Bonding Over Science

What happens to orchards when they’ve reached the end of their lifespan and are no longer producing crops? Conventionally, orchards are burned. However, concerns about biomass burning and air quality have led to an alternative practice known as whole orchard recycling. Hear microbiologist Amisha Poret-Peterson talk about how she is using nuclear magnetic resonance at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory to learn about the role and efficiency of microbial nitrogen in soils in whole orchard recycling. Read more about her project in the EMSL feature article. Read the full transcription of this episode on EMSL's website.

On episode six of Bonding Over Science, host Dawn Stringer discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) is helping advance scientific findings for EMSL User Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede and her research on protein folding. Wittung-Stafshede talks about the positive and negative effects of using AI not only in the science world, but in everyday life. What’s your take? Interested in learning more about this topic? You can read the feature article on this research on the EMSL website and access the full transcription of the podcast.

On episode five of Bonding Over Science, host Dawn Stringer chats with Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Earth System Science Steven Allison about how he uses Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory capabilities to uncover mysteries from the Earth beneath our feet. Allison explains how his research could help us understand severe events, like wildfire patterns, and how they affect soil microbiomes. Allison is researching how well microbial communities respond and rejuvenate when exposed to extreme environmental disturbances like wildfires. Interested in learning more about this topic? Read the web feature on wildfire research. You can also review the full transcription of the podcast.

On episode four of Bonding Over Science, host Dawn Stringer talks to EMSL user Kim Tait, who is using Martian meteorites to determine if the necessary ingredients for life once existed on Mars. Listen to Tait explain how these findings could teach us about our own planet. Interested in learning more about this topic? Read the web feature on Martian meteorites. You can also access the full transcription of the podcast here.

On episode three of Bonding Over Science, host Dawn Stringer talks to EMSL user Marcus Foston, who is using synthetic biology to create an underwater hydrogel that mimics the strength of mussel foot proteins. Listen to Foston explain how this hydrogel’s powerful adhesive could replace surgical sutures and fix cracked boats. Interested in learning more about this topic? Read the web feature about mussel feet research. You can also access the full transcription of the podcast here.

In this episode of Bonding Over Science, host Dawn Stringer investigates the underground world of fungi. Scott Baker, fungal biotechnology scientist and microbiologist Davinia Salvachúa break down the importance of fungi to the environment. They also dispel fears that fungi could affect humans as depicted in the fictional series, "The Last of Us," and if fungi are our friend or foe. Read a full transcript on the EMSL website. Interested in learning more about fungi? Read the web feature about EMSL staff and user scientists who are conducting fungal research.

Sit down with Bonding Over Science host Dawn Stringer for a chat with Mickey Rogers, a Linus Pauling Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory. Rogers talks about her research on how algae particles in the atmosphere affect climate and human health. They even venture into the fictional HBO series “The Last of Us” where they compare and dispel similarities between effects of algal blooms to the concepts about a mutant fungus detailed on the show. Should people on the coast be worried about how algal blooms affect their health? Get to know Mickey and her passion for algae. Read the full transcript on the EMSL website. For more information on Rogers’ research, check out this article.