Spectacular Science

You've probably seen labels on many food products that say “bioengineered food ingredients”. What exactly are these special ingredients and what impact do they have on us and our environment? And what do GMOs have to do with all of this? In this episode, I will take you behind the science of bioengineered foods, GMOs, … Continue reading "Episode 209: What Are Bioengineered Food Ingredients? Revealed"

The search for past life on Mars is still ongoing, but is promising! The volcanoes on Mars could have made way for microbial life in the past. How does this possible and how are scientists studying Mars for clues using rovers and space exploration? In this episode, I take you into the science of past … Continue reading "Episode 208: How Volcanoes on Mars Could Have Supported Life"

Ever wondered what's going on inside your phone's battery? How is it able to store charge and get recharged over and over again? And why do these batteries degrade over time? In this episode, I'll take you behind the science of rechargeable batteries, how they work, and the science behind lithium-ion batteries. Here's an article! … Continue reading "Episode 207: How Your Phone's Battery Works"

Microplastics. You've probably heard of them because of ocean cleanups and pollution. They are tiny pieces of plastics harmful to many animals. But, it might not just be sea creatures. There might be microplastics in our water supplies. How? In this episode I will take you into the science of microplastics, what they are, and … Continue reading "Episode 206: How Microplastics Might Be In Our Water"

Even though we don't have tails, we still have a tailbone? Does the tailbone even do anything? Why do we still have it even though we have clearly branched away from our ape ancestors? In this episode, I will take you behind the science of vestigial traits, why we have them, and why we still … Continue reading "Episode 205: Why We Still Have Tailbones"

We have all heard that humans share 50% of their genes to bananas. Is this actually true? And what does this have to do with all of the life on Earth, the human genome, and more? In this episode, I will take you into the science of human genetics and explain this wild statement! Here's … Continue reading "Episode 204: Are We Really 50% Genetically Related to Bananas?"

Even if you probably did not notice, the Moon is slowly moving away from Earth right now! This movement of the Moon could cause things to change here on Earth as well. Why does this happen? In this episode, I will answer this mind-blowing question and take you into the interesting science of the Moon. … Continue reading "Episode 203: Why The Moon is Slowly Moving Away"

Asteroid 2024 YR4 has been in the eyes of scientists lately. This asteroid has a slight chance of hitting Earth in 2032. All of these factors are changing daily and the chance that the asteroid will actually hit is changing rapidly, from 3.1% to less than 1%. Will this actually asteroid hit Earth in 2032 … Continue reading "Episode 202: Will Asteroid 2024 YR4 Hit Earth?"

Right now, we are in the age of AI or Artificial Intelligence. They are paving the way for new groundbreaking technologies. But, the use of AI actually uses up a lot of water. Why does this happen? What are these environmental impacts of water and AI? In this episode, I will be explaining to you … Continue reading "Episode 201: How AI is Consuming So Much Water – Explained"

Welcome to the 200th episode of Spectacular Science! In this special episode, I will be joined by Dr. Charles Hillman! Dr. Hillman studies exercise and its impacts on the body at Northeastern University. This episode is all about exercise, moving your body, and the science behind the benefits of exercise. Simply keeping yourself active has … Continue reading "200th Episode of Spectacular Science! – Exercise and the Brain with Dr. Charles Hillman"

Infinity mirrors are a fascinating phenomenon that seem to defy the laws of physics! But really, it's just some amazing science and a very interesting optical illusion. How do infinity mirrors work, and what crazy science goes on behind the scenes? In this episode, I will explain the science of this phenomenon and more! Here's … Continue reading "Episode 199: What is an Infinity Mirror? Explained!"

Triangles are one of the strongest geometric shapes! You can see them everywhere in buildings and architecture such as bridges and the Eiffel Tower. How are triangles so strong and what is the science that goes behind figuring that out? In this episode, I will take you behind the science and the engineering marvels behind … Continue reading "Episode 198: Why Triangles Are Such a Strong Shape"

We all eat a lot of fruits and vegetables every day! Some of this fresh produce contains something that has a large impact on humans and ecosystems: pesticides. Produce that contains pesticides may have impacts on the environment, on animals, and even humans who eat it. Why are pesticides used, what are their impacts, and … Continue reading "Episode 197: The Truth About Pesticides – With Dr. Changmou Xu"

Heat moves all around us! In fact, as heat moves, the method of transfer has a lot of science behind it. What are the 3 types of heat transfer, how do they work, and how do they impact the world around us? In this episode, I will explain the 3 types of heat transfer: conduction, … Continue reading "Episode 196: The 3 Types of Heat Transfer – Explained!"

