Technology Today

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Episode 15: Hypersonic Progress Jan 20, 2020

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The future will be fast! That’s why our guests launch projectiles faster than Mach 5, five times the speed of sound. They’re studying hypersonic speeds in an SwRI lab, reaching thousands of miles per hour and temperatures hotter than the sun. In this episode, we discuss their discoveries and where their work could one day take us. Think commercial hypersonic flights, coast to coast, in an hour! In today’s Breakthroughs, earthquakes shake up a geologist’s view of nature, highlighting the vast connections that exist all around us. And how does sunlight reach Earth? A space physicist has the answer in Ask us Anything. Listen now.

Episode 14: Extreme Product Testing Dec 15, 2019

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It’s shopping season. When we buy electronics and other products, we expect them to be reliable and safe. Our guest today is a product assurance expert who subjects consumer products and other equipment to a range of adverse conditions. Before you buy and use them, products in her lab have been exposed to extreme drops, peak temperatures and corrosive environments to make sure they hold up. In this episode, we discuss why extreme testing is critical. Plus, our expert shares some valuable consumer tips. In today’s Breakthroughs, an ancient woodworking technique leads to a new discovery. And in Ask us Anything, we call in a robotics expert to answer a curious listener’s question. Listen now.

Episode 13: Our First Anniversary! Nov 18, 2019

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The Technology Today Podcast is celebrating one year of giving listeners an inside perspective on world-changing science, engineering, research and technology through informative conversations with institute scientists and engineers. On this episode, we highlight some of our memorable “listen and learn” moments and introduce two new segments, “Breakthroughs,” personal stories of discovery told by the people who lived them and “Ask us Anything,” our SwRI experts answer your questions. Listen now to this special anniversary episode of Technology Today.

Episode 12: Detecting Cancer with AI Oct 21, 2019

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this episode, we highlight an innovative technology for doctors treating patients with breast cancer. SwRI engineers and pathologists from UT Health San Antonio combined their expertise to develop a computer algorithm that quickly detects and analyzes breast cancer tumor cells on pathology images. The algorithm holds promise for faster, more accurate cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. The team’s brilliant work is grabbing global attention. Listen now as we learn about potentially life-saving artificial intelligence.

Episode 11: Exploring Earthquakes Sep 15, 2019

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Rumbling and shaking during an earthquake can trigger liquefaction, a dangerous process that causes solid ground to behave like a liquid. This can result in widespread destruction. Our guest today is part of a team compiling data from around the world to predict where this is likely to happen. If researchers can pinpoint high risk areas, communities can better prepare. Listen now as we explore the impact of earthquakes.

Episode 10: Unraveling a Hurricane Aug 19, 2019

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Collecting data from a hurricane before it makes landfall is key to saving lives and property. While current hurricane models can predict the path, there are often gaps in accurately predicting a storm’s intensity, or strength. NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) is made up of eight microsatellites designed and built by Southwest Research Institute. The satellites use GPS signals to cut through the world’s strongest storms. Our guest in this episode is an SwRI engineer who is part of a team operating CYGNSS. Hurricane season and year round, they are taking on tropical weather, measuring winds and working to better understand and predict hurricane intensity. Listen now as we discuss a new era in hurricane hunting.

Episode 9: Guarding Our Groundwater Jul 15, 2019

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What do you know about H2O? Where does our water come from? What does it take to keep it safe and clean, and how can we help? Our guest today is a groundwater hydrologist and an expert on managing our groundwater resources. From tracking water quality to developing new groundwater technology, he's a leading voice for our waterways. Coming up, the groundwater discussion is flowing on this episode of Technology Today.

Episode 8: Additive Manufacturing: From Powder to Part Jun 17, 2019

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For thousands of years, people have made things the same way, carving out a tool or a part from a bigger chunk of material. While humankind has had great achievements through conventional manufacturing, there’s a new manufacturing method emerging. Additive manufacturing is 3D printing of metal parts. Instead of starting with a block of material and molding it to create a part, the builder starts with a powder and lasers. The part is formed layer by layer from the bottom up to exact specifications. Our guest today explains why this is an exciting time in manufacturing and how this method is opening up new possibilities in making parts. Listen now as we explore additive manufacturing, a new way to build.

Episode 7: Human Digital Twins May 19, 2019

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Do you wear a device to track your steps, heart rate or sleep patterns? Collecting data about ourselves is becoming mainstream. Add that information to your medical data and you have the makings of your own human digital twin. Our guests in this episode are Southwest Research Institute engineers Dan Nicolella and Kase Saylor. They explain what digital twins are, who they can benefit and why they have the potential to help us understand our health needs in a new and personal way. Plus, learn about an innovative tool in human performance and biomechanics – markerless motion capture. Find out how this technique is helping athletes play a better game and helping injured people rehabilitate. Listen now as we discuss digital health.

Episode 6: Simulating an Ocean Apr 15, 2019

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How do you lessen the chance of a deep sea disaster? Put your equipment through rigorous testing before it ever hits the water. Testing underwater equipment in the ocean is costly, but necessary for safety. The SwRI Ocean Simulation Lab is a reliable alternative and offers a sea of options. Our guest in this episode is Southwest Research Institute engineer Joe Crouch. He tells us how his team brings the ocean to life, recreating the temperatures and pressures of a deep sea dive, in an 18,000-square-foot lab. Researchers are submerging all types of equipment to measure strength and durability and to help avoid deep ocean catastrophes. Plus, how is the deep ocean team creating rescue solutions for stranded submarine crews? And what role did SwRI play in the discovery of the Titanic wreckage? Listen now as we ride the waves of simulating an ocean.

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