B.S.: The STEM Podcast

PHYS 202: Artemis II is Making History

With Artemis II being the first time in decades that humans have explored farther than Earth's orbit, it's safe to say that it is a feat in human space exploration and scientific discovery. This episode Gold and Ilyana explore the Artemis II mission and discuss the astronauts, the rocket, and most importantly, what we gain as a society and scientific community from this newest launch. Listen To Us Anywhere:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q]  Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com [bspodcast79@gmail.com]  Required Reading: Artemis II: NASA’s First Crewed Lunar Flyby in 50 Years - NASA [https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/] sls-5558-artemis-ii-sls-reference-guide-final-review-508-012026.pdf [https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/sls-5558-artemis-ii-sls-reference-guide-final-review-508-012026.pdf?emrc=342194] #sciencepodcast #sciencepodcasts #sciencenewspodcast #stempodcast

TECH 202: Remote Robot Assistance and the Rural Healthcare Crisis

Rural communities in the United States have a healthcare crisis- the lack of specialists, funding, and resources have led to late stage interventions, worse health outcomes, and higher mortality rates for certain procedures and conditions. With the polarizing announcement that Alabama will be using telerobotic ultrasound systems to account for the fact that half of its counties don’t have a single OBGYN, Ilyana and Gold set out to explore the mechanisms behind remote robot assisted healthcare and if it will be a useful tool in rural healthcare.  Listen To Us Anywhere:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q]  Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com [bspodcast79@gmail.com]  Required Reading: The Future of Robotics in Healthcare | Hopkins EP Online [https://ep.jhu.edu/news/robots-making-a-difference-in-healthcare/] Alabama's robotic ultrasound plan raises concerns from OB-GYNs [https://www.wvtm13.com/article/alabamas-robotic-ultrasound-plan-concerns/70028622] Remote and Telerobotic Ultrasound Imaging - PMC [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12513344/] ARHTP-Project-Narrative-FINAL.pdf [https://adeca.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/ARHTP-Project-Narrative-FINAL.pdf] A Telerobotic Ultrasound Clinic Model of Ultrasound Service Delivery to Improve Access to Imaging in Rural and Remote Communities - Journal of the American College of Radiology [https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(21)00660-8/fulltext] #remotehealthcare #OBGYN #droz #alabama #ruralhealthcare

SOC 205: Archeology w/ Steph the Archeologist

Innovations that bring us closer to the future are incredibly fascinating but having some curiosity about what events from the past is one of the most natural human instincts. Archeology supports that curiosity by studying the material remains of past human life and activities. And be honest, who didn’t want to be an archeologist growing up?!  This episode we had on Steph the Archaeologist, to take us through just what that world looks like, and everything that we stand to learn. She’s a creator, archaeologist, and historian based at the University of Durham where she's completing her PhD on Iron Age Oman, and you can find her on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.  Listen To Us Anywhere:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q]  Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com [bspodcast79@gmail.com]  Music: William Pleasant Design: Matheus Lago Required Reading: https://www.britannica.com/science/archaeology [https://www.britannica.com/science/archaeology]

PHYS 201: Future or Fantasy - The Reality Behind Uber’s Flying Cars

Uber's new flying cars have made waves in the media and plan to launch at the end of 2026. While this ushering of flying cars into the mainstream feels like science fiction, in this episode Ilyana and Gold  get down to the bottom of its design and place in the social sphere.  Listen To Us Anywhere:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q]  Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com [bspodcast79@gmail.com]  Required Reading: How eVTOLs Could Disrupt The $49B Helicopter Industry [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_3OC2dJ_u4&t=322s] What Are eVTOLs? Are They the Future of Aviation? | Built In [https://builtin.com/articles/evtol-aircraft] Uber Elevate | Vision [https://www.uber.com/us/en/elevate/vision/] Flying Taxis Are Coming to Uber This Year. The Launch Date Is Set for the First City [https://www.inc.com/leila-sheridan/flying-taxis-are-coming-to-uber-this-year-the-launch-date-is-set-for-the-first-city/91309269] Multirotor, lift-cruise, tiltrotor: The pros and cons of eVTOL designs [https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/pros-and-cons-of-different-evtol-designs/] An introduction to eVTOL aircraft - [https://www.engineering.com/an-introduction-to-evtol-aircraft/]Engineering.com [http://engineering.com/] Flying Cars Will Undermine Democracy and the Environment [https://www.americanprogress.org/article/flying-cars-will-undermine-democracy-environment/] An Assessment of Public Perception of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) [https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2022-07/Airbus-UTM-public-perception-study%20-urban-air-mobility.pdf] #stem #podcast #engineering #uber #flyingcar

