Alexa Lim was a senior producer for the Science Friday radio production team, which means you could find her on the phone researching stories throughout the week and at a heightened level of anxiety every Friday between 2-4 p.m. E.T. A few of her favorite interviews have involved orchestrating a live physics game show, sound-checking with the International Space Station, and learning how to ask where the bathroom is in Dothraki.
After brief stints in an oncology lab and in the exotic world of science textbook publishing, she found her way into public radio through an internship at StoryCorps. Before joining Science Friday, she produced Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio and for the JazzStories podcast, where she discovered that the jazz harp is an underrated instrument.
Alexa grew up in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in biology. She can confirm that there is no basement in the Alamo.
12:03
Shedding Light on the Science of Sunscreen
How does sunscreen protect our skin from harmful radiation, and what is the meaning behind SPFs?
20:39
Food Failures: Avoiding Grilling and Barbecue Pitfalls
Marinade myths, charcoal chemistry, and the elusive “smoke ring”—the science behind barbecue and grilling.
13:24
Getting A Grasp On The Clever Cephalopod
The nautilus, the “living fossil” of cephalopods, can uncover the origins of the complex brain of modern cephalopods.
17:23
Untangling the Web of Spider Science
Arachnologist Greta Binford traces the evolution of spiders by examining their venom.
16:24
Beer Science: Crafting the Perfect Pint
Two of Oregon’s craft brew experts pore over hops, yeast, malt, and the microbiology of beer.
12:07
Rep. Rush Holt: Science and Congress
Representative Rush Holt talks about how ‘thinking like a scientist’ can help the political process.
17:20
Is NASA Ready To Make The Leap To A Manned Mission To Mars?
What technologies, budget, and partners would NASA needed for a successful manned mission to Mars?
11:47
The EPA’s New Proposal to Curb Carbon Emissions
The EPA’s proposal sets a 30 percent decrease in power plant carbon emissions by 2030.
12:01
How Touch Helps Us Emotionally Experience the World
Researchers describe a type of nerve that helps us understand social interactions and emotion.
16:13
Why Do Some Songs Stick in Our Heads?
“Earworms” are song fragments that get stuck in our mind.