2020 - Season 2

Allison Williams and TJ Russell are Ph. D. candidates in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park. This is their fourth appearance!

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film. What creative liberties do filmmakers take to make their masterpiece, and what do they get right?

Helen Lazear, Ph. D., is an Assistant Professor in Microbiology and Immunology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Molly Rathbun, M.P.S., is a Ph. D. candidate in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University. This was her 2nd appearance!

Yet another long promised episode! Curioscity’s inaugural book club starts with an important piece of literature: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Who was Henrietta Lacks, and how does she outweigh hundreds of millions of people today in mass? How did she contribute to the discussion of body autonomy and medical rights?

Archer Harmony is an IT application analyst at the County of Humboldt, California. Calvin and Archer became best friends in 3rd grade, 2002. This is his fourth appearance!

Just what the heck makes my computer do computey stuff? Is there anything inside of the box responsible for loading my Friendster and Myspace pages? Does this episode justify having a laptop on the season 2 artwork?

Zachary Billman is an M. D. / Ph. D. student in Microbiology and Immunology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This is his second appearance!

The kidneys: indispensable for life as animals know it. What are organs? Why do we need them? What are kidneys? How are they different than kidney beans?

Kshitij Sharma is a Ph. D. candidate in Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Today is a discussion of biological history and a famous, controversial naturalist. Just what is biogenetic law? Does ontogeny recapitulate phylogeny?

Rachel Kruger is an M.S. candidate in Biological Sciences at The State University of New York at Binghamton. This is her fourth appearance (and first time hosting)!

This podcast has been running for nearly two years, and over its tenure we’ve acquired some questions about the program and the participants. Today, we take some time to discuss frequently asked questions about Curioscity.

Adele Musicant is a Ph. D. candidate in Genetics at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This is her third appearance on Curioscity!

You may have been walking upon a beach and noticed a horseshoe crab. Their appearance can be severe, but they provide important contributions to their ecosystems. Today, we will discuss these arthropods and some of their unique characteristics. 

Carolyn Turcotte is a Graduate student in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A long promised episode! Somehow, cells must become more cells. What are the processes required for reproduction? How are mitosis and meiosis different? 

Roger Sit, Ph. D., is the Director of Radiation Safety at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Radiation brings along images of post-apocalyptic landscapes and mutant ghouls, but there are also aspects of radioactivity that directly contribute to scientific research. Today, we’ll discuss radioactivity.

Noah Jager is True Commerce Integration Specialist in App Development.

How diverse are degrees from University? What are some of the most striking parts of those fields of study? Today, we discuss a biological science degree and how broad (or useless) it can be.  

Kyla Garten is a Herpetologist and Wildlife Biologist. This is her second appearance!

How diverse are degrees from University? What are some of the most striking parts of those fields of study? Today, we discuss a biological science degree and how broad (or specific) it can be.  

Pat Faughnan, M.S., is a Ph. D. candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at The University of Virginia.

In 2020, approximately 1.8 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone. The disease is so infamous that some scientists say that merely uttering its name leads to a better chance of grant funding, and so challenging to treat that it has become commonplace to embolden new generations of scientists by saying they will “cure cancer”.

Archer Harmony is an IT application analyst at the County of Humboldt, California. Calvin and Archer became best friends in 3rd grade, 2002. This is his third appearance on Curioscity! Whoopie!

How diverse are degrees from University? What are some of the most striking parts of those fields of study? Today, we discuss a computer science degree and how broad (or specific) it can be.

Gavin Hennessy is a recent Material Science and Engineering graduate from The Pennsylvania State University. This is his second appearance on Curioscity!

How diverse are degrees from University? What are some of the most striking parts of those fields of study? Today, we discuss a material science degree and how broad (or specific) it can be.

th7024 on why saying “All Lives Matter” is offensive: “The best analogy I've heard is to think about going to a restaurant with a few friends. The food comes and your friend Bob doesn't get his food. Bob is starving, so he is a bit upset. All the rest of your group starts eating and Bob flags the waiter to come over. He says he would like the food he ordered. All your friends agree that Bob should be able to eat. Now you pipe up and tell the waiter "We all deserve to eat," while continuing to shovel food into your mouth. It's not untrue, you do all deserve to eat. The difference is that you have been eating consistently and healthy for years. Poor Bob has been malnourished for decades. He can afford the food. He deserves the food. But he has no food.”

I hope everyone stays safe, uses their time to educate others or themselves, and can overcome apathy. This is a point in time that will soon be referred as “history”. I urge everyone to be on the right side of it.

Fabiola Rodriguez is a Ph. D. candidate in Evolution and Ecology at Tulane University.