Titan, one of Saturn's many moons, is very mysterious and interesting! It has oceans of liquid methane, an atmosphere, and more. Scientists are still working to find out more about Titan and how this may relate to the quest for life. In this episode, I will be speaking with Dr. Lauren Schurmeier from the University … Continue reading "Episode 195: Titan – Studying Saturn's Mysterious Moon with Dr. Lauren Schurmeier"

Green is universally seen as the color for “go”, but why? What is the science behind green being such a universal “go” color? Why do traffic lights around the world use green? And why do other colors, such as red and yellow, mean certain things to humans? What's so special about these colors? In this … Continue reading "Episode 194: Why Green Means Go – The Science of Traffic Lights"

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in 2021, is changing the way astronomers are seeing everything in the universe. James Webb is the largest telescope in space and has discovered many new findings in its almost 3 years in orbit. How does the James Webb Telescope work and how is it changing the way … Continue reading "Episode 193: How the James Webb Telescope is Changing Everything"

Modern-day chickens are actually distantly related to the t-rex, a ferocious dinosaur that lived millions of years ago! In fact, modern-day birds are related to ancient dinosaurs! They look different, but really they are related. How is this possible? In this episode, I take you into the science of dinosaurs, birds, evolution, and how they … Continue reading "Episode 192: How Birds and Dinosaurs Are Related!"

Life has always been a mystery. The building blocks, origins, and more are some of the biggest questions in science! The Miller-Urey experiment, conducted in 1952-53, changed our understanding of how life came about and got us one step closer to finding the true answer! What was the Miller-Urey experiment and what the scientists find? … Continue reading "Episode 191: Origins of Life – How Miller-Urey Experiment Changed Everything"

Even though you can't see it, space junk orbiting around the Earth is a very big problem. But what exactly is it, how much of it is circling the Earth, and what are scientists doing to tackle this problem? In this episode, I will take you into the science of space debris and uncover what … Continue reading "Episode 190: The Big Space Junk Problem"

Calories are listed everywhere. On food packages, nutrition plans, and more! What is a calorie exactly and what does it really mean for our body? Why is consuming a certain amount of calories important? What role does it play in our everyday lives? In this episode, I will take you into the science of energy, … Continue reading "Episode 189: What Does a Calorie Really Mean?"

Glaciers! These giant “rivers of ice” are mind-blowing and fascinating to learn about. How are glaciers changing on Earth and how is that tied to climate change? In this episode, I will be speaking with Neosha Narayanan. Neosha studies glaciers and ice sheets at Georgia Tech and is a glaciology PhD student. In this episode, … Continue reading "Episode 188: The Cool Science of Glaciers! With Neosha Narayanan"

Mitochondria! Also known as the “powerhouse of the cell”. It is the energy-producing organelle inside cells. How did this important part of cells originate? It's not what you think! In this episode, I will take you into the science of cells, organelles, mitochondria, and break down the endosymbiotic theory. We will go back millions of … Continue reading "Episode 187: Mitochondria – It's Not What You Think!"

The North Star, also known as Polaris, has been a huge part of human culture, navigation, and a signature part of the sky. It's so special because it is aligned with Earth's axis, meaning that it will always point north! But, recently, scientists have imaged the surface of Polaris, revealing many interesting things about this … Continue reading "Episode 186: Viewing the Surface of the North Star! With Dr. Gail Schaefer"

The Perseid Meteor Shower is a spectacular celestial event peaking August 11th-12th, 2024! Meteor showers, or shooting stars are events that happen when very special conditions are met. How do meteor showers happen? And, how can you watch the Perseids peaking in August 2024? In this episode, I will cover the science of the Perseids, … Continue reading "Episode 185: The Perseids Meteor Shower 2024 – How To Watch and More!"

On July 23rd, a large explosion rocked Biscuit Basin at Yellowstone National Park. This explosion was said to be caused by hydrothermal activity under the park. What exactly caused this explosion and why is it important to study events like this? What's the science going on underground at Yellowstone? In this episode, I will take … Continue reading "Episode 184: What Caused The Hydrothermal Explosion at Yellowstone?"

