NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast

U.S. National Science Foundation
  • 4.6 (14)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This is the Discovery Files Podcast from the U.S. National Science Foundation. Join us as we explore the latest breakthroughs in science, technology and engineering with the researchers making these discoveries. Learn how scientific innovation bolsters the U.S. economy, supports our Nation’s interests around the globe, and improves the lives of Americans.

  1. 08/11/2025

    Introducing AI to the future workforce

    A workforce fluent in AI techniques will be essential to ensure U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence continues. Jeremy Waisome, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, discusses the Shark AI project, which has introduced artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to thousands of middle school students.

    21 min

  2. 08/04/2025

    Collaborative Aerial Robots

    Advances in fundamental technologies enable robots to collaborate with humans, as well as with other robots. David Saldaña, assistant professor in the department of computer science and engineering at Lehigh University, discusses his work developing resilient and adaptive collaborative aerial robots.

    18 min

  3. 07/28/2025

    Quantum Computing in Industry

    Researchers and industry are coming together to develop computer systems that can take advantage of quantum mechanics. Christopher Monroe, a professor at Duke University and co-founder of IonQ, discusses quantum computing, advances in the field and IonQ's journey from startup to being the first publicly traded quantum computing company.

    24 min

  4. 07/21/2025

    Plasmas in Manufacturing

    The fourth state of matter, plasma, is involved in several aspects of how modern microelectronic components are manufactured. Jeremiah Williams, a professor at Wittenberg University and a program director at the U.S. National Science Foundation, discusses how plasmas are used in semiconductor manufacturing and how understanding plasma physics spurs industrial innovation.

    22 min

  5. 07/14/2025

    Metamaterials

    Metamaterials are a special class of engineered materials, designed to have properties not found in nature. Glaucio Paulino, a professor at Princeton University, discusses his work on developing modular chiral origami metamaterials, engineering control approaches and the ways they might benefit society.

    20 min

  6. 07/07/2025

    Training Artificial Intelligence Experts

    U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers are accelerating artificial intelligence technologies. Mingyi Hong, a professor at the University of Minnesota, with affiliation with AI-LEAF National AI Institute, and an NSF-funded researcher, discusses AI reinforcement learning strategies and the challenges of training experts.

    18 min

  7. 06/30/2025

    Next Generation Ferroelectric Semiconductors

    U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers are developing a new class of semiconductors with great potential for next-generation microelectronic devices. Zetian Mi, a professor at the University of Michigan, discusses his group's work with wurtzite ferroelectric nitride semiconductors.

    15 min

  8. 06/23/2025

    The Matter in the Universe with Vera Rubin

    As the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a joint project of the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, begins its mission to unlock new understanding of cosmic phenomena, we visit an archival lecture from its namesake, Vera C. Rubin. In the lecture, she discussed how galaxies form, how you might measure the matter in them and her observations of dark matter.

    21 min
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About

This is the Discovery Files Podcast from the U.S. National Science Foundation. Join us as we explore the latest breakthroughs in science, technology and engineering with the researchers making these discoveries. Learn how scientific innovation bolsters the U.S. economy, supports our Nation’s interests around the globe, and improves the lives of Americans.

Information

  • Creator
    U.S. National Science Foundation
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2025
  • Episodes
    153
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    NSF’s Discovery Files Podcast