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.
12:19
Making A Meal Fit For An Astronaut
NASA’s team of food scientists must make food nutritious, delicious (or at least edible), and fit for spaceflight.
26:30
Burying Green: Eco-Friendly Death Care On The Rise
Can new regulations help make dying more eco-friendly? A mortician and the developer of a start-up remains company discuss grief and the choices everyone will eventually face.
16:43
How Gamification Has Crept Into School, Work, And Fitness
Game developer and author Adrian Hon explains the consequences of allowing gaming principles to creep into so many corners of our lives.
28:45
The Politics Of Science: Voters Have An Important Voice
Science underlies many civic issues—from adapting to extreme weather to funding STEM education—and important choices are being decided at the ballot box.
9:30
Vague Medical Marijuana Rules Leave Workers And Employers In The Dark
More than a dozen lawsuits reveal a program that’s confusing for 400,000 statewide medical marijuana patients.
7:45
A Smoky Aftertaste: Keeping Wildfires Out Of Your Wine Glass
Scientists are working hard to make sure your Oregon Pinot Noir doesn’t change taste after smoke exposure.
7:21
Why Are Dead Fish Piling Up Across The San Francisco Bay?
Untreated sewage discharge in the warming waters may have caused a dangerous algal bloom.
8:17
As Temperatures Get Warmer, Fish Are At Risk
Massive die-offs could become the norm in the upper midwest as climate change-related factors place fish at risk.
10:24
New Jersey’s Lenape Nation Fights Ford’s Toxic Legacy
A court case seeks to recover damages from the impact of the car company’s toxic waste.
16:45
The Surprising Animal Science Behind Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope’
Spoilers abound! Learn how Jordan Peele’s new film ‘Nope’ used inspiration from the oceans to make its new creature.