Best Technologies For Justice Lab Podcasts (2025)

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Carbon capture could be an important tool for tackling climate change. Can we find productive ways to use that carbon? 42:58

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19h ago42:58

42:58

As fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, there is renewed interest in what can be done to capture carbon dioxide. Until now, most of the investment in carbon capture has gone into projects to take those emissions and store them underground forever. But what if we could make use of that captured carbon? To find out what role…

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Knowledge: Stories from our workshops 26:48

4d ago26:48

26:48

In this week’s episode, we’re featuring two powerful stories born from our education program. Part 1: As an undergraduate with no “real” science experience, Molly Magid is thrilled to join a research project studying how bats fly—until she discovers the bats refuse to cooperate. Part 2: As a child, Léa Souccar and her father explore the wreckage in…

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Data centers for AI will need to embrace flexibility if our electricity system is going to cope. How can large loads support the grid? 50:43

6d ago50:43

50:43

AI is adding to US electricity consumption at a pace not seen in decades. That demand growth is creating new strains on the grid in many parts of the country. But what if AI could instead help keep the system running? Varun Sivaram is a founder & CEO of Emerald AI and a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He says that far from underm…

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Reframe: Stories about art helping mental health 31:52

11d ago31:52

31:52

In this week’s episode, we explore how creativity, humor, and connection can be powerful tools for mental health and healing. Part 1: When anxiety starts taking over her life, Jude Treder-Wolff signs up for an improv class. Part 2: Counselor Belinda Arriaga and emergency medicine doctor Nancy Ewen join forces to collect scientific evidence of the p…

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Evictions: Stories of things that had to go 25:47

18d ago25:47

25:47

In this week’s episode, both storytellers face the challenge of evicting some very unwelcome guests. Part 1: While housesitting for her uncle, JiJi Lee’s peaceful stay takes a chaotic turn when a squirrel breaks in. Part 2: When a serious mold infestation takes over the university campus, Joshua Wilson is tasked with eliminating it. JiJi Lee is a c…

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What will the COP30 climate talks mean for energy? 49:58

7d ago49:58

49:58

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Best of Story Collider: Identity Crisis 30:04

25d ago30:04

30:04

This week we present two classic stories about people struggling with their identity. Part 1: When science journalist Katherine Wu interviews a scientist about a new facial recognition algorithm, the conversation turns more personal than she expected. Part 2: Hurricane Katrina gives Mary Annaise Heglar a new perspective on both her grandfather and …

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Becoming Your Hero: Stories about embodying a role model 25:47

1M ago25:47

25:47

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers transform into someone they admire—one quite literally, the other more figuratively. Part 1: While juggling climate science studies and a budding comedy career, Rollie Williams finds an unexpected niche impersonating his environmental hero, Al Gore. Part 2: Scott Acton longs to follow in Hemingway’s …

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Petrostates, electrostates, and the energy transition. Gerard Reid of the Redefining Energy podcast visits the Energy Gang 1:03:57

1M ago1:03:57

1:03:57

Is the global transition to low-carbon energy accelerating or slowing down? One answer is that it depends where you look. In the US, energy policy has shifted away from support for low-carbon technologies, but China is continuing with record installations of solar, wind, and batteries, and record sales of EVs. With AI emerging as the central arena …

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Someone Else's Shoes: Stories about understanding others perspectives 26:34

1M ago26:34

26:34

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers are pushed out of their comfort zones—and challenged to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Part 1: As someone who always likes to play it safe, psychologist Kenneth Carter sets out to understand what makes thrill-seekers tick. Part 2: Philosophy professor Rob Reich is frustrated that so many …

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Sticky Fingers: Stories about theft 31:36

2M ago31:36

31:36

In this week’s episode, we explore what pushes someone to steal, and how it feels to be the one robbed. Part 1: With a potential cancer diagnosis looming and his health insurance about to vanish, David Crabb finds an envelope stuffed with $100 bills. Part 2: When Zakiya Whatley bonds with another student in grad school, it feels like the start of a…

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Planning the grid to meet future energy demand | A discussion on the future of the grid, AI, energy innovation, and delivering the electricity supply we will need in the coming decades 1:11:07

2M ago1:11:07

1:11:07

The grid “is designed for the core components - supplying electricity - but we are definitely pushing it to its limits,” says Melissa Lott, Partner for energy technologies at Microsoft*. The electricity grid has been described as one of the greatest achievements of human civilisation, because of its complexity, scale, and essential role in our soci…

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Then Comes A Baby?: Stories about the choice to have children 27:01

2M ago27:01

27:01

This week’s episode dives into one of the most personal decisions many women face: whether or not to have children. Part 1: When a piece of her IUD breaks off, Bailey Swilley’s spirals about her choice never to have children. Part 2: Christel Bartelse takes an unconventional approach to figure out if she wants to be a mother or not. Bailey Swilley …

