The Aspiring STEM Geek

Adrian Dolinay
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Technology
  • Updated Monthly

Hi everyone, welcome to The Aspiring STEM Geek! The podcast is a casual conversation with a guest about science, technology and other related topics.

  1. 6d ago

    NASA and Aviation with Nancy Currie-Gregg - #29

    In this episode I talk with Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg, a formerArmy aviation officer, NASA astronaut and current Professor of Practice, Industrial & Systems Engineering and Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University. In the episode, we discuss how Nancy became interested in aviation at a young age, her decision to join the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Nancy’s work as an Army Aviator, her time as a NASA flight simulation engineer, attending the Astronaut Candidate Training Program, the experience of taking off into space, her role as a flight engineer across fourNASA space missions, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Nancy leading the Space Shuttle Program’s Safety and Mission Assurance Office after the Columbia disaster, her recommendation to aspiring Astronauts and much more. I hope you enjoy!   ARTICLES: STS-57: https://www.nasa.gov/mission/sts-57/ STS-88: https://www.nasa.gov/mission/sts-88/ Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) Report (2003): https://govinfo.library.unt.edu/caib/news/report/volume1/default.html The Challenger STS-51L Accident: https://www.nasa.gov/challenger-sts-51l-accident/ What we know about the midair plane and helicopter crashnear Washington, D.C.: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/30/nx-s1-5280198/plane-crash-washington-dc-helicopter-potomac Neil Armstrong, Ohio teachers inspired astronaut NancyCurrie-Gregg: https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/usa250/2026/04/12/nancy-currie-gregg-astronaut-challenger-explosion-ohio/89441020007/   BOOKS: The Challenger launch decision by Diane Vaughan Normal Accidents by Charles Perrow   MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO: massobeats - bonsai (https://youtu.be/BgjrxtC_WlE)   CONNECT: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X:https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinay   PODCAST: Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SN iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV   |-Video Chapters-| 0:00 – Intro0:21 – Nancy’s interest in math and science growing up1:09 – Studying Biological Science and joining Army Reserve Officers' TrainingCorps4:55 – Army aviation school8:17 –Helicopter Instructor Pilot10:22 – NASA Simulation Engineer14:54 – NASA’s Shuttle Training Aircraft19:14 – Fault injection in flight simulation21:57 – NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Training Program24:56 – Space Transportation System 57 (STS-57)32:16 –Space Transportation System 88 (STS-88)37:00 – The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and the aftermath41:38 – Breaking into the space industry43:56 – Book recommendation46:34 – Conclusion

  2. Jul 1

    Welding with Estevan Ortega - #28

    In this episode I talk with Estevan Ortega, a welder and welding instructor at Santa Fe Community College. We first discuss how Estevan got into welding. Then Estevan explains what welding is, the equipment utilized, the science of welding, different welding processes such as MIG, TIG and STICK, the industries welders can work in, specialized fields such as welding for national labs or underwater welding, the salaries of welders and much more. I hope you enjoy!   Estevan’s Art Welding at Globe Fine Art: https://globefineart.com/artist/estevan-ortega   ARTICLES: A Comprehensive Guide to Groove Welding: https://www.lincolntech.edu/news/skilled-trades/welding-technology/comprehensive-guide-groove-welding Lunch atop a Skyscraper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_Skyscraper Rail safety investigators release final report on deadlysouthern Colorado derailment: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/rail-safety-investigators-final-report-deadly-pueblo-colorado-derailment/ The Santa Fe Opera brings non-traditional applications ofwelding studies to high school students: https://www.santafeopera.org/company/press-news-media/welding-at-the-opera/   BOOKS: King James Bible Dante’s Inferno by Dante Alighieri Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy  MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO:Music: massobeats - familiar places (https://youtu.be/M0NqWjmUl4Q) CONNECT: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X:https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinay   PODCAST: Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 Audible:https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SN?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV?si=26e034e416f446d8   |-Video Chapters-| 0:00 – Intro1:03 – Estevan’s Interest in engineering and the trades growing up2:27 – How Estevan got into welding4:13 – Defining welding6:19 – Equipment that novice welders learn to use7:09 – Welding personal protective equipment (PPE)10:01 – Thermal cycle of welding13:12 – The big four welding processes16:44 – Orbital, Laser welding and advanced technologies20:28 – Welding material forms27:39 – Welding joint types28:52 – Base and filler metals32:19 – Welding in the field vs welding in a shop35:57 – Thermal cutting37:24 – Welding in Alaska40:00 – Welding symbols42:06 – Identifying welding defects48:03 – Walking through a real world example of a welding job54:16 – If you are older what are your options in welding?58:37 – Which industries currently have a high demand for welders?1:02:07 – Working for national labs and high tech companies1:07:01 – Hyperbaric (underwater) welding1:12:13 – Where Estevan’s welding students find work1:17:28 – How welding salaries compare to other trades1:21:24 – The gender gap in welding1:27:02 – How to get started in welding1:31:41 – If Estevan could work in a different field it would be…1:36:29 – Estevan’s work with a local high school at the Santa Fe Opera1:39:24 – Estevan’s art 1:43:16 – Best activities in Santa Fe1:46:41 – Book Recommendations1:51:00 – Conclusion

