Podcast
The Aspiring STEM Geek
Hosted by Adrian Dolinay · EN
Hi everyone, welcome to The Aspiring STEM Geek! The podcast is a casual conversation with a guest about science, technology and other related topics.
30episodes
Episodes
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NASA and Aviation with Nancy Currie-Gregg - #29
1w ago00:48:47Tap to summarizeIn 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.htmlThe 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-potomacNeil 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 VaughanNormal 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/B0DC73S9SNiHeart 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
Transcribe →Welding with Estevan Ortega - #28
3w ago01:52:41Tap to summarizeIn 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-weldingLunch atop a Skyscraper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_SkyscraperRail 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 BibleDante’s Inferno by Dante AlighieriBlood 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=pdpiHeart 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 art1:43:16 – Best activities in Santa Fe1:46:41 – Book Recommendations1:51:00 – Conclusion
Transcribe →Data Centers with Jonathan Koomey - #27
Jun 1501:32:07Tap to summarizeIn 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/268339858Estimating Bitcoin Electricity Use: A Beginner’s Guide: https://coincenter.org/estimating-bitcoin-electricity-use-a-beginners-guideImplications of Historical Trends in the ElectricalEfficiency of Computing: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224128141Characteristics of low-carbon data centres: https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate1786Separating fact from fiction in data center electricity forecasts: A guide for regulators: https://gridlab.org/portfolio-item/data-center-load-forecast-reportElectricity 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.htmlKoomey’s Law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koomey%27s_law2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/32d6m0d1To 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 NormanReinventing the Bazaar by John McMillanLinked: The New Science of Networks by Albert-László Barabási TEXTBOOK:Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving by Jonathan KoomeyMUSIC 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_5ICONNECT: 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/id1765996824Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DC73S9SNiHeart 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
Transcribe →Nutritional Physiology with Emily Howard - #26
Jun 101:26:30Tap to summarizeIn 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.0b013e3182364162Whole-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-anemiaPhysiology: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/physiologyKnow Your Macros: Why Macronutrients Are Key to HealthyEating: https://www.cedars-sinai.org/stories-and-insights/expert-advice/what-are-macronutrientsBOOKS:Project Hail Mary by Andy WeirThe Ski Troops by Hal BurtonMUSIC 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/B0DC73S9SNiHeart 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
Transcribe →Volcanoes with Natália Gauer Pasqualon - #25
May 1501:23:16Tap to summarizeIn 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-e03d505cd503Kīlauea lava fuels phytoplankton bloom in the North Pacific Ocean: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aax4767Growth and degradation of Hawaiian volcanoes: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp18013ARTICLES:Oceanic Hotspots: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/plate-tectonics-oceanic-hotspots.htmVolcanic Eruptions: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/volcanoes/volcanic-eruptions.htmUpdate on the July 23 Biscuit Basin hydrothermal explosion: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/240723.htmMarine 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-oregonWhat is a supervolcano? What is a supereruption?: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-a-supervolcano-what-a-supereruptionMan dies after rescue from restricted area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-dies-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-rcna262100BOOKS:The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick RubinMUSIC 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/@adriandolinayPODCAST: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aspiring-stem-geek/id1765996824 Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Aspiring-STEM-Geek/B0DC73S9SNiHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV|-Video Chapters-|0:00 – Intro1:17 – Why Natália decided to study geology for her undergraduate4:51 – Natália earning two PhDs8:56 – Defining what a Volcano is10:38 – Defining Volcanology10:57 – The geochemistry of Volcanoes13:36 – Lava vs Magma15:05 – Hotspots17:38 – Modeling lava flow18:59 – The types of Volcanoes21:26 – The most common Volcano type in Hawaii22:19 – The types of Volcanic eruptions24:46 – Which Volcano type is most dangerous?28:21 – How well can we forecast Volcanic eruptions?33:32 – Accessing Volcanoes as a researcher34:50 – Collecting data during Volcanic activity39:09 – Super Volcanoes41:47 – Yellowstone43:19 – Submarine Volcanoes48:42 – The lifecycle of a Volcano in Hawaii54:37 – Natália’s research for her PhD thesis1:03:51 – The dangers of Volcanoes1:06:17 – Volcanic soil for growing agriculture1:07:48 – Housing near Volcano hazard zones1:08:37 – Wildlife near Volcanoes1:10:03 – How to get started in Volcanology1:11:59 – Coolest Volcanoes Natália has seen1:14:06 – Places to check out if you visit Brazil1:17:12 – Brazilian cinematography and music1:19:21 – Book recommendation
Transcribe →Hydrology with Eric Larson - #24