You're surrounded by air everywhere! But, how much does the air weigh? How much does the entire atmosphere weight? Why don't we get crushed into pancakes because of the weight of the air above us? Find out more about air pressure, how it works, and revealing how much air actually weighs in this episode. Here's … Continue reading "Episode 183: How Heavy is the Air?"

Space telescopes change the way we see the universe. July 12th, 2024 celebrates the second anniversary of the James Webb Telescope! Space telescopes are very interesting and the images they provide are even more mind-blowing. But, how do space telescopes work and how are they able to see galaxies that are so far away? In … Continue reading "Episode 182: How Do Space Telescopes Work? 2nd Anniversary of James Webb Telescope"

From shaving cream, to mayonnaise, to maple syrup, to our skin! Soft matter is all around us. In fact, scientists study soft matter and “squishy physics”! Why do they study this? Why is it important? And, why does soft matter, like syrup, act so differently? In this episode, I will be speaking with Dr. Eric … Continue reading "Episode 181: The Science of Soft Matter! Squishy Physics With Dr. Eric Weeks"

You may not realize it, but ocean currents impact your everyday life! From food, to shipping, to the weather, ocean currents play a large role in your life. How do ocean currents and the global conveyor belt work? What causes ocean currents? What's the science behind it? In this episode, I will take you underwater … Continue reading "Episode 180: How Do Ocean Currents Work?"

Science truly is all around you, and there's no better example of that than granular physics! It's the summertime and people are heading out to the beaches, relaxing, and building sandcastles! You've probably noticed that granular materials such as sand and even mixed nuts act in very strange ways! Why? And what's the perfect way … Continue reading "Episode 179: The Science Behind the Perfect Sandcastle! With Mr. David Meer"

Earth's moon is the spotlight of the night sky. It's been Earth's best friend for over 4 billion years. How did the Moon form in the first place? What theories do scientists have about the Moon and how it formed? In this episode, I will take you into the story of how the Moon formed, … Continue reading "Episode 178: How Did The Moon Form? The Story of Earth's Moon"

Europa, one of Jupiter's moons has been getting a lot of attention. In fact, NASA is sending a mission to Europa, known as the Europa Clipper in late 2024 to find out more about this special moon! Why do scientists want to investigate Europa and what does this have to do with searching for life … Continue reading "Episode 177: What's So Special About Europa? Searching for Life on Jupiter's Moon"

Sound! It is all around us. We all know how sounds travel in air, but what about water? You've probably noticed sounds underwater when swimming at the pool or at the beach. Things sound louder and more defined, and it is very interesting to experience. Does sound travel differently through water? What is the science … Continue reading "Episode 176: How Does Sound Travel Underwater? The Science of Sound"

The color red is everywhere! But, have you noticed that most warning lights are red? Fire truck sirens, airplanes, brake lights, traffic lights, and even on top of skyscrapers! Why is the color red used in warning lights and what is the science behind it? In this episode, I will take you behind the science … Continue reading "Episode 175: Why Are Warning Lights Red? The Science of the Color Red"

One of the most identifiable features of the Moon are its millions of craters, formed by collisions in space. Why does the Moon have so many craters though? Is there a reason why? In this episode, I blast off to explore the science of the Moon, craters, and answering the question of why it has … Continue reading "Episode 174: Why Does The Moon Have So Many Craters?"

Last Friday, May 10th, people from around the US, Canada, and Europe looked to the skies to see something amazing. The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, was putting on a show. It wasn't just another aurora, but this one was visible in places such as Georgia, Florida, and New York! How did … Continue reading "Episode 173: The Northern Lights in the South! What Happened Last Week?"

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. 1,300 Earths would fit in Jupiter! Since Jupiter is such a large planet, could it become a star like the Sun? In this episode, I explore the science of stars, Jupiter, and reveal if Jupiter ever was or could become a star. Here's an article! It … Continue reading "Episode 172: Could Jupiter Become a Star?"

Fruits and vegetables are some of the most colorful things on Earth! From the bright red apples, to pink watermelon, to yellow bananas, colors are everywhere in nature. Is there a reason to why fruits are so colorful? Did this evolve over time? In this episode, I will take you into the science of fruits, … Continue reading "Episode 171: Why Are Fruits Different Colors?"