  3. Jun 15

    Data Centers with Jonathan Koomey - #27

    In this episode I talk with Dr. Jonathan Koomey, the founder of Koomey Analytics and a former researcher & scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The focus of this episode is on data centers. We first start with Jon’s interest in the history of science which he studied at Harvard for his undergraduate. We go over Jon’s PhD thesis on why cost-effective energy efficiency measures may not be adopted in new office buildings. Then we get to data centers. Jonathan discusses the difficulties in obtaining the energy usage data for data centers, the tradeoff between innovation & understanding energy use, limitations of AI in research, a phenomenological model named Koomey’s law that Jon developed, GPUs, software to develop more energy efficient AI models, energy efficient vs inefficient data centers, how companies decide where to build data centers & much more. I hope you enjoy!   Koomey Analytics Website: www.koomey.com   PAPERS: Jon’s PhD Thesis: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268339858 Estimating Bitcoin Electricity Use: A Beginner’s Guide: https://coincenter.org/estimating-bitcoin-electricity-use-a-beginners-guide Implications of Historical Trends in the ElectricalEfficiency of Computing: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224128141 Characteristics of low-carbon data centres:  https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate1786 Separating fact from fiction in data center electricity forecasts: A guide for regulators: https://gridlab.org/portfolio-item/data-center-load-forecast-report Electricity Demand Growth & Data Centers: A Guide for the Perplexed: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/electricity-demand-growth-and-data-centers/ ARTICLES: Data center energy use: truth versus myth: https://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/data-center-energy-myth.html Koomey’s Law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koomey%27s_law 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/32d6m0d1 To better understand AI’s growing energy use, analysts need a data revolution: https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(24)00347-7   BOOKS: The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman Reinventing the Bazaar by John McMillan Linked: The New Science of Networks by Albert-László Barabási   TEXTBOOK: Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving by Jonathan Koomey MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO:Music: massobeats - https://youtu.be/4uJKRDkwwXo   VIDEO: China & AI Supply Chains: DeepSeek, Huawei, Transformers, Robotics, & More with TP Huang: https://youtu.be/NAXOP5gt_5I CONNECT: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X:https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0   PODCAST: Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DC73S9SN iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV   |-Video Chapters-| 0:00 – Intro1:39 – Jon’s interest in science and energy2:37 – Energy issues in 20267:24 – Jon studying the History of Science at Harvard10:19 – Jon’s research at UC Berkeley11:38 – Jon’s PhD Thesis on energy efficiency in new office buildings19:51 – Rated power vs. actual power draw for hardware26:32 – Why is energy usage not well measured by tech manufacturers?28:05 – Critical thinking & the limitations of AI34:05 – Koomey’s Law38:59 – CUDA the software behind Nvidia’s GPUs40:53 – AI software development in China43:50 – Efficient vs inefficient data centers49:47 – The shift from On Prem to Cloud51:39 – How do companies decide where to build data centers?57:24 – Data centers in the AI age1:02:19 – Will the US & China dominate in data center compute?1:05:35 – Does the type of AI algorithm affect energy efficiency of datacenters?1:08:54 – The issues with assumptions about AI1:17:38 – Jon’s ideal data center policies1:24:59 – Book recommendations1:29:51 – Conclusion

