John Wells speaks with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson who has co-written "To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery" with StarTalk senior producer Lindsey Walker. (0:45)Then, as much as you might think it’s just a craving – sugar is an addiction! We speak with neuroscientist Dr. Nicole Avena, who pioneered research on sugar addiction and has a new book on the subject called "Sugarless." (25:42)

Thomas Laakso is a former engineer in many different industries that focus on composites science and technology, and is now the Senior Vice President at DPS Skis. He talks about the ski technology industry.Then, Thomas Quayle of the Clark Planetarium shares astronomical highlights we can look forward to in 2024. From a total solar eclipse visible in parts of the US, to comets, to meteor showers, and hopefully northern lights, 2024 will be delivering quite the show in the night sky.

Gabe Bowen, professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah, discusses how geoscientists have mapped changes in atmospheric CO2 over past 66 million years.Then, John Wells, co-founder and co-host of Cool Science Radio, talks about the last decade hosting this science and technology show — what he has learned and loved as he departs the show for new endeavors.

Physicist, professor, and author Shohini Ghose illuminates the unsung heroines of math, physics, and science in her new book “Her Space, Her Time: How Trailblazing Women Scientists Decoded the Hidden Universe.”We have all seen the images FROM the James Webb Space Telescope — the galaxies, stars, and nebulas — but we haven’t really seen images OF the telescope. Science writer Chris Wanjek and NASA photographer Chris Gunn talk about their time documenting the building of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Co-hosts John Wells, Katie Mullaly, and Lynn Ware Peek look back at some of their favorite interviews from the year:Can quantum computing solve humanity's biggest problemsTheoretical physicist Michio Kaku talks about his new book, “Quantum Supremacy: How The Quantum Computer Revolution Will Change Everything.” (0:57)Writer Paul Bogard explains impact of darkness on all forms of lifeWriter Paul Bogard discusses the importance of the night sky and the impact of darkness on all forms of life in his book "The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light." (27:19)

Renowned cat behavior scientist Dr. Sarah Brown has been in the forefront of research on cat communication, studying how cats interact not only with each other, but with humans.Then, is it reasonable and responsible to talk about inhabiting other planets? Zack Weinersmith explores this question in his serious, yet hilarious, book called "A City on Mars: Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through?"

Evans & Sutherland, the world's first computer graphics company, talks about their ground-breaking history and the cutting edge technologies in planetarium dome projections they continue to develop.Mary Hall, a Professor and the Director of the Kahlert School of Computing at the University of Utah shares the history of the computer science program and the companies and technologies that came from it like Pixar, Atari, and Adobe.

Cosmologist Roberto Trotta reveals how stargazing has shaped the course of human civilization in his new book, "Starborn: How the Stars Made Us (and Who We Would be Without Them)." (00:46) Then, planetary scientist Dr. Sabine Stanley explores the beating heart of planets and what created them — from the building blocks of swirling cosmic dust, pebbles, and gas, to the birth of planets and the worlds we see today. (26:48)

Paleontologist Andrew Milner talks about his amazing fossil discovery at Lake Powell.Then, does Utah really have the Greatest Snow on Earth? We find out from Jim Steenburg, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah and author of the book “Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth.”

Katie Mullaly and Lynn Ware Peak speak with the most interesting mathematician and statistician you’ll ever talk to, Kit Yates. He discusses his book, "How to Expect the Unexpected?" Ever since the dawn of human civilization, we have been trying to make predictions about what the world has in store for us. For just as long, we have been getting it wrong. (00:48)Then, local resident Karen Strauss spent her career in the nuclear energy arena. Is nuclear energy safe enough now use its potential? Hear all about it from a lifelong scientist. (23:45)

National Geographic Explorer Anand Varma shares his new book, "Invisible Wonders: Photographs of the Hidden World." (01:09)Then materials scientist, engineer and author Ainissa Ramirez discusses her book, “The Alchemy of Us, How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another.” (26:23)

Dr. Dennis Charney discusses his new book, "Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges." He shares the rapidly emerging scientific research behind what makes some of us able to navigate trauma more effectively than others. (0:59)Then, Natural History Museum of Utah’s Tylor Birthisel joins the program. Tylor is the lab manager and fossil preparatory at NHMU. He shares his delight in the discovery of new dinosaurs and talks up the Behind the Scenes event at the Natural History Museum of Utah on November 11 & 12. (25:21)

Park City based Monterey Technologies talks about their latest work in Human Engineering, Mission Planning, and Systems Engineering. (1:12)Then, the University of Utah’s PIVOT Center and their mission to connect the research and discoveries at the university with investors and entrepreneurs is featured. (30:00)

