlando, Florida; the company deCervo explores the neuroscience involved in athletics; and mobile security research that tries to protect us from hackers.

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Episode 211

In this episode, viewers get a glimpse of a new, more efficient wind turbine with an unusual beginning; we learn how data and Statcast is changing the experience of watching a baseball game; mirror therapy employs the illusion of reflection to trick the brain into faster motor recovery; and zero-emission motorcycles are helping police departments.

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Episode 212

In this episode of SciTech Now, a four-story magnet may hold the key to clean, renewable energy; Jennifer Vento, from the digital marketing firm Women Online, discusses how women around the world are joining together to create innovative new technologies that protect women both on- and offline; Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the future of space exploration.

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Episode 213

Scientists attempt to answer the question, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a lollipop?”; filmmaker and producer Emily Driscoll discusses the science behind the lollipop mystery; climate scientist Ken Caldeira talks climate intervention strategies; and one school in Tampa is using technology to facilitate classroom learning.

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Episode 214

Invasive species threaten Florida’s ecosystem; professor Madhu Thangavelu discusses the future of collaborative robotics; serial entrepreneur Brian Hecht explains how emerging job search engines are altering the employment marketplace; planetary physicist Phil Metzger looks into the future of Mars exploration; and we go behind the scenes at the AMNH.

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Episode 215

In this episode of SciTech Now, an international group of computer coders have joined forces with a composer to showcase fractals in a whole new light; the founder of the renewable energy company Uncharted Play has developed unusual sources of electricity for the developing world; at the Tech Sassy Girlz Hackathon in Orlando, middle and high school girls get a crash course in coding; and more.

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Episode 216

In this episode, the hunt for dark matter ensues 4,850 feet below the ground; Financial Times reporter Gina Chon discusses the depth and implications of cyber security; and thanks to electrodes implanted in her muscles, athlete Jennifer French can compete once again.

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Episode 217

In this episode, shark skin could be the key to combating the spread of harmful bacteria inside hospitals; an innovative device allows you to virtually connect with your dog; researchers find a connection between a child’s socioeconomic status and the surface area of the brain; and more.

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Episode 218

In this episode of SciTech Now, we take a look into the most common genetic disorder worldwide: color blindness; Professor Stuart Licht offers a promising, economical solution to the fight against climate change; and ocularists create prosthetic eyes that are both realistic and comfortable, as well as life changing.

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Episode 219

In this episode, we explore the usage and benefits of wearable technology; architect Jeffrey Pelletier takes us inside his Lego room and reveals some real world applications of the toy; a global initiative to create marine sanctuaries offers hope for oceans; and new drugs may be able to outsmart germs resistant to antibiotics.

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Episode 220

In this episode of SciTech Now, scientists work to grow plants in extreme conditions; an app predicts your seven year romantic outlook; and automation and robots are introduced to one of the oldest trades: brick laying.

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Episode 221

In this episode, a high tech submarine allows for better underwater exploration; an average nose can sense 1,200 flavors; mysterious stains on St. Louis’ Gateway Arch prompt a tricky testing procedure; and the U.S. military is turning to microgrids to keep its power reliable and secure.

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Episode 222

In this episode, high schools provide both an associated degree and optimal real-world experience; 3D printers create soft tissue; we take a look at the marvelous life of a historic space shuttle; and we learn why we find some animals cute and others not.

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Episode 223

We go inside the rapidly expanding aerospace industry; explore virtual reality as possible treatment for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder; meet David Abraham, author of the book “The Elements of Power,” who joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss rare metals and why we’ve come to rely on them; and look at Pando, one of the oldest and largest single organisms on the planet.

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Episode 224

In this episode, we learn why beluga whales are a reflection of the health of a watershed; author and scientist Ainissa Ramirez discusses how bubbles might help NASA catch comets; we explore the importance of studying the physiological changes that occur in traders during financial bubbles and crises; and a collaborative workspace reveals how it serves as a catalyst for new startups and apps.

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Episode 225

We go behind the scenes at the famed (and sustainable) Biltmore Estate; Dr. Rudolph Tanzi discusses changing our gene activity; new technology is changing our communication capabilities; aircraft simulation is employed to encourage critical thinking among high school students; and the University of Washington School of Oceanography is expanding our knowledge of the ocean floor.

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Episode 226

Tiny satellites called CubeSats have democratized space science; blended learning combines in-person teaching with tech; a high school student and a science corporation pave the way for easier use of ethanol as renewable energy; and a mouse-like creature with massive hind legs teaches us about the growth of human bones.

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Episode 227

We explore farming on an urban rooftop; Peter deMenocal, director of Columbia University’s Center for Climate and Life, explains the climate innovation gap; unwanted algae is threatening Florida waterways; and a robotic surgical system makes precise surgery faster and easier.

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Episode 228

We explore the warming Arctic through its bird population, learn how snowflakes form and why they have 6 sides, check out state-of-the-art care for our wounded veterans at the Center for the Intrepid at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and see how drones are modernizing the farming industry.

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Episode 229

Researchers studying the zebrafish are making new discoveries in developmental biology; SciStarter founder, Darlene Cavalier, is crowdsourcing science research; the innovators behind RaceYa share their educational toy cars; and a dangerous flesh-eating bacteria is becoming a public health problem in warm coastal waters.

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Episode 230

In this episode of SciTech Now, how ants and slime might help us understand collective human behavior; founder of Not Impossible Labs Mick Ebeling discusses “technology for the sake of humanity”; behind the scenes of one at the world’s first virtual medical centers; and a robot that has the potential to change the hotel industry.

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Episode 231

In this episode of SciTech Now: thin, flexible screens may be the future of technology; understanding the significance of gravitational waves; a company that’s giving a new kind of voice to those with speech disorders; and how pesticides used a century ago are affecting residents of a Washington town.

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Episode 232

In this episode of SciTech Now, how one company in Kansas City, Missouri, is bringing technology to the roadways; busting environmental myths and an answer to the controversial question: paper or plastic?; teaching educators how to integrate new technologies into the classroom; and a unique collection of scientific and medical devices from decades past is shedding light on innovations old and new.

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Episode 233

In this episode of SciTech Now, an experimental drug trial that may provide insight into early onset Alzheimer's; how robot teachers are creating new ways of learning; how and why we associate words with shapes; and detectives in Washington state are trying to take down poachers who are illegally selling shellfish on the black market.