Episodes

  • Becoming an Astronaut [interview with JAXA astronaut candidate Dr. Makoto Suwa]
    Apr 1 2024

    🧑‍🚀 Have you ever wondered how to achieve your dream of becoming an astronaut? 🤔 Well, our special guest is one of the two latest astronaut candidates from JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Dr. Makoto Suwa. After his undergrad at UTokyo, he obtained a Ph.D. in Geosciences from Princeton University. He was working at the World Bank before joining JAXA in July 2023.

    In this episode:

    🌑Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut? 🛰️ 🔭What kind of training does one need? 💡 Discover the steps involved in becoming an astronaut, what skills are necessary, and more as Dr. Suwa sheds light on becoming an astronaut. 🌍 So, whether you're a curious mind or simply fascinated by the wonders of space, this episode is for you. 🔍 Don't miss out. Hit that play button!


    Guest: Dr. Makoto Suwa (https://www.linkedin.com/in/makoto-suwa-657b542a/)

    Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (⁠⁠https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra⁠⁠)

    Follow us on FB: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠⁠

    #space #JAXA #astronaut #research #scicomm #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

    Music: Incompetech.com

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    27 mins
  • Cosmic dust and its mysteries (with Dr. Sakon Itsuki)
    Feb 1 2024

    What can dust tell us about the origin of life?

    Guest: Dr. Sakon Itsuki (https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/people/sakon_itsuki/⁠)

    Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (⁠https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra⁠)

    Follow us on FB: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠⁠ #cosmology #space #bigbang #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

    Music:Incompetech.com

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    9 mins
  • How AI and robots help build next generation solid state batteries (with Dr. Taro Hitosugi)
    Dec 1 2023

    Ever wondered if AI and robots could replace scientists? What if humans and machines can collaborate to inspire each other. Would that allow us to design next generation solid state batteries that can charge in minutes or seconds?


    Guest: Dr. Taro Hitosugi (https://solid-state-chemistry.jp/english/)

    Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra)

    Follow us on FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠ #lithium #batteries #AI #robots #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience #sustainable

    Music:Incompetech.com

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    29 mins
  • 18. How fast is the universe expanding? (with Dr. Kenneth Wong)
    Nov 22 2023

    Ever wondered how scientists measure the speed of expansion of the universe? Gravitational lensing where the gravitational force of a celestial body bends light could play a role in our efforts to estimate. Find out how.


    Guest: Dr. Kenneth Wong, Assistant Professor (https://kcwong.github.io/)

    Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra)

     

    Follow us on FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠

    #bigbang #universe #JamesWebbSpaceTelescope #JSWT

    #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

    Music: Incompetech.com

    Sound effects: Zapsplat.com

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    15 mins
  • 17. Gold clusters and their applications (with Dr. Leonardo Hayato Takeshige)
    Nov 8 2023

    If all types of gold have the same gold atoms, what gives them different colors? How can gold help see deformations in plastics and illuminate our houses? Find out in this episode.


    Guest: Dr. Leonardo Hayato Takeshige, Postdoc, School of Science

    Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli Nettimi, Project Specialist, School of Science


    Follow us on FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠

    #gold #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

    Music: Incompetech.com

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    11 mins
  • Careers in mathematics, with Dr. Hidetaka Sakai
    Oct 2 2023

    Have you ever wondered what a mathematician does in a day-to-day life? What jobs can you do after a degree in mathematics? I spoke to Prof. Sakai Hidetaka of the School of Science to find out.


    Guest: Prof. Hidetaka Sakai. https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/people/people003341.html

    Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli Nettimi

    Suggested book: Gödel, Escher, Bach by  Douglas Hofstadter.

    Feature article supplementing this podcast: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/rigakuru/research/4iKwsGUP/


    Follow us on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠

    Music: Incompetech

    #mathematics #finance #STEM #careers

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    8 mins
  • 16. Finding metals in the Milky Way
    Sep 11 2023

    How does one find metals in the Milky Way galaxy? And how would that help us? Find out in this episode.


    Press release: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/press/10003/

    Follow us on FB: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠⁠⁠

    Guest: Dr. Noriyuki Matsunaga

    Host: Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi

    Music: Incompetech. Sound effects: Zapsplat


    #Milkyway #galaxy #space #metals #astronomy #UTokyo


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    3 mins
  • Sleep Secrets with Dr. Yu Hayashi
    Sep 1 2023

    Dr. Yu Hayashi and his team study sleep in nematode worms and mice.  Their aim is to understand why we sleep and what is sleepiness. They hope to uncover the role of REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep, and potentially contribute to treating sleep disorders and other human diseases.

     

    In this interview, Dr. Hayashi explains:

    Why study sleep in worms and mice?

    What are REM and non-REM sleep?

    How they use technology to understand sleep.

    Why do you feel sleepy after a workout?

    How to improve memory according to sleep science?

    And the biggest sleep mysteries.

     

    Guest: Dr. Yu Hayashi (https://hayashi-sleep-lab.net/en/home-2/)

    Host:Dr. Ravindra Palavalli-Nettimi (https://rvndrpn.wixsite.com/ravindra)

     

    Accompanying feature article: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/rigakuru/research/uu4jELQj/

     

    Follow us on FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/UTokyo.sci⁠

    #sleep #slumber #mice #worms #dreams #memory #UniversityofTokyo #UTokyo #SchoolofScience

    Music: Incompetech.com

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    28 mins