Kathleen Davis is a producer and fill-in host at Science Friday, which means she spends her weeks researching, writing, editing, and sometimes talking into a microphone. She heads the show’s State of Science project, bringing local science stories to a national audience.
Before joining the Science Friday team in 2020, Kathleen reported on tech and breaking news at WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR station. One time, her coworkers made her a dinosaur themed birthday cake, complete with a Rice Krispy meteor.
Kathleen is originally from the great state of Michigan, and is always eager to talk about freshwater lakes and Coney Island diners. She can often be found taking long walks to run errands that would be done much faster by other modes of transportation.
4:14
A New Argument For Preserving ‘Space Junk’ Left On Mars
Archaeologists call for tracking and preserving artifacts left on Mars to chronicle humans’ first attempts at interplanetary exploration.
12:20
What FAA Regulations Tell Us About Mysterious Drone Sightings
With drone sightings in the news, we take a look at the current laws and regulations around hobby and commercial drone operation.
12:17
The Universe Is Expanding Faster Than Expected
The effect, known as the Hubble Tension, has been confirmed by James Webb Space Telescope observations.
10:19
The Accidental Discovery That Gave Us ‘Forever Chemicals’
The host of the “Hazard NJ” podcast talks about the origins of PFAS “forever chemicals” and their impact on New Jersey residents.
12:15
Are Food Recalls Actually On The Rise? Not Really.
Despite near daily warnings of food recalls, 2024 hasn’t been that different from previous years.
17:16
8.5 Hours Of Daily Sitting Linked To Higher BMI And Cholesterol
Scientists studied the sitting habits of more than 1,000 adults to zero in on the link between time spent sitting and specific health outcomes.
8:34
Accidental Breakthrough Makes Web-Slinging Silk A Reality
In a materials science discovery, scientists made a liquid silk solution that hardens and picks up objects—not unlike Spider-Man’s web.
17:08
How Empire and Environmental Destruction Go Hand-In-Hand
“The Burning Earth” examines over 800 years of history to demonstrate how violence against people and the planet are one and the same.
11:44
SpaceX’s Starship Completes In-Orbit Engine Test
This was the sixth test launch of the Starship vehicle, which could eventually carry humans and cargo to the moon. It was extremely loud.
10:51
The Struggle To Restore Drinking Water After Hurricane Helene
Fifty-three days after Hurricane Helene, residents of Asheville can safely drink their tap water without boiling it. Why did it take so long?