Curious by Nature

Newswise’s Jessica Johnson shares highlights from a recent trip visiting communications teams and researchers across universities in the southeastern United States.
Below are some of the research stories featured in this episode.
ARPA-H PRINT Program Supports WFIRM-Led Award to Create on-Demand, Bioprinted Kidneys, Published by Wake Forest University
How Studying Yeast in the Gut Could Lead to Better Drugs, Published by North Carolina State University
How health risk communication best practices can improve community flood risk communication, Published by RTI International
Healthy habits can make your brain age more slowly, study finds, Published by University of Florida
New FAU Research Strengthens Evidence Linking Alcohol Use to Cancer, Published by Florida Atlantic University
Efficacy of Service Dogs with Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Community Reintegration, Published by Nova Southeastern University
The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Selected as U.S. Site for Neuralink Clinical Trial, Published by University of Miami – Miller School of Medicine
New Study Could Show How TikTok’s Algorithm Affects Youth Mental Health, Published by Georgia Tech

February brought a wide range of compelling research stories from universities across the country. From the University of Utah’s powerful study, “Banning Lead in Gas Worked. The Proof Is in Our Hair,” to the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine’s findings in “Pink Noise Reduces REM Sleep and May Harm Sleep Quality,” scientists are uncovering insights that directly impact our daily lives.

We also saw Binghamton University, SUNY publish “Record-Breaking Antarctic Drill Reveals 23 Million Years of Climate History,” the University of Nebraska–Lincoln explore business strategy in “Research Shows Companies Can Gain Advantage by Prioritizing Customer Privacy,” and Johns Hopkins Medicine report on long-term brain health in “Cognitive Speed Training Linked to Lower Dementia Incidence Up to 20 Years Later.”

Let’s take a closer look at what made these stories stand out this month.

Today I’m very happy and touched to speak with Jeff Grabmeier who recently retired as the Senior Director of Research Communications at Ohio State University. Jeff spent decades working to help turn complex research into stories that informed and connected with the media and public readers. 
Jeff is a goldmine of information and knowledge about research communications. But also, he has changed the lives of many researchers through his amazing communications efforts. If you are a researcher, scholar, or leader in higher education, Jeff is the type of person you want to be close by. 
Today, we’ll talk about the future of science communication, the rise of AI, and why great storytelling still needs a human touch.

Everyone tells athletes and performers to “stay calm under pressure.” But what if the secret to peak performance isn’t staying calm at all?
High-stakes moments, from championship games to career-defining opportunities,  don’t just test skill, they test how well we handle the pressure. And yet, mental performance training is still one of the most overlooked tools in the playbook.
Luca Ziegler is a PhD candidate at West Virginia University and mental performance consultant . He studies how psychological flexibility, basically staying open, aware, and in control under stress, can help athletes hit flow and clutch states when it matters most.

The Super Bowl isn’t just a battle of talent, it’s a dangerous game. By this point in the season, bodies are banged up, fatigue is real, and hidden injuries can quietly tip the scales in the biggest game of the year. Even a split-second tweak, like an ACL tear, can change everything in an instant.
Today, we’re joined by Dr. Bruce Stamos, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center,, to pull back the curtain on what players are really dealing with behind the scenes. From bruises that don’t make the highlight reel to the careful science of keeping star athletes on the field, Dr. Stamos explains how medical teams turn injury management into a high-stakes game of strategy.