Shows
The Lisa Wexler ShowThe Mother Of GPS, Gladys WestAward-winning scientist and author Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D. joins Lisa Wexler to talk about "hidden figure" Gladys West, known as "the mother of GPS" who died at the age of 95 in January, 2026. Dr. Ramirez interviewed Gladys West and her family for a new book coming out this fall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2026-01-3015 min
Tavis SmileyAinissa Ramirez Joins Tavis SmileyAinissa Ramirez, materials scientist, science communicator and author of the forthcoming book "North, South, East and Gladys West: How A Mathematician Shaped GPS," is back to honor the legacy of the groundbreaking Black mathematician who helped create GPS and passed away this month. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
2026-01-2616 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastCelebrating Black Innovators, Inclusive Stories, and New Ways to Read TogetherIn this inspiring episode, we celebrate the power of curiosity, inclusion, and innovation for young readers and families! Host Jed Doherty first welcomes Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, scientist and author of "Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventure and Creating the Microphone." Ainissa shares how modern microphones owe their magic to Jim West's inventive mind and explains how science is all about asking questions, exploring, and making discoveries—ideals she brings to her children's books to inspire the next generation of diverse innovators. Next, we meet Zephyrus White, co-founder of the Recordable Book Buddy, a clever device letting parents, grandparents, an...
2026-01-0956 minTavis SmileyAinissa Ramirez and Jim West join Tavis SmileyIn this Best of 2025 episode, we revisit Tavis Smiley’s conversation with materials engineer and science communicator Ainissa Ramirez as she shares her debut children’s book, Spark: Jim West’s Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone—plus, Tavis speaks directly with Johns Hopkins University Professor Jim West.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
2025-12-2636 min
DisruptedAuthors like Angeline Boulley and Ainissa Ramirez help young readers see a wider range of representationThe way people approach children’s books in the U.S. has changed a lot over time. Philosopher John Locke helped popularize the idea that learning to read should be fun with his 1693 treatise Some Thoughts Concerning Education. Fast forward 300 years and television series continued Locke’s legacy. Today's adults might remember the joy of reading being touted to young people through shows like Arthur and Reading Rainbow. The subjects of books for young people continue to change as well. The Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin—Madison tracks diversity...
2025-12-1940 min
Turn the Page PodcastTurn The Page – Episode 378C – Ainissa Ramirez
Meghan sat down with scientist/author Ainissa Ramirez to discuss her children’s picture book debut, SPARK: JIM WEST’S ELECTRIFYING ADVENTURES IN CREATING THE MICROPHONE.
2025-11-2724 minTavis SmileyAinissa Ramirez and Jim West join Tavis SmileyAinissa Ramirez, materials engineer and science communicator, shares her debut children’s book, “Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone”, plus, Tavis speaks to Johns Hopkins University Professor Jim West directly.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
2025-11-0536 min
You May Contribute A VerseAinissa Ramirez's SPARK!Ainissa Ramirez has something in common with the subject of her debut picture book, Jim West, inventor of the microphone: the passion, the drive, and the creative spark to turn her commitment into her reality.
It was an honor to talk to Ainissa, and if you want to hear more of her voice, listen to her podcast Science Underground, or maybe her TEDx Talk!
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This episode’s book reviews:
THE WALK, by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
EVERY MONDAY MABEL, by Jashar Awan
2025-11-0453 min
Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa MariaInfluence of Jim West w/ Ainissa RamirezIn this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined award-winning scientist and science communicator, Dr. Ainissa Ramirez. They discuss her newest book, Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone. Follow Ainissa: @ainissaramirez
2025-10-2054 min
2025-10-0602 min
Nerdist in AudioThe Real-World Impact of Mr. Terrific in SUPERMANThe article details "The Michael Holt Project," a new educational partnership between DC, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), and science evangelist Dr. Ainissa Ramirez. The project's goal is to use superheroes to inspire K-12 students, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to pursue interests in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).The initiative focuses on two key heroes:Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt): As a genius inventor whose powers are his intellect and self-created technology (like his T-Spheres), he serves as a direct role model for innovation and engineering. His prominence as a Black superhero al...
2025-07-1206 min
Ready Set Growth - Inspiration for TeachersFrom Facts to Stories: Transforming STEM Education with Ainissa Ramirez In this episode of the Ready, Set, Growth podcast, Nick welcomes Ainissa Ramirez, a passionate advocate for making science engaging for learners of all ages. With a rich background as a former engineering professor at Yale and a PhD in material science from Stanford, Ainissa shares her insights on the power of storytelling in education. She discusses her influential works, including her TED book "Save Our Science," which focuses on enhancing science education, and "The Alchemy of Us," which explores the intersection of science and everyday life. Ainissa emphasizes the importance of incorporating narrative into subjects like math and s...
2025-02-1921 min
AUTM on the AirThe Hidden Influence of Inventions on Humanity with Dr. Ainissa RamirezScience isn’t just about discovery; it’s about transformation. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, an award-winning scientist, author, and science advocate who wants science to be for everyone. From her childhood of taking things apart to her work in materials science, Dr. Ramirez shares how curiosity and representation shaped her journey.Her book The Alchemy of Us explores how materials like clocks, steel rails, and copper cables advanced technology and changed human behavior in unexpected ways. We’ll talk about the unintended consequences of innovation, from how artificial light affects our health to how...
2025-02-1224 min
Women in STEMAinissa RamirezThere’s plenty of science on display at the Super Bowl, and Ainissa Ramirez is able to tell you all about it.
Image: TED (CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED)
Join Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ninehourfilms
2024-02-0802 minIntroductions NecessaryAinissa RamirezThere’s plenty of science on display at the Super Bowl, and Ainissa Ramirez is able to tell you all about it.
Image: TED (CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED)
Join Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ninehourfilms
2024-02-0802 minIntroductions NecessaryAinissa RamirezThere’s plenty of science on display at the Super Bowl, and Ainissa Ramirez is able to tell you all about it.
Image: TED (CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED)
Join Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ninehourfilms
2024-02-0802 minDisruptedAuthor and Scientist Ainissa Ramirez is teaching science through storiesMaterials scientist Ainissa Ramirez has made it her mission to tell the stories of little known inventors. She shines a light on the women and people of color that have helped create everything from the ice cream scoop to the GPS. This week on Disrupted, a conversation with Ainissa Ramirez. GUESTS: Ainissa Ramirez - Materials scientist, science evangelist, author of The Alchemy of Us: How humans and matter transformed one another This week's episode was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2021-12-1539 min
Read Science!S13:E04, “Alchemy of Us” edition, with Ainissa Ramirez (audio)Streamed live on 9 April 2020.
Joanne and Jeff spoke with Dr. Ainissa Ramirez about her new book, The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another.
Like “Read Science!” on Facebook to hear about upcoming programs, easy links to the archive, and news about RS! guests: https://www.facebook.com/ReadScience/.
2021-07-0600 min
Grating the NutmegHow Four Connecticut Inventors Helped Change The Way We Live, Think, & Act State Historian Walt Woodward talks with award-winning author and materials scientists Ainissa Ramirez about her award-winning and highly acclaimed book The Alcehmy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. On virtually every national Top Science Book of the Year List for 2020, The Alchemy of Us is a wonderfully readable, lively, smart and witty account of the development of eight inventions that have not only transformed the way we live, but have transformed us, too. Not surprisingly, half of those inventions have important Connecticut connections. Ramirez and Woodward discuss the roles Samuel F Morse, E...
2021-06-1552 minGrating the NutmegHow Four Connecticut Inventors Helped Change The Way We Live, Think, & Act State Historian Walt Woodward talks with award-winning author and materials scientists Ainissa Ramirez about her award-winning and highly acclaimed book The Alcehmy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. On virtually every national Top Science Book of the Year List for 2020, The Alchemy of Us is a wonderfully readable, lively, smart and witty account of the development of eight inventions that have not only transformed the way we live, but have transformed us, too. Not surprisingly, half of those inventions have important Connecticut connections. Ramirez and Woodward discuss the roles Samuel F Morse, E...
