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Tomorrow’s Jets Could Fly with Flower Power

Camelina Jet Fuel

Due to rising oil prices and environmental concerns, the aviation industry is now looking at many biofuels as alternatives to petroleum derived fuel. NASA researchers conducted a series of test flights recently that proved a commercial jet can fly safely with a blend of jet fuel made from Camelina plant oil.

WCVE Public Radio’s Charles Fishburne has more in this Science Matters report.

Question Your World: How Did Everyone Really End Up Everywhere?

For about 200,000 years humanity has been making its way from Africa to just about every corner of this planet. The study of our past helps explain the evolution of life here on Earth. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into digging through the past and have constructed the time line of our story, all the while continually making new discoveries. So, what happens when we make a new discovery that totally contradicts what we've learned? Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

Question Your World: How Do You Feel About Robots?

robot

Would you be happy if a robot gave you flowers? Would you be sad if you saw someone hurt a robot? Those are the types of questions that were on a recent German scientific survey, but why? Why do we need to understand how we feel about robots? Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

Question Your World: How Far Does Our Solar System Stretch?

Voyager

Our lovely and comfortable home here on Earth is a long way away from the end of our solar system. Here on Earth concepts of boundaries involve rivers, lakes, mountains, human imposed borders, and so on. However, this is not how the limits of our solar system are established. There is not one point that defines the end, but there is definitely an end and it’s really far from here. Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

Question Your World: Why Do We Like the Music We Like?

music headphones

Think about all the music you’ve ever listened to. Everything from Beethoven’s 5th to “Call Me Maybe” are processed through the brain, but what about them allows the brain to say yay or nay? Listen to the latest Question Your World Radio Report from the Science Museum of Virginia to learn more.

More From WCVE Public Radio...

Blue Crab Harvest to be Tied to Gender

Pamela D'Angelo in Science Matters

After a tough winter for blue crabs, Chesapeake Bay fisheries managers will be using the latest science to help them increase populations by keeping the right number of females out of the pot. Northern Neck Correspondent Pamela D’Angelo reports.

A waterman with his crabpots on the Little Wicomico River in Reedville

Virginia Tech Engineering Students Win National ecoCar Competition

Charles Fishburne in Science Matters

Virginia Tech engineering students have just won a national competition by building a hybrid-electric next-generation automobile that practically runs on fumes. Charles Fishburne has more in this Science Matters report.

Virginia Struggling With Oyster Restoration Efforts -- Part 2

Pamela D'Angelo in Science Matters

During the past few months Virginia, federal officials and the seafood industry have struggled with how to proceed with state oyster restoration. In some cases the issue has pitted scientists against one another. Today state fisheries managers from around the Chesapeake Bay and the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Bay Office continue a two-day meeting in the Northern Neck. On their agenda are the next steps for a bay-wide oyster restoration strategy and how to measure its success. WCVE’s Northern Neck Correspondent Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Virginia Struggling with Oyster Restoration Efforts

Pamela D'Angelo in Science Matters

This morning, state fisheries managers from around the Chesapeake Bay and the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Bay Office begin a two-day meeting in the Northern Neck. On their agenda are the next steps for a bay-wide oyster restoration strategy and how to measure its success. Virginia is struggling with how to do this and must decide soon or face losing two-million dollars in federal funding in a tough economy. WCVE Nothern Neck Correspondent Pamela D'Angelo reports.

Great Balls of Fire! World Premiere at SMV

Charles Fishburne in Science Matters

Two new attractions at the Science Museum of Virginia let you count the stars and save the planet. Charles Fishburne has more in this WCVE Science Matters report.