Field Study

Sled hockey programs have empowered disabled athletes around the world, and the sport is expanding faster than ever. But the same cost issues plaguing traditional hockey may be cause for concern, especially considering the other financial burdens many disabled people face. Mackenzie Rodrigues looks at the adaptive sport's impact on Western Pennsylvania and how some of its advocates are working to make it accessible to all. Find full transcripts for Field Study here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/

Many people may not consider esports a particularly dangerous activity, but esport players are vulnerable to serious health risks unique to their sport. There’s a lack of research into how colleges backing the teams can protect and train these athletes. Who is looking out for the young players coming up through a culture notorious for unhealthy habits? Find full transcripts for Field Study here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/

While wearable technology and performance tracking have fundamentally changed sports betting and coaching, regulation of the industry has not kept up. Teams are collecting more and more information about everything their players do -- both on and off the field. Privacy experts are worried that players’ rights are at risk, and the topic has become a key question as Major League Baseball negotiates its next collective bargaining agreement. Find full transcripts for Field Study here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Bill Brink set out to see whether research into head injuries has affected youth football participation in Western Pennsylvania, which has seen some decline in recent years. What he learned was that many people don’t even fully understand how to identify severe injuries when they happen. How are coaches, leagues and parents protecting the kids risking their bodies on each and every play? Find full transcripts for Field Study here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/

Get ready for season 2 of "Field Study," a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette podcast about the intersection of science, sports and society. Each episode looks at how scientific discoveries or fields of inquiry affect the way we play and live. These stories will lend context to stat sheets, an approachable lens to lab reports and some lessons about the people behind both.

In this bonus episode, host Matt Moret interviews Dr. Meredith Wills, a sports data scientist and astrophysicist who has spent the last several years tearing MLB baseballs to shreds. Dr. Wills has researched how changes to baseball manufacturing are affecting home run rates and pitch control. For the season finale of Field Study, Moret and Dr. Wills discuss her discoveries and the right way to break a baseball.   Find a full transcript of this episode here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/mlb-baseball-construction-home-run-boom/

What metric should decide whether women with hormonal differences can compete against other women? South African Olympic star Caster Semenya has found herself at the center of an international dispute over the matter. Semenya has a rare condition called "hyperandrogenism," which causes her body to produce abnormally high levels of testosterone. In this episode, Post-Gazette reporter Lacretia Wimbley breaks down the science behind hyperandrogenism and the battle swirling around Semenya's career.   Find a full transcript of this episode here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/hyperandrogenism-competition-caster-semenya-iaaf/  

Most of baseball isn't uniform. Fields vary wildly in size. Some have roofs that alter game variables like wind. Differences like these have always just been part of the game, for better or worse. But for the first time in its 116 year history, Major League Baseball may soon standardize the storage of its teams' baseballs.

If you've ever watched a professional tennis match, there's a good chance you've heard the loud noises many players make while striking a ball. Research shows that these loud exertions tangibly increase an athlete's strength. So why don't players in other sports do the same? Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Chris Huffaker takes a look.   Find a full transcript of this episode here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/field-study-podcast/grunting-in-sports/

The NFL has gotten tech savvy lately, even using artificial intelligence to predict the rate of player injuries or the kinds of decisions coaches will make. But will this fundamentally change the game fans know and love? In the second episode of "Field Study," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette technology reporter Courtney Linder examines the potential future of football.

In the first episode of "Field Study," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette enterprise reporter Stephen Nesbitt explores the growing world of sleep science.  Many professional athletes regularly travel around the world to compete, but long travel times and jet lag can prove disastrous once they hit the field. Teams across major sports leagues are addressing this problem through a combination of tech and education, but just how effective are these efforts?

"Field Study" is a podcast about the intersection of science, sports and society. Each episode looks at how scientific discoveries or fields of inquiry affect the way we play and live. Some installments start with a question tied to how athletes and trainers use science to influence their decisions. Others explore a scientific question through the ways it affects a particular aspect of sports. These stories will lend context to stat sheets, an approachable lens to lab reports and some lessons about the people behind both.