
SciTech Now
Harvesting plants in space
Show title: SciTech Now
Video title: Harvesting plants in space
Video duration: 7m 53sVideo description: For humans to travel to the moon and Mars, they’ll need to bring a lowly weed. Just as actor Matt Damon attempts to survive on Mars in the movie The Martian by cultivating plants in unfavorable conditions, real life astronauts interested in colonizing Mars may also need to understand how to grow plants in extreme climates. Now researchers at the University of Florida are studying weeds in unique s

A Swim with the Snot Otter
The hell-bender salamander, which is native to eastern states from New York to Arkansas, is the largest aquatic salamander in the United States. But since 2011, the salamander has been on the endangered species list. Now, one zoo in St. Louis, Missouri has been trying to come up with a solution to save the species.

Ask a Scientist: The Future of the Universe
Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf answers the question, “What is the future of the universe?”

Learn about the Science of Cheese
Have you ever thought about why some cheeses crumble or how string cheese gets its form? There’s a science to it and in this next segment, we take a look at the physics of cheese.

Learn How to Read at Lightning Speed
Imagine if you could read an entire novel in an hour. Or a news article in just a minute. There’s a technology company out of Boston, Massachusetts called Spritz that’s trying to help you do just that.

Cracking the Code of Internet Access
From credit card processing to college applications, much of modern life revolves around the internet. But while high-speed broadband service is taken for granted by many Americans, close to 20 million, or six percent of the population, still lack access. As a result, some towns without broadband are coming up with innovative solutions to get and stay connected.

Furniture Turned High Tech
The cross-section of physics, engineering and entrepreneurship have led to some of the greatest technological innovations. From the light bulb, to the airplane, to the smart watch, these creations can give us a sense of wonder and amazement. Joining us is one engineer, Jessica Banks, who is trying to elicit that same excitement with what she calls kinetic furniture.

Taking Legos to a New Level
You may remember playing with Lego building blocks as a child. And according to Lego, on average every person on the planet owns 86 Lego bricks. Up next, we have a look at how one Lego enthusiast takes what’s been named the “toy of the century” to a new level.

Trash to Gas
We’ve been hearing more and more about space missions, possibly to Mars one day, but getting there and getting back is a pretty huge logistical challenge. For example, food, and possibly for waste, what do we do with it? We speak with Dr. Paul Hintze who describes an interesting NASA program called Trash to Gas. Here’s a look.

Matter of Fact: Human Body
How well do you know your own body? Take our Matter of Fact challenge and find out.

Devices Gone Digital
It seems nothing is off limits these days when it comes to transforming everyday household items into smart devices. From the centuries old-toothbrush to the modern day crockpot, devices are going digital. Wall Street Journal Personal Technology Columnist, Joanna Stern, speaks walks us through the evolution of household devices in the digital age.

The Innovators: Bit Shift
We meet the founders of BitShift, a startup designing a source code search engine.

A Hands-on Approach to Science and Math
As schools across the country focus more and more on stem instruction, one teaching method is gaining traction as educators try to help students make sense of complex science and math topics. Reporter Andrea Vasquez has the story.

The Innovators: My Mini Factor
The founder of the start-up My Mini Factory introduces us to what he calls “The YouTube of 3D printable files.”

A Look at One of the Oldest Societies on Earth
Up next, we take you inside one of the oldest societies on earth. And it’s not what you might think. With millions of insects and its very own queen, the termite nest is a universe all of its own. Take a look.

The Future of Driverless Cars
With advancements in auto technologies, some industry leaders believe we’re getting close to the Jetsons’ era of travel. Legislation has passed in Nevada, California, Michigan, Florida and Washington D.C. allowing driverless cars on the road. Host Hari Sreenivasan sits down with CNET Editor-At-Large, Tim Stevens to discuss the issue.

How an Unusual Creature May Save Our Shorelines
From the Puget Sound in Washington State to the shores of Lake Michigan in the Midwest to the Florida coastline, across the country, states are developing methods to protect their environments from climate change. Reporter Rick Karr has the story of one city experimenting with an unusual creature with the hope of protecting its shoreline.

What Are the Building Blocks of Matter?
Robert Dijkgraaf, the Director and Leon Levy Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey answers our question, “What are the building blocks of matter?”