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Just the Cost of Speaking Up: Why Victims and Witnesses Stay Silent 47:42

2M ago47:42

47:42

In this special release episode, Just Science sat down with Stacy Sechrist, community violence researcher at RTI International, Jesse Brey, criminal justice researcher and PhD student at Temple University, and Harrod Emmanuel Clay Jr., pastor and community-based advocate, to discuss findings from RTI’s Victim and Witness Participation research proj…

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Best of Story Collider: Acceptance 35:40

2M ago35:40

35:40

This week, we’re presenting stories about the struggle to find acceptance — whether it’s at Space Camp or in the United States of America. Part 1: Computer scientist LaShana Lewis’s childhood dream of attending Space Camp starts to feel far away — until she gets the Christmas surprise of a lifetime. Part 2: When Guizella Rocabado leaves her home in…

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What will energy look like 5 years after the 'Big Beautiful Bill?' The Energy Gang report from 2030. 1:14:57

2M ago1:14:57

1:14:57

In this episode, we take a trip in a time machine, five years into the future. 2030 has been set as a deadline for many climate goals, and is a milestone for checking progress towards a low-carbon energy system. Ed Crooks, Amy Myers Jaffe and Melissa Lott imagine themselves five years from now, and look back at how the US energy industry has change…

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Green Thumb: Stories about gardening 42:03

2M ago42:03

42:03

In this week’s episode, we’re getting into the weeds—literally—with two stories about how gardens and green spaces can take root in our lives in unexpected ways. Part 1: Feeling lonely after a move to New York City, Kofi Thomas finds connection, purpose, and community through a neighborhood garden. Part 2: As he fights to stay sober, Michael Hudgin…

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Wired Lives: Stories about brain-computer interfaces 38:44

2M ago38:44

38:44

This week’s special episode—produced in partnership with Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society at Georgia Tech – features two powerful stories from individuals whose lives have been shaped by brain-computer interfaces. Part 1: As his Parkinson’s symptoms worsen and medications take a toll, Brandan Mehaffie faces a life-altering d…

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Inside the ‘crazy grid’: why the future of energy needs everything, everywhere, all at once 1:12:37

3M ago1:12:37

1:12:37

Building out the electricity grid was traditionally a predictable and straightforward business. Now it’s like trying to land a jet on a moving aircraft carrier in the dark. That’s a quote from this week’s guest Quinn Nakayama. He’s the senior director of Grid Research and Innovation at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). He joins host Ed Crooks and regu…

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Mishaps: Stories about unintended mistakes 26:06

3M ago26:06

26:06

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers share tales of well-intentioned choices gone wrong. Part 1: In fourth grade, Ro Moran is thrilled to be trusted with the class pet iguana, Iggy, for the night. But by morning, something is very wrong. Part 2: As an exchange student studying superconducting oxides, Karoline Mueller tries to save money…

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The Big Beautiful Bill is close to passing. What would it mean for clean energy in the US? 1:09:38

3M ago1:09:38

1:09:38

This week the US budget reconciliation legislation, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, squeaked through the Senate on a 51/50 vote. The bill has wide-ranging implications for energy in the US, including an imminent end to tax credits for wind and solar power. To discuss what the new legislation means, host Ed Crooks is joined by regular guest Amy…

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Best of Story Collider: Pride 28:55

3M ago28:55

28:55

To close out Pride Month this week, we're sharing a special best of episode featuring stories about coming out in science! Part 1: Science educator Charlie Cook experiments with coming out to students. Charlie Cook is a non-binary white settler on ancestral, unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territory. They are a museum science interpr…

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EBOS: the unsung hero that’s accelerating clean energy deployment | How Shoals is improving utility-scale solar performance 27:16

3M ago27:16

27:16

Sponsored content from Shoals Technologies Group. EBOS – electrical balance of systems – includes everything that carries electricity from solar panels to the grid: wiring, switches, connector boxes and other components. It might not grab headlines, but it’s the backbone of every solar and storage project, and is essential to performance, reliabili…

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Red Flag: Stories about toxic relationships 27:04

3M ago27:04

27:04

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers use a scientific lens to examine their worst relationships. Part 1: Carlos Maza uses the plague to analyze his brutal breakup. Part 2: Panagiota Vogdou refuses to see her boyfriend as toxic until a stranger on the bus tells her to go to therapy. Carlos Maza is a video journalist focusing on misinform…

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How do we adapt to a warming world? 1:06:10

