- Pavement coatings that stay up to 12°F cooler - Tree-planting partnerships to cool and shade neighborhoods - Roof coatings designed to lower indoor temperatures and energy bills These are real solutions making life safer and more livable — especially in fast-growing desert cities like Phoenix.

ASU talent is key to Arizona's semiconductor boom. When TSMC evaluated locations in the U.S., ASU helped showcase the strength of Arizona’s workforce pipeline, including more than 30,000 engineering students ready to support a growing industry. Read more: https://ow.ly/yqNl50ZbaWc

Arizona’s "mountain savings account" is running low. ❄️➡️💧 ASU researchers and Salt River Project mapped snowpack across northeastern Arizona this winter and found a 90% decline by March. The data is helping researchers build a virtual model to improve forecasting. More: https://ow.ly/hshI50Z9v7H

Using 22 years of satellite data, ASU researchers discovered that land around the world has been drying up rapidly. This isn't a far away problem. The American #Southwest is among the "mega-drying" regions researchers identified. Read more about this study: https://ow.ly/FHHU50Z7Kfp#Southwest

Your favorite apps, cloud storage & AI tools all depend on data centers. Now, ASU researchers have found those facilities may also be warming nearby neighborhoods. The next step? Finding practical solutions that can help communities stay cooler while supporting the technology we rely on every day.

ASU researcher Hannah Kerner works with farmers and local communities as she maps agricultural fields around the world. Their knowledge helps improve the data, supporting better decisions about food, water and land resources. 🎧 https://rss.com/podcasts/lab-coat-optional/2859192

“Imagine equipment in space. You can't replace parts easily. Things need to last for 10 to 20 years up there under extreme conditions.” — Hugh Barnaby, lab director ASU researchers test technologies under harsh, real-world conditions to ensure they work wherever needed: https://ow.ly/XR6x50Z6Ukq

ASU researchers are developing #microchips that could make communications more efficient for space systems AND for everyday devices. 📱 The same research could one day improve rural cell coverage, strengthen emergency communications and reduce costly device upgrades. More: https://ow.ly/LWab50Z6m0l

The massive task of mapping agricultural fields around the world may sound abstract, but it has real-world consequences. Understanding how much food is being grown and where it’s available can influence commodity pricing— and eventually the prices at the grocery store. labcoatoptional.asu.edu

We can't plan for tomorrow if we don't know where we're at today. That's why ASU researcher Hannah Kerner is working to create a usable database on all of the fields in the world. Using machine learning, Kerner is making sense of massive amounts of data. labcoatoptional.asu.edu

From predicting food shortages to managing water supplies and responding to disasters, accurate models of farmland are critical. ASU computer scientist Hannah Kerner is using satellite data to give us a clearer picture of the fields that feed the world. 🎧 labcoatoptional.asu.edu

Two dollars. One drop of blood or saliva. Fifteen minutes. That’s all it takes to use NasRED, a diagnostic tool developed at ASU that could transform how diseases are detected worldwide. Read about this breakthrough & more: https://issuu.com/asuoked/docs/knowledge_enterprise_2025_year_in_review/13

Musical thumbprints. That’s how music theorist Lindsey Reymore describes the results of her sound language surveys. Learn more about this new way of understanding sound in the latest episode of Lab Coat Optional. And stay tuned for the final episode of season 2 this Wednesday!

What does a flute sound like to you? Perhaps... elven? 🧝‍♀️ Our unique experiences and interests shape how we perceive the world around us, but you may be surprised by how much we have in common. Comment your flute sound descriptions, and check out the full episode of Lab Coat Optional to hear more!

Arizona State University is launching the nation’s first Center for Heat Preparedness. 🌡️ Backed by a $2 million federal investment, the new center will bring together researchers, community leaders and policymakers to study how extreme heat affects public health. More: https://ow.ly/GuyA50Z2jie

Airy, bright, vibrational, moody, tinny, crunchy, round.... These are words that you might use to describe the "timbre" of a sound. Check out the most recent episode of Lab Coat Optional to hear music theorist Lindsey Reymore explain the science of sound! LabCoatOptional.asu.edu

