NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast
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NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast
This is the Discovery Files Podcast from the U.S. National Science Foundation. Join us as we explore the latest breakthroughs in science, technology and engineering with the researchers making these discoveries. Learn how scientific innovation bolsters the U.S. economy, supports our Nation’s interes...
Recent Episodes
153 episodes
Introducing AI to the future workforce
A workforce fluent in AI techniques will be essential to ensure U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence continues. Jeremy Waisome, an assistant pro...
Collaborative Aerial Robots
Advances in fundamental technologies enable robots to collaborate with humans, as well as with other robots. David Saldaña, assistant professor in the...
Quantum Computing in Industry
Researchers and industry are coming together to develop computer systems that can take advantage of quantum mechanics. Christopher Monroe, a professor...
Plasmas in Manufacturing
The fourth state of matter, plasma, is involved in several aspects of how modern microelectronic components are manufactured. Jeremiah Williams, a pro...
Metamaterials
Metamaterials are a special class of engineered materials, designed to have properties not found in nature. Glaucio Paulino, a professor at Princeton...
Training Artificial Intelligence Experts
U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers are accelerating artificial intelligence technologies. Mingyi Hong, a professor at the Universi...
Next Generation Ferroelectric Semiconductors
U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers are developing a new class of semiconductors with great potential for next-generation microelec...
The Matter in the Universe with Vera Rubin
As the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a joint project of the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science,...
Light From Cosmic Dawn
U.S. National Science Foundation-supported observatories allow researchers to advance and expand humanity’s understanding of the early universe. Tobia...
Smart Manufacturing
U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers are developing a multimodal system that combines image analysis and natural language processing...
Lipocartilage and Regenerative Medicine
U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers are investigating the mechanisms of cell regeneration for medical treatments. Maksim Plikus, a...
Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements
Critical minerals are crucial to both the economy and national security. Rachel Teasdale, a professor at California State University, Chico, and progr...
Breakthrough Copper Alloy
As innovation transforms the aerospace, energy and defense industries, new materials with advanced properties are needed to meet the moment. Kiran Sol...
Biomedical Security
Implantable medical devices are creating new therapeutic and monitoring solutions for many complex health conditions. However, wireless medical device...
QR Code Security
QR codes are scanned every day for restaurant menus, parking payments or flight boarding passes, but malicious users can take advantage of the technol...
Built Environment Materials
Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world. Sabbie Miller, an Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis, dis...
Translational Research
Fundamental science can have a profound impact when discoveries and research are developed into tangible solutions that benefit the public. Ximena Ber...
The Role of Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan
While artificial intelligence-driven technology is promising practical solutions to global challenges, AI-driven research advances the frontiers of kn...
Fentanyl and Illicit Trafficking
The sustained influx of fentanyl and other illicit drugs has had a profound impact on the lives of Americans. Louise Shelley, a professor emerita at G...
Alvin
Since 1964, the deep submergence vehicle Alvin has played major roles in sea discovery, from lost hydrogen bombs to hydrothermal vents and the first s...
NSF Engines FARMS
The U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program was established to advance collaborative, use-inspired and translational rese...
A Look Back at 2024
From advances in the use of artificial intelligence and new guidance into its research to breakthroughs in biological treatments and approaches to hea...
MXenes
Innovation in materials science allows for the improvement of technologies and the exploration of new ones. In this episode of the "NSF's Discovery Fi...
Treating Drinking Water
Modern Americans benefit from centuries of improvements in drinking water safety. In this episode of the "NSF's Discovery Files" podcast, Julian Faire...
Advancing Laser Technology
New and advanced lasers are necessary to understand the complicated high energy, fast bursts of light occurring at the most extreme conditions in the...
Perovskites and Materials Science
Materials scientists and engineers are working to develop and advance materials and devices that harvest energy from light, resulting in more efficien...
Bioengineering Kidneys
Kidneys are essential for keeping the body functioning but one in seven Americans suffer from kidney disease. Alex Hughes, assistant professor of bioe...
History Trapped In Ice
Ice cores allow scientists to reconstruct climate conditions far into the past. Peter Neff, an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota Depa...
Leonid Meteor Shower
Every fall, the Leonid meteor shower puts on an amazing display with observers counting numbers from thousands to tens of thousands of meteors per hou...
Perspectives in STEM
The future of science, technology, engineering and mathematics will require many perspectives to achieve its utmost potential. Keivan Stassun, profes...
Concrete Designs
Advances in materials science and rapidly developing technologies are leading to new approaches to engineering concretes and building infrastructure....
National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot
The world of artificial intelligence is changing the way people live, work and think. This new frontier is also shifting the world of scientific resea...
Biology and Living Systems
To advance the understanding of complex living systems, research must have an integration of scientific disciplines. Pankaj Jaiswal, a program officer...
Global Artificial Intelligence Research Agenda (Part 2)
An interagency effort has crafted a document to support the entire artificial intelligence research ecosystem, from foundational discoveries to societ...
Bioplastics from Bacteria
Plastics are foundational in modern life, but only a fraction of those produced are recycled. WashU researchers Arpita Bose, associate professor of b...
Global Artificial Intelligence Research Agenda
An interagency effort has crafted a document to serve as a starting point to align an international artificial intelligence research vision. Michael L...
Building Stuff
Engineering is critical in modern society, from building bridges and homes to designing computers and life-saving medical devices. Nehemiah Mabry, a s...
Optical Transparency with Food Dye
Imaging is central to biology and medicine, but light refracts and scatters as it hits tissues and lipids. Zihao Ou, associate professor of physics at...
Wall of Wind
At the U.S. National Science Foundation Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure Wall of Wind Experimental Facility, researchers seek to be...
Merlin
People who enjoy birdwatching can provide valuable citizen science observation. An application called Merlin Bird ID can help users of all experience...