Science Journalist Tom Ireland joins to discuss "The Good Virus: The Amazing Story and Forgotten Promise of the Phage." Don’t miss this story about the virus that heals. (1:15) Then, in a rare interview about fiction, Cool Science Radio talks with debut novelist Isa Arsén about her book "Shoot the Moon," a historical fiction novel about mid-century women in science. (27:24)

Astrophysicist and Night Sky Ambassador Tyler Nordgren shares tips and information on viewing the 2023 annular eclipse. It is closer to Park City than you might think. (1:02)Then, join in the hunt for meteorites in Antarctica with Jim Karner, Research Associate Professor of Geology and Geophysics, at the University of Utah, where he and his team endure the harsh Antarctic conditions in the hopes of finding one of these rare cosmic visitors. (26:46)

Author and one of Britain’s premier naturalists Stephen Moss discusses the “10 Birds That Changed the World.” (1:05)Then, author Maria Smilios discusses some unlikely lifesavers from the early 1900’s in her new book, “The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis.” (24:44)

Cool Science Radio talks with Dinosaur National Monument Paleontologist, ReBecca Hunt-Foster, about the fascinating history and discoveries at the monument’s quarry, located in eastern Utah. Can you imagine being on horseback and spotting a massive dinosaur bone jutting out of the ground? (0:56)Then, Pratt Rogers, Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering at the University of Utah, talks about Rare Earth Minerals and the extraction process. We need them, but how can we remove them from the earth in the best way possible? (26:49)

Writer Keith Houston explores the rise and reign of an oft-overlooked invention that is the entertaining story of the pocket calculator in his new book, "Empire of the Sum." Then, Ken Golden, Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at the University of Utah, talks about the importance of STEM careers in the U.S. to meet the needs of our climate and the economy.

Katrina Kmak and Elissa Aten from PC Reads joins to talk about the science of reading and how this basic human skill can have a positive effect on our minds, especially young minds. (1:03)John Wells talks with Dr. Jason Dworkin, project scientist for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission about the asteroid sample that returns to Earth on September 24. It is landing in Utah’s west desert. (27:33)

Carl Skylling of Skytrac, a Utah based ski lift company, shares new advancements in ski lifts and the local company’s niche. (0:48)Then, music director of Songwriting with Soldiers, Jay Clementi, talks about the songwriting circles with veterans and how this changes their lives and can rewire the brain. (26:12)

The Ig Nobel awards celebrate the improbable science, the research that makes us laugh and then think, and the under-acknowledged discoveries that are recognized as what they truly are – REAL science. Marc Abrahams, founder and master of ceremonies, tells us about the 33rd First Annual Ig Nobel ceremony. (0:56)Ben Stanger discusses his book "From One Cell: A Journey into Life’s Origins and the Future of Medicine," and the history, science, and wonder of life’s most basic, and essential element – the cell. (26:01)

With the tragic wildfire in Hawaii, Cool Science Radio discusses the topic with journalist and host of the podcast, ”Fireline,” Justin Angle, who has written , "This Is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat." (2:14)Then, allergy sufferers no longer have to be held hostage by their symptoms! Hear about some new treatments for environmental allergies and the prevention of progression from allergies to asthma with researcher and sought-after expert, Dr. Roberto Garcia. (26:16)

Earl Foote, founder of Nexus IT, explores the world of current cyber threats and technology trends. (1:01)Then, National Magazine Award-winning journalist Susan Casey discusses her new book about the hidden abyss that is the deep ocean, "The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Oceans." How much lost history is down there? How much knowledge and how many geological marvels and undescribed species? (25:08)

Author Maureen Seaberg explores new science about the senses. From being able to hear amplitudes smaller than an atom to being able to smell a trillion scents, our senses are more astonishing than you may know. (1:17)Then, Dr. Stephen Badylak, discusses the biomaterials from which spinal interbody fusion devices are manufactured and new technology that is improving outcomes. (27:21)

Author Kathy Joseph tells the fascinating history of the dreamers and schemers who harnessed electricity and changed our world. (0:59)Then, Bill Latten, president of the Southern California Timing Association, talks about Bonneville Speed Week and the technology behind these feats of speed. (26:01)

The James Webb Space Telescope celebrates a year of sending images from space back to this planet. We speak with NASA Engineer Tom Harkins about the new images from the James Webb Space Telescope and what we have learned over the last year. (0:48)Then, Christina Sauer, associate editor for National Geographic Kids Books, talks about Kids Almanac 2024. (25:28)

In her debut memoir, "Starstruck: A Memoir of Finding Light in the Dark," Egyptian-American astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance shares how she boldly carved out a place in the field of astrophysics, grounding herself in a lifelong love of the stars to face life’s inevitable challenges and embrace the unknown. (1:21)Then, author Amy Brady unravels the nearly two-hundred-year-old untold story of America’s obsession with ice and the unexpected ways this unlikely product transformed our nation in her new book "Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—A Cool History of a Hot Commodity." (24:29)

International best-selling author John Vaillant shares his new book, “Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World.” (0:56)Then, Neeru Khosla, founder and executive director of CK-12, a global leader in free online education, talks about online learning and how free access could change our world. (27:39)

Christina Sauer, associate editor for National Geographic, talks about "Why? The Human Body: 99+ Awesome Answers for Curious Kids."Then, author and professor Emily Monosson discusses her latest research and book "Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic."

