This episode of the podcast features an interview with University of Minnesota graduate student Peter Clement, discussing the book The War on Science by Shawn Otto. We focus on Otto’s explanation of the Seven Stages of Technological Adaptation — an observation that how our society adapts new technology has generally repeated the same sequence of steps over and over, from discovery through crisis and adaptation, especially since the mid-20th Century.
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Ep 7. What Do Glaciers Have to Do With Nanoscience?
Why do glaciers sometimes look blue? Hint: it’s not for the same reason we see blue as the color of the sky!
On this episode of the podcast, we have an interview with Dr. Robert Hamers, following up on his recent blog post. Bob is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, and he tells us about a recent family trip to Alaska that got him wondering about why some glaciers have an amazing blue color.
Ep 6. Happy National Nanotechnology Day!
October 9, 2016 was the first ever National Nanotechnology Day (10/9 = 10^-9 for nano!). On this episode of the Sustainable Nano podcast, we talk with Dr. Lisa Friedersdorf, Deputy Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, about National Nanotechnology Day, activities like #100BillionNanometers, the Nobel Prize, and this year’s Generation Nano superhero contest.
Ep 5. What’s the Deal With Triclosan?
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recently announced a ban on using the antibacterial agent triclosan (and 18 other substances) in soaps, and then last week the issue of antibacterial resistance was discussed at the UN General Assembly. In this episode of the Sustainable Nano podcast, we talk with scientist Eric Melby about different types of antibacterial chemicals and why we should care about triclosan in the environment.
Ep 4. Nano Superheros: At the Interface of Art and Science
In this episode, we interview the three high school student finalists from NSF’s Generation Nano contest about their amazing nanotechnology-based superheroes.
Ep 3. Nanoparticles in Electric Car Batteries: How Do We Study Sustainability?
In this episode, we talk about a recent research study that looked at how one type of battery nanomaterial affects bacteria called Shewanella oneidensis. We interview Mimi Hang and Ian Gunsolus, who were co-first authors of the study as graduate students in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology.
Ep 2. Viruses: Biology’s Nanoparticles
In this episode, we talk with scientist MG Finn about how viruses are like (and unlike) nanoparticles, and some of the ways researchers want to use viruses to fight disease.
Ep 1. Why Do We Care About Sustainable Nanotechnology?
On this first episode of our brand new podcast, we talk with the Director of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, along with students, faculty, and a few complete strangers about some questions related to our Center’s research: What is nanotechnology? What is sustainability? And what does it mean when we put the two terms together?
It’s the Sustainable Nano Podcast Preview!
That’s right, Sustainable Nano is about to become a podcast! This new audio version of Sustainable Nano is launching next week. You can get a brief sample of what we have in store with this 3-minute preview …
Generation Nano, Here We Come!
by Miriam Krause This weekend, over 350,000 people are expected to attend the 4-day U.S. Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. The event is at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from 10am-6pm Saturday and …