  4. Jun 1

    Nutritional Physiology with Emily Howard - #26

    In this episode I am joined by Dr. Emily Howard aNutritional Physiologist at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM). The focus of the episode is nutritional physiology, which is the study of how nutrients and diet interact with the body at a cellular and physiological level. We start the conversation discussing how Emily becameinterested in nutritional science. Then we get into the field. Emily defines physiology and nutritional science, explains macronutrients, ketones, metabolism, calories, how fat is burned, how muscle is built, muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown, research she has conducted onsupplements, research she conducted on nutrition in extreme arctic environments and much more. I hope you enjoy!   PAPERS: Ketone Monoester Plus Carbohydrate Supplementation Does NotAlter Exogenous and Plasma Glucose Oxidation or Metabolic Clearance Rate DuringExercise in Men Compared with Carbohydrate Alone: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36893935/ Chocolate Milk and Endurance Exercise Recovery ProteinBalance, Glycogen, and Performance: https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182364162 Whole-Body Protein Balance during Arctic Military TrainingIs Unaffected by Dietary Essential Amino Acid or Energy Density: https://jn.nutrition.org/article/S0022-3166(26)00163-X/fulltext   ARTICLES: Iron-Deficiency Anemia: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22824-iron-deficiency-anemia Physiology: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/physiology Know Your Macros: Why Macronutrients Are Key to HealthyEating: https://www.cedars-sinai.org/stories-and-insights/expert-advice/what-are-macronutrients BOOKS: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Ski Troops by Hal Burton MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO: Music: massobeats - memories (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM139aHl4fY)   CONNECT: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X:https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinay   PODCAST: Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SN iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV   |-Video Chapters-| 0:00 – Intro1:23 – Emily’s interest in biology, exercise science and nutrition4:54 – Joining the United States Army Research Institute of EnvironmentalMedicine (USAREIM) as a researcher7:38 – Defining Physiology and Nutritional Physiology8:34 – Macronutrients10:26 – Do our bodies have a preferred fuel source?13:09 – Ketones14:43 – Calories16:21 – Building muscle and burning fat19:40 – Total calories vs how the calories are consumed22:04 – Nutrition as you age25:14 – Emily’s research on Ketones and Carbohydrates32:23 – Muscle Protein Synthesis and Muscle Protein Breakdown36:33 – mTOR Pathway and muscle growth39:48 – Hormones regulating Muscle Protein Synthesis and Breakdown40:46 – Is all protein created equal?43:42 – Is chocolate milk a good source of protein for post/pre workouts?45:32 – Calories burned in a normal environment compared to an extreme Arcticenvironment49:24 – Experiencing Arctic weather during a research trip52:44 – Is there an ideal diet for the extreme cold?54:30 – Extreme cold can limit your will for any activity56:32 – Emily’s research on protein balance in the Arctic1:11:48 – Can nutritional advice be generalized?1:14:49 – How to start a career in nutrition science and or physiology1:17:23 – UConn Sports1:19:30 – Emily’s favorite sports to play and watch1:21:02 – Book Recommendations1:23:00 - Conclusion

