Synopsis
Science Underground is a two-minute podcast hosted by scientist Ainissa Ramirez. In the time it takes you to sip your coffee or eat your cereal, Science Underground explains a science topic in a fun and understandable way. The show explores a range of topicssome that are pulled right from the headlines, others are topics youve been meaning to know. Ainissa interviews tops scientists and translates their work in everyday language--arming you with science nuggets for the next lunch table chat, water cooler klatch, or cocktail party. Each week there is a separate topic that can be listened to before class or when you have a brief moment to spare. The ideas will give you much to think about long after the podcast is over. New episodes are released on Sunday mornings to start the workweek on the right foot.
Episodes
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Invisibility Cloaks
20/03/2016 Duration: 02minScientists have made invisibility cloaks in the laboratory. What does it take to make something invisible? A bit of brain trickery.
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As Sweet As Pi
13/03/2016 Duration: 02minPi is the mysterious number of 3.14 that keeps our appliances running, our GPS going, and our clocks ticking. This number is pretty sweet.
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How Atoms Keep Time
06/03/2016 Duration: 02minWe keep time by measuring repeating patterns, like a swinging pendulum or the earth's rotation. But, the best way to measure time is with atoms inside atomic clocks.
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How Frog's Legs Helped Make the Oscars Possible
28/02/2016 Duration: 02minIn the 1700s, a scientist was dissecting frogs and found the legs twitched when touched with his tools. This freaky experiment allows us to make golden statues and get power from batteries.
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Making a Phone Call in Ancient Africa
21/02/2016 Duration: 02minTo send messages over long distances, the ancients used a drum. Recently, scientists have discovered how drum beats travel for miles with the help of the surface of the Nile.
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The Science of Chocolate
10/02/2016 Duration: 02minChocolate is tasty chemistry. What takes weeks to prepare, takes moments to enjoy. The steps from tree to your tongue are described.
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Concussions
07/02/2016 Duration: 02minConcussions seem to be in the news lately. A leading expert explains what is going on in the brain during a concussion.
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High Tech High Heels
31/01/2016 Duration: 02minThe design of the high heel shoe is over a century old. However, there are new materials and modern technologies that can make shoes more comfortable. Fashion engineers are on a mission to rescue hurting feet.
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Why is Snow White?
24/01/2016 Duration: 02minWater is clear, but snow is white. Light dances on the snowflake edges creating this white color.
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How Lakes Create Blizzards
17/01/2016 Duration: 02minCold dry air from Canada traveling over clear lakes are the ingredients for a miserable winter.
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The Science Behind the Gateway Arch
10/01/2016 Duration: 02minThe Gateway Arch is a beautiful example of the marriage between materials and mathematics. The secret behind this monument's longevity is revealed.
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The Skinny on Fat
03/01/2016 Duration: 02minOur waistlines are increasing partly because of our modern diet, but also because of our Stone Age bodies. Back then, food was rare. Now? Not so much.
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Light From Sand
27/12/2015 Duration: 02minLEDs are small lights that come from a material that is under your feet at the beach--sand. The uses of LEDs are almost as numerous as the grains of sand that make them.
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This Is Your Brain on CTE
20/12/2015 Duration: 02minBoston University's Dr. Robert Stern tells us about a brain disease that has been in the news recently -- CTE.
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Why Snowflakes Have Six Sides
20/12/2015 Duration: 02minSnowflakes have six sides. The answer to why can be found in your local supermarket in a stack of oranges.
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How Origami Saves Lives
13/12/2015 Duration: 02minOrigami is the ancient art of paper folding. Today, origami can be seen in pizza boxes and fancy napkins, but it can also save your life in a car accident.
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How Chameleons Change Color
06/12/2015 Duration: 02minThe colors we see in a chameleon's skin is not really what it seems. Their skin is playing with light in the same way soap bubbles do.
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Molecules That Heat The Planet
29/11/2015 Duration: 02minSitting in a hot car is the same thing that is happening to the earth. Molecules are trapping heat and warming the planet. If we all work together we can stop this trend.
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Taste With Your Nose
22/11/2015 Duration: 02minWhile we think the tongue is responsible for taste, actually the nose has a nose for it. Food without your nose would be pretty boring.
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How Bubbles Catch Comets
15/11/2015 Duration: 02minSoap bubbles are not just for kids. Foams can help you from spilling your coffee and can help scientists understand the origin of our solar system.