Episodes
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
WSS S5E6 Halloween Special: Fright Night Explained
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Our Halloween Special of Western Science Speaks includes Western University researchers Dr. Liana Zanette, Dr. Yolanda Hedberg, and Dr. Lyle Muller. Our guests join the show to talk about how fear evolved, varies across species, and how it stays with us. We also reveal the chemistry of candy and everything you need to know before biting into your Halloween haul. Don't be scared, tune in to hear fright night explained!
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
WSS S5E3: Can Metals Help Heal our World?
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
Precious metals don’t just exist in Lord of the Rings. Western University researcher Martin J. Stillman joins the show to detail how antibiotics are able to morph themselves into the perfect puzzle piece in someone's body, the chemical bonds required for photographs, and the issues surrounding mass solar cell implementation in neighborhoods just like yours.
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
WSS S3E8: Rolling the Dye: Synthetic Technology in Electricity
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
This week, Western Science Speaks brings you the magic of synthetic chemistry – mixing molecules to create new materials! Dr. Joe Gilroy from the Department of Chemistry at Western University shares his insights about a new, cheaper and more efficient imaging dye designed in his synthetic chemistry lab. The molecules that make up the dye are red and they glow! Listen here to find out more.
If you like this podcast, follow Western Science Speaks and check out the science topic that most interests you; from space and exoplanets, climate change and ecology biodiversity, evolution and natural resources to health, new materials and the energy economy. You are always welcome to suggest a podcast topic. Just email your suggestion to science@uwo.ca.
Friday Dec 07, 2018
WSS S3E7: House of Balloons: Chemistry's Innovative Forefront
Friday Dec 07, 2018
Friday Dec 07, 2018
Chemists never rest on their laurels. 159 years after the invention of the periodic table, they are still looking to find revolutionary ways to apply and organize elements. This episode of Western Science Speaks focuses on the dexterous ways in which Western chemists are manipulating the element Phosphorus, in order to create a brighter, greener future for our planet.
Tuesday Oct 09, 2018
WSS S3E3: Breaking the Code: The Adaptive Capabilities of DNA
Tuesday Oct 09, 2018
Tuesday Oct 09, 2018
DNA is our biological signature. If our DNA changes, naturally so do we. So what causes these changes? Listen to this episode of Western Science Speaks to have Kathleen Hill from the Department of Biology break down how DNA is the thread that joins us to our ancestors, plus a conversation about the biological impacts of modern life.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E7: Stirring the pot: Finding sustainable methods for metal extraction
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
We rely on metal to power our daily lives. The good news is, Canada is one of the world’s largest producers of this vital material. However, balancing that productivity with the obligation to protect our increasingly fragile environment is a challenge that leaves Canadian miners and environmentalists grappling. Professor Kim Baines from the Department of Chemistry joins Western Science Speaks to discuss metal’s national importance, the common mining and separation techniques, and how chemists approach the obstacle of assembling an environmentally friendlier mining process.