Further Together the ORAU Podcast

Harnessing plant biology for deep space exploration: Luke Fountain, Ph.D., NASA NPP Fellow, returns to the podcast

Luke Fountain, Ph.D., who is in the third year of his NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship, makes a return to Further Together because of a recently published paper he co-authored on plant biology and space exploration. His research focus is figuring out how to grow plants in space to help enable future deep exploration. In this conversation, Fountain shares the challenges of plant biology in space, including the need to make growing systems self-sustaining. The paper he co-authored, published in the New Phytologist in November 2025, lays out a 12-point framework called the Bioregenerative Life Support System readiness level to assist in overcoming challenges to establish resilient, sustainable crop production. Fountain's paper, "Expanding frontiers: harnessing plant biology for space exploration and planetary sustainability," can be found here. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70662 [https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps*3A*2F*2Fnph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com*2Fdoi*2F10.1111*2Fnph.70662%26data%3D05*7C02*7Cluke.l.fountain*40nasa.gov*7C212ba818270f45c3f78b08de283e1b46*7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b*7C0*7C0*7C638992444362674023*7CUnknown*7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ*3D*3D*7C0*7C*7C*7C%26sdata%3D1nFPc1L*2F*2BiBWd5N4pHgsiEXiI3Hy2odG9c2Mjtq1Aks*3D%26reserved%3D0__%3BJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJQ!!Lm8t6g!WUWzOg6q0hIHqPwu_aBUCrMXqdmVC3-jfejFeYt4rxrFtVqv3gJBON-mKZO9FhT13q7_ny5TW4V-Q1lvgDD4aYin873j1Q%24&data=05%7C02%7Cmichael.holtz%40orau.org%7C404f98c99226467d747108de2c4a073a%7C64c12663ddf34823aa6836a6247905ab%7C0%7C0%7C638996894150107150%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TCG4c%2FAtATF7gSShGHLzm5zcDig4QS3qMH97g5hbN00%3D&reserved=0]. New Phytologist [https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps*3A*2F*2Fnph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com*2Fjournal*2F14698137%26data%3D05*7C02*7Cluke.l.fountain*40nasa.gov*7C212ba818270f45c3f78b08de283e1b46*7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b*7C0*7C0*7C638992444362703871*7CUnknown*7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ*3D*3D*7C0*7C*7C*7C%26sdata%3DH*2FXXn*2B5bPFyoSZ40BgGAySPn*2FQLazt6CQKom4yUkKU4*3D%26reserved%3D0__%3BJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJQ!!Lm8t6g!WUWzOg6q0hIHqPwu_aBUCrMXqdmVC3-jfejFeYt4rxrFtVqv3gJBON-mKZO9FhT13q7_ny5TW4V-Q1lvgDD4aYjXq1URTA%24&data=05%7C02%7Cmichael.holtz%40orau.org%7C404f98c99226467d747108de2c4a073a%7C64c12663ddf34823aa6836a6247905ab%7C0%7C0%7C638996894150122316%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TxpQAwgseJXlnElkbi%2BqPu5jrKpgLIwPbCki5pAQ740%3D&reserved=0] is a leading international journal focusing on high quality, original research across the broad spectrum of plant sciences, from intracellular processes through to global environmental change. The journal is owned by the New Phytologist Foundation [https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps*3A*2F*2Fwww.newphytologist.org*2F%26data%3D05*7C02*7Cluke.l.fountain*40nasa.gov*7C212ba818270f45c3f78b08de283e1b46*7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b*7C0*7C0*7C638992444362720408*7CUnknown*7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ*3D*3D*7C0*7C*7C*7C%26sdata%3DjO0m4ZZvpyzCQ25vAqRix8TvFXNrX0wOo171zArTmjI*3D%26reserved%3D0__%3BJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!Lm8t6g!WUWzOg6q0hIHqPwu_aBUCrMXqdmVC3-jfejFeYt4rxrFtVqv3gJBON-mKZO9FhT13q7_ny5TW4V-Q1lvgDD4aYgcfnFcGQ%24&data=05%7C02%7Cmichael.holtz%40orau.org%7C404f98c99226467d747108de2c4a073a%7C64c12663ddf34823aa6836a6247905ab%7C0%7C0%7C638996894150137051%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rTPwVIVu7q%2F1QJKipjejTrRxsjdAWRb%2FXULN2C6w1GI%3D&reserved=0], a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of plant science. https://www.newphytologist.org/ [https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps*3A*2F*2Fwww.newphytologist.org*2F%26data%3D05*7C02*7Cluke.l.fountain*40nasa.gov*7C212ba818270f45c3f78b08de283e1b46*7C7005d45845be48ae8140d43da96dd17b*7C0*7C0*7C638992444362735885*7CUnknown*7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ*3D*3D*7C0*7C*7C*7C%26sdata%3D2NQlR3cBowtbkz9RzJBD*2BhVm6lTp*2Fbs8sIVvOh9D1m0*3D%26reserved%3D0__%3BJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSU!!Lm8t6g!WUWzOg6q0hIHqPwu_aBUCrMXqdmVC3-jfejFeYt4rxrFtVqv3gJBON-mKZO9FhT13q7_ny5TW4V-Q1lvgDD4aYgd9a4XlQ%24&data=05%7C02%7Cmichael.holtz%40orau.org%7C404f98c99226467d747108de2c4a073a%7C64c12663ddf34823aa6836a6247905ab%7C0%7C0%7C638996894150151730%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7lrfqJQDbNcVP3Enui5QOuF0EDj8AtoKmUI4Jgx9I%2Bw%3D&reserved=0]  ORAU manages the NASA Postdoctoral Program for the National Aeronautic and Space Administration. To learn more about the program, meet some of the Fellows, or apply to become a Fellow, visit https://npp.orau.org/index.html.

