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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...

Virginia’s Wallops Island Continues To Prosper

Charles Fishburne in News | Science Matters

NASA says it has successfully launched another suborbital rocket from its flight facility at Wallops Island, and as Charles Fishburne reports, Virginia’s space business is booming there.

Dupont to Open New Factory in Chesterfield

Charles Fishburne in News | Science Matters

Dupont has announced it will spend 20 million dollars to build a pilot plant in Chesterfield, to produce materials to make better batteries for tomorrow’s electric cars. Charles Fishburne has more in this WCVE Science Matters report.

McDonnell Looks Into Offshore Wind Energy

Craig Carper in News | Science Matters

During his European trade mission last week Governor Bob McDonnell held meetings with leaders in the development of offshore wind energy to try and bring some of their ideas back to the Commonwealth. Craig Carper reports.

RAPME Students Build Underwater Robots

John Ogle in News | Science Matters

A group of more than 135 middle and high school students, with an interest in engineering, have been studying at Virginia State and Virginia Commonwealth Universities for the past several weeks.

Science Museum Features Astronaut at SkyDay Night

Charles Fishburne in News | Science Matters

The Science Museum of Virginia kicked off a summer of skygazing activity over the weekend, featuring a visit from Virginia Tech graduate and astronaut Roger Crouch. Charles Fishburne has more in this WCVE-News Science Matters report.