Cosmologist Andrew Pontzen whose award-winning research with simulations sheds light on the nature of dark matter, dark energy and the very early universe. (1:22)Then, KPCW’s very own audio expert Mitchell Elliott discusses his recent publication on intelligent audio mastering algorithms and how they stack up to human engineers. (27:07)

Author Shannon Duncan explores research about the ability of psychedelics to rewire the brain and help relieve mental health symptoms. (1:00)Then, Charlie Jui, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Utah, discusses one of nature’s finest displays, the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. (27:13)

John and Lynn sit down with Park City resident Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader for OCEARCH. Then, former NY Times correspondent for Brazil, Larry Rohter writes about one of the most fascinating Brazilians of all time, Cândido Rondon.

National Geographic science journalist and author David Quammen discusses the truly wild places on our planet in his new book, "The Heartbeat of the Wild: Dispatches from the Landscapes of Wonder, Peril & Hope." (0:55) Then, Utah local Daniel Butcher from IT Innovated talks about cyber security and ways to protect your devices from emerging technological threats. (27:48)

Park rangers and park astronomers, Peter Densmore and Kevin Poe, have the details on the upcoming Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival June 14-17. (0:59) Then, Thomas Clardy, the founder and CEO of Powder Watts, talks about innovations that may reduce heat tape expenses by 92%. (26:36)

Laura Lindenfeld from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science talks about the importance of science literacy and how the center is training scientists to better explain their work and the impact on our lives. (1:03) Then, KPCW's very own Friday night DJ and surround sound expert Mike Wisland talks about the life of a true local legend, Emmy winner and surround sound pioneer Jim Fosgate. (25:30)

Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku joins to talk about his new book, “Quantum Supremacy: How The Quantum Computer Revolution Will Change Everything.” (1:01) Then, John Webster of the US Biochar Initiative talks biochar which is a carbon-rich material made from simple biomass and its uses go way beyond just enhancing our soil. (27:23)

Astronomer Phil Plait introduces his new book "Under Alien Skies." Plait has worked as part of the Hubble Space Telescope team as well and is a public outreach advocate for NASA missions. He has an upcoming talk at Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City. (1:10)Then, when you think of NASA, you may think of mighty rockets, rovers and astronauts. What you may not know is that NASA is the home to the largest group of Earth scientists in the world, including NASA climate scientist Dr. Lesley Ott. (27:33)

Dr. Bryn Dentinger, one of the leading mycologists in the world, discusses the universe of fungi. Then, science journalist Jaime Green talks about her book "The Possibility of Life: Science, Imagination, and Our Quest for Kinship in the Cosmos."

The Utah Avalanche Center's Chad Brackelsberg and Trent Meisenheimer talk about the science of a spring snowpack...when it is record-breaking? What happens to the slowly eroding snow? When is it hazardous? How late into the season will we see avalanches? (1:14) Then, Jason Sills of the Clark Planetarium talks about stargazing over the last 20 years and the upcoming 20th-anniversary celebration. (30:44)

Dr. Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, discusses current global temperatures, levels of greenhouse gasses and where 2022 ranks in the climate record. Then, Brenda Mann, program director of the University of Utah science and engineering fair, shares fascinating school science and engineering projects.

Local hydrologist Brian McInerney discusses Utah's record snowpack and flooding ahead (1:07). Then, Tanya Lewis, senior health and medicine editor at Scientific American, explores new research on the origins of COVID-19 (27:27).

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kate Zernike tells the story of 16 female scientists who forced MIT to admit it had been discriminating against female faculty for decades in her new book "The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science." (0:41) Then, Research Professor Maureen McCarthy talks about effects of megastorms and atmospheric rivers. (27:56)

Social Psychologist Sander van der Linden is known around the University of Cambridge as the “defense against the dark arts teacher.” He shows how we can inoculate ourselves against misinformation in his new book, "Foolproof: Why Misinformation infects our Minds and How to Build Immunity."Then biologist Dr. Danielle Clode. She studies koalas and writes about this marsupial (which is actually not a bear!) that eats only one food, one that is toxic!

Cognitive scientist Paco Calvo talks about the new science of plant intelligence in his book covering "Planta Sapiens." Then writer Paul Bogard discusses the importance of the night sky and the impact of darkness on all forms of life.