This show has talked about biodiversity, but we haven’t been the best at pointing the magnifying glass at ourselves. How do growth of non-essential crops like coffee impact biodiversity across the globe?

Mike Itgen is a Ph. D. candidate in Evolution at The Colorado State University. This is his second appearance on Curioscity!

Everyone listening has a unique combination of nucleic acids that make up their genome: a blueprint of you. We humans have over 3 billion nucleotides of DNA, but how does this vary for other organisms? Are there benefits or consequences to these differences?

Aaron Griffing, M.S., is a Ph. D. candidate in Biology at Marquette University. This is his second appearance!

Let’s sink our teeth into some pepper lore. It’s gonna be a spicy episode, we’re gonna warm up and listen to Under the Bridge (despite being a little chili), we’re gonna talk about whether or not we believe in ghost peppers, we’re gonna feel hot hot hot. Capsaicin.

Rachel Kruger is an M.S. candidate in Biological Sciences at The State University of New York at Binghamton. This is her third appearance!

Just what is this seventh element on the periodic table? Why is nitrogen so important to life? Why do plants require a long-term relationship with microorganisms to enjoy nitrogen?

Josh Yoder, Ph. D., is a Medical Science Liaison at uniQure. This is his second appearance on Curioscity!

There are many different ways to treat disease, but this show has not yet discussed gene therapy. What is a gene? What is gene therapy? What kind of diseases could be impacted by gene therapy?

Adele Musicant is a Ph. D. candidate in Genetics at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This is her second appearance on Curioscity!

Fundamental physical properties govern our lives and how our world operates. Today, we will discuss simple machines and how they have contributed to human advancement.

Jessica Warren is a Ph. D. candidate in Biology at The Colorado State University.

There’s one place you can find DNA within your own cells that isn’t the nucleus. What are mitochondria? Why do they have DNA and why don’t all mitochondria throughout the world have the same genes?

Shannon Speer is a Ph. D. student in the Chemistry at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

After an episode about lipids and nucleic acids, it’s time to forget about sugars and talk about my favorite biomolecules: proteins. What are amino acids? What are some protein functions? Why do proteins’ structure often inform their function? \

Allison Williams is a Ph. D. candidate at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park. This is her second appearance on Curioscity!

It’s time to go deeper than the anthropological record. Long before ferns, salamanders, and Sam Raimi, there were precursor molecules that would eventually lead to life. What is the RNA earth hypothesis? How could the complexities of life have started?

Josh Yoder, Ph. D., is a Medical Science Liaison at uniQure.

This podcast has discussed science and impacts of scientific discovery for one year now. We haven’t yet discussed how a laboratory, university, government, or company is capable of bringing a helpful small molecule to market. How does one bring a drug to market? Is it a simple process?

Crystal Mendoza is a Ph. D. candidate in Virology and Gene Therapy at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

While today’s research often has a bias of being primarily for the benefit of humankind, there are many pathogens that negatively affect other organisms on Earth. Today, we’ll discuss zoonosis and how transfer of a pathogen from one organism to another can shape global health.

Emily Madden is a Ph. D. candidate in Microbiology and Immunology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

With a name like Nucleic Acids I, you’ve have expected more discussion about RNA in episode 8: unfortunately, that episode was chock full of DNA. Today, we’ll discuss the real GOAT nucleic acid: RNA.

Archer Harmony is an IT application analyst at the County of Humboldt, California. Calvin and Archer became best friends in 3rd grade, 2002. This is his second appearance on Curioscity!

This is Curioscity, the show about viruses – the kind that make your computer sick. What is a computer virus? How is a computer virus different than malware? Does this episode justify having a laptop on the season 2 artwork?

Alana Lesnansky is a graduate student in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology program at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

Many scientists have adapted Hollywood’s traditional “elevator pitch”: a brief, persuasive spiel that you use to spark interest in you, your organization, or your product. Today, we’ll take that elevator pitch to its roots to compete for who can propose a ‘better’ science television show for a non-scientist audience.

Craig E. Cameron, Ph. D., is the Jeffrey Houpt Distinguished Investigator, Professor and Chair of the Microbiology and Immunology department at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He’s also Calvin’s boss.

How does science pay for its advances? What are some common line items a biological lab might be responsible for? Is science a business?

Mike Pablo is a Ph. D. candidate in Chemistry at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Today, we’ll discuss the fungal kingdom and what yeast actually is.

Rachel Kruger is an M.S. candidate in Biological Sciences at Binghamton University. She’s also a close friend, and the first repeat guest on Curioscity!