What does sound... sound like? Music theorist and professor Lindsey studies timbre and why the way we describe music may be more shared than subjective. Check out the full episode of Lab Coat Options to learn, and hear, more! 🎧👉 https://rss.com/podcasts/lab-coat-optional/2739134

The future of semiconductors depends on both innovation and talent. ASU is delivering on both. Through major industry partnerships, the university is expanding research capacity, building advanced facilities and preparing students for high-demand careers. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/C9nR50YRP8Z

Water solutions start with research. The Arizona Water Innovation Initiative helps accelerate and deploy new approaches and technology for water conservation, augmentation, desalination, efficiency, infrastructure and reuse. Learn more: https://issuu.com/asuoked/docs/awii_2025_year_in_review

If you’re not a mechanic, you don’t know everything about how a car works. And if you’re not in data science or digital privacy, you probably don’t know everything you’re agreeing to either. So what does that mean for our everyday lives? Listen to the full Lab Coat Optional episode to learn more.

40% of Americans will face cancer. ASU researchers developed peptide 2012 to stop tumor cells from attaching— so they can’t grow or spread. In mice, tumor growth dropped 80% with no toxic effects. A promising step toward safer, targeted cancer treatment. Read more: https://ow.ly/GcfX50YUM7j

Do you wear a health tracker? Its data could reveal your fears. The technology we use every day is constantly collecting data— and not just at face value. It’s used to infer deeper insights about who we are. So where do we go from here? Listen to Lab Coat Optional to find out!

Extreme heat is here to stay, but so are ASU researchers finding solutions. Arizona State University researchers are tackling urban heat from multiple angles, including cooling pavement coating, research-informed policy, heat-stress studies, and much more. Read more: https://ow.ly/90a050YUGk9

🌵 Imagine facing an Arizona summer without A/C. @asu.sgsup heat researchers + @maricopahealth officials teamed up to shape a law that gives residents the right to install A/C units in their homes. Learn how this collaboration likely saved lives: https://rss.com/podcasts/lab-coat-optional/2162562

As the #Southwest heats up, #water is top of mind. ASU’s Dave White explains why #conservation alone may fall short—and what comes next. 🎧 Learn how researchers are rethinking water strategy: azpbs.org/horizon/2026/04/study-finds-why-colorado-river-basin-conservation-may-fall-short/

How many cameras capture you in a day? Now think beyond cameras—your searches, clicks, and purchases are tracked too. ASU researcher Rakibul Hasan studies how this data shapes what we see, pay, and even think. 🎧 Check out the full episode: labcoatoptional.asu.edu

Autism and Alzheimer’s might be more connected than we thought 🧠 At ASU, researcher Blair Braden shows evidence of earlier changes in memory-related regions— offering new clues about how brain development and aging may be linked. Read more in this Washington Post article: https://ow.ly/yGNP50YPoFA

If you're always being watched, are you always performing? In the latest Lab Coat Optional, we're talking about digital privacy with expert Rakibul Hasan. He and Pete discuss how surveillance shapes the way we think, act, and develop. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

ASU researchers created WARM— A system that detects dangerous conditions around power lines before #wildfires break out. It uses smart sensors to monitor weather, then activates deeper checks like smoke detection and thermal cameras only when needed. Read more: https://ow.ly/9Qne50YP8z9

Earth is the original innovator 🌍 This Earth Day, we’re looking at research across ASU that takes inspiration from nature— how it adapts, solves problems, and sustains itself. Nature has been doing this for a while. And we're happy to listen and learn from her. Happy #EarthDay!

ASU and MyLand are partnering on a nature-based solution that helps crops use less #water without sacrificing yield. By introducing native microalgae into irrigation systems, soil health and water retention improves. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/4F9E50YMLbX

From #ArtemisII to #ProjectHailMary, the mysteries and possibilities of outer space are on many of our minds right now. 💫 Which makes it the perfect time to learn more about space with astrophysicist Skylar Grayson! Check out the full episode and learn more at labcoatoptional.asu.edu#ArtemisII

What if your energy system could think for itself? ASU developed software that connects solar panels, batteries and backup generators and then decides when to use or store power for maximum efficiency. The result: less wasted energy & lower costs. Learn more: https://ow.ly/EjbT50YIUK3

