About

About A Moment of Science

We’ve all hit our “funny bone.” Why does it feel like that? What do bicycles, footballs, and space shuttles have in common? Can you really learn while you are asleep? Why do some birds hop and others walk?

These and literally thousands of other questions about the world we live in are answered in A Moment of Science. If you are even a little bit interested in the world around you these two-minute radio programs are just for you – and you don’t need to know anything about science!

These vignettes remove some of the mystery from science, but not the wonder. A Moment of Science makes you think “Wow, that’s neat!” and go tell somebody else about it. There’s no end to the topics covered, and you the listener can add to the list by sending us questions.

A Moment of Science is produced at Indiana University, Bloomington, in cooperation with IU’s scientific community, and scientists around the world.

Support A Moment of Science

A Moment of Science is brought to you in part by the generous support of WFIU listeners and our corporate supporters. Please consider making a small contribution to help us keep the lights on, or if you’d like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact us.

For Radio Stations

A Moment of Science is heard across the U.S., and around the globe on several international networks. If your local station is not among the over 80 stations worldwide who air A Moment of Science, contact them and let them know you’d like them to carry our program.

If you’re a radio program director, A Moment of Science is available to public and commercial radio stations, and is provided via convenient ftp downloads. To order the programs for your station simply contact us and we will make the necessary arrangements for you.

Thank You!

The redesign of the A Moment of Science website and the creation of A Moment of Science Video was made possible with generous support from the Brabson Library and Educational Foundation.

Don Glass – Host and Producer, A Moment of Science Radio

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Don Glass has worked in public radio since 1966. From 1970 to 1990 he served as Program Manager for WFIU, becoming Special Projects Director and Senior Producer from 1990 to 2005. He has retired from full-time employment at WFIU, but continues to host and produce A Moment of Science. He enjoys working with A Moment of Science and learning fascinating new facts.

Yaël Ksander – Co-Host, A Moment of Science Radio

Raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Yael Ksander holds a MFA in painting from Indiana University, an M.A. in art history from Columbia University, and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. She joined WFIU in 2000, where she hosts music and talk programs, and produces audio features on musicians and arts for Artworks. In addition, Yael works on A Moment of Science and A Moment of Indiana History.

Mandy Striph – Host, A Moment of Science Video

Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Mandy Striph is a senior pursuing her BFA in Musical Theatre at Indiana University where she is a member of the IU Broadway Cabaret and the Undergraduate Student Liason to the IU Theatre Circle. Recent IU Theatre appearances include Ado Annie (Oklahoma!), Dolores (The Wild Party), Falca (The Day Boy and the Night Girl), Philia (A Funny…Forum), and Bird Girl (Seussical).

Production and Online Staff

• Nick Chafin, Producer (A Moment of Science Video)
• Aut Phanthavong, Videographer (A Moment of Science Video)
• Michael Paskash, Studio Engineer (WFIU)
• Adam Schweigert, Online Director (WFIU/WTIU)
• Eoban Binder, Online Designer/Producer
• Margaret Aprison, Associate Web Producer
• Emily Shelton, Associate Web Producer
• Molly Plunkett, Intern

WFIU Supporting Staff

• Luann Johnson, Director of National Syndication
• Scott Witzke, Marketing Director
• Nancy Krueger, Grants and Gifts Officer
• Marianne Woodruff, Corporate Support Director
• Cary Boyce, Operations, Program Production Manager
• Christina Kuzmych, Executive Producer
• Perry Metz, Executive-in-Charge IU Radio-Television Services