  5. May 15

    Volcanoes with Natália Gauer Pasqualon - #25

    In this episode I am joined by Doctor Natalia Gauer Pasqualon, a volcanologist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The focus of this episode is volcanology, which is the study of volcanoes and geochemical phenomena.We first discuss how Natalia decided to study geology for her undergraduate degree and how Natalia ended up finishing two PhDs in volcanology. Then we get into volcanology. Natalia defines what a Volcano is, the difference between lava and magma, hotspots, the different types of volcanoes, volcanic eruptions, underwater volcanoes, super volcanoes, the terabytes of data she has to work with and much more. I hope you enjoy! PAPERS: Natalia’s PhD Thesis: https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/101a9715-d88a-4983-a2b6-e03d505cd503 Kīlauea lava fuels phytoplankton bloom in the North Pacific Ocean: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aax4767 Growth and degradation of Hawaiian volcanoes: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp18013 ARTICLES: Oceanic Hotspots: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/plate-tectonics-oceanic-hotspots.htm Volcanic Eruptions: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/volcanoes/volcanic-eruptions.htm Update on the July 23 Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/240723.htm Marine life's latest hotspot could be an underwater volcano primed to erupt off Oregon: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/15/nx-s1-5398591/underwater-volcano-eruption-oregon What is a supervolcano? What is a supereruption?: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-a-supervolcano-what-a-supereruption Man dies after rescue from restricted area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-dies-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-rcna262100 BOOKS: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO: Music: massobeats - warmth (https://youtu.be/slnUKMhcQUs) CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X: https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinay PODCAST: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SN iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV |-Video Chapters-| 0:00 – Intro 1:17 – Why Natália decided to study geology for her undergraduate 4:51 – Natália earning two PhDs 8:56 – Defining what a Volcano is 10:38 – Defining Volcanology 10:57 – The geochemistry of Volcanoes 13:36 – Lava vs Magma 15:05 – Hotspots 17:38 – Modeling lava flow 18:59 – The types of Volcanoes 21:26 – The most common Volcano type in Hawaii 22:19 – The types of Volcanic eruptions 24:46 – Which Volcano type is most dangerous? 28:21 – How well can we forecast Volcanic eruptions? 33:32 – Accessing Volcanoes as a researcher 34:50 – Collecting data during Volcanic activity 39:09 – Super Volcanoes 41:47 – Yellowstone 43:19 – Submarine Volcanoes 48:42 – The lifecycle of a Volcano in Hawaii 54:37 – Natália’s research for her PhD thesis 1:03:51 – The dangers of Volcanoes 1:06:17 – Volcanic soil for growing agriculture 1:07:48 – Housing near Volcano hazard zones 1:08:37 – Wildlife near Volcanoes 1:10:03 – How to get started in Volcanology 1:11:59 – Coolest Volcanoes Natália has seen 1:14:06 – Places to check out if you visit Brazil 1:17:12 – Brazilian cinematography and music 1:19:21 – Book recommendation