How simple is classification of orgasms? Is there any debate to how its done? What are some of the different schools of thought?

Jesse Noar, Ph. D., is a Industrial Process Specialist at Medicago.

Mike Itgen is a Ph. D. candidate in Evolution at The Colorado State University.

Some of my earliest memories of science were simply hunting for the elusive Pacific giant salamander in the coastal northwest. Today, we’ll talk about these slimy amphibians and how they contribute to scientific research.

Brianne Barker, Ph. D., is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Drew University.

Today we’ll discuss HIV and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

2019 - Season 1

Brian Conlon, Ph. D., is an Assistant Professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

What are the benefits to antibiotics? What are the consequences?

Adele Musicant is a Ph. D. candidate in Genetics at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Today we’ll discuss dry ice; bio-luminescence; women’s representation in film; and science communication.

Allison Williams and TJ Russell are Ph. D. candidates in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film.

Nyssa Tucker is an ORISE biological researcher in the Research Triangle Park area.

What are organs? Why do we need them? What is the liver?

Connor Wander is a Ph. D. candidate in Pharmacology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

What are pharmaceuticals? What are side-effects?

Shehzad Sheikh, M. D. Ph. D., is a physician and associate professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

What is the digestive tract? What happens when your immune system picks on it unfairly? What is the current course of treatment for these disorders?

Jen Buccholz is a Ph. D. candidate in Psychology and Neuroscience at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

What is it to be scared? Can we define emotions, and how do emotions like fear tie into our daily life nowadays? How are fear and anxiety related?

Steve Sujansky is a graduate student in Chemistry at The Colorado State University.

How does one do chemical synthesis? What are limitations? What are some examples of scaled chemical reactions?

Zachary Billman is an M. D. Ph. D. student in Microbiology and Immunology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

What are the benefits and consequences of non-human primates? What are the ethical dilemmas attached to any model system?

Ananth, Camille, and Cecilia are current or historical members of the Chapel Hill East iGEM team.

Today, we will discuss how a high school in the Chapel Hill area contributes to the scientific field of synthetic biology in a global fashion.

Annie is a current member of the Chapel Hill East iGEM team, while Patty acts as the iGEM advisor.

Science accessibility has gotten better and better over the last few decades, and standardizing the tools to be able to do it has been a huge part.

Philip Hollingsworth is the Institute of the Arts and Humanities Program Administrator at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Today we’ll discuss nutrients at the seafloor; gain of function mutations spurred by the atom; the countless combinations of colors in your typical Rubik’s cube.

Dan Mar is the owner of High Tide Permaculture.

Today, we will explore a cousin strategy to typical agriculture: permaculture.

Archer Harmony is an IT application analyst at the County of Humboldt, California. Calvin and Archer became best friends in 3rd grade, 2002.

What is cryptocurrency? Where did the idea begin? Should you buy in?

Kathy Yeager is a high school educator in California. She’s also Calvin’s mother.

What is a chemical reaction? How can it proceed? What is a catalyst?

Bob Yeager is a fine woodworker and luthier in California. He’s also Calvin’s father.

Science is often intrinsically linked to quantification; the ability to report accurate data to peers and colleagues provides the basis for reproducibility.

Fadi Alnaji is a post-doctoral researcher at The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

It can become challenging to explain data when you’re not familiar with the field or it is presented in a confusing way.

Adam Lauring, M. D. Ph. D., is a physician and associate professor at The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

What kind of doctorates are there? What are the benefits or consequences of having more than one?

Evan Flynn hasn’t told Calvin exactly… precisely what his current job is, but let’s just call it “being a movie buff". He’s also a Hartwick alumni!

It is common to be exposed to topics involving science in school, but this rarely is made as exciting as watching a sci-fi film.

Jen Heemstra, Ph. D., is an associate professor at Emory University.

How are these degrees dissimilar from a bachelor’s degree? What are some common complaints and issues for graduate students today?

Emery (formerly Grace) Usher is a Ph. D. candidate in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University.

Today, we’ll discuss using human cells as models for research and how those “cells-in-dishes” are different than the cells in our very own bodies.

Molly Rathbun, M.P.S., is a Ph. D. candidate in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University. She’s also a close friend.

Humankind only developed a few hundred thousand years ago and was surrounded by “cousin” hominids from genetic ancestors.

Eric J. Barron, Ph. D., is the President of The Pennsylvania State University.

Today, we’ll discuss a journey from a bachelor degree to being a university president.

Sam Hartmann is a Ph. D. candidate in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University.

What is the chemistry of the firework, and what is the historical basis?