May 101:21:28Tap to summarizeIn 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/videosPAPERS:The History of Snow Survey & Water Supply forecasting: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/History-Of-Snow-Survey.pdfWater Supply Outlook Reports – Montana: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/montana/montana-snow-survey/water-supply-outlook-reports-montanaARTICLES: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-plainsJune 2022 Floods in the Upper Yellowstone River Basin: https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/fs20243035/fullRequirements to become a Hydrologist in the US: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/hydrology-series-1315BOOKS:Never Turn Back: The Life of Whitewater Pioneer Walt Blackadar by Ron WattersThe Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin FedarkoMUSIC 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/@adriandolinayPODCAST: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1765996824Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/B0DC73S9SNiHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV|-Video Chapters-|0:00 – Intro1:12 – Eric growing up in Minnesota3:34 – Studying civil engineering at University5:05 – Defining Hydrology7:13 – SNOwpack TELemetry Network (SNOTEL)8:27 – What time of the year is Hydrology data collected10:36 – How SNOTEL data is transmitted & collected12:12 – Grizzly Bears near SNOTEL sites13:46 – Maintenance on SNOTEL equipment15:54 – Process to sample Snow Course data21:26 – Elevation sickness22:35 – Defining Snowpacks23:44 – Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)25:48 – Spatial variability of snow fall28:44 – Hydrological measurements31:41 – Sublimination35:20 – Methods of trekking to the SNOTEL sites39:10 – Maintaining SNOTEL data41:32 – Snow Survey & Water Supply Forecasting Program43:55 – Avalanche risk46:44 – Hydrology equipment is expensive… 51:47 – The hardest part of collecting Hydrology data56:35 – Who utilizes Hydrology data?58:48 – Surface vs Ground water1:01:08 – Water from snow melt 1:02:02 – Droughts1:04:54 – Water conservation and water capture1:07:45 – How to get started in Hydrology1:11:04 – Outdoor activities in Montana1:12:25 – Glacier National Park & Custer Gallatin National Forest1:13:56 – Best ski spots1:14:56 – Indiana Bones1:17:25 – Book recommendation1:18:53 - Conclusion
Transcribe →Capybaras with Elizabeth Congdon - #23
Apr 1501:09:39Tap to summarizeIn 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/hydrochoerologyPAPERS: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/345844506WHERE TO SEE CAPYBARAS:Pantanal, Brazil (In the wild)Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine Florida, USA (Animal sanctuary)BOOKS:Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard BachMUSIC 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/B0DC73S9SNiHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV|-Video Chapters-|0:00 – Intro1:29 – Beth’s interest in animals growing up2:39 – Conducting Research at the Cleveland Zoo6:36 – Researching primates in the wild12:10 – Why are primatologists located in the anthropology department of universities?15:14 – What is a Capybara?16:29 – Capybaras compared to other rodents19:41 – What regions are Capybaras found in?21:25 – Capybara’s diet22:54 – A hypothesis on why Capybaras are so chill24:02 – The size of Capybaras25:02 – Time to adulthood and lifespans of Capybaras27:03 – How male Capybaras become dominant29:59 – Capybara communications30:54 – Capybaras are semi-aquatic34:54 – The area used by wild Capybaras36:07 – Capybaras and predators39:08 – Capybaras and birds40:30 – Beth’s current research42:46 – If Beth could do any type of Capybara research she wanted46:59 – Are Capybaras cuddly?47:34 – The feasibility of having a Capybara as a pet48:44 – Would Capybaras be able to survive on their own in Florida?51:25 – Capybara Litter sizes52:58 – Where to see Capybaras in Central and South America55:09 – Capybara Sanctuary in St. Augustine, Florida57:03 – Beth’s favorite Capybara reference in pop culture57:47 – Which dog breed is most like Capybaras?59:18 – Beth’s favorite moments with Capybaras1:02:02 – If Beth could study another species besides Capybaras it would be…1:04:12 – Book recommendations1:07:37 – Conclusion
Transcribe →Chile Peppers with the Chile Pepper Institute - #22
Apr 101:04:59Tap to summarizeThis 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=hUYtDA7j19cPAPERS: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, NMLa Posta De Mesilla in Mesilla, NMAndele Restaurant Mesilla, NMSi Señor Restaurant in Las Cruces, NMEl Parasol in Española, NMEl Paragua Restaurant in Española, NMTomasita's Santa Fe New Mexican Restaurant in Santa Fe, NMOwl Cafe in Albuquerque, NMCONNECT: 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/B0DC73S9SNiHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV|-Video Chapters-|0:00 – Intro1:08 – What are Chile Peppers and where do they come from2:24 – Ideal climate to grow Chile Peppers6:20 – Disease affecting Chile Peppers7:22 – Why has there been a drop in Chile Pepper production8:42 – Measuring the spiciness of Chile Peppers13:37 – How to cool off from a hot Pepper15:34 – Does Pepper X have potential competition from New Mexico?18:05 – Green vs. Red20:43 – NuMex Twilight Ornamental Chile21:44 – Ristra25:01 – The best times to visit the Chile Pepper Institute27:35 – The International Pepper Conference29:54 – The Chile Pepper Institute’s global partners31:52 – Defining Capsicum32:17 – Multi-Omics36:08 – The phenotyping bottleneck38:06 – Speed Breeding38:59 – Robots in the Pepper fields42:40 – Chile vs Chili44:26 – Favorite food to add Chile too46:50 – Hottest Chile Pepper Danise has tried49:28 – Best New Mexican dishes with Chile Pepper50:38 – New Mexico restaurant recommendations54:43 – The natural beauty of New Mexico
Transcribe →Data Centers with Eric Masanet - #21
