This Is Science with Jess Phoenix

The 2024 election results are sending shockwaves through the scientific community, but we haven’t been caught flat-footed. Jess talks with Dr. Christopher Williams, political scientist with the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists about what we might see in the coming months, and more importantly: what we’re going to do to make sure science keeps saving lives.

As a post-election palate cleanser, Jess talks with webcomic artist, author, and cultural phenomenon creator Randall Munroe. They discus stick figure science cartoons and endless curiosity, delve into science mysteries, and even workshop lava moats.

We all know dinosaurs are extinct, but their demise is definitely a scary story with implications for us all during this spooky season. Jess gives out treats as she talks with Dr. Ken Lacovara, renowned paleontologist and discoverer of the world’s largest dinosaur about the fate of the dinos, the fate of our planet, and a revolutionary new museum in New Jersey where the two collide.

Everyone needs to get from point A to point B, and Jess talks with urban planner and UCS Director of Clean Transportation Steven Higashide about the latest and greenest in what moves us.

Hurricanes pounding the southeast, heatwaves and smoke from fires across the country, and temperature records falling left and right…Jess talks with UCLA climate scientist and Weather West blogger Dr. Daniel Swain about this summer of extremes.

Jess talks with California State University, Los Angeles Biology Department Chair Dr. Kirsten Fisher about desert mosses, climate change, and the changing state of science in higher education.

A new report using voting precinct-level data uncovers key information about who is actually voting in our elections, and who our current democratic process is leaving behind. Jess talks with UCS scientist and report author Dr. Liza Gordon-Rogers about what this means for the 2024 elections.

This special episode takes listeners on a film noir-style journey to explore the fossil fuel crime wave that's sweeping the nation. UCS scientists Dr. Carly Phillips and Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto become part of the elite Danger Season Squad, using science to solve crimes against humanity and break the news to the unsuspecting public along with Danger Season beat reporter Jess Phoenix. Visit sciencewithjess.org to see the special graphic novel version of the show!

Jess visits the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to unearth efforts by Dr. Aaron Celestian and his team to use a groundbreaking new mineral-based method to clean up lead contamination in L.A. backyards.

After the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump, Jess talks with Dr. Garen Wintemute, Director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California - Davis, about the science of political violence and what we can do to stop it. This episode discusses difficult topics like gun violence and mentions suicide, so please take note.

A groundbreaking new report reveals the looming threats facing United States coastlines from now through 2100. Experts Dr. Juan Declet-Barreto and Shana Udvardy cover what you need to know.

Jess talks with NASA OSIRIS-REx mission lead planetary scientist and cosmochemist Dr. Dante Lauretta about collecting samples from the asteroid Bennu that are now helping us understand the very origins of the universe.

Food justice activist and writer Rae Gomes joins Jess to talk about what we get wrong about food in the United States, and what we can do to make things right.

Jess has the details on some recent UCS victories in the real world, and gives a preview of what you can expect for the second season of This Is Science.

Thank you to all of our listeners for a fantastic first season of This Is Science with Jess Phoenix! We are grateful for your support, and stay tuned for the start of Season 2 in just a few weeks.

Dr. Jo Lukito of the University of Texas, Austin has made using science to understand political language her life’s work. She joins Jess for the third episode in our ongoing series about the science of democracy in the 2024 election cycle.

Jess hosts a conversation between climate scientist Dr. Brenda Ekwurzel and environmentalist and actor Eric Balfour about climate solutions and the future of humanity and our planet.

Jess talks with California's Attorney General Rob Bonta about a historic lawsuit he filed against Big Oil to hold them accountable for the devastating effects of climate change caused by their fossil fuel products.

Longtime Washington journalist Jesse J. Holland talks with Jess about changes in journalism and communicating science in the age of social media and “alternative facts,” and what we can expect as the 2024 US election cycle swings into gear. This is the second episode in UCS’ ongoing 2024 election cycle coverage.

Jess talks about space, science, and the future of humans in our universe with Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, the award-winning authors behind the hit books and critically-acclaimed TV series The Expanse.