2021-06-1552 min
Periodic TalksHow Our Stuff Transforms Us (w/ Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, Lilan Bowden)We shape inventions, and our inventions shape us. Everyday items, like clocks and lightbulbs, fundamentally transformed how we live, according to Dr. Ainissa Ramirez. We talk to her about working in material science and her book “The Alchemy of Us.” Plus, special guest Lilan Bowden (Andi Mack, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Parks and Rec) helps share the story of a Mexican-American botanist who explored the Americas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2021-03-1643 min
Curiosity WeeklyQuadruple-Helix DNA Is a ThingLearn about how quadruple-helix DNA could help us fight cancer; how diversity improves technology, with materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez; and how cats domesticated themselves.
Quadruple-helix DNA exists - and it might be useful for fighting cancers by Cameron Duke
Rare quadruple-helix DNA found in living human cells with glowing probes. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/icl-rqd011321.php
Researchers Observe Formation of Four-Stranded DNA in Living Human Cells | Biology, Genetics | Sci-News.com. (2020). Breaking Science News | Sci-News.com. http://www.sci-news.com/biology/dna-g-quadruplexes-human-cells-08693.html
Scientists Discover Quadruple Helix DNA in Human Cells | Genetics | Sci-News.com. (2013). Breaking Science News | Sci...
2021-03-0413 minCuriosity WeeklyWhat Science Says About Putting 2 Spaces After a PeriodLearn about how clocks and lightbulbs changed human health, with author and materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez. Plus: learn about that time a bunch of birds became milk bottle thieves and whether you should put one or two spaces after a period.
The time a bunch of birds became milk bottle thieves by Cameron Duke
Aplin, L. M., Farine, D. R., Morand-Ferron, J., Cockburn, A., Thornton, A., & Sheldon, B. C. (2014). Experimentally induced innovations lead to persistent culture via conformity in wild birds. Nature, 518(7540), 538–541. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13998
Aplin, L. M., Sheldon, B. C., & Morand-Ferron, J. (2013). Milk bottles revisited: social learning and ind...
2021-02-2512 minTalk Nerdy with Cara Santa MariaOur Material World w/ Ainissa RamirezIn this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by materials scientist, author, and science communicator Dr. Ainissa Ramirez. They talk about her new book (and winner of the 2021 AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books), The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. From clocks to light bulbs to silicon chips, they dig into the myriad ways such groundbreaking inventions have profoundly changed the way we exist in the world, with a special emphasis on the under-appreciated figures who paved the way.
2021-02-221h 02Curiosity WeeklyHow Copper Changed Our Language (w/ Materials Scientist Ainissa Ramirez)Award-winning scientist and science communicator Ainissa Ramirez explains how copper changed our language. Then, learn about the surprising health benefits of brown fat.
Additional resources from Ainissa Ramirez:
Pick up "The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MyB4l8
Ainissa's website: https://www.ainissaramirez.com/
Ainissa Ramirez on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ainissaramirez
Largest study of brown fat ever shows just how healthy it is by Grant Currin
Study of 50,000 people finds brown fat may protect against numerous chronic diseases. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/ru-so5010421.php
Becher, T., P...
2021-02-1811 min
Ascoltando si ImparaAinissa Ramirez - L'insegnamento delle materie STEM con la StoriaNella prima puntata di Ascoltando si Impara vi proponiamo l'intervista in lingua originale con Ainissa Ramirez, Professore Associato a Yale e autrice del libro "The Alchemy of Us". Ainissa ci parla di STEM, e di come si possa migliorare l'insegnamento di queste discipline con l'ausilio delle Storia.
2020-12-1711 minAscoltando si ImparaAinissa Ramirez - English version - Teaching STEM with HistoryNella prima puntata di Ascoltando si Impara - English version- vi proponiamo l'intervista in lingua originale con Ainissa Ramirez, Professore Associato a Yale e autrice del libro "The Alchemy of Us". Ainissa ci parla di STEM, e di come si possa migliorare l'insegnamento di queste discipline con l'ausilio delle Storia.
2020-12-1510 min
The M Jayson Graham ShowEpisode 8: THE PATENT PATRIARCHY CONVERSATION with DR. AINISSA RAMIREZThis week, I am joined by self proclaimed science evangelist, Dr. Ainissa Ramirez. We discuss her book, The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another, and the importance of changing the biases commonly associated with “science practitioners”.
CONTACT INFO FOR Dr. Ainissa Ramirez
Website: www.ainissaramirez.com Podcast: The Science Underground Twitter: @ainissaramirez LinkedIn: /in/ainissa
Her Book: The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another
Book Recommendations
THE SOURCE OF SELF-REGARD by Toni Morrison
EINSTEIN'S DREAMS by Alan Lightman
THE...
2020-11-2925 min
HandmadeThe Alchemy of Us with Ainissa RamirezIn this episode, Anna Ploszajski talks to materials scientist and science communicator Ainissa Ramirez about her new book The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another.Follow Ainissa on Twitter and check out her website.Ainissa is doing a free livestream talk on the evening of the 20th October 2020 with the Royal Institution. Sign up here.Support the podcast with a one-time donation here. Thanks for helping keep us going :)Thanks to Dave Shephard for our cover art, and Alex Lathbridge for the music...
2020-10-0933 min
A Scientist Walks Into A BarEp. 45 - Barstool Chat with Dr. Ainissa RamirezIn this episode we get another chance to talk to Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, materials scientist and author of the book The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. We learn more about her background, what a materials scientist does, and why she calls herself a "science evangelist." Here are some suggestions on how to buy the book (that don't involve Amazon). ******** Help support the podcast and live events! Make a one-time donation to Make You Think OR If you are able, please support us on Patreon
2020-08-2425 min
Audacious with Chion WolfHow Light Bulbs, Computer Switches, and Photography Invent “The Alchemy Of Us”When you were growing up, you probably heard about famous inventors. Maybe you thought they were brilliant. Rigorously trained. Confident. Capable. And that their inventions advanced humankind through and through. But Dr. Ainissa Ramirez spent the last 5 years writing a book that strips away those presumptions. In The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another, she paints portraits not of how inventors settled questions of the limits of technology - but of how much further we still have to go. This hour, You’ll hear about how these big thinkers so often so...
2020-08-0750 min
Teaching in Higher EdThe Alchemy of Us, with Ainissa RamirezAinissa Ramirez shares about her new book, The Alchemy of Us, on episode 318 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.
Quotes from the episode
It’s just these little things that add up and eventually they completely dispirit a person.
-Ainissa Ramirez
Professors and teachers have a profound impact on people’s lives.
-Ainissa Ramirez
If we can learn from the past and see our reflection, we can make decisions about our present and make better decisions about our future.
-Ainissa Ramirez
It’s a bu...
2020-07-1637 min
StarTalk RadioTechnology and Us, with Ainissa RamirezDo we control technology or does technology control us? Neil deGrasse Tyson, comic co-host Negin Farsad, and material scientist and author Ainissa Ramirez, PhD, answer fan-submitted Cosmic Queries and explore how technology has shaped our world.
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons and All-Access subscribers can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://www.startalkradio.net/show/technology-and-us-with-ainissa-ramirez/
Thanks to our Patrons Andy Green, Christopher Lee Knapmiller, Todd Schurr, Melissa Lenz, David Dickason, Steven Smith, Daniel J Kulikowski, and Sara Bakerfor supporting us this week.
Photo Credit: Storyblocks.
Subscribe to...
2020-07-1453 min
Science History PodcastMaterials Science: Ainissa RamirezDiscoveries in basic science often translate into material goods, and frequently in surprising ways. Material goods, in turn, facilitate scientific progress. Therefore, science and technology advance in tandem. Today we delve into the history of materials science with the help of Ainissa Ramirez. Ainissa is a scientist and science communicator, and the author of The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another, published by MIT Press.
2020-07-1148 min
EdgeCastAinissa Ramirez - Interrogating and Shaping the World Through ScienceAinissa Ramirez - Interrogating and Shaping the World Through Science by
2020-06-2529 min
EdgeCastAinissa Ramirez - Interrogating and Shaping the World Through ScienceAINISSA RAMIREZ is a materials scientist and science communicator. She is the author, most recently, of The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. The Conversation: https://www.edge.org/conversation/ainissa_ramirez-interrogating-and-shaping-the-world-through-science
2020-06-2529 min
The MIT Press PodcastAinissa Ramirez, "The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another" (MIT Press, 2020)In this interview, I talk to Dr. Ainissa Ramirez about her new book, The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another (MIT Press, 2020)Dr. Ramirez examines eight inventions―clocks, steel rails, copper communication cables, photographic film, light bulbs, hard disks, scientific labware, and silicon chips―and reveals how they shaped the human experience. These fascinating and inspiring stories offer new perspectives on our relationships with technologies.Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D. is an award-winning scientist and science communicatorNajarian Peters is a new associate professor of law at the University of Kans...
2020-06-2539 min
New Books in TechnologyAinissa Ramirez, "The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another" (MIT Press, 2020)In this interview, I talk to Dr. Ainissa Ramirez about her new book, The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another (MIT Press, 2020)Dr. Ramirez examines eight inventions―clocks, steel rails, copper communication cables, photographic film, light bulbs, hard disks, scientific labware, and silicon chips―and reveals how they shaped the human experience. These fascinating and inspiring stories offer new perspectives on our relationships with technologies.Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D. is an award-winning scientist and science communicatorNajarian Peters is a new associate professor of law at the University of Kans...
2020-06-2539 min
Science UndergroundUsing Science to Stop Your Mirror From Fogging UpThe fog on your mirror after you shower can be prevented with a little dab of science. Find out how in just two minutes.
2020-06-2102 min
The PEN PodEpisode 64: Putting Tech Under The Microscope with Ainissa RamirezWe talk to writer and scientist Ainissa Ramirez about how eight inventions have shaped humanity, which she explores in her book THE ALCHEMY OF US. We talk about the often unheralded women and people of color who are part of the story of technology in recent centuries and how tech is influenced by our own biases.
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2020-06-1610 minScience UndergroundThe Ancient Way to SleepOur ancestors used to sleep differently. If you looked back you would see them sleep in two parts. The inventions of the light bulb and the clock changed this old way of sleeping.
2020-06-1402 min
Inquiring MindsHow Humans and Matter Transformed One AnotherIn her book, The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another, materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez explores how eight inventions—clocks, steel rails, copper communication cables, photographic film, light bulbs, hard disks, scientific labware, and silicon chips—shaped human society. In this episode, we explore the importance of materials and learn about the unsung heroes who crafted them into tools we use every day.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
2020-06-0935 min
Lab Out LoudHow Inventions have Shaped Us, and Our Role in Shaping ThemTo wrap up season 13, the Lab Out Loud podcast welcomes Ainissa Ramirez back to the show. As science teachers are building their reading lists for the summer, they may want to check out Ainissa's new book - The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. In this collection of stories about eight inventions (from clocks to silicon chips), Ramirez unearths vivid stories that showcase how humans have created inventions, and in turn, how those inventions have shaped us. Ainissa joins co-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler to discuss her new book, share some insights into her...
2020-06-0833 minScience UndergroundHow An Accident Led To Your ComputerThe way to make pure silicon chips was discovered when a chemist accidentally dipped his fountain pen into a crucible of molten tin instead of his inkwell.
2020-06-0702 minPodcasts – The TechnoskepticPodcast #35: Ainissa RamirezScience evangelist Ainissa Ramirez takes a look at how major technologies have shaped human culture—both intentionally and not.
The post Podcast #35: Ainissa Ramirez appeared first on The Technoskeptic.
2020-06-0500 min
Chemistry World Book ClubThe Alchemy of UsFrom photographic film to scientific glassware, Ainissa Ramirez’s new book The Alchemy of Us offers a unique insight into our relationship with technology. Find out what we thought about the book, and hear from Ramirez herself as she talks about digging into archives around the world to uncover forgotten characters and intriguing stories.
2020-06-0314 min
Science UndergroundHow A Jiggling Gem Helps Your Watch Keep TimeDeep in your watch is a small piece of quartz, which creates your clock's ticks and tocks.
2020-05-3102 min
How Do We Fix It?How Science Shapes Us. Ainissa RamirezWe look at scientists who learned to manipulate common materials such as steel, glass and silicon, and how their inventions shaped the human experience. Our guest is scientist, storyteller and science writer, Ainissa Ramirez, author of the new book, "The Alchemy of Us, How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another."We discuss the wonder of science, especially material science: What it is and why it’s a crucial part of all that is in us and around us.Ainissa shares her love of science and tells us stories of the woman...
2020-05-2225 min
A Scientist Walks Into A BarEp. 37 - Preview! The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One AnotherHow have simple inventions changed our lives? Learn more in this short interview with Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, materials scientist and author of the book The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. Pick up and enjoy the book, then join us on May 21 at 7:00pm Pacific for a Science on Tap Online event with Ainissa! Find out more about the live event on Facebook and our website. Here are some suggestions on how to buy the book (that don't involve Amazon). ******** Help support the podcast and live events!
2020-05-0415 minScience UndergroundScience UndergroundIn the late 19th century, there was a woman in London name Ruth Beliville who sold time.
2020-04-2502 min
Science FridayVaccine Process, Hubble Space Telescope Anniversary, Alchemy Of Us. April 24, 2020, Part 2Over 50 pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms around the world are now racing to develop vaccines for the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. Anthony Fauci has said that it might be possible to develop a vaccine in as quickly as 12 to 18 months—but so far, researchers still don’t know which of several approaches might be most safe and effective.
Paul Offit, head of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, says that usually, the standard time to develop a new vaccine and move it through the multiple phases of clinical trials required for FDA approval is mea...
2020-04-2448 min
About The WorldJana Morin & Ainissa Ramirez - About the World Ep 44This week's about the world is great, so throw on some headphones and listen! Our first guest is Jana Morrin. She's CEO and Co-Founder of Speakfully. Speakfully's mission is to end workplace mistreatment and establish equality for all. The show's second guest is Ainissa Ramirez. She's a PHD award winning scientist, author, and TED talker. She's here to discuss her new book : The Alchemy of Us
2020-04-0955 min
How Do We Fix It?#10 Fix It Shorts: What We Learned in Our First 100 episodesFor Jim and Richard "How Do We Fix It? has been a great big learning experience. From how to switch careers to the search for meaning and the importance of speaking to strangers, our guests have proposed many smart, practical solutions. And they've also challenged conventional wisdom.Our podcast invites listeners to get into their discomfort zone as a way of being more receptive to change. Jim starts this show revealing what he learned from David McRaney, host of "You Are Not So Smart," - a podcast about psychology. David told us about our deep attachment to confirmation bias - whe...
2017-05-0413 min
How Do We Fix It?Fix It Shorts #5: Technology: How Children Learn and PlayFollowing on from our recent episodes about high schools and playdates, this week we explore children's learning, technology and play with three "How DO We Fix It?" guests. Science evangelist Ainissa Ramirez explains why all young kids are fascinated by science. But school often gets in the way of exploration and curiosity. Ainissa explains how parents and other caregivers can spark interest in science. Psychology professor Abigail Baird shares insights and tips for parents about a healthy balance between computers, mobile devices and children's play. Toy industry and play consultant Richard Gottlieb has creative and - ye...
2016-08-1714 minScience UndergroundThe Science of FireworksFireworks are a display of color and chemistry. Everyone loves fireworks, especially astronomers. Find out why.
2016-07-0102 minScience UndergroundHow Fireflies Make New MedicinesFireflies light up the summertime night, but the glowing molecules inside them are also used by scientists to make new drugs.
2016-06-2602 minScience UndergroundCan We Make A Transporter?Lots of technologies on Star Trek have become a reality. But what is missing is the transporter. Lawrence Krauss, physicist and author, sheds some light on the possibilities.
2016-06-1902 minScience UndergroundMaking Ketchup Hurry UpKetchup takes a long time to come out of the bottle. Fortunately, science has a few answers for how to help ketchup hurry up.
2016-06-1202 minScience UndergroundZOMBEESHoneybees are turning into zombie bees after a small fly injects a parasite into them. Scientists are asking everyone to report weird bees at zombeewatch.org.
2016-06-0502 minScience UndergroundHow Animals CamouflageGet ready to be introduced to nature's best master of disguise--the cuttlefish.
2016-05-2902 minScience UndergroundSmart ShirtsIn the future, you will be able to download data from your shirt, which has electronics embedded in the fabric.
2016-05-2202 minScience UndergroundHow Lightning Makes MagnetsWhen lightning bolts zap iron minerals they make magnets called lodestones. NASA scientists coax bolts to strike rocks using a trick from Ben Franklin.
2016-05-1502 minScience UndergroundSay Cheese, PandemicThere are special cameras, called thermal cameras, that can detect heat. These cameras are the first defense against threats and diseases.
2016-05-0802 minScience UndergroundSaving Monarch ButterfliesTwenty years ago, there were a billion monarch butterflies. Now, there are less than 10 percent of them left. Their disappearance is linked to a weed.
2016-05-0102 minScience UndergroundMeat Grown in a LabScientists can now grow beef outside of the cow. In the not-so-distant future, you might get your burger from a beaker.
2016-04-2402 minScience UndergroundHow Animals GossipImagine if we could talk to the animals. To do so, we will have to think about time differently.
2016-04-1702 minScience UndergroundHow Plants Know Which Way Is UpSeeds that are buried deep in the soil need to figure out which way their roots and stem should go. Ends up they have special cells to tell them what's up.
2016-04-1002 minScience UndergroundBubbles that PrintDeep in your ink jet printer are millions of explosions, which cause bubbles that help you print.
2016-04-0302 min
How Do We Fix It?#44 Our Problem with Science. Ainissa Ramirez: How Do We Fix It?We have a problem in our society. Too many people don't understand science or the importance of the scientific method. Many children aren't learning the basics of math and science, which closes off a broad range of career opportunities. It's also a problem in our civil society. A broader understanding of how science works would help parents know why they need to vaccinate their kids or what's going on with climate change. Science evangelist Ainissa Ramirez has some great fixes. She's the author of "Save Our Science" and "Newton's Football," a lively book...
2016-03-3028 minScience UndergroundSpace Suit SecretsAstronauts wear special suits so that they can work many hours in space. Find out about a special accessory they wear, which is very useful if they drank too much Tang in the morning.
2016-03-2702 minScience UndergroundInvisibility CloaksScientists have made invisibility cloaks in the laboratory. What does it take to make something invisible? A bit of brain trickery.
2016-03-2002 minScience UndergroundAs Sweet As PiPi is the mysterious number of 3.14 that keeps our appliances running, our GPS going, and our clocks ticking. This number is pretty sweet.
2016-03-1302 minScience UndergroundHow Atoms Keep TimeWe keep time by measuring repeating patterns, like a swinging pendulum or the earth's rotation. But, the best way to measure time is with atoms inside atomic clocks.
2016-03-0602 minScience UndergroundHow Frog's Legs Helped Make the Oscars PossibleIn the 1700s, a scientist was dissecting frogs and found the legs twitched when touched with his tools. This freaky experiment allows us to make golden statues and get power from batteries.
2016-02-2802 minScience UndergroundMaking a Phone Call in Ancient AfricaTo send messages over long distances, the ancients used a drum. Recently, scientists have discovered how drum beats travel for miles with the help of the surface of the Nile.
2016-02-2102 minScience UndergroundThe Science of ChocolateChocolate is tasty chemistry. What takes weeks to prepare, takes moments to enjoy. The steps from tree to your tongue are described.
2016-02-1002 minScience UndergroundConcussionsConcussions seem to be in the news lately. A leading expert explains what is going on in the brain during a concussion.
2016-02-0702 minScience UndergroundHigh Tech High HeelsThe design of the high heel shoe is over a century old. However, there are new materials and modern technologies that can make shoes more comfortable. Fashion engineers are on a mission to rescue hurting feet.
2016-01-3102 minScience UndergroundWhy is Snow White?Water is clear, but snow is white. Light dances on the snowflake edges creating this white color.
2016-01-2402 minScience UndergroundHow Lakes Create BlizzardsCold dry air from Canada traveling over clear lakes are the ingredients for a miserable winter.
2016-01-1702 minLab Out LoudScience Answers in Two MinutesCo-hosts Brian Bartel and Dale Basler are proud to welcome fellow science podcaster Ainissa Ramirez to Lab Out Loud. As scientist, inventor and self-proclaimed science evangelist, Ainissa is the host of Science Underground - a new, two-minute podcast that delivers a science topic in an enjoyable and easy to understand fashion. Listen to the show to hear Ainissa discuss the importance of science communication, the inspiration for her topics, and how you might use these audio nuggets in your science classroom.
Show notes at:
http://laboutloud.com/2016/01/episode-138-science-underground/
2016-01-1117 minScience UndergroundThe Science Behind the Gateway ArchThe Gateway Arch is a beautiful example of the marriage between materials and mathematics. The secret behind this monument's longevity is revealed.
2016-01-1002 minScience UndergroundThe Skinny on FatOur waistlines are increasing partly because of our modern diet, but also because of our Stone Age bodies. Back then, food was rare. Now? Not so much.
2016-01-0302 minScience UndergroundLight From SandLEDs are small lights that come from a material that is under your feet at the beach--sand. The uses of LEDs are almost as numerous as the grains of sand that make them.
2015-12-2702 minScience UndergroundThis Is Your Brain on CTEBoston University's Dr. Robert Stern tells us about a brain disease that has been in the news recently -- CTE.
2015-12-2002 minScience UndergroundWhy Snowflakes Have Six SidesSnowflakes have six sides. The answer to why can be found in your local supermarket in a stack of oranges.
2015-12-2002 minScience UndergroundHow Origami Saves LivesOrigami is the ancient art of paper folding. Today, origami can be seen in pizza boxes and fancy napkins, but it can also save your life in a car accident.
2015-12-1302 minScience UndergroundHow Chameleons Change ColorThe colors we see in a chameleon's skin is not really what it seems. Their skin is playing with light in the same way soap bubbles do.
2015-12-0602 minScience UndergroundMolecules That Heat The PlanetSitting in a hot car is the same thing that is happening to the earth. Molecules are trapping heat and warming the planet. If we all work together we can stop this trend.
2015-11-2902 minScience UndergroundTaste With Your NoseWhile we think the tongue is responsible for taste, actually the nose has a nose for it. Food without your nose would be pretty boring.
2015-11-2202 minScience UndergroundHow Bubbles Catch CometsSoap bubbles are not just for kids. Foams can help you from spilling your coffee and can help scientists understand the origin of our solar system.
2015-11-1502 minScience UndergroundTires From LettuceThere are 2 billion tires sold every year and each takes several gallons of oil to make it. Scientists have found an unusual source of natural rubber that is hidden in your salad.
2015-11-0802 minScience UndergroundHow Leaves Change ColorThe secret for how leaves change color is uncovered. Find out how yellow and orange colors are made and how they are made differently from the reds and the purple colors. The best tree to see in the fall is also revealed.
2015-11-0102 minScience UndergroundFootball Science with Jerry RiceNFL legend Jerry Rice discovered something that perplexes rocket scientists. The football looks different if thrown by a left-handed or right-handed quarterback and will drift off its target. The reason? The spin.
2015-11-0102 minScience UndergroundIntro to Science UndergroundThe host of Science Underground invites you to explore the wonders of the world and to get back in touch with your inner scientist. Welcome the the Underground ... Science Underground.
2015-11-0101 min
StarTalk RadioStarTalk Live! at the Apollo (Part 2)StarTalk’s night at the historic theater in Harlem concludes with some surprises, including a song by Neil Tyson’s nephew, the rapper, Tyson. With Eugene Mirman, Senator Cory Booker, Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, Phoebe Robinson and Maeve Higgins.
Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
2015-10-1748 min
StarTalk RadioStarTalk Live! at the Apollo (Part 1)It’s not your typical night at the Apollo when Neil deGrasse Tyson and Eugene Mirman welcome Senator Cory Booker, science evangelist Dr. Ainissa Ramirez and comedians Maeve Higgins and Phoebe Robinson to the historic theater in Harlem, NYC.
Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
2015-10-1046 minTeaching in Higher EdMaking challenging subjects funAinissa Ramirez shares about how and why to make challenging subjects fun.
Making challenging subjects fun
Guest: Dr. Ainissa Ramirez
http://www.ainissaramirez.com/bio.html
https://youtu.be/H5TNkGC4p3Q
“I learned that this thing of investigating and being curious around the world was the thing that people called science.” -Ainissa Ramirez
Early influences
The television show 321 contact
https://youtu.be/-4273oOYy7s
“By seeing my reflection in this young [African American] lady on television doing s...
2015-09-1738 min