Mar 901:43:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode I talk to Dr. Eric Masanet. Eric is the Professor and Mellichamp Chair in Sustainability Science at the University of California Santa Barbara. The core focus of the episode is Data Centers. In the episode we start at a high level where Eric defines what a Data Center is, the stakeholders of a Data Center, GPU vs CPU compute, the lifecycle of chips, the potential energy efficiency gains of compute, Data Center water usage, the sparse data on Data Centers and the best and worst case scenarios for Data Center sustainability in the future. I hope you enjoy! VIDEO: Eric’s Testimony to Congress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE0be5uqjuwPAPERS:Eric’s PhD Thesis on E-waste (paywalled behind ProQuest): https://www.proquest.com/docview/305213050 GPU Lifetimes on Titan Supercomputer: Survival Analysis and Reliability: https://christian-engelmann.de/publications/ostrouchov20gpu.pdfWith the Right Developer, Technological Progress Doesn’t Mean Data Center Obsolescence: https://www.streamdatacenters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SDC-Brief-Data-Center-Obsolescence-20250416.pdfHow Hungry is AI? Benchmarking Energy, Water, and Carbon Footprint of LLM Inference: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.095982024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report: https://eta.lbl.gov/publications/2024-lbnl-data-center-energy-usage-reportARTICLES:Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE): https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment-weee_enApple expands the use of recycled materials across its products: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/04/apple-expands-the-use-of-recycled-materials-across-its-products/The 2025 Data Center Power Report by Bloom Energy: https://resources.bloomenergy.com/data-center-power-reportNEWS: Sanders: Yes. We Need a Moratorium On Data Center Construction.: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-yes-we-need-a-moratorium-on-data-center-construction/Ratepayer Protection Pledge: https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/03/ratepayer-protection-pledge/BOOKS:Connections by James Burke: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743299558 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/B0DC73S9SNiHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/202676097/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/60dPNJbDPaPw7ru8g5btxV|-Video Chapters-|0:00 – Intro1:48 – Eric’s interesting in building things growing up3:00 – Studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin Madison4:34 – Eric’s PhD Thesis on minimizing Electronic Waste14:55 – Defining a Data Center18:06 – Stakeholders of a Data Center21:59 – Central Processing Units (CPUs) vs Graphical Processing Units (GPUs)24:30 – Lifecycles of Computer Chips30:58 – Will the energy consumption from a GPU query become as efficient as a Google Search over time?37:15 – Are Data Centers making electricity more expensive?42:34 – Data Center water usage48:39 – How Data Center builders decide where to build57:02 – Google’s Hamina Data Centers, an example of sustainable Data Center builds?1:01:34 – Data collection on Data Centers1:08:36 – The United States agency that could collect data on Data Centers in the future1:10:59 – Could an industry group collect data on Data Centers?1:14:51 – How hardware companies can provide more data on chips1:18:09 – Best and worst case scenarios for Data Center sustainability1:27:01 – What happens to Data Centers if there is an AI bubble that pops?1:31:17 – Eric’s ideal Data Center policies1:37:29 – Being outdoors in California1:38:56 – Book recommendation
Transcribe →Statistics & Public Health with Leigh Cash - #20
Feb 1800:50:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode I talk with Dr. Leigh Cash. Leigh received her doctorate in public health from Johns Hopkins University and is currently a Research Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Within the episode we discuss how Leigh became interested in science growing up, studying environmental health for her undergraduate at University of Georgia, a life changing incident at the University that solidified her interest in public health, uncertainty quantification, nanoparticles and statistics.Please note this episode is audio only. I hope you enjoy! PAPERS:Leigh's PhD Thesis: https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/items/09fc6bae-3c48-43bd-8f86-a094b0c0e1ebCompetency Framework: Understanding and Applying ARECC to Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: https://www.aiha.org/education/frameworks/competency-framework-understanding-how-arecc-works-within-occupational-exposure-assessmentBOOKS:Our Children's Toxic Legacy: How Science and Law Fail to Protect Us from Pesticides by John Wargo: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300074468The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Mystic of the Atom by Graham Farmelo: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465022103A Cultural History of Mathematics: Volumes 1-6 (The Cultural Histories Series): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1350063126Theory of Games and Economic Behavior by John von Neumann, Oskar Morgenstern, Harold W. Kuhn and Ariel Rubinstein: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691130612CONNECT: 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?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 – Intro1:27 – Growing up in Kingsport, Tennessee 4:21 – Studying Environmental Health at the University of Georgia5:34 – Balancing academics and athletics at University7:22 – Pesticides12:58 – Attending graduate school at Yale18:32 – Starting a PhD and working with Los Alamos National Laboratory21:07 – Uncertainty Quantification23:44 – Nanoparticles31:24 – HEPA filters and nanoparticles33:16 – ARECC Framework35:55 – Handling sparse data sets38:09 – Probability vs Likelihood40:00 – Advice for people looking to get into Public Health and Statistics42:45 – Book recommendations46:02 – The three Chihuahuas47:28 – Conclusion
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