  6. May 1

    Hydrology with Eric Larson - #24

    In this episode I am joined by Eric Larson, a hydrologist who works for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The focus of this episode is hydrology, which is a field in science that studies the movement, distribution, and management of water on Earth. In the episode we discuss Eric’s love of the outdoors, studying civil engineering for his undergraduate, his current work as a hydrologist in Montana, methods for collecting hydrology data, his experience with SNOwpackTELemetryNetwork, how hydrology data is utilized by farmers and local governments and much more. I hope you enjoy! VIDEO: MontanaNRCS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MontanaNRCS/videos PAPERS: The History of Snow Survey & Water Supply forecasting: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/History-Of-Snow-Survey.pdf Water Supply Outlook Reports – Montana: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/montana/montana-snow-survey/water-supply-outlook-reports-montana ARTICLES: The Man Behind the Snowpack: https://mountainjournal.org/eric-larson-the-man-behind-the-snowpack/ Understanding Snow: https://watereducationcolorado.org/publications-and-radio/headwaters-magazine/spring-2024-the-snow-issue/understanding-snow/ Snow: The real water supply for the Rio Grande basin: https://jornada.nmsu.edu/files/bibliography/06-035.pdf These Four States Are in Denial Over a Looming Water Crisis: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/opinion/water-shortage-colorado-river.html Spring Outlook: Drought forecasted to expand in U.S. West, parts of Plains: https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/spring-outlook-drought-forecasted-to-expand-in-us-west-parts-of-plains June 2022 Floods in the Upper Yellowstone River Basin: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/fs20243035/full Requirements to become a Hydrologist in the US: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/hydrology-series-1315 BOOKS: Never Turn Back: The Life of Whitewater Pioneer Walt Blackadar by Ron Watters The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO:Music: massobeats - chilly (https://youtu.be/UbwxYGj5phk) CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X: https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinay PODCAST: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/B0DC73S9SN iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV|- Video Chapters-| 0:00 – Intro 1:12 – Eric growing up in Minnesota 3:34 – Studying civil engineering at University 5:05 – Defining Hydrology 7:13 – SNOwpack TELemetry Network (SNOTEL) 8:27 – What time of the year is Hydrology data collected 10:36 – How SNOTEL data is transmitted & collected 12:12 – Grizzly Bears near SNOTEL sites 13:46 – Maintenance on SNOTEL equipment 15:54 – Process to sample Snow Course data 21:26 – Elevation sickness 22:35 – Defining Snowpacks 23:44 – Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) 25:48 – Spatial variability of snow fall 28:44 – Hydrological measurements 31:41 – Sublimination 35:20 – Methods of trekking to the SNOTEL sites 39:10 – Maintaining SNOTEL data 41:32 – Snow Survey & Water Supply Forecasting Program 43:55 – Avalanche risk 46:44 – Hydrology equipment is expensive… 51:47 – The hardest part of collecting Hydrology data 56:35 – Who utilizes Hydrology data? 58:48 – Surface vs Ground water 1:01:08 – Water from snow melt 1:02:02 – Droughts 1:04:54 – Water conservation and water capture 1:07:45 – How to get started in Hydrology 1:11:04 – Outdoor activities in Montana 1:12:25 – Glacier National Park & Custer Gallatin National Forest 1:13:56 – Best ski spots 1:14:56 – Indiana Bones 1:17:25 – Book recommendation 1:18:53 - Conclusion

  7. Apr 15

    Capybaras with Elizabeth Congdon - #23

    In this episode I am joined by Dr. Elizabeth Congdon, a Capybara researcher and a Professor at Bethune Cookman University. In the episode we start with Beth’s experience with collecting and analyzing data at the Cleveland Zoo and Beth’s research on primates for her Master’s thesis. Then we get into the main focus of the episode, Capybaras! Beth compares Capybaras to other rodents, reviews the regions where they live, their diets, how they communicate, why they swim in the water, why they are so seemingly chill and much more. I hope you enjoy! Ologies Podcast episode with Dr. Elizabeth Congdon: https://www.alieward.com/ologies/hydrochoerology PAPERS: Natal dispersal and new group formation in capybaras in a seasonally flooded savanna of Venezuela (Beth’s PhD thesis): https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/561/ Self discrimination in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3887474/ Status of Capybaras & Potential for Establishment in Florida: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345844506 WHERE TO SEE CAPYBARAS: Pantanal, Brazil (In the wild) Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine Florida, USA (Animal sanctuary) BOOKS: Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO: Chillpeach - Tomato farm (https://youtu.be/Abc-M-X3jmQ) CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X: https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinayPODCAST: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SN iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV |-Video Chapters-| 0:00 – Intro 1:29 – Beth’s interest in animals growing up 2:39 – Conducting Research at the Cleveland Zoo 6:36 – Researching primates in the wild 12:10 – Why are primatologists located in the anthropology department of universities? 15:14 – What is a Capybara? 16:29 – Capybaras compared to other rodents 19:41 – What regions are Capybaras found in? 21:25 – Capybara’s diet 22:54 – A hypothesis on why Capybaras are so chill 24:02 – The size of Capybaras 25:02 – Time to adulthood and lifespans of Capybaras 27:03 – How male Capybaras become dominant 29:59 – Capybara communications 30:54 – Capybaras are semi-aquatic 34:54 – The area used by wild Capybaras 36:07 – Capybaras and predators 39:08 – Capybaras and birds 40:30 – Beth’s current research 42:46 – If Beth could do any type of Capybara research she wanted 46:59 – Are Capybaras cuddly? 47:34 – The feasibility of having a Capybara as a pet 48:44 – Would Capybaras be able to survive on their own in Florida? 51:25 – Capybara Litter sizes 52:58 – Where to see Capybaras in Central and South America 55:09 – Capybara Sanctuary in St. Augustine, Florida 57:03 – Beth’s favorite Capybara reference in pop culture 57:47 – Which dog breed is most like Capybaras? 59:18 – Beth’s favorite moments with Capybaras 1:02:02 – If Beth could study another species besides Capybaras it would be… 1:04:12 – Book recommendations 1:07:37 – Conclusion

