17. Bioluminescence17. Bioluminescence

Its December, the world is cold and dark. Luckily the world glows bright with the magic of bioluminescent organisms! Fireflies, squid, mushrooms, and bacteria generate their own light for the purposes of luring prey, attracting mates, and even blending in with their environments. Follow Keera and Kira on a magical journey to discover:

  • What’s special about a bioluminescent animal’s body
  • An exotic Brazilian mushroom that glows in the dark, and how scientists discovered its purpose
  • What happens when scientists inject genes for glowing proteins into traditionally non-glowy organisms

15. Thanksgiving Science15. Thanksgiving Science

Whats the best way to cook a turkey? Will microwave ovens fry your brain? What is the difference between saturated fats and unsaturated fats, really? And do you know the difference between convection, conduction and radiation?

14. Watson the Water Molecule Becomes A Rain Drop14. Watson the Water Molecule Becomes A Rain Drop

Join the Science Ladies and Jefferson, the Up-For-Any-Challenge DJ from XRAY in the morning, as they relay a tale sure to delight both young and old.  This is the story of Watson, a water molecule from the Pacific Ocean, and his amazing journey up into a rain cloud, and back down again.

Somewhere in the middle of the story, we stop to quiz the XRAY crew on some very important facts about lightning. You might call it a Lightning Round.

13. Marijuana Part II13. Marijuana Part II

Is there research to support that marijuana can be used as medicine? What diseases would it treat?

What is CBD, and what does it do to your body?

12. Marijuana – Part I12. Marijuana – Part I

Today’s show is Part I of a two-part episode, all about the science of Marijuana! (Don’t worry, we live in Oregon. It’s totally legal.) Today Kira and Keera cover:

  • Human’s millennia old history with marijuana
  • The specifics of the Cannabis species
  • What THC does to your neurons to gets you high
  • Science of drug addiction

11. Science News Quiz: October 201611. Science News Quiz: October 2016

On today’s episode, Kira and Keera quiz Ed Hill and XRAY guest-host Emily Gillilia on their knowledge of the latest science news. Headline questions include:

  • What is so exciting about Dione’s underground ocean?
  • Scientists want to harvest the milk of what exotic species?
  • How are silk worms making unbreakable super-silk?
  • What’s the link between risk of mortality and having a sense of humor?

10. I Can Smell Your Genes From Here10. I Can Smell Your Genes From Here

Your sense of smell plays a big part in your attraction to potential mates. When you have a physiological response of attraction towards a person, chances are it’s because you, consciously or subconsciously, enjoy the smell of their B.O.

What is the science behind the scent of attraction? And how can you use it to find your soul (smell) mate?

8. Milk!8. Milk!

In Keera and Kira’s first episode with Jefferson Smith, host of XRAY’s Morning Show, the ladies discuss the history and science of milk. Jefferson, on the other hand, internally questions whether or not he ever wants to do another show with 2 nerdy ladies who seem to be unusually enthusiastic about the science of dairy products.

Topics include:

  • What’s happening at the molecular level when cream becomes whipped cream?
  • Why are some people lactose intolerant? What features do lactose tolerant people possess that gives them the ability to safely digest dairy?
  • Is cheese really as addictive as crack?

7. Back to School7. Back to School

Kids are going back to school! Which means they’re inevitably going to come home with questions about science that you may not remember the answer to because, well, you learned them a long, long time ago.

In today’s episode we cover some of the basics of chemistry, biology, and physics, and how to make science exciting for both you and your kids. We also lay out some science experiments you can do at home, and how to explain them appropriately to little kids, medium kids, and big kids.

We also make Christine throw paper airplanes around the studio. So, your welcome.