Sea urchins may have a spiny reputation, but they are vital members influencing kelp ecosystems. Join us as Delaney Chabot, a third-year Master Student in Integrative Biology, discusses their importance and also how they act as a connecting link between subtidal and intertidal zones. Delaney is a passionate educator and the visionary behind the 'kelp horn' - listen in to hear more! Hosted by Matt Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

Join us as we zoom into the "nano world" with Kelso Arthur, a third-year PhD student in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology at Oregon State University. In this episode we discuss nano and microplastic use in agricultural pesticides, what impacts they could have on environmental health, and how indicator species can help us assess their effects. Kelso shares their journey on how their roots in Kentucky helped pave their pathway into graduate school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Esteban 'E' Hernandez.

Mammals encompass some of the most interesting animals on the planet. We can see how bats have mastered the sky with wings like birds or how dolphins have adapted streamlined bodies for life in the ocean just like fish. The ability to evolve similar characteristics to overcome common problems found in the environment is called convergent evolution and opens our eyes to the fundamentals of how life has changed to face the challenges of our planet. One such trait that is the product of convergent evolution is echolocation, which is the subject of research for our guest on the show this week Serena Frazee.

If you walk into any grocery store today and find yourself in the beverage aisle, you’ll be able to find all sorts of “prebiotic” sodas touting ingredients like inulin that claim to improve gut health. Many of us are familiar with probiotics and the gut benefits of fermented or cultured foods that contain beneficial bacteria, but prebiotics are a little different. Prebiotics are typically nondigestible fiber compounds that pass undigested through the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and function as a food source for your gut’s microorganisms.

However, it is unclear what the effects of prebiotics are on the human gut microbiome, and more specifically, how diet influences these effects. This is exactly what Emilee Lance, second year PhD student in the department of microbiology, is aiming to understand. Under the guidance of PIs Ryan Mueller and Tom Sharpton, Emilee is working on understanding how the gut microbiome is affected by prebiotics like inulin, and the impact that diet can have on prebiotic efficacy. Using a gut simulator called a SHIME (The Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem) she is able to totally control the initial microbial environment, diet, and mimic specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract such as the stomach, small intestine and different colon regions.

Sometimes the smallest things in the universe can answer some of the largest questions. That seems to be the case with neutrinos. But what exactly are these fundamental particles, that also happen to be the most abundant in the universe, and why are they of importance? Listen in to hear Noah shed light on all things neutrinos, including undereground research facilities! Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.