3M ago1:06:10

1:06:10

The world is experiencing a new reality: infrastructure, agriculture, and supply chains were built for a historical climate that no longer exists. Last year the average global surface temperature was about 1.47° C warmer than in the late 19th century, according to NASA. On current trends we are on course for perhaps 2.7° C of warming by the end of …

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Coming Out: Stories about sharing one's identity 24:46

3M ago24:46

24:46

In celebration of Pride Month, we’re sharing two stories about coming out with the help of science. Part 1: After years of struggling with their gender identity, Parker Sublette finds inspiration in marine life. Part 2: Bullied as a kid for the sound of his voice, Garret Glinka begins to reclaim his confidence thanks to biology class. Parker Sublet…

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Geothermal, dealmaking, and the future of clean energy finance | live from the ACORE Finance Forum in New York 1:11:40

3M ago1:11:40

1:11:40

In the third and final special episode recorded live from the ACORE Finance Forum, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk to industry leaders to explore some key issues in renewable energy technology and finance. Amy starts the episode by speaking with David Ulrey, CFO of Fervo Energy, an innovative geothermal startup. David shares i…

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Energy and the ‘big beautiful bill’ | live from day 2 of the ACORE Finance Forum in New York 1:14:44

4M ago1:14:44

1:14:44

As the US races against China to develop the most advanced capabilities in AI, energy is critical. In this second episode from the ACORE finance forum, we speak to experts about how US energy policy, and in particular the reconciliation bill now being debated in Congress, might affect that race. Host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk…

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Pseudoscience: Stories about scientific misinformation 27:41

4M ago27:41

27:41

This week’s special episode—produced in partnership with Challenging Pseudoscience, at the Royal Institution, with support from the Open Society Foundation—features two storytellers who share just how easy it is to fall for scientific misinformation, and how difficult it can be to find your way back. Part 1: When Lydia Greene’s infant daughter has …

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Clean energy finance in uncertain times | live from day 1 of the ACORE Finance Forum in New York 59:00

4M ago59:00

59:00

The Energy Gang are at The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Finance Forum in New York City, which brings together industry leaders, investors, and bankers to discuss the hottest issues in clean energy. Host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk to ACORE Chief Executive and President Ray Long about the uncertainty hanging over…

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Best of Story Collider: Celebrating 15 Years 25:28

4M ago25:28

25:28

To kick off our big 15 year anniversary celebration, we’re re-sharing two stories from the storytellers you, the fans, voted as your favorite stories. And the best part? You can see these storytellers, along with the other fan favorites, take the stage live on June 3, 2025, at Caveat in New York City during our special anniversary show and fundrais…

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Moving On: Stories about letting go of a relationship 27:52

4M ago27:52

27:52

Some relationships stand the test of time—others unravel. In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers explore what it means to heal, let go, and move forward. Part 1: Stuck in a monsoon on Kauai, Belinda Fu unintentionally ruins a friendship with a classmate. Part 2: Matt Storrs blames a dinosaur scientist’s theory for the end of his marriage.…

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It’s looking bleak for clean energy in the US as Congress threatens to shred the Inflation Reduction Act 1:15:13

4M ago1:15:13

1:15:13

Legislation with massive implications for clean energy in the US has been making progress in Congress. The Republican party’s “big beautiful bill”, introducing sweeping changes to taxes and government spending, would phase out most of the tax credits for low-carbon energy that were created, expanded or extended in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) …

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Hyperfixation: Stories about intense focus 29:09

4M ago29:09

29:09

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers become extremely fixated on something very specific. Part 1: After being diagnosed with breast cancer and opting for bilateral mastectomies, Jenna Dioguardi becomes beholden to her cancer to-do list. Part 2: As an 11-year-old kid, Luke Strathmann makes it his life mission to get rich off of Beanie Ba…

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Can we add dozens of giant new data centers to the electricity grid? New research says yes – if we embrace load flexibility. 1:02:57

4M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

It’s the most talked-about academic paper this year in the world of energy. Rethinking Load Growth, co-authored by Tyler Norris of Duke University has caused a stir in energy circles because it offers a new perspective on the hottest issue of the moment: how to provide power for new data centers and other large consumers. With new sources of electr…

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A Mother's Love: Stories honoring mothers 29:59

5M ago29:59

29:59

In honor of Mother’s Day, both of our storytellers share stories about their unique relationships with their moms. Part 1: Rita Rigano always had a complicated relationship with her mother, and it becomes even more fraught when her mother’s dementia worsens. Part 2: In the midst of writing her PhD dissertation, Jordyn Rice embarks on one last road …

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Missing Pieces: Stories about an unremembered friendship 19:14

5M ago19:14

19:14

In this week’s episode, Thomas Dixon and Rachel Robinson manage to build a friendship, despite not remembering the exact moments they shared. Thomas Dixon is the author of "I'm Sorry... That's Awesome!: Inventing a Solution for Memory Loss", and the inventor of ME.mory (a digital memory mobile application/service). Thomas was running when struck by…

