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Question Your World: Is Some Stress Good for You?

No pain, no gain…right? Well, that phrase seems to go hand in hand with workout routines, but it may also be applicable for the brain! Scientists have been studying the impact of acute and chronic stress on the brain and have concluded some very interesting results. So, what does stress do to the brain? Check out the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

Tomorrow’s Jets Could Fly with Flower Power

Camelina Jet Fuel

Due to rising oil prices and environmental concerns, the aviation industry is now looking at many biofuels as alternatives to petroleum derived fuel. NASA researchers conducted a series of test flights recently that proved a commercial jet can fly safely with a blend of jet fuel made from Camelina plant oil.

WCVE Public Radio’s Charles Fishburne has more in this Science Matters report.

Question Your World: How Did Everyone Really End Up Everywhere?

For about 200,000 years humanity has been making its way from Africa to just about every corner of this planet. The study of our past helps explain the evolution of life here on Earth. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into digging through the past and have constructed the time line of our story, all the while continually making new discoveries. So, what happens when we make a new discovery that totally contradicts what we've learned? Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

Question Your World: How Do You Feel About Robots?

robot

Would you be happy if a robot gave you flowers? Would you be sad if you saw someone hurt a robot? Those are the types of questions that were on a recent German scientific survey, but why? Why do we need to understand how we feel about robots? Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

Question Your World: How Far Does Our Solar System Stretch?

Voyager

Our lovely and comfortable home here on Earth is a long way away from the end of our solar system. Here on Earth concepts of boundaries involve rivers, lakes, mountains, human imposed borders, and so on. However, this is not how the limits of our solar system are established. There is not one point that defines the end, but there is definitely an end and it’s really far from here. Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

More From WCVE Public Radio...

Science Matters Takes Us on a Simulated Flight to the International Space Station

Charles Fishburne in Science Matters

Yesterday, we reported that Virginia's Commercial Space Flight Authority would improve the Mid-Atlantic Space Port at Wallops Island to accommodate larger rockets to help re-supply the International Space Station. Today, on this WCVE Science Matters report, Charles Fishburne takes us on a simulated flight with the Antares rocket... and talks with Orbital Vice President Barron Beneski.

Read More Here / Watch the Video

NASA Reaches Out to Girls for Careers In Aerospace

Charles Fishburne in Science Matters

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is seeking to close the gender gap in aerospace with a new and agressive program aimed at middle school girls.  And the head of that program will be at a technical conference Friday in Richmond to talk about it.  Charles Fishburne reports.

Dr. Mamta Patel Nagaraja

Maggie Walker Senior Honored with Davidson Fellowship

John Ogle in Science Matters

A Maggie Walker senior has been named winner of a Davidson Fellowship. The award, given by the Davidson Institute, is rated one of the seven most prestigious undergraduate scholarships by US News and World Report.

Davidson Fellowhip winner Saumil Bandyopadhyaya

Virginia Tech Students’ Experiments on Board Rocket Launch Thursday

Charles Fishburne in Science Matters

A team from Virginia Tech is at Wallops Island for the launch of a suborbital rocket, carrying with it their experiments and their hopes for a future in space exploration. WCVE Public Radio’s Charles Fishburne has more in this Science Matters report.

Photo: Virginia Tech SatRock-X Team: Stephen Noel, Ryan Hatton, Robbie Robertson, Mark Godine

Virginia Tech SatRock-X Team: Shown: Stephen Noel, Ryan Hatton, Robbie Roberts
Wallops Island Launch Facility

Whimbrel Fly South Over Deep Water

John Ogle in Science Matters

Scientists at the College of William and Mary/ VCU Center for Conservation Biology have gathered some remarkable data tracking three whimbrel from arctic Canada to the east coast and then to South America.

This map indicates the flight path of each Whimbrel.