Superheroes of the insect world?: An ORAU-Directed Research and Development Grant conversation

Are black soldier flies the superheroes of the insect world? This episode of Further Together takes a dive into an ORAU-Directed Research and Development Grant-funded project led by Holly Holt, Ph.D., ORAU research specialist, who teamed up with Jeff Tomberlin, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Etymology at Texas A&M University and Charity Owings, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee. Black soldier flies are said to be voracious decomposers, feeding off anything organic. As they feed, they convert organic waste into insect biomass that can be used as feed for various livestock, such as poultry, swine, and even pets. The residual that's left over after digestion is a replacement for chemical fertilizer. The team’s research includes laboratory research to understand what happens to black soldier flies under stress; and social sciences research to analyze new and emerging opportunities with black soldier fly products and services and the potential to disrupt existing markets, including Western acceptance of using black solider flies for feed, fertilizer and other products.

Insights into ultra-processed foods gained from social listening: A conversation with ORAU subject matter experts

Ultra-processed foods – think packaged snacks, frozen meals and hot dogs – have become dietary staples due to their convenience, affordability and aggressive marketing. However, these foods have low to no nutritional value and can contribute to significant health issues like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and colorectal cancer. In this episode of Further Together, three of ORAU’s subject matter experts – Diane Krause, Brenda Blunt and Jennifer Reynolds – talk about a recently published white paper on social listening and perceptions of ultra-processed foods. Improving diet quality is a critical goal of the Make America Healthy Again Agenda promulgated by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., U.S. Health and Human Services secretary. Our experts talk in detail about the white paper and what their findings mean for future research and policy initiatives.   A feature story on the white paper, Insights from Social Media Conversations on X about Ultra-Processed Foods and Recommendations for Health Communications, along with a link to the paper itself, can be found here: https://www.orau.org/blog/programs/maha-gaining-insight-into-what-people-think-about-ultra-processed-foods-through-social-listening.html [https://www.orau.org/blog/programs/maha-gaining-insight-into-what-people-think-about-ultra-processed-foods-through-social-listening.html]

Finding the path: Molly Menzel, Ph.D., NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, discusses how she found her research passion

Molly Menzel, Ph.D., is an atmosphere scientist in the NASA Postdoctoral Program who conducts her research at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, a smaller office under the umbrella of the Goddard Space Flight Center. When she started college, though, Menzel had no idea that she’d end up in her current fellowship. She was an engineering major focused on fluid dynamics and solid mechanics dynamics. During her graduate program she discovered atmospheric dynamics, which led to a focus on climate science. In this episode of Further Together, Menzel says her research doesn’t focus on day-to-day weather, but on the background context for why the weather is changing. To learn more about the NASA Postdoctoral Program, visit https://npp.orau.org/index.html [https://npp.orau.org/index.html]

What's going on with men facing cancer: An ORAU-Directed Research and Development Grant conversation

Behavioral health during cancer care is a critical issue. Anyone faced with a cancer diagnosis is faced with emotional, social, spiritual, familial and other issues. On top of that, for men in our society there is an expectation that vulnerability and asking for help is weakness. The non-profit organization Man Up to Cancer seeks to upend that expectation by helping men find social and emotional support from other men during their cancer journeys. MUTC has been successful at growing a community and gaining support from oncology community for its work, but no data exists to prove that peer-to-peer support for men facing cancer works. That’s where a 2025 ORAU-Directed Research and Development Grant comes in. Primary Investigator Katherine Chyka, ORAU health education specialist, and Teresa Hagan Thomas, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate professor in the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, launched a pilot study to measure the acceptability and feasibility of peer-to-per support for men facing cancer. In this episode of Further Together, hosts Michael Holtz and Amber Davis talk to Chyka and Thomas for an early look at their research. Data analysis is still underway, but the team has already gained valuable insights. Disclosure: Holtz is chairman of the board of directors for Man Up to Cancer and proposed a study of peer-to-peer support for men facing cancer as part of a white paper he wrote in 2023. Holtz helped train navigators for the study and recruited members of the Community Advisory Board but was not involved in the study itself. The white paper and more information can be found here: https://www.orau.org/news/releases/2023/making-an-impact-on-cancer-personally-and-professionally.html [https://www.orau.org/news/releases/2023/making-an-impact-on-cancer-personally-and-professionally.html] To learn more about Man Up to Cancer, visit https://manuptocancer.org/ [https://manuptocancer.org/] ORAU-Directed Research and Development Grants support collaborations between ORAU subject matter experts and faculty at our University Consortium member institutions. To learn more, visit https://www.orau.org/partnerships/grant-programs/odrd.html [https://www.orau.org/partnerships/grant-programs/odrd.html]