  8. Apr 1

    Chile Peppers with the Chile Pepper Institute - #22

    This episode is all about Chile Peppers! I traveled to southern New Mexico to the Chile Pepper institute at New Mexico State University. I talk with Danise Coon and Dr. Dennis Lozada who are two researchers with the institute. In the episode we discuss the origins of Chile Peppers, the factors that affect Chile pepper production, the Scoville scale to measure the heat of peppers, mechanization of agricultural functions, multi omics, methods to improve pepper yields and the best dishes that go with Chile peppers. I hope you enjoy! VIDEO: Pepper X: Sean Evans, Chili Klaus & Smokin' Ed Currie Eat the New World's Hottest Pepper | Hot Ones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYtDA7j19c PAPERS: Diversification of chiles (Capsicum, Solanaceae) through time and space: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9622771/ Chile Consumers and Their Preferences Toward Region of Production-Certified Chile Peppers: https://pubs.nmsu.edu/research/economics/RR790/ Chile Pepper (Capsicum) Breeding and Improvement in the "Multi-Omics" Era: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35592583/ ARTICLES:Scoville scale: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scaleNMSU investigates how peppers get their punch: https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/education/nmsu/2016/01/31/nmsu-investigates-how-peppers-get-their-punch/79607342/ RESTAURANTS: Chope's Bar & Cafe in La Mesa, NM La Posta De Mesilla in Mesilla, NM Andele Restaurant Mesilla, NM Si Señor Restaurant in Las Cruces, NM El Parasol in Española, NM El Paragua Restaurant in Española, NM Tomasita's Santa Fe New Mexican Restaurant in Santa Fe, NM Owl Cafe in Albuquerque, NM CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-dolinay-frm-96a289106/ GitHub: https://github.com/ad17171717 X: https://twitter.com/DolinayG Odysee: https://odysee.com/@adriandolinay:0 Medium: https://medium.com/@adriandolinay PODCAST: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SN iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV |-Video Chapters-| 0:00 – Intro 1:08 – What are Chile Peppers and where do they come from 2:24 – Ideal climate to grow Chile Peppers 6:20 – Disease affecting Chile Peppers 7:22 – Why has there been a drop in Chile Pepper production 8:42 – Measuring the spiciness of Chile Peppers 13:37 – How to cool off from a hot Pepper 15:34 – Does Pepper X have potential competition from New Mexico? 18:05 – Green vs. Red 20:43 – NuMex Twilight Ornamental Chile 21:44 – Ristra 25:01 – The best times to visit the Chile Pepper Institute 27:35 – The International Pepper Conference 29:54 – The Chile Pepper Institute’s global partners 31:52 – Defining Capsicum 32:17 – Multi-Omics 36:08 – The phenotyping bottleneck 38:06 – Speed Breeding 38:59 – Robots in the Pepper fields 42:40 – Chile vs Chili 44:26 – Favorite food to add Chile too 46:50 – Hottest Chile Pepper Danise has tried 49:28 – Best New Mexican dishes with Chile Pepper 50:38 – New Mexico restaurant recommendations 54:43 – The natural beauty of New Mexico

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Hi everyone, welcome to The Aspiring STEM Geek! The podcast is a casual conversation with a guest about science, technology and other related topics.

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  • Creator
    Adrian Dolinay
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Adrian Dolinay
  • Show Website
    The Aspiring STEM Geek