Science Unwrapped Presentations

Artificial intelligence – AI – captures our imaginations with its rocketing innovation and surging accessibility.

Watershed scientist Patrick Belmont explores how we can better align economics and sustainability to put us on track for improving quality of life for people.

Collaborating with USU physicists and computer scientists, along with Cache County teachers, Swanson designs classroom science activities that help students transform daydreams into big ideas.

We associate earthquakes with seismic waves and potential destruction because that is what we can feel and see. But energy during an earthquake is also transformed into heat (the First Law of Thermodynamics.)

In probability theory, the Law of Large Numbers (LLN) is a theorem that describes the result of performing the same experiment a large number of times.

To keep people safe, it’s important to keep science in mind. Carl Farley is an industrial hygienist – a scientist and engineer who specializes in keeping people safe in the workplace.

Physicist Boyd Edwards and computer scientist John Edwards – who happen to be brothers – team up to help us understand these “weird” phenomena, with a little help from French scientist Gaspard-Gustave de Coriolis (1792-1843).

Many of us are afraid of radioactivity, but can’t explain why.  It turns out there are relatively few reasons for radioactive decay, and, at Science Unwrapped, we’ll explore each of them.

One … two … three …. Four: How do we know how old something is? USU geoscientist Evey Gannaway Dalton says the principle of fossil succession is fundamental to our understanding of the relative age of different rocks.

Summer is hot, winter is cold and spring is wet. But have you ever wondered why some seasons are hotter or colder, wetter or drier than normal?

Cache Valley, Utah and Idaho, along with the surrounding areas, have a fascinating geological history. Geologist Susanne Jänecke will describe our region's “rocky” history, including how ancient volcanoes in Gem Valley, as well as Lake Bonneville and acti...

Frogs can teach us a lot about evolution and how organisms adapt to an ever-changing world. Biologist Molly Womack takes us on a millions-of-years journey featuring amazing amphibians.

According to computer scientist Vladimir Kulyukin, the computation can unlock mysteries of honeybee behavior, how the bees’ environment affects how they live, along with the “music” of bees’ buzzing. Learn how artificial intelligence can transform hives i...

Lots of snow is great for skiers and thirsty reservoirs but can present a challenge to building designers. How do you build buildings that will safely withstand the weight of snow loads? By collecting and analyzing LOTS of data, and living with a little u...

What do we mean when we say “exponential growth”? Physicist Rob Davies will define this concept and how it relates to viruses, as well as economic growth and humanity’s impact on the planet.

Did you know chemical contaminants can travel long distances through the Earth’s atmosphere to remote ecosystems? Chemist Kimberly Hageman will discuss how pollutants from our human activities spread to the mountains, as well as to faraway places like Arc...

How can we use science to foster a healthier world? Using Utah Lake as an example, ecologist Ben Abbott will discuss ways to encourage productive interaction between scientific knowledge and public policy.

Electrical engineer and ASPIRE Director Dr. Regan Zane is the featured presenter for "Electric Avenues" focusing on the electric cars and roadways of the future. (April 1, 2022)

USU geoscientist Katie Potter, who recently completed Expedition 391 aboard the NSF-funded JOIDES Resolution research ship, was a featured speaker at USU’s Science Unwrapped Friday, March 18. She presented “What Goes Up, Must Come Down: Cleaning up the At...

USU neurobiologist Sara Freeman studies what happens in the brain as people form social bonds, including bonds strong enough to commit ourselves to one significant other. Freeman presented “The Science of Social Bonds: From Animals to Autism” at USU’s Sc...

“We’re going to explore how robots make very complex decisions, as they serve humans in a wide range of ways” What’s it like for a robot to live in a human world? USU computer scientist Mario Harper asked and answered this enticing question at USU’s Scien...

Biological Engineer Keith Roper presents “An In-COVID-ient Sleuth: Lifting Viral Fingerprints from Water and Air” at USU’s Science Unwrapped. He details efforts to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater. This has aided public health officials in tracking i...

USU ecologist Norah Saarman is using satellite and genetic data to track Mosquitos, disease-carrying killers. She discusses this in her presentation “Making Use of the Great and Small: Tracking Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes with Satellites and Genetics” at...

“It’s easier to understand data when you can see it,” says Kevin Moon, assistant professor in USU’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics. He explains this further in his Science Unwrapped presentation titled “Seeing Science: Using Machine Learning to ...

“Over the past 4,000 years, chocolate has evolved from a thick, bitter drink to the sweet, delicious treat we all enjoy today,” says USU food chemist Silvana Martini, who presented more about the history of chocolate in, “Molecules, Crystals and Chocolate...

USU political scientist Jeannie Johnson asks, “Which parts of ‘dataveillance’ are becoming attractive in the West and what does that mean for democracy?” in her Science Unwrapped presentation “The Dark Side of Dataveillance.” (March 19, 2021)

USU’s Ryan Jackson presents “A ‘CRISPR’ Understanding: How Genetic Engineering Will Impact Our Lives Now and in the Future” at Science Unwrapped. (Mar 5, 2021)

USU neurobiologist Thayne Sweeten says, “Although vaccines have played a major role in eradicating serious disease over the centuries, concerns and fears surrounding their use have persisted.” Sweeten explores this topic at Science Unwrapped with “Vaccin...

USU’s Science Unwrapped delves into zoonotic diseases (illnesses caused by germs spread from animals to people) as Research Assistant Professor Brett Hurst presents “Uneasy Neighbors: How Interactions Between Humans and Animals Can Cause Pandemics.” (Nov...

USU’s Science Unwrapped featured speaker Charmaine Sample, chief security research scientist of Idaho National Laboratory’s Cybercore Division presents “Smart Cookies: Exploring Artificial Intelligence and Machine 0Learning from the Perspective of a Cyber...

USU’s Science Unwrapped committee asked computer scientist Nick Flann, to present, “Meme Menace: How Disinformation Spreads on Social Media” as we explored some ominous themes of science in society as part of the “Brave New World” series. (Sep. 25, 2020)...

“How boring our meals would be without pollinators,” says Theresa Pitts-Singer, research entomologist, USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research Laboratory on the USU campus in Logan. She presents “All the Reasons that ‘Bee’” a...

“What choices can we make to improve our health, while also improving the health of our planet?” Ron Munger, USU’s Dietetics and Food Sciences professor, discusses this topic during his Science Unwrapped presentation “Is Your Diet Good for You and the Pl...

Bread has been a staple and a symbol, of sustenance, community, and survival since antiquity. USU Biology alum and Cache Valley artisan baker Bill Oblock re-introduces us to this common food source in an uncommon way, as he presents “Bake to the Future” a...

What happens to food when we eat it? USU nutrition scientist Carrie Durward, a registered dietitian, says the journey food takes through our digestive systems is ‘epic’ and she describes that fantastic voyage at Science Unwrapped. (Oct. 11, 2019)

Utah State University scientists Bruce Bugbee and Lance Seefeldt are part of the NASA-funded Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space Project, known as “CUBES,” and they share what they’ve learned about “Food on Mars” at Science Unwra...

Utah State University physicist Charlie Torre, a professor in USU’s Department of Physics, will explore the amazing atomic scale with the talk “Quantum” at USU’s Science Unwrapped. The presentation is the culmination of the year-long, 10th anniversary “Po...

“Nano,” a unit prefix meaning “one billionth,” is the topic for USU’s Science Unwrapped with featured speakers Elizabeth Vargis, assistant professor in USU’s Dept. of Biological Engineering and Nick Roberts, assistant professor in USU’s Dept. of Mechanica...

“Microscopic organisms influence the health of our environment and even processes occurring within our own bodies.” says USU biologist Bonnie Waring, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and the USU Ecology Center. She presents “Microscopic,”...

Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped continues its “Powers of 10” series with “Planetary”, featuring USU geologist Carol Dehler. Associate professor Dehler enjoys teaching physical and historical geology, stratigraphy and sedimentology.

Utah State University physicist Tonya Triplett, principle lecturer in USU’s Department of Physics and long-time lecturer of the course, “Intelligent Life in the Universe,” presents “Cosmologic,” for USU’s Science Unwrapped program. (Oct. 26, 2018)

“Trying to imagine numbers too massive or too miniscule to see can be mind-boggling…scientists rely on ‘Powers of 10’ notation to understand different physical scales and how big or how small things really are.” (Sep. 28, 2018)

Why do we create art? Do you have to be human to make art? That is, is “art” created by an artificially intelligent machine art? USU physicist David Peak explores these questions at Science Unwrapped as he presents “Do Androids Dream of Electric Art?” (M...

