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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 robotsListen 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.

Question Your World: Why Do We Like the Music We Like?

music headphones

Think about all the music you’ve ever listened to. Everything from Beethoven’s 5th to “Call Me Maybe” are processed through the brain, but what about them allows the brain to say yay or nay? Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

More From WCVE Public Radio...

NASA Langley-Built Next Generation Space Capsule Comes Home for Summer Tour

The next-generation space capsule that NASA hopes will take us into deep space returns home to NASA Langley this morning, after a round of successful testing  at White Sands Missile range.  Charles Fishburne has more in this WCVE Science Matters report.
 

Students Plant Seedlings for Arbor Day

Tomorrow is Arbor Day, and elementary students in Virginia and seven other states are planting seedlings. John Ogle has the story.

3 Blue Spruce Seedlings
Dominion's Paulin Cheatham and Molly Nugent of River's Edge Elementary School in

America’s First Hispanic in Space Inspires Students at Science Museum

America’s first Hispanic astronaut in space told a story about turning hopes into dreams last night to a crowd of students at the Science Museum of Virginia. Charles Fishburne has more in this WCVE Science Matters report.

Read more and Watch A Video Report here.

VCU School Of Engineering Readies Annual Senior Design Expo

Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Engineering is gearing up for its annual Senior Design Expo to share designs and prototypes with area middle and high school students.  Charles Fishburne has more in this WCVE Science Matters report.

Human Powered Moonbuggy
VCU 2011 Senior Design Expo

Shuttle Discovery's Last Flight

Thousands of people were on the National Mall cheering as the retired Space Shuttle Discovery, riding a 747 jet, took a victory lap around the Washington Monument, the Capitol and the White House on its way to The National Air and Space Museum's Virginia facility.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden