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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...

UVA researcher is developing software that mimics the body’s ability to heal itself

Charles Fishburne in Science Matters

A University of Virginia researcher, working with a group under a government grant, is developing self-healing software that could find itself on the battlefield, in space, or on your laptop. Charles Fishburne has more in this WCVE Science Matters report.

Science Museum to test fruitcakes

John Ogle in Science Matters

This week the Science Museum of Virginia will continue the holiday spirit, testing the scientific properties of a central element of the season.

Presidential Bioethics Commission recommends against a moratorium on synthetic biology...for now

Charles Fishburne in Science Matters

A Presidential Commission studying the promise and perils of “synthetic biology,” has just released it first report recommending the US government take precautions to ensure that laboratory-based microbes do not cause unexpected catastrophe’s, but stopped short of recommending a moratorium. Charles Fishburne talks with a commission member in this Science matters report.

James River Association plans ecology school

John Ogle in Science Matters

The James River Association has launched a campaign to build an ecology school.

Gasoline hikes peak interest in electric cars...again

Charles Fishburne in Science Matters

The prospects of three-dollar-a-gallon gasoline has again peaked interest in electric cars...and as Charles Fishburne tells us in this Science Matters report, many people believe it is only a matter of time.