Objects, tools and machines we use every day emerged from a fusion of technology and artistic design. John Neely, a professor in USU’s Department of Art + Design, presents “The Evolution of Technology,” at Science Unwrapped. (Feb. 23, 2018)

Author Vladimir Nabokov was also an accomplished lepidopterist and illustrator. USU biologists Lauren Lucas and Zach Gompert explore Nabokov’s unique genius at USU’s Science Unwrapped with a presentation titled “Nabokov’s Butterflies”. (Jan. 26, 2022)

Sharks often evoke fear, but USU ecologist says the aquatic creatures deserve greater credit for their role in maintaining healthy marine and coastal ecosystems and a sustainable planet. Atwood presents “Sharks: Guardians of Our Oceans” at USU’s Science U...

Jim Lutz, assistant professor in USU’s Dept. of Wildland Resources, presents “Why the World Needs Big Trees,” at Science Unwrapped. “Big trees can be hundreds or thousands of years old, but few trees in forests reach these elite sizes,” he says. “...Big t...

Large terrestrial mammals fill us with wonder, curiosity and sometimes fear, but imagine a world without them. USU wildlife ecologist Johan du Toit explores this possibility at Science Unwrapped while he presents “Sharing the World with Big Animals.” (Se...

Do birds of a feather really flock together? Can birds recognize individual people? And why do birds sometimes crash into windows? Utah State University ornithologist Kimberly Sullivan explores these questions with her Science Unwrapped presentation, “A B...

Are wolves as ferocious and fearless as depicted in popular media? USU wildlife ecologist Dan MacNulty explores this question at Science Unwrapped. The assistant professor in the Dept. of Wildland Resources presents “Timid Predators, Scary Prey: Why Wolve...

Utah State University physicist Maria Rodriguez is featured speaker for the university’s Science Unwrapped program where she will present “CSI: Black Holes in the Universe.” which is the second of four events of Science Unwrapped’s “Science Fact, Science ...

“At Science Unwrapped, I’ll talk about how artists and filmmakers use paleontology and comparative anatomy to create believable monsters,” says featured speaker USU paleontologist Ben Burger about his talk “The Art and Science of Monster Creation.” (Jan....

Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped explores questions about movie making with bees as the featured speaker Jamie Strange, research entomologist with the USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit at USU, presents “Swarm Science: Taking the Sting Ou...

Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped explores a chilling hypothetical phenomenon when David Brown, associate professor in USU’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, presents “Artificial Intelligence: Too Late to Stop Robot Apocalypse?” (April 15...

“Dinosaurs were not monsters,” says Salt-Lake-City-based science writer Brian Switek. He sheds light on these awe-inspiring animals as featured speaker for Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped. He presents “Dino-Stars: The Fossils that Changed How We...

“I want to dispel common myths about snakes and offer a chance to learn some really cool, interesting stuff about these animals…” Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped explores these curious creatures when herpetologist Andrew Durso presents “Life is ...

We’ve all heard the terms ‘organic’ and ‘sustainable’ agriculture, but what do those descriptions really mean? Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped explores this question with USU soil scientist Jennifer Reeve. She presents “What is Organic and Susta...

USU’s Science Unwrapped will probe questions about optical camouflage technology and more during the talk, “Hiding in Plain Sight: Exploring Cloaking Devices.” Featured speaker is USU Physics alum John Howell ’95, professor of quantum optics at the Univer...

People can’t survive without water. But too much water destroys lives and property. Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped explores this extraordinary relationship with water scientist Michelle Baker as she presents “Water and People: Friends or Foes?”...

“Quality of water has to equal quality of life. If we degrade water, we degrade our quality of life,” says Betsy Damon, who has collaborated with scientists and urban planners around the world to create naturally filtering urban water parks, presents “Wat...

“Beavers do a much better job of river restoration than we do, and have a much longer track record of river engineering,” says USU geomorphologist Joe Wheaton. He is the featured speaker for USU’s Science Unwrapped presenting “Leave it to Beavers: Lessons...

Extraordinary microbial communities actually thrive in “America’s Dead Sea.” USU welcomes Westminster College microbiologist Bonnie Baxter, who has long studied these ultra-hearty organisms. She presents “Going to Extremes: Exploring Extremophiles of the...

USU wetlands ecologist Karin Kettenring addresses challenges, along with special features of the Great Salt Lake wetlands, as featured speaker for USU’s Science Unwrapped. Her talk is titled, “Mighty Phragmites: Controlling Plant Invaders in Great Salt La...

In its “Great Salt Lake Today” series, Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped explores this enigmatic Utah gem. The series begins with “Great Salt Lake: Stranger in Utah’s Backyard “presented by USU Limnologist Wayne Wurtsbaugh, (Jan 16, 2015)