You've probably noticed that darker colors absorb more heat than lighter colors. Have you ever thought of why and how this happens? In this episode, I take you into the hidden science of color, heat, and how this interesting phenomenon happens! Here's an article! It is called “Colors and Heat Absorption Science!” (https://spectacularsci.com/2024/04/colors-and-heat-absorption-science/) Here's an … Continue reading "Episode 170: Why Does Color Black Absorb Heat? The Hidden Science Behind Color and Heat"

Did you know scientists can manufacture cells for cell therapy? Cell therapy manufacturing is making cells in a lab and using it in humans to heal certain injuries. How does this process work and what is so special about it? In this episode, I will be speaking with Mr. Keshav Shah, a PhD student at … Continue reading "Episode 169: What is Cell Therapy Manufacturing? Explained – With Mr. Keshav Shah"

On April 8th, 2024 (tomorrow!), a total solar eclipse will be visible over North America and parts of the United States. But, what is the science of solar eclipses, how do they happen, and how can people view them safely? In this special episode, I will be exploring the science of solar eclipses and how … Continue reading "Episode 168: All About the Total Solar Eclipse – How To Watch and More!"

Ever wondered how airplanes soar in the skies? What science goes into building and most importantly, maintaining aircraft? In this episode, I will be speaking with Mr. Jonel Murray, an aircraft mechanic and A220 Instructor/Developer from Delta Air Lines. Mr. Murray knows a lot about how airplanes work, how they are maintained, and how teamwork … Continue reading "Episode 167: Flying High Airplane Science! With Mr. Jonel Murray from Delta"

Over 2 billion tons of sugarcane is produced around the world. When it is processed, waste is generated. This waste sits there or gets burned, polluting the environment. But, scientists at University of East London have figured out a way to turn the waste into Sugarcrete, construction materials made of sugarcane. In this episode, I … Continue reading "Episode 166: Sugarcane Waste to Sugarcrete! With Ms. Oluchukwu Okonkwo"

Colors are all around you. Without the colors that we see, life would be very different. How do humans see colors and what goes on in our brain to give us these colors? In this episode, I take you behind science of light and color, and explore the fascinating world of color perception. Plus, I … Continue reading "Episode 165: The Science of Color! How We See It"

When a match, candle, or even campfire burns, what happens to it? Fire is dangerous, but when regulated, is very important to humans! We use it to cook our food, keep us warm, or give us light. In this episode, I will answer the question, what happens when something burns, and go into the science … Continue reading "Episode 164: How Do Things Burn? The Science of Fire"

You've probably used soap many times! It is very useful to keep your hands clean and free of germs. How does soap clean things and how does it work? In this episode, I take into the science and explore the amazing chemistry of soap. Here is an article! It is called “Why Does Soap Make … Continue reading "Episode 163: How Does Soap Work?"

Absolute zero! You may or may not have heard about it, but it is a very interesting phenomena that has to do with the coldest temperature ever possible! What is absolute zero, and what happens when we reach that temperature? Weird and interesting things can happen, so make sure to join me as I take … Continue reading "Episode 162: What Is Absolute Zero?"

You probably forget things a lot! Car keys, lunch, or even your homework. But forgetting is more than that! Sometimes you can forget entire memories or experiences from a long time ago. Why does that happen? In this episode, Akshay takes you into the science of memories, how they're formed, and why we forget them. … Continue reading "Episode 161: Why Do We Forget?"

Whether you're scared or cold, you get goosebumps. Why do we get goosebumps and what is the science behind them? Were they actually useful to our ancestors thousands of years ago? In this episode, I will uncover the science of goosebumps and why they happen! Here is an article! It is called “What Are Vestigial Features?” … Continue reading "Episode 160: Why Do We Get Goosebumps?"

What are gravitational waves? It is hard to wrap your head around something that bends the fabric of space-time itself! How are gravitational waves formed and how are they detected? In this episode, I will be speaking with Dr. Zoheyr Doctor to break down this amazing space science for us. Dr. Doctor is an astrophysicist … Continue reading "Episode 159: What Are Gravitational Waves? With Dr. Zoheyr Doctor"