Chris Allgower, Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute
John Alsobrooks, Vincennes University
David Amodio, New York University
Matthew Auer, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Stephen Adams, Purdue University
Steven Babin, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Debera Backhus, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Tom Baranowski, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
Farrah Bashey-Visser, Biology
James Battey, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Paul Becker, Cummins Technical Center, Columbus, Indiana
Carolyn Begley, Optometry
Mike Berger, Physics
Elmer Bernstam, University of Texas, Houston
Domenico Bertoloni, History and Philosophy of Science
Stephen Billings, Dermatology, IU School of Medicine
Geoffrey Bingham, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Bob Blakeley, Geological Sciences
Bronwyn Bleakley, the University of Exeter, England
Mark Blumberg, the University of Iowa
Ben Brabson, Physics
Arthur Bradley, Optometry
Yoni Brandt, the University of South Dakota
Simon Brassell, Geological Sciences
Allen Braun, National Institutes of Health
Mark Braun, Medical Sciences Program
William Brechue, the University of Central Oklahoma
Butch Brodie, Biology
Darron Brown, School of Medicine
Joshua Brown, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Stephen Brown, Nottingham Centre for Pavement Engineering, Nottingham, England
Yves Brun , Biology
Donald Burke, Biology
Thomas Busey, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Scott Campbell, Cornell Medical School
James Canary, Lilly Library
James Capshew, History and Philosophy of Science
John Carini, Physics
Ann Carmichael, History and Philosophy of Science
Kenneth Caulton, Chemistry
Zhou-Feng Chen, Washington University Saint Louis
Antonio Chiocca, The Ohio State University
Keith Clay, Biology
Amy Clement, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, University of Miami
Haldan Cohn, Astronomy
Geoffrey Conrad, Anthropology
Clara Cotten, Biology
Mary Alice Cox, Bloomington Veterinary Hospital
James Craig, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Mark Crocker, the University of Kentucky
William Cron, Bloomington Dermatologist
Marti Crouch, Biology
David Daleke, Medical Sciences Program
James Daniel, Purdue University
Jesus Dapena, Kinesiology
Greg Demas, Biology
Robert de Ruyter, Physics
Joseph DeSimone, Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Michael Dickson, History and Philosophy of Science
Ted Dix, the University of Texas, Austin
Jim Drummond, Biology
J.B. Duffy, Biology
Lee Dugatkin, Biology, University of Louisville
Rob Dunbar, Geological and Environmental Sciences Stanford University
Richard Durisen, Astronomy
Daniel Van Dyk, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
Clive Edwards, Entomology, Ohio State University
Michael Ewert, Biology
James Farlow, Geology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Ft. Wayne
Peter Finn, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Janette Fischer, Biology
Alyce Fly, Applied Health Sciences
John Foley, Medical Sciences Program
Patricia Foster, Biology
Peretz Friedman, Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan
Preston Garraghty, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Gerald Gastony, Biology
Victoria Getty, Applied Health Science
Thomas Gieryn, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Steven Girvin, Physics
Larry Glickman, Veterinary Pathobiology, Purdue University
Robert Goldstone, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Tamas Gombosi, The University of Michigan
Steven Gottlieb, Physics
Robert Goulet, School of Medicine
Richard Granger, Dartmouth College
Jody Green, Purdue University
Cindy Hale, Department of Forest Resources and The Natural Resources Research
Institute, University of Minnesota
Michael Hamburger,
Geological Sciences
Roger Hangarter, Biology
Andrew Hanson, Computer Sciences
George Hegeman, Biology
Charles Heiser, Biology
James Hengeveld, Biology
Susan Hengeveld, Biology
Diane Henshel, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Juan Hinestroza, Cornell University
Edward Hirt, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Ronald Hites, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Charles Horowitz, Physics
Bradley Howard, Radio-Television Services
Matthew Huber, Purdue University
John Huffman, Chemistry
Kevin Hunt, Anthropology
Laura Hurley, Biology
Roger Innes, Biology
Thomas James, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Timothy Jamison, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Vincent Janik, St. Andrews University, Scotland
Jodie Jawor, the University of Southern Mississippi
Steven Johnson, Computer Science
William Jones, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
David Kaplan, Chemical Engineering, Tufts University
Kristopher Karsten, Oklahoma State University
Noy Kay, Applied Health Science
Sue Kestenman, Bloomington Cat Hospital
Ellen Ketterson, Biology
Gary Kidd, Speech and Hearing Sciences
Alexander King, Materials Engineering, Purdue University
William King, University of Illinois
Brian Kinsey, School of Engineering and Technology, Purdue University
Robert Klesges, University of Memphis
Johanna Kolodziejski, Keene State College
Noretta Koertge, History and Philosophy of Science
Harold Koenig, Duke University
James Krejci, Purdue University
Geoffrey Landis, NASA
Robert Lang, Lang Origami
James K. Lein, Ohio University
Grace LeMasters, the University of Cincinnati
Patricia Leonard, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Hugh Powell, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Kristin Lewis, Harvard University
James Liao, Harvard University
Alice Lindeman, Applied Health Sciences
Curt Lively, Biology
Andrew Luescher, Purdue University
Phyllis Lugger, Astronomy
Michael Lynch, Biology
Jon Macy, Psychlogical and Brain Sciences
Bill Mahler, Wild Well Control, Inc.
Christopher Maples, Desert Research Institute, Nevada
Bruce Martin, Medical Sciences Program
Kenneth Martin, Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
Emília Martins, Biology