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An energy podcast crossover: Energy Gang and Interchange Recharged join forces to discuss flexibility on the power grid: why it is so important, and how to create it 39:29

5M ago39:29

39:29

They called the film Avengers: Infinity War the most ambitious crossover event in history. We can’t quite make the same claim, but at Wood Mackenzie’s 2025 Solar and Energy Storage Summit, we did record a crossover episode. Ed Crooks, host of Energy Gang, is joined by Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Wood Mackenz’s principal analyst for solar power and host …

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What do the tariff wars mean for low-carbon energy? | Recorded live at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit 30:13

5M ago30:13

30:13

“With great uncertainty comes great opportunity”, says Abby Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, in this special episode of the Energy Gang, recorded live at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit. Is she right? And what are those opportunities? To find out, host Ed Crooks welcomed Abby and Shyam Sriniv…

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Best of Story Collider: Justice 34:58

5M ago34:58

34:58

This week we present two stories from people who stood up against a system eager to tear them down. Part 1: After a car crash alters Emily Winn's life forever, she must relive the trauma when she testifies in a deposition. Part 2: Geneticist C. Brandon Ogbunu contemplates the role race has played in his academic career after he is confronted by the…

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Freak Accident: Stories about highly unusual incidents 32:04

5M ago32:04

32:04

In this week’s episode, both our storytellers’ lives are altered by an unexpected mishap. Part 1: When teenage Ron Hart accidentally walks through a glass door, he lands in the ER on the worst possible day: a tornado drill. Part 2: After a car accident leaves all of her teeth bent inward, Di Cai begins to rethink her life as a scientist. Ron Hart i…

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Just Improving Sexual Assault Kit Testing Workflows 33:26

5M ago33:26

33:26

In episode one of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month season, Just Science sat down with Jody West, the Forensic Science Manager for the Forensic Biology Section at the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory, and Dr. Patricia Melton, a Senior Research Forensic Social Scientist at RTI International, to discuss resources aimed to help forensic science …

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Keeping cleantech investment alive | With technological, economic and policy challenges mounting, how can we keep energy innovation on track? 53:10

5M ago53:10

53:10

These are hard times for investment in low-carbon energy. The lack of progress in international climate negotiations, threats to policy support, and an increased awareness of the challenges of decarbonization, have created some strong headwinds. Everyone agrees that more breakthroughs in innovative emissions-reducing technologies are essential for …

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Breaking Barriers: Stories about succeeding despite the odds 26:56

5M ago26:56

26:56

In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers share tales of persistence and beating the odds in order to pursue their scientific dreams. Part 1: Determined to become an academic, Rajyashree Sen must take on a broken system to secure a spot in a PhD program in Vienna. Part 2: Josh Barber dreams of studying fish, but when his father goes to jail …

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How can the power industry meet the challenge of rising demand? | In a special live episode recorded at the American Clean Power association, we discuss how to meet America’s growing need for electricity ... 41:11

6M ago41:11

41:11

If President Trump’s tariff strategy succeeds in sparking a revival in US manufacturing, one consequence will be surging demand for power. We are already seeing electricity demand starting to pick up after 15 years of stagnation, driven by new data centers for AI and a wave of factory-building for semiconductors and batteries that is already under …

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Not The One: Stories about ill-fated partners 26:45

6M ago26:45

26:45

Some people are meant to be together—but in this week’s episode, our storytellers discover they’re definitely not a match made in heaven. Part 1: When Mark Pitzer gets splashed with methyl cyanide, he turns to his new girlfriend in hopes of comfort. Part 2: Hoping to impress his scientist date, Adam Selbst plans the perfect outing: the Central Park…

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Is the US being left behind in the race to develop new clean energy technologies? BYD is selling EVs that can charge in five minutes | China is streaking ahead of the US in the energy transition race 58:08

6M ago58:08

58:08

The Chinese car company BYD, the world’s top-selling manufacturer of electric vehicles, is launching two models that can charge in five minutes; about the time it takes to fill a tank with gasoline. It’s news that looks like a landmark moment in the energy transition, the way that the release of the DeepSeek model was for AI. It’s another eye-openi…

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Best of Story Collider: Fight or Flight 31:54

6M ago31:54

31:54

This week, we present two stories about confronting threats -- whether it’s actual physical danger or a threat to your career. Part 1: Climate scientist Kim Cobb is exploring a cave in Borneo when rocks begin to fall. Part 2: Neurobiologist Lyl Tomlinson is startled when he's accused of stealing cocaine from his former lab. Kim Cobb is a researcher…