Technology Today Southwest Research Institute

NASGRO® fracture control software analyzes spacecraft, aircraft, structures and more for fractures and fatigue, wear and tear that could pose a risk if not repaired. With data that includes measurements and material composition, the software calculates how a crack could grow and become catastrophic. NASGRO was initially developed to support NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, but is now used by companies around the world to avert danger. Last month, the Space Foundation inducted NASGRO and its developers into the Space Technology Hall of Fame, which honors groundbreaking technologies that began as space programs and have since been adapted to improve the quality of life for all of humanity.

Listen now as SwRI NASGRO developers and Hall of Fame inductees Dr. Craig McClung and Joe Cardinal discuss the world-changing software’s capabilities and that shining moment of the behind-the-scenes technology taking the spotlight.

April 22 marks Earth Day, an annual call to action to preserve natural resources and protect the planet. On this Earth Day episode, we’re discussing new SwRI technology in development that targets rising greenhouse gas emissions, which cause disruptive changes in Earth’s climate. The transportation sector is a major contributor of carbon emissions. SwRI engineers are developing a potential solution, a membrane that removes and captures carbon dioxide before it escapes into the atmosphere, leaving cleaner air. They envision it will be outfitted on a range of vehicles, from compact cars to ships.

Listen now as SwRI Staff Engineer Dr. Graham Conway discusses going beyond a zero-emissions solution to develop a novel carbon capture membrane, a negative-emissions technology.

During Women’s History Month, we are celebrating the contributions of inspirational leaders and trailblazers who are positively impacting our communities and world. Today, we highlight two women of SwRI who shine in STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics, fields in which women are typically underrepresented. Hear about their fascinating work, their journeys in engineering and planetary science and why a woman’s perspective is valuable and necessary in STEM workspaces.

Listen now as SwRI Planetary Scientist Dr. Tracy Becker and SwRI Engineer Dr. Erin DeCarlo discuss their roles in STEM careers, women who inspire them and how the landscape is changing for women in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Scientists study meteorites, fragments of asteroids or comets that fall to Earth. Inside the space rocks, they have found amino acids, the building blocks of life. Amino acids combine to form proteins, which power life on our planet. How did these seeds of life end up in meteorites? Our guest today believes they formed under intense space conditions, particularly in the interstellar cloud. She is part of a team of scientists that re-created the conditions in a chamber using ice, low temperatures and high radiation. Their experiment yielded significant results, a residue containing the same ingredients for life found in meteorites.

Listen now as SwRI Astrochemist Dr. Danna Qasim explains how the building blocks of life may have formed in space, the role of the interstellar cloud and what the process tells us about life on Earth and the possibility of life elsewhere.

It’s a new year of listening and learning. We’re launching 2023 with the fascinating, emerging field of neuromorphic engineering, the development of biologically inspired technology that emulates the human brain. Neuromorphic systems use spiking neural networks to retain “memories,” like the human brain, making computer processing faster, more accurate and more efficient. Potential applications for neuromorphic technologies are limitless and could cover a range of industries, including aerospace, space science, automotive, smart devices and more.

Listen now as SwRI Engineer and Neuroscientist Dr. Steven Harbour, neuromorphic engineering expert, explains how the technology works, why the brain is a superior computing model and what the future holds for neuromorphic developments.

We’re celebrating our milestone 50th episode with a guest co-host and a discussion on the highlights, and sometimes challenges, of producing 50 conversations. Plus, we’re revisiting the fascinating and inspiring Technology Today topics of 2022, including a conversation with a planetary science pioneer, the possibilities of hydrogen as an energy source, learning about the life and accomplishments of SwRI founder Tom Slick, automated buses and much more.

Listen now as Host Lisa Peña and Audio Engineer Bryan Ortiz, co-hosting Technology Today for the first time, recall their journey over 50 episodes and take us through the conversations of 2022.