Science

WSIU Radio speaks with Scott Ballard, a Herpetologist talks about taking in a pregnant Timber Rattlesnake found on private land in southern Illinois.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with Dr. Andy Anderson of SIUC's Zoology Department, one of the coordinators of the university's 2018 Darwin Week.

This Thursday (January 18) in Murphysboro, the public is invited to a night of hands–on exploring.  The first ever science night is the work of the Murphysboro Middle School Parent, Student and Teacher Association.

An Asian Carp was caught recently in a place where it shouldn’t be – beyond an electric barrier meant to keep the invasive species out of Lake Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes.

A team of students and researchers led by Dr. Gregory Guzik, director of the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium at Louisiana State University's Department of Physics and Astronomy made a test flight of a weather balloon recently at Saluki Stadium.  WSIU radio was there with this report.

On this edition of Enlightening The Eclipse: Countdown To 2017, we visit with Master Educator at Adler Planetarium, Michelle Nichols, who was in Carbondale in early May to work on plans for eclipse activities with other scientists.  In this interview, Michelle visits with WSIU's Kevin Boucher in a conference room overlooking Saluki Stadium, where thousands of scientists will be camped on the big day, studying the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with SIU's Bob Baer, NASA Astronomer Lou Mayo, and NASA Edge Producer Blair Allen about preparations for the 2017 Solar Eclipse.

NASA officials, and a group of other eclipse experts are in Carbondale for several days going over site surveys and coordinating plans for the August eclipse, which experts say will have the greatest  totality over the city.  Among the logistics being hammered  out are, determining where and how to set up the stage at Saluki Stadium, where to park the satellite trucks,  and how much fiber optic cable is needed for NASA'S Megacast.  The expected crowds from around the world descending onto southern Illinois is also a story in itself; so much so that New York Times' Science Reporter Nicholas St. Fleur  will be spending several days in the area interviewing residents and business owners.  Tomorrow morning (Tuesday May 2nd) at 10 there will be a Facebook Live session originating from the Carbondale Campus featuring officials from NASA, the Goddard Space Center and others.  Michelle Nicholls, Master Educator at the Adler Planetarium is Chicago is also in Carbondale coordinating outreach activities.  Adler says that even for the non–scientist,  knowing what makes an eclipse gives you an appreciation for rare these events are.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with SIU Fermentation Science Institute Director Matt McCarroll about his upcoming Science Cafe at the Science Center of Southern Illinois.

As a part of our ongoing feature  "Enlightening The Eclipse: Countdown to 2017" we go to a community information planning meeting which was held on October 18th, 2016.  In this report we will hear from Carbondale Tourism, the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and the Development Commission and, officials with Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a local business manager.

Every year at this time,  on a road in Union County the United States Forest Service swings two big steel gates together  and locks them shut with a huge padlock, closing a two and a half mile stretch of Forest Road 345 to vehicle traffic, more commonly known as Snake Road.   Officials do this to protect  the large numbers of reptiles and amphibians as they  make  their annual, life-saving journey from the swamps to the rocks and crevices at the base of the 100 foot bluffs to spend the winter.  Even though all motorized vehicles are prohibited from using the road at this time, hikers are e

On August 21st, 2017 a Total Solar Eclipse will pass over a large portion of the United States with Carbondale experiencing almost three minutes of totality.  As the one year away date approaches, WSIU radio talks with several eclipse experts about this 2017 Solar Eclipse.

The City of Carbondale's Eclipse Coordinator, Diane Regan, held an open planning meeting in Carbondale recently with City Officials, SIU Officials and local business leaders to outline the plan the city is working on to successfully accommodate the between 50-thousands and potentially 100s of thousands of worldwide visitors to both Carbondale and the southern Illinois region.  Regan unveiled a special e-mail to be used for questions about the eclipse.  That special e-mail is:   info@carbondaleeclipse.com  You can also learn more about the first total solar eclipse since 1979 by visiting:  http://eclipse.siu.edu/

Celebrate Earth Day 2016 with an Acoustic Nature Hour Earth Day Special.  Many, many thanks to the experts who appeared in this year's program.  Names below are listed in order of appearance.

Dr. Justin Filiberto, Assistant Professor in the SIU Department of Geology

Bob Baer, Computer and Electronics Specialist in the SIU Physics Department

Elizabeth Jones, Assistant Refuge Manager at Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Karen Mangan, Wildlife Biologist at Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with SIUC Professor Karen Midden about her upcoming Science Cafe on edible landscapes.

Imagine a time in the not to distant future when Alzheimer's no longer exists.  The search for the fountain of youth has largely been a work of science fiction.  But science is on the cusp of a revolutionary breakthrough.  Dr. Michael Fossel is a physician and an expert in the science of cell aging and human aging.    WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Dr. Fossel about his book The Telomerase Revolution for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller interviews SIU Carbondale Professory Gary Kinsel about his upcoming Science Cafe.

Weather patterns are shifting, ice caps are melting and sea levels are rising.   Climate change is the subject of the November issue of National Geographic magazine.  The entire issues is dedicated to exploring the issue as well as examining remedial actions.    WSIU's Jeff Williams talks with National Geographic magazine's Dennis Dimick for this edition of In The Author's Voice.   You can view the online edition here.

In 1991, the LaRue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond Research Natural Area was officially designated as a research site, the nation's 250th such area.  Join IDNR Herpetologist Scott Ballard as he takes us on an informative hike on Snake Road.

As we move into September, the summer constellations give way to the Autumn wonders in the night sky.  Here with the Astronomy Feature for Friday September 11th, 2015 is Cheryl Ernst of the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois.   This feature was written by Astronomer Andy Edelen.

On this week's Astronomy feature, a full moon on Saturday August 29th, and Cheryl Ernst lets us know what planets can be seen in the west.  Special thanks for Cheryl Ernst and Andy Edelen of the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois

Here is Cheryl Ernst with this week's astronomy feature, which was written by Andy Edelen.

On August 21st, 2017 a Total Solar Eclipse will occur, with a point south of Carbondale being ground zero for this event.  To gather important scientific data from this event Dr. Matt Penn, with Tuscon Arizona's National Solar Observatory, has put together a proto-type computer-linked telescope to gather this data. 

The planet Venus, now prominent in the western sky at dusk, will slowly fade this month.  For more about what the night sky holds this month, here is Cheryl Ernst of the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois.  You can visit their website at:https://sites.google.com/site/astronomyinsouthernillinois/home