Seria Chatters, Ph. D., is an assistant professor in Education at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

Today we’ll discuss ethics in science and the case study of head transplants; and similarities and dissimilarities of diversity and race.

Brian Redder, M.S., is a Ph. D. candidate in Biogeochemistry and Soil Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. He’s also a Hartwick alumni!

What is the importance of these habitats? What is limestone? How are caves formed?

Pedro Rivera Pomales is a Ph. D. candidate in Chemistry at The Pennsylvania State University.

What are the fundamental components of an atom? What are elements?

Aaron Griffing, M.S., is a Ph. D. candidate in Biology at Marquette University. He’s also a Hartwick alumni!

Who was Charles Darwin? Whose shoulders did he stand on? What is evolution?

Henry Hsiung, M.S., is a Ph. D. candidate in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University. He’s also a close friend.

Today we will discuss the endosymbiotic hypothesis in terms of mitochondria while keeping in mind that the process is equally applicable to chloroplasts.

Divyanshi Srivastava is a Ph. D. candidate in Bioinformatics and Genomics at The Pennsylvania State University.

How do humans use computational resources to analyze data? What is big data and machine learning?

Amber Miller is a Lecturer and Academic Advisor at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park. Heather Giebink is the Director of Graduate Affairs and Assistant Teaching Professor at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park. Tom Henderson is a Senior Account Manager at Carl Zeiss MicroImaging.

To have an effective scientific community, a diverse and skilled group of individuals are required. What are some less stereotypical scientific careers?

Emma Raich is an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University.

Today, we will discuss astronomy, planets and stars, current ways to see these objects, and how round the Earth is.

Neela Yennawar is the Director of Automated Biological Calorimetry and X-ray Crystallography Facility at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

What are ways that that scientists can see very small things? How are these techniques different for material science, biology, chemistry, or physics?

Kyla Garten is a Herpetologist and Wildlife Biologist.

Invasive species challenge the natural environment of many places they once did not call home. Why are invasive species dangerous?

Mahtab Peyambari is a Visiting Scholar at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

What is a model organism? Why would a researcher use a worm for research? What is the historical basis of C. elegans research?

Gregory Broussard is an Associate Teaching Professor at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

Last week we spoke of bacteria, a major contributor to biofilms. What are biofilms and why do microbes make them?

Neeraj Karamchandani is a Ph. D. candidate in Computer Science at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

Just what is this domain of life? Why are bacteria important to our global ecosystem? Are they always dangerous?

Averie and Chelsea Elias run the ‘Practice What You Preach’ podcast.

What are lipids, or fats? How does the human body get fats? What are relevant pharmaceuticals related to cholesterol?

Vincent Racaniello is Earth’s Virologist.

What are picornaviruses? Why is there a need for researching viruses like EV-D68 and EV-A71?

Donald Hahn is an Attorney at Law and Mayor of State College.

Who were some of the physicians responsible for reducing mortality of surgery and hospital living? How are things sterilized now?

Rachel Kruger is a water plant bottling technician. She’s also a close friend.

What does the Nobel prize represent? Where are the Prizes origins?

Matt Fares is a Ph. D. candidate in Chemistry at The Pennsylvania State University.

Today, we’ll discuss some of the reasons that DNA is a blueprint and some crazy folktales that have helped explain the birds and the bees.

Dale Ayton and Donna Haines are Educators from the greater Philadelphia Area.

What is DNA and how is it so fundamentally important to how each of us develop? Today, we’ll discuss DNA, the central dogma, and twins.

Susan Russell, Ph. D., is an Associate Professor of Theatre and Penn State Laureate at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

Today we’ll discuss individuals who think they’re more capable than they are; how one determines what reputable information is; coffee without a filter.

Tom Nigl is a Ph. D. candidate and 3M Fellow in Chemical Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

Much of humankind has become increasingly more dependent on portable electrical energy. What is a battery?

Morgan Engler is a Student of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Ferns give you an excuse to use words like fiddlehead, pteridology, and give each of us the chance to become a frond friend.

Jerome Mack is an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University.

Today, we will discuss some important concepts about using mice as model organisms. Why would humans use mice as model organisms?

Gavin Hennessy is an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University. His episode was also the pilot for the podcast, making Gavin the first ever guest on the program!

In today’s episode, we will discuss influenza and some subtleties of the flu vaccine. What is the flu? What is the vaccine and who designs it?

Aliza Herman is a primary school teacher in the greater Philadelphia area.

Three years of Nobel prizes were directly related to insulin. Today, we’ll discuss what insulin is and why it’s important.

Andrew Woodman is a post-doctoral researcher at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park.

On this inaugural episode of Curioscity, we delve into a simple question: do scientists always agree?