Cool Science Radio

Archaeologist Lisbeth Louderback, curator at the Natural History Museum of Utah and associate professor at the University of Utah, discusses new research suggesting Indigenous people in the Four Corners region may have begun domesticating the Four Corners potato thousands of years earlier than previously believed.

Park City High School’s all-girls robotics team, Team Minerva, just placed 2nd in the state championship. They talk about robotics and AI, how they became hooked on building robots, and how they hope to inspire the next generation.

In this episode, geologist-turned-writer Evan Howell discusses his High Country News article exploring the surprising scientific link between the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater in northern Arizona.

In this episode, University of Utah geologist Thure Cerling discusses research showing that lead exposure has dropped dramatically over the past century — and the proof is preserved in human hair.

University of Utah geologist William Johnson discusses the discovery of a hidden, pressurized freshwater aquifer beneath the Great Salt Lake and what it could mean for dust control and the lake’s future.

Economist science correspondent Matt Kaplan discusses his new book, “I Told You So!,” and the scientists who were ridiculed, sidelined or punished for advancing ideas that later proved correct.

NHMU executive director and entomologist Jason Cryan highlights Bug World, a new blockbuster exhibition opening at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Built by the special effects studio behind “The Lord of the Rings” and “Avatar,” the exhibition brings the hidden genius of insects to life at a jaw dropping scale.

University of Chicago professor Eric Oliver explores what it actually means to know yourself, and why so many people feel quietly dissatisfied even when life seems fine.

Author and science historian Oren Harman explores why metamorphosis is one of biology’s greatest mysteries, and what radical transformation can teach us about identity, survival and change.

Author and professor emeritus Christopher Cokinos explores the moon’s enduring pull on human imagination, science and culture. Drawing from his book "Still as Bright: An Illuminating History of the Moon, from Antiquity to Tomorrow," he reflects on how our closest celestial neighbor has shaped belief systems, space exploration and questions about responsibility as humanity prepares to return.

Dr. Vanessa Chang explores how human bodies and technologies have always shaped one another, and why intelligence must be understood as embodied, relational, and deeply human.

Neurobiologist Dr. John Medina is a developmental molecular biologist, and bestselling author of Brain Rules, where he translates cutting-edge neuroscience into practical insights about learning, memory, focus, and everyday life.

Nematodes make up the vast majority of animal life on Earth, yet most people have never heard of them. A new study explores how these tiny organisms thrive inside the Great Salt Lake’s microbialites, shedding light on extreme ecosystems, ancient life and the collaborative nature of modern science.

Spinosaurus is one of the most famous and least understood dinosaurs of all time. New research and reconstructions reveal how fragmentary fossils, lost specimens and evolving science have shaped what we think we know about these strange, sail-backed predators.

Author and technology executive Fred Voccola explains why AI First organizations are already seeing dramatic productivity gains and why companies that fail to adapt may not survive the next decade.

Battery innovation is moving beyond chemistry alone. Thomas Bishop, founder and CEO of Park City-based Paleblue Batteries, explains how advances across battery systems, from cells to management electronics to device design, are shaping the future of portable power.

Dr. Catriona Wallace discusses the ideas in her new book, “Rapid Transformation,” which outlines a science based framework for accelerating leadership development. Wallace explains how ritual, awakened thinking and emerging technology can help leaders adapt more quickly to social and technological change.

Author Matthew Cobb discusses his forthcoming book, “Crick: A Mind in Motion,” which explores the life, collaborations and the scientific breakthroughs of Nobel laureate Francis Crick.

Christopher Gregg explores the surprising genetic links between humans and hibernating animals, what these discoveries reveal about resilience and how this emerging science could transform medicine.

Geologist Jeff Moore explains how vibration analysis, usually used on natural arches and rock formations, is revealing the hidden biomechanics of the saguaro cactus.