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.
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6:12
Fighting Climate Change With Genetically Modified Trees
Can trees be genetically engineered to store more carbon? A new strategy to do just that is being put to the test in a Georgia forest.
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33:23
Lactose Intolerance May Have A Lot To Do With Your Gut Microbiome
A third of the U.S. is lactose intolerant, and studying the microbiome might explain why.
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12:02
Your Plants Are Trying To Tell You They’re Thirsty
Plus, how cockroach sex is evolving with pest control.
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16:45
Your Future COVID-19 Vaccine May Come Through Your Nose
An immunobiologist answers listeners’ ongoing pandemic questions.
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12:08
A Supermassive Black Hole The Mass Of 30 Billion Suns
How researchers detected the space giant using gravitational lensing, plus the approval of over-the-counter Narcan, EV charging, and a mammoth meatball you can eat.
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5:52
Foundational Food Sources In The Gulf Of Maine Are Failing
Decades of research suggest that warming temperatures are collapsing the gulf’s productivity.
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9:41
Meet The Activist Reimagining Climate Education
Young people like Sage Lenier are very worried about climate change. So she took ownership over her education.
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16:57
National Audubon Society Sticks With Its Name, Despite Namesake’s Racism
Even as the national organization decides to stick with its original moniker, local branches are opting for change.
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6:14
An Underwater Volcano Off The Oregon Coast Sheds Light On Eruptions
The Axial Seamount is a natural laboratory, helping scientists improve long-term eruption forecasts.
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6:01
Whiskey Distillery On The Rocks After Fungus Spreads
Whiskey fungus isn’t as fun as it sounds. Just ask Lincoln County, Tennessee.