SOC 204: Media or Medicine - GLP-1s

With groundbreaking medical advancements and the the rise of fatphobia and intolerance, GLP-1s feel like the awkward elephant in the room. This infamous medication has bounced around Super Bowl commercials and social media advertisements, leaving a trail of hot takes and misinformation. Today, Ilyana and Gold explain the real function of the drug and discuss the historical background of weight marginalization and the social implications of GLP-1 medications. Get settled, it’s a long one.  Listen To Us Anywhere:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q]  Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com [bspodcast79@gmail.com]  Music: William Pleasant Design: Matheus Lago Required Reading: GLP-1 Agonists: What They Are, How They Work & Side Effects [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists] GLP-1 and health: Beyond weight loss in the Ozempic era [https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/health-wellness/glp-1-and-health-beyond-weight-loss-in-the-ozempic-era/2025/11] How does Ozempic work? Understanding GLP-1s for diabetes, weight loss, and beyond - Harvard Health [https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-does-ozempic-work-understanding-glp-1s-for-diabetes-weight-loss-and-beyond] New GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are coming—and they’re stronger than Wegovy and Zepbound | Scientific American [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-are-coming-and-theyre-stronger-than-wegovy-zepbound/] GLP-1 obesity drugs and eating disorders are not well understood yet : NPR [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/04/nx-s1-5677633/glp-1-obesity-wegovy-zepbound-eating-disorders-anorexia-bulimia] Comparing the Impact of GLP-1 Agonists vs. Lifestyle Interventions and Weight Controllability Information on Stigma and Weight-Related Cognitions | International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Springer Nature Link [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12529-025-10353-2] WHO issues global guideline on the use of GLP-1 medicines in treating obesity [https://www.who.int/news/item/01-12-2025-who-issues-global-guideline-on-the-use-of-glp-1-medicines-in-treating-obesity] Addressing weight bias in medicine - Harvard Health [https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/addressing-weight-bias-in-medicine-2019040316319] Comparative safety and side effects of semaglutide and tirzepatide: Implications for clinical decision-making in obesity management [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41177120/] GIP as a Therapeutic Target in Diabetes and Obesity: Insight From Incretin Co-agonists [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32459834/] GLP-1 diabetes and weight-loss drug side effects: "Ozempic face" and more [https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/glp-1-diabetes-and-weight-loss-drug-side-effects-ozempic-face-and-more] KFF Health Tracking Poll May 2024: The Public’s Use and Views of GLP-1 Drugs [https://www.kff.org/health-costs/kff-health-tracking-poll-may-2024-the-publics-use-and-views-of-glp-1-drugs/] Where does fat phobia come from? [https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/where-does-fat-phobia-come] The History and Faults of the Body Mass Index and Where to Look Next: A Literature Review [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38050494/] The societal implications of using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666634025002326] Dangers and Opportunities of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5910355/] Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes for patients with obesity [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4381543/] Opinion Pieces:  I’ve Had 2 Weight-Loss Surgeries And Now I’m On Wegovy. None Of It Made Me Any Healthier. | HuffPost HuffPost Personal [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/weight-loss-surgery-glp1s-fatphobia-health_n_68c45aece4b0b3dca95eb648] #stem #glp1 #fatphobia #research #medicine