Science & Technology

“It is never too late to expand the mind of a person on the autism spectrum.”

These are the words of Dr. Temple Grandin, who’s sometimes referred to as the best known person with autism in the world. 

That’s due to her renown in not one, but two, fields.  

Grandin has done groundbreaking work in animal welfare. She’s best known for designing humane cattle-handling facilities that are used for half the cattle in the U.S.

She is also a prolific writer and advocate for people like herself on the autism spectrum.   

A Michigan State University researcher will soon attach sensors to the underside of the Mackinac Bridge. Current State’s Scott Pohl talks with Nizar Lajnef about what he hopes to learn from studying the everyday stresses on Big Mac.

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams continues to rise on the Michigan State University campus. MSU will shed some light on this gigantic project by hosting an open house this weekend. Current State’s Kevin Lavery tours the site.

Drones have been around for a long time.  The first true remote-controlled aircraft were developed a century ago.  Today, drones have evolved from reconnaissance patrols to recreational past times. 

MSU researcher Dr. Emin Kutay is looking for ways to use rubber from scrap tires in asphalt. Will his work lead to better roads in Michigan?

Michigan State University is cutting the ribbon tomorrow on its new supercomputer. Current State’s Kevin Lavery has a report.

On Monday, Mercury will pass between the earth and the sun. We talk with Shannon Schmoll and John French of MSU's Abrams Planetarium about the rare event.

Michigan State University's “Tomorrow” campaign seeks to explain complex scientific research in more accessible terms.

What do courage and perseverance have to do with science? Lots, according to renowned theoretical physicist and author Brian Greene. He’ll explain in an address that opens the MSU Science Festival.

Stem cells are the raw materials the body uses to build any specific type of cell. Researchers at Michigan State University say they’ve found a new type of stem cell that may be used to regenerate healthy cells. Current State talks with Dr. Amy Ralston and graduate student Anthony Parenti.

Two decades ago, man met machine on the chessboard. An IBM computer called Deep Blue defeated Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the opening match of six. Since then, a new algorithm has triumphed in an even more complicated game. Current State’s Kevin Lavery talks with MSU biologist and computer scientist Arend Hintze about the future of artificial intelligence.

Where’s the snow? This time last year, we had snow on the ground in Michigan. What does this mean for our winter forecast? We check in with MLive’s chief meteorologist Mark Torregrossa to find out.

NASA announced this week that it’s found liquid water on Mars. The news has scientists across the world buzzing with excitement. We check in with Abrams Planetarium Director Shannon Schmoll about what this means for the future of space exploration and the possibility of life on other planets.

Construction is moving ahead of schedule at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University. Sen. Gary Peters toured the project yesterday to see its development firsthand. Current State’s Kevin Lavery spoke with Senator Peters about his observations.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about how to get girls interested in the STEM fields. One solution? Hearing the stories of women already doing great things in the tech world. Current State talks with the Michigan women who founded the new podcast "Diva Tech Talk", which aims to do just that.