Ask Science
How do astronomers photograph a black hole? How often do planes get hit by lightning? What does the EPA actually do? Science is all around us and transforming our world at a rapid pace. Extragalactic astrophysicist Sabrina Stierwalt is here to guide you through it. She'll help you make sense of the everyday and the once-in-a-lifetime. Rights of Albert Einstein are used with permission of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Represented exclusively by Greenlight.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 7 minutes
- Episodes
- 414
- Years Active
- 2012 - 2022
283 - What's It Take to Get to Pluto? A Q&A with David Grinspoon
Author and astrobiologist David Grinspoon describes some of the stories that make up his new book on NASA's epic first mission to Pluto.
Read the transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/educ…
282 - Can Our Sense of Smell Predict Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s?
New studies are beginning to take advantage of a common symptom that may serve as a potential earlier indicator for both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: the deterioration of the sense of smell.
…
281 - Do Microwaves Cause Cancer? (And 3 Other Microwave Myths)
In the United States, 97% of households have a microwave. But what misconceptions about our microwave use persist? Let’s take a look at 4 microwave myths that science has proven false.
Read the tran…
279 - How and When Did the Grand Canyon Form?
Scientists agree that the great crevice in the Earth’s surface was cut away by the flow of the Colorado River. However one question is still debated: when exactly did this erosion happen to form the …
278 - Asteroid, Meteor, Meteorite, and Comet: What's the Difference?
The terms asteroid, meteor, meteorite, and even comet are often used interchangeably...but what is the difference?
277 - 5 Simple Ways to Boost Our Intelligence
Popular media is full of suggestions on how to improve our brain health and cognition. But can we really boost our intelligence?
Read the transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/sc…
276 - How Do We Find Exoplanets?
Astronomers have found more than 3700 worlds outside of our solar system in the past 25 years. How do they find them?
Read the transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/how-d…
275 - How Close is Too Close to Live by the Highway?
More and more people are living, working, and going to school close to the freeway. But how close is too close?
Read the transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/how-close-i…
274 - Lessons on Early Aviation with Bessie Coleman
Bessie Coleman paved the way as the first black and Native American woman to earn a pilot's license in 1921. What was flying like back then?
Read the transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/…
273 - The Physics of Figure Skating
Although figure skaters make their sport look easy, executing the perfect jump requires a precise combination of speed, force, vertical velocity, angular momentum, friction and of course timing. How …
271 - How Does Sand Get Its Color?
Whether it’s white, black, pink, red, or even green, the color of sand provides clues as to its makeup and offers a peek into the beach’s history.
Read the transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytip…
270 - How Can Science Combat the Opioid Crisis?
How do opioids work and who is at risk for an opioid addiction? What opioid addiction treatments are more effective and can we vaccinate against addiction?
Read the transcript at http://www.quickand…
269 - How Do We Measure Time? 5+ Innovative Ways
How do we measure time? How accurate are today’s clocks relative to the first clocks of ancient times? And what is the definition of a second?
Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com…
268 - Is Chocolate Really Going Extinct?
Recent science news suggests we could be without chocolate as early as the year 2050. But is there really cause for alarm? How can we separate fact from fiction when it comes to science reporting?
R…
146 - How Old is the Universe?
267 - Could Artificial Wombs Be a Reality?
Ectogenesis, that is the gestation outside of a biological womb, sounds like science fiction. But how close is science to making it a reality?
Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com…
266 - How Do Candles Burn?
How do candles work? What is candle smoke made of? Find out the answers to these questions and more.
Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/how-do-candles-burn
Che…
265 - Should I Get a Real or Fake Christmas Tree?
What is the best choice for the environment - pine or plastic?
Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/real-or-fake-christmas-tree-for-environment
Check out all the…
263 - The End of Net Neutrality: What It Means For Science (and You)
What is net neutrality and why should you care about it? What happens to science and innovation, and even sites like this one, without an open internet?
Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddir…