Ask a Scientist

Science Journal for Kids

What is the life of a scientist like? What is academic research like as a job? How and why does one become a professional scientist? We try to answer all these questions in our conversations with researchers who had their papers adapted and published in Science Journal for Kids. We welcome questions from our readers and listeners!

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Dec 14, 2023 · 31 min
Ask-a-Scientist E10: Dr. Will Beckerson, zombie insects researcher
Read Will's kid-friendly article "How do some fungi turn insects into zombies?" in two reading levels (for middle to high school) and in Spanish at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-some-fungi-turn-insects-into-zombies/. Find the original paper we adapted at https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01872-21. Read a follow-up kid-friendly article "Which chemical makes ants walk like zombies?" at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/which-chemical-makes-ants-walk-like-zombies/ See photos of zombified insects and of Will's tattoos and read the full transcript of the interview in our companion post at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/ask-a-scientist-podcast-e10-will-beckerson-zombie-insects-researcher/. Learn more about Will's most recent work, including a Zombie Ant VR game and his popular TikTok channels at https://www.williamcbeckersonphd.com/. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
Oct 23, 2023 · 33 min
Ask-a-Scientist E9: Dr. Jay Jinsing Falk, hummingbird researcher
Read Jay's student-friendly article “What does hummingbird coloration tell us about competition?” at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-does-hummingbird-coloration-tell-us-about-competition/ It's available in two reading levels in English and also translated into Spanish. Visit Jay's website to learn more at https://jayjinsing.github.io/ReadingList/ Original paper: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2022.0332 Review paper mentioned in the interview: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-1019-7 For a full transcript of this interview and photos, go to https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/ask-a-scientist-podcast-jay-falk-hummingbird-researcher/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
Sep 23, 2023 · 33 min
Ask-a-Scientist E8: Dr. Jen Stern, space scientist at NASA
Read Jen's student-friendly article “What can we learn from carbon on Mars?” at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-can-we-learn-from-carbon-on-mars/ It's available in two reading levels in English and also translated into Spanish. For a full transcript and photos, go to https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/ask-a-scientist-podcast-e8-dr-jen-stern-space-scientist-nasa/ Original paper: https://www.pnas.org/doi/suppl/10.1073/pnas.2201139119 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
Jul 25, 2023 · 30 min
Ask-a-Scientist E7: Dr. Sarah Kienle, leopard seals researcher
Read the interview transcript at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/ask-a-scientist-podcast-e7/ You can read the student-friendly article by Sarah "How can leopard seals survive climate change?" at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-leopard-seals-survive-climate-change/ as well as watch a video of leopard seals. This article is also available in Spanish and in a text-to-speech audio version. For a full transcript and photos, go to https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/ask-a-scientist-podcast-e7/ Their original paper was published in the journal Frontiers Marine Science: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.976019/full Get the latest updates on Sarah's research at https://www.sarahskienle.com/. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
Jun 27, 2023 · 25 min
Ask-a-Scientist E6: Dr. Junjie Yao, glassfrogs researcher
You can read the student-friendly article by Junjie "How do glassfrogs become transparent?" at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-glassfrogs-become-transparent/ as well as watch videos of glassfrogs. Read the interview transcript at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/ask-a-scientist-podcast-e6-dr-junjie-yao-glassfrogs-researcher/ Our related Lesson Idea video showcases a blood circulation educational game for middle school students: https://youtu.be/jbOj7sDoT9s. Get the latest updates on Junjie's research at the Duke Photoacoustic Imaging Lab at https://photoacoustics.pratt.duke.edu/. Their original paper was published in the journal Science https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl6620 and was on its cover. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
May 19, 2023 · 31 min
Ask-a-Scientist E5: Dr. Jen Collinger and Dr. Rob Gaunt, biomedical engineers
You can read the student-friendly article by Rob and Jen "Can a robotic arm be controlled by the brain?" at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/can-a-robotic-arm-be-controlled-by-the-brain/ in two different reading levels. See photos and read the transcript at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/lesson-ideas/ask-a-scientist-podcast-e5-jen-collinger-rob-gaunt-biomedical-engineers/ Learn how to build a simple robot at home from our Lesson Idea video: https://youtu.be/3egVbGQvUsE Get the latest updates on Jen and Rob's research at Rehab Neural Engineering Labs at the University of Pittsburgh and watch videos with the robotic arm at https://www.rnel.pitt.edu/research/neuroprosthetics/intracortical-brain-computer-interfaces Their original paper was published in the journal Science: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abd0380 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
Apr 20, 2023 · 37 min
Ask-a-Scientist E4: Dr. Emily Fairfax, beaver scientist
Read the student-friendly article by Emily Fairfax "Would beavers make good firefighters?" at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/would-beavers-make-good-firefighters/ It is accompanied by an original lesson plan: Beavers - a townhall role-play activity Get the latest updates about Emily on her website: https://emilyfairfaxscience.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
Mar 13, 2023 · 32 min
Ask-a-Scientist E3: Dr. María-Teresa Ramírez-Herrera, Earth scientist
Read María-Teresa's student-friendly article "How can the eruption of a volcano affect the ocean everywhere on Earth?" at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-can-the-eruption-of-a-volcano-affect-the-ocean-everywhere-on-earth/ It's available in two reading levels in English and also translated into Spanish (here). Watch the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupt here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
Feb 2, 2023 · 35 min
Ask-a-Scientist E2: Dr. Allison Master, social psychologist
Read Allison's student-friendly article "How do gender stereotypes impact girls’ interest in science?" at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-do-gender-stereotypes-impact-girls-interest-in-science/ You can watch our Ask-a-Scientist video interview with Allison at https://youtu.be/XETkx3uj3f0 Allison is the director the Identity and Academic Motivation lab (I AM lab) at the University of Houston in Texas. Learn more about her here: https://uh.edu/education/iamlab/about/ Check out the lab's website for opportunities to enroll yourself or a child in research. You can also browse through studies currently recruiting children at https://childrenhelpingscience.com/ Read more about failure resumes here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com
Oct 13, 2022 · 34 min
Ask-a-Scientist E1: Dr. Russell Bicknell, paleontologist
Learn more about Russell’s accomplishments and background here. Read Russell’s adapted article here. Click here to check out our Ask a Scientist videos, including a a short video interview with Russell. You can find a summary of Russell’s work here in the NYT. Check out these episodes of Paleocast (a paleontology podcast) if you want to learn more about the evolution of horseshoe crabs. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #video #tutorial #CNS #fossils #horseshoecrab #evolution #nervoussystem #paleontology #scienceeducation This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com

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