Linda Mason, Entomology, Purdue University
Henry Mathews, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta
Richard Mattes, Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University
Iain Matthews, St. Andrews University, Scotland
Krista McCoy, the University of Florida
Susan McDaniel, the University of Rochester
Richard McFall, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Jim McKinney, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Vicky Meretsky, Biology
Tony Mescher, Medical Sciences Program
Richard Meetz, Optometry
Michael Meyer, Entomology, Purdue University
Timothy Mickelborough, Kinesiology
Jerry Mitrovica, the University of Toronto
David Montgomery, the University of Washington
Lawrence Montgomery, Chemistry
James Moor, Dartmouth College
Daniel Moore, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Stephen Moose, the University of Illinois
Rick Mower, Biology
Stuart Mufson, Astronomy
Larry Murdock, Entomology, Purdue University
James Musser, Physics
Herman Nann, Physics
Joseph Near, Medical Sciences Program
Anton Neff, Medical Sciences Program
Craig Nelson, Biology
Kenneth Nephew, Medical Sciences Program
William Newman, History and Philosophy of Science
Paula Niedenthal, Sociology
Harold Ogren, Physics
Herbert Ohm, Purdue University
Valerie Dean O’Laughlin, Medical Sciences Program
Karl Ost, Medical Sciences Program
Clinton Oster, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Hans W. Paerl, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
James Pankow, Oregon Graduate Institute
Edwin Parks, School of Dentistry
Gary Pavlis, Geological Sciences
Shanan Peters, the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Elizabeth A. Pierson, University of Arizona
Catherine Pilachowski, Astronomy
Henry Prange, Medical Sciences Program
John Preer, Biology
Sara Pryor, Geography
Sarah Queller, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Elizabeth Raff, Biology
Rudolf Raff, Biology
A. Ramachandra Rao, Civil Engineering, Purdue University
Samrrah Raouf, Biology
Howard Rasmussen, Medical College of Georgia in Augusta
Richard Raub, Center for Public Safety, Northwestern University
George Rebec, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Luke Rendell, St. Andrews University, Scotland
Adam Rengstorf, Astronomy
Heather Reynolds, Biology
John Richardson, Chemistry
Janet Richmond, the University of Illinois at Chicago
Loren Rieseberg, Biology
Scott Robeson, Geography
Edward Robertson, Computer Sciences
Mark Ronan, Medical Sciences Program
Judith Rose, Textillery Weavers, Bloomington, Indiana
Megan Reinersten Ross, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
Bill Rowland, Biology
Kathleen Rowold, IU Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design
Al Ruesink, Biology
Kathy Schick, CRAFT
Whitney Schlegel, Medical Sciences Program
Hans Peter Schmid, Meteorology
Maria Schmidt, Applied Health Science
John Schrader, Kinesiology
Dolores Schroeder, Medical Sciences Program
Peter Schwandt, Physics
Kurt Schwenk, University of Connecticut
Nelson Shaffer, Indiana Geological Survey
Morven Shearer, University of St. Andrews, UK
Nathan Shier, Applied Health Sciences
Richard Shiffrin, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Jerry Siegel, Center for Sleep Research, UCLA
Eliot Smith, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Linda Smith, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Troy Smith, Biology
Bruce Solomon, Mathematics
Joel Stager, Kinesiology
Joseph Stampfli, Mathematics
Kate Stafford, National Marine Mammal Laboratory
Joseph Steinmetz, Psychological and Brain Sciences and Neural Sciences
Philip Stevens, Public and Environmental Affairs
Julie Stout, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Lane Strathearn, Baylor College of Medicine
Susan Strome, Biology
Donald Stuss, Medicine and Psychology, the University of Toronto
Stefan Surzycki, Biology
Robert Suter, Vassar College
James Swihart, Physics
Rex Tayloe, Physics
Milton Taylor, Biology
Scott Teige, Physics
Brent Tetri, Saint Louis University
Esther Thelen, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Hans Thewissen, Northeastern Ohio Universities
Larry Thibos, Optometry
Steve Thompson, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
William Timberlake, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Zakary Tormala, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Nicholas Toth, CRAFT
James Townsend, Psychological and Brain Sciences
George Turner, Astronomy
James Urban, Biology, Kansas State University
Liese van Zee, Astronomy
Irene Vlachos-Weber, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Kevin Volpp, the University of Pennsylvania
Michael Wade, Biology
Tadaie Wakamatsu, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Wilmington, Delaware
Kenneth Warner, Medical Sciences Program
John Watkins, Medical Sciences Program
William Watt, Cognitive Science, University of California, Irvine
Eugene Weinberg, Biology
Jason Weiss, Purdue University
Gerald West, Astra Aircraft Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia
Meredith West, Psychological and Brain Sciences and Biology
Jeffrey White, Environmental Sciences
David Whiteoak, Nottingham Centre for Pavement Engineering, Nottingham, England
Robert Wintsch, Geological Sciences
Robert Wolkow, University of Alberta, Canada
Patrick Wong, Northwestern University
Julia Wood-Rademacher, Speech and Hearing Sciences
Bruce Young, the University of Massachusetts Lowell
Jeffrey Zaleski, Chemistry
Charlie Zender, the University of California, Irvine :
Dominick Zero, Dentistry
Charles Zuppan, Indiana Geological Survey
Josef Zwanziger, Chemistry

Indiana University Departments

Anthropology
Applied Health Science
Astronomy
Atmospheric Science
Biology
CRAFT (Center for Research into the Anthropological Foundations of Technology)
Chemistry
Computer Sciences
Geological Sciences
History and Philosophy of Science
Indiana Geological Survey
Kinesiology
Mathematics
Medical Sciences Program
Meteorology
IU Office of Research
Optometry
Physics
Psychological and Brain Sciences
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Speech and Hearing Sciences