World-renowned criminologist Matthew Williams examines the elusive "tipping point" at the intersection of prejudice and hate in his new book. (00:46) Then a discussion on how advances in health care technology create innovative ways to give more access and equity for better health care outcomes. (27:31)

Dr. Jamie Farrell, seismologist and professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah, talks about the powerful earthquake that struck Turkey and what hazards our own Wasatch fault presents.Then local resident Meghan Vita takes us on a Cryptocurrency 101 odyssey, for anyone who wants to sharpen their tools for the evolving financial world.

Author Kathryn Harkup shares "Superspy Science: Science, Death and Tech in the World of James Bond." (07:24) Then astronomer Dean Regas discusses National Geographic Kids "1,000 Facts About Space." (29:31)

Bruce Schneier talks about his new book, "A Hacker's Mind: How the Powerful Bend Society’s Rules, and How to Bend them Back." (01:02) Then Jeremy Wagstaff, a technology journalist and author of “The Real Threat from AI,” discusses what he says are the very real limitations of ChatGPT. (25:58)

Author Mike Rucker talks about how the pursuit of joy and wonder can change your life. His book is grounded in current research, accessible science and practical recommendations. (00:00) Then creator Marc Abrahams discusses the Ig Nobel Prize designed to honor the science and research that makes us laugh and then think. (27:17)

A Westminster College microbiologist and the co-founder and director of the Great Salt Lake Institute talks about the crisis of evaporation of Great Salt Lake. The Scientific American tech editor tells us what was behind the FAA grounding all planes on Jan. 11, resulting in thousands of canceled and delayed flights.

Learn the story of General Electric with William Cohen who has written "Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon."Then, we delve into the science of piracy on the high seas with historian Dr. Daphne Geanacopoulos.

Dr. Herman Pontzer, professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, reveals new insight on how we burn calories. The good news? Our metabolisms don't gradually slow down as previously thought! (01:00) Then paleontologist Randy Irmis from the Natural History Museum of Utah discusses the long-unsolved mystery of why marine reptiles were fossilized in the Great Basin of Nevada 230 million years ago. (27:35)

Astronaut Mark Vande Hei about the record breaking 355-day mission aboard the International Space Station (1:31)Dr. Rama Chellappa, who along with Eric Niiler has written "Can we Trust AI?" discusses the book (23:16)

We speak with Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Humes about the bizarre world of genetic genealogy and how after three decades of one murder going unsolved, in two hours an amateur with access to a site like "23 and Me" found the killer. (01:11) Then, a new bipartisan bill aims to improve the relationship between poor maternal health outcomes and access to Telehealth. (26:32)

Colleen Begg, a South African conservation ecologist and managing director of the Niassa Carnivore Project in South Africa, shares how it facilitates a peaceful coexistence between individual people, communities of people, lions and other carnivores. (01:29) NASA image restorer Andy Saunders explains his work taking newly-available digital scans of 50-year-old analog photos and applying painstaking care and cutting-edge enhancement techniques to create the highest quality Apollo photographs ever produced. (24:28) NASA’s Chief of the Exploration Mission Planning Office, Nujoud Merancy, discusses the historic Artemis 1 mission as a major step in efforts to send humans back to the Moon and what comes next. (38:00)

Author and professor Matthew Cobb discusses the morally-complex field of genetic engineering. (00:56)Chief Medical Officer of Mindstrong, Dr. Holly Dubois, talks about the virtual behavioral health organization that provides licensed therapists and psychiatrists who specialize in treating hard-to-reach patients with difficult-to-treat conditions. (27:52)

Cool Science Radio’s personal astrophysicist Neil deGrasse discusses using the rationality of the scientific mind to look at the political and cultural issues we talk about every day. Also, Professor Russell Foster explains using the science of the body clock to promote better sleep, better health and better thinking.

Oncologist and Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a Pulitzer Prize winner in non-fiction for his book, "The Emperor of All Maladies," explores medicine and the radical new ability to manipulate cells in his new book, "The Song of the Cell."Gastroenterologist Dr. Shilpa Ravella shares a riveting investigation of inflammation―the hidden force at the heart of modern disease―and how we can prevent, treat and even reverse it. Her book is, "A Silent Fire."

Tom Chamberlain, founder and CEO of EdLogics, explains EdLogics is a digital health communications company focused on transforming the way people learn about health. He said improvement in health literacy translates to better health decisions, better health outcomes and lower costs. (01:15) Anne Williams, general editor for National Geographic, shares her latest project, "Treasures of Egypt: A Legacy in Photographs from the Pyramids to Cleopatra." This book celebrates the vibrant beauty and rich cultural heritage of Egypt on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tut's tomb. (27:00)

Local Park City resident Eric Garen talks about his new book, "Poems of the Planets: Solar System Science in Verse and Prose."Then, science writer Hayley Campbell on embalmers to executioners, an exploration of the people who have made death their life's work in her book "All the Living and the Dead."