As Science Friday’s video producer, Luke is tasked with writing, filming, directing, editing, animating, narrating, and promoting many of the short films you’ll find on this here website. Every other week, he becomes obsessed with the research he films until his video is complete or his colleagues show him a shiny new study to play with. Luke also wrangles a stable of equally enthusiastic freelance filmmakers, helping them to produce and promote their own stories.
Prior to being domesticated by Science Friday, Luke worked at the Wildlife Conservation Society, where he profiled a wide cast of characters, both two- and four-legged. The experience provided hands-on training in storytelling, as well as some invaluable lessons in wildlife filmmaking, such as “Lemurs enjoy scent marking. Everything.” And, “Never let a baby walrus sit on you.”
Despite his snobby film school education at SUNY Purchase and his devotion to Werner Herzog, his favorite film remains The Bear. He doesn’t care that it is a “kiddie film” that anthropomorphizes animals—he cries every time and isn’t ashamed of it.
8:55
How Dogs Are Helping Scientists Build A Smell Detector For Cancer
Researchers are using dogs’ heightened sense of smell to build a device to sniff out the chemicals produced by cancer cells.
The Seriously Silly Science Cartoons Of Rosemary Mosco
Comic artist Rosemary Mosco creates science cartoons that reveal the weird, wacky, and wonderful in the natural world.
6:29
Exploring Your Brain’s Pokémon Region
How ‘catching them all’ led one scientist to discover a Pokémon region in our brains.
This Is Your Brain On Pokémon
Becoming a Pokémon Master requires more than just “catching them all.” You’ll need a new, dedicated brain region, too.
7:01
The Secrets Of The Venus Flytrap
Learn about the surprising facts and common misconceptions of the Venus flytrap.
The Complicated Sex Lives Of Venus Flytraps
How do Venus flytraps survive if they end up eating their pollinators?
The Ensnaring Strands Of Spider Silk
Spider webs are not just a nuisance in your home. This researcher is untangling the genetics of the silken scaffolding.
The Distributed Mind: Octopus Neurology
In a highly-anticipated experiment, researchers are attempting to decode how the octopus controls its multi-armed mind.
Children Of Invention
From a worry shredder to an odd sock sorter, Little Inventors brings kids’ ideas to life.