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Science Distilled is a podcast based on the lecture series of the same name, where we break down concepts from cutting edge science and research and learn how they apply to the world around us. The podcast is hosted by KUNR's Paul Boger and Michelle Matus. This show is for science nerds and novices alike. We'll geek out on robots, dive into astrobiology, and take a deeper look at the world around us. With every topic we cover, you'll hear conversations from scientists doing the research and learn how that research impacts you and the world around us. This podcast is a production of KUNR Public Radio, in partnership with the Desert Research Institute and the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum in Reno, Nevada.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ cutting-edge science explained • diversity and inclusion research • healthcare equity impacts • groundwater use and pollution • robotics and automation • human perception and vision limits • astrobiology and search for extraterrestrial life • climate change resilience • wildfire decision-making under uncertaintyThis podcast translates current scientific research into accessible conversations that connect laboratory and fieldwork to everyday life. Hosted by public radio journalists, it draws on a lecture-series format and features discussions with researchers to explain both the underlying concepts and the real-world implications of their findings.
Across the episodes, the show moves between the natural sciences, technology, health, and human behavior. Environmental themes recur, including water resources and groundwater contamination, drought and climate pressures, and how communities can build resilience as conditions change. It also explores decision-making under uncertainty in high-stakes settings, using public-safety work as a lens for understanding how people assess risk, process information, and respond to rapidly evolving situations.
On the technology side, the podcast examines robotics and the gap between cultural expectations shaped by science fiction and the realities of modern systems. It also looks at perception and cognition, questioning how reliably humans interpret what they see and what that means for belief and evidence.
Another thread centers on diversity and inclusion as topics of study and practice, considering how diversity efforts are framed, what research suggests about their outcomes, and why representation can have concrete consequences—especially in sectors like healthcare where disparities can affect treatment and survival.
The show also zooms outward to astrobiology and the search for life beyond Earth, using planetary science and exoplanet data to ground big questions in empirical research. Overall, the content emphasizes how scientific inquiry informs public issues, personal health, and the way society navigates technological and environmental change.
| Episodes: |
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Diversity: Are We Thinking About It All Wrong? 2020-Feb-05 17 minutes |
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Diversity In Healthcare Can Save Lives 2019-Dec-18 13 minutes |
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What's In The Water? 2019-Nov-14 24 minutes |
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Is The Robotic Revolution Upon Us? 2019-Aug-14 21 minutes |
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Is Seeing Really Believing? 2019-Jul-17 25 minutes |
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Searching For Life 'Out There' 2019-Jun-12 23 minutes |
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What Firefighters' Stories Can Teach Us 2019-May-15 17 minutes |
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Resiliency In The Face Of Climate Change 2019-Apr-17 21 minutes |
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Introducing Science Distilled, A New KUNR Podcast 2019-Apr-10 1 minute |