Scientist term of the day: Banana pose. In his work studying PFAS ("forever chemicals"), Charlie Rolsky has observed seals from coast to coast! The seals of Maine enjoy a leisurely lifestyle, leading to the famous banana pose! Learn more in the full episode: labcoatoptional.asu.edu

ASU's Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown is studying the gut microbiome and its connection to #autism. Her team found that many autistic children are missing beneficial gut microbes. By restoring those microbes, they’ve seen improvements in physical and mental health. Explore more: https://ow.ly/uGEG50YGKV8#autism

Lab coats: Optional. Dad jokes: Probable. Thank you to Shaw Institute Executive Director Charlie Rolsky for being a generous guest on Lab Coat Optional! He and Pete discussed all things plastic pollution, including how it impacts the health of ocean wildlife. labcoatoptional.asu.edu 🥼

Conserving natural resources starts with rethinking water. From new purification methods to advanced reuse in manufacturing, ASU is helping reduce water consumption where it matters most. Because in the Southwest, #sustainability is essential: https://ow.ly/pwau50YFiTv

At ASU, scientists are exploring how the gut may play a role in #autism — how microbial communities behave, change & function through sequencing and analysis. This research could unlock new ways to understand and support individuals with autism. Learn more and support: https://ow.ly/A0cs50YEwNr

Seeing a heart before surgery can save a life. With 1.3 million children born with #heartdefects each year, that insight matters. “We could give the surgeon the opportunity to quite literally hold a patient’s heart in their hand before operating.” Read more: https://ow.ly/8tWr50YEwtt

An idea formed underwater. After Charels Rolsky noticed whales eating microplastics in the ocean, he joined ASU to investigate microplastics in our waters. Now as executive director at the Shaw Institute, he analyzes how microplastics infiltrate our environment and bodies. labcoatoptional.asu.edu

Locust swarms devastate crops worldwide. ASU researchers found a soil-based solution that reduces damage and boosts yields. And it could matter here—locusts are nearing the U.S. border. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/NY6s50YCTpk

“Biodegradable.” What does it actually mean? We sat down with Shaw Institute Executive Director Charlie Rolsky to break it down. He explores what we know about microplastics and why “biodegradable” often doesn’t mean what we think. 🎧 Listen at labcoatoptional.asu.edu!

Even experts get tricked by #AI. One issue with conversational AI like #ChatGPT or #Claude is that they can "hallucinate." Or in other words, make stuff up. Andrew Maynard recently joined Lab Coat Optional to discuss the future of AI— The good, the bad and the fabricated: labcoatoptional.asu.edu

Wondering what ASU research is all about? From advanced technologies to health breakthroughs, we pursue research for the public good. Learn more: https://issuu.com/asuoked/docs/knowledge_enterprise_2025_year_in_review

In case you missed it: AI and emerging technologies are reshaping daily life. Andrew Maynard, scientist, author and professor in the Rob Walton College of Global Futures, discusses how we navigate disruptive innovation responsibly — and hold onto our humanity. labcoatoptional.asu.edu

ASU is a go-to research partner. And for good reason! Our talented researchers, cutting-edge facilities, and dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration delivers real impact for our community and beyond. Learn more about how ASU research makes a difference: https://ow.ly/GBsx50YypuW

Getting your yard ready for summer? Rethink using weed killers with #glyphosate. A 2022 study found that the weed-killing ingredient can enter the brain. A 2024 study showed that short-term exposure can have lasting effects, including changes linked to #Alzheimers. More: https://ow.ly/v55550YxF3b

It's natural to find farming in the desert counterintuitive, but it's backed up by 10,000 years of human civilation. Nevertheless, Arizona has a water problem. So where do we look for solutions? Revisit season 2, episode 1 of Lab Coat Optional with Rhett Larson to find out! labcoatoptional.asu.edu

What does it mean to be human in the age of AI? Author and expert Andrew Maynard explores that question on the latest episode of Lab Coat Optional. From biotechnology to artificial intelligence, how do we navigate rapid change without losing ourselves? Listen at labcoatoptional.asu.edu.

Happy #SunDevilGiving Day! Your support fuels access to education, groundbreaking research and innovations that challenge the status quo. Visit asufoundation.org/sundevilgiving#SunDevilGivingto learn about the six commitments behind Changing Futures, and help us change the world.