Ask Dr. Universe

Washington State University

5.0 (4)
EDUCATION FOR KIDS
UPDATED MONTHLY

Join Dr. Universe and her friends at Washington State University as they investigate science questions from kids around the world. Know a kid with a curious science question? Help them submit it at askDrUniverse.wsu.edu for a chance to be featured on a future episode.

OCT 20

Your Paw-some Question | What happens if you get eaten by a shark?

Send us a text Dooooo-doo, Dooooo-doo. 🦈 Today Cosmo and I learn about sharks and their rad digestive systems—all thanks to my friend, Dr. Nora Hickey, fish veterinarian at Washington State University. Want to learn more about fish? Check out Dr. Hickey's Fishkeep & Chill website 🦈 As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu. Who knows where your questions will take us next.

6 min
OCT 6

How Do You Science | Meet a Wildlife Biologist

Send us a text In this episode, I learn all about wildlife biology from my friend, Ryan Wagner. He told me about clipping turtle toenails and bathing froglets—all for science. And he recounted his recent adventure backpacking frogs into a national forest to return them to their former home. If you love amphibians and reptiles or conservation biology, this one's for you. Hear about: stressed out turtles and their toenailschytrid fungus and frogsscientists helping Cascade frogs survive climate changehow art makes science even betterResources you can use: Want to see Ryan Wagner's wildlife photos or read his stories about science? Check out his portfolioLearn more about Cascades frogs in the PNW and why climate change is bad for themGet your amphibian fix with Nat Geo As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu. Who knows where your questions will take us next.

22 min
SEP 18

Your Paw-some Question | Why do we have germs on our hands?

Send us a text Cosmo and I learn about microbes, thanks to Eric Lofrgren, an infectious disease expert at WSU. Resources you can use: hear what microbes arewhere they live in the environmenthow some skin bacteria help us outwhat biofilms are...and check out this bellybutton bacteria scientists studyOh, and wash your paws! =^..^= As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu. Who knows where your questions will take us next.

5 min
AUG 21

How Do You Science | Meet a Pharmacist

Send us a text In this episode, I learn all about what it means to be a pharmacist with my friend, Damianne Brand-Eubanks. She's a pharmacist and professor at Washington State University. Hear about: different kinds of pharmacistsrad new ways to receive medications or shots (like patches that feel like a cat's tongue and jet injectors like you see on Star Trek)why reading and writing are amazing for pharmacists, scientists and everybodyResources you can use: Check out this CrashCourse about how scientists make new medicines—called drug discoveryFind out what it's like to be a community pharmacist, a hospital pharmacist, a manufacturing pharmacist, a medical affairs pharmacist intern, or an informatics pharmacistGet some advice about medicine from a dog (who's probably cool even though he's not a cat) As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu. Who knows where your questions will take us next.

17 min
JUL 31

Your Paw-some Question | How are wisdom teeth removed?

Send us a text What happens if you need your third molars removed? Cosmo and I find out, after talking to our friend David Carsten. He's a dentist anesthesiologist who studied at Washington State University and now teaches at Oregon Health and Science University. Find out the real tooth here. Resources you can use: Find out what it's like to be a dentist, a dental hygienist or a dental assistant, thanks to Teeth Talk GirlLearn more about early humans' big jaws with Ted-EdGet the official word on wisdom teeth from the American Dental AssociationSound effects courtesy Zapsplat and Pixabay As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu. Who knows where your questions will take us next.

6 min
JUN 16

Your Paw-some Question | Should I be scared of bugs?

Send us a text Can Cosmo and I help a cool kid like you face their fear of bugs? Join us—and our friend Paul Strand, psychologist at Washington State University—as we dig into why things freak us out and how to beat-le those fears. Resources you can use: See some beautiful bugs and relatives with All Bugs Go to KevinLearn about parts of the brain like the prefrontal cortexFeeling anxious about something? Let's make a planTry a relaxation trick like this color sorting appSound effects courtesy Zapsplat and Pixabay As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu. Who knows where your questions will take us next.

6 min
MAY 19

How Do You Science | Meet a Polar Scientist

Send us a text Today I'm talking with Von Walden, an atmospheric scientist at Washington State University. Hear about Earth's bubble of gases AKA the atmosphereLearn why clouds can be weird in the polar regionsFind out what an expert thinks about climate change—and how optimistic he is about the futureResources You Can Use Check out AMNH's climate change resourcesWatch these polar bear camsLearn more about the polar regionsFind out more about clouds and make a cloud in a jar As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu. Who knows where your questions will take us next.

24 min
MAY 1

Your Paw-some Question | Why do we have two intestines?

Send us a text What up with the small intestine and the large intestine? Join Cosmo and me—and our friend Franck Carbonero, microbiologist at Washington State University—to break down how we break down food. You'll hear: how the intestines differ in size and functionall about your gut bacteriathe journey food takes through your digestive tractResources you can use: American Museum of Natural History's microbiology resourcesFrontiers for Young Minds' explainer on fermentationNational Geographic Kids' info on the human digestive systemSound effects courtesy Zapsplat As always, submit burning questions at askdruniverse.wsu.edu. Who knows where your questions will take us next.

6 min

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

Join Dr. Universe and her friends at Washington State University as they investigate science questions from kids around the world. Know a kid with a curious science question? Help them submit it at askDrUniverse.wsu.edu for a chance to be featured on a future episode.

Creator

Washington State University
Years Active

2020 - 2025
Episodes

53
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025